“What a precious little thing!” she exclaimed, reaching through the stall rails to stroke the golden nose of the baby. “See how the mother watches us and keeps close to her babe? Will you keep the little one?”
Her words tumbled out in a rush, joy glowing rosy on her fair cheeks. Darcy could scarcely take his eyes from her, the transformation was so great and so marvelous. He could not help wonder, however, how long this mood would last.
“I have not decided yet, whether to keep him or not,” he replied. “He is a fine little colt, and if he grows healthy, he could fetch a good price in the market.”
“I am sure he would,” Elizabeth agreed. “Yet, if we kept him, and we had a baby within a year or so, they could grow together. The colt would be nearly ready to be broken to ride by the time our child would be old enough to learn to ride.”
Darcy looked at his wife, her attention solely on the spindly-legged colt who had now turned and was nuzzling his mother’s underbelly in search of dinner. He wondered what his answer should be. There were a number of uncertainties wrapped up in that scenario. Number one was if and when Elizabeth would ever conceive a child. Number two was would the child live long enough to learn to ride a horse. So many children died in infancy or early childhood. Many of his family and friends had lost children over the years. Other less important uncertainties were, whether the child would even have an interest in riding. Not everyone did, he knew. Would the colt survive to adulthood? Animals did have a lower mortality rate than did people, but anything was possible. Maybe the colt would grow with a temperament unsuited for riding, especially by a child.
All these thoughts tumbled around in his mind in a matter of seconds while he tried to formulate a noncommittal answer.
“We will give him a few weeks and see how he does,” Darcy answered. “He is not going anywhere until he is weaned anyway. Then we shall see.”
“We should call him Golden Prince, do you think?” Elizabeth asked, at last turning her face up to look at her husband.
“That’s a nice name, and a fitting one, too,” Darcy agreed. “We shall call him that.”
The hour finally arrived when the Darcy’s smaller carriage pulled up to the front door of Pemberley. Carter helped her out of the coach while Toby held the horses. Two children scrambled out after her, glad to be at their destination. Lydia carried the baby in her arms. She herded the children up the stone steps to the front door, leaving the footmen to deal with her trunks.
“Mrs. Wickham, Madam will be happy to have you arrived,” Pixley sighed when he opened the heavy wooden door. “Do come in.”
The butler led the way to the drawing room where Elizabeth was pacing the floor anxiously awaiting her sister.
“There you are, dear Lydia!” she exclaimed as soon as she saw the little family nearing the doorway. “I have been so excited about your visit. And just look how your little ones are growing. Let us see—you are Edward, and you are Laura,” she said, bending over to greet the children.
“Yes, ma’am, hello, ma’am,” Edward said solemnly, touching his cap with grown-up politeness.
“Hello, Aunt Elizabeth,” Laura said, giving a little curtsey.
“My, how well you are training your children,” Elizabeth told Lydia warmly.
“I am doing my best,” Lydia said.
“Let me see the wee one,” Elizabeth said, reaching out her arms for the baby Lydia held.
“Robert. Correct?” Elizabeth asked her sister.
“Correct.”
“What a handsome little fellow! Little Robert, you are going to bring me good luck, I am just sure of it,” Elizabeth said to the little one who stared up at her with large brown eyes.
Just then the little fellow, not recognizing the face of the woman holding him, twisted up his rosebud mouth and began to wail. Elizabeth patted and jiggled him, cooing in his ear, but he continued to cry until she handed him back to his mother.
“Do not feel bad,” Lydia said, taking back her son. “He always cries for strangers. He will get to know you while we are here.”
“I hope so,” Elizabeth replied. “He is such a sweet thing. Oh, do forgive my lack of manners! Please, let me have Mrs. Reynolds show you to your room and the nursery for the children.” Elizabeth yanked the cord and Mrs. Reynolds appeared moments later.
She took Lydia up to the guest chamber and then had a chambermaid see to the children. After a short while, Lydia and the children returned to the drawing room.
