Chapter 41
At the end of their second week in town, Lord and Lady Pemberley were ushered into his study after Elizabeth was examined by Sir Frederick. Once they were settled, the couple was very impatient to hear what the accoucheur had to report to them.
“Everything seems to be progressing as I would expect,” the physician offered in his professional way.
“We appreciate hearing that information,” said a frustrated mother to be, “but what about the babes? Could you hear the heartbeats and if so, how many?”
“I am sorry to disappoint you your Lordship and Ladyship I could not hear them yet…” He was cut off by Darcy before he could complete his thought.
“Did you not say that you would be able to hear them after the quickening?” The Earl enquired with not a little bite to his words.
“I understand your concern, but if you remember I said that it was possible that I would be able to hear a heartbeat,” he held up his hand to waylay either from speaking. “According to what you told me, you felt the quickening a little more than a fortnight ago, is that so Lady Pemberley?”
“Yes, Sir Frederick, that is correct,” she said with some asperity.
“Then based on my estimation that you may have more than two, I am not very surprised that I was not able to hear the hearts.
With the possibility that there may be three gifts from God that you are carrying, your Ladyship, at this stage they would be very small, much smaller than if there was only one babe.
That said, it could be another month before I am able to discern the sounds of the hearts.
“If there were a device that made listening to the heartbeats easier, then it is possible that I would hear them now, but all I have is what is available. Unfortunately, the conical device that I use, is not very effective,” Sir Frederick explained gently.
“Will we need to come to you in a month here in Town? I would prefer that my lady wife not have to travel anymore once we travel to Hertfordshire in another ten days,” Darcy stated, still frustrated.
What the accoucheur had told them made perfect sense and getting upset with him would not change the outcome.
“No, your Lordship, I will come to you. It is but a short ride in a carriage to Lord Longbourn’s estate so it is not a hardship for me to make the trip.
I will bring a nurse with me who will stay with her Ladyship until I return to wait for the birth.
When I do come in early March, I will be accompanied by two more nurses,” he informed them calmly.
The Darcys thanked Sir Frederick for his time and care, and after leaving his gratuity, returned to Darcy House.
Darcy sent notes to the family to notify them what Sir Frederick had imparted to them.
Lizzy was sad that she would not be able to attend the upcoming coming out ball for Kitty, Tiffany, and Loretta, but was consoled by being able to be at Georgie and Helen’s the following year.
Unless she was increasing again, which she hoped would not be the case so soon after her first.
The final week in Town was spent attending only a few social events.
At the two balls that the Darcys attended, husband and wife danced the first and then sat out until their early departure soon after the meal.
There were visits to the modiste, cobbler, milliner, Gunter’s and Hatchards.
More than one visit was made to Gunter’s as Elizabeth found that her state had gifted her with quite a sweet tooth.
She had always liked sweet things, but now she craved them.
Helen and Lydia were still at school but Kitty had completed her programme before the Christmas break.
Helen would complete her schooling with the end of the current term in May.
Lydia would return to the Greenlake School for Young Ladies for one more year starting in August. Lydia would not be alone at the school for her final year, as she would be joined by Georgiana Darcy for one term of finishing school and Lily Gardiner, who would just be commencing her formal schooling.
The night before the short trip into Hertfordshire, the Darcys hosted the whole family at Darcy House.
It was at the dinner that Marie informed the family that she was again with child—an open secret with all of the pregnancy detecting matriarchs—increasing for her third time.
Four-year-old David stated with the surety of a young child that Mama would give him a brother while his almost two-year-old sister Gillian demanded a sister.
Toasts were drunk to the multitude of children expected over the next number of months, which would significantly increase the size of the already large family.
At that same dinner, Jane informed the sister she was closest to that rather than return to Brookfield, she and Richard would be leaving town in a sennight for Bennet Fields.
Lizzy was beyond excited at the news as not only would the rest of the Fitzwilliams all be in Hertfordshire, but she would be there for Jane’s lying-in and Jane for hers.
