Chapter 25 #2
At dinner that first night, the Darcys’ announcement of Elizabeth’s condition fell rather flat.
Lady Matlock guessed it during the house party in September.
It was a poorly kept secret among the staff at Pemberley, and the younger girls, despite their naivete in these matters, heard enough from the servants to suspect.
When Georgiana discovered the nursery had been aired and refreshed, she asked Mrs Annesley, who smiled and nodded and shared her suspicions with Mary and Kitty; they all squealed at the idea of a coming niece or nephew.
Richard Fitzwilliam knew because he asked his cousin soon after seeing his cousin being very cautious and protective of his wife during the house party and the couple ‘resting’ frequently.
Fitzwilliam teased his cousin for his overuse of this excuse to absent themselves from the party, and Darcy used her pregnancy as the reason.
With a knowing wink, Fitzwilliam teased his cousin relentlessly each time he escorted his wife for a ‘rest’ from that point forward.
Darcy’s smirk confirmed that ‘rest’ was rarely accomplished without a bit of exercise first.
The Matlocks’ stay at Pemberley was short; they would depart for London after a se’nnight to host their annual Twelfth Night ball.
The Darcys had been invited, but with the weather and Elizabeth expecting, they opted to remain in Derbyshire.
Colonel Fitzwilliam would also remain at Pemberley before escorting the girls back to London sometime in mid-January.
Several letters arrived at Pemberley from London and Longbourn just after the new year.
The letters from Longbourn detailed what had been done for the tenants for Christmas.
Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised to learn her mother had listened to her advice given through her housekeeper and equally pleased to note Lydia assisted her mother in his endeavour.
Lydia had frequently helped to deliver gifts to the tenants, although she had rarely helped to work on them.
In Lydia’s letter, she shared more about what she learned through this and found her mother appreciative of her sister’s advice given through Mrs Hill.
She was still unwilling to go so far as to pen a letter of apology to Lizzy herself, but she did at least verbally express some sorry for having treated her second eldest daughter as she had. One part of her letter read:
You would be surprised to see Mama’s enthusiasm for helping the tenants since Mrs Hill told her you suggested it.
When I arrived a few days before Christmas, Mama was visiting with the Millers—they had an illness the week before.
Granted, Mrs Hill had given her directions for what to do, but she was doing what she could to help.
She is as silly as ever—despite having only been at school for a few short months, I already have seen how foolish our mother’s teachings have been—but she is genuinely trying to be a better mistress of Longbourn.
She is unwilling to write an apology to you, but she does seem to lament that she has never taken up this duty herself.
Apparently, some of what you have said about your duties as Mrs Darcy seem to have finally penetrated, and she realises all of her daughters have been actively involved in helping her tenants for several years now and that with all of her daughters from home, this practice has been sorely neglected in recent months.
She is trying, Lizzy, even if she is unwilling to admit it.
Lydia looked forward to returning to school, and all were pleased at how much the girl enjoyed learning. Once again, Elizabeth wished she could have done more for her sister when she was younger but was delighted that she was able to help now.
Mr Bennet also wrote about the progress at Longbourn—including yet another report of Mrs Bennet’s efforts, although with far more sarcasm and mocking in the rale than Lydia’s version.
Elizabeth merely shook her head at the account when her husband gave it to her to read.
However, Mr Bennet was making strides with his estate, and they were retrenching considerably, especially since his children were from home and others were maintaining them.
The payment due on the first of January had been sent to London in the total amount, plus some extra to make up the shortfall from October.
Elizabeth and Darcy were pleased to learn this, and their letter from Mr Gardiner confirmed this.
These funds would be deposited into an account to provide dowries for the girls, particularly the youngest, since the letters from London also included the announcement of Jane’s engagement and wedding plans.
Elizabeth was saddened that she would be unable to attend but accepted it as a matter of course.
She and Darcy had discussed Elizabeth travelling after the new year, and both believed it possible but unwise since the weather in Derbyshire in winter was unpredictable at best. They both desired to be at home for the birth and would wait for Mr and Mrs Hastings to visit them in the summer.
Colonel Fitzwilliam soon returned Georgiana, Mary, and Kitty to London, along with their companions.
Mary had asked to stay behind to assist her enceinte sister, and it had been briefly considered.
Still, ultimately, they decided she needed to return to London for their sister’s wedding, especially as Elizabeth could not attend herself.
Mary and Georgiana went to Darcy House while Kitty returned to the Gardiners.
Jane shopped for her trousseau while the other three girls attended lessons with masters.
Kitty was frequently at Darcy House with the other two, and the three girls benefited from their friendship.
Lady Matlock had once more requested that Georgiana come out this year.
Still, with the confirmation of Elizabeth’s confinement, she gave up on that idea and began planning for all three girls to be introduced to society in the coming year.
This year, she was to introduce Anne de Bourgh, a woman with a thirty thousand pound dowry and the ownership of Rosings, to the ton.
She was challenged to overcome Anne’s shyness and her absolute certainty that she never intended to marry.
Early in February, all the Bennet sisters returned to Longbourn to finish preparations for Jane’s wedding.
Mr Bennet had given Mrs Bennet a strict budget for the wedding breakfast and Jane’s trousseau.
The Gardiners and Darcys had also contributed funds towards Jane’s trousseau, which was as complete as possible.
Darcy had also settled five thousand pounds on Jane to supplement the thousand pounds she would receive from her mother.
This, combined with the inheritance Mr Hastings had from his grandparents, had enabled the gentleman to purchase a small house for them to set up housekeeping.
This was all communicated to Elizabeth through letters, and she felt a pang at not being able to participate.
“William,” she opened one morning as they sat in breakfast in their sitting room, “are you certain we cannot travel to Hertfordshire for Jane’s wedding?”
He looked up from where he sat, reading a letter. “You cannot be serious?” he stuttered.
“I am serious,” she informed him. “I would like to go to Hertfordshire to celebrate my sister’s wedding.”
“No,” he stated simply, somewhat taken aback by her request. “We discussed this weeks ago. We agreed that it was too difficult, not to mention dangerous, for you to travel at this time. Nor do you want to stay at Longbourn, meaning we would be forced to stay at the inn in Meryton.”
“Would you want to miss your sister’s wedding?” she asked petulantly.
“Of course not, and I understand you do not wish to miss it, Elizabeth, but we have discussed the reasons for this already. We had agreed that it was best to remain at Pemberley,” Darcy replied, attempting to be patient with his wife, who had become increasingly irrational.
“We should consult the doctor to see what he thinks,” Elizabeth suggested. “He is due to visit me in a day or two.”
Darcy stared at his wife for a moment. “Elizabeth,” he began.
“No, Fitzwilliam,” she said. “You will not cajole me into changing my mind. I do not want to miss my sister’s wedding. It is so difficult to read about all the shopping and planning they have been doing and not be able to participate. I am hearty enough—a little travel has never bothered me.”
“This is not a ‘little’ travel, dearest. The weather is against us, potentially adding days to our travel. You were extremely affected by our return from Longbourn in October—you ached for days afterwards and were exceedingly tired. It took a week to recover, and I can only imagine it would be worse now,” he reminded her.
She brushed off his concerns. “I will be well,” she insisted.
Darcy scoffed. “I will allow you to speak to the physician when he calls, but I will express my concerns regarding this travel to him as well,” he stated before striding off to his study.
He was frustrated with his wife, recognising that her growing irrationality likely resulted from the rapidly growing child within her.
He sat to write a note to the physician asking him to call sooner and requesting an audience with him before he visited with his wife.