Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Not long after Henry disappeared to refresh himself, Sutton responded to a knock upon Jane’s bedchamber door. When Sutton stepped aside, Gran, Lizzy, and Amelia poured into the room after her.
“Oh, thank heavens you are safe!” Gran rushed forward and pulled Jane into her embrace.
After several moments, a teary Lizzy took Jane’s arm to unfurl it from their grandmother. “We would like a chance to hug her as well, Gran.” Each of her relations held her tightly and cradled her face as though examining for some visible sign of injury before proclaiming her to appear much the same if not exceedingly tired. How she had missed them!
Lizzy, who noticed the comb Sutton held in her hand, wiped her teary cheeks with the backs of her hands before reaching for the instrument. “I shall comb her hair.” She pulled Jane to sit by the fire. “Tell me if I tug too hard.”
Much to her disappointment, she could not move from her present perch with Lizzy tending to her hair, and Gran and Amelia each holding one of her hands. She needed to move around, not sit here idle while her family pampered her.
“How are you feeling?” asked Gran.
“I have been having pains for some time. I was just going to walk to see if I could bring the baby faster.”
Amelia squeezed her hand. “Let Lizzy finish your hair, then we shall take each take you on a turn about the room.”
“How did you learn I was home so quickly?”
“Well, Darcy House is closer to the duke’s home than Richmond House,” said Lizzy. “So, we awaited word while we had tea there. At the same time, I had servants watching for some sign you were returned to us. When the duke’s carriage arrived and you were with him, they informed us directly, and of course, we hastened to see you with our own eyes. We shall remain for as long as you need us, so you must let us know what you require. Georgiana came with us, but she remained in the music room. She feared overwhelming you.”
How like her family to ensure they missed nothing! “I would be pleased to see dearest Georgiana, but perhaps after the babe comes. Her consideration for my feelings does her credit.”
Sutton returned with a tray as Lizzy finished. “His Grace insisted you eat, but I did instruct Cook to prepare nothing too heavy. You do not want that lingering in your stomach as you progress. I have heard of ladies becoming sick as their time nears.” The tray was set before her containing crusty bread, broth, and a very small amount of cold beef.
Lizzy combed Jane’s hair much longer than required and thankfully, never irritated the bruise that was sure to be on the back of her scalp. Her pains were coming regularly and without the comfort of the warm bath, had become more severe. While she ate, the attention she received from her family members was somewhat unnerving—they all stared at her as though she was a performance. How she wished Henry would return! She needed him more than anyone.
Her relations stood when her husband entered her room. He smiled, but the slight fall of his shoulders gave away his disappointment finding her surrounded by the ladies of her family.
Gran walked Jane around the room once she finished her meal, then Amelia stepped forward, then Lizzy, but Henry took her arm on the next on the next. “I should like to take my wife’s hand if you do not mind.”
At Henry’s offer of support, Lizzy grinned. “Of course, Your Grace.” Her sister lifted her eyebrow as she made to return to her chair near the fire. With each circuit, Jane’s pace seemed to flag, but her husband did not complain at their slow gait or the weight he was sure to bear as she leaned against him. On the contrary, he wrapped his arm around her back and took great pains to ensure she was supported whenever a pain gripped her. No one objected when Henry accompanied her on another round of the room, but at their return to the sofa, Jane placed her free hand atop Henry’s arm to cue him to stop.
“Gran, Amelia, Lizzy, forgive me, but I do not know when this babe will come, and after all that has happened, I should like to spend some time alone with my husband. I shall send for you—any of you—should I have need of you. I swear it.”
Her grandmother stepped forward and kissed her cheek. “You should know we would never begrudge you such a request. We will be nearby should you need us, dearest.”
“You are not upset?” What Jane wanted more than anything was time with her husband, but she did not want to hurt her grandmother or Lizzy, who would take this more personally than Amelia.
“Oh, Janey, no.” Her grandmother cradled Jane’s cheeks in her palms. “You are a married lady, and wed to a gentleman you love. After the past week’s events, I cannot blame you for wanting time with him. We do want to see you and the babe when he comes. Do you understand?” After holding her gaze for a time, Gran levelled another on Henry who leaned down so her grandmother spoke in his ear.
“I would surely feel the same were I in your place,” said Lizzy as she hugged her.
Amelia was the last to come forward. “Send for us at any time.”
As soon as the door closed behind them, Jane grasped the back of the chair beside her as another pain gripped her. Once she could stand straight again, she tugged on Henry’s arm. “Come. I need to continue walking.”
Henry wrapped his arm around her back for support. “I only wish to be at your side.”
“What did my grandmother say?”
He chuckled. “Oh, only that as your pains worsen you may say things you do not mean and to remember that you love me.”
“Which I do.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I love you as well.”
