Chapter 41 #2
“I will not be able to face this ordeal unless I know for certain that you and our child or children will be well. My demise is not something that I want to contemplate, but we all know that there is always a risk with childbirth, and in our case, even more so. Promise me, swear to me, that you will be strong for our children should it come to that. Please William, I need to know this before I commence my lying-in,” she pleaded with large teardrops falling from her very fine eyes.
He was deep in thought for a while, as she knew that whenever he had weighty issues to consider he would look at every possible angle before making a decision.
After what seemed like hours, he cleared his throat and met her eyes again.
“I will give you my word as your husband who loves you beyond all others that I will do as you ask if God takes you from me. If He does, I will never forgive Him, but it will be as you ask.” As he spoke, he had a look of utter dejection on his countenance at just having to think about the loss of his beloved Lizzy.
For the next hour or two they did not leave their suite, they just lay in each other’s arms drawing strength one from the other.
Later, when they joined Jane and Richard to eat dinner, it was reported by the Fitzwilliams that Sir Frederick imparted to them that everything seemed to be normal and was proceeding as expected with Jane’s pregnancy.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As the days continued to march by, Thomas and Fanny Bennet arrived home as scheduled, and although they worried for the health of their second daughter, the news of three babes was not too shocking, as they had been prepared for it.
Two weeks later, the Fitzwilliams and Jerseys arrived with the younger set in tow. Lady Sarah wanted to be on hand when her goddaughter gave birth. The three young ladies back fresh from the ball and of their first, if shortened season, were full of tales of balls and beaus.
Timothy Jacobson returned to Janet’s Well from Town to take up the reins of his inheritance that became his as he reached his majority on his one and twentieth birthday in December of 1812.
On the agreed-upon date, the accoucheur with the two additional nurses arrived to reside at Longbourn.
He advised the Earl and Countess of Pemberley to find two wet nurses as even if her Ladyship chose to feed the babes herself, she would not be able to feed all three.
The local midwife was applied to and she reported that she would have wet nurses for them to interview soon.
Jane did not require one as she planned to feed her babe and expecting only one made it a much easier proposition.
On the tenth day of March, after a relatively short labour for a first child, Lady Jane Fitzwilliam gave birth to a perfect baby girl who, according to Lady Longbourn, was an exact copy of her mother at birth.
She was delivered by the same midwife who had delivered her mother, Mrs Richardson.
Sir Frederick was standing by in case he was needed, but as it happened, he was not.
Jane had a little more bleeding than most, but it soon ceased and she was able to feed her daughter for the first time after both mother and child were cleaned and changed.
After the elated mother and father cooed over their perfect daughter—the most beautiful ever in their humble opinions—they decided on the name Elaine Fanny Bennet Fitzwilliam. They honoured both grandmothers and they would call her Elly.
“There is no Viscount Meryton yet,” said an overjoyed first-time grandmother, “but is it not apropos Thomas that our first daughter’s babe is a little girl that looks just like she did as a babe?”
“I could not agree with you more, Fanny. As far as the Viscount is concerned, if Lizzy has two boys one will be the Pemberley heir, Viscount Rivington, and the other will be Viscount Meryton. Lizzy has gifted Bennet Park to be my heir’s seat.
Even if she births three girls, as long as she is healthy, I care not!
” Lord Longbourn said with deep feeling and worry for his second daughter.
The Fitzwilliam grandparents could not but agree that little Elly was perfect, serene and beautiful like her mama.
The plethora of aunts and uncles could only fall in line as they took turns holding her.
When Mary and her niece sat down in the nursery, she met her niece’s eyes and the young lady ceased fussing.
“My love, you may have the hardest of tasks if you too inherited the Bennet blood, but you have the exact mother whose example you should follow. Should you be slightly less able to be so serene, you will have my character. You may come to my house and I promise to help you express yourself and find your own way as I will my own daughters. Do not be afraid of yourself as I was. If you are very lucky you will be a mix of myself, your mother and your Aunt Lizzy,” she said as she smiled at her niece.
