Beginning , Previous Section , Section XII

Chapter 23a

Posted on Thursday, 1 September 2005

The entire staff at Pemberley knew at once of the arrival of the Bennets for it was heralded by the increased level of noise coming from the downstairs foyer and parlor late one afternoon. Mrs. Bennet’s shrill voice carried through the hallways and up the stairwells to the second floor that could even be heard by the master and mistress heard through the heavy doors of their chambers had they been there.

As it was, there was only Wilkins and Mrs. Reynolds to greet the Bennets when they arrived and she took note that there were fewer of them than had been expected.

While both Mary Bennet and Mrs. Bennet gawked at the size of the mansion and had to be brought from their awe to ascend the stairway to the house, Mr. Bennet kept his wits about him and answered Mrs. Reynolds unasked question as to the whereabouts of his other two offspring.

“I see you are wondering of my other two daughters? They are staying at present with our relations in London, the Gardiners. I believe they stated having met you when they were on tour last summer?”

“Yes, sir, that is correct. A most charming couple,” Mrs. Reynolds confirmed as they all climbed the steps to the door and through to the foyer where servants waited in a row to help them from their outer wear as Mr. Bennet continued.

For her part, Mrs. Bennet had argued against the plan stating that perhaps a rich neighbor could be attracted to one of the girls to have her married as advantageously as were Jane and Elizabeth, but her husband was not moved by her protestations, and merely spoke of their being no one of interest according to Elizabeth near abouts, and that both Kitty and Lydia would find enough mischief in attendance with their Cheapside relations.

The carriage ride for the hours it took was one of silent consternation on the part of Mrs. Bennet and complacence by Mr. Bennet and Mary, though engaged, had chosen to make the trip to the country rather than be a constant foil to both her younger sisters as they went gadding about town, shopping, and ogling well-to-do gentlemen on the street as they did in Meryton. She could do without their company quite nicely.

Trying to ignore her mother’s silent indignation all the way to Derbyshire, or her obsessive sighing in boredom with each turn in the road, Mary kept her nose fixed deeply in the book she brought for the journey, and did not attempt to make any idle conversation to either of her parents. Finally, arriving at Pemberley, a manor which took her breath away at its enormity, she stood open-mouthed beside the carriage until her father prodded her up the stairs.

Mr. Bennet stated, “Since the season was not yet upon the town, I am assured that Kitty and Lydia would be safe enough attending the theater and small dinner parties in company with their aunt and uncle, and not bored by the country life in Derbyshire as the young girls are want to be.”

Mrs. Reynolds found she could make no reply for such a statement, and had neither the time to fashion one, for at that moment upon seeing neither her daughter nor son-in-law to greet them, the lady who had traveled with Mr. Bennet began a tirade.

“Where are they? Where are my grandchildren?”

From all the way into the second floor halls a murmur of other voices followed with someone trying to assist Mrs. Bennet, but this brought more censure from the Mistress of Longbourn.

“No! No, I do not want to go to my rooms yet! Mary, you may be taken to your rooms if you so desire it, but I want to see the children. Jane and Mr. Bingley have had their company all this time and now it is my turn. I demand to see my grandchildren. Take me to them at once!”

Clearly neither Mrs. Reynolds nor Wilkins was any match for the determined grandmother. It was Mrs. Reynolds who nodded, and asked that the couple, barely free of their outer garments, follow her above stairs to the nursery while Wilkins had another servant escort the younger Miss Mary Bennet to rooms that had been made ready for her.

At hearing her mother’s wish to view the twins that Elizabeth had so recently delivered, Mary realized how very tired she had become with the long ride, and did not argue the point when her mother suggested that she go to her rooms. Following the servant now, Mary silently began to take in the opulence of the place and felt quite out of place and clutched her reticule closer to her chest as she walked, eyes large with trepidation, the seemingly endless hallway to attain the rooms awaiting her.

Truly, I am going to be lost in this vastness. I do hope my parents’ chambers are not too far from mine.

The couple followed the silent housekeeper listening to the mercenary phrases coming from Mrs. Bennet, gushing over how elegant and expensive were all the furnishings they passed along their way above stairs, and how lucky Lizzy was to have secured such a rich husband, and how fortunate their other daughters were to have such a relation to throw them in the path of other rich men.

By the time they reached the second floor landing Mrs. Reynolds was disgusted with the twaddle the woman spouted evidently without need of breath! Such drivel and clucking at her daughter’s good fortune coming from the woman the housekeeper had already taken a dislike to the mother of her new mistress, a woman of grace and refinement, charm and good sense. Silently Mrs. Reynolds was at a loss to understand how the two women wholly dissimilar in every respect could possibly be related.

Stopping at the nursery door, Mrs. Reynolds kept her voice low as she lightly knocked, announcing that she enter first in case the babes, barely one month old, were taking their afternoon nap. However, when she opened the door, Mrs. Bennet pushed passed her and rushed into the room, startling the usually unflappable housekeeper, and in a loud voice announced, “THERE YOU ARE, MY PRECIOUS BOY-”

Mrs. Bennet stopped abruptly and looked around the empty room which was now occupied only by herself and Mr. Bennet who had given the housekeeper an apologetic expression as he walked passed and into the nursery. His spouse’s shrill voice was loud and demanding.

“WHERE ARE THEY?”

Mrs. Reynolds entered further to see what the insistent woman had already ascertained. The babies were not in the nursery.

Mrs. Bennet then changed her mood entirely and was beside herself with worry, her hand fluttering her handkerchief before her. “They have been kidnapped! Oh, where is my smelling salt? Oh, Mr. Bennet!”

The man patted her hand. “Calm yourself, my dear. I am sure no such thing has happened to Lizzy’s offspring. More likely their mother or perhaps even their father has temporarily absconded with them.”

“What a ridiculous notion! Why would their own parents have taken them?”

“Perhaps if we settle into our rooms, the good Mrs. Reynolds here will, in the mean time, find out where the Darcy’s progeny have been taken.”

Mrs. Reynolds nodded approval of this plan that she had already put forth when they were downstairs in the foyer.

Finally now perhaps the woman will listen to reason from her husband.

The housekeeper inwardly smiled at the persuasiveness of the mistress’ father, her esteem of him rising at his good sense coupled with a calm amused demeanor.

“I shall endeavor to locate them at once, sir.”

“That is very good of you, Mrs. Reynolds. In the mean while, if you would have us directed to our rooms, I am sure Mrs. Bennet will becalm herself of her visions of intrigue and foul play.”

“Oh, Mr. Bennet, they are lost to us! I just know it!”

“There, there, my dear. They shall be found in due time. Calm yourself.”

Mr. Bennet’s eyes twinkled at his attempt at humor much the way Mrs. Darcy’s did when making a jest. Mrs. Reynolds nodded, thinking she was already inclined to like the man, and motioned for the servant to approach, instructing him to take the Bennets to rooms made ready in the guest wing.

As Mrs. Reynolds watched their progress down the hallway, Mrs. Bennet’s voice carried throughout with her complaints to her husband of her being displeased that she had not been immediately satisfied, and that she was quite put out. It was after barely a pause that the woman seemed again to notice the grandeur of the house and its furnishings, and began loudly to extol on how large were the tapestries and fixtures as she passed them and wondered of their cost, and other vulgar poppycock. Mr. Bennet, the housekeeper noted, wisely remained silent, perhaps hoping the woman would exhaust herself on this subject ere long.

It was only after some intuitive reasoning that Mrs. Reynolds did find the babies along with their parents in the most likely location, that of the solarium. They sat amid all the lush flowering shrubs and trees that abounded in the glass enclosure to keep them safe them from the cold English weather. The sunlight filtered through the smallish forest to dapple light and shade upon both the master and mistress, each with a baby as they sat together comfortably in an over large chair that glided* silently back and forth with Darcy’s gentle efforts.

Mrs. Reynolds was hesitant to disturb so peaceful a scene before her for it seemed that even the mistress had fallen asleep with the master lovingly watching over her and the babies. The housekeeper stood fixated as she had never seen such an expression grace Darcy’s face; she had never witnessed his countenance so serene in all the time she had known him even so long ago when both his parents had lived.

Truly, from the time I took charge of him at age four until now with him full grown, I have never seen him more content than at this moment.

Determined not to have this happiness infringed upon by the likes of so irksome a woman as Mrs. Bennet who just happened to be the children’s grandmother, Mrs. Reynolds silently retraced her steps out of the glass enclosure to allow the new family their tranquility for as long as it lasted.

Later would do just as well.

Darcy had noticed the retreating housekeeper out of the corner of his eye and chuckled. He knew the faithful Mrs. Reynolds would inform the other servants to avoid the solarium for a while to stay any intrusion upon his idyllic interlude. His attention was drawn once more to the wonder before him. He smiled thinking Elizabeth had fallen into a comfortable slumber against the large pillows covering the glider. Sleep had been a rarity for her over the past few days with directing the preparations of her family’s impending visit which Darcy could only view as a flock of raucous birds descending upon them. To see all three so at peace filled his heart with a contentment he never thought possible.

Just as he was sure of Elizabeth being asleep, she spoke in a voice barely above a whisper and with her eyes still closed. “My parents are due to arrive at any time now, Fitzwilliam. We should soon be on our way back to the nursery.”

He sighed,“Yes, that is so.”

Neither parent stirred, reluctant to remove themselves from so peaceful a setting that lacked only birds chirping and butterflies flitting about to complete the image of their being outside among the great oaks of Pemberley.

“ I know my mother well. She will insist on seeing the children as soon as she alights from the carriage, and will go in search of them should they not be where they are supposed to be.”

Darcy envisioned Mrs. Bennet rushing down the hallway opening door after door and peering in to no avail with Darcy’s having secured his children to a safe location far away from their loquacious grandparent. His thoughts were interrupted by Elizabeth’s chastising gaze that spoke volumes to his enjoyment of keeping the babies from their grandmother who had come all the way from Longbourn to see them. He lowered his eyes.

