Chapter 42 #3
Several days after the birth of their children Elizabeth woke up and was entranced as she watched her beloved husband in a deep and peaceful sleep.
Now that his worry for her and their babes was alleviated, serenity had spread across his features, the upturn of his lips was almost a permanent smile, his dark, wavy hair curled over his forehead now quite fascinated her.
The Countess’s lips formed a warm smile as she reflected on his peacefulness.
He stirred and she backed away quickly then his eyes opened and locked onto hers.
Since his wife was no longer on bedrest, Darcy asked Longbourn’s rector to conduct the christening on the following day.
Richard and Jane Fitzwilliam were named godparents of the heir, Lord Bennet Alexander Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mary and Hugh Rhys-Davies were asked to be godparents of Lord George Thomas Fitzwilliam Bennet-Darcy, while Lady Frances Anne Elizabeth Darcy gained Andrew and Marie Fitzwilliam as godparents.
After the christening, the Fitzwilliams headed back to Bennet Fields to prepare for their return to the North now that Jane was able to travel and Elly was strong enough to endure the journey.
The very proud aunts, Kitty, Lydia, and Helen returned to school in Town.
The Duke, Duchess, Marquess, and Marchioness all headed back to their estates while the De Melvilles and Gardiners went back to Town.
Now that most of the family had departed and the house was much quieter, all of the callers were from the neighbourhood.
Seeing that Lady Georgiana was the only one in her age group in residence, she became friendly with Maria Lucas who was of the same age.
Georgiana was a very good influence on the younger Lucas daughter who after watching Lydia and Kitty from the fringes had finally decided that it was time for her to start maturing and acting more in line with those closest to her.
The Darcys needed more time than the Fitzwilliams before they were ready to depart Longbourn due to the longer recovery period that the Countess of Pemberley had required.
By the middle of April, the Bennets returned from Easter at Rosings Park with the Ashbys who wanted to visit the Darcys at Longbourn.
There had been a plan for all of the family to hie to Rosings Park for Easter, but Anne understood that Richard and Jane and her Darcy cousins could not join them with their new-borns.
The rest of the Fitzwilliams, Lord and Lady Longbourn, and the three unmarried daughters with Georgiana Darcy went and had a very enjoyable Easter with Anne and Ian.
Lord and Lady Granville had joined them, as did the rest of the Ashbys.
Lady Sarah had found it a little disheartening that she was not yet with child, but she was sure that her time would come.
With the stops needed to feed the triplets, the return to Pemberley took a little under four days.
On the fourth day of travel in the late afternoon the carriages and cart passed the welcoming gates of Pemberley, bringing the two baby viscounts and their sister to Pemberley for the first time.
The gatekeeper, hat in hand, bowed low in reverence to the returning family.
Just after he closed the gate, he fired the two shots to send the waiting groom hurtling toward the manor house.
By the time the carriages stopped moving, Mrs Reynolds, Mr Douglas and all of the Pemberley servants were lined up waiting for the family to alight. There was no misunderstanding, they were there to see the Darcy three.
Lord Ben was held by his proud Papa, Lord George by his Mama and Georgie had the honour of holding Lady Franny.
Once the head servants were introduced to the three, the Darcys waited patiently as the rest of the servants filed by to get a glimpse of the miracles that the master and mistress had brought home.
Not long after, the children were in the nursery under the watchful eyes of their nursemaids and wet nurses.
Lady Franny was no longer notably smaller than her brothers so their Mama fed each one for a day in rotation.
Later that evening after Elizabeth had fed Ben and before the three were put down for the night, the Earl and Countess were standing on the balcony attached to their suite looking out on a warm and clear summer night enjoying a light, cooling breeze.
They could not have been happier and more in love if they could have attempted to invent more reasons.
“William?” Elizabeth looked up at her husband.
“Yes, my love?” he gave her a quizzical look knowing that she had something that she wanted to say, but no idea what it was.
“Could you imagine where we would be if you had not changed or I had been too stubborn to give you another chance? Look at our family, I could not fathom a world without our darling sons and daughter in it, and but for just a decision or two different that we made, they may not have been with us,” she opined softly.
“Now my love, did we not promise to no longer regret the past and look forward?” he asked as he kissed his wife, reminding her of his love.
“We did. Am I not allowed to be grateful for what we do have?” she asked as she arched an impertinent eyebrow.
“Yes, my love, yes there is nought wrong with being thankful. Until I leave the mortal world, I will be thankful each and every day for you being my wife, my love, my heart. For giving me a second chance, accepting me, and loving me. For being the mother of our wonderful children, for being the very best sister to our Georgie. Lastly for seeing beyond the hypocrite to the man that lay dormant within, the true man that I became. I love you with my heart, body, and soul, with all of my being, you are my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”
“As I do you, William, as I do you and always will not even death will end the love that we share,” Lizzy promised as she looked up into his eyes, smiling when she found they were firmly fixed on her alone.