The Ashes of Longbourn

by Schertz, Melanie

  “Mrs Darcy, I would like to ask you some questions first. When did you begin to feel ill?”

  “Last night, we were at a ball. I felt a headache beginning and, when I stood up, I became dizzy and needed to sit again. This morning, I lost all that was on my stomach when I became extremely nauseated. Now I feel very fatigued.”

  “Have you been experiencing bouts of fatigue in the afternoons lately?”

  Elizabeth thought about it for a moment and realized that his question held merit. “Now that I think about it, yes, I have been resting more and more in the afternoons.”

  “Forgive me for not remembering, but how long have you and your husband been married?” Mr Wilson asked.

  “Over four months now.” Elizabeth replied, curious as to why that would be important.

  “And when were your last courses?”

  Realizing what the physician was suggesting, Elizabeth’s eyes grew large. “I cannot remember, though I must tell you that after my accident last year, my courses were very sporadic.”

  “That is not uncommon; the body was attempting to heal and would use all resources in the body to do so. But you have mostly recovered, from what has been said. What of your bosom? Are you sore or tender in this area? Have you noticed any increase in their size?”

  This brought another round of nodding from the wide eyed young lady. “You believe I am with child?”

  Mr Wilson examined his patient, noting other changes in Elizabeth’s body since the previous time he had examined her. “I note a slight swell to your belly. One can never be certain until the quickening, but from all of your symptoms and what I can see, I would place my bets on you carrying the next generation of Darcys. Let me see, I would place the confinement to be around the end of July. If I am correct, you should experience the quickening in the next few weeks.”

  “After the accident, I did not believe I would ever be able to have children. Of course I never expected to be able to walk again either.”

  Mr Wilson smiled. “The paralysis did not have any effect on your… womanly area. There was no reason to believe you would be unable to conceive. I will suggest that you rest as much as possible, eat proper meals and a few small meals occasionally through the day. Mrs Lane will have a tea brewed that will aid in calming your stomach when it is queasy. That is normal for ladies who are increasing. If need be, your cook can arrange to have bland foods added to the menu to keep from aggravating your stomach. And I suggest that when you stand up, do so slowly. Give your body the time to adjust so that you do not swoon on us.”

  Listening closely, Elizabeth took in all the information that was given to her. Before Mr Wilson made ready to leave the room, he took hold of her hand. “Mrs Darcy, have no fears. We will watch over you carefully. And I would suggest speaking with your aunt and Lady Matlock, for they will have suggestions as to ways of preparing for the coming changes.”

  “Thank you Mr Wilson. I am sure that my husband will make many calls for your advice and to reassure him that all is going well.”

  “I look forward to our visits then, Mrs Darcy. Now, rest and I will ask Mrs Lane to send up some toast and some of her peppermint tea.”

  ~~ ** ~~

  Darcy had nearly worn a path in the carpet outside Elizabeth’s bedchamber door. What could be wrong with her? Am I to lose her after such a short time of happiness? I cannot stand the thought of living without her by my side, not after all that has happened.

  He heard the door open and turned to see the physician exit the room. “My wife, please Mr Wilson, tell me the truth.”

  “Sir, I believe that this sort of news should be given to you by your wife. If you have questions after speaking with her, you know where to find me. I will continue to come and check on her as needed.”

  Darcy shook the hand of the man before he opened the door and made his way to his wife. Sitting on the side of the bed, he lifted both of her hands to his lips, placing many kisses on each.

  “Did Mr Wilson tell you the news?” Elizabeth asked.

  Shaking his head, Darcy had difficulty looking into his wife’s eyes. The fear that was taking hold of his heart did not wish to see the pain written in her eyes. “He told me that the news should come from you.”

  “William, will you please look at me?” Elizabeth was surprised at her husband’s behavior. “Please, my love, look at me.”

  Finally, Darcy raised his eyes to look into hers. In them, he could see the undying love that his wife shared with him. “What is the news? Are you well?”

