Chapter 53 Lying In
Everything seemed to be happening at once, and for a moment, Elizabeth felt as though she had lost command of her life. In truth, however, very little of it concerned her directly.
“Ma’am, Walters reports that a carriage has entered the drive.”
“Thank you, Reynolds. Is everything prepared in Mr. Collins’s bedchamber?”
“Yes, ma’am. Everything stands in readiness.”
“Has my sister been informed of his imminent arrival?”
“No, ma’am. I came to you first.”
“I shall go upstairs and let her know. Has Walters heard any news of the hunting party?”
“Yes, ma’am. Peter returned twenty minutes ago. Mr. Darcy has invited Mr. Selkirk to dine and wished Cook to have ample notice.”
“Has Peter returned to Mr. Darcy?”
“Not yet, mistress. Cook is preparing a light luncheon for the hunting party, and Walters has sent to the cellars for wine.”
“I wish to speak with Peter before he returns. I shall go up to Mary now. Do not let him leave before speaking with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Elizabeth hastened to Mary’s room. She tapped on the door and entered. Addressing the two midwives, she said, “Mr. Collins has arrived from Kent.”
Miriam looked toward her patient. “Mrs. Collins, do you wish to see your husband, or shall we deny him entry?”
Mary hesitated. “Lizzy, what ought I to do?”
Elizabeth turned to Mrs. Swinton. “Is it customary to admit the husband into the lying-in chamber before the birth?”
Miriam grinned. “No, Mrs. Darcy, it is not generally done. However, I make exceptions when the husband and wife are particularly attached to one another.”
Mary answered firmly. “No, please do not admit him. I should find his presence too distressing, and I have enough upon my mind already.”
Elizabeth crossed to her sister, who stood beside the bed, grasping the sturdy bedpost. “You are in capable hands, Mary. Be strong.”
Then she excused herself and went downstairs to greet her guest and speak with Peter Miller, the footman who carried news of her husband and the hunting party.
Mr. Collins presented himself in her drawing room before Peter Miller appeared. As Walters showed him in, Elizabeth studied the man closely. He carried extra weight, but his height prevented it from detracting from his appearance. His manner remained grave.
He approached and made a formal bow. Elizabeth sat, and he did the same.
She soon noticed a change in his appearance.
He no longer wore his hair parted. Instead, it had been cut and arranged in the fashionable Brutus style.
The short crop, brushed forward with a little fullness on top, suited his thick, straight hair and the shape of his head remarkably well.
He was an attractive man, and the new style made him more so.
Elizabeth regarded him with suspicion. Was this new hairstyle an attempt to attract women during his wife's absence?
She rebuked herself for the thought. What concern was it of hers? She was not his wife.
And what significance would it hold for Mary?
Her sister would likely rejoice never to submit to his attentions again.
She would soon have two children and need not concern herself with further advances from her husband.
Indeed, the more Elizabeth considered the matter, the more convinced she became that Mary would welcome it if Mr. Collins sought comfort elsewhere.
“What think you, Mrs. Darcy?” he asked.
“Sir, I beg your pardon. I was not attending.”
“I asked whether this is not one of the prettiest estates you have ever had occasion to see.”
“Ah, yes. Pemberley House and its lands are among the prettiest I have ever seen, though I confess to a partiality for Longbourn as well. Hertfordshire is particularly lovely in the spring.”
He inclined his head. “It is only natural and proper that you should retain a fondness for your childhood home.”
He paused before adding, “Had you come to me yourself when I applied to your father for a wife, you might have called it home for the rest of your life.”
Elizabeth stiffened. “Sir, I did not mean to imply…”
He interrupted her. “Of course not. You set your sights upon a gentleman of ten times the consequence of your father’s heir.”
Elizabeth bristled. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips thinned.
He lifted a hand. “Forgive me, Mrs. Darcy. Though it is true, it was impolitic of me to state it so plainly.”
He coughed and then asked, “How is my wife, Mrs. Darcy? May I see her?”
“Mary is in labor now, sir. The lying-in was not expected until July, but because she carries twins…”
“Yes, yes. Mary informed me. Twins often arrive early. I suppose there can be no doubt as to their parentage. Had my wife conceived when she was abducted, the pregnancy would not yet be sufficiently advanced for a living child.”
Elizabeth rose at once, angered by his insult. She dropped a curtsey. “You must excuse me, sir. I have matters to arrange for my husband’s luncheon and that of his party.”
She crossed to the bell pull and rang with unusual force. Walters must have been standing just outside the door, for he appeared almost immediately.
“Ma’am?”