“Your mother deserves only the best version of all of us in her children.” She lifted her niece and kissed her, cuddling her protectively in her arms.
Unbeknownst to the Marchioness, her father was standing and listing as she held and spoke to her new niece, “As for your father and uncles, there is some debate on which of your aunts is happiest but if they have their way, I can promise you this: You will be locked in a tower until you are thirty and assuredly rich but on the shelf. You will also be given a horse that men will drool over as much as they will you…” she started her list and Lord Longbourn’s laugh filled the nursery and spilled out into the halls; Mary suddenly became aware that she had garnered the attention of the household.
Kitty walked up to her mother from behind and wrapped around her, resting her chin on her mother’s shoulder.
“I would love to have three Lizzy’s running around my house, but without one Mary my house would not be complete.
How did I ever not see her…” she tried to stem her sadness after all the dismissals she had given her middle sister.
“She was not ready to be seen, Kitty,” Hugh soothed his sister-in-law, smiling at the scene. He appreciated his Mary more every day, with her eyes watching all, a keen intellect, and a sense of humour he could not get enough of.
“I feel I must warn you about your father,” Mary sighed.
“Actually, your father and both of your grandfathers fall into this category so listen well. They are often teasing, so you have my leave to cross verbal swords with them as you dare,” she said as she gave her father a playful look.
“Your Uncle Darcy needs a hundred hugs a day and with the brood your Aunt will have, there will be a few needed from you as she will only be able to give him ninety or so. With your Uncle Hugh, I fear that if you have my disposition, he will also be yours to command at will…” Mary smiled when she heard his laughter behind her, surprised when she turned to look and saw all their family.
“When in Longbourn, unless the door is closed your conversations are for the ears of all,” Mary added drolly, gaining the laughter of her family as she kissed her niece while hugging her close.
The next moment Kitty was at her other side and was hugging Mary and patting their niece.
Mary rested her head atop Kitty’s and the rest of the family left them alone as Mary started to explain why she had needed some extra time before she was able to become closer with her sisters and that she looked forward to spending more time with her younger siblings this visit.
As Lizzy was essentially on bedrest, she could not be present for Elly’s birth so she had to wait a sennight before the proud papa brought her in to meet her Aunt Lizzy for a short time.
“I hear tell that you had quite the talk with your Aunt Mary. Probably a longer one than any of us have been blessed with, maybe ever.” Elizabeth kissed and cuddled her niece.
“You cannot imagine how loved you are, Elly, and Aunt Mary was right, Uncle William does need a hundred hugs a day. I would be most happy for your help!” She stated softly, tears dropping on her niece’s cheek.
“You have the very best of mothers, truly, and you have a bevy of aunts that will be desperate for you to come visit, a slew of cousins who will want your time, and a whole lot of uncles and grandparents, some of the heart only, that will be vying for your attention and to spoil you. But if you are your mother’s daughter, then you will be the best example for all of our children to follow.
You will be outgoing if you follow the personalities of Aunts Helen, Lydia, or Kitty; truly angelic if you have your mother’s disposition or that of Aunt Charlotte’s or Anne’s, but if you are as your Aunt Mary?
You, Elly, will be a true gift to us and one we will not fail to see. ” She hugged her niece in tight.
“She was right about your grandfathers and papa. They truly are jokesters. Also, what she may not have gotten around to? Your grandmothers? All six or seven of them? They are the backbones of this family. The men who have chosen us are special, they want us to be truly the best version of ourselves, and as the first grandchild I fear you will be spoiled most assuredly. Do not tell any of your other aunts and uncles, but you already have a room assigned just to you at Pemberley for when you are out of the nursery. I am having it painted in a beautiful rose and cream colour scheme and your bed will have so many pillows and dolls you may not be able to squeeze into it.” She kissed Elly again, nodding when her husband chuckled and saw that they were also being listened to by quite a crowd.