Chapter Twenty-Four #3
Elizabeth eavesdropped on Kitty’s conversation with Mr. Winkler. It was quite satisfying to watch her sister’s expressions.
“Do you think she understands anything Mr. Winkler says?” Jane asked from beside her.
“I doubt it. Under Lydia’s influence, Kitty has not always attended to her lessons, and Mama was never a stickler in such matters.”
Jane chuckled, “Although Kitty does not likely understand his ideas, she is listening intently to what Mr. Winkler says. I suspect you must find her some books on John Wesley, Samuel Johnson, and Sir Joseph Banks.”
“Fortunately, Mr. Darcy has an extensive library.” Elizabeth squeezed her sister’s hand. “I would enjoy having Kitty near to Pemberley.”
“Permit things to advance naturally,” Jane warned. “You sound like Mama.”
“Oh, Heaven forbid!” Elizabeth pretended shock, but she burst into laughter.
However, it was not long until Kitty cornered her in the passageway and Elizabeth learned of Kitty’s interest. “Lizzy, thank you for inviting Mr. Winkler. He is a most interesting young man.”
“I am pleased you found someone to entertain you, Kitty.” Elizabeth smiled knowingly.
“Would it be possible to be seated near Mr. Winkler during supper?” Kitty’s anticipation crossed her features.
Elizabeth smirked, “I will do my best, Kitty.”
“Do not tease me, Lizzy. You know my temperament.”
“I know, Kitty; I know very well. Yet, before I rearrange my seating chart, permit me to issue a bit of advice: Do not be too forward. He is a clergyman. Moreover, many women in the community seek his attention. He will not welcome your open flirtations. Simply be yourself. Forget everything you learned from Lydia. Our youngest sister’s means of finding a husband is not acceptable. ” Elizabeth warned her warmly.
“I thought all clergymen were of the nature of Mr. Collins or old Mr. Aiken, who has come quite forgetful of late. Everyone in Meryton says so. Mr. Winkler is nothing of what I expected.” Kitty giggled and returned to the chair she had vacated only moments prior.
Darcy stepped behind Elizabeth and put his arms around her waist. She leaned into him and felt his warmth. He bent down to whisper in her ear. “Elizabeth, Lady Catherine may be right. Your arts and allurements are spreading.”
She turned to glance over her shoulder at his profile. “I do not understand, William.”
“Look at the love in this room—families together—husbands and wives—young regard—friends—all caring for one another. Pemberley has lacked happiness until there was you.”
He kissed the side of her head before releasing her to her duties.
Elizabeth watched him as he moved away, and he turned and looked at her—his eyes infinite depths of intelligence and understanding.
The intensity of his stare always brought a sudden flush of heat rising to her cheeks.
He had known sadness and the loss of those he loved, and for a long time he hid his pain behind a facade of arrogance.
Now Darcy risked the pain which only lost love could bring.
Including the children, sixteen people sat to a New Year’s Eve dinner of beef, capons, colewort, potatoes, cream soups, fresh fruit, and a bread pudding—a meal served over three courses.
The animated conversation reflected the care each person felt for the others.
Elizabeth noted her husband’s interest in her appetite from the other end of the table.
Except for two servings of potatoes, she had picked at the food.
To allay his concern, she offered him a slight shrug of her shoulders, a large smile, and a purse of her lips as if she expected a kiss.
No one at the table could deny their love.
Anyone who bothered to look at either of them, obviously, recognized the devotion they held for each other.
After supper, the Gardiner children played hoodman blind and hot cockles.
The adults enjoyed their antics and their joy.
Darcy had presented a wooden boat to each of the two boys and a rag doll to his favorite, Cassandra.
The children rewarded him with squeals of happiness, and Elizabeth prayed he would enjoy their children with the same undisguised pleasure.
When the children had gone to bed, the men retreated to Darcy’s study to smoke their favorite cigars and share glasses of fine port and brandy over conversation.
The women withdrew to the drawing room, where Jane and Kitty led the conversation, reliving the escapades of the Bennets and of Bingley’s sisters at Netherfield.
Elizabeth’s only regret in the conversation rested in Miss de Bourgh’s hearing of her family’s lack of decorum.
The stories proved Lady Catherine’s concerns, and Elizabeth wished the subject would change to something less demeaning.
