A Baby at Pemberley

by Abbey North

  “Fortunately, we have found one, since Lydia decided it was a requirement she must have.” Lizzy had been slightly exasperated with her sister requesting a wet nurse, but now she was grateful Lydia had done so, since they had one traveling to Pemberley this very moment. “I shall ask Fitzwilliam to send someone to see if they can speed up her journey.”

  “A wise idea.”

  Still hand-in-hand, the sisters left Lydia’s temporary room, moving across the hall where they heard the baby crying. When they entered, Lizzy saw Marta holding the baby while giving her a rag to suck on.

  Marta looked up, relief filling her eyes. “The doctor instructed to give her goat’s milk dipped in the rag until we could find a wet nurse, Mrs. Darcy.”

  Lizzy nodded. “That sounds like a wise decision to me.” She knew very little about the process, never having expected to deal with it in such a way.

  Jane moved closer, taking the baby from Marta along with the milk-soaked rag. She kept it lodged in the baby’s mouth and moved closer to Lizzy. Lizzy braced herself as the baby approached, expecting a wave of longing and envy, along with piercing grief from her own loss.

  There was definitely sadness, and she couldn’t help regretting the miscarriage and thinking of her lost baby, but most of her sadness was for the baby and her sister, who would never know each other. Her hand trembled when she reached out to stroke her knuckle very lightly along the baby’s downy cheek. “She is lovely.”

  Jane shuddered. “I believe Lydia planned to call her Georgina.”

  Lizzy shuddered as well. “I cannot hear that man’s name every day, and he did nothing to deserve such an honor. No, we simply must name her something else.”

  Jane nodded. “I quite concur. What shall we call her?”

  Looking down at the baby, Lizzy realized she was a perfect replica of Lydia. She could see nary a bit of Wickham in her visage, to her delight. “She is the very image of her mother, do you not agree?”

  Jane studied the baby for a moment before nodding. “Most certainly. Shall we call her Lydia?”

  “Yes, I believe we shall.” She reached out, stroking her finger down little Lydia’s clenched fist. Her hand opened, tightening around Lizzy’s finger, and Lizzy’s heart stuttered. In that moment, she fiercely loved her niece, and she would do anything to protect her. “Now we only have to decide with whom she will reside.”

  Jane paled slightly. “It is a lot to ask of you, Lizzy, knowing your circumstances, but do you suppose you could raise little Lydia?”

  Lizzy frowned, but she looked at Jane as she nodded. “I do, and I am perfectly willing to do so. I expected protests from you, along with us having to compromise on who would be guardians.”

  Jane was still pallid. “Oh, I do so wish to be involved, and I would love for her to stay with us sometimes, but I am unwell.”

  Lizzy’s heart skipped a beat. “How unwell? Are you dying?” Having just lost Lydia, she couldn’t imagine enduring such a thing again, especially so soon.

  Jane managed a small smile. “Nothing so extreme, dear sister. I am simply with child. I discovered it recently, and morning sickness has lasted a good part of the day. I did not wish to complain with everything happening to poor Lydia, so I have tried to conceal it. I did not plan to make an announcement so quickly either, at least not until the fourth month, as Dr. Ogden advised, but I fear I would not be able to take proper care of her, at least in the beginning.”

  “Of course. You must take care of yourself and your baby as well.” Lizzy’s arms trembled when Jane carefully passed Lydia to her. She looked down at the baby, feeling her heart constrict with love. “I must discuss it with Fitzwilliam, but I can scarcely see him having an objection.”

  Still carrying Lydia, Lizzy searched for him, soon finding Fitzwilliam in his study. Charles was there as well, but he tipped his head and excused himself when he saw Lizzy enter the room.

  Soon, it was just her and her husband, the infant on her lap as they sat down on the settee. “Jane and Charles have requested we look after Lydia, if you have no objection?”

  Fitzwilliam frowned. “Of course, I have no objection. We shall ensure she is well cared for. Charles has confided in me a possible reason why Jane might not have been up for it.” He didn’t say anything more, sending an appraising look in her direction. “Has Jane spoken to you?”