  “It will be several months before I am completely recovered, but it is well worth the time, for the gift that I will have at the end of this will be most precious.”

  Confusion was obvious the way that Darcy’s eyebrow cocked itself. “I do not understand.”

  Elizabeth took her husband’s hand and placed it on her abdomen. “The gift is the new life that is growing inside me; a new life that was made from our love.”

  Realizing what was happening, Darcy became overjoyed. “A baby? We are having a baby? Lizzy, this is wonderful news. Oh, dearest, loveliest Lizzy, I cannot begin to tell you how much I love you. This is wonderful news.”

  “Then you are not upset?” Elizabeth asked as she caressed her husband’s cheek with her hand.

  “How could I be upset? This is perfect, Lizzy. Our own child, a child we made. I knew that you would be able to conceive.”

  Elizabeth began to laugh as her husband stood up and twirled around the room. Becoming dizzy, he finally collapsed on the bed beside her. Reaching his hand over her stomach, Darcy began to gently caress the area where his babe was growing.

  “I am pleased to see you take the news so well.” Elizabeth said as she ran her fingers through his curly locks. “I was worried as to how you would take it.”

  “I am so very thrilled, my love. I have so desired to have children with you, to watch you swell from the seed I planted inside you. I want at least a dozen children, a large family to love and watch grow to become parents themselves. It does not matter if this child a boy or a girl, there will be time to keep trying if this is a girl. Besides, Pemberley is not entailed, so a daughter may inherit.” Darcy leaned over and placed a kiss on her belly. Then he began to speak as if he were talking to the babe. “You must take care to be good to your Mamma. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much this past year, so I beg you to be kind to her when you grow and begin moving about. You will be loved so much by both your Mamma and me. I cannot wait until I am able to hold you in my arms and rock you to sleep at night. I promise to take you on horses as soon as your Mamma is not watching, for I doubt she would approve of a newborn on horseback. We will roam all over Pemberley and I will show you all of my favorite places, as well as those of your grandparents. Your Mamma will take you on long walks, and I will be with you as well. Oh, my little love, rest and grow strong. I will watch over your Mamma and you always.”

  “I love you, William.” Elizabeth had tears beginning to stream down her cheeks as she listened to the loving words of her husband to their unborn child. “You will be a wonderful father.”

  “And you, my Lizzy, will be the most perfect mother in the world. With your charm and intelligence, your talent to make others at ease and cared for, and the love that you already have for our babe; no child could wish for a better mother.”

  “Shall we send messages to Matlock House and Gracechurch Street?” Elizabeth asked, not really caring if he chose to delay the announcement.

  “Later. I believe that your sister will be up here soon as she learns that the physician has been here to see you. And I insist you rest today, as you should not do too much. We should begin to make lists of what we will need for the babe, cradle and clothing and such. And we will need to hire a midwife and a wet nurse. Shall we be at Pemberley for your confinement or remain in Town? If we go to Pemberley, I insist we have a surgeon stay with us for the final month, perhaps two.”

  “William, there is plenty of time f
or all of that. I am most likely around two and a half months along, from what Mr Wilson said after his examination. It should not be much longer before the quickening.”

  “But there is so much to do in so few months. I will send a message to Mr Wilson, asking his advice of a surgeon who could stay at Pemberley if that is where you wish to be for the birth.”

  “Let us take the rest of today to enjoy the news of our babe. Tomorrow we can begin to fret over where to be when he or she is born.” Elizabeth was laughing at her husband.

  With a devilish grin on his face, Darcy stood and walked to the bedchamber door. Turning back to be able to see his wife, Darcy stepped backwards into the hallway. “WE ARE HAVING A BABY! I AM GOING TO BE A FATHER!” he shouted out. This caused Elizabeth to laugh even harder.

  “You are a silly man, Mr Darcy. Your child will be born laughing at you.”

  “I look forward to every giggle and chuckle that comes from our children, my wonderful wife.”