Elizabeth smiled as they reentered, clearly refreshed. “Please, sit down and rest. I’ll call for some tea.” She rang the bell again and instructed Mrs. Reynolds to have the parlor maid bring the tea.
The two sisters had a comfortable coze, catching each other up on their respective news. After eating their biscuits, the children began to grow fidgety despite Lydia’s best efforts to quiet them.
“How would you two children like to go out to the stable and see our new colt?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Edward said while his little sister nodded her head vigorously.
Two days passed by so quickly that Elizabeth was certain that Lydia was mistaken when she insisted that she had been there two days already and was hoping that Elizabeth would take her shopping in the village. Elizabeth agreed. They left the little ones in the nursery in care of two of the parlor maids and made the short journey to the small town. As they strolled, Lydia pointed out various items she wanted.
“Oh, would that bonnet not just look perfect on me, Lizzy? Do say you will buy it for me?”
Elizabeth smiled and, because she was simply happy to have her sister there with her, she agreed and made the purchase. However, as the day wore on and Lydia continued to find items that she simply must have, Elizabeth grew tired of indulging her.
“I think not, Lydia. You do not need that diamond brooch. What could you possibly need it for?”
Lydia huffed. “To wear, silly goose. Will you not buy it for me, dear sister? After I have come all this way to see you? Surely it is the least you can do.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “I fear I am out of pin money today, Lydia, so no.”
“We can put it on Darcy’s credit, surely.”
“I would never do such a thing without discussing it with him first, Lydia.”
Lydia pouted. “Why ever not? He has the blunt to spare. George never buys me pretty things.”
“That is something you will have to discuss with George,” Elizabeth returned. “Come, we should head back to Pemberley.”
“If you are not going to indulge me anymore, Lizzy, I think it might be best if I take the children and just return home.”
Elizabeth pleaded with her to stay a little longer, but Lydia’s mind was made up. She, like Jane, thought their mother’s idea was nothing more than superstition. The next morning, before Elizabeth awoke, she’d abscond with the small carriage and the few silver knick knacks from the guest room. She did however write her sister a farewell note, as she could not bear to see Elizabeth again.
Dear Sister Elizabeth,
I really must go home. I am sorry, about borrowing the baubles, however since you would not see your way clear to purchase me the brooch, these will help. George is in a coil and we have not a feather to fly with. I do hope this does not put you in a high dudgeon. I will repay you as soon as possible, dear Lizzy. As for Mama’s idea, you know as much as I that it is nonsense. Just have patience, sister, and your turn will come. Try to not dwell on the subject so intensely. Let go, be patient, and let nature take its course.
Fondly,
Lydia
Elizabeth read the note an hour later, dismay written on her face.
“How could she leave so soon?” she moaned to Darcy when she showed him the note. “I am tired of being patient! I have been patient for months and months. I want a baby!”
Her last words ended in a wail that distressed Darcy greatly. He sensed that the euphoric mood she had been in for the past week had come cras
hing to an end. It distressed him so much he completely ignored the bit about Lydia ‘borrowing’ the silver baubles. Instead he pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried on his shoulder for a long moment. Then she pushed away from him, and gathering her skirts in her hands, she fled to her library, leaving him standing in the hallway feeling helpless.
Chapter 3
Watching her back as she hurried down the hall to the library, Darcy felt helpless to console his wife. He did his best, reassuring her that he loved her whether or not she bore him a child. He brought her little gifts each time he went into the local village or into London, hoping each new item would distract her from her obsession. But nothing worked. Darcy went to his private retreat to ponder his dilemma.
After half an hour of wracking his brain for a solution, he finally hit upon the notion to invite his distant cousin Anne de Bourgh to come for a visit. Since Elizabeth’s sisters all seemed to be engrossed in their own lives, maybe just any female companionship would do. Anne was a pleasant woman, intelligent, though sometimes sickly, but she should make a fine companion for Elizabeth for a while. He found a sheet of stationery in his desk drawer, and took out pen and ink. Fifteen minutes later, he had an invitation written out to Anne. He folded it just so and sealed it with sealing wax. He left it on the silver tray in the hall for Pixley to see to.
