Chapter Twenty-Three
A HAPPY REUNION
Longbourn
Autumn
Near the end of September, the Darcy family travelled back to Longbourn as was planned.
Because of Mr. Bennet’s precarious health, the joyous event of Mary and Edmond Barton’s wedding was shared with Jane and Charles Bingley, who had recently become engaged.
Like before, William had petitioned for special licences from his uncle, the archbishop, so that the weddings could be held at the manor house instead of the local church.
The weddings were followed by a splendid wedding breakfast attended by many in the neighbourhood.
The Hursts and Miss Bingley made the trip from London to support their brother, but only stayed at Netherfield for two days prior to the wedding.
While Caroline claimed to be over her disappointment, she had no desire to remain any longer than was necessary, and she and the Hursts returned to London following the wedding breakfast. Mr. Collins, who had been present for the Darcys’ wedding, was not able to attend.
Two weeks prior he and Charlotte Lucas had married and settled in a neighbouring county where Mr. Collins had recently accepted a position as rector.
Having just begun his post, he was not comfortable leaving his new parishioners and returning to Longbourn at that time.
Mr. Bingley had invited the Darcys to stay at Netherfield while he took Jane on an extended honeymoon to visit his relations in the north.
William, however, declined so that Elizabeth could easily spend more time with her father.
With the Bartons honeymooning in Bath, Elizabeth was grateful she had the opportunity to stay at Longbourn and look after her father in Mary’s stead.
After the Bartons returned, the Darcys planned to continue on in residence with the family allowing Elizabeth to share in the care for Mr. Bennet.
Following the weddings, Kitty and Lydia would travel to Town with the Gardiners, where they would begin their studies at the women’s seminary William had chosen.
Despite the girls’ previous behaviour, Lady Deming and Lady Eleanor had graciously offered to monitor their progress, sending regular reports to the Darcys.
Assuming they did well and behaved appropriately, they would be provided with new clothes and accessories befitting young ladies who were preparing to undertake the spring season.
While Georgiana enjoyed interacting with Elizabeth’s younger sisters, she had no desire to attend school again and be away from her immediate family and her new sister.
Until her coming out, her studies would be monitored by Mrs. Annesley, and William would hire an occasional music master who could make the journey to Pemberley or take up her instruction when the family was at Longbourn or in Town.
Now that Elizabeth was carrying their child, William took every precaution with his precious wife, making sure she was looked after and did not tax herself unduly over the weeks that followed.
And while Elizabeth was a strong and healthy woman, knowing what William had suffered with his first wife and the loss of his son, she graciously allowed him to care for her in this way.
Until Elizabeth felt the quickening, the Darcys had agreed they would not formally make an announcement to the family. It was towards the end of October when she first felt the babe move within her womb.
Placing his hand on the swell of her stomach, he curiously asked, “Tell me, what does it feel like?”
Guiding his fingers Elizabeth said, “This is where I first felt our child move. A bit of fluttering would be the best way to describe the sensation.” Touching his face she lovingly said, “I am sorry you cannot feel the movement yet, for it is truly wondrous.”
After lightly kissing Elizabeth on the lips, William lowered his head so that he might kiss the place where his fingers rested. Ever so softly he spoke, “Your Papa is waiting for you, my child. Be kind to your Mama while you are in her care.”
William was fascinated with the multitude of changes which were taking place in Elizabeth’s body, and unlike his experience with Anne’s pregnancies, his wife was eager to share every aspect of their child’s growth.
Fortunately, Elizabeth was healthy and did not suffer excessively with morning sickness as Anne had.
Every day she insisted on long walks, and every afternoon she would nap when Anna rested.
While seeing her thus did much to alleviate William’s worries, he longed to consult with Mr. Mitchell.
To that end, Elizabeth was not surprised when William invited the doctor to visit Longbourn under the pretence of reassessing Mr. Bennet’s health.
“William, I know full well why you have invited Mr. Mitchell here,” she teased. “Nevertheless, because you are so very dear to me, I shall never fault your concern over me and our child.”