“Please show Mr. Collins to his room and have his bath drawn. He will no doubt wish to rest before coming down for dinner.”
She turned back to Mr. Collins. “Sir, should you wish to come downstairs before seven o’clock, Walters will show you to the library. My husband’s collection of rarities proves interesting to most visitors, and Walters will give you a tour.”
Mr. Collins followed Walters from the room after offering Elizabeth a bow. He lifted a hand as though intending to take hers, but she stepped back. Her expression and manner left no doubt that she would not permit such familiarity.
As she watched him ascend the stairs, one thought returned to her mind.
Yes, I believe Mary would celebrate if he decided to take a mistress.
Elizabeth was so distressed by her brother-in-law’s behavior that she found she could not sit still, so she walked the length of the drawing room, peered out the window, and then returned again. She was pacing, something she had never done in her life.
At last, Peter Miller presented himself.
“You wished to speak with me, Mrs. Darcy?”
“Yes. How goes the hunt? Have the dogs been sighted?”
“Yes, ma’am. We tracked them to a wooded area where they were feeding upon a carcass.
It was a dead lamb mistress. The baying of the hounds startled them, and they fled before anyone could take a shot.
We pursued them, and Mr. Selkirk brought down one of the larger, older dogs that broke away from the rest. The Pemberley gamekeeper took one down as well, but it is a sizeable pack, Mrs. Darcy, and your husband says it is no wonder they have already taken four of Selkirk’s lambs. ”
He paused before continuing.
“After the men have eaten, they intend to remain another two or three hours. They also plan to hunt again tomorrow, at least through the morning, and continue until shortly before the storm arrives.”
“Peter, how far away is the pack?”
“I should say a full eight miles, ma’am, though it feels farther owing to the hilly terrain.”
Her brows drew together.
“You need not worry, Mrs. Darcy. Mr. Darcy’s mount is steady and reliable, trained to carry a rider while shots are being fired.
He is not likely to spook. We also ride where the ground is less rocky and treacherous.
Mr. Darcy warned us all to take care lest one of us return injured.
He said that, in such a case, you would have much to say on the matter when we returned. ”
A faint smile touched her lips, and some of the tension left her expression. “Thank you for your tease, Peter. I confess I have been very worried, but you have eased my mind. You may go now. I am certain the men shall be very hungry by the time you return with their luncheon and wine.”
He bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
Then he departed.
With her duties toward Mr. Collins discharged, she returned to the second floor. Kitty and Georgiana sat upon the uppermost stair awaiting her return.
Elizabeth felt touched by the sight. “Are you girls waiting for news of Mary?”
Kitty answered for them both. “How is she, Lizzy? Is Mary in danger of dying because she carries two babies?”
It was a serious question, and Elizabeth did not treat it lightly.
She took a seat a few stairs below them and said, “Her risk is certainly greater. I have heard Mamma speak of such cases. She knew one woman who died of a hemorrhage and another whose infants did not position properly. They generally arrive headfirst, but one of the twins presented feet first. The mother died, though they were able to save both sons in that particular instance.”
The three women sat in silence for several minutes. At last, Elizabeth spoke.
“I was with Mary about an hour ago. She was on her feet and had spent much of the morning walking. The two midwives are in attendance because the delivery will be more complicated owing to the twins. From what I observed, I believe Mary shall do well, though I have nothing to support that belief beyond intuition. I confess I fear more for the infants, lest they arrive too early and lack the strength to survive.”
“Is there anything else you wish to ask?”
“When may we see her?” Kitty asked.
“It shall not be until after the birth. Even if everything proceeds well, she shall be very tired. She labored throughout the night and all this morning. It may be tomorrow before the babies arrive.”
“Has she eaten anything?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, dear. She has been in too much pain, and she says she is so large that she feels no hunger. She believes the babies press upon her stomach and leave her feeling full. She is drinking water, however, and once the babies are born, she shall be able to eat as much as she likes.”
Elizabeth rose. “I am going to our sister now. Send a servant if you have need of me.”
Elizabeth remained with Mary until dinner time.
Then she excused herself. “Mary, dear, I must leave you for a little while. I must go down to dinner and make polite conversation with Mr. Collins. Do you wish me to convey any message to him?”
“No, Lizzy. I have nothing to say to him.”
“Very well, sister. I shall return in about two hours.”
Miriam smiled. “Take your time, Mrs. Darcy. These babies shall not be born tonight. My expectation is that they will arrive sometime tomorrow. The good news is that both are now positioned head down for the birth.”
Elizabeth felt a surge of relief. “Thank you. I shall inform her husband of her condition.”
With that, she departed.