No, I truly do not begrudge her wishing to become as enamored as I to such precious little ones.

Still, neither of them made any attempt to move from their current restful positions, and would have remained longer had not first one and then the other baby stirred and then fully awaken. Each began to squirm and complain slightly while in the security of their parents’ arms signaling that a change of venue was in order. Both Darcy and Elizabeth sighed and rose reluctantly to make their way back to the nursery.

*I have yet to find much on the history of the glider during Regency times, but know they had rocking chairs then but they were more likely to have six legs instead of four. Here’s a site that shows a picture. http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/rockingchair.html Highlight “precursors”

Having come for one of their frequent visits to Pemberley, and while the Bennets were still at rest in their rooms, Jane offered that she and Charles tend to the babies when Darcy insisted that Elizabeth too lie down while he took the time to accomplish some estate business that he had begun early that morning.

Charles had come to feel if not completely at ease in this task, at least less nervous when he was accompanied by Jane who, among her other accomplishments exuded confidence in her tending to children. She had him sit comfortably in one of the rockers and carefully nestled a baby in his arms, making sure he was secured with extra pads on his lap to avoid another unforeseen accident. Then she deftly held the other baby and settled in the adjoining chair cradling the complacent infant in her warm embrace. Charles would not admit to the fact but he appeared to be gaining some ease with his charge with each of these encounters.

After several moments of silence Jane began with, “Charles, do you remember not long after we had moved into the Blakely house of our discussion regarding the rearing of our own child?”

Bingley kept his eyes glued to the little one, still somewhat anxious that he would drop the child if he were to look away. “Yes, Janey, I recall well our conversation and of your being just as fearful and I to have such a great responsibility, with neither of us knowing precisely how best to accomplish so a daunting undertaking. I dare say we were both beside ourselves with worry that day.”

Jane cuddled the tiny baby, smiling at the precious bundle. “We are still unsure of what is the best method to care for our child when it arrives, but I have grown fond of how Fitzwilliam and Lizzy are managing these two.”

“Yes,” agreed Bingley. “We are fortunate being so near to their family to experience these precious children and to give us some inkling of the best way to raise our own. I suppose we should soon begin interviewing for a wet nurse to have that task resolved before your confinement nears its end.”

Hugging the baby tighter, Jane paused before asking, “must we hire a wet nurse, Charles?”

Without even raising his eyes from his charge he replied, “Of course, Jane. Is that not proper to do so?”

Jane paused again as though deep in thought. “Elizabeth seems to be managing well without, Charles, and she has two babies to care for.”

At this statement Bingley finally looked up from the sweet face in which he was so enamored to stare at the woman he loved and whose eyes reflected a mixture of emotions as she weighed obedience to her husband against that of her own wishes.

“Janey, would you wish to forgo a wet nurse to bind yourself to constant feedings as does your sister?”

He wondered how Lizzy found the time for all her other duties as the mistress of Pemberley with her obvious attention to her children. He blushed at the added thought of how she had time for her wifely duties with so time consuming a task as feeding two infants that would most likely extend for as long as a year or more. At that thought of Jane deciding to do likewise, he wondered how could he manage being without her company for that length of time.

His cheeks crimson now, he spoke nonetheless honestly about his feelings on the matter. “Janey, you know I have not imposed upon you to perform your marital duties, and especially since you are now…but…I do not think I can bear to be without you for so long a time as you would require for such an activity as wet nursing our…” His voice trailed off as he looked away, needing to take a deep breath to recover from so honest an assessment of what he viewed as his own selfish desires.

Jane’s cheeks also flushed with the content of their discussion, but she finally ventured, “Charles, Lizzy says one does not have to forgo one’s marital duties while still…” She heard him gasp as though in shock.

“Are you saying that while she is wet nursing these two…she and Darcy have already renewed…already begun…” He huffed at the notion that he had never considered before this moment and remained silent.

“Now that you put me in mind of it…” Jane’s face was the color of ripe persimmons and she had lowered both her gaze and her voice to almost a whisper. “She never said so directly. It is only my opinion that they never stopped having…even while she was…even when she was…”

Bingley was astonished. “Jane Margaret Bingley! How could you even say such a thing?” She immediately closed her eyes to what she considered censure and so did not see the corners of his mouth lift.

Neither of them could speak, and could not even look at one another. Their cheeks remained beet red from such a conversation, and they were silent for quite some time, the only noise in the room came from the rocking chairs that had quicken their pace.

Charles inwardly smiled at his Jane being so bold and he wondered, L--d, how did we come to this discussion?

Jane thought, Oh, what must he think of me for stating so shocking an opinion?

He cleared his throat as though to make some further reply, but found his mouth too dry to form words. Jane dared not speak for fear of more censure. The rocking chairs continued their silent race while the sleeping babies were unaware of their caretaker’s discomfiture.

Finally after settling his thoughts with this new information that at first had him reeling, Bingley saw the wisdom of tempering the regards of society with common sense and an understanding of the needs of any loving couple who wished each other’s company. At last he spoke, his question tentative as it was tender. “You…would not feel put upon if I were to come to you in the night while you are still…” He gaze fell to where their child was growing within her, and he blushed anew but looked up hopefully to see her smile.

“No, Charles,” she replied softly. “I have never felt your attentions to me as being an imposition…in fact…my feeling are quite the opposite. I welcome them at any time you choose to come to me, Charles…” Jane’s cheeks were red but she was smiling. “…I would welcome them more often if you so desired it…”

Bingley could not at first believe what she had plainly stated, and doubted what his ears had heard. “You mean to tell me that…we could have been more…all this time? But your mother warned me not to press you, and you gave me no indication that you had wished for more…”

“My mother also told me I should never express too much enjoyment of our…marital duties lest you think me wanton.”

Bingley shook his head at the thought of his having known Jane so well only to find this new surprise by her. He smiled and waited for her to continue. Jane stopped rocking and leaned close to his chair with so intense an expression that he too stopped rocking and leaned toward her as she confessed her deepest thought.

“…but I will tell you true, Charles David Bingley, I do like it when you come to me…when we…join.” She swallowed. “I find I have never had such a joyous feeling as when we…unite. Oh, Charles, Lizzy says that as my husband I should be able to tell you my honest thoughts no matter how shocking they seemed…that you would understand…that you would forgive me for speaking my mind…and…and…”

By this time he had to keep himself from laughing at their misunderstanding due to her mother’s unsound advice. “Shhhh, Janey.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “There is nothing to forgive, and I do understand. You can speak to me of anything.”

She frowned. “But when I said what I thought about Lizzy and Fitzwilliam, were you not shocked?”

“I admit I was surprised at such speculation, and more so by your boldness to speak of it.” He continued, “but I still give you leave to say anything to me, Janey, and I will listen to it without reproof.”

“Truly?”

He nodded. “And in future perhaps it would be best to merely listen attentively when your mother spouts her sage-isms, and then do as we please without regard to them.”

“Yes, Charles.”

“And you now know you are free to speak your mind on anything, no matter how silly or shocking you deem it?”

Jane nodded smiling at her husband whom she loved even more if that were possible, and the two reverted back into a pleasant silence, again rocking the babies at they slept soundly.

“Now,” Bingley finally returned to the subject that had begun this discussion. “About this wet nurse business-”

“I am sure we can find a sensible woman in Lambton…if you still wish me to have one, Charles.”

Gazing at his lovely Janey, he revised his thinking on the matter. “Well, for the time being, shall we forgo it as your sister has?”

“Yes, Charles,” she beamed. “I would like to try if you are in agreement.”

“Then it is decided.”

“Thank you, Charles.”

Both continued to rock the babies, content in their added knowledge of one another. Jane had divulged the only secret left from him, something that her mother had almost insisted on. Realizing now she should have had no fear in relating it to her loving husband, the one person she had entrusted with Lizzy’s secret. In that Charles had been exemplary in his ability to confidentially, keeping such a delicate matter secret. Now there was nothing between them and she vowed there would never again be so.

Bingley smiled as he glanced over to his serene Janey, so happy that she had trusted him completely to say what she held so dear in heart. The thought that she relished his attentions filled him with such joy of his having never disappointed her. He felt assured that their future would continue to be filled with blissful fidelity.

Over the course of the next few days, Mrs. Bennet finally got her wish to view and tend the babies on a daily basis in the nursery. It was about a week into their visit that upon entering this day she saw the nursery maid cooing to one of the infants in her arms, and Mrs. Bennet accosted her. “Regina, which is it you have, the girl child or the boy?”

Before Regina could reply Mr. Bennet arrived and smiled at the other babe being tended to by the other nursery maid, and went immediately to her asking, “Miss Sarah Beth is it? Yes, well as the child’s grandfather, may I have the honor of holding little Emily?”

Sarah Beth tried to inform him that she held young master Wills, but Mr. Bennet was too preoccupied with sitting in the rocking chair and holding out his arms to receive the bundle. “May I, please?”

This seemed to placate Mrs. Bennet with the confirmation of her having the boy in her arms, and she too settled into cooing the tiny infant whose eyes seemed at first curious at the sound of this still stranger’s voice, but soon found contentment in the soft cooing of the woman.

Both grandparents found solace in rocking two perfectly healthy, beautiful children.

“Oh, Mr. Bennet! Who would have guessed that our Lizzy could have produced such a son as this? Is he not the most handsome boy that ever lived?” Her husband listened quietly as she rattled on. “Oh, how I wished we could have had a son with our second child.”

At this Mr. Bennet chuckled at her inane comment. “I fear that if it had been so, Mrs. Bennet, we would not be holding these infants today.”

“Oh, Mr. Bennet! Do not try to vex me. You know what I meant.”

He sighed. “Yes, but a son was never destined for us, it seems. Still, we have two son-in-laws that are admirable just the same, are they not, Mrs. Bennet?”