Previously, Mr. Mitchell had predicted Bennet could not be expected to live much longer than six months to a year at the most. To his amazement, this time Bennet’s heartbeat was a bit stronger, and he had not shown any further signs of deterioration.
While the doctor had no real explanation, he suggested that the happy events of late might have boosted the man’s spirits, and in turn Bennet’s body was maintaining itself more positively.
When it came time for Elizabeth’s examination, Mitchell declared there was no doubt in his mind that she was with child, and like the Lambton midwife, he strongly suspected that the babe was not one but two.
Based on his assessment and the dates when Elizabeth last had her courses, the doctor predicted the child or children would be born at the end of March or at the very latest in early April.
Following Mr. Mitchell’s departure, the happy couple decided it was time to share their joyous news with the family.
At present they would withhold the information about the possibility of twins, since it was less certain to predict.
Before telling the Bennets, however, Elizabeth and William first wanted to tell Anna and Georgiana.
That afternoon, William suggested his little family take a leisurely walk and enjoy a picnic in one of the nearby meadows.
There, he spread out a large blanket and the four of them sat down to enjoy the food Hill had provided.
When they were finished, Anna remarked, “Mama, there are so many beautiful flowers here. May I pick some for you and Aunt Georgie?”
“Yes, sweet one, I would like that very much. We can take them back with us and later dry them in the still room, since they will last longer that way. But first….” She smiled lovingly at William. “Papa and I have something wonderful to tell the two of you.”
Georgiana gasped with excitement, her hands nervously twitching, trying to quell her suspicions. “Dear Brother, Elizabeth,” she whispered with tears misting in her eyes.
“Papa, why is our Aunt Georgie crying?”
“Well,” he said, smiling and reaching for his sister’s hand, “she is crying tears of joy because she has guessed Mama is with child. Our new babe will join us in March, a few weeks after your fifth birthday.”
“Mama!” Anna squealed, leaning in to her mother and saying, “Aunt Georgie and I have been praying for a little one to come to our family.”
“You have?”
“Yes,” Anna innocently said. “I told Aunt Georgie that I could not remember Baby Lewis, and she said we might ask God to give our family another babe.”
Elizabeth pulled Anna tightly into her embrace, attempting to stay her emotions. “Thank you, my dear girl, and thank you, Georgiana. God has listened to all of our prayers.”
William leaned over and kissed his sister on the forehead. “Dearest Georgie, you know my heart only too well.”
“Yes, Brother, I do.”
Although she was nearly twelve years younger than her brother, Georgiana had been witness to much of William’s suffering, and following Anne’s death she had prayed diligently that he would recover and be given another chance at finding happiness.
Those prayers were answered when he married Elizabeth and now again with the possibility of another child.
These past few months Georgiana had never seen her brother happier, and for that she was grateful.
“Anna, Georgie,” William said more seriously, “while our Elizabeth is a very healthy woman, against her protests, I would like the two of you to take special care of her when I cannot see to her needs. May I count on you both?”
“Yes, Papa,” Anna eagerly said. “I shall sing to Mama and our new babe every day and bring her flowers, and Dolly and Janie and I shall tell her stories.”
“I would like that very much,” said Elizabeth, kissing her daughter on the forehead.
“And I shall gladly do my part,” seconded Georgiana. “You need not worry, Brother. Anna and I shall see that she wants for nothing.”
Elizabeth let out a hearty laugh, saying, “Oh my! It looks like I shall be thoroughly spoiled yet again by my two favourite girls and excellent husband. However shall I bear it?”
“You will bear it for our sakes, Elizabeth, because we love you,” William answered.
“Yes, Mama, we love you.”
“And I love all three of you,” she said, with tears threatening to spill from her eyes, stretching out her arms to touch each of them in turn. “There will be much to do before the babe comes, and I am glad that I will have all of you to help me with our child.”