Within the week, Darcy had a reply from Anne stating that she would be pleased to come for an extended visit and would arrive in a fortnight. That gave him something to look forward to. He had decided not to tell Elizabeth, but to let Anne’s arrival be a surprise. That was a decision he would come to regret. In the meantime, Darcy did his best to be patient with Elizabeth and to take her mind off of her failure to conceive.
It did not take a lot of coaxing on his part for Elizabeth to spend some time nearly every day with Golden Prince, the new colt. She stroked the little fellow and talked to him until he began to run to her each time she went to the paddock fence. In her mind, she was taming him for the time when both he and her own baby would be old enough to learn to ride and be ridden. Some evenings they spent together in the parlor reading to each other from selected books or discussing politics. Elizabeth was the only woman he knew who could converse intelligently on current events. Rather than being annoyed, or thinking her out of place, he was proud of her and pleased that they could enjoy a lively conversation.
Another cycle had passed, and then another, renewing Elizabeth’s grief over being barren. Just as she was recovering from this latest disappointment, Anne made her appearance one afternoon. Darcy was in Lambton when she arrived, so Elizabeth was on her own to greet his guest. Elizabeth was reading in the library when Pixley, the butler, tapped on the door to announce Anne’s arrival. Elizabeth went to the drawing room where he had left Anne.
“Hello, Anne,” Elizabeth greeted the other woman. “To what do we owe this unexpected visit?”
“Hello, Elizabeth,” Anne returned turning from the window. “My visit is fully expected. I am here in response to Darcy’s invitation,” she stated coolly.
Anne was noticeably smaller than Elizabeth and was dressed in a stylish navy traveling gown of bombazine. A strand of pearls graced her smooth neck. Her bonnet had a strip of navy ribbon and sported a small bouquet of artificial flowers. Her cheeks were rosy pink as if she’d been outside in the wind. Elizabeth took an immediate disliking to her. She was not entirely certain why, she just did.
Simultaneously in judging Anne’s appearance, Elizabeth was fuming at Darcy for inviting this all-but-stranger into their home without so much as a by-your-leave to her. He had not so much as even hinted to her that he had invited someone to come for a visit. She would have words with him later about this. Right now, manners demanded that she cede to her husband’s wishes and be cordial.
“I will have Mrs. Reynolds show you to the guest room so you might freshen up.” Elizabeth gave her a tight smile.
“That would be appreciated, thank you. It was a long drive from Kent.”
After half an hour of fuming and pacing in the drawing room, Anne returned.
“Please sit,” Elizabeth said, “and I will have Sarah serve us some tea. I trust your journey was pleasant.”
“Yes, thank you,” Anne replied. “Long, but pleasant. Am I to understand that you were not aware of my visit?”
“Your visit is a complete surprise to me,” Elizabeth said evenly, trying to remain civil even though she was seething inside.
“I do apologize,” Anne said, with the tiniest bit of contriteness in her voice. “I assumed that Darcy had discussed his invitation to me with you.”
“He did not.”
Anne retained perfect composure, but Elizabeth took notice of the discomfort that registered in her eyes.
Good! She should be uncomfortable, Elizabeth thought with some spite.
“Did my husband explain a reason for his invitation?” she asked.
“Well, yes,” Anne said, the hesitation in her tone very evident.
Elizabeth just looked steadily at her until she began to explain.
“He said that he has had to be away for quite a bit and that he thought you might enjoy some companionship,” Anne said, looking as awkward as she was now feeling. “He thought perhaps we might keep each other occupied.” Anne twisted her fingers nervously in her lap, her sophisticated exterior crumbling before Elizabeth’s penetrating gaze.
Just then, Darcy came through the front door and into the drawing room. His arrival deflected Elizabeth’s retort which hung on the tip of her tongue.