“Yes, but it would have ensured Longbourn had we been able to have sons like this little one. He is the most handsome baby I have ever beheld. Look at his face, Mr. Bennet.”

While amused that Mrs. Bennet thought the child the most handsome, Mr. Bennet took a closer look at his face, and then at the infant he was holding to come to a startling conclusion. They were the exact image of one another. He opened his mouth, but knew not what to say to such a discovery, beginning to wonder if indeed he had the daughter or did Mrs. Bennet hold the girl and he the boy.

Watching Mrs. Bennet’s contentment, he decided not to intrude upon it, and chose to remain silent with his discovery. But a glance at the two nursery maids who were trying not to giggle at the mix up seemed to be a confirmation of it. He merely shook his head at the two maids, and smiling motioned for them to take their tea break so they would not be so restricted in their amusement of the situation that it would pour out of them in the form of laugher to give the plot away to Mrs. Bennet. They quickly curtseyed and left the room, closing the door to have Mr. Bennet hear their laughter from the other side of it.

Soon, however, his spouse did catch on to the fact when she opened her eyes and took a look a long look at the baby Mr. Bennet held, and then back at the one she had been holding all this time.

“Mr. Bennet?”

“Yes, my dear.”

“Their faces are…the same.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes, of course I am sure. Their faces are alike as two peas in a pod. One is the mirror of the other.”

“I believe you are correct, Mrs. Bennet. They do seem identical.”

Now she frowned unsure if she had been holding the boy all this time instead of a girl child. “Do you have the son, Mr. Bennet, or do I?”

“Well, I am not quite sure if I do or not, Mrs. Bennet. It does not matter.”

“Well, of course it does, Mr. Bennet! I wanted to hold the son.”

“Ah, very well then.”

Mr. Bennet gently deposited the child in his care into her unoccupied arm, and then took the other into his arms, and silently awaited her reaction to the switch. At first, Mrs. Bennet was appeased that she now had the correct child that she had wanted all along, but soon, her mind began to wonder again as she took stock in their identical little faces, both asleep now to give her no aid in discovering who was who.

“Mr. Bennet, I am still unsure of which baby I am holding.”

“Does it make a difference?”

“I want to love and coo the boy, Mr. Bennet and-”

“Ignore and chastise the other for merely being born a girl?”

At first refusing to listen to her husband’s censure she stated, “there is but one way to find out which is which.” And she proceeded to rise to take the infant to the crib and remove the swaddling it to know for sure which sex it was. Mr. Bennet knew exactly what she was about and more severely admonished her. “Sit down at once, Mrs. Bennet!”

She was startled at his uncharacteristic growl, and obeyed, silently staring at her husband’s determined eyes.

“It makes no difference at this point in their young lives, my dear. They are healthy and wonderfully unscathed by any who would diminish their right to be loved solely on the basis of their gender. I refuse to have you favor one over the other at this point else we would not be welcomed in their home hereafter. I would have you keep that in mind.”

Pouting at not having her way, Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth to argue the point, but then took another tack. “Oh, Mr. Bennet, we have raised only girls, and I wondered how it would be to raise a boy, and so wished to know if I was holding him.”

Remembering what Sir William Lucas once said of raising a boy, something about running with fearless abandon toward imminent death was how boys faced the world. Mr. Bennet chuckled at whether Mrs. Bennet truly knew what she desired knowing.

Had not Lady Lucas imparted any tales of daring-do about her three sons? Surely she had and you had merely put them all out of your mind.

“Never fear, my dear Mrs. Bennet. Boys have a way of making themselves known by how much mischief they attract to themselves. You will know soon enough which is which. In the meantime, enjoy that they are small enough to hold and too young yet not to speak out of turn.”

Whether she agreed with his appraisal or not, she complied with his wishes, making herself content in the knowledge that she must be holding the boy in her arms.

Chapter 23b

Posted on Monday, 12 September 2005

The birth of the Bingley child was a uniquely varied confinement. When the outcome was eminent, Bingley sent a post directly to Darcy at Pemberley for Elizabeth to come aid her sister. The babies were welcomed as well, sequestered in the Blakely nursery for the time being along with their nursery maid, Regina who would keep watch over them. Mrs. Bennet was permitted entry in the birthing room, but for reasons known only to her decided that she would best serve Jane by tending to the Darcy twins and remained in the nursery for the duration without Mr. Bennet accompanying her.

Richard, in the mean time had volunteered to remain at Pemberley with Georgiana and Mary.

It seemed there had already been one heated discussion by Mr. and Mrs. Bennet which was overheard by several of the servants at her finding out about Mr. Darcy’s cousin, the Colonel being at the house, and of how she strenuously insisted that her younger daughters be sent for accompanied by their aunt and uncle Gardiner to Derbyshire for the express purpose that one of them attract such a fine man in regimentals.

Mr. Bennet, after a brief conversation with the man, however, thought the Colonel a bit long in the tooth for either of his youngest daughters, and that there was little if any common ground upon which to base a relationship. Having had his fill of the wanton behavior of some of the militia that for a time had been quartered in Meryton before their transference to Brighton, Mr. Bennet refused to listen to any further argument toward the culmination of a marriage of convenience no matter how many times Mrs. Bennet put forth the notion.

When it became clear to her that Mr. Bennet would not be moved to that end, they became extremely vexed with one another, and it was therefore their mutual decision to have her removal for the time being to the Blakely Manor to aid Jane with the birthing while Mr. Bennet remained at Pemberley, installed in its library for respite against any more discussions on the matter!

Had Richard been aware of their argument over him, he would have been grateful to the elderly gentleman for keeping his silly daughters from gushing platitudes his way even if they were pretty young things. The more he remained at Pemberley to witness not one but two love matches in the form of his cousin and Elizabeth as well as her sister with the irrepressibly cheerful Charles Bingley, the more Richard began to desire a more profound relationship, something thus far he had always viewed at as a weakness for a soldier.

To have one’s loyalties divided in war time might cost a man his or his comrade’s life or even the mission.

As it was, after dinner Mary and Georgiana chose to entertain themselves in the music room while the two men retired to Darcy’s study to enjoy a cigar and a brandy. Mr. Bennet offered only the most perfunctory banter before retreating to a corner chair with a book while Richard, nursing one drink, silently contemplated his future in the military. Given his disillusionment and still being plagued by his previous mission though successful but with the dismal outcome of some of the aspects of it, Richard was beginning to doubt his ability to lead men into the battle that was looming over the horizon in France.

Perhaps resigning my commission and running an estate with Sir Winthrop’s aid would be better use of my time and energies now.

As he pretended to read, Mr. Bennet was in actuality scrutinizing the colonel with a critical eye while mulling over the points of the discussion between himself and Mrs. Bennet as to the suitability of this young man as marriage material. Having discovered that Colonel Fitzwilliam was in the process of securing an estate of his own, and perhaps would soon become a lord of a manor similar to his second son-in-law, Charles Bingley, Mr. Bennet had neglected to relate such to his spouse.

Mr. Bennet realized that fact alone would be sufficient to pass Mrs. Bennet’s criteria as to the suitability of any man. Squirming in the seat and turning the page he had failed to read, Mr. Bennet knew that additionally the colonel was the second son of an earl, so came from nobility. While in Mr. Bennet’s presence Richard had acted as any respectable gentleman ought so that Mr. Bennet began to waver in his certainty. What turned the tide against him in Mr. Bennet’s eyes, however, had been the way in which the colonel acted around the Darcy children.

The other morning when Georgiana had entered the parlor, a babe in her arms, and unbeknownst to their being observed by Mr. Bennet, Richard immediately rose from his chair as would any polite gentleman. However, when Georgiana asked the colonel if he wished to hold the tot, Richard declined politely. Amid her gentle cajoling she again offered the baby be taken, but the colonel refused to bring his arms from behind his torso where they remained interlocked. He also refused thereafter to again sit that his lap be made a convenient target for his conniving cousin to drop the little charge onto. No matter how persuasive Georgiana, it seemed Richard wanted nothing to do with the child.

Remembering the incident Mr. Bennet shifted in his library seat and turned another unread page and ‘humphed.’

If the man has no feelings for a little child, he has no business entering into any marriage, and especially not with my family!

Having seen such joy in the marriages of his two eldest daughters, Mr. Bennet was reluctant to settle for less with his younger ones no matter how obtuse he found them. Thus the incident in the parlor had sealed his ill opinion of the colonel who sat now in silence across the room seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

Had Mr. Bennet been able to read minds, perhaps his opinion would not have been so severe. The day Georgiana had tried to have Richard hold the heir to Pemberley, the colonel was thinking of all he had seen and failed to do to ensure the lives of two young boys in France, and how unworthy he was to even touch so wondrous a creature as Darcy’s son.

It had taken every ounce of his training to refuse Georgiana’s request with what appeared to be the nonchalance of one indifferent, and had probably come across as haughtiness when in fact is was turmoil the likes of which Richard had never known as he gazed into that little face looking up to him in wonder and not allow himself to touch what even his hardened soldier’s heart knew was a miracle.

As soon as it was possible he had bid a hasty but hoped inconspicuously retreat to his quiet rooms where he found the half empty bottle of brandy and poured himself a generous amount. Richard stayed in the seclusion of his chambers amid his dark thoughts until he had made the decision to return down stairs. Without speaking to any in the household Richard made his way to the stables, saddled his horse, intending to go for a long ride and hoping the solitude of this place, this haven since boyhood could renew his spirit as it always had before upon his return to its magnificence.

Elizabeth too had been permitted into the birthing room, and although she tried to remain calm, she could sense Jane’s apprehension over her own impending motherhood after having only viewed the birthings of Elizabeth’s own children. Elizabeth held her hand and tried to reassure her beloved sister.

“You will do fine, Jane. I just know you will have an easier time of it than I because as Dr. Smith has told you, you have but one child to bring forth instead of two. Does that not give you some relief?”

