An Heir is Born

Posted on December 24, 2008

Francis Bennet was tired and extremely achy. She also seemed to have developed a very concerning waddle, instead of her normal sensible manner of walking. All this though, paled in comparison to her purpose at this moment in time. She was quite determined to make this trip, she would see this through.

Finally after what seemed like hours of undignified waddling, she reached the doors of Longborne Chapel. Pushing them open, she made her way to the alter at the front of the chapel. Once there she knelt down, lit a candle and began to pray.

She prayed for a boy.

Half an hour later she made her way back to the house. Her progress was slow, and she had to stop many a time just to catch her breath. Her back was so so sore. She could have sworn that she hadn't been this big in any of her previous confinements.

Finally she came to the house. Making her way into the parlour, she was greeted by Ms Grieves and a very excited Jane. Who had, at last completed her very first sampler. A very fine thing it was as well.

It was several hours later after her four girls were settled and abed for the night, that, the ever present ache in her back grew exceptionally worse. It seemed that the babe in her belly was finally ready to make themselves known.

The whole household was awakened by the sounds of Mrs Bennet's labour, not that she made a fuss about it. So whilst his wife got on with the business of the finality's of her confinement. It was left to Mr Bennet and Ms Grieves to attend to his other children. Mary and Kitty were the easiest to calm, after some warm milk, a cuddle and a song, everything was right in their minds and they settled back down to sleep.

Jane with her ever present calmness, seemed to regard the situation as not so unusual an event and was quite content reading her book.

As usual it was Lizzy, with her quick mind and ever curious nature that seemed to be the most trying. Her questions were never ending, and even Mr Bennet who normally had all the time in the world for his most precious girl, had to end her questioning with the very seldom used phrase; ‘Because Papa said so my dear'.

It was as dawn broke over the horizon that Mr Bennet was shaken awake by their housekeeper Hill. The house was silent, and his girls lay sleeping wrapped around each other. She had a slightly odd expression on her face, one that even he couldn't quite make out. Leaving them, he followed Hill and made his way upstairs to his wife's bedchamber.

It occurred to him as he reached for the door handle that maybe he should ask Hill how his wife fared,

"Hill?" He asked turning to face her.

That odd expression was back again,

"You best go in Master." She said gently, giving him a small nod toward the unopened door.

A bubble of disappointment swelled in his chest. Another girl, it had to be.

Steeling himself, he pushed at the door and made his way in.

His wife was laid back in her bed, and at his entrance she beamed happily at him. "Oh Mr Bennet, God has been very good to us!" She cried happily.

He moved closer to the bed, and only then did it occur to him that his wife was holding not one, but two bundles. His heart sank even further, twin girls. God was obviously having a very great laugh at his expense.

Before he could utter a word, Hill bustled into the room and greeted him,

"Isn't it a grand thing Master, I've told Simms and the rest of the staff and we're all mightily happy for you to be sure. To think Master, not one but two boys and strapping little things they are as well Sir. We were best pleased when the first babe arrived safe and sound. But then the Mistress started having pains again, and low and behold, the other young Master showed himself to the world. What a day for Longborne. Now Sir, would you like some tea?" She asked

"Yes thank you Hill." He replied absently. Curtsying, Hill bustled out of the room.

It was as he looked at his wife's happy face, and the two bindles in his arms that it occurred to him. Hill had said boys, not girls. Twin boys, not twin girls.

He furrowed his brow and regarded his wife quizzically, "Boys, Fanny?" He asked.

Mrs Bennet smiled, "Come and meet your sons Thomas."

Nodding, he sat down upon the bed and Mrs Bennet gently passed him his two tiny sons. Once they were settled on his lap, he moved the swaddling aside and looked upon his tiny miracles.

He traced a finger down the belly of one of his sons, the babe squirmed in response. Reaching for the second one, he did the same. Only this time, the babe merely opened his eyes and regarded his Father quizzically with his bright blue eyes. His heart clenched at the sight of them, and he felt tears prick at his eyes. These were his sons, his heirs.

In that moment something shifted within Mr Bennet, and he inwardly swore that he would do everything in his power to be worthy of the gifts that God had given him. He would work hard, and he would be worthy of his sons.

He turned to his wife who was looking at him expectantly. He beamed at her,

"Oh Fanny, haven't you done well." He declared reverently.

He then reached over and began to drop kisses all over her face,

"My Beautiful beautiful wife, you have done very well indeed. I'm so very proud of you my love."

The tension that had been present in Francis Bennet, the ever present sense of failure in her most basic of duties toward her husband, seemed to melt away as she and Thomas gazed upon the newest addition to the Bennet household. Yes, she had done her duty by her husband. Their family was complete now, she could relax. A sense of happy contentment seemed to envelope her and she smiled.

Life at Longborne seemed to transform overnight. Gone were Mrs Bennet's nerves, and any apathy on Mr Bennet's part. In fact Mr Bennet worked doubly hard to provide for his brood, eventually acquiring enough to expand his estate with the purchase of Purvis Lodge. In doing this, he was also able to provide an estate for his youngest Edward to inherit. Whilst Thomas, his eldest boy, would inherit Longborne. He was also able to settle decent sized dowries upon each of his daughters, and if business continued to be good, he would be able to increase this to ensure his daughters would be well cared for wherever their fancies lay. He was also able to employ a governess to provide an education for his daughters, and when the time came he was able to send his boys off to a very good school.

The contentment that had settled in Mrs Bennet upon the birth of her sons was one that was long lasting. She taught her daughters well, and her sons were her pride and joy. As the years passed by, life at Longborne seemed to descend into a kind of contented chaos. Visitors were forever coming and going, tenants to be visited and lessons to be learned. Indeed there was never a dull moment to be had. A noisy happy household, whose reputation quite preceded them, and it was in the seldom quiet moments as she and her husband would observe their brood, that Mr Bennet often repeated.

"You have done very well Mrs Bennet."