Chapter 14 #2
“Yes; Lizzy and I have always been close, and I have missed her more than I can say. Until I arrived a few weeks ago with my aunt and uncle, we had not seen each other since my father died last year.”
“Your sister speaks very well of the Gardiners, and I look forward to making their acquaintance one day.”
“Will you be in Derbyshire long?”
“I have important business I must attend to in London, but I shall return as soon as I can.”
“I shall look forward to it,” said Jane.
“As shall I, Mrs. Horton,” said Richard.
Darcy’s eyes widened as he looked towards his wife. She had just placed her hand over her mouth, attempting to hide her cheerful response to the pleasant conversation they had just overheard.
* * *
Richard excused himself and made his way home after they returned to the cottage, and Fitzwilliam went to find Bethel. Elizabeth turned and found her sister smiling for the first time in a long while.
“Well, Jane, what do you think about the colonel?”
“You, my sister, are an incorrigible matchmaker. I think he is a very kind man whom I have only recently met. Did he fight on the Peninsula?”
“He served under Wellesley and was wounded more than once. Since he recovered from his last injuries, he has been restricted to training new troops in London. He will not be in His Majesty’s army much longer.”
“Why do you say that?”
“My husband and Richard’s parents are concerned he might be sent back into combat—even commanding from behind the front lines is dangerous.
They wish him to sell his commission and settle down.
He inherited a small property near Matlock from his maternal grandmother and with the money from his commission, he has plans to become an estate owner. ”
“His family will be relieved when he is out of danger. He told me he needed to go to London on business; mayhap that is the reason.”
“I believe it is. He will return to Derbyshire soon, and you can become better acquainted with him. Unlike my husband, Richard has never been betrothed.”
“What? Darcy was engaged to someone before you?”
“Yes. When he was just a boy, his father signed a marriage agreement obliging him to marry the daughter of an old friend. It turned out she did not behave as the child of a peer ought, and Fitzwilliam was troubled by the thought of being trapped into a marriage of convenience. After the fire, she was repulsed by my husband’s scars and released him from the agreement. ”
“So, yours is his first engagement for love, not an obligation dictated by a contract.”
“I suppose that is a good way to look at it.”
* * *
While Elizabeth was undressing, a noticeable bulge developing in her midsection drew her attention. We are intimate so often; he is bound to observe the change. I must speak to my husband immediately.
* * *
His wife sat on the bed and watched as Darcy finished his nightly ablutions. “Fitzwilliam, there is something important we must discuss, and I hope you will be pleased.”
Darcy situated himself beside her on the bed and let out a light laugh. “Would you like a faster horse? More jewels?”
When he looked at Elizabeth, she was not smiling. What was the matter? She placed her hand on his. “My love, I am going to have a baby.” Tears sprang to his eyes and he swallowed hard. “I hope you are pleased by the news.”
“Pleased? You have made me the happiest man in England. We are starting our family, our beautiful, loving family. You have caught me off guard, but you have just given me the world.” He held Elizabeth and scattered kisses all over her face.
“How do you feel? May I get you something? My dearest, I am so happy. Are you happy? Why did you not tell me sooner?”
“You have been so busy with rebuilding the house and bringing back all the tenants, you have not been here to witness me casting up my accounts soon after breakfast nor noticed how I am slowly expanding. You have caught me napping during the day on more than one occasion. I remembered how Mama felt and acted with Lydia and Kitty, and my aunt and the midwife confirmed my condition.”
He placed his hand on her stomach and looked into her eyes. She did have a small swelling. How amazing! He kissed the spot where their baby was growing. “How did I not notice?”
“You are meeting with Bethel or the groundskeepers every day, and I wanted to be sure before I said anything. I am overjoyed it happened so quickly.” She stopped speaking as tears began to fall. “I confess I am terribly uneasy about the babe.”
“Why are you concerned? Did the midwife say anything to frighten you?”
“I could not live with myself if the baby was born with a birthmark on their face.”
Elizabeth was soon being held fast to his chest. “Did you not tell me that no one else in your family was born with it? You said the doctors informed your parents it was a random occurrence.” She still had tears in her eyes—good heavens he loved her so!
He must kiss those tears away. Each cheek was given a kiss with reverence.
“Our baby will be the most beautiful child ever born in all of England, if it is a girl, and the most handsome if it is a boy.”
“I shall pray every day you are correct. You had better tell Bethel to add a nursery to the family wing.”
They lay in bed embracing, lost in their thoughts about the future. “No more riding for you, Mrs. Darcy. We shall have to postpone our trip to the Lake District for now—I shall not have you bouncing around in the carriage. I promise we shall go as soon as we can.”
“Perhaps I can drive the phaeton if I promise to go very slowly.”
“I am only thinking of you and our little one,” he murmured as he rolled her over and once again kissed her belly.
“I know you are, and I shall never do anything that could hurt our family.”
“Our family—how I love the sound of that. I always imagined having a wife and children and now, my Lizzy, you have made my dreams come true. Thank you, my dearest wife.” She was kissed with all the love and gratitude in his heart.
From that night on, Elizabeth slept snuggled next to Darcy with his hand resting on their growing baby.
* * *
The following morning
Elizabeth was somewhat frustrated. After the happiness of her enchantment, she was loath to leave it behind, so she sought out and approached Mrs. Reynolds. “When Pemberley is rebuilt, will the enchantment of the cottage extend to the manor house?”
“It is believed if the residents are in love, they will enjoy the same happiness wherever they are.”
“That is good news because soon this cottage will not be big enough for our growing family,” Elizabeth said as she placed her hands on her belly.
“I am so delighted for you both. Perkins told me how often you have been sick in the morning, and I am relieved that is the reason.”
“Pray, say nothing to anyone else until we have the opportunity to tell our families.”
“Of course, madam, I understand. Is there anything special I can do for you?”
“I thank you but no. My aunt and the midwife told me to eat whatever I like, get plenty of exercise, and sleep! I have no complaint with following their advice.”
* * *
Several days later, the Darcys were walking towards the manor house to inspect the construction progress when Elizabeth suddenly stopped.
She hesitated before she looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“We are so pleased about the baby but how can I tell Jane? She was so devastated when hers was lost and now, I am overjoyed to be with child. I fear her response. I cannot bear to inflict more pain on my sister.”
“Dearest, Jane loves you, and she will share our joy.”
“I wish I was as certain of her reaction as you.”
He waved towards their feet. “Now that we are in the manor house, only step where I tell you. The nursery has already been started and the heir to Pemberley must be kept safe at all costs.” Darcy kissed his wife’s hair and showed her how well the building was slowly returning to what it once was.
He was proud that he could give this to Elizabeth and that they could share the growth of the manor house as well as the babe.
* * *
Georgiana came to visit while Fitzwilliam was meeting with Bethel, and for an interesting diversion, Elizabeth suggested they take a walk.
The sawing and hammering coming from the manor house complemented their rambles.
Elizabeth showed her sister the areas of the garden she hoped to cultivate in the spring and indicated the green on the rose stems that hinted at the possibility of their regrowth.
“More than anything, when the family quarters are finished, your brother and I want you to move back here as soon as possible.”
“Are you really preparing a place for me?” Tears were in the young lady’s eyes.
“Our suite and yours are almost finished, and one more room in the family wing has recently been started.”
“A guest room?”
“A nursery.”
Georgiana embraced Elizabeth and began to cry. “This is the most wonderful news! I finally have a sister and now I am going to be an aunt. Thank you for bringing so much joy back to Pemberley. Have you told my brother?”
“Yes, but only he and Mrs. Reynolds know. We are not telling anyone else before the quickening, which should be soon. I have not even had a chance to tell Jane.”
“Fitzwilliam must have been over the moon when he heard the news. You both deserve as much happiness as G-d will grant you.”
“Thank you, Georgie, you are so dear to me.”
“As I cherish having you as a sister. When will the babe arrive?”
“The midwife said it is hard to predict precisely, especially with the first one, but she believes towards the end of April or early May. To be honest, my courses have never been regular.”
While they were nearing the cottage, Jane’s carriage was stopping near the front door. “My sister has just arrived, and I have been most anxious for you to meet her.”
The coachman helped Jane alight, and Elizabeth took her sister’s hands and smiled. “Jane, allow me to introduce my newest sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgie, my elder sister, Mrs. Jane Horton.”