Charles sighed, then walked to the bell pull. “Send for the carriage. We will leave tonight. Have Graves and Amanda pack a small valise of our necessary items for the night and morning. They may arrive by wagon as planned on the morrow.”
Jane squealed with happiness and clapped her hands. She pecked Charles on the cheek, dashed up the stairs—as best she could—helped her maid shove items in a bag, and then put on her warmest gown and coat. By the time she descended a quarter of an hour later, Charles and the coach were ready.
“I can say nothing to convince you of the foolishness of this?”
“No, nothing.” Jane shook her head. “I have not seen Lizzy in months. I wished to arrive days ago, but you said that since we live so near, we should not burden them longer than necessary.”
“I thought of your comfort, my dear,” Charles said as he assisted his round wife into the vehicle.
“I know.” Jane sighed. “Forgive me if I have been short-tempered lately.” She patted her belly, which lurched as they moved forward.
“It is nothing like what you bear.” Charles reached for her hand and kissed it. “Rest your head on my shoulder. Hopefully, the rocking sensation will help you sleep.”
Jane stifled a yawn and obeyed. Her husband wrapped a protective arm around her, and before many minutes she quietly snored.
Awaking two hours later as they changed horses, Jane felt discomfort in her back as she stretched. She walked some as they waited, believing her legs needed movement, and refused any refreshment but some wine mixed with water the cook had packed them. When she got to Pemberley, a bath and tea would restore her.
Asking Charles to rub her aching back, she dozed as he whispered loving words to her. She had not missed his lines of worry, but she was confident that she could do this. What was thirty miles of good road?
The last ray of sun was quickly leaving the sky when she awoke and sat bolt upright.
“Darling?” Charles asked.
“How far are we from Pemberley?” Jane asked as she squeezed her eyes against the pain.
Her husband scanned outside his window. “Here is the lodge house now.”
They turned onto a drive surrounded by trees and snow. Jane had little doubt it looked beautiful in the daylight, but she had much more pressing concerns.
“We must hurry,” she winced as her belly tightened.
“Are you well? Should we stop?”
Grunting through the pain, she shook her head. “No, the babe is coming.”
“Come again?”
Jane could not speak as another intense contraction gripped her. She grabbed whatever she could reach—her husband’s hand—and squeezed tight. A scream tore from her lips.
“Janie?” Charles’s voice trembled. “Jane, look at me.”
“I-I-I can’t!” Tears streaked down her face. The pains were nearly constant, and she felt the need to bear down.
“Look at me,” Charles said, in a commanding tone this time.
Pushing her chin to her chest, she glanced at her husband.
“You cannot do this here.”
“I can’t stop!” Jane grunted.
Feeling fluid trickle down her leg, she lifted her skirt to touch it. Red stained her hand.
“You will have to catch him,” Jane said.
“Pardon?”
“Your coat,” she panted and tried to breathe through the sensation of being torn in half. “Wrap him in your coat.”
She was a mix of hysterical and delirious with pain.
“We are pulling up to the house now,” Charles said.
“I cannot get out of this carriage. I cannot move!” Jane pushed her husband over so she could spread her legs. “His head is cominnnnnnng!”
Charles banged on the roof and shouted directions to pull around to the stable. “Just a minute, love. Just hold on.”
Perspiration marred his brow. The carriage stopped at the stable, and Charles yanked Jane forward as he hopped down. Before her toes touched the ground, he scooped her up and raced to a clean stall. The stable hands and his coachmen asked half-formed questions.
“Run to the house and tell them Mrs. Bingley is having the baby! Go!” Charles commanded. Then he called for a groom to fetch the gamekeeper “You have helped with animal births, correct?” he asked when the man arrived.
“Too many to count,” Mr. Statler said. “Some of my own babes, too.” He clapped Charles on the back. “Here,” he said and poured alcohol over Bingley’s hands.
“What’s that for?”
“Keeps it clean, so the mother don’t get sick.”
