Chapter Twenty-Four #4
“Mrs. Gardiner, why is Elizabeth acting this way? Did she say anything to you? This is uncharacteristic of her nature. What have I done for her to keep running away? How have I offended her?” He turned to follow his wife.
Mrs. Gardiner caught his arm. “Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth must tell you her reasons. They are not mine to share, but if I may be allowed an opinion, you must ask the right question to receive the answer you require.”
“I do not understand, Mrs. Gardiner.”
“Trust me, Mr. Darcy. A reassurance of Elizabeth’s love for you is not what you should question.
Give me your jacket, Mr. Darcy.” He wondered at the mystery of the woman’s advice.
“Present me your jacket, Mr. Darcy, and then follow Elizabeth. Ask your wife why cigar smoke is repugnant to her.” She reached up and removed his jacket from his shoulders.
“Go, Mr. Darcy.” She caressed his cheek as he looked at her with bewilderment.
Darcy took the steps with his usual speed.
His search for Elizabeth ended in their bedroom.
She lay face down across the bed, a wet cloth in her hand.
He entered tentatively. “Elizabeth?” He feared coming too near, not knowing why she retreated to her chambers.
“Elizabeth, please,” his voice pleaded. He moved cautiously to the foot of the bed.
Elizabeth sat up, but her eyes remained downcast. Finally, he said, “Your aunt says I should ask why cigar smoke bothers you. This makes little sense to me. Would you care to explain what troubles you?”
Her sobs exploded. “William, it was not supposed to be this way! I had it all planned!”
He came to the side of the bed and took her hand. “Had what planned? Elizabeth? This should make sense, but it does not. Assist me to understand.”
She nearly knocked him over when she jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly.
On her knees on the bed, she was nearly as tall as he.
Her tears rolled down his neck as she buried her face in shame.
“Elizabeth, there is nothing which could make me love you less.” He held her tightly and stroked the back of her head.
She would not look at him, but she did say what must be said.
Instead, she spoke to the air, which surrounded them.
“William,” her voice was small and difficult to hear at first, “you have slept in the same bed with me every night for two months, did you not notice I have never suffered from … suffered from …”
She struggled to say the words, and he meant to make it easier so he asked. “Suffered from what, Elizabeth?” He would prefer to look at her during this conversation, but he would take what she was willing to present to him.
“Help me say it, William.” She burrowed deeper into his shoulder. “From my female …”
The realization of what she shared shot through his body. He cupped her chin where he might read her facial expression. “Lizzy, please tell me it is true.”
“I believe I am with child, William. If all is well, we will have a child in the latter part of July or early August.”
He could not have predicted his reaction. A shout of exhilaration grew from deep inside him as he picked her up and spun her around and smothered her face with kisses. “Elizabeth,” he said at last, “how long have you known?”
She dropped her eyes, “I suspected as much before the fall.”
“Why did you not tell me?”
“I wished to be confident that my accident did not endanger the child. I wanted to be assured that all was well before I told you. I could not bear to hurt you.”
“Mr. Spencer has seen you?”
“Mr. Spencer knows and believes me to be healthy. I have also spoken to a midwife, and she agrees with Mr. Spencer.”
“Then what happened downstairs?”
“The cigar smoke.” She appeared embarrassed. “It made me sick. I am sorry.” Her tears started again.
“Do not fret, Elizabeth. I will gladly give up cigars for such news as yours.” Pulling her so close she was a part of him, he kissed her. “May we tell the others?”
“I cannot enter that room again, William. I have made a fool of myself. Moreover, the smell of the smoke unsettles my stomach too much.”
“I will change my shirt. We will tell the others. I will ask the gentlemen to change also. All will be well.” Darcy kissed her quickly and started towards his dressing room.
“I cannot ask our guests to do so.” She looked at him helplessly.
“I cannot keep this news to myself, Elizabeth. Our guests will understand.” He rushed across the room to her, kissed her passionately, and then hurried to his chambers.
In the dressing room Darcy changed his clothes and wiped any trace of cigar smoke from his face, arms, and neck.
He moved quickly, finally pouring tepid water over his head to wash fragments of the cigar smell from his hair.
Elizabeth carried his child—an heir for Pemberley grew within her.
The realization struck him, and Darcy sank into a chair, his legs weakened by the knowledge.