  Jane and Bingley had heard the shouting and came running. So did Mrs Lane and several other servants. To say that there was a great deal of joy would be an understatement. Jane went directly to her sister’s side and embraced her. Both of the sisters had tears of happiness streaming from their eyes, the pleasure of knowing that their family would live on through their children was a blessing.

  “I can just hear Mamma now. You must give him an heir, as a gentleman needs to have an heir. Then you will not need to worry if you have any other.”

  “Our mother did not know my husband wishes for a dozen or more children. And there is no entailment.”

  Darcy returned to his wife’s side. “I cannot wait to have a daughter who looks like her mother. Though, now that I think of it, perhaps we had best stay at Pemberley at all times after the birth of a daughter, and build a mote around the main house. Otherwise we will be fighting off the young men who will find her as bewitching as I find my beloved wife.”

  “Papa never had a mote surrounding Longbourn, and we had no problems with too many young men.” Elizabeth teased.

  “Ah, but your father was not as known in society as the Darcy name is, and he did not participate in London society at all. I believe he was quite wise in that decision. We should follow his example when it comes to caring for our children.” Darcy had a grin on his face, telling Elizabeth that he was teasing.

  “But what fun is there in having a daughter who is like me, only to lock her away so that she does not get into mischief? She must be allowed to be adventurous or she will be nothing at all like I was.”

  Jane began to laugh. “Be prepared, William, your daughter will be climbing all the trees at Pemberley. You had best come to terms with your daughter having scraped knees and hands from climbing. And she will prefer to play with any brothers or boys in the neighborhood, for little girls can be quite boring. Is that not what you claimed when you were around nine, Lizzy?”

  John Lucas was now at the door of the bedchamber, watching the joyous gathering. “Yes, she claimed that playing army with me and Bradley Long was much better than tea settings and dolls were. Charlotte and Jane were the only two girls she would ever play with. And now look at her, married to a fine man, mistress of this house and a large estate, and becoming a mother. Eliza, I could not be happier for you and William.”

  “Thank you, John.” Elizabeth said as she welcomed him and Maria into the room. “We just learned the news less than an hour ago.”

  Maria came to the side of the bed and placed a kiss on Elizabeth’s cheek. “This is wonderful news, Lizzy. Such perfect news, as this is truly going to be a most wonderful year.”

  “I believe you are correct.” Jane said to her young friend. “Charlotte and Richard are soon to wed, Lizzy is with child, and the ills from last year are being corrected. Charles and I are happily married, and Louisa gave birth to a healthy child. So many wonderful things happening filled with love and hope for the future.”

  Georgiana had just arrived home from visiting Matlock House and was told that she was needed in her sister’s chambers as soon as possible. Fearing that something had happened to Elizabeth, the young girl ran up the stairs and was breathless when she arrived in the room. Seeing everyone in the room, with smiles on their faces, Georgiana was confused.

  “Georgie, come sit beside me. We have the most wonderful news.” Elizabeth said as she held out a hand to her sister.

  “Are you well, Lizzy? Have you had a setback?”

  “No, dearest.” Darcy said, leaning over to place a kiss on his sister’s cheek. “Our news is that you are going to be an aunt.”

  It took but a moment for the news to register in the mind of Georgiana, but as soon as it did, she let out a squeal of delight. “You are having a baby? Oh, Lizzy, William, I am so happy for you. This is the most wonderful news. You will be wonderful parents, and I will be the best of aunts. When will the babe be born?”

  “We believe the end of July, near the birthday of my most adorable young sister.” Darcy said with a smile. “Would you be pleased to have a niece or nephew share the same birth month as you?”

  “It would truly be an honor, William. Just wait until everyone else learns the news. This babe will never lack for love.” Georgiana said with a smile. Embracing her brother, she whispered. “Mamma and Papa would be so pleased to know they have a grandchild.”

  Darcy smiled as he nodded his head. Whispering back to his sister, he said, “You are correct. I believe they are in heaven, watching over us and smiling.”