“Lord, I don’t know if I can do this,” Bingley half-remarked, half-prayed.
“Don’t flatter yourself.” The older man winked. “She does all the hard part.”
“Charles! I can’t wait any longer! I can’t” Jane panted as a forceful contraction brought her upright, and she gripped behind her knees, recalling something her midwife had said.
Screaming through the burning sensation, the animals around them joined in. After a minute of incredible pain, which she worried might last forever, she had a moment of respite.
“I can see his head, Janie!”
Sobs began to wrack her frame. Almost over. She was almost—another wave hit. Charles had his coat ready. Jane prayed her baby would be well. The air was so cold in the stable. Fears for her child made her focus. Get him out, get him safe, she mentally chanted. Four hard pushes later as Charles cheered her on, and she heard the cry of a baby.
“He is here?” Jane asked through tears. They were so numerous that she could barely make out her husband’s outline holding a small bundle.
“A girl, Janie. A girl.” Wonder filled his voice as Statler cut the cord.
Jane sagged in relief. “She is healthy? May I see?”
Charles brought her over and knelt down. “Look how beautiful,” he said and kissed her forehead. “Like her Mama already. Darling, you did so well.” He brushed aside sweat-soaked hair. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Jane whispered and lovingly stroked the cherub’s face.
For a moment, all was still and quiet. Jane could see the stars shining through a crack in the barn ceiling. Her daughter opened her eyes but did not cry. She merely looked at her mother, and love flooded Jane’s heart.
“Jane?” Mrs. Bennet’s voice rang out from the entry.
“In here, Mama,” Jane said.
Rapid footsteps sounded and then a loud gasp. “My heavens!” Mrs. Bennet said in a horrified tone.
“Everything is fine,” Charles said.
Mrs. Bennet nodded and then glanced around the stable. Mr. Statler had given them privacy. “You are fully done, then?”
“I do not know—” a contraction interrupted Jane’s sentence.
“As I thought.” Mrs. Bennet nodded. “Charles, take the baby to the house. Then return with a footman. We must get Jane into bed.” She called for Statler. “Do you have a blanket or the like? The baby must be warmed.”
He nodded, and Charles followed.
“Mama?” Jane asked as her mother knelt beside her.
“Yes, dearest?”
“I don’t understand.”
“It is the after birth,” she said and wiped her daughter’s brow. “You have already done the hard part.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Jane laughed, and relief filled her. “I thought you were going to say there was another one!”
Mrs. Bennet chuckled as well. “No, that would be quite irregular.”
“How did you do this five times?” Jane said as she pushed.
“It may seem impossible now, but soon you will believe it was all worth it and want another one.”
Jane grunted as the last contraction came to an end. “If you say so. I must say, I am quite put out by Charles. Although he was perfectly wonderful during this, I just do not want him to be so wonderful to me for quite a while!”
Mrs. Bennet laughed again. “That is quite normal.”
“Jane?” His voice came down the corridor.
“Just a moment.” Mrs. Bennet quickly made Jane presentable. “You may come.”
Loading her back in the carriage, she sat curled on her husband’s lap, Mrs. Bennet across from them. They circled back to the house. Charles and a footman carried her to a chamber.
“Where is the baby?” Jane looked around fitfully. Anxiety filled her, although she knew it was irrational.
“Here she is, ma’am.” A maid rushed forward and placed her into Jane’s outstretched arms.
“The midwife needs to exam you and the babe,” Mrs. Bennet said.
“May I see Lizzy?”
“Perhaps in a bit,” Mrs. Bennet answered but did not meet Jane’s eyes. “Do you have a name for her?”
“Natalie,” Jane said and locked eyes with her husband. “Natalie Elizabeth.”
“Precious,” Mrs. Bennet said.
“Will you hold her?” Jane asked when Mrs. Sandrington entered.