Jane’s white-knuckled grip of the chair made Henry’s eyebrows lift. “Are you certain you do not wish a rest?”
She shook her head as she swayed in her spot. “No, I want to hold him.”
When the pain relented, he chuckled as he continued to lead her around the room. “My love, you are holding him now. I hope to have a chance once he is born, but between you and your family, I may not have the opportunity until he is too old.”
“You are nonsensical.” The laughing quality of her voice gave away her amusement at his quip. She had to be exhausted—to be labouring after the ordeal of the past week. Despite her gentle nature, she was a strong lady, his wife.
When they neared the bed, she took the post as support. “I know you do not wish to be all trussed up.”
He glanced down at his topcoat and waistcoat. “I would not want to shock your relations by entering in my shirtsleeves.”
She shook her head. “They are gone and shall not return until we summon them. Take them off so you are comfortable.”
He did as she asked, then resumed his place at her side. “What of us meandering the passageway? Your hair has mostly dried. Should you like to leave these rooms? I can have my valet clear our path of servants so we do not scandalise our own household.”
At her crooked smile and nod, he notified his man, then took her through each wing and room of the upstairs one at a time, a tour that included his childhood rooms, the nursery, which was too far away for his wife’s tastes, and his rooms when his father was still alive. Upon the end of their circuit, he took her by the top of the staircase where she grabbed the railing with one hand, clutched the underside of her belly with the other, and gave a great groan. Was that a dripping sound?
He bent further to where water seemed to be pooling around her slippers. The pains were not far apart now and would likely become more severe if he had to guess. “Jane?”
“We may need the midwife soon,” she said through gritted teeth.
The midwife? He had sent for the woman, but now that they were in this position, where in the hell was she?
“Can you make it to your rooms?” She gave a feeble nod.
No sooner had they drawn close to her bed than she collapsed atop it. “I cannot walk anymore. My ankles will not allow it.”
He rang, and Sutton arrived not long after with Mrs. Tanner, and he hurried to them as they entered. “Where is the midwife?” He tried to keep his voice as calm and low as possible so as not to alarm Janey, but his servants were sure to note the tone, which was not easy.
“We do not know, Your Grace,” said Mrs. Tanner in a near whisper. We have tried two. One was being of aid to another lady, and the other was not home. The footman enquired of her with the neighbour. She is a widow who lives alone. They said if she was not there, she was likely out with another delivery. Forgive me, Your Grace, but we know of no one else. We do not even have a birthing chair since Her Grace was to have her confinement at Hemel Hill. To my knowledge, no Granville babe has been born in London for at least a century. Your father as well as all three of you boys were born at Clitheroe.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Does anyone in this household know how to deliver a child?”
Sutton shook her head, while Mrs. Taylor exhaled heavily. “I have heard tales and talk of how it is done, but I have no practical knowledge, Your Grace.”
He gave a growl. “Send for Mrs. Darcy and Lady Richmond at once.”
Mrs. Tanner bustled off while Sutton hurried over to her mistress and began speaking in soft tones.
“I need to push,” said Jane with a grimace.
Her words sent a spear through his heart. Unless he was to entrust Sutton, who was not much older than his wife, he would need to do this. He had been of aid to sheep and horses, but this was not the same—it was not the same at all!
“Dearest, I need to look and see if the babe is coming.”
She was almost crumpled into a ball as she tried to draw up her nightgown.
“Relax. Let me do that.” He attempted to keep his voice as soothing as he could manage even though his heart was about to explode from his chest it beat so hard. No matter what state he was in, he could not frighten Jane. She would need her wits about her to endure this.
When the fabric was pulled away, he took a deep breath to steady himself. “Janey, I can see the top of the head.”
She dropped back to the mattress for a moment before sucking in a breath that was not exhaled and curling into herself once more.
The babe’s head began to move down, and he could only gape while more and more of his child emerged from his wife’s body. The door opened and Lady Richmond followed by Mrs. Darcy hastened into the room.
With one look at what was happening, Mrs. Darcy went to her sister’s head, and as soon as Jane relaxed, Mrs. Darcy shifted behind Janey. “It will be easier if you are not lying back. Grasp your thighs. You can curl into them as you bear down.”
“Your Grace, you will need to free the shoulder on her next push,” said Lady Richmond who pointed.
When Jane began sucking in another breath, his shaky hand reached in and with a careful press as his wife pushed, the babe slid into his palms.
He stared at the child in front of him. It was not moving. Good God. What was he supposed to do?
“Free his neck,” whispered Lady Richmond. She reached for the cord coiled around his neck and freed the child’s head. “Now rub him.”
Sutton handed him rags, but he only wiped once before the older lady took the rags. “Not like that. Like this.” She scrubbed the babe’s back and stomach and wiped out his mouth. As she scrubbed his back again, the child let out an ungodly wail.