  ~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

  Chapter 29

  The news of the next generation of Darcys was accepted with the greatest enthusiasm. Lady Matlock and Mrs Gardiner were the diligent and loving aunts, giving their niece advice and support. Lady Matlock was thrilled to have another member of the family to purchase gifts for.

  News of another sort arrived not long after. Anne de Bourgh gave birth to a son, though the boy died less than an hour after his birth. The news of her son’s death sent Anne spiraling further into the depths of insanity. She had to be sedated after she attempted to strangle one of the nurses. The physicians held no hope for her recovery, and feared that she would continue to decline. When she was not sedated, Anne carried a bundle of rags in her arms, calling it Frederick, and singing lullabies.

  The news of her grandson’s death and Anne’s further decline affected Lady Catherine, as the woman suffered an attack of apoplexy and the grand mistress of Rosings Park died in her sleep. Lord Matlock and his eldest son traveled to Derbyshire to have Lady Catherine buried alongside her parents. The baby’s body was buried in a cemetery near the sanitarium. It was the decision of the Earl of Matlock that the bastard son of his niece would not be buried at Matlock, as his own parents would have frowned on such behavior. Instead, Lord Matlock sent the funds to have the babe buried properly with a headstone declaring him Frederick Storm, Jr.

  ~~ ** ~~

  A fortnight after Lady Catherine died, life returned to the pleasant. The wedding of Charlotte and Richard was upon them and the joy that was freely flowing between their friends and family was contagious. One only needed to be in the presence of the couple to feel their love, much like the Darcys and Bingleys.

  The day of the wedding was a bitterly chilly day, though it had no effect on the couple or their family and friends. As Sir William escorted his beloved eldest daughter up the aisle of the church, a sunbeam shone through one of the stained glass windows, causing a rainbow effect on their path. Charlotte thought to herself that it was a perfect description of how she felt. Being married to the imposter Mr Collins was her rainstorm. It was filled with thunder and lightning, and a deluge of rain. But now it was over, and standing before her was her wondrous pot of gold. Richard Gerald Fitzwilliam. She knew that he was the perfect match for her, and, for the first time, Charlotte knew what it was like to be loved for who she was. At that moment, she knew that she would do whatever she could to make Richard the happiest of husbands.

  After th
e ceremony was over, the guests made their way to Matlock House to partake in the wedding breakfast. With the news of Elizabeth expecting, Lady Matlock and Lady Lucas collaborated in planning the breakfast, allowing Elizabeth to relax and rest.

  At the wedding breakfast, many speeches were made. It was when Darcy spoke that his cousin had tears come to his eyes.

  “Richard, you have spent your life protecting and defending everyone. As children, it was usually you who received the punishments when we misbehaved, for you always took claim for wrongdoings. Uncle, know that Richard was not always the wrongdoer, or, at the very least, he was not alone. But he always protected me from discipline when possible. As an adult, you earned your rank in service of our country. You were wounded in battle several times, as you did not remain hidden in the background as your men raced into the fight; you were beside your men, fighting just as hard or harder. Even through this past year, you have attempted to protect myself and my family, with the same caring and kindness you have always shown. You deserve to be happy, deserve to be loved for the man you are. Charlotte, I thank you for being the woman to love my cousin, and bring him joy and contentment. I pray that your marriage is long and blessed. Lizzy and I are so very pleased for you both. I raise my glass, to Richard and Charlotte Fitzwilliam.”

  ~~ ** ~~

  Three days after the wedding, Darcy and Elizabeth left for Pemberley. Georgiana would stay in Town with Lord and Lady Matlock. She wished to give her brother and his wife time alone for the first time in their marriage. Elizabeth would need time to become accustomed to their home, and Darcy insisted on being at her side through it all. While they were in Derbyshire, Bingley and Jane would be spending time alone at Netherfield. It would be the first time in their married life that Netherfield would not be hosting guests.

  The newlyweds, Richard and Charlotte, decided to spend their time in the dower cottage at Longbourn, overseeing the construction of their new home. Everyone was starting their lives anew, as the past year was finally being put to rest.