Charles left to change and tell the men and young ladies the news. The midwife examined Jane and pronounced her strong and healthy. Jane smiled as she watched her mother walk around the room with her daughter in her arms. They had no bed for Natalie here yet, but Jane surmised that would be no problem as someone would be willing to hold her always. Before falling asleep, she grinned, thinking if that failed, they could always make a bed of hay.
Once in David’s Royal City
Manchester
December 23, 1812
Mary blinked through exhaustion when she heard the knocker. She heard voices—her maid’s and a man’s—and then steps in the hall.
“Madam, there is a Mr. Darcy here to see you,” the maid spoke quietly.
“Oh,” Mary said and slowly sat upright. Pulling her dressing gown tighter, she nodded for him to be let in.
“Mary—” He stopped short when he took in the bundle in her arms. “When?” He slowly came towards her.
“Two nights ago,” Mary said. “Just after Richard left.”
“You should have come to us,” Darcy whispered. “Is he well? It was early.”
“The midwife said early makes it easier.” Mary shrugged. “He is well. He eats constantly and has healthy lungs.”
“That is good.” He was looking at the child strangely. “And you? You are well?”
“Only tired.” Mary smiled.
Her heart skipped a nervous rhythm. Physically, she was quite well. Mentally, she was shaking herself. She had insisted on staying in the house instead of leaning on the care of her family. What had she been thinking? She could only imagine that pregnancy clouded her judgment. It all seemed entirely clear once the baby was in her arms.
“Why are you here?” she asked, wondering if he noticed the sound of hope in her voice.
“I had come to fetch you. I would have done so tomorrow, but Elizabeth has started, and she wished to have you with her.”
“Oh, dearest Lizzy.”
“Can you travel?”
Mary chewed her bottom lip. She knew there would be no small amount of discomfort, and travel with a newborn would slow their timing.
“Mary?” Richard’s voice boomed from downstairs.
Mary gasped, and Darcy jerked his head. Fluttering a hand, Mary shooed Darcy to the door. “Bring him up here.” Looking down at the baby, she added, “Only quietly!”
Darcy, clearly astonished, left her side. Mary heard muffled voices on the stairs. She could not make out the words, but Richard’s were incredulous. A moment later there were footsteps in the hall, and the door inched open. Richard, looking road-weary and dirty, peeked his head in.
“Is it true?”
Mary smiled. “Come and meet your son.”
A look of awe filled Richard’s face, and he shuffled to her side. “So small,” he said.
The baby made a gurgling sound in his sleep and smiled. “How you must hate me for missing this,” Richard said and kissed her cheek. “I am so thankful you are both well.”
“I do not hate you,” Mary said. “It could not be helped, but why are you here?”
“As I reached Liverpool, word came that there had been a victory on the coast of Spain, and we did not need to go to Falmouth. Words cannot relay my relief. I raced to you as fast as I could.”
“You left two days ago,” Mary said with tears in her eyes. “Why are you only now returning?”
Richard wrapped his arm around her. “I hope you do not mind being poor,” he said and kissed her hair. “I have sold my commission. I will find some other employment and means to care for my family, but I will not leave them.”
Laughter bubbled up from Mary’s throat, and tears streamed down her face.
“You are crying, love,” Richard said.
“Happy tears,” Mary answered. “I’m so delighted.”
“You will not miss my red coat?”
Mary shook her head. “Certainly not!”
A knock sounded on the door, and they bade Darcy enter.
“I hate to intrude,” he murmured, “but Elizabeth…”
“How do you feel?” Richard asked his wife.
“Susie was telling me how her mother was always up and running within days of bearing a child. I think I can survive a carriage ride. If you do not mind the extra delays.”
“Not at all,” Darcy said and scanned the room. “It seems you were half-packed when you had to stop!”
Mary blushed. “I did not want to go, but I also knew that Lizzy would not leave me. I wished to remain stubborn but also not be a burden.”
Darcy chuckled. “These Bennet women and their stubbornness. How will we survive?”
“At least I am adding to the number of males to offset it!”
“A fine, hearty son! My congratulations,” Darcy said. “What do you call him?”