“Oh, Lizzy,” Jane tried to laugh at her sister’s jesting amid trying to breathe properly. She managed to pant out. “Yes, one is plenty to abide at the mo-moment. Oh!”

She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand tightly as another intense contraction came upon her. Mrs. Knolls deemed that all was going normally, and neither she nor Dr. Smith seemed overly concerned as they had been with Elizabeth. This calmness reassured her that Jane was in no undo distress, and she too relaxed a bit.

Darcy in the meanwhile kept vigil with Bingley in the adjacent sitting room, never leaving his side while Bingley blanched at hearing his own wife’s cry out in pain.

“Good Lord, Darcy, how did you stand this?”

“With great difficulty, Bingley, at knowing for the moment I was of no use at all to Elizabeth. At least you are not being a nuisance and banging on the door as I did.”

This brought a bitter laugh from the expectant father, it actually did illicit a smile from the young man at the notion that he could ever do the same.

“You are a good friend, Darcy.”

“As are you, Charles.”

The two men reverted into silence at the now quiet adjoining room, and sat in anticipation for what they both thought would be of some duration. However, the difference between the birthings of the two sisters was remarkable in both their intensity and duration. Jane gave birth within three hours of beginning labor, and the midwife could not believe how easily it had come, and how peaceful the babe seemed from his birth.

Elizabeth was the first to hold the baby after Mrs. Knolls cleaned him up and handed her the little boy to then tend to Jane. Mesmerized by his serene countenance, Elizabeth walked about the room cooing softly to him as he gazed into the eyes of one of his aunts. She was so enraptured by him that she was reluctant to part with him when the midwife asked that the baby be given to Jane.

Finally Elizabeth pulled her eyes from the baby to gaze at her sister who was looking to them both with expectant eyes and a kind smile that brought Elizabeth back to her senses. She gave Jane her child to have that bond strengthened between the two.

Mother and child were resting comfortably when Bingley was at last allowed into the room. He immediately went to Jane and kissed her cheek, his eyes gazing at her in trepidation. “Are your well?”

Jane smiled. “Yes, we are both very well, Charles.”

After making sure that Jane was indeed well, Bingley viewed his child for the first time and without preamble uttered a name, “Michael.”

To this a confused Jane asked, “Why choose that name?”

Bingley could not tear his eyes from the babe as he quietly explained. “Does he not have the same expression as that of the angel in the stain glass window of our chapel?”

“But in the Bible was not Michael a warrior in God’s army?”

Jane could not fathom the connection to the name and her child’s sweet face. Bingley replied, “The archangel Michael was indeed a lieutenant in the army of God, but he took no joy in it, and had a face composed in his duty to his Lord. I see that same composure here in the eyes of this child that I have noted in the artist’s rendering of the angel in the glass, and like you, Janey, he is angelic in his disposition.”

Jane smiled asking, “Do you not wish your heir to have his father’s name?”

He gazed into his beloved’s eyes, and kissed her cheek. “You may name him whatever you will, Janey.”

“Charles Michael Bingley?”

“So be it, my love.”

After the doctor and midwife had departed the room and Elizabeth removed herself to the nursery and her own children, Bingley sat with his wife as she held their first child and his heir. He could not stop smiling at his lovely bride for that was how he still viewed her, thinking of the first night she became his.

“Do you remember our first night together as man and wife?”

Jane cooed at the baby who seemed to be listening to her voice. “Yes, of course, Charles. And you?”

“How could I forget? I was in doubt as to whether your mother would ever actually leave Netherfield!” Jane blushed and Charles added, “I should not say such about my own relation, Janey. I am sorry.”

“You are forgiven. In truth, had not father been most insistent perhaps mother would have suggested staying the night.” Jane’s blush became even more pronounced at saying so unkind a thing of her mother.

Bingley chuckled that Jane could now join him in making an innocent remark at her mother’s expense. “Yes, it was at that point I was most apprehensive, and wondered if your father had perceived our wishes and had wisdom enough to remove her to Longbourn that we might have time to ourselves.

Jane made no reply as each silently reminisced on the joy of their first coupling.

Then Jane smiled, hugging her little son to her breast, and gazing into his father’s kind eyes. “So much has changed since that first day of our marriage.”

“Changed, yes, dear Janey, but for the better, has it not?” He kissed her forehead, and touched his son’s tiny head in a soft caress.

“Yes, Charles, all is well.” They both smiled, happy with all they had learned about the other in their short year of married felicity, knowing how much they hoped for many more years to come of happiness.

Chapter 23c

Posted on Wednesday, 21 September 2005

Several days after Darcy and Elizabeth’s return to Pemberley, along with Mrs. Bennet, Charles informed them by messenger that Jane and his newborn son required some days more of rest during her laying in without the pleasure of their company descending upon them. He felt that one set of relations was quite enough company at a time, now with Caroline’s unexpected arrival to Blakeley Manor. She had been sent inexplicably to the Bingleys by the Hursts, and arrived in their carriage along with a footman and several maids while the Hursts were traveling abroad, Caroline was unusually quiet and had little to say on the matter.

Bingley, as was his habit, had himself not been explicit in his note of explanation as to the reason for Caroline’s unanticipated visit, saying only that both Louisa and Mr. Hurst felt Caroline not in the best of moods for the extensive traveling that they had for months in advance planned and were not inclined to abandon.

Darcy and Elizabeth raised their brows in silent wonderings as to the true meaning of Bingley’s words when Darcy related them to those at the dinner table that evening. Glancing at one another there was their unspoken communication that they would discuss this sudden appearance of Miss Bingley at a later time when each could voice their suppositions without Mrs. Bennet opining hers.

The rest of the table guests began to speculate on this new development. Both Richard and Georgiana knew that some interaction between them and Caroline was inevitable, seemingly sighing in unison and silent resignation at the prospect. Mary, who had long ago met the unpleasant woman was inclined to also wish for a delay in renewing the acquaintance, her being steeped in the wisdom of forbearance in Fordyce’s sermons her only support preventing Mary from voicing her own opinion of Miss Bingley.

“The very idea of Charles’s insistence!” Mrs. Bennet complained at hearing the missive, “I am sure if Jane had known of it, she would not condone such insensitive treatment of her own mother being unwelcome in their home by dear Mr. Bingley. I know not what has gotten into him for such an affront!”

With great reluctance they were all forced to listen to her continued tirade. “And after my welcomed company all the while they resided at Netherfield too. Oh, no one knows how I suffer!”

Both Darcy and Mr. Bennet inwardly applauded the usually cordial Bingley’s new found boldness to ensure the continued recovery of Jane and his son, Darcy knowing Charles would have his hands full with his younger sister now in residence. The dinner concluded without more talk on the subject, and the parties withdrew to the music room for some much needed entertainment by Georgiana before they retired for the evening. All were weary of Mrs. Bennet’s continuing to return to the subject of being unwelcome at Blakely Manor.

Even in the face of such whining as Mrs. Bennet could produce over the next days, she did make herself useful by being ever present tending the Darcy babies in the their nursery. Her constant presence made for some awkward moments with the nursery maids when Mrs. Bennet spouted her preferred methods of childrearing that were contrary to the wishes of the master and the mistress. However, after a concerned discussion with Elizabeth one day and with her contention that they should merely do as the elder lady asks when present and revert to the wishes of the mistress otherwise, both the maids and the children seemed no worse for wear, and the maids found varied tasks to keep them busy in lieu of tending their charges.

For his part Mr. Bennet had taken to the extensive Darcy library with a vengeance, and it surprised no one that he could be found there most hours of the day enjoying reading or perhaps merely browsing through the great selection that abound within its walls from floor to ceiling. His esteem heightened for not only the current master of Pemberley but of those previous ones to have had the foresight to build and dare he hoped read many of the tomes collected in this room.

Having made a selection of a particular book he had always meant to read, Mr. Bennet ventured toward the window where a seat was situated to give the reader the greatest amount of daylight.

A movement from without caught his eye following the two figures walking not too far from the house on the sunny day with a gusty wind to join the summer heat. Even from this distance he knew the identity of the two, for he had often watched his favorite daughter go off for her walks about Longbourn. And the other could be none other than the tall figure of her husband, their arms joined in amicable felicity as they ambled down the path.

As Mr. Bennet watched them enjoying their constitutional, a gust of wind whipped Darcy’s hat from his head and carried it away over the nearest pasture and hedge row and beyond. It was clear he was put out at losing an apparently favorite hat. Before a second or two had passed, Lizzy’s bonnet too went sailing off being carried off by the wind to join the other wayward head gear, and Darcy seemed at first shocked by what had just occurred. Mr. Bennet was also at a loss to understand it for one would think Lizzy had the presence of mind to tightly secure her own bonnet.

With the elderly gentleman continuing to watch a most unusual thing occurred. Darcy threw back his head in what one could only surmise from this distance as a hearty laugh that was soon to be joined by Lizzy, his jocularity seemingly contagious of such an absurdity, and going on for some long moments before they even tried to curtail it. Mr. Bennet knew that Lizzy must have deliberately untied her ribbons to have the wayward head gear be taken by the wind to placate the annoyance of the master at losing his. It came as a surprise at first to Mr. Bennet that the reserved young man even had the capacity to display such boisterousness.

But the man Mr. Bennet continued to watch seemed now most at ease even with his hair being blown in his face by the wind, reaching out his hand to have Elizabeth put hers into his. Pulling her gently to his person, he hugged her to him. Even the gentle kiss Darcy bestowed on her without regard to being in a public area where anyone could view them led the elder man to believe that his Lizzy had truly found a way into Mr. Darcy’s heart as no other could. It warmed her father’s own heart to see the smiles both displayed.

So secure in their love, they seemed unable at the moment to hold themselves to propriety. This made Mr. Bennet smile and shake his head. To see so private a man as Mr. Darcy able to laugh at himself, and display affection for his wife was a truly remarkable transition made possible by Lizzy.

Only she could have found a man such as this, strong and rigid, made gentle in his security of her love.