  “Yes, just now. She is with child and afraid she cannot look after little Lydia as required.”

  Fitzwilliam’s mouth turned up into a slow smile. “You have dubbed her Lydia?” At Lizzy’s nod, his smile widened slightly. “She is certainly the very image of her mother, is she not?” He reached out to brush his fingers against her cheek. “Such a precious little lamb.”

  “Yes, it is most unfair.” Lizzy blinked as tears scalded her cheeks. “My poor Lydia deserved better, and little Lydia ought to know her mother.”

  “We shall make sure she knows of Lydia and talk of her so frequently that she will become like a memory for little Lydia.” He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to him. “Are you able to deal with this, Lizzy? I know you still mourn the loss of our child. I do not wish for Lydia’s need for family to make the situation more difficult for you.”

  She laid her head against his shoulder. “You are most thoughtful, Fitzwilliam, and there is still some pain from it, but our focus must be on little Lydia now. She needs us, and neither of us are the type to turn our backs.”

  “Assuredly not. I suspect when Georgiana returns from touring the continent with Lady Matlock that she will be thrilled as well.”

  Lizzy cuddled closer to her husband as Lydia sucked contentedly on the rag. The wet nurse should be along soon, but for now, the solution seemed to be enough to content little Lydia. Lizzy was determined the baby would want for nothing, including happiness and love.

  3

  “Such a clever girl,” praised Lizzy from her perch on the Persian rug in the nursery. Lydia grinned and babbled at her, displaying the two bottom teeth sprouting through as she sat up for the first time without assistance. She had been an early teether, and now she was an early sitter. Only four months, little Lydia was thriving.

  “She is a clever one,” said Catherine, the wet nurse, as she passed Lydia a small wooden toy. The baby grasped it in her chubby fist, trying to bring it to her mouth. “I suspect her mother must have been a precocious one as well.”

  “Her talents were more in personality than learned accomplishments, but she was certainly vibrant.” Lizzy shifted on the floor, finding the position she was currently in put too much strain on her pelvic muscles.

  Sitting upright helped, relieving the ache in her lower stomach. She tried not to panic at every twinge, but she was still relieved when the pain immediately subsided at the shift in position. Only a couple of months along herself, it was difficult to relax and try not to overanalyze every ache and pain after having miscarried her previous pregnancy.

  “You look like you could use some rest, Mrs. Darcy. I can certainly see to Lydia for the afternoon. She shall be wanting her nap soon enough.”

  Lizzy knew that meant little Lydia would also be wanting to nurse first, so she nodded as she got to her feet. “Thank you, Catherine. I believe I shall have a nap of my own.”

  Catherine smiled. “I still remember those days, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. Some say the last bit of the pregnancy is the worst, but I always found the first part the most physically draining.”

  “I am sure.” She knew Catherine had four children, and her fifth child had been a stillborn. Catherine had been a wet nurse for the last two years, so perhaps she’d had time to recover from that loss, but there was still lingering sadness in her eyes. Lizzy could well imagine how painful it must be, since thinking about her lost child even now, months later, could trigger tears, though she usually managed to blink them back.

  She left the nursery and walked down the hall, heading to the stairs. Her intent was to climb to the next floor to go to the suite she shared w
ith Fitzwilliam, but the sound of raised voices caught her attention, and she detoured downstairs instead.

  She could hear vicious rowing, so she rushed to Fitzwilliam’s study, throwing open the door without knocking or waiting for permission to enter. She froze in shock and disgust of the sight of Wickham standing before Fitzwilliam, who was not backing down. They had clearly been shouting at each other, and seeing the man made her blood run cold.

  His countenance changed, becoming one of playful welcome when he saw her. “Lizzy, dear sister, you look well.”

  She ignored his words as she walked into the room, coming to stand beside her husband. Fitzwilliam’s body language made it obvious he wanted her to leave, but he didn’t push her away or tell her to go. Instead, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him in a protective fashion.

  Wickham sneered. “Are you afraid I shall charm away your lovely wife, Darcy?”