Richard laughed, realising he had not asked. “Well?” He met his wife’s eyes.
“It is as we decided.” Mary smiled. “David Nicholas.”
“Excellent.”
“Darcy, if you help Mary down the stairs, I will throw together a trunk of some of my items. I can always fetch more or have things sent later.”
Darcy nodded. The maid came to carry the baby downstairs, and Mary leaned heavily on Darcy’s arm, but she made the journey without needing to stop due to pain or exhaustion. Happily, David was returned to her waiting arms as Susie quickly packed items for the infant. Within a quarter hour, they were in the Darcy carriage and bound for Pemberley.
Coventry Carol
Pemberley
December 23, 1812
As Pemberley welcomed the newest members of the extended Bennet-Fitzwilliam-Darcy family, Elizabeth slept restlessly. Her eyes fluttered open only when Darcy kissed her forehead.
“Mary?” she asked weakly.
“Settled in a guest chamber with your nephew and Richard.”
“Goodness,” Elizabeth said with far less force than she felt. “Tell me everything.”
So he did. When he finished, she marvelled. “Now, I do not think it is fair that they had such easy deliveries and are now my guests.” She frowned. “I will have to scold them when I recover.”
Darcy kissed her hand. “Nothing too strenuous, my love.”
Elizabeth nodded and rubbed her belly. Her labour had stalled, and she noticed the nervous looks her mother, aunt, and Mrs. Sandrington shared. She still felt contractions, but they no longer came at regular intervals or felt as strong. Despite assurances that this sometimes happened, Elizabeth grew afraid.
“I believe I am jealous,” Elizabeth said, resting her head against Darcy’s shoulder as he sat with her in bed.
“I know,” he said and placed a large hand on her belly. “Soon it will be over.”
“It is not that, although I would welcome it.” She tried to stretch to reach an itch on her foot but was unsuccessful. Thankfully, Darcy understood her desire. “I wanted our baby to be the first you held.”
“I held Georgiana.�
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“I mean besides her,” Elizabeth pouted.
Darcy squeezed Elizabeth’s shoulders tight, having finished his task at reaching the itch. “I know, and I did not hold David or Natalie.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.” Darcy smiled. “However, my arms feel very empty despite your being in them. Perhaps our little one desires excitement?”
“What do you mean?”
“Shall I call for the sleigh again?”
Lizzy laughed. “As tempting as that is, I do not think I have the energy to go all the way down the stairs.”
“Did not Mrs. Sandrington say you need to walk?”
“Yes, but my legs feel so heavy, and it just hurts.”
“Come, walk with me,” Darcy said while standing. He held out a hand to her, smiling when she placed hers in it.
“Do you recall what we were doing this time a year ago?” she asked as they circled the halls of Pemberley.
“Which day?” Darcy chuckled.
“Any of them!”
“I didn’t know it at the time,” Darcy said, “but I was searching for you. That is how I knew I loved you.”
“It was?”
“Before Bingley and Richard told me anything, I was having dreams. In every dream, I sought you out. I wanted to look at you, to speak with you. I realised it was the same in our daytime encounters. You were who my eyes first wished to see in every room I entered.”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth sighed. “I wish I deserved you. I am so terribly unromantic compared to that!”
“When did you know you loved me?”
“When I thought I lost you forever,” Elizabeth confessed.
“So good things can come out of stressful moments.”
“Indeed.” She rubbed her belly, which had begun to contract since she started walking. This time she would not stop so early.
After several hours, Mrs. Sandrington judged it time for the birthing chair. This time, Darcy would not be removed from the room. Exhausted from an entire day of labour and then hours of walking, Elizabeth nearly fainted during the two hours of pushing. Each time she cried out in pain or that she could not continue, Darcy murmured encouragements in her ear. He rubbed her back, mopped her brow, and focused her breathing. Finally, after a herculean push, Elizabeth felt profound relief. The baby had come, but she heard no crying. Bursting into sobs, she could not manage to put her fears into words.
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