Posted on Friday, 29 April 2005
The sky which hung over Derbyshire did not shine with its usual lights this evening. A gentle rain had descended upon the town that afternoon and had liked it so well there that it decided to stay the night and in doing so, had brought night on early and draped the county in a blanket of tranquil twilight. This was most convenient for the Darcys as they had had a most busy day and were more than ready to retire before their usual time.
The four Darcy children, Will age eight, Rebecca age six, and the twins Julia and Sebastian age three had all been in high spirits. There had been plans for a picnic and the sudden rain left them all rather disappointed, as well as their father. Fitzwilliam had had to spend much time over the last month out of Pemberley attending to business matters. Though all that he had done was for the betterment of the family and had been very fruitful, he still felt as though his time was better spent at home with his wife and little ones than anywhere else. The picnic had been his way to make up for his absence.
After spending the morning contemplating some sort of substitute for their excursion, Darcy finally resolved that they would simply have to have their party inside. This worked out splendidly, with a blanket spread out in the parlor and a wonderful arrangement of food spread before them. Even Elizabeth was able to join them, her morning sickness finally having subsided and allowing her to partake of some of her favorite confinement dishes. The rest of the day was spent doing any activity the children could think of from pirates to pony rides to their favorite past time of listening to their mother sing and play at the piano. And so the day passed pleasantly enough, tiring out even the always energetic young master Will. The parents walked their children to their room two hours earlier than normal, meeting with many small protests offered in between yawns. Elizabeth hugged and kissed each little angel, tucked the blankets tightly around them, and then retired to their own chambers for bed.
Once in Elizabeth's bed chambers, the couple seemed to finally realize how tired they were. Collapsing in bed, Lizzy let out a contented sigh. "You truly are a wonderful father Fitzwilliam do you know that?"
"If I am a good parent, it is only because I have you to aid me, to teach me to be so." He slowly stretched before crawling into bed next to his wife. Wrapping his arms around her, he slowly kissed her cheek, then her lips, all the while caressing her growing stomach.
"I received a letter from mother today." This effective brought an end to Fitzwilliam's attentions as he drew himself up. He had grown to accept Mrs. Bennet but even after almost nine years of marriage the thought of his mother-in-law put an end to any romantic feelings he was having at the moment. "And what did mother dear have to say? "She wished to congratulate me."
"On the baby?"
"Well, I suppose you could say that."
"Suppose?"
"Well, she more spoke to my having a husband who ages so well that his continued impositions may not be unpleasant. She also made sure to add helpful advice as to the handling of five children as she has had experience with such herself."
At this Darcy snorted, drawing a look of disapproval from his wife. He quickly composed himself and lay down beside her once again, letting out a sigh as he did so. She snuggled next to him as she had done almost every night of their marriage and laid her head against his strong chest. Her breathing slowed with the gentle rhythm of his. After a few moments of silence, Darcy said, "I am very blessed my dear. I never imagined how wonderful life could be, and I would never have had all of this without you. Elizabeth ... Elizabeth?" He looked down only to see his wife fast asleep in his arms. Laughing softly, he pulled the covers up around them and closed his eyes. As he was about to fall asleep, he heard the rumble of thunder outside and then a crash of lightening. It was not terribly loud but he wondered whether he should check to see if it had wakened the children. Upon the consideration that Elizabeth had not stirred despite her habit of being a light sleeper when in confinement, he concluded that he need not disturb her to rise. They would all be fine. Within a few minutes, Fitzwilliam had joined the rest of his family in sweet repose.
It was not more than three hours later when he was aroused from his sleep. He had rolled over, and in doing so felt a pair of eyes upon him. Opening his own, he saw Rebecca staring back at him, a look of fear in her little green eyes. "Darling whatever are you doing? Do you realize what time it is?" Before Rebecca could answer, lightening crashed and sent her diving into her father's arms, trembling.
"Papa can I please stay with you and mother? I'm afraid of the storm."