Returning to the pages of his tome, Mr. Bennet sighed, happy that his Lizzy had made such a love match.

At another window, someone else witnessed the amorous display put on by the master and mistress of Pemberley. Mary was in the nursery, holding young Wills as she tried to sway him to sleep. Upon viewing Mr. Darcy kiss Lizzy she gasped, and reminded the baby as she cooed to him that “you must never be so blatant in displays of affection, master Wills, for it is very unseemly, and will have people believe the young lady is not proper.”

But as she continued to watch the couple making their way gradually back toward the house, still arm in arm, Mary noted that the nearer they came to the house, the more the couple seemed to separate from one another until at the door directly below her window Darcy and Elizabeth were merely standing close to each other, but no longer touching, perfectly conforming to decorum.

“Hmmm,” Mary thought of her growing admiration of Mr. Darcy as a man of sense and propriety, and came to her own conclusions. She spoke again to the baby. “Perhaps it is permissible for a husband to show his wife affection when in a private moment and still adhere to decorum and propriety when closer to others. Perhaps you could learn a lesson from this, young Wills.”

Perhaps not only the baby but the sitter as well had learned a lesson of the complexities of married people that she as a mere fiancé had yet to discover through experience.

Nearly a sennight after the party’s return from Blakely to Pemberley found Mary and Georgiana within the nursery each in a rocker with an infant in tow, the younger girl barely able to take her gaze from the little charge in her arms.

“They are wonderful, are they not, Mary?”

“Yes,” she replied softly watching the baby girl yawn and then gaze at her with curious eyes. “I admit I have never seen the like, but fear I am not ready to have any of my own just yet.”

Georgiana turned to face her sister and asked, “but I understand that you are engaged to be married. Would that not preclude that babies would soon follow if you are lucky enough to be blessed with them?”

“Yes, and perhaps that is why both Jeremy and I insisted on a long engagement…to become more accustomed to the idea of our having them.”

“You…do not wish for children of your own?” Georgiana truly had no understanding of what Mary was trying to expound.

“It is not that, for the Bible tells us to ‘go forth and multiply.’ Jeremy…Mr. Ferguson, of course, wishes for sons to ensure his inheritance, but…”

Here Mary’s voice trailed off and Georgiana waited in silence for Mary to finish her thought. “It is simply that after being in so large a family I would prefer, for a time at least, to have some peace and quiet to gather my wits. I am sure you must think that is a ridiculous notion, to have solitude in one’s house.”

“No, not at all, dear Mary, but having lived in a very quiet house for all my life, I now prefer the liveliness of a larger family with all the noise and chaos to astound and assail me. You must think that an equally ridiculous idea.”

Georgiana’s shy smile was returned by Mary, each understanding the view of the other.

“It seems at present, we both have what we have longed for. These babes, even now fill this house with such happy noise that the occupants fairly burst into spontaneous laughter at their antics, and Longbourn, without my younger sisters in residence, has been a quiet retreat for some weeks.”

There was a moment’s silence as each lovingly gazed down at their charges who were still awake and curious to know of the world around them that it brought an idea into Georgiana’s head. “This is a fine morning, dear Mary. I think Lizzy would not mind if we took the babies for a walk about the house.”

Mary’s eyes grew large. “Would not Mr. Darcy be upset with us should he find them gone?”

“No, not if we relate our excursion to the nursery maids before hand. Regina?”

“Yes, Miss Georgiana.” She turned from folding nappies.

“When my brother comes in search of the children, you may say that Mary and I have taken them for a short turn beside the house.”

“Yes, Miss, very good.” The nursery maid merely smiled. In truth, Regina was getting use to the idea of babies who could not yet raise their heads being constantly taken for walks to see the grandeur of Pemberley.

“Sarah Beth, would you mind joining us should we need your assistance?”

“O’course, Miss Georgiana.”

With that the two girls rose from the rockers and gingerly carried the babies down the stairs and out the balcony doors. They strolled along the path beside the house to have the three month old babies view the flowering shrubs that abounded there as the nursery maid silently walked behind the party keeping her thoughts to herself about how much the babies retained from their excursions.

Sarah Beth and Regina had often spoken of the ease of their assignment with the twins. With all the family wishing to take over the duties and for which neither maid could blame them, some days they had little to do than watch others tend the babes. Both had only good feelings for babies being shown love by so many.

The sunlight was warm and Mary worried that it might be too intense for the children’s eyes and so suggested they make their way to the canopied wooden swing on the side of the path. Swinging gently in its shade seemed just what the babies wished for they no longer squinted in the sunlight. This put Mary’s mind at ease.

It was not long afterwards that Mrs. Bennet came down stairs asking of their whereabouts and was directed by one of the servants to the outside path, and by and by came upon the girls with the children.

“Oh, there you are, my precious boy. Let me hold you.”

Mrs. Bennet proceeded to sit between the two girls and reached for the babe Mary had securely in her arms.

Mary began to say that she was holding the girl child, but Georgiana shook her head and smiled mischievously. Mary frowned but kept her confidence. It was in not long after that Georgiana stood and offered Mrs. Bennet the second child as well stating, “Oh, I just remembered…something I intended above stairs. Would you be so good as to tend my charge as well, Mother Bennet?”

“Well, I…” began Mrs. Bennet trying to maneuver both infants in her arms. “I suppose I could manage for a while.”

“We shan’t be gone long, I promise. You are so kind to care for them, Mother Bennet.”

With that Georgiana took hold of Mary’s elbow and Sarah Beth’s, pulling them both down the path and around the corner of the house with Mary protesting, “are you sure my mother can handle both without some accident occurring?” She was fearful that her mother would drop one of them.

“Yes,” was Georgiana’s answer as she stopped, and they all peered around the corner to see how the elder woman fared with both babies. Sarah Beth could barely keep her countenance as they all watched Mrs. Bennet look from one infant to the other, not knowing which was which.

Georgiana giggled. “See, she cannot tell them apart.”

Mary offered, “well, their faces are practically identical, but Wills is larger after all.”

Just then the babies began to fuss, and Mrs. Bennet became a bit panicky. “Oh, dear, no, children, do not cry. Shhhh, oh dear, let me see. Oh my, what to do? Do you wish to hear a song? I wonder if I can remember any. Shhhh, Wills, stop squirming so.”

Mary was about to relieve her mother when she heard the strangest sound coming from the swing, a humming that was not anywhere near musical, but it was coming from her mother. Yes, Mrs. Bennet was attempting to hum a lullaby to the babies to placate them.

Mary’s hand went to her mouth to cover her laugh. Never in her life had she seen her mother as enamored as she was with these little ones that she would attempt a song. Even in church she refused to join in the singing of hymns citing that she had no voice for song to the Lord. And indeed, her voice was weak, and shaky, but the babies did not seem to mind, and were mesmerized by the strange sound coming from their grandmother while the three young girls looked on.

They stood in their voyeurism for some moments more before Mr. Bennet came upon them asking, “what is that cat-o-walling I hear? Has someone injured a poor beast that needs to be put out of its misery?”

“Father!”

“What?”

Mary pointed to the swing and to his spouse singing to the children and he could not keep from chuckling. “I stand before you with sincere contrition on my part, Mary, but in my defense, I must say never have I had cause to hear such…warbling in all my life come from your own dear mother.”

Here his eyes twinkled as he continued, “but I knew it was only time before I would lose her to another. My focus had always been on someone in regimentals when I see I should have been more worried that I should lose her to an even younger man.”

Both girls giggled. “Oh, father, do be serious.”

“I am quite serious. I have lost her, and must be relegated to the loss.”

He silently viewed Mrs. Bennet gazing from one to the other babies and added, “but perhaps I may still be of service to this new found relationship and relieve her of one of her charges. Excuse me, ladies.” Without waiting for a reply he strove briskly up to the swing and sat down beside the warbler asking for, and having the privilege of holding one of the babes.

Sarah Beth glanced at the watch dangling from a fob about her waist, and both Georgiana and Mary knew that Elizabeth would soon come for her children, but so for the time being merely watched the elder couple coo and cuddle the babies while they could.

Chapter 24a

Posted on Tuesday, 4 October 2005

After the Darcys’ departure from the Blakely Manor back to Pemberley, Bingley went to his study and ordered tea, determined to answer some of the correspondence he had neglected for the past few days in the aftermath of Michael’s birth. Shuffling through several business letters he came across one whose hand he immediately recognized as his sister’s. This was a most unusual correspondence to receive from her, unusual in the sense that Louisa rarely wrote to him and then only short notes to inform him of some idle gossip about the town and her own droll opinion of the farce of it.

This missive began in the same fashion purporting to some nefarious goings on in London. However, the main body of it changed in timbre when she asked for his help on a matter so astonishing that Bingley immediately ranged for one of the servants to search out Jane and have her join him in his study. As they both sat in opposite chairs, Jane sipped her tea while Bingley read from the missive that he could relate the news.

“It seems that Louisa and Mr. Hurst have made plans to travel the continent at this time, plans that were made well in advance and paid for in full without the benefit of funds being recouped in case of a cancellation.”

Jane stared blankly waiting for him to continue. “They will have already boarded the ship by the time I received this letter.”

Again Jane had nothing to say to this news, but opened her mouth to reply that she thought that it fine for them to be able to travel and see some of the world.

“Jane, they have sent Caroline to us in their carriage to stay at Blakely during the interim. She should be arriving late in the day.”

“Oh,” Jane gasped at this unexpected development, but tried to make the best of what could be an awkward situation with Caroline’s worsening unpleasant attitude of late as told from Louisa’s past notes.

“It states that Caroline agreed that she would come ostensibly to aid you with the baby for some weeks.”

Bingley refused to relate the next sentence which said that Caroline made it known to Louisa that she had no desire to do so, and it was only at Louisa’s behest she accepted Charles and Jane’s hospitality.

How very like Caroline to refuse to aid her new sister. I am ashamed of her being my relations.