The sisters hugged, both sobbing uncontrollably, more than likely happy but no one was willing to take his or her life in their hands by suggesting that the crying may be because of one of those side effects of being with child.
By the time the two had cried themselves out, the primary emotion they felt was joy at being close to each other as they birthed their first babes.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On the fifteenth day of February, Richard and Jane arrived at Bennet Fields.
They had remained in town to see their two sisters and cousin presented to Queen Charlotte and to attend their coming out ball where Richard as brother to two, did his best scowling Darcy impression to scare young men away from Tiffany and Kitty.
Loretta was well protected with her family and especially her brother.
The Earl and Countess of Matlock and the Viscount and Viscountess of Hilldale were in Town with the newly out in society young ladies and would accompany the girls to functions then bring them to Hertfordshire in March.
Lord and Lady Longbourn would depart Town a fortnight ahead of the Fitzwilliams, leaving Kitty under their protection.
Georgie was in London with her sister Kitty and would return with their Fitzwilliam brother and sister.
The first thing the Fitzwilliams did after a bath and changing clothing was make the short trip to Longbourn. “My, my, Jane, have we not increased!” Elizabeth exclaimed when they entered the library as they had been informed that was where the Darcys were.
“Speak for yourself, sister!” Jane teased right back.
“Yes, Lizzy, I am much larger than I was, but I am thankful that I was able to be at the coming out ball. The young ladies looked magnificent and had the best time, even with my overprotective husband and the other men in the family there to scare off all the young men,” she said playfully as she looked lovingly at her husband.
“Yes, well, it was my duty. You forget that I was ably assisted by Andrew who was practicing for when Gillian comes out, at least there is time before that eventuality,” Sir Richard said as he looked lovingly at his wife.
“You look well Lizzy, and your size makes my belly look like it is hardly swollen. When does the accoucheur arrive to examine you?” Jane asked while she looked at her sister who was almost as round as she was tall.
“He will be here on Wednesday,” Elizabeth said as she rubbed her stomach gently.
“Do you think he will check Jane for us?” Richard asked anxiously.
“I am sure that he will not object, just be here before midday and you will be able to make your request of him in person,” Darcy suggested.
With that the ladies repaired to a drawing room for tea while the men remained in the library to discuss what men like to discuss: hunting and horseflesh.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Wednesday Sir Frederick and his nurse arrived shortly after midday.
He agreed when the request was put to him to examine Lady Jane after he completed his examination of her sister.
He asked the Countess of Pemberley to prepare and she was assisted up to their suite by her husband and the nurse where her abigail was waiting to assist. When she was ready, the accoucheur was called into the chamber.
He requested silence and then he placed his listening device on various points of her much-enlarged stomach.
After what seemed like a very long time, he stood up and placed the device on a side table.
Rather than keeping the Darcys in suspense he did not wait for them to ask him the results.
“It is as I thought, I detected three distinct heartbeats.”
“Oh my, I thought I was prepared to hear this, but it is still a shock to know that it is a reality and not a supposition,” the Countess said as tears of apprehension rolled down her cheeks.
“You are a very healthy woman, your Ladyship. I understand that you are a great walker and that you rode for exercise too. Your fitness will be an asset when it is your time,” Sir Frederick assured them, as Darcy looked a little pale at the news.
“You are in as good a shape as could be hoped for Lady Pemberley, so there is every reason to expect a good outcome.” The accoucheur left the chambers to allow the couple some private discussion.
“William, I want you to make me a solemn promise, you must swear it on our love,” she looked up at beloved husband as she held his hands and stared into the cerulean orbs that were staring back at her with fear and apprehension.
“What promise do you require, my love?” he choked out.
“If the worst should happen and God takes me to Him,” she placed her fingers on his lips to stop the retort that was on the tip of his tongue, “and we have a living child or children, I need to be assured that you will not withdraw from the world as your own dear father did after your beloved mother passed.