Returning to the house, the Darcys found Mrs. Bennet and Mary enjoying a cup of tea in the parlour while Mr. Bennet rested in his book room. As soon as the joyous news was announced, Mrs. Bennet became a flutter of nerves.
“I knew it, I knew it,” she said, taking a seat next to her daughter.
“Elizabeth, you clever girl! Another child for Mr. Darcy! How very grand!” Then whispering so as not to offend her son-in-law she offered, “Do let us hope you are blessed with a son, Lizzy. These great men expect it.” In her next breath she announced, “Forgive me, I must be away and tell my sister and Mrs. Long of our good news.” Before anyone could properly respond, Mrs. Bennet had rushed from the room and was calling for her bonnet and shawl.
Not a moment could be lost, for she was on her way to the village.
“Mama, what happened to Grandmamma?” Anna asked. “Why did she run away?”
“Grandmamma is very happy about our new babe and went to Meryton to tell her friends.”
Anna giggled. “Mama, I did not know that Grandmamma could move so fast.”
Elizabeth also chuckled. “Grandmamma can be very determined when she puts her mind to it.”
After Mary congratulated the Darcys, she offered to see if Mr. Bennet was awake. He was and asked that Elizabeth and William join him.
Bennet’s Study
“Darcy, Elizabeth, come in! Mary tells me there is reason to celebrate.” He held out his hands. “I could not be happier with your news.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“Thank you, Father Bennet; Elizabeth and I have been blessed.”
“Indeed, and I am sure little Anna will be delighted to have a new brother or sister once the babe is born. She will make an excellent older sister.”
“Thank you, Papa. Both Anna and Georgiana are very excited. I suspect it will be hard for them to wait until the end of March.”
“I would imagine so. I wonder….” He tapped his chin in thought.
“Since Mr. Mitchell says I have defied his expectations and has revised my life expectancy, would it not be best if your family returned to Pemberley before the birth of your child? Preferably it should be before Christmastide so that you might celebrate the season and participate with Boxing Day in person.”
“Papa, we have talked about it, and it will be no burden for us to stay on for the time being.”
“That may be all well and good, but nevertheless, it is important that the child be born on your estate, especially if you have a son. I would not have you stay here on my account, or travel when the weather is a danger to the roads.”
“Father Bennet, you are very generous. As much as I would wish for our child to be born at Pemberley, we are prepared to stay here throughout the winter and well into the spring season.”
“Yes, but I would not have it. I have decided and shall expect you to plan accordingly and return home.”
“What say you, Elizabeth?” William asked. “I shall let you make the decision.”
“Papa, I am very happy about the doctor’s revised prognosis, yet if we go home to Pemberley, I shall worry excessively while we are away.”
“My dear, hearing your news has given me incentive to carry on. The winter months will pass quickly, and I shall look forward to your return after the child is born and you are able to travel again. It is for the best, Lizzy.”
“William?”
“Perhaps Elizabeth and I should speak privately before we give you our final answer. As it is, if we do return to Pemberley, it would not be until the end of November or the beginning of December, as we wish to attend the wedding of my cousin and Mrs. Walden in Town on the twenty-sixth of November. Even so, I would not deprive Elizabeth of her time with you, if that is what she prefers.”
“I appreciate your generosity, son. Elizabeth, worrying over me will not serve you well. You have much to look forward to at your new home, and an estate such as Pemberley needs its master and mistress in residence. It is also important for your people to partake in the birth of your child. Mr. Mitchell’s revised prognosis has given me new purpose.
I fully intend to see my new grandchild and to be around long enough to see Kitty and Lydia well settled.
I promise you, I shall be fine until your return; you will see.
” He chuckled and winked at William. “In the meantime, my dear, we shall be diligent correspondents, and with each letter that you send, I shall expect your husband to include a book or two for me to read from your excellent library.”
“Yes, Papa,” she said, kissing him on the forehead. “Perhaps we shall do as you ask, but just so you know, I shall hold you to your promise and will not be easy until I see you again and holding our child.”