Unable to say no to his little angel, the splitting image of Elizabeth and every bit her match in character, he pulled her under the covers on his right. "There, is it alright if I do not put you between Mama and Papa?"
No Papa, of course not. I wouldn't want to take away Mama's pillow."
"Whatever are you talking about?" replied Darcy, not thinking properly after being awakened at so early an hour.
"Well, I've come in before to see you but Mama was laying on you like a pillow and she had her arms around you so tight that I didn't want to wake you and disturb her."
Darcy blushed not only because his daughter had seen such intimate occurrences between himself and his wife but also because of the innocence of her relation. Fortunately the coloring was hidden by night and she did not notice. "Well, you are safe with me now so try to get some sleep." He lay on his back and closed his eyes.
No sooner was he comfortable than he heard a small voice whisper, "I can't sleep."
Without bothering to open his eyes he replied, "You haven't even tried."
"Yes I did."
"When?"
"Just now."
"Try again." Silence once again filled the room only to be ushered away by first another rumble of thunder and then the scared squeak of Rebecca. Darcy rolled over to his side and wrapped his arms around her. "My darling, the storm is outside and will not hurt you. I promise I will not let it. But you must try and get some sleep."
"Will you tell me a story?"
Unable to deny such an angelic request, Darcy sighed. "What would you like to hear a story about?"
"Oh I don't care. But make it something lovely."
"All right then." He thought for a moment before beginning his favorite story, one that he hadn't told Rebecca since she was one year old.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young maiden who lived in a far away land. She had dark hair, and sparkling green eyes and was very intelligent and everyone thought well of her. One day, a ogre came to the town in which the maiden lived and quite frightened everyone, especially Eliza ... the maiden. However, what everyone did not know was that the poor creature had a secret which he kept hidden from the rest of the world. The ogre knew that if the maiden only knew his secret, and knew who he truly was, than she would love him as he loved her from the moment he saw her. He wanted to take her away to the most wonderful place in the world, his home. The maiden knew that the ogre had a grand palace and that everyone feared the beast, and would do anything that he said so she would have great power if she went with him. But the maiden would not go with him, for she was wise and did not care for the things that the other silly little maids cared about. Finally, the ogre could stand waiting no longer and begged the maiden to come with him. When she refused, he became very mean and she had no choice but to wound him to escape his clutches. After this, the ogre left her village in shame and sadness.
"Many moons past and one day the maiden went on an adventure of her own. She came to a wonderful place and was surprised to discover that the place was owned by none other than the ogre. You can imagine his great surprise when he found her at his home! However, the ogre's wounds were healing and he still loved her very much. He decided that he would try to help her discover his secret, as he was forbidden to tell anyone what it was. Days passed and the maiden came to be more and more fond of the ogre, who had become more kind and gentle since their fight. One day, the maiden's beloved dog was stolen by the maiden's traveling companion, leaving her quite heartbroken. Seeing her sad made he ogre very sad indeed and he decided that he would bring the pet back to her at whatever cost. So the ogre underwent much and at length brought it back to her. The maiden was most grateful to him and finally realized that she loved him. Upon telling him this, the ogre transformed into a handsome prince. He then confessed to her his secret. He needed a woman like her to love, who would love him in return to bring him from his self made shell and turn him into the person that he was supposed to be. And so, the prince and the maiden were married and lived happily ever after. The end.
"What did you think that the story Rebecca? Rebecca?"
Darcy looked down to see her sleeping quite peacefully, a smile gracing her lips. He smiled himself and startled at hearing a soft voice behind him say, "I thought it was a wonderful story."
He rolled over to see his wife staring lovingly at him. "Why thank you my dear."
"An ogre my love?"
"Oh come now, you know that you stopped just short of calling me that very thing yourself all those years ago."
"What are you talking of?" responding Elizabeth in mock surprise and shock. The two smiled, kissed lovingly, and settled down again for sleep. With his arms wrapped around his wife and daughter, Fitzwilliam "the ogre" Darcy took a deep breath and fell into a sleep filled with dreams of fairy tale yesterdays and bright tomorrows.