He would be a father. The news brought tears of joy to his eyes, and he buried his face in his hands.
A baby—his baby. No more horseback rides for Elizabeth, and she must limit her walks.
Mayhap they should not spend so much time in acts of love.
He held so many questions for Mr. Spencer.
He would call on the man tomorrow. A baby—Elizabeth was to have his child.
He must return to her. She must be in as much tumult as was he.
“Any traces of cigar smoke?” he asked, returning to their bedroom and capturing Elizabeth in his arms. “When you said I could control your schedule after New Year’s, is this the reason?
Is this why you have no energy lately and why you pick at your food?
” Darcy caressed her cheek. It was as if he saw her differently somehow.
“I believe part of my problems of late have been my worry over the child’s safety and part of how you would take the news.”
“Did you think I would not be happy?”
“It is so much at once—the marriage—Pemberley—and now this. Can we manage the many changes in our life, William, without it destroying our love?”
“Elizabeth, when I begged God to spare your life, I told him I would give up everything for you to be well and for you to love me again. Then Georgiana said God had His plan for us. He gives us no more than what we can manage.”
“Then if it is God’s will, what more may I say?” She sighed unevenly.
“May we tell the others, Elizabeth? I must say the words out loud to verify the knowledge of their truth.”
“Then say the words to me, William. I must hear the joy in your voice.”
Uncharacteristically, Darcy sank to his knees before her, placed a gentle kiss on her stomach, and lightly stroked her abdomen. “Our child grows within you, Elizabeth.” He looked up into her countenance.
She briefly held his head, and then she pulled him to her. “I do so dearly love you, William.”
He took her hand and kissed the palm. “This kiss belongs to our child.” He placed her hand upon her abdomen and cupped her hand with his. They stood as such for a long moment, looking deeply into each other’s eyes.
He said at last, “We should go.”
“If we must.” She was hesitant to leave so he held her tightly. Eventually, she accepted his arm and raised her chin. “I am prepared, my love.”
Descending the steps, he could not remove his eyes from her. Darcy’s heart could hold no more happiness. As they reached the door to the drawing room, he kissed her cheek tenderly. He reached for the door with his free hand. “I love you, Elizabeth,” he whispered. Her eyes sparkled up at him.
When the door opened, all eyes fell on them, and silence filled the room.
Darcy heard her sigh deeply, and he pulled her to him.
“Elizabeth and I have something to share with you.” Elizabeth heard Jane gasp and noted her Aunt Gardiner’s tears.
“We will be parents in late July.” Darcy’s voice was shaky as if he could not believe the words himself.
There was dead silence for a few infinite seconds, and then all in the room rushed forward to congratulate them.
Darcy instinctively shoved Elizabeth behind him to protect her.
Then he put his hand out to stop their progress.
“Gentlemen, it appears Mrs. Darcy is having trouble stomaching the smell of our cigar smoke so, although this is an unusual request, I ask each of you to return to your quarters and change before you extend your congratulations.”
Mr. Gardiner laughed as he turned to his wife.
“It is just like you and the scent of flowers.” He caressed his wife’s cheek and then chuckled again as he headed for the stairs.
“Come, gentlemen,” he said, “in this room, I am the only one with experience in this area. Trust me, a woman is a delicate creature, but we cannot live without them.” The other men looked confused, but they too made to depart.
Mr. Winkler had no change of clothing, so he appeared befuddled as to what to do. Bingley took note of the situation. “Come, Winkler, I am confident I have something you may borrow for the evening.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley, I should probably take my leave.”
“Nonsense, Mr. Winkler, we now have something special to celebrate. Moreover, the snow comes down again. You should stay,” Jane offered.
“Yes,” Darcy added. “I will ask Mrs. Reynolds to show you to your rooms for the evening.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” the man looked a bit uncomfortable.
Once the men left the room, Darcy stepped aside to allow the women to surround Elizabeth.
Jane was the first to reach her sister. “Elizabeth, I am overwhelmed with happiness. You and Mr. Darcy are so blessed to have each other. Why did you not tell me? How can you tell so early? Mama said it would be a minimum of four months before I would know if …” Jane broke into laughter. “You are so sly!”
Kitty and Georgiana followed closely. Both hugged their respective siblings. “I will be an aunt,” Kitty squealed.