He could have fainted and cried all at once. After everything his wife had been through—No, he could not even consider if that had happened. “Thank you, Lady Richmond.”
She laughed and patted him on his shoulder. “Well, I am certain not many gentlemen, much less dukes, deliver their own children. I believe you are to be forgiven if you do not know much of how it is done. I am certain you are much more knowledgeable of the subject in horses.”
“And sheep.”
The older lady patted him on the back. “You did well. Next time I suspect you will be proficient.”
“Next time?” He could not imagine a next time at the moment—having another or even acting as midwife when the time came.
“Is he well?” asked Janey. Her head rested on her sister’s shoulder. She appeared as though struggling to remain awake.
“Yes, he is well, except he is a she.” Now that he had time to really look at the squalling bundle before him, the child Jane had sworn would be a boy was, in actuality, a girl.
Mrs. Darcy laughed. “So if you believe it to be a girl next time, she will likely be a boy.”
“Be quiet,” said his wife with a soft smile.
Lady Richmond instructed him on how to cut the cord and tie it off. One of the neighbouring housekeepers appeared who had delivered a good number of babies over the years and saw to the afterbirth. It seemed that in her desperation, Mrs. Tanner enquired at the homes in the hopes of finding some sort of help.
After Sutton cleaned and swaddled the small girl, she handed her to Jane. He had situated himself to the opposite side as her sister, and she repositioned her head on his shoulder.
“She is beautiful, Jane,” said Mrs. Darcy.
“She is that,” said Lady Richmond. “What do you plan on naming her?”
He chuckled. “Jane insisted on not planning for a girl’s name since she was so sure—”
His wife gave an exasperated sigh. “Shall I be reminded of that for the rest of my life?”
After pressing a kiss to her head, he grinned into her hair. “You are so rarely stubborn, my dear. How could I ever let you forget?”
Mrs. Darcy grinned “Wait until we tell Nicholas you had a fit of recalcitrance.”
Jane groaned and shook her head. “He will be as insufferable as ever. By the way, Lizzy, how did you and Gran arrive so quickly? One moment, my husband told the servant to send for you, and the next, you were coming in the door.”
After she bit her lip, Mrs. Darcy tilted her head with a smile. “I hope you will not be angry with us, but we remained in the music room in the event we were needed. Your housekeeper provided us with refreshments, Georgiana played the pianoforte for entertainment, and we were quite comfortable, I assure you.”
“Given the circumstances, how can we be angry?” he asked. He shook himself internally to push back the thoughts of what could have occurred had Lady Richmond not arrived with such haste.
“I must say that I need to fetch Georgiana and return home,” said Mrs. Darcy. “Fitzwilliam sent word he had arrived three hours ago.” She kissed her sister, then her grandmother kissed Janey as well. They both departed with promises to return on the morrow.
Not long after, the neighbouring housekeeper departed, and Sutton took the baby so Henry could move Janey into his bedchamber while the maid put his wife’s bed to rights. When they were finally alone, Jane trailed her finger along the child’s soft cheek while the babe held his finger in her tight grasp.
“I had forgotten how small Emme and Jules were when they were newly born.”
“Are you disappointed?”
He frowned and tipped his wife’s cheek up so their gazes met. “Why should I be disappointed? You and our child are healthy. That is all I could ask for.”
“But you require an heir. You said so yourself when we were betrothed.”
“Oh, that.” He shrugged. “Well, since Simon is dead and no longer a threat, Charles can inherit the dukedom if we have naught but a bevy of daughters, and if he has died, then a son of his can inherit. In the meantime, whatever God sees fit to give us, I shall happily accept.”
With a sob, she buried her face into his chest while he held her.
“Is that why you were so insistent she was a boy?”
Her head shook before she lifted her face. “No, I just had a feeling, but when you said she was a girl, I worried you would be dismayed she was not a boy. My father—”
“I am not your father, dearest, and I shall love whoever comes to join our little family.” Her relations had spoken of Mr. Bennet and the last thing he wished was to be compared to the man.
She yawned. “I am so tired.”
“We do have one very important task before we sleep.” He could not wait to hold her while she slept—to reassure himself she was hale, whole, and returned to him.
“What is that?” By the tone of her voice, she had closed her eyes and was barely awake.
“Naming our daughter.”
“I had selected the name for a boy. You should choose for a girl.”
He watched their daughter sleep for a time while Janey’s breathing evened. “What of Clarissa?”
Her breathing hitched, and she frowned. “A rather sad story, do you not think?”
“But do you like the name?”
“I think it pretty.” Her voice resembled when she talked in her sleep. If they were to decide, it would need to be before she truly slept.
“Clarissa Jane—”
“Elizabeth Granville,” whispered Jane.
A soft snore from beside him told him his wife had succumbed to her dreams not a moment later.