  “On the contrary. I simply wish to protect her from the likes of you. You know the way out.”

  Wickham seemed poised to argue for a second, but then he nodded. “Recall what I said and think hard on it. I shall be returning shortly. It is a courtesy that I give you time to prepare.” With a mocking bow to both of them, he spun on his heel and marched out.

  Lizzy couldn’t help noticing his clothing was significantly shabbier than it had been when she knew him in Meryton, and he was certainly no longer wearing the militia uniform. As soon as he disappeared through the door, slamming it behind him, she turned to Fitzwilliam, grasping the lapels of his day jacket. “What was that about?”

  He hesitated, seeming to weigh his words. “I…”

  She could see him struggling, and she assumed he was trying to protect her by parsing out information. She shook him gently. “I do not wish to be cosseted. Be free with the truth, husband.”

  With a long sigh, he pulled her into his arms, wrapping both around her and holding her steadily. “Wickham says he has come to claim his daughter.”

  Lizzy froze, a gasp escaping her. She clutched tightly to Fitzwilliam as pain spread through her, making her bend forward at the waist so that she backed away from him. “He cannot have her.”

  “He is her father. The law is clear.” Fitzwilliam sounded aggrieved. “I shall immediately send for a solicitor. We shall not accept this idly, I promise you.”

  At first, Lizzy thought the pain had been emotional, but now a twinge accompanied it, and she looked up. “I think I am bleeding, Fitzwilliam. Send for Dr. Ogden immediately.”

  4

  Some hours later, Lizzy laid in her bed as she stared up at the canopy above her. Dr. Ogden had been in to see her several times in the intervening hours, and now he was in conference with Fitzwilliam in the corner of the room. She felt listless, but she turned her head to look at them. “I should like to know what is happening with my body and my baby, Dr. Ogden.” The rebuke in her tone was clear.

  He cleared his throat and after a nod from Fitzwilliam, the doctor approached the bed. He stood nearby. “It is my belief you have not lost the pregnancy, Mrs. Darcy. Exam suggests everything is as it should be. Bleeding can sometimes spontaneously occur, especially early in the pregnancy. It occasionally takes your body time to realize it should not have a monthly flow. This incident could be something as simple as that, or it could’ve been shock. Mr. Darcy told me there was an emotional upheaval shortly before you began to bleed.”

  Lizzy nodded. “You could certainly consider that accurate.”

  “It is imperative that you rest, but I believe this is a threatened miscarriage at the moment. You are still pregnant, and there is no reason you cannot birth a fine, healthy baby. I must insist you restrict yourself to bed for at least the next fortnight though.”

  Lizzy thought about protesting, realizing how much help Lydia needed, but she held back. She couldn’t risk her pregnancy either, and they were fortunate enough to have Catherine to help.

  With a few more instructions, Dr. Ogden took his parting a short time later. Fitzwilliam walked him out, and when he returned, he came to the bed and laid down beside Lizzy. He put his arms around her and pulled to her close to him, his hand carefully resting on her abdomen. “Are you in pain?”

  “Not now.” She closed her eyes, putting her hand over his. “The baby is truly still there?”

  “I have no reason to doubt Dr. Ogden’s competency.”

  Recalling the uncomfortable exam to which she had been subjected, Lizzy nodded slowly. “Perhaps he is right.” Faint hope started to spark to life, gradually growing brighter. “I shall of course rest as he tells me, and I am ecstatic our child is still nestled safely in my body.”

  “As am I, but I am still dreadfully upset at the idea of Wickham taking Lydia.”

  She shuddered. “There must be a way to stop him. When does the solicitor arrive?”

  “I have sent for a team, and they shall be here the day after tomorrow. I have decided to attempt to handle the matter on my own first.”

  She’d been starting to drift off to sleep, but her eyes snapped open. “You cannot think to challenge him to a duel, Fitzwilliam. I could not bear it if something happened to you.”

  Though it sounded strained, he still chuckled with amusement. “I had not considered that idea, but I shall tuck it away for future reference, should the need arise. I have other methods that I believe will be far more persuasive on a man like Wickham.”