Soon, she would tell all these women her news.
She would write to her parents. Sharing the news would relieve her of her stress and her recent exhaustion.
She was in a conversation with Anne regarding the preparations for the anniversary party for the Matlocks when the gentlemen rejoined them in the drawing room, and the odor of the cigar smoke clung to the men’s clothing.
The odor permeated every corner. Elizabeth felt her stomach lurch, but she hid her increasing queasiness.
Darcy and Edward came to stand beside her and Anne.
As he always did, Darcy pulled her to him, and she fought to control her reaction.
“Elizabeth, Anne and Edward plan a late June wedding. I told them we will attend the ceremony.”
Turning her face away, Elizabeth struggled against the surge in her stomach. “William, you may attend, but I will not.” She felt as if she did not find relief soon, she would surely embarrass herself.
Not expecting her resistance, her husband and his cousins were shocked by her words, but she had no means to quell the sting of her words.
Her husband attempted to allay the umbrage found upon his cousins’ countenances.
“Come, Elizabeth, we all understand your resentment at Lady Catherine’s attack, but we must put those feelings aside for Edward’s and Anne’s sakes.
” He pulled her closer to relay his need for her to say the right thing.
Elizabeth’s placed her hand to her mouth and swallowed hard. The color fled her cheeks. “I am sorry, William; I cannot attend.” She fled from the room.
“Elizabeth!” Darcy called and started after her, but she overheard her aunt shooing him away.
Mrs. Gardiner found her on the exterior entryway.
Elizabeth leaned over the stair railing relieving herself of what little she had eaten.
Mrs. Gardiner came up behind her and gently rubbed Elizabeth’s back.
She pushed Elizabeth’s hair from her face.
“How far are you with child?” Her aunt’s voice caught her off guard, but it also offered Elizabeth comfort.
She turned into her aunt’s loose embrace. “How did you know?”
Her aunt laughed. She handed Elizabeth a handkerchief, which she had thankfully dipped in water.
Elizabeth wiped her face with the cool cloth and handed it back. A combination of the cloth’s dampness and the fresh night air settled her stomach’s uneasiness. “My trigger with Cassandra was the smell of pork cooking. For both boys, it was any floral scent. What was it for you tonight?”
“The cigar smoke! Other odors have played havoc with my senses, but the smoke could not be ignored. How long does this last?”
“Usually no more than a month or two at most, but it may be longer. You are early in your symptoms,” Aunt Gardiner said with a hint of a question in her tone.
Irritated, Elizabeth demanded, “What do you mean?”
Her aunt said simply, “If you are correct in your assumption, this stage of childbearing does not customarily arrive until closer to four months. Pray tell me you and Mr. Darcy did not anticipate …”
“Absolutely not,” Elizabeth said self-righteously. “I spoke to the surgeon and he has sent me to a midwife. The woman says that although my body has not changed completely, she feels the fullness of the child.”
Her aunt gently wiped Elizabeth’s face again and nodded her acceptance of Elizabeth’s explanation. “I assume Mr. Darcy does not yet know.”
“I planned to tell him tonight. I told you about my accident.” Her aunt continued to wipe Elizabeth’s face with the cloth.
“Once I fell, I did not want to tell William until I was confident the baby had not suffered from my foolishness. My husband was so consumed with my recovery. I did not want to cause Mr. Darcy more distress.”
“And you spoke to the physician?” Her aunt asked in concerned tones. “Are there problems for the child?”
“Mr. Spencer examined me on three separate occasions. He assures me I have no reason for worry from the accident.”
“Then answer my question, Elizabeth: When will be your lying in?”
“It appears this child is a result of our first nights together as husband and wife. I am likely more than two months along. How could I tell William before the whole room that I cannot attend Edward’s and Anne’s wedding because I am to have a child?
I wish to speak to my husband before I announce it to everyone. ”
“Speak to me of what, Elizabeth?” She jumped at hearing his voice. She turned to see him standing by the open door. Darcy crossed the landing to take her in his arms. “What is the reason for your discomfort?”
Although her stomach was now empty, the urge had not gone away.
The odor of the cigar smoke remained on his jacket.
She jerked her head to the left, grabbed her mouth again, and pulled away from him.
Looking back with tears streaming down her face, she paused only briefly before she darted through the doorway to the staircase leading to her chambers.