Gazing at Jane’s smiling face he knew what she was going to say before words came from her mouth. “I shall have rooms prepared for her and her maid, and any footman and the driver accompanying her, Charles. It will be good to have your sister join us.”

Bingley returned a smile at Jane’s ability to find the good in everyone. It was one of things that drew him to her. He kissed her hand before she departed. Gazing at her retreating form one thought came to mind.

She is indeed an angel, my angel. I do not deserve her.

Caroline’s maid, Monique, who rode in the carriage with her mistress and had tried to make some conversation during the two day journey, but finally gave up when she saw her mistress was determined to remain silent during the trip’s entirety. Upon their arrival late in the afternoon of the second day, Caroline was greeted by both Charles and Jane. After the initial formalities she expressed fatigue from so long a trip from London and was immediately shown to her rooms. There she remained throughout dinner citing a headache. A tray was brought to her rooms, but if she ate anything, the maids could not tell it. Jane tried to visit her the next morning, but Caroline’s personal maid answered the door, and in whispered tones told the mistress, “Miss Bingley, she is still abed, Madam.”

Thinking Caroline must still be tired from so long a journey, Jane smiled. “When she awakens, tell her I wish to see if she requires anything.”

“Very good, Madam. I will certainly tell her.”

Jane went about her business as Mistress of Blakely Manor, preparing the menu for supper and settling a dispute between two of the parlor maids that the housekeeper wished for her to handle. Both she and Charles were sure to have Caroline’s company at the dinner hour. Another note came from her rooms, however, stating that she still did not feel well enough to join them for dinner or supper either. Trays of food went to and from her rooms virtually untouched that day and for the next two before Jane realized that something must be truly amiss with Caroline.

She had been at Blakelys three days before she made any effort to speak to either of them, but even getting dressed seemed to take all her strength, and she collapsed on the bed after Monique finished her hair.

“Let me rest awhile before I go down to breakfast.”

Monique raised her eyebrows, looking at the clock to see the lateness of the hour, and merely replied, “Oui, Mademoiselle.” She went about her other duties while her mistress rested atop the counterpane covering the bed trying to close her eyes to sleep. Keeping to her rooms, she thought her headaches would lessen, but they continued to cause her dizziness and fatigue.

While abed she mulled over what she wished to say to her brother and Jane, that she had no intention of aiding her new sister in any way due to her profound anger at having lost the one person she had wanted most dearly, lost him to the sister of the one who now claimed her brother.

After these many months of Charles sending the Hursts word of all that had happened to Darcy, of his children being born too early amid the uncertainty of either theirs or of Eliza’s survival, and of Charles’s ascertains of Darcy’s devotion to his wife, Caroline at last came to terms with the fact that Darcy never cared for her. She sighed bitterly.

He only tolerated me for Charles’s sake.

With her acceptance of that one fact also went the pretense of her believing that she ever had a chance with him. She rubbed her temples hoping the pain would decease, but the more she rubbed the worst it felt as more unpleasant thoughts flooded her mind.

He never wanted me, nor the society or ostentation and adoration from those in the town.

Caroline realized too late that it was she who had wished for all that adoration, of their all looking up to her when she finally attained the status of society’s first circle to which she would be elevated with marriage to Darcy. His rejection of her in favor of someone of lesser qualities cut deeply into Caroline’s psyche as she had at last accepted her defeat.

“My entire life, has all been for naught,” she lamented in a growing sadness of loss and abandonment first with the death of her parents, and to some degree by Louisa at her marriage to Hurst, and now Charles after he wed Jane. Even her so called friends in London seemed to have deserted her. With her more outlandish public abuse of Darcy’s wife that many in her circle agreed with, but because of his status they felt obligated to support him in his choice, and slowly began to distance themselves from Caroline Bingley, frequently neglecting to invite her to the more fashionable soirees that previously her biting wit would have assured her inclusion.

Groaning with the onslaught of yet another stabbing pain that even made her eyes hurt with what little light that was filtering through the slit in the drapes, Caroline held her head with both hands hoping without hope that the pain would lessen as she reflected of her present circumstance.

Her keen intellect told Caroline that she would have to make an appearance soon else Charles might grow angry with her once more and have her sent away, back to the dismal Hurst townhouse without even its owners for company. She groaned again as another wave of pain coursed through her head now that she thought it would split apart.

What do people do with this kind of pain? Drink spirits until they are numb of everything? Have some draught by the bedside to keep them in a constant state of sleep?

Anything was better than this pain! It was then that she felt a cool compress being placed on her forehead along with a soft voice to calm her. Caroline trembled as tears rolled down her cheeks at the relief.

“There, there, Caroline. Shhhh, just lay still and you will feel better soon.”

Caroline could barely speak through her pain, and only managed a whispered, “thank you,” not even aware that it was Jane who attended her, gently bathing her dry lips with a balm while letting some liquid slowly drip into her mouth that seemed to calm her.

Laudanum.

The taste was unmistakable to Caroline, her tears renewed from the release of tension as she drifted off into a drugged sleep. Jane, having tended her mother on the occasion of similar symptoms, gave her Caroline’s maid specific instructions as to her care, saying she would return in a few hours.

Charles remained in the hallway, arms folded across his chest, disbelieving his sister truly ill, but merely feigning some supposed malady to shirk her obligations to attend Jane, not the other way around.

“It is not your place to care for her, Jane, when she has been sent here for your ease.” Jane frowned.

“Charles, she is not well. She is plagued by severe headaches that seem to have no apparent cause.”

He scoffed at this excuse rolling his eyes in the process. “Ever since her coming out, I recall Caroline’s claims to such headaches, but they usually formed after she had not been given her way, a manipulation she often used to have me give in to her demands. I tell you, Jane, I will no longer put up with her machinations of me and now of you. It is you who must rest, Janey.”

Jane smiled at her dear husband, still so worried for her health. “Charles, I am well recovered, and Michael is thriving. Can you not see that it is Caroline who is in need of our aid?”

She put her hand on his arm and gazed into his eyes. He sighed in resignation of Jane’s gently insisting. “If you think she is truly ill, I will send for the apothecary.”

He felt her hand squeeze his arm as her radiant smile returned. “That is all I ask, Charles. Come. Let us see what our young son has been up to in the mean time.”

Charles placed his other hand over Jane’s and escorted her to the nursery.

Jane had been correct about Caroline’s condition. She had not been eating for some time due to her constant headaches that also kept her from any form of exercise so that she remain in good health, and suffered dearly for the neglect.

Louisa had written again to Charles to ask how Caroline was fairing at Blakely Manor. It was apparent by her letter to Bingley that his older sister was worried, giving way to his speculation that Caroline had not been in the best of health for some time when she was sent to him and Jane. Louisa missive explained.

…having exhausted all we knew how to do, I thought you, dear Charles, might have the answers to Caroline’s malady and of her recovery that had eluded both myself and Mr. Hurst…

She went on to add,

…After months at my insistence of soliciting the aid of apothecary’s draughts, doctors suggesting treatments, physician’s bleedings, Mr. Hurst readily agreed to have her sent to Derbyshire “to be rid of her.” I know he does not mean to be cruel, but from all Caroline’s former abuse of him, he was quite insensitive to her plight.

Charles had never been very close to Avery Hurst, but understood the man’s sentiment over Caroline’s biting remarks to his person at times, acknowledging the reason for the man’s wish to foist her off onto them if it were possible. Even Charles was want to ship her back to the Hursts’ townhouse in London whether they were in residence or not had it not been for Jane’s intervention that he allow Caroline to attempt recovery under their care.

The other factor which cemented the decision to allow her to stay was Darcy’s growing concern of her ill health, something his own malady had made him acutely aware, and of the suggestion that they enlist the skills of Dr. Smith to help in the discovery behind the reason for Caroline’s illness.

Thus, with both his Jane and Darcy rallying to her aid, Bingley willingly allowed Caroline to recover at Blakely’s, hoping she would come to terms with her life and her family which now included little Michael.

For a fortnight, the ailing Caroline was given the apothecary’s draughts to try to calm the pain raging in her head. All the while the drapes remained closed preventing the beautiful Derbyshire sunshine from pouring into the room. After a full two weeks Caroline seemed a little better, and could ingest more than broths, and was given weak tea and soft bland foods without much seasoning hoping to keep the headaches at bay.

Finally seeming able to rise on her own, Caroline asked that a bath be drawn to allow her to soak instead of merely being sponged off from a basin, and to have her hair washed if possible to make her feel clean. It took two maids to help the still weakened Caroline into the tub of warm water, letting her lean her head back on a soft pillow. She closed her eyes, lying still and allowed the water to cover her, soothing her body, and ignoring the bustle of noise around her as the third maid entered to relieve one of the others. Caroline merely soaked in the warmth of the water relieved to be able to bathe. Finally, she acknowledged the maid’s question that apparently she had asked several times now.

Caroline’s eyes could barely open and her voice was hardly above a whisper. “What?”

“Miss, would you like me to wash your hair now? Miss? Miss?”

“Ah…yes…please,” was all Caroline’s confused mind could manage the decision as tears filled her eyes each time she tried to speak.

What is wrong with me?

With a gentleness that rivaled her own mistress, the maid carefully wet and then lathered Caroline’s hair, using gentle strokes so as not to jostle the woman’s head much. Then the maid asked Caroline to lean forward in order to pour water over her head to rinse out the soap. When Caroline leaned forward, the maid almost gasped at the appearance of the nearly emaciated woman, her ribs clearly visible through the skin of her back.

Oh, my, Miss, you ain’t been taking care of yourself, has you?

Caroline was adamant that she was not yet well enough to leave her chambers, and became so agitated when the subject of laying eyes on the babe that she was given leave to keep out of his way for now. Caroline did not wish to view him to remind her of where he had come from, believing she would feel nothing but hatred toward this child, the product of a Bennet, and wished the inevitable encounter delayed as long as possible to relieve both her and her brother of her reaction to him. Fate, it seemed had other plans.