  Lizzy couldn’t see his face, but she could hear his confidence. “If you are planning to beat him soundly within an inch of his life, that is a plan I can endorse.”

  “It certainly is one way to handle the situation.” He chuckled again before pulling her just a little closer. “Rest now, Lizzy. It is my duty to protect you and little Lydia, so I shall do so. Try not to worry about anything except keeping our child right where it is and looking after Lydia as you can.”

  “I love you, Fitzwilliam.” She was still afraid, but there was such an air of determination about her husband, with confidence infusing his tone, that she was comforted. How could she doubt his resolve? She knew very well of what Fitzwilliam was capable when he set his mind to something.

  5

  Lizzy spent the next three days in bed, growing ever more restless. When Dr. Ogden arrived that afternoon to check on her, she said, “Surely I can go to the sitting room for tea.”

  He clicked his tongue. “I do not want you to walk that far, but as a compromise, you may certainly move from the bed to the settee in your room. How is that, Mrs. Darcy?”

  She heaved a sigh but accepted the necessity and nodded. “Very well, Dr. Ogden.” After he’d assisted her from the bed to move to the settee, she said, “Will you stay for tea?”

  He shook his head. “I am afraid I have other calls to make, but Mr. Fitzwilliam seemed quite chipper when I passed him in the hall earlier, so perhaps you have reason to celebrate. I would not wish to intrude.” He closed his black bag after returning the stethoscope. “You seem to be well on the mend, and everything is as it should be, but continue to rest. We shall reevaluate restrictions in a few days.”

  Lizzy watched him go, not surprised when Fitzwilliam appeared a few minutes later wearing a grin, since the doctor had indicated he was in a cheerful mood. He seemed like he was about to burst with news, but he froze at the sight of her sitting on the settee. “What are you doing out of bed, Elizabeth Darcy?”

  She pushed back a wave of shame, knowing she had done nothing wrong. “Dr. Ogden gave me permission to sit here, and he assisted me in doing so. He also told me you were in quite a fine mood, but I see no evidence of that.”

  He cleared his throat, and his expression changed, becoming more convivial again. “I do apologize for shouting, but you had me concerned.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “I have tea. Will you join me?”

  “Of course, but give me a moment.” Fitzwilliam left almost as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving Lizzy mystified at his disappearance again.

  Mrs. Reyno
lds had brought tea and left it by the time Fitzwilliam returned, this time holding Lydia. Lizzy teared up, having missed the baby. She’d seen her for the last few days in short visits, but she hadn’t been able to do much more than hold her for limited minutes.

  Now, she held out her arms imperiously, and Fitzwilliam deposited the infant into them. Lizzy looked at Lydia, who looked up at her with a big grin, revealing her two bottom teeth slowly coming in. When Lizzy looked closer, she could see one tooth was starting to push through the top gum as well. “Oh, you clever girl. You are getting another tooth.” She couldn’t wait to see Lydia with a mouthful as she toddled the halls of Pemberley.

  It sent a pang through her chest as she realized Wickham endangered the future she imagined. She looked up at Fitzwilliam. “I hope your good humor has to do with besting Wickham?”

  He took a seat, pouring them both tea, though Lizzy did not reach for hers since she was currently holding the infant. He sighed. “I would not say bested, per se, but I have dealt with him. It was not a resounding defeat, but we have achieved the objective we sought.”

  Lizzy frowned. “So mysterious. Do enlighten me further, Fitzwilliam.”

  He smiled as he sipped his tea. “Since there is only one tool of persuasion to which I know a man like him will respond, I offered it.”

  Lizzy grimaced. “Money.” She stated it is a fact, not a question.

  He nodded. “I offered enough to satisfy him, and with my solicitors present, Wickham signed a statement agreeing to forgo any custody claims to Lydia and assigning us as her guardians. He might show up a few years from now, trying to change his mind to extort more money, but our solicitors assure me the contract is ironclad. There is no judge in the land who would give Lydia to him after the amount he accepted. It was a sordid business, but we would reveal in court if need be that Wickham virtually sold his daughter to us.”