Chapter Twenty-Four
FAMILY LOVE
Pemberley
The Darcys were back in residence by the first week in December, which gave Elizabeth enough time to plan a small Yuletide celebration for their family and their Fitzwilliam relations who would be joining them in the coming weeks.
In addition, there was Boxing Day to prepare for, as well as preparations for the new baby.
With Anna’s fifth birthday approaching on the second of March, it was decided that the schoolroom would be refurbished for her use, and that the nursery would be redone to suit the new babe, allowing for two should there be twins.
With so many changes taking place in the coming months, Elizabeth asked Hannah to join the family and travel back to Pemberley, where she would begin to serve as Anna’s personal maid.
Mrs. Potter would continue on as nurse for the new babe.
Because Anna was not yet five years of age, a governess would not be needed for at least another year.
For the time being, lessons would be supervised by Elizabeth, William and Georgiana.
Georgiana was particularly eager to assist in this way, since she had been giving Anna regular instruction on the pianoforte for some months.
As January turned into February and pressed on into March, Elizabeth was so large that she could no longer see her feet and needed to walk with extra care when traversing the steps of the manor house or going out of doors, lest she should fall.
William, Georgiana and Anna were all very solicitous of Elizabeth’s comfort, and as promised, made sure that she wanted for nothing.
The family had settled into a routine where they gathered in the music room for some quiet time and relaxation on most evenings.
Sometimes William would read aloud or tell Anna a story, and other times Georgiana would play soothing music.
Knowing that music calmed the babe, Anna routinely held her mother’s hand and sang to the child she was carrying before being put to bed.
During this final month, the babe had been very active, but to Elizabeth’s relief was always calmed by music.
This being the case, Elizabeth had told the girls it would be a great help to her if she could hear their music echoing through the hallways when it was her time to give birth.
Knowing that the babe would soon be with them, both Georgiana and Anna were motivated to practice well beyond what was normally required.
The Darcys’ Sitting Room
Wednesday, 25 March 1812
Late Evening
After Georgiana went up to her room and Anna was put to bed, William and Elizabeth retired to their sitting room where they often spent time together talking over their day before retiring.
This evening Elizabeth was stretched out on the sofa, with her slightly swollen feet in William’s lap where he gently massaged them.
“William, that feels so good. I think once our babe is born you may have to continue your excellent care, if I am to remain a contented wife,” she teased.
“It will be my pleasure. After all, I am not the one who is giving birth. I shall gladly do whatever it takes to ease your way, my love.”
“I know you will.”
Looking to the table, he said, “May I assume Anna brought you more violets this afternoon?”
“Yes, she did. I love them, even though they do not last long.”
“This morning when we were working with her pony, she told me how much she enjoys her walks with Georgie because it gives her a chance to collect bits of nature to cheer you, since you can rarely leave the house.”
Elizabeth smiled, reaching for William’s hand. “And ‘cheer’ me she does, in so many ways. Between you and the girls, I could not ask for anyone more thoughtful. You all have such generous hearts. After our child is born, I know the girls will continue to be a great help.”
“Yes, they will. I wonder….” He paused. “After Anna’s earlier observation today, should we not begin to refer to our child as babes or children?”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I suppose we should.”
“She was so serious when she told me about her time with you and Georgie in the music room and how she discovered three feet pushing against your stomach. ‘One, two, three,’ she counted again and again on her little fingers. ‘Two were big, and one was small.’” He chuckled. “I wish I had been there to see it.”
“It was a special moment to be sure, and one which Georgiana also took great pleasure in, especially when I mentioned my father was a twin and that the possibility of my carrying two babes was very real.”
After asking William to help her sit up, Elizabeth continued, “I only pray our children will both be healthy when it is time to deliver.”
Holding her close and tenderly kissing her, he murmured, “That, too, is my fervent prayer, my love.”
“William, I do not mean to upset you, but there is something else I wish to tell you,” she said, changing the subject.
“There is?” he asked with concern.
“Yes. This afternoon when Anna joined me before we went to the music room, she was carrying Anne’s picture.
When she showed it to me, she had tears in her eyes, saying that she could not remember being with her first mama and that there was no picture of baby Lewis in her room.
She wanted to know why she could not remember Anne brushing her hair, or singing to her and reading stories to her like I do.
William, she told me that she is afraid I will leave her like her first mama did. ”
William closed his eyes, unable to say anything for a moment, the anguish evident on his face. “My poor child. I wonder if she has overheard something that would make her say so.”
“Possibly, or it could just be that our five-year-old daughter is an astute little girl and thinks a great deal about things, just like her papa does.” She lovingly touched his face.
“Of course I reassured her that I would not leave her, and I told her how important it was to pray for our family and the new babe every day.”
“Elizabeth,” he said, pulling her close, unable to say more.
“William, I know you have had similar thoughts, and I beg of you to do your best at putting them aside. God brought me to this family for a purpose, and He gave you and Anna and Georgiana to me. I truly believe He has many more plans for all of us.”
“Elizabeth, I thank God every day that we have you. You make us feel loved, and we are devoted to you and your wellbeing.”
“I know you are, and I am more grateful than I could ever say. When the time comes, I promise you I will do my best for the children I carry, but you must be the one who is strong for Anna and Georgiana and for yourself.”
“My dearest love,” he said, pulling her to his chest and kissing her without reserve.
“I admit I am fearful. How could I not be? What I experienced with the death of Anne and my son was a very dark time for me.” Caressing her face, he said in earnest, “I promise you, I shall do everything within my power to do as you ask when the time comes.”
“Thank you. Please, will you hand me the family Bible?” She opened the pages to the front where they had recently updated it with the deaths of Anne and Lewis, Anna’s birth and their marriage.
“My husband, soon we will enter our children’s names here, and it will be a glorious day for our family and all of Pemberley. ”
“Yes, my love, it will.”
“Oh my,” Elizabeth startled, putting her hand on the swell of her stomach and arching her back. “I have been feeling something all day, little pinches if you will. But this time the tightening of my muscles was much stronger and lasted a bit longer.”
“If that is the case, I think it best we get you to bed. You should try to get some proper rest before your lying in begins.”
When William helped Elizabeth to her feet, she felt something more which caused her to squeeze his arm and look at him with her mouth agape. “William, it has started. I can feel warm water trickling down my legs.”
“What shall I do?”
“Help me to my room and send for Molly so I can change. You should alert Mrs. Reynolds and then come back to me. I am sorry. I fear there will be no rest for either of us tonight, my love. The midwife said that when the birthing process begins, it will be very important for me to walk as much as I am able. And since walking has been so difficult of late, I shall need you to assist me.”
“I would have it no other way and will stay with you through it all if needs be.”
“That would be my preference, though I doubt those who will be assisting will permit you to remain for long.”
“We shall see. Rest assured; I will do whatever is required, and whatever you want shall be my priority.”
“Dear, dear William, I love you so very much. At last our children are ready to make their presence known.”
The Birth
Having left Elizabeth to the care of her maid, William quickly alerted Mrs. Reynolds, who would see to the final preparations for what was to come.
After dispatching a footman to bring the midwife from the village and notify the local doctor so he could plan his arrival accordingly, William went to his study and penned a note to the Kympton rector, asking for prayerful support.
Walking to the window and looking out into the night, William offered up his own prayer while waiting to be informed when Elizabeth would be ready for him to join her.
He had promised her he would be strong for their family, yet the remembrance of what Anne suffered during Anna’s birth and with the death of his son suddenly came crashing back with a vengeance.