One morning Jane was heading toward Caroline’s rooms to see if she felt well enough today to sit in the parlor or have breakfast with the family, when her nursery maid approached with a very fussy little boy.

“Mistress, Master Michael is so restless. I can’t get him to quit his crying. I done all I know how, and just can’t fathom what has him so upset. I figure he just wants his mum.”

“You did right, Molly,” Jane said taking the babe into her arm and cooing to him. Little Michael immediately stopped fussing when he heard her voice, and gazed up into her face to make sure who had hold of him. “Oh, what a sweet boy you are, my little one. Mummy has you. Shhhhh.”

She continued to talk to the babe while saying to the nursery maid, “I will tend him for awhile, Molly. You may take tea in the kitchen if you like.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Molly curtseyed and retreated down the stairs.

Jane swayed as she continued down the hall, gently knocking on Caroline’s door, but receiving no answer. She quietly opened the door to see Caroline in repose on the bed, but glad to see that she had managed to get fully dress before fatigue overcame her. She seemed to be asleep once more.

Jane sat in a chair beside the bed, continuing to talk quietly to the babe, telling him how much she loved him and wished every day for him since she married his father, and how beautiful he was.

Caroline, who had only been resting and not asleep, huffed as she sat up and rolled her eyes. Jane looked up questioning her sister’s actions.

Caroline scoffed, “All mothers say their own child is beautiful no matter if it is as homely as a goat.”

Jane chuckled and agreed. “Yes, you are correct, Caroline. A mother’s love seems to be blind to any faults her child possesses, but this son of Charles is truly beautiful, dear Caroline. Can you not see that?”

As Jane held the babe up to the cantankerous woman’s face to have her first real look upon him, it had a profound affect on her that was totally unexpected. Caroline was left speechless at seeing the truly handsome boy, his pale blue eyes piercing as they gazed into hers, staring as though he were about to ask her the question foremost in her own mind: Why have you come?

Caroline’s mouth opened, but no words came except a whispered, “Oh.”

Like Elizabeth and everyone else who viewed him, Caroline too had come under the spell of those mesmerizing eyes, delving into her very soul. She began to tremble, her hand reaching out to touch his tiny one. In her weakened state, all her haughty superior attitude was simply too much trouble for her to put forth as her defense against being hurt, and she simply stared silently at this little boy, so unsullied by the world, so sweet and wondrous.

Encouraged by this softening of attitude, Jane allowed that Caroline was now ready to take the next step in her healing and proceeded to fold the baby in Caroline’s arms, who then immediately began to protest.

“No, no, please…I…cannot…I…”

With Jane’s insistence she helped Caroline put her arms around the baby, supporting its head, caressing his warm little body. Caroline looked down at herself, holding Michael for the first time, and something within her just shattered. As she stared into the little face, so new and still so near to God, she murmured, “oh my, my dear little love.” Her heart, hardened by years of neglect, melted as she held this little person.

Jane witnessed Caroline’s genuine tears for the first time in her acquaintance as Caroline held the child to her, cooing softly as though it were her baby. Jane hugged her, realizing at once the miracle that was occurring.

Caroline finally confessed, “Oh, Jane, to have such happiness is something I have longed for all my life, but no matter how hard I tried, I could never obtain what my parents achieved, so polished and sophisticated, only now recalling how cold they were toward one another, but I thought that was the way with all married couples until…until Charles met you, and I saw something…more.”

Caroline swallowed before continuing. “I could not believe how caring my brother was of you, more intensely devoted to you than any proclamations of love he had made to others in our society. I mocked him at such a display, thinking him a fool to say such things about someone so below our station that daddy and mummy had strived so hard to elevate us to…I never understood how one person could love another so deeply until…” Her voice trailed off at such disparity between her parents’ marriage and that of her brother’s.

“It is within your reach too, dear Caroline. You have to but allow yourself to be open to such joy. You too are worthy of it.”

Caroline frowned, wiping her cheeks of salty tears. “No, I am not. Charles and Louisa have often told me even as a newborn I was sour and colicky, never happy.”

“I am sure that is not so. Charles would never make such a remark, and Louisa has always been your dearest friend.”

”Yes, well…” Caroline’s voice trailed off for a moment only to then continue her admission with, “perhaps…I heard that from a different quarter.”

Jane was sure that was the case. Since the day of their marriage, Charles had gradually been more forthcoming about his own family’s unhappy experiences, of his inattentive mother interested only in raising her family higher in society by courting those of rich and titled nobility. Their father, whose only purpose in life had been to acquire wealth at the cost of his family, returning to his home only to attend social engagements arranged by Mrs. Bingley for the sole purpose of furthering the accruement of more prestige and connection. He never wished to associate with any of his children, except to reprimand and berate his young son whom he thought was being molly coddled by his nannies and maids, never good enough to be acknowledged as his son. His daughters he virtually ignored no matter how much the littlest one tried to emulate him in his attitudes and mores, sneering as he did, despising all he viewed beneath his growing place in society. She desperately tried to earn a place in his heart, but to no avail.

At hearing Charles speak of his childhood, Jane found empathy for all the young Bingleys. Unlike her home filled with chaos and silliness but underlined with love, the three Bingley children had grown up without any affection since birth. Instead they were taught early on to be cruel to others not worthy of their time. As sweet as Charles was, Jane knew the obstacles of inferiority and insecurity he had overcome after becoming of age, having managed to mature into a man of congenial kindness with the aid of his true friend, Darcy.

Those who neglected their three children were now long gone, but had left their offspring crippled to find the means to see the error of their upbringing and try to change themselves for the better. Jane’s heart was saddened by the result. It opened her eyes to the world though Jane was loath to admit it to herself.

What they wrought are broken people trying to make right what had been done to them in a world fraught with more cruelty than kindness.

Caroline asked, “But Jane, after all the wrong I have done in my life, how can you truly believe that I would ever be worthy of such contentment as you and Charles have?”

Jane smiled and hugged her sister replying, “Of course you are. Just allow that you are, Caroline, and it will come to pass.”

“After how cruel I have been, I do not deserve to be happy.”

Jane smiled. Her voice was soft and sincere as any sister’s. “Everyone deserves to be happy, Caroline.”

Jane kissed Caroline’s cheek, something she would never before have been permitted. In the serene countenance of both her dear sister and her sweet nephew Caroline was imbued as never before with feelings of such unconditional love that it began her first faltering steps of her journey to grow into the person that until now she was never allowed to become, but what God had always meant for her to be.

Her headaches slowly dissipated with her increase of proper sustenance and constant loving care from Jane who had her walking the garden paths set up by Bingley for his family to enjoy. Even an early awkward visit with Elizabeth went well at her seeing a more tranquil Caroline who found herself capable of being sincere in her civility to one she once viewed with enmity. In order to remain in good health Caroline had been forced to give up all her pretenses, snide remarks or cruel behavior that she could no longer hide behind. Caroline tried to be happy for her brother and his family which now included Eliza and her twins.

In subsequent visits to Blakely Manor, the three women, each with a babe in their arms, strolled down the path to the bench placed in the center of the garden maze. Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised to hear Caroline’s unfettered laugh at the antics of her nephew. Under her keen observation, however, Elizabeth knew Caroline was not truly well, that there was still an underlying sadness about her eyes that could not be hidden, but she also knew that because of their history Elizabeth was grateful that she would be the last person Caroline would confide in about the matter, and hoped Jane would have better luck with her.

Had Elizabeth been able to know what was in Caroline’s heart, she would have perhaps have been more charitable. Caroline had come to the conclusion that all the happiness that surrounded her in her brother’s home was all that she was entitled to. No one would be attracted to a woman now so thin and sickly and who had been so sour to all to whom she had been acquainted. They would rather retreat in haste than be associated with her. No, she was destined to be alone in the world. In her brother’s house, this was the only true happiness she would ever know.

It is more than I deserve.

Caroline remained with her brother for the entire time the Hursts were abroad, and upon their return they were astonished to find not only a healthier sister, but one who had gained more than mere weight, but some maturity and complacency in her life as well. Both the Hursts thought it some miracle brought about in the person of Charles and Jane’s son for the little boy had enamored them both upon their first viewing of the sweet three month old. The family reunion was one of a happier time than any of the siblings could recall.

Even Louisa, who had never wished for any children to perpetuate the misery inflicted upon her during her formative years, saw how a loving family life could enrich a soul like Caroline’s, and wondered if perhaps she had been too hasty to forgo the possibility of happiness of this kind.

Retired for the night, she settled in a chair by the dying fire, trying without success to read. Her thoughts would not be silenced, however, and she reflected back to her childhood and to the mother who was the most beautiful creature Louisa had ever beheld. To this day she could never understand how her mother could ignore her first child, a daughter whose beauty could rival her own, a bright child a mother could be proud, a child who wished for nothing more than to be like her mother that she would pay her the least attention.

Louisa had been hurt deeply by her mother’s neglect, but nevertheless became like her in a sense, priding herself on her beauty, reveling in her own attraction when she came out at eighteen, enjoying the attention of many young rich men who vied for her approval and her father’s blessing. She convinced herself happy in all the superficial shallowness of society balls and teas, affairs and soirees for two seasons before her marriage to a man whom her father had picked for her.

The ostentation of her nuptials was in keeping with the nouveau riche need to display their wealth. Louisa was swept up in all the pomp and did not realize the realities of such a union until her marriage night when she stood before a total stranger without the knowledge of what was to come or what she had need to know.

Needless to say the marriage bed did not suit either party, and both tried to fill their days with endless dinner parties and balls and outings such as the theatre and the opera, he to his clubs and sport, both needing to be seen and accepted in society even in their own silent accepted dissatisfaction of being Mr. and Mrs. Hursts of London. So it had been for all these years now in their marriage of convenience, unfeeling, uncaring, with Louisa totally alone in her misery. She had truly become like her mother.

