“Something is bothering you, my dear.”
“Is it?” She did not look up this time.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “Now, do not take this the wrong way, my love, but you do not normally give in so easily when you think I am up to something.”
“I don’t?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. The more they spoke, the more his alarm increased: this really was unlike her.
“I see.”
Darcy watched her, aghast. “What is it?” he finally muttered. “What is on your mind?”
She closed her book and looked up at him, a little smile playing on her lips. “Well, I do not quite know how to say it.”
Fearing she was ill, he shook his head and reached for her. “My dear Elizabeth, what is it? You must tell me! I will do everything I can to fix it.”
“Fix it?” she said with a peculiar look on her face. “Fitzwilliam, darling, I do not know how you might go about trying to fix it. Nor would you want to, I expect.”
“I am lost,” he sighed, searching her eyes for some sort of sign. “What is it? Has something happened? Please, you know you can share it with me, whatever it is.”
She smiled and took his hands in hers. “Oh, Fitzwilliam. I have been pondering all morