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Chapter21c ~ continued

“It was never my intent not to confide in you afterwards, Richard. I assure you, but when you appeared at Pemberley you seemed so troubled, your mind so…burdened. I did not want to add to it.”

The Colonel merely nodded, able to accept this explanation of the caring Darcy he had always known. Then he remembered all the months of anguish he had witnessed in his cousin that led up their terrible argument before Darcy’s return home.

“Darcy, I knew not how to aid you during all those months before your return to Pemberley, and until recently with my own harrowing experiences, knew not how you had managed to survived it until you had gained strength enough to begin to heal.”

Each cousin gazed at the other with the knowledge that each had suffered through a personal anguish. “When I followed you that next day among the party that included the Bingleys and Georgiana it was with such trepidation as to what I would find here. Imagine my astonishment at how altered you were from the day before, so alert and confidant, without the need of brandy for which you had become so lately fond. I thought that it was Pemberley that had cured you, and that I had been correct in allowing your return.”

“It was Elizabeth who saved me, Richard. She made me whole again in ways I find hard to describe by her gift of love. Beyond any other dream, she had been so real that when I awoke the next morning I could still smell her fragrance. I could taste her lips upon my own. She had infused herself inside me so completely, Richard, I knew we would never again be parted. I had but to close my eyes and there she would be with this overwhelming love, constantly with me, in my mind, in my heart, in my very soul. I knew I could thereafter remain steady with her presence within me though after waking to her absence…I thought she had been but a dream.”

“And when you found out she was not a dream…?”

“I knew I must have her marry me that I might save them both as she had me.”

Richard’s eyes narrowed at Darcy’s statement. “You suspected she was with child as early as that?”

Darcy pursed his lips, and his eyes took on a dreamy stare as he remembered that day. Then he focused on his cousin in an unrepentant stare. “I hoped it were so, nay, prayed it be so, except for the anguish to Elizabeth.”

Richard and Bingley both saw that Darcy showed no remorse for himself over his actions, but only for what Elizabeth had to endure before he returned to Longbourn to claim her as his wife.

All three men fell silent as Richard took in all of his cousin’s admissions as well as his own folly to finally come to his conclusion.

“Darcy, you did the honorable thing and married the girl as soon as possible to keep much suspicion at bay. You both seemed happy at that outcome. Her troublesome confinement has been so public as to make a plausible excuse for what appears an early delivery, that there should be no repercussions. I most certainly will say nothing of it, and Bingley here has known for quite some time without disclosure. Your reputation remains intact.” Darcy sighed.

“I cannot allow you to think less of Elizabeth for what I did, Richard.”

Staring at his cousin Richard sighed in return and shook his head, now feeling such remorse at his erroneous conclusions and of his brutal harshness to the lady.

How I must have wounded her with my words when she was not to blame. She must despise me now.

Richard acknowledged his error in judgment. “Indeed I do not, Darcy, for after all your disclosures I find quite the opposite it true. Cousin, I know you were not yourself all those months prior to your return to Pemberley. If it was Elizabeth’s love that brought you back from wherever you abided, then…I shall also be eternally grateful to the lady. If the result of whatever happened that day is this child, then, my only hope is that it adds to your joy.”

Darcy nodded at his cousin’s own admissions of his unwarranted criticism that had now turned into his overwhelming approval of Elizabeth.

“Thank you, Richard.”

*Harcourt House was an upscale brothel during the time where men of wealth took their teenage sons to be initiated into manhood that they know how women could use their charms to ensnare them. Frankly, in my opinion, it only initiated the young men into something they would prefer more of.

The birthing had taken most of the night with now muffled screams that pierced Darcy’s heart. As dawn peaked over the eastern horizon, Jane emerged to see that only Darcy had kept his vigil on a chair in the hallway, a Bible opened on the table nearby. Both Bingley and Richard seemed to have nodded off while sitting on the settee and the bench on either side of him.

Darcy gazed at Jane with expectant eyes, darkened circles beneath them from prolonged sleeplessness and worry, and stubble of hair on his cheeks. She whispered her reassurance.

“She is fine, and wishes for you to come see your new family.”

He rose slowly, swallowing before bolting to a stop at the threshold of the still darkened room while Jane remained out in the hallway to awaken her husband with the news and have him take her to their home.

Seeing only that which he most wished to see, Darcy quietly walked over to the bed and leaned down to kiss Elizabeth’s forehead, tasting her delicious skin still coated with perspiration, her hair loose framing her beautiful but pale face, her eyes gazing back at him.

“Good morning, my love,” he whispered. “How are you?”

His hands held her face, his arms aching to fold her into them, but he hesitated. She smiled and gazed into his loving eyes.

“I am fine. We are fine, more than fine. It merely took longer than we anticipated.”

Both the doctor and midwife wiped their hands dry smiling as Elizabeth slowly drew back the covers to reveal not one, but two tiny infants comfortably sleeping beside their mother.

“Oh, Lizzy,” Darcy could barely contain his joy as tears filled his eyes at the sight of them. He fell to his knees by the bed to get a closer look, gently pulling back the bunting from their faces that were identical as far as he could tell. Then staring at her once more, he asked in a serious tone, “and you are sure…all is well? Tell me, Lizzy, I beg you.”

Smiling she assured him. “Yes, I am fine, Fitzwilliam. The babies are fine. I am fine.” She paused before she added, “we are four now.” She said it with such animation, they both laughed softly.

Hearing the murmuring behind him, Darcy rose and shook the doctor’s hand, and thanked the midwife for all they had done for his wife and his children.

“Mr. Darcy, I am just grateful for this happy outcome, to have delivered a healthy son and daughter to you after so troublesome a confinement is a testament to your wife’s fortitude and strength. She is a most remarkable woman.”

“Yes, yes she is.”

Turning again to gaze upon his wife, Darcy seemed suddenly unaware of the existence of any other persons in the room. He walked to the opposite side of her bed and before their startled faces he gently reclined beside her, enclosing her in his embrace.

As all quietly packed up to depart Darcy vaguely heard someone say to him that his wife needed her rest, and suggested that he too may need to sleep. Without taking his eyes from Elizabeth, he said quietly, “I will see to it…as I am not leaving this room again for quite some time.”

Gently he cradled Elizabeth’s head in his hand, and they all watched as she smiled closing her eyes to immediately fall into a restful slumber. Darcy’s arm then gently encircled Elizabeth and now the babies too. Only then did he allow his own eyes to close, breathing in her wonderful scent. Unlike the last time he felt such weariness, the day he thought her but a dream, he knew now how very real she was, and that she would be with him when he awoke.

When he heard a discussion of whether the babies should be removed to the nursery Darcy replied softly, “leave them to us. We will care for them for now.”

Although his voice was barely above a whisper, all in the room realized that this was not a request, but rather an order from the master of Pemberley, so they all quietly removed themselves from the room.

Darcy was awakened two hours later with the sound of a baby’s cry and then a strange sound thus far unknown to him. He opened his eyes to see Elizabeth nursing one of the infants. She turned her head and smiled at him, her eyes barely opened. Even in this short amount of time, he could see her Bennet heritage rallying with her face showing renewed color. He silently thanked the Almighty that their children shared her mettle, calming in the knowledge of their thriving.

She brought him out of his revelry with a jest. “It seems your son has your same eagerness when it comes to my breast.”

He smiled watching the serenity in her face, his curiosity piqued. “How does it feel?”

“I can find no word to accurately describe it, and am merely happy that I have milk with which to nourish him.”

“Then are we still to hire a wet nurse?”

“The midwife thought I could manager but the doctor worried at my ability to feed both infants. They have together given me permission to attempt it suggesting some teas that will increase my production.* If I fail we can surely find a respectable woman in Lambton to help.”

“You will not fail, Lizzy.”

“That remains to be seen. Hand me your daughter that she may also partake.”

Gingerly Darcy held his tiny child in his massive hands, inspecting her sweet face as she yawned. He could not take his eyes from her.

Here you are, the one I swore to protect when first I hoped Elizabeth carried you, my daughter.

When he drew his eyes finally away from such an angelic sight they fell upon Elizabeth’s smiling face as she watched him falling in love with his child. He actually blushed.

“Forgive my procrastinating to hand her over to you that I may look upon her, Lizzy. I know it delays your being allowed to sleep once more, but she is so...so…”

“Pure, as with the breath of God still upon her?”

His eyes misted over as he nodded, breathing in that heavenly scent of a newborn. He gently nuzzled the babe on Elizabeth’s stomach positioning her tiny mouth up to Elizabeth’s unoccupied breast, caressing her cheek with his finger, coaxing her to open her lips. Obediently the tiny baby obliged her father and began to suckle with ease.

“You are very good with children, my dear,” Elizabeth quipped.

He kissed her hair and whispered, “that too remains to be seen. It has been so long since Georgie was this small.”

Then he pulled back to view his wife with their second infant nursing, her face displaying such contentment. He teased her. “I feel a pang of jealousy in my heart. Mrs. Darcy, your look is of such contentment that I am not a part.”

She laughed and shook her head. “but you were a part of this, and will continue in that role in their future. I am merely pleased to find I am sustaining them still. Is that not how it is supposed to be, Fitzwilliam?”

He nodded, and smiled and knelt over her, his hands placed carefully beside both babes, and kissed her lips, tasting their sweet flavor. “Yes, my wife. This is exactly how it is supposed to be.”

*For those who breast feed, there were and still are herbal teas that enhance milk production.

Chapter 22a

Posted on Tuesday, 9 August 2005

The very next morning Georgiana awoke early and realized that no one had come for her with news of the birth. She looked down at her rumpled dress realizing that she had fallen asleep fully clothed after she had exhausted herself with crying. Remembering all that she had heard in the hallway last night, she rose quickly, smoothing the wrinkles as best she could and washed her face. Then while trying to re-pin her wayward curls she made her way quickly to the nursery. Hoping to find Elizabeth also within she entered the room to discover that the babes had not left their mother’s side.

Of course, they would yet be in the small alcove leading off Elizabeth’s bedchamber that she may keep them close.

Georgiana bit her lower lip as she stole quietly down the still deserted hallway to Elizabeth’s bedchamber door. Knocking softly and then slowly entering, her voice was barely above a whisper. “Elizabeth?”

Hearing no reply, Georgians quietly walked up to Elizabeth’s bed wishing to speak to the woman who as her sister deserved both her loyalty, and her courtesy. Finding Elizabeth sleeping so peacefully against Fitzwilliam’s chest while he snored softly, Georgiana noticed that Elizabeth’s natural blush had renewed with the now lack of stress upon her. Georgiana swallowed seeing how lovingly her brother held his wife, and how much Elizabeth must have cared for him no matter how despicable he had behaved. Georgiana’s youth mind could not fathom the depth of love between the two.

Tiptoeing so as not to disturb them, Georgiana turned toward the alcove, and tentatively approached not one but two bassinettes. She gasped at the reality of twins, finally realizing why it had taken so long for Elizabeth to give birth. She wanted to get but a glimpse of each baby. They were sleeping as soundly as their parents, giving Georgiana time to reflect on all that happened within the last few weeks.

Her reservations toward these little ones who had caused her world to collapse into shambles melted away when she gazed upon their faces and her heart went out to them. Their skin appeared soft and white as new fallen snow, their red lips curled as if to form a kiss, their tiny hands forming fists, tiny wisps of hair topped their heads, both sharing the same sweet face.

They are the most beautiful children I have ever beheld.

To have witnessed what Elizabeth had endured during her long confinement, hearing but part of her ordeal to bring them into the world, and now knowing it had not been Elizabeth who had caused any of this turmoil, Georgiana cried silently as she watched each of the babes twitch in their sleep.

I am so ashamed of my own behavior that must have worried Elizabeth needlessly.

Elizabeth, still in her nightdress covered by a dressing gown, hobbled up to stand silently beside Georgiana. Neither spoke as they watched the babies sleeping, but Georgiana felt Elizabeth’s arm embrace her waist and she turned to hug her sister, her tears flowing freely.

“Oh, Lizzy, I am so sorry for how wretchedly I acted. You must have been appalled. I do not deserve it, but can you ever forgive me?”

“Of course, dear Georgie, of course.”

Without knowing what Georgiana had gone through during these last few weeks, Elizabeth merely comforted her young sister, cradling her head as she cried repentant tears. Elizabeth smiled knowing only that Georgiana was herself again. Later would be time enough for explanation. “Shhhh, all is well.”

When her tears abated after some moments, Georgiana leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder and gazed down again at the babes to remark, “they are perfect, are they not, Lizzy?”

“Yes,” their mother had to agree as she choked back her own tears. “Perfect.”

With Elizabeth’s encouragement Georgiana held the little boy in her arms for the first time, mesmerized by the warmth of his tiny body. Closing her eyes she inhaled the smell of his newness and became instantly enamored. Georgiana knew then that it mattered not how they came to be fathered. They belonged to the Darcy family that had doubled in one night.

Her life, which for so long had been one of sorrow and loss and deep loneliness was now being replaced with the joy of a growing family of which she was a part. Elizabeth held both Georgiana and the baby in a loving embrace, watching the bond of attachment forming.

Georgiana felt a force within her begin to exert itself, a will forged from her ancient Darcy line and now strengthened by a sister’s love and the love she held for these two tiny Darcys. Her will grew stronger than at any other time in her young life. She heard the words form in her mind as she made a vow as fierce as any lioness, a vow much the same as her brother’s before her.

These are part of my family now, and I will protect them from any who would try to do them harm.

Over the course of the first sennight after their birth, to everyone’s relief and delight the babies thrived in Elizabeth’s care as she continued to recover. Even Richard found himself more at ease with the happiness that seemed to permeate the ancient walls and grounds of Pemberley with this new generation of Darcys. He too was filled with a cheerfulness at his cousin’s good fortune to have not one but two lively babes who had little trouble letting their demands be known, their wails carrying through the halls even to his guest chamber.

With Darcy’s brandy still an inviting amenity to Richard, he listened while toasting the power of their lungs until someone quieted them, most likely their mother as only she could. He toasted her as well lamenting the fact that he had yet to see Elizabeth these past seven days.

That might be for the best.

Richard felt the scalding liquid bathe his throat while he read once more the missives he had received one day prior. The first was from his father, praising and approving the deal he had brokered with Sir Winthrop in every paragraph that Richard thought his father might be suggesting he had miss his calling, that perhaps diplomacy might have been more suited to his talents than the military. He scoffed at the notion.

I am not the man you think, father.

The second letter came from Sir Winthrop himself who, for lack of a better explanation, seemed to have missed the company of the young colonel who happened upon Winthrop Estates, and invited him to return that they discuss the details to finalize their bargain. Richard had already spoken about his planned departure the next morning to Darcy that evening after dinner when they briefly retired to his study.

“You think this is an equitable arrangement then?”

“I doubt you could do better, Richard. It gives you the income you require to fund the restoration of Crawford’s with little expenditure of effort as to land management while Sir Winthrop continues to hold the reins.”

“As my mentor, he requires my presence to oversee his expertise that I learn his techniques. He wishes me there directly, so-”

“You will take your leave on the morrow?” Richard nodded to his cousin, relieved at seeing again Darcy’s self-assurance exerting itself in his mien.

“When Sir Winthrop allows me to depart, I must go to London and thence to my father.”

“If you have the time, you will be welcomed at Pemberley again before you travel south to London.”

“Thank you, cousin. I look forward to it. Now, come, let us see what musical wonders Georgie has planned to entertain us with on this my last night here.”

Both removed to the music room where Georgiana was already at the pianoforte playing her rendition of Haydn’s “F minor variations” which she had lost herself in, unaware that either men had entered the room. The somber notes reflected her mood, but neither she nor her cousin voiced their thoughts, and it was not long before she spoke of her fatigue and rose to retired to her rooms.

Richard spoke briefly to Darcy of his plan to depart quite early and so took his leave of his cousin before they each retired.

Darcy found he had an inability to stay long from his children or from Elizabeth, stealing into the nursery, where they had been settled, whenever he had a moment free. At his poking his head in to find the nursery empty of its youngest occupants he grew fearful and asked the nursery maid, “Regina, where are the children?”

“The mistress took them both, sir, saying she wished to give them a tour of the house.” Regina was doing her best not to smile at the ridiculousness of such a notion, and dutifully did not say what she truly thought of Mrs. Darcy taking her children on a tour at the tender age of one week.

Without much searching Darcy found them where he knew she would take them on tour first, into her bedchamber resting atop the bed coverlet. Elizabeth, lying on her side with her head propped on her bent arm, spoke to them of the garden walls and of their father’s wish to bring the outdoors inside to entice their mother into staying.

Darcy smiled. He had not consciously thought he had done so, but had wanted Elizabeth to feel so at home in these rooms that she would wish to remain with him.

Quietly he approached them, lying down opposite Elizabeth, leaning his head against her hip, their bodies encircling the two near identical infants who were both wide awake with curious eyes so like their grandmother Darcy’s.

“I cannot believe how alike they look. One seems a copy of the other.”

“Except that one is a male child. Of that we are quite certain while the other is definitely a girl.”

“Their faces are mirrors of each other which will most likely change as they grow, but how is it possible for two children who look so much alike not be of the same sex?”

“I know not, but now that you put me in mind of it, how is it even possible that we have been blessed with twins? There is no such phenomenon in my family, but with your cousin, Lord Taddington also having twins, it seems that is another of the Fitzwilliam traits handed down for which you have neglected to inform me.” She arched her brow. “Are there also such twosomes in the Darcy side of the family that you are aware?”

“Several of my ancestors have been twins, but I thought it so random an occurrence I did not view the likelihood of our achieving them.”

“It seems that neither you nor Lord Taddington can say as much again.”

Gazing up at her from his vantage point, Darcy’s head still resting against her lap; he voiced his most fervent wish. “I hope we are never again blessed with such an unlikely occurrence.”

Elizabeth’s brows shot up as she voiced her opinion. “That would be quite a phenomenon to have such an occurrence repeated!” Touching one tiny hand, so soft and warm as he curled his fingers around hers, she further added her agreement, “Let us hope that we are in future blessed with merely single healthy offspring.”

Darcy felt her fingers gently tangle in his hair to caress his head. He turned and kissed her abdomen, his face nuzzling that part of her body that had kept both babes safe, its shape already flattening once more with her continued recovery. Smiling, his gaze locked upon her eyes. He could not but marvel at this young woman whom he had fallen so in love, her body so soft and sweet to pleasure, yet where resided such strength, the likes of which he had never before known existed and with which she daily impressed him. So soon after such a troublesome nine months to produce these little ones, she spoke of her willingness to endure anew all she had gone through that they might attempt more children.

Just as father said the same of mother, Elizabeth would deny me nothing.

Darcy, however, was not so sure he would be willing to allow her to endure confinement again, his having such reservations at the moment of putting her again at risk. Resting his head still against her lap, he was content for the time being to watch their now sleeping infants beside her on the bed, his daily prayer silently resounding in his head.

Thanks be to the L--d to have given them and their mother such healthy constitutions.

*nearly identical twins – there is such a thing as polar twins, where an egg splits and then the two eggs are fertilized by two different sperm. The children have 75% of identical DNA, but are not identical, and yet are not merely fraternal twins.

Jane visited Elizabeth often after the birth of the twins to help as much as she could, stating that unlike Elizabeth, she felt quite well for being with child. This gave Charles great relief that Jane was not following down the same path as did Elizabeth in her confinement. Sitting in the nursery as Elizabeth finished feeding her son, Jane gratefully accepted her nephew into her arms, never tiring of holding either infant.

The tiny boy seemed complacent as Jane snuggled him tenderly to her bosom. Elizabeth took up the task with baby girl who found contentment in nursing. Jane watched as Elizabeth closed her eyes, reveling in the few moments of relaxation in her pleasant duty.

“Lizzy, you seem so at peace in this activity.”

“Yes,” whispered Elizabeth in agreement. “There is nothing that I can compare it to, dear Jane, for you to know how wonderful it feels to have each of them so close to me at these times. It is as though they are somehow still a part of me.”

Jane smiled thinking she did understand that bond that a mother feels with her child, something she too had begun to feel with her own increase each day. “It is such a little time you have with them each day.”

When Jane repositioned her charge, the tiny boy began to squirm at now feeling the soft skin of Jane’s ample bosom that her dress bodice left exposed. His tiny lips suckled against Jane’s flesh in futility to attain that he had always been given. When Jane felt the little mouth upon her skin she exclaimed, “Elizabeth, he is still hungry!”

His mother opened her eyes to watch her son’s unhurried actions for but an instant. “No, but that is what I thought at first too when he began to exhibit such behavior after being feed, and so I allowed him to remain upon me longer. After he had exhausted my supply he continued to suck. Even when he fell asleep he would not detach himself, but continued in so gentle a manner as you see. I think he finds comfort in the motion after being satisfied with milk.”

Elizabeth sighed as she continued, “Fitzwilliam has often said, ‘change is the way of the world’. I gazed upon my little son only to imagine him soon becoming a small boy, then a lad, and then a young man in so short a span of years, and could not begrudge him his comfort.”

Jane nodded in an understanding way, feeling the tiny boy continue his efforts. Closing her eyes Jane allowed herself to feel such contentment with his actions wondering if she too would forego a wet nurse if possible. Neither sister had thought it remarkable that at such a tender age and without his ever being aware, even this Darcy male had ability to charm with his soft lips.

It was several days later when Darcy quietly entered the nursery as now was his habit only to find Georgiana rocking one of the babies, smiling. The two of them had barely spoken two sentences in the days after the children’s birth. Georgiana found success in avoiding her brother’s company, but the guilt and loneliness that accompanied that avoidance took its toll on both of them who for many long years had only themselves for immediate family.

After Darcy watched for a time Georgie’s contentment with his son, he then neared her only to see how sad her eyes were when her gaze fell upon him.

“Georgiana, are you not happy we have been blessed with two such wonderful children?”

“Yes.” Her voice was soft in that unsure withdrawn way that caused him to wonder why she had reverted to her former shyness.

“But you are not happy, Georgie. Will you not tell me what has caused this?”

She bit her lip the same manner Elizabeth did when worried. He waited for her to continue.

“I…I…overheard you...and…Richard…”

“That is truly an appalling habit you have recently acquired. You really shouldn’t eavesdrop, Georgie.”

Her Darcy anger now flashed and was apparent when she gazed at him with eyes narrowed at his censure. “How dare you chastise me for something so innocuous in comparison to what you did!”

Darcy was astonished at such vehemence that he had never before heard from Georgiana. “Of what are you talking?”

“I heard you in the hallway, the night of the children’s birth when you thought I had gone to bed. After Richard vowed not to speak of it for your sake, he betrayed Elizabeth and told you of her deceiving you. Then you told Richard you had fathered these children, and it had been…before your marriage…!”

“How-”

“Elizabeth and Richard argued of it weeks before. He accused her of being with child before she married…and she did not deny it. I thought she had betrayed you, and I vowed to myself that I would never tell you for fear of losing you again.”

Darcy frowned at the thought of Richard actually confronting Elizabeth when she was so close to her time, and for once was glad his cousin had departed without disclosing such. All Darcy could do now was try to aid Georgiana in understanding his actions.

“Georgie-”

“After he promised Elizabeth he too would not to say a word, Richard made you aware of it only to have you admit that it was you, all this time you had done the very thing you accused Mr. Wickham of trying to do to me…” She stared at him with tear filled eyes.

Darcy winced at being compared to one so despicable that at first he could not speak and only stared back at a sister whom he loathed to have to grow up too quickly, but with whom he now must speak that she understand the way of the world. He slowly nodded, and then sitting down beside her in the other rocking chair, he finally spoke. “I can see where you would think it was the same, but you would be wrong.”

She gazed at him in disbelief, and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Do you remember how irrationally I acted all those months after my return from Rosings?”

“Yes, I was so afraid we would never have you well again.”

“And after you came home surely you noticed that I was sane once more?”

”I was so happy to have you back I was not about to question how or why.” She paused before she asked for his confirmation. “It was Elizabeth then who brought you round?”

He nodded. “Yes, she loved me. It was that which saved me, Georgie.”

“And you have loved her…since Kent?”

“Even before then, almost from the first time I laid eyes upon her, but I fought against it until it nearly took my life.”

“Why?”

“Because I was a fool.”

She sighed in frustration at so glib an answer and pleaded, “Tell me truly, Fitzwilliam, that I might understand it.”

Looking directly at his sister, Darcy explained. “I thought my money and position made me better than a country gentleman’s daughter when it had no bearing whatever, and point of fact quite the opposite was true. To my shame I did not treat her as an equal.” He frowned recalling some of his behavior.

Georgiana thought about his statement. “So you acted …superior…reserved…haughty?”

This surprised Darcy. “You know me well.”

“I have seen you act that way when dealing with some of the servants and strangers. I once asked Mrs. Reynolds about your behavior. She remarked that you had done so since childhood whenever you felt unsure, but that I was not to worry on it because it was not your true self.”

Darcy let out a deep breath. “Ah, Mrs. Reynolds, what would we do without her?”

After a pause Georgiana renewed the topic with, “Then am I to understand that…though you loved Elizabeth as you say, your heart and mind were in disagreement as to whether or not to pursue her? How can they be so opposite? Does not one guide the other?”

“Yes, I suppose that is usually how love grows, but it was beyond my comprehension at the time that I would find her in such a rural setting, the other half of my soul. When my heart had finally won over my own reservation while at Rosings, I assumed by her pert flirtations that she would readily accept me. I was very wrong in that assumption.”

Georgiana was shocked at such a reaction to her brother who she before thought perfect. “Elizabeth was not immediately enamored with you?”

“No, my behavior as you described was not to her liking, and Wi-, someone’s lies caused her to refuse to even acknowledge what her heart was telling her, though all her playfulness at my expense made me at first disbelieve she had refused me.”

“You made her an offer…?”

“Yes, while Richard and I were at Kent and while Elizabeth was visiting her family at Hunsford. I erroneously chose to believe what I had sensed in her heart. She so spurned me beyond belief at her harsh refusal, with such cruel words…‘ungentlemanly, unjust, unfeeling for others…the last man in the world she could ever marry!’ I know not how I managed to walk out the door and back to Rosings.”

Georgiana placed her hand on his arm to give him strength to continue.

“I even spent the whole night composing a letter to her explaining my actions, defending myself of her accusations. The next morning when I saw her face, I knew then that I had lost her utterly and completely, the only woman I would ever love.”

She blinked back tears, at last knowing what had taken his mind. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I am so sorry.”

“I was mad you know, for all that time afterwards.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I dreamed of her every night, Georgie. I dreamed…she was my wife. I think having that hope of her kept me from contemplating a worse fate…”

Georgiana’s eyes grew large at the thought of his having ever considered suicide as a means to end his misery, and she held the babe tighter.

He paused only to take a breath before he continued. “The day before you arrived, Elizabeth had come on holiday with her aunt and uncle-”

Gasping at this news of which she had never been told. “She was here…at Pemberley?” He nodded.

When she looked at him still confused he said, “Her heart had finally won the battle.”

“She had finally fallen in love with you?”

He nodded again.

“But…she did not know that you would also be about?”

Shaking his head, his reply was soft. “It was a fateful day that brought us together. In my madness God granted me all I had ever wished. I had Elizabeth’s love, peace, sanity, contentment, children, my future happiness, all in that one afternoon.”

“But, Fitzwilliam, you did not go to her until much later.”

“When I awoke the next morning, alone, my mind rationalized that she could not have been at Pemberley; therefore, she was but the most incredible dream that had given me back my reason.”

“When you found out she had actually been here…”

“I knew I had to go to her, to protect her, to protect them, or the hope of them.” His eyes fell upon his children.

As Georgiana reflected back her face showed enlightenment. “You tried to tell me what you had done on the day of your departure, but I interrupted you.”

“I had not the words to tell you how far from perfect your brother was, as you are now well aware.”

She smiled placing his sleeping child in his arms, and kissed his cheek. “I like you better this way, less a pillar of strength which I could never hope to attain.” He frowned.

“Though others of both sexes do not seem to find it necessary to keep from indulging themselves, I tried to set an example of what mother and father would have wished for us both.”

“You have, Fitzwilliam. Know that I will do my utmost to follow that example now that I know perfection is not a necessity.”

Darcy’s son yawned to draw his attention. He lamented, “had I been more like Bingley and less like his sister perhaps my road to happiness would have been smoother.”

She smiled, arching her eyebrow in much the same way as Elizabeth. “You have taken a most circuitous route to end at this happy juncture, brother.”

“One I would hope you will not emulate.”

She nodded agreement. “I think I will forgo any routes at present to relieve you, dear brother of more turmoil.”

Darcy smiled. “Thank you. That is a decision I appreciate more than you know.” He paused before adding, “one day, however, some man will find how very astute you are, Georgiana Augusta Darcy.”

“I have you and Richard to thank for that, and Elizabeth, and now Jane and Charles. With all these wonderful people to guide me, how can I go wrong?”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead and she hugged him, both sighing with contentment that the breach in their relationship had now been mended with her better understanding of his behavior.

Darcy retreats to the nursery in early afternoon to enjoy a quiet few moments with his children had become so habitual now that the nursery maid anticipated him with almost clock work efficiency. This day he was not alone for Charles, who had accompanied Jane for her visit to Pemberley, joined Darcy, standing close behind, still was not especially comfortable being so near such little ones. The nursery maid was seated in the corner reading a letter from her mother. She rose and curtseyed.

“Sir.”

Darcy neared one of the cribs and gently pulled back the blanket to view the sleeping infant. He smiled at such serenity. “Regina, have you taken your tea break?”

“No, sir, I was waiting for Sarah Beth to relieve me at half past.”

“You may go now if you wish. Mr. Bingley and I will tend to the children until she arrives.”

Regina could not keep a doubtful expression from gracing her face, but curtseyed and departed the room. “Yes, sir, thank you, sir.”

Lifting his small daughter gingerly from her bed without waking her, Darcy ordered Bingley to sit in the rocking chair nearest the crib.

“What? Oh, no, they are your children. I shall wait to attend my own…”

“You must become adept at holding a babe, Charles so you will not drop yours.”

“Darcy, you should not entrust me with you child…”

“Sit down, Charles.”

Resigned to it, Bingley seated himself on the edge of the chair, scarcely breathing as Darcy placed the tiny infant in his arms.

“Support her head, yes, now lean back and try to relax.”

“How can I relax when I am afraid to crush her, Darcy?”

“You will not, Charles. You are doing fine.”

Bingley gazed down at the complacent child and he slowly let out his stale breath, trying to relax a bit.

“She is not crying with my holding her. Why is that?”

“She is asleep, Bingley.”

“How often does that occur?”

“Quite a bit actually at which time I can hold them without their fretting much.”

“Fretting? How often does that happen?” Darcy smiled.

“When they are hungry usually, and then Elizabeth takes charge of them.”

Bingley had not taken his eyes from the babe, and smiled now. “She is so peaceful, Darcy.”

Darcy gently took his son from the crib and sat in the chair beside his friend, viewing his tiny charge, his second pride and joy. “Sleeping is when they are most peaceful.”

Both men were silent for a time, reveling in the sweetness of complacent babies. It was not until a hand gently touched his shoulder and his hold tightened on his little son that Darcy realized he had just nodded off in complete ease. Opening his eyes he stared into Elizabeth’s smiling face, Sarah Beth behind her.

“I see father and son have more in common than not,” she teased as both viewed the still sleeping infant.

“You know I cannot stay away from them for any given time.”

“Yes, I see that, but what excuse can you give me for Charles?”

Both glanced over to their friend who had his arms tightly around their daughter, interlaced arms to protect her from falling from his hold. His eyes were large as saucers as he stared at them.

“Must I relinquish her so soon? I rather like having her asleep in my arms.”

“She will soon be awake and hungry.”

Nodding with resignation, Charles allowed Elizabeth to remove the baby from his embrace, still very much discomforted to be holding so small a person. Sarah Beth took over the duties of Darcy’s son.

“I guess we are relieved of our charges then.”

“For the moment,” Elizabeth teased, “although you are welcome to visit them at anytime.”

Bingley’s eyes were bright and his smile infectious though he still felt a nervousness at being in charge of an infant, and tried to make light of it with, “Thank you, and thank you, Darcy for a most enlightening first visit to an occupied nursery.”

Chapter 22b

Posted on Monday, 15 August 2005

Without the Bingleys at supper that night, Jane having felt a bit tired and Charles deciding to take her to their home that she may rest, dinner time at Pemberley was a quiet affair with only the three Darcys in attendance. While Elizabeth and Georgiana carried the whole of the conversation, Darcy remained quiet, almost reserved. It was clear to Elizabeth at least that he was brooding over something, and she was determined to find out what had dampened his enthusiasm of the day.

As dinner was coming to an end Georgiana announced she needed to answer several missives that had for the past few weeks been neglected, and asked that she be excused to accomplish that task.

“Of course, Georgie. The excitement of the past few weeks has curtailed my own letter writing as well. I should be about a similar occupation when I can find the time and the energy.”

“I suppose that is my cue to escort both of you to your rooms then,” Darcy said, rising from his seat beside Elizabeth and taking her hand, smiling for the first time that evening. When they reached Georgiana’s rooms, they bid her a good night, and traversed the hallway to the mistress’ chambers where Darcy took his wife’s hand and kissed it softly, hearing her small gasp. She never failed to react to his tenderness.

“I hope you will not be long, my love,” she whispered in her inviting voice.

Darcy folded her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulders, feeling her warmth even through their clothing and hearing her sigh contently.

“No, I shan’t be long.”

He kissed her hair and released her from his embrace. As he watched, Elizabeth walked gracefully beyond his reach and through the door, quietly closing it upon him. Frowning then, he wondered how he would begin a conversation with her without causing her more stress than the topic he wished to discuss.

Betty had already anticipated Elizabeth by having her nightclothes laid out, and helped her mistress into them before bidding Elizabeth a good night and departing for her own room below stairs. While brushing her hair Elizabeth smiled at the efficiency which Betty seemed to possess that coincided with her faithful service from the time they had both come from Longbourn. Elizabeth determined to ask Fitzwilliam how best to reward such loyalty since he had a staff that had been part of the household for nigh on twenty years or more and would know precisely how to act on her behalf in this matter.

Turning from the dressing table her eyes rested on the garden walls that beckoned her into a soothing mood as she stepped on the stool beside the bed to aid her. Pulling the covers up to her chest, she wondered anew what Fitzwilliam had been pondering on all through dinner, and waited for him to arrive to enlighten her.

Elizabeth did not have long to wait alone in her room for Darcy only remained in his own rooms in order to dress for bed before softly knocking on the door in between. At her bidding him enter, Darcy silently neared the bed while he held her gaze. Pulling back the covers to encourage him to join her, his arms immediately wound around her waist as he pulled her next to his torso, and nuzzled against her neck to hear her sigh at his touch. Before long she turned in his embrace and began nibbling his neck with gentle kisses of her own.

Clearly she had other things on her mind this night.

Darcy was loathe to intrude on her most pleasant endeavors to his person, and all thoughts of talking began to evaporate from his mind in favor of her wishes, his hands beginning their roving journey over her . He had just resigned himself to leaving off his talk as his mouth captured hers in more insistent kisses when he heard her whisper, “tell me.”

He opened his eyes to find her staring at him. Reluctant to end this happy interlude, Darcy continued to kiss her most ardently, his hands in tandem with his lips as he caressed her neck and kissed her cheeks to feel her respond to him, but as he watched her eyes never closed.

How she resisted his attentions he could not fathom, for he could see how her body betrayed her. The blush on her cheeks was so pronounced. He heard her breath shallow, felt the heat of her aroused body beneath him. Darcy knew she would give him whatever he desired at the moment, but she would not give in to his withholding his thoughts from her. A confirmation of this was her almost imperceptible arch of her eyebrow that only he noticed.

Sighing, he continued to kiss her, but with the easing of his efforts to signal his surrender to her will, silently conveying that he would tell her what was on his mind in due time. Her eyes closed and he felt her tremble with her own surrender to him. In the gentlest manner his hands and mouth exited her, moving her towards her own ecstasy, leaving her finally trembling beside him when he had to stop lest he lose himself completely to her. She opened tearful eyes, feeling his reluctance to cease so pleasant an endeavor, wanting him to continue but sensing he did not wish it at the moment, and so she did not attempt it.

Instead, after a time of silent hugging, she again whispered, “tell me, Fitzwilliam, what has upset you .”

He kissed forehead and caressed her cheek before he replied. “It was something Georgie said while in the nursery with the children.”

Relieved that they had reconciled, she asked, “You talked to her at length?”

“Yes, I can relate that we are no longer at odds, but what she revealed angered me greatly.”

“What was it?”

“She said that while you were still with child, she heard you and Richard argue over its parentage, and that he accused you of deceiving me by being with child before our marriage.”

“I thought you and Richard had settled this the night of the children’s birth.”

“Richard said he had spoken to you of it, not that he had abused you, as Georgie implies.”

“I confess I was in no state to argue much with anyone, and so let him think of me what he would.”

“Elizabeth, why did you not send him to me? I would have told him the whole of it, no matter how troubled his mind was, and then sent him on his way for having said anything harsh to you!”

“To have him do what? Take the news to his father? To your Aunt?”

“I doubt even Richard would stoop so low as to relate any of our business to Aunt Catherine, no matter how angry he was with me.”

“I feared at the time that he was untrustworthy to know all, especially after his vow to remain silent was so begrudgingly given. When he left the next day I decided the less said the better. I had no idea Georgiana had chosen that day to overhear what he and I had discussed. It is little wonder she felt so conflicted towards me afterward.”

He paused and then asked, “Elizabeth, why did you never tell me of this distressing meeting with Richard?”

She could see the hurt in his eyes that she caressed his cheek and smiled. “Truly, I thought it was over and done with his promise of silence and his departure, and felt there was no need. After you told me of your discussion in the hallway I thought the matter settled.”

“Even so, I would have liked to have known about it.”

She kissed his lips gently. “Very well. In the future whenever I have frank discussions of this nature, I will henceforth come to you with them to have you be bothered by something I can manage on my own.”

Her voice was light with her tease but her capitulating to his wishes relieved his unease. Truth be told he would rather have the discussion be done with that they may continue where they had left off with endeavors much more enjoyable. His kiss was deep, his tongue dancing with hers, but when he finally allowed her breath he teased against her mouth, “ woman, do you have any other secrets you wish to impart, for I am at present in a mood to listen. ”

Fully expecting a negative response, Darcy was again surprised by her answer.

“Nothing which you need to be overly concerned of.”

He pulled back to view her face. “Tell me.”

Instead she asked, “Allow me to speak to Richard when he returns.”

Darcy shook his head, reluctant to have her be stressed when she had other duties more pressing and he wanted to take care of his cousin in his own way.

She smiled, and gently admonished him, “harboring thoughts of a duel with your cousin? Is it to be foils on the side grounds or perhaps pistols at dawn?”

He shrugged at her knowing him so well.

“How would it look to have me be so soon widowed and the children orphaned at such a young age?”

“It would not be me who was the loser,” he swore in a determined manner.

“And so you shall have to live with the knowledge of your having run through your cousin to defend my honor even though dueling is illegal? You would have yourself jailed and have me left alone as if you were dead?” She arched her brow.

Darcy rolled his eyes, finally relinquishing the ludicrous notion of calling his cousin out no matter how much he wished it. He would do nothing to take himself away from Elizabeth and his family.

“I will have words with him, however.”

“That I allow is what you need do to have the matter between the two of you finally settled, Fitzwilliam.”

“In the meantime…” Though still angry at Richard, Elizabeth began placating her husband in a most enjoyable manner to which Darcy was more than happy to reciprocate that all his unpleasant thoughts were lost for the moment. Later would be time enough to have it out with Richard upon his return to Pemberley from Winthrop Estates.

The second week after the delivery of his little cousins Richard again returned from the west where he had finalized the purchase of a tract of Sir Winthrop’s land along with the Crawford estate that his father and Darcy had recommended. When Wilkins directed him to the balcony instead of Darcy’s study, Richard inquired as to the whereabouts of the master.

“He left earlier with Mr. Withers to visit some of the tenants, and spoke of his returning within the hour, sir.”

The butler then motioned him toward the balcony door where Richard spied Elizabeth reclining on the chaise reading a book, alone for perhaps the first time in days, now able to be allowed from her rooms while the babes slept in the nursery. She seemed at last content in the joy of her children thriving and of her complete recovery.

Having no opportunity to be in her company since Darcy had admitted what had truly happened that day at Pemberley, Richard now stood within the door frame hesitant to be in her presence lest she say she could never forgive him the harshness of his behavior toward her.

I have acted the fool, and would not blame her if she says I am no longer welcome in her home.

Elizabeth sensed someone’s being about and looked up from the pages of her tome. When Richard saw that he had been noticed, he resigned himself to the confrontation before the one person to whom he truly needed to make his apology, and neared with an awkwardness in his address he seldom displayed. He bowed low over her hand feeling as though he were before a field marshal.

You must accept whatever she hands you, Richard. You are a soldier after all, and not a coward.

“Mrs. Darcy, am I disturbing you?”

“Not at all, Colonel. I was merely enjoying a free moment before my children have need of me, and trying to regain all my strength for the forthcoming visit by my family.” She rolled her eyes and smiled at that upcoming event.

“We can speak later if you require rest.”

“No, please, sit and tell me what you will.” She lowered her gaze onto the pages of her book.

“You know what is on my mind, and how it troubles me now to speak of it.”

Elizabeth nodded and motioned him to the chair next to her. “Please, Richard.”

He did as she bid, silently staring at this woman whom he had so maligned to her face, wondering how she still abided his company.

How gracious she is to such a fool as I.

“Mrs. Darcy, I-”

“Elizabeth,” she corrected. He nodded.

“I hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive my unconscionable slander of you that day in the solarium.”

She closed her book but did not meet his gaze. “What did you say that was untrue? My behavior could not be seen as anything but reprehensible. To anyone not involved my actions would be viewed with abhorrence.” She then gazed at him with pleading stare. “I would not have you blame my family though, for they did not raise me to be so dissolute. In truth I had never before thought to behave in such a manner. It was so unlike me to act so out of character, and yet…” She sighed and looked away. “…the proof is in the nursery.”

“Darcy told me how he had acted in such a way as to leave you no choice in the matter.”

She shook her head refusing to be assuaged of her own guilt. “It was my decision. Even though I knew nothing of Fitzwilliam’s delusions at the time, he could never have succeeded without my consent. This was my responsibility. I caused all of this to happen.”

Richard seemed surprised at her naiveté at stating such an untruth. He knew whether or not a woman consented was of little import to a determined man. “Darcy admitted his seduction of you, how he had taken advantage while thinking you his wife.”

“He did?”

“Yes, taking all the blame upon himself, just as you are doing so now, just as you did when I confronted you in the solarium. Why did you allow me to think so ill of you? Why did you not attempt to defend yourself?”

“Would you have believed me then should I have bothered to try?” He raised his brows implying perhaps not but remained silent.

“I thought not, and did not wish your approbation of Fitzwilliam tarnished, not to have your respect waiver that you would retract your support should Fitzwilliam have need of you. I could not allow my actions to affect your close alliance with him.”

Richard shook his head in disbelief of her words.

This love these two have one for the other, how they would do anything to save the other from harm or anguish, whether physical or mental.

“Rather than have Darcy’s name besmirched you would have your reputation in shambles? You would rather have your acquaintance to me strained to the point of being severed when you needed my support more than he? Had you convinced me of your innocence, I would have defended you, madam.”

“I had Fitzwilliam’s support, so had no need of any other. Jane and Charles were also privy to our indiscretion as was Mrs. Reynolds who had discovered us, so you see I was well shielded.

That explains the housekeeper’s threats to my person at least. I should have known that she would be aware of all that goes on here.

Elizabeth went on to gently admonish him. “And had you acted more the friend I had made when first I met you at Rosings, I would have been more inclined to have Fitzwilliam tell you straight away, as was his intention, you know.”

Richard nodded remembering his now less frequent dreams that had plagued him then, and his disturbed mood upon his arrival to Pemberley. It must have caused his cousin to doubt in his ability to handle family news of this nature. Richard knew Darcy had been right to withhold that information until he could better manage his own haunted past.

Darcy is truly the better man of the two of us.

After a prolonged silence between them, Richard knew he would rank more censure with his coming back to the point as he swallowed and confessed, “G-d, but you must have thought me a cad when I spoke of your being taken by another.”

Here Elizabeth huffed. “I was…amazed by how easily you deduced correctly my condition, and yes, truly astonished at how quickly you chose to despise me upon knowing my perceived deceit. I thought myself being judged by such highbrows of society as that of your aunt or Miss Bingley.”

Richard frowned at such a comparison to that of the societal snobbery of either his domineering aunt or that of Bingley’s haughty sister, realizing how very close Elizabeth came to a correct assessment of his attitude towards her then. He had acted precisely like all he found abhorrent in their conceit of those they deemed beneath them. He paused to collect his thoughts as he tried to find the words to explain his attitude towards Elizabeth at that time. He gazed out at the serene view from the balcony, a view he never tired of seeing.

“Upon our return to town from Rosings, Darcy was well on his way to being habitually in his cups and so was never in condition to venture out of the house, especially with his family and the entire staff keeping a watchful eye on him. After some months passed, he convinced me that his riding to Pemberley was in his best interest, and I felt that he had at last become more himself, in full control of all his faculties. Having no knowledge of your being on tour in the vicinity at the same time, it never crossed my mind that he could have had any opportunity for a dalliance.”

He leaned close to emphasize his words as he gazed into her eyes. “There are few in the world who know Darcy as well as I, Elizabeth, for we are as close as brothers that I know well his character. I knew he would never surrender himself to anyone. It was the benchmark by which I set a standard in comparison to my own dissolute life, so I could give no credence to his having surrendered even to you.” (He swallowed) “When you acknowledged your condition was prior to your marriage I was left with no other explanation save one. I found it difficult to believe that the woman I had befriended at Kent was capable of it, and I became incensed to think you could have deceived so honorable a man as my cousin.”

Elizabeth nodded, having easily followed the logic that had brought about his changed attitude towards her at that time. “That was when I sensed my descent could not be redeemed to your satisfaction. Therefore I strove only to keep Fitzwilliam’s respectability in your mind.”

“Even though it untrue? Sacrifice yours for his?”

She nodded. “You are familiar with the concept, Colonel.”

Richard took a deep breath, expelling it slowly. “Yes, I have been a soldier for all my adulthood. Yes, I would readily give my life for my comrades without a moment’s thought, and kill the enemy without remorse to defend them. I have survived without one or more of them though I had done my best while fighting along side them, and I grieve at their passing…” Here he paused again attempting to understand what Darcy had tried to explain about his and Elizabeth’s relationship that bound them so tightly together now. “…but I would not have the need to die with them as seems to be the case with this bond you and Darcy now share.”

He took her hand and caressed it tenderly. “I am no coward, Elizabeth, but I will tell you, this love that binds your very souls together so that one cannot exist without the other, it truly frightens me to my core. I would not wish for that kind of love that you both are willingly a part.”

“We have not the power to choose with whom we fall in love nor of how strong that bond will be. We only have the power to choose to accept or reject that love.”

“Having grown up with Darcy to know his strength of character, he must have been in love with you a very long time to have it finally break down his resolve so completely.”

“Fitzwilliam once told me that he had been attracted to me from the moment he beheld me, yet he did not make his feelings known until he could no longer contain them, when we were both at Kent…”

“In retrospect I think I knew without my even being aware that I had no chance to gain your affections, and so merely strove to act the friend instead. Even with Darcy’s constant gaze upon you I admit my failure to recognize it as his being love struck for I do not recall his ever before admitting to being in love.” Elizabeth nodded.

“I fear that I too did not recognize passions within him at that time due to my own bias.”

“Darcy must have sensed it in all your innocent flirtations of him that I witnessed at Kent, your own inner self beginning to fall in love with him.”

“Which gave him cause to make his first proposal-?”

“…which you refused.”

“I was so angry over misconceptions I had of him that I cruelly treated him, and would not listen when he tried to defend himself. The next morning before you both departed, he sought me out in the grove to hand me a letter in which he made me aware of the many disputed points I had believed.”

Elizabeth shook her head at Richard’s reminding her of those actions then. “I knew I should not accept such a correspondence from a gentleman I had no attachment to, but you see, even then I was not using my best judgment with regard to him.”

“Your heart was touched before your mind had become aware.” She nodded.

“After that I knew nothing of him, nothing of his turmoil until I accompanied my aunt and uncle on their tour where we stopped in Lambton, the town where she had grown up as a child. At their gentle urgings we added Pemberley to the tour. My mind kept saying no, but I heard the words of agreement coming from my mouth, and before I knew what had occurred we were here.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes shuddering at her remembered her sense of melancholy. She opened her misted eyes when she felt Richard squeeze her hand.

“Elizabeth, are you well?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but then merely nodded, and with a deep breath she tried to explain her reaction. “The instant I descended from the carriage a rush of feeling took hold of me as if Fitzwilliam’s soul was part of the land. Such sadness infused me as though my heart was pierced. When he came upon me and held me in his arms, all the sadness left me, and I felt…I was safe, I was…I did not recognize the feeling then but I well know it now. I was home.”

Richard nodded. “I told Darcy that I thought it was Pemberley that saved him when I arrived the next day to find him so altered after but one day departed from me. He said it was you who had saved him. I wonder but that perhaps Pemberley had saved you both.”

Trying to regain some of her composure, she admitted, “All I know is that when he awakened my desires, I knew that only he could make me happy.”

Both paused several minutes in their reflections before Richard smiled.

“And so he has.”

Returning the smile at last, Elizabeth was glad for a lightening of their mood.

“Yes, very much so. Therefore, Richard, you should not be distressed over this terrible love of which you are so fearful. You see, it matters not the duration. Whether it be so brief a span of years as were given to his own parents, or last until we are frail shadows of our former selves, we shall cherish each other in that time.”

“Then I would wish you both many years of happiness.”

Richard kissed her hand which she gratefully allowed, showing him that she had indeed forgiven him, something he would be hard pressed to receive from his cousin who entered from the parlor. Having just arrived, he stood grim faced with Richard’s presence at Pemberley.

“Darcy.”

“Richard, we have a matter to discuss. Elizabeth, would you excuse us for a moment?” He kissed her hand and turned without awaiting an answer, heading straight away for his study.

Elizabeth arched her brows and sighed. Richard rose and squeezed her hand. “So, it is pistols at dawn then?"

“I did have the wherewithal to cater to his common sense that he not harm you irreparably, but he said nothing of a horsewhipping or brandishing the fireplace poker.”

It took Richard several seconds to ascertain that she was teasing him with these gentler forms of torture, and nodded as he made to leave the room with only the quip, “Well, at least I am assured of my survival even if disfigured or hence forth never able to sit a horse. I leave you, Elizabeth, with a firm hope that I shall see you again should your husband permit it.”

Elizabeth arched her eyebrow in her continued tease. “One can only hope, sir.”

Richard did enter the study door rather cautiously in case Elizabeth had been correct about the poker. To his great relief Darcy was standing idly beside the fireplace with a hand resting upon the mantle. Although he appeared unarmed as far as Richard could tell, Darcy retained a look of utter repulsion on his face. Richard sighed.

Come, come, cousin, out with your venomous chastising. I deserve no less than your best admonishments.

Darcy began. “I had not realized until recently what had truly transpired between the two of you when you spoke to Elizabeth of her condition. She was still with child, Richard. How could you have attacked her in such a manner?”

“She said I attacked her?”

“Essentially, with your words, how you then ill treated her with your attitude. When Georgie related to me your-”

“How did Georgiana come to know of it?” Richard found it incredible that Elizabeth would impart such information to one so young and innocent.

“She was at the door when you began your interrogation. She also overheard us speaking in the hallway the night of the children’s birth.”

This news surprised even Richard that his little shy cousin could be so devious, but it explained her reserve afterwards. “Ah.”

“Richard, you should have come to me with your suspicions.”

“I did come to you, Darcy, and you lied to me.”

“I did not. I merely chose to omit certain facts that I deemed you were unready to hear at the time. You had done the same when I was so ill.”

With Darcy’s mention of it, Richard’s thoughts carried him back to that time in London with Darcy out of his senses. It the only time he had ever asked to be relieved of his command that he handle a family emergency. His father had asked both Hal and Richard to attend Darcy. Hal did what he could while also having to attend his mistress who was with child, and had remained sickly until she delivered their girls.

Richard agreed without reservation, disregarding his comrades’ claims that he would thereafter be looked down upon by his superiors. It mattered not whether they thought ill of him. He was going to aid his cousin, shielding his illness from all of those who wished his society, securing the services of reputable physicians, ensuring Darcy’s safety as best he could until he recovered. Now here was that selfsame cousin, now completely well, speaking of reciprocating the favor, trying to shield him from distressing family news.

What can I say to you, Darcy to explain my anger of her at the time?

Darcy continued, “When you met Elizabeth at Rosings, you saw her character. You knew she would never deceive me.” Richard nodded.

“Had it have been anyone other than you, I would have defended her to the wall, Darcy. It was you that gave me such pause to consider the alternative. Because I thought I knew you so well, I could not see how she would be one seduced.” With a tone of such remorse, he added, “I was wrong, Darcy. I admit to it.”

He paused before adding somewhat impatiently, “so either run me through, bludgeon me with the poker, shoot me in the head, drag me from behind your horse after you have whipped me senseless, or what other devious torture you have discussed with your sweet wife, I care not which…and leave off by saying that you can forgive my officious care at your behest, or I will never darken your door again.”

Silence hung thick between the two cousins, each regarding the other’s sincerity, each remembering the boyhood pact they had made within the branches of their favorite ancient oak at Pemberley. It had followed an otherwise boring Sunday sermon about Cain asking if he were his brother’s keeper. Blood and spit had been shared that day in the solemn handshake that sealed the bond between the two young boys.

All the years hence had seemed to only intensify their closeness to protect each other from whatever life handed them. Darcy seemed at first the one who needed Richard when first his mother and then his father perished, to aid him be guardian for little Georgiana. Then last year when Darcy seemed to have lost his mind, it was Richard who had come to his aid. Now it seemed that Richard was the one who needed rescuing, and Darcy was at his side to be of aid.

“You will never raise your voice to Elizabeth again.”

Richard did not know if he could make such a vow, but with Darcy’s stony expression that would brook no answer other than an affirmative, Richard hurriedly made it. “I promise, Darcy, nor will I ever again doubt her veracity .”

“And you will never breathe a word of this to Aunt Catherine?”

“Good L—d, Darcy! How could you even think that I…” Darcy’s stony stare was again his only response. “…No, I will never say a word to anyone, not even my father if you so desire it.”

After another long silence while the two of them stared at one another, Richard asked, “are you completely satisfied now with all my promises?”

“I have but one other for which you must adhere.”

“Name it.”

“You must promise…” Darcy’s stony expression softened as he continued, “to come to Pemberley as often as possible that you may watch your young cousins grow.”

Richard nodded with a laugh to allow all the tension to disperse from the room. Slapping Darcy on the back when they finally hugged, he vowed, “A promise I make happily, cousin, and one I will do my utmost to keep.”

Chapter 22c

Posted on Thursday, 25 August 2005

For two days after Richard’s return to Pemberley, Georgiana had succeeded in making as little conversation as possible, shunning the man she thought lack the integrity of her brother. Indeed she wanted to have nothing more to do with him after what he had done. During their common meals even though he along with both Darcy and Elizabeth tried to include her in their exchanges she had managed to say little.

As the week continued, she feared Richard would insist on speaking to her at length the longer he remained, and so had taken the initiative to make herself further inaccessible by declaring that she planned to go for a ride in the morning to a favorite haunt amongst the ancient oaks and stay there reading for some hours. Darcy wished to accompany her, and the plan was set for the two of them to be out of the house for a time.

However, at the last minute an important correspondence delayed their departure, and then curtailed it all together had not Richard offered to replace Darcy on the excursion.

Georgiana shook her head and began to make excuses to cancel the outing altogether with Richard offer to accompany her. He could sense her unease with his person, and it was he who had asked Darcy for the change of escort so that she may talk out her feelings towards him. Darcy had been reluctant at first to put his sister in such a stressful situation, but realized that the two of them must speak on the matter to have it resolved between them.

Heaven forbid, if anything should happen to me, Georgie would be under Richard’s sole guardianship.

Darcy would rather have it be a pleasant association as in the past rather than this enmity she had for Richard today. Georgiana tried one last time to complain as they gathered in the paddock beside her horse.

“Fitzwilliam, I would rather not go without you.”

“Just give him a chance to explain himself, Georgie.” He added softly, “Had Elizabeth not given me a second chance, I would not be enjoying all my current happiness.”

His sister gazed into his soft brown eyes so like their father’s, kind and loving, realizing the truth of his words. “Very well, Fitzwilliam, I will hear him out but only because you have asked it of me. I give you no promise that my feelings will alter in any way from what they are now.”

“That is all I ask. Now up you go.”

Georgiana mounted her horse with Darcy’s help, and began to trot about the paddock to limber up both her and the mare’s joints. Richard ambled toward Darcy pulling on his gloves as both men stood watching Georgiana’s progress.

“You have a tough row to plow with her, Richard. She is determined to hold a grudge against you for what you did to Elizabeth.”

“Much the same as when you separated Bingley from the current Mrs. Bingley. You told me Elizabeth was loath to ever forgive you for the slight against her sister, but in the end she evidently did so.”

“Yes, she did, but only after a protracted length of time, and only after I had taken steps to remedy my mistake.”

They both continued in silence to watch Georgiana’s progress as she made her way out of the paddock and into the pasture for her morning ride.

“Life is too short, Richard, for carrying ill feelings for a loved one. Try to make her see reason.”

Richard nodded, reminded of the tenuous nature of life still manifesting itself in his less frequent but still disturbing nightmares, the most often one of the woman and her two sons, killed by a maddened crowd.

Indeed, life is too short.

“I will do my best, Darcy, and should that not succeed,” he exhaled and shook his head. “Do I have your permission to use corporal punishment on that stubborn little child? Perhaps a spanking would be in order to make her more compliant.”

Darcy chuckled at such a notion since neither of them had ever laid a hand on Georgiana who had been such a tractable girl that had never given them a bit of trouble.

“Do what you must, Richard, short of striking her. If you do not return at the appointed hour, I will know you had come to some difficulty in bringing about a change in her. I will expect you by the end of the day, however, whatever prevails.”

“You have my word, cousin.”

With that Richard mounted and hurried his horse toward where Georgiana had disappeared, jumping the fence between the paddock and the path.

Georgiana had begun to gallop her mare over the pasture and hedges that constituted this part of Pemberley, a route taken by horse and rider whenever the intent was to exercise both mind and body. She had always been an exceptional rider, and felt confident in taking the jumps over the hedgerows at break neck speed, allowing her the freedom it gave her until she had discharged some of her pent up tension.

Richard wisely stayed well behind her, knowing what she was about, and waited before attempting to catch up to her. That decision had been a prudent one since Georgiana was determined to gallop through ever low lying branch and tree limb before him. Had Richard been less agile or more rotund to make him less able to avoid the limbs by leaning almost prone on his horse, he surely would have been decapitated or thrown unceremoniously from his mount. As it was he was only slightly scathed, scratched in the face by the smaller supple twigs that he could not avoid.

Finally, with their horses both lathered with sweat, Georgiana chose to slow her horse to a walk, and with the last jump behind him, Richard trotted his horse astride of hers. They silently trod down the path, the only sound being both horses snorting from the exertion.

After a prolonged silence Richard spoke. “You will have to talk to me eventually, you know. It just would not do for you to become a mute whenever I am about.”

Georgiana remained silent, gazing instead around at the wonderful landscape now alive with color and scents which seemed so at odds with her uneasy feelings.

“You used to be enamored of me, cousin. Will you ever be so again?”

Yes, I was very naive once, believing that both you and Fitzwilliam perfect, without fault, but no longer.

“No,” she finally said. “No, I doubt I will ever think of you the same, Richard. You are changed and not for the better.”

“Yes, I have changed. I have seen too much…” He almost said ‘too much of death and savagery’, but his voice trailed off.

Another uncomfortable silence ensued for both as they tried to think what next to say to the other. Finally Georgiana could hold off no longer.

“You should not have spoken to Lizzy in such of manner, Richard. It was wrong of you to be so harsh, whatever you thought of her for what she had done.”

“You overheard what we were discussing…”

“I had not meant to on that day, but could not stop myself from listening once I knew.” She looked away, now ashamed of having been drawn by some morbid fascination to deliberately hear their private conversation instead of making her presence known to them, as she should have done.

“Once you realized what Elizabeth had admitted to, were you not as shocked as I? What were your thoughts at the time?”

Georgiana pursed her lips wishing not to think of how she felt then, but words that had been pent up for weeks inside her now tumbled from her mouth. “She and Fitzwilliam seemed so in love and caring of one another, I could not at first believe that she had deceived him…except that she had as much as said it were so. It hurt me to know that my brother could so intensely love someone so unworthy that should he ever find out it might be his ruin...again. I vowed that I would not be the one to tell him.”

They rode on in silence again as they threaded their way down the path through the stand of giant oaks until she at last admitted her true feelings upon hearing their discussion. Finally Georgiana voiced, “why, after you promised Elizabeth not to speak of it, did you break your word and inform Fitzwilliam of her deceit? What on earth possessed you to do such a thing when it could have meant his downfall again and his despair?”

“As I told Elizabeth in the solarium, I had no choice but to keep her secret because at the time I could formulate no solution to the problem of Darcy’s health should he get wind of it. The more I thought on it, however, after witnessing his strength of resolve, the more sure I became that Darcy had strength enough to be made aware.”

“Then why wait until the night of her giving birth to tell him? Surely you could have said something before hand to have this matter settled.”

He swallowed, pained to even say the words that he had thought then. “I reasoned that if Elizabeth should perish in childbirth, and Darcy knew of her deceit, perhaps he would not be so devastated that he would not survive. The knowledge would soften the blow that she was not the person he had envisioned, someone less worthy of his profound grief.”

Georgiana huffed. “Did it never occur to you, Richard, that perhaps not she but the child die instead? Or perhaps she might perish but the child survive? How would your imparting such knowledge have done Fitzwilliam any good then? Did you ever think of that?”

He nodded but found he could not look her in the eye when he admitted it. “Yes, actually I had thought it all through, Georgie. Should Elizabeth have survived without her child, I would have encouraged Darcy to quietly divorce her, set her up in a house in London, or send her back to her parents. I would have tried my best to separate him from one so deceitful to allow him the time he would need to find happiness with another.

Should the child have survived without her, Darcy would have made sure it was well taken care of, but not at Pemberley. Together we would have found someone other than himself to rear the child. Only his money for its care and education would be his connection to it.”

Georgiana gasped. She had been wrong about Richard, thinking it had been a capricious act on his part to divulge Elizabeth’s secret to Fitzwilliam, when in fact Richard had considered all options contingent upon the outcome of the birth. It all came down to Richard trying to protect Fitzwilliam from what he erroneously viewed as the deception against him.

She sighed. “Why must men always think they know what is best when in truth they know nothing of the sort, and are only guessing about the right course of action, hoping for a favorable outcome without a certainty of it?”

“Because as men we have seen more of the world to know that life has no certainties except that it either go on…or cease. We strive for the former while straining against the latter or at least that is what one should do…protect and defend the helpless…” Again the image of the woman and her sons came to his mind to haunt him at his failure to save them, and he fell silent.

“You were wrong, Richard, about what you knew, about how you acted, about everything!”

His voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “Yes, yes, I was.”

“You should apologize to Lizzy, and-”

“Georgiana, I have already made my peace with her.”

“Lizzy has already forgiven you…without taking you to task?”

“Your sister is a very gracious woman. It is more than I deserve.”

“And you should tell Fitzwilliam you are sorry for all the pain you caused him.”

“I assure you, Georgie, had I not spoken to him before hand I would not be with you at this moment.”

Georgiana frowned as they rode on in silence. She could not believe that both Lizzy and Fitzwilliam would have forgiven Richard so easily.

Perhaps it was not forgiveness that was so very easily given, but rather a point ceded in order to ensure the tranquility they were now afforded. Peace.

It was now left to her to come to terms with all that had transpired that she too find her own peace with this man who rode beside her, who had before always been honorable, and true in his determination to safeguard her family, however wrong his actions had been in this regard.

He had done so out of love.

This line of reasoning caused her to wonder further that had he known the whole of it from the beginning, would he have acted differently?

Would he have defended Lizzy instead of attacking her with accusations?

Georgiana was more inclined to believe that perhaps he would have viewed Elizabeth as part of his family instead of some interloper intent on gaining wealth through deceit.

Suddenly Georgiana’s mare reared up, frightened and snorting in fear by some unseen danger. It took all of her skills to stay astride the terrorized animal and keep him from bolting. Richard’s own mount seemed to know some danger lay in the grass, but was better trained to stand his ground to have his owner take the initiative and slay the monster.

Richard quickly dismounted, putting himself in harm’s way as the snake reared its head ready to strike him instead of at the legs of Georgiana’s horse. Pulling his sword from the scabbard, the sound of metal sliding cleanly against metal easily unnerved one untrained in the art of warfare as Georgiana who gasped. In a flash that reflected the sunlight the sword came down swiftly to dispatch the snake with the head flying off to the side and its body twitching for a few seconds in its death throws.

Looking about but seeing no other dangers in the vicinity, Richard calmly wiped his blade clean on the grass and returned it to its scabbard with that same smooth deadly sound of metal sliding on metal. When he turned toward Georgiana, still astride her frightened mount he noticed her pallor. Grabbing the reins with one hand, his other patted the neck to calm the animal while his gaze remained locked on its rider. Clearly Georgiana was shaken by the experience, and leaned her arms down to have Richard help her dismount. He could feel her trembling as her arms curled around his neck.

“Shhhh, Poppet, all is well. Shhhh, the danger is passed now, Georgie. You are safe.”

He held her against him silently, treating her as tenderly as he would to his own younger sister. It took several moments, but within the safety of his embrace her mind tried to settle. The warmth of his breath on her neck and his unruffled demeanor aided her in beginning to calm, enabling her to think again on what had been her thoughts just prior to the incident. With their return also came her conclusions.

Yes, Richard, I believe that had you known, you would have been Elizabeth’s champion to any who would have abused her. You would have been her shield, just as you are mine.

A smile then graced her face as she nodded and stared at her cousin. Richard needed no other sign to know she at last had forgiven him. But it left him with a bitter sweet feeling for he saw none of the adoration in her eyes that had once been there. Her eyes were now open to a world that was full of grey areas, not so black and white any longer, and peopled by those, like himself, not completely good or bad. He sighed.

She now sees me as I truly am, merely a man, instead of the worshiped elder cousin, her hero without fault. She is growing up, and I am reluctant to have it so, but if it means she can forgive me, I can live with her new opinion of me.

In silence they remounted, and their horses trod down the path toward the spot amid the ancient oaks of Pemberley where she found a spot most pleasant for her repast. Both seemed now free of the tension that had engulfed them earlier as Georgiana came to accept not the saintly hero she had always envisioned Richard to be, but the man he was, flaws and all.

It was the weekend, and the babies were almost twenty days old when Darcy stole away again into the nursery in early afternoon to enjoy a quiet few moments with his children before the maid put them down for their nap. He was in rapture with his young daughter when a soft tapping brought Darcy from his revelry. Upon opening the door he found Bingley on the other side. “Come in, Charles.”

The young man saw Darcy standing up holding an infant with one arm, and the door with the other, and Bingley’s eyes grew large, raising his hands before him. “No, no…I had not intended on intruding again on your…I…I will just go-”

“Come in, Charles, I would have a word with you,” grabbing Bingley’s arm and propelling him through the doorway. Closing it behind the stunned Bingley, Darcy again strode into the center of the room, still carrying the child in a confident manner that Bingley thought cavalier.

“Regina, you may give your charge to Mr. Bingley, and take your break now.”

“Yes, sir, very good, sir. Thank you, sir.”

The nursery maid began handing off the babe she held but Bingley backed away in fright. “Oh! No! No, please, not again. I would rather not…I…”

“Just sit yourself down, sir,” coaxed Regina, backing him towards one of the two rocking chairs. His legs hit the seat and Bingley fell unceremoniously into the chair, failing to recover before Regina deposited the infant into his outstretched arms. “There, sir, support his head just like so, Mr. Bingley, sir. There you are, sir!”

Bingley was still very nervous about the whole business entreating the maid, “No, no…I do? No, do not leave me, Miss…Miss!”

“Thank you, Regina.” Darcy’s calm voice resonated in the small room. “You may return at a quarter past.”

“Yes, sir, Thank you, sir.”

Regina curtseyed and left the two gentlemen each with a babe, waiting until she was out of the door, but both men could hear her giggling as she departed down the hallway.

Bingley appeared both frightened and put out at again being manipulated by both the nursery maid and by his now brother into handling the child and said as much. “This will not do, Darcy. I have your child in my arms, and am still so afraid he will come to harm.”

“Is he crying?”

“Well…no…”

“Then you have yet to harm him, Charles. Does he not seem content with you at present?”

Bingley warily gazed down at the babe through the opening in the blanket, and exhaled a stale breath when he saw that he did indeed appear at peace for the moment. Having heard one and sometimes both infants crying to fill the halls with wailing, Bingley finally allowed his eyes to stare at Darcy who was trying his best not to smirk.

“Do you not find contentment with him in your arms, Charles?”

“No, I do not,” Charles spoke quickly, not admitting that he did indeed feel some small part of himself relaxing in a contentment that Darcy exuded, and said further, “As I told you after we last came into the nursery, it is not for men to tend babies, Darcy. That is why God created women. They are more adept at…this.”

Darcy smiled at Bingley’s tenderness with his son, allowing the lad to grasp hold of his finger while Bingley cooed at the infant. “I agree they are more adept, Charles, but I find enjoyment in sharing this time with them when they are at peace.”

Bingley found he could not take his gaze from his charge as he asked, “And how long do they usually stay…peaceful?”

“Not long, I fear.”

Just then Bingley’s charge made a strange sound, paused, and then repeated the sound which upset the young man. “Darcy, something is wrong! He is choking! He is going to die! Do something!”

“He hiccupped, Bingley.”

“He…he did? That was a…?” Bingley sighed. “Darcy, you see how poorly I am at this business. Do take Wills from me before I harm him.”

His father tried to ease the young man’s anxiety. “Bingley, he is fine. All is well. Just relax.”

Bingley sighed again, knowing that Darcy would not relieve him of the infant, and the baby continued hiccupping for awhile longer before he dropped off into a contented slumber leaving Bingley to wonder at his sudden quiet. “Is he dead?”

Darcy rolled his eyes. “He is sleeping, Bingley. Do you not feel how warm he is? Your gentle rocking has put him to sleep.”

“My what? Oh, yes, rocking.” Bingley seemed only then aware that he was seated in a rocking chair as he became mesmerized by the sleeping child, smiling. “Truly, I have put him to sleep?”

Not having the heart to tell his friend that his children routinely slept at this hour allowed the nervous man some confidence, Darcy merely nodded. “You will be doing the same to your own child soon, Charles.”

“Yes, I suppose you are correct. Jane’s confinement is almost at an end.” He gently caressed the cheek of his tiny charge, hoping his hands were not too coarse for such soft skin.

“We are all happy that she has not followed in Elizabeth’s path of troubles.”

Bingley sighed, “I will be happy when the whole business is over and done with, and she has delivered safely.”

“As do we all.”

Becoming suddenly fearful as his having to endure the ordeal alone, Bingley hugged the child tighter and blurted out, “You will be there, will you not, Darcy? I doubt I will be able to manage without your assistance.”

“Rest assured, Charles, I will be at your side just as you were at mine. You will not be alone.”

“Good, good, then, “Bingley sounded relieved with that news. “You know not how that comforts me.”

“Then be at ease.”

The baby Bingley was holding began to squirm and make different kinds of noises. “Darcy, he is…what is the matter with…Darcy! I am…wet!”

Unable to keep his countenance, Darcy softly chuckled at Bingley’s predicament of having the baby dampen not only his own clothing and blanket, but Bingley’s breeches as well. Unthinking Bingley held the child away from him, but with the sudden fear of dropping the infant his arms brought his charge back onto his now sodden lap.

“This is not amusing, Darcy,” Bingley replied indignantly. “I have no attire in which to change. How would it look to the servants to see me thus?”

Taking pity on his friend Darcy agreed. “You are right, Bingley. I will go find you suitable clothing.” Rising from his chair, Darcy gently deposited the second child not in her crib but in Bingley’s unoccupied arm with him now protesting vehemently.

“What are you doing? No! No! Do not leave me with BOTH! Darcy, I cannot attend them both! Darcy, no! Please do not leave me!”

Darcy backed away from his now encumbered friend stranded in the chair with a babe in each arm, and Darcy smiling with glee. Bingley realized that Elizabeth’s mischievous nature had been a bad influence on Darcy whom Bingley had in the past always depended upon to keep him out of any predicaments. Now, here he was the villain instigating such a to-do!

Heading for the door, Darcy turned to his friend. “Just one thing, Bingley…”

“Yes?”

“Do not drop them,” Darcy warned. “Elizabeth will have your head.”

Bingley’s eyes widened as his arms tightened around each infant just at the door closed on his so called friend. “Darcy! Darcy! Do not leave me! Darcy! Darcy!”

Looking down from one to the other of his tiny charges, Bingley took note that while the girl Darcy had just added to his lap was now peacefully sleeping, the boy who had christened him so unceremoniously looked at him in an inquisitive manner as though about to question him. Bingley stared back and beseeched him. “Young master Wills, follow young Emily’s conduct and go to sleep, I beg you!”

This was how Elizabeth and Regina found her brother-in-law, cajoling his young male charge to close his eyes, comparing him to his compliant sister who had long ago drifted off to slumber, but the boy had steadfastly refused to be lured to sleep while this strange but gentle voice talked to him. At the sound of the door opening Bingley’s face was filled with such a thankful relief at seeing the mother of these two come to take over her God given duties!

“Charles?”

“Take them! Take them from me at once!”

“Where is Fitzwilliam?”

“I know not,” stated the obviously put upon Charles who tried to regain his dignity by straightening his waist coat of wrinkles, “but when I find him, I will give him a piece of my mind! I was completely at a loss to-”

“Charles?”

“Yes?”

“You did fine.”

He shook his head not believing a word she spoke, and stared at her wondering if she had put Darcy up to his little display for his benefit, but threw out that notion with her quite innocent look of what her husband, Bingley’s former friend, has done to him.

Elizabeth tiptoed and kissed Bingley’s flushed cheek. “Thank you for keeping them safe, Charles. You will do well with you own child.”

Bingley sighed, gazing at both contented infants, realizing truly that he had done them no harm, and nodded reluctantly, all at once feeling bereft of their warmth in his arms.

“I will leave you to attend your own children now, Elizabeth. If you will excuse me.”

Smiling, she obliged him silently noting the state of his breeches.

Continued in Next Section