It was not until her visit to Blakely Manor that her eyes were truly opened to the possibility of happiness when she saw how Jane and Charles and even Caroline made over this littlest Bingley, attending him with showered affection and love. For instant pangs of resentment flooded Louisa’s mind that she as a child had also deserved such affection. She had never done anything to deserve less than little Michael.

Why is he to be blessed and I not?

But upon further reflection Louisa smiled when realization came to her.

No, this is how it is supposed to be. This is how a loving family behaves. This is what we all should have had when growing up.

Being witness to such warm felicity that was so apparent in this Bingley household was enough for Louisa to give way to further reflections of how to deal with the remainder of her own life, that she too might be a part of a happier life if she chose to do so. It was her decision now. She could overcome her own adversities and choose to live a happier life as Charles had.

Mother and father had not the ability to love their children, and mores the pity for such deficiency. What is done is done and cannot be changed, but it does not signify that my life must be similar to theirs. Charles has shown me the way.

At tap on the adjoining door to her husband’s chamber was answered by Louisa to find an awkward Hurst asking for entrance to her rooms. She opened the door, inviting him to sit beside her.

A private discussion ensued with her husband on the very matter preying on her own mind that evening when all the rest of the household were abed. Mr. Hurst revealed to her that he too had been cogitating on similar thoughts ever since their coming to reside in his brother’s house, finding an atmosphere so peaceful, more so than he had witnessed even in his own household and certainly in that of his wife’s house before his marriage to her.

These two troubled souls remained awake all that night long, now in this safe environment making them unafraid to speak honestly of their feelings for perhaps the first time in all their years of marriage. Avery Hurst told her he understood her reasoning for her adamancy to remain childless, and so had obliged her. Then sighing, he finally admitted to Louisa of silently harboring in his heart the desire to have a family of his own one day though he knew there was little hope of it ever being accomplished.

Being free to talk openly made both happier than they had been since their fathers had arranged their union, and they came to the understanding that they had grown fond of one another over the years. This would have been of little regard to their parents for such nonsense meant nothing beyond the business merger that culminated with their marriage, but the realization meant everything to the Hursts of London.

Needless to say, Avery and Louisa’s discussion lingered well into the early morning hours only ending with the couple finally collapsing in sleep huddled together in her bed where they remained through the entirety of the next morning. Jane’s concerns of their having become ill were placated with the maid removing herself from Louisa’s chambers with a smile that told Jane all was well.

Epilogue

Posted on Tuesday, 11 October 2005

After seven years of marriage the Darcys produced four children, the twin girl and boy, another boy, and then a girl. Elizabeth informed Darcy that she might be with child again, but it was too soon to know without doubt. He smiled and nodded, having learnt to trust her instincts in these matters.

Her subsequent confinements were quite different from the first for Elizabeth had no ill effects beyond some paling during the first few months. The doctor informed Darcy that each confinement was individual, and permitted Elizabeth more freedom without dire consequences. Allowing her short walks seemed to keep her in greater health with more stamina to overcome the effects of nausea that still plagued her in the beginning. With each new addition to their family, Darcy became less apprehensive and confident of success, although he was never fully calm until after each delivery which he always felt honored to witness.

She and Darcy sat this evening on a bench in the midst of the fern garden, each with a toddler on their lap, watching the two oldest children chasing one another in the bushes before them, the girl’s dark curls bouncing as she frolicked after her equally dark haired brother. Darcy smiled. His vision had come true that day he had returned to Elizabeth, when they thought she had lost the baby, only to have twins.

No two children could have been as similar as these two. Both had dark hair, fair complexions, and both with their grandmother’s incredible blue eyes while still favoring Elizabeth in other facial features about the nose and mouth. As they grew, Darcy saw their build favored his line, both tall and lean. Their strength and heartiness, however, were Elizabeth’s gift to them. They were also alike in temperament as well, each with the same blend of their parent’s seriousness and mischief.

Fireflies glowed about the two nearly identical scampering children, and the stars were just becoming visible in the darkening sky. Elizabeth sighed contently.

“When I first came upon your beautiful grounds of Pemberley, I wondered if we would ever be friends, able to talk about all that had come before.”

Remembering too that fateful day Darcy recalled, “Yes, as I rode passed the stables to the pond and sat among all this beauty, I was the most despairing of men because you were not with me, not part of my life then, except in dreams.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek lovingly, and then jumped up with his tot and threw the fair haired Andrew gently in the air, barely letting him loose from his arms. The boy squealed happily, his large brown eyes filled with the excitement of being air borne before his father grabbed him once more in his loving embrace and set his feet upon the solid ground. Taking the tot’s hand, he offered the other to his wife. Elizabeth stood and shifted little Rose in her arm, the child who most resembled her mother in every way, and she and Darcy strode toward the house they had now filled with the laughter and joy of children.

“Onward, children, Mrs. Reynolds will not wish you late to have your baths before bed.”

“Oh, Papa, must we?” This came from the eldest son. He further whined, “I had one yesterday.”

“That is true, Wills,” his mother agreed, “but you have been out most of this afternoon playing in (sniff)… horse manure?” She gazed at Darcy who shrugged.

“Oh, Mama, you know Papa is teaching me to ride.”

“And part of that is mucking about the stalls,” his father ventured.”

Elizabeth stared at her husband, her eyebrows rose, and she kept her countenance with difficulty. “Yes, I suppose that is part of knowing about horses, dear Wills.”

“And Wills, Mrs. Reynolds said she does not want to hear of little ones sliding down banisters after today. The maid polishing the railing had the scare of her life and I will not have a repetition of so scandalous an act.”

When Darcy had first heard the tale his vision of their falling thirty feet to their deaths upon the marble floor below was more than enough to make him quake in fear.

The boy was not about to be brought down alone. “Emily did it first!”

His twin gasped. “Oh Wills, how could you tell on me!”

The look of hurt betrayal was evident on her young face as she bit her trembling lower lip, and almost cried for being found out by her parents at the hands of the person she trusted most.

Darcy’s voice was very stern. “Wills, you are the eldest and should know better. How could you do something you knew was wrong, following blindly after your sister?”

“She…” The boy’s cheeks were crimson as he admitted. “She mounted the rail, and then waited for me to join her to keep her from falling because she knows I am the stronger, and…and when I said no, and tried to pull her from it she would not let go, and then… she got mad at me and…she…then she…she teased me. Father, and called me a baby! I could not allow her to think me a coward!”

Emily’s little voice cracked with emotion as she cried, “Oh, Wills, I am sorry I called you a baby…I never meant it! You are always so brave, and I wanted to be brave too, but then I got scared and wanted you to go with me. I knew you would take care of me, and…and it was my fault, father. Do not punish Wills.”

Her little arms wrapped around Darcy’s leg, leaning her head far back to look up at her father, and tears of true contrition drenched her face as she pleaded. “Please, father, punish me instead.”

Unsure of himself, Darcy glanced over to Elizabeth who seemed equally at a loss as to how to proceed. Darcy then readjusted his hold of his younger son, and stooped down to have his daughter stand and face him, his large hand tilting her face to his, his voice remaining stern.

“You do not know what danger you put yourself and your brother in, young lady.”

“Oh, Father!”

“What punishment would be reasonable for such an offense, Emily? Should I separate you from your beloved brother until you know how not to ill treat him?”

Both children cried in unison, “No!” Darcy smiled at his twins who never wished being separated one from the other since their birth.

“If you promise never to do such again-”

“I promise, father!”

“And, to never encourage anyone else to do likewise, including your younger siblings, for they are already beginning to look to you for guidance.”

“I promise, father! I shall never to it again, never!”

Darcy’s heart nearly broke seeing her tears. “Very well, have your mother dry your eyes, child. All is forgiven now, Gleda*.”

Little Emily turned to her mother who had also lowered herself to the ground to support her husband’s admonishment, smiling at him as Emily cried into her mother’s neck.

“Come here, Wills,” said Darcy as his arm circled the youngster’s waist. “I am proud of you, son.”

“You are?”

“Yes, although what you two did was wrong, when confronted of it, you did not lie, and you tried to keep your sister safe when she was being very foolish. You are a most capable elder brother whom I can depend on to care for your younger siblings. I love you, son.”

“I love you too, father.” He hugged Darcy’s neck and rubbed his eyes that no one see any tears. His mother could barely keep her own tears at bay and managed to change the topic to lessen all their emotions.

“Run along now, Wills, and if you are finished first with your bath, you may pick out the story for us to read.”

“Mama,” whined the eldest girl, “I thought we were to finish the one we started last night.” Elizabeth wiped Emily’s last wayward tears and rose again to walk along side Darcy toward the house.

“And so we shall, my sweet Emily Ann, but is it not almost over? Have we not read it so often you know how close we are to the end?”

Little Emily Ann held on to Elizabeth’s gown and smiled up to her mother declaring, “Yes, Mama, we are almost to the happily ever after part, you know, where the story begins new chapters not written.”

Elizabeth hugged her two year old daughter tighter who was sleepily sucking her thumb, and glanced over to her husband, now as dear to her as her own life. She smiled saying in affirmation of her daughter’s statement, “yes, dear, that’s just where life begins anew, with new adventures, and new trials and joys.” Darcy squeezed her hand.

With that they all ambled into the house to ready themselves for the joy of what was to come. For though too young to put into words, even the two youngest sensed the great wonder of all of them running into Mama’s garden rooms that reminded them of the peaceful grounds outside.

They all snuggled onto Mama’s great bed, where all the children had been conceived, to have a happy routine of story time and making plans for the next day, and prayers and kisses and hugs, and laughter surrounded by the peace of knowing that Papa would keep them safe there, just like the giant oaks in the ancient forests around Pemberley.

As Darcy exchanged a knowing glance at Elizabeth, one thought resurfaced each time he beheld her.

In all my dreams had I never envisioned such overwhelming happiness as you have given me… my wife.

*Gleda is Old English meaning to make happy.

The End