“Hello, Anne,” he greeted his cousin, crossing the room to where she sat. He bowed slightly and took her hand, pressing her fingertips to his lips in a courtly gesture.
“Hello, Darcy,” she replied, feeling greatly relieved at his appearance.
“Elizabeth, darling,” he said, turning to his wife, “is it not it just splendid that Cousin Anne has consented to come to stay with us for a while? She will provide you with such pleasant company when I am otherwise engaged. You two shall become such good friends, I am certain.”
“It is kind of her,” Elizabeth said. “I do wish you had let me know she was coming. I could have had Mrs. Reynolds air out one of the guest rooms for her.”
“Oh, I made sure the staff was aware of her impending visit,” Darcy said with a wave of his hand. “I informed them last week that we were expecting a guest, but that it was to be a surprise to you.”
“It certainly is a surprise,” she replied, her eyes boring holes in his.
Just then Pixley opened the door as Sarah came into the room carrying a silver tray with two teacups, cream, sugar, and a teapot on it.
“Mr. Darcy, welcome home,” Pixley said. “Sarah, another teacup for the Master, right away.”
“Thank you, Pixley,” he said. “A cup of tea would be most welcome just now.” Darcy sat down on the couch beside his wife and struck up a conversation with Anne. He inquired about her mother and other relatives they had in common. He attempted several times to bring Elizabeth into the conversation, but her responses were short. He was sensing that his surprise was not well received.
Elizabeth took notice of the way Anne’s eyes lit up and her lighthearted laugh when Darcy spoke to her.
“I imagine you would like to rest before dinner?” Darcy asked after they had finished their tea.
“Yes, that would be lovely,” Anne told him. “It has been a long journey.” With a smile, she rose and left the room.
In just a few moments, Darcy and Elizabeth were alone.
“How could you do this to me, Fitzie?” Elizabeth demanded, her dark eyes blazing. “You did not even discuss her coming here with me, or ask if I even wanted her to come. I do not like her, and I do not want her here.”
“Now, now, my dear,” Darcy said in a soothing voice. “I thought it would be a lovely surprise for you. Since your sisters are all too busy with their own lives to spend any length of time with you, I thought of Anne. Sh
e is unmarried, and therefore has no responsibilities to hurry home to. She is intelligent, as are you, and I thought the two of you could enjoy having some stimulating conversations. She enjoys reading, too, I believe, so the two of you could spend time reading together.
“And I thought that having another woman around to visit with would help to take your mind off our problem at hand. I have heard it said that when a woman tries too hard to conceive, it becomes impossible. But if she relaxes and puts her mind on other things, it can happen before you know it.”
“Oh, you!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “You think that by bringing another woman into our home that I will be able to conceive? How ridiculous is that?”
“My dear, I was only trying to help,” he said lamely. “Is that not what you were doing when you invited your sisters to come?”
“That is different,” she defended. “They have children. This woman does not.”
He put his arm around her shoulder and tried to pull her close, but she shook him off and stood up.
“At least will you be kind to her for my sake?” he implored.
Elizabeth softened a little at the pleading look on her beloved’s face. “I will try,” she said with a sigh. “But I do not expect it to be easy.”
“Just give her a chance. I am sure you will learn to like her. You do not really know her. You two only met the day of our wedding, and that was such a brief meeting. There were so many people vying for our attention that it was difficult to talk at length with anyone.”
Darcy again reached for his wife, and this time she allowed him to draw her close to him. He tenderly placed a kiss upon her forehead and held her close for a long moment before releasing her. The two went their separate ways until dinnertime.
Anne’s behavior at the dinner table did nothing to endear Elizabeth to her. She smiled flirtatiously at Darcy, giggled at his funny remarks, and showed off by throwing out a phrase now and then in French, Italian, or Latin. Elizabeth was not ignorant by any means, but she had never studied foreign languages as Anne apparently had. Finally, her curiosity superseded her animosity.
Elizabeth and Darcy: A Romeo and Juliet Twist: A Pride & Prejudice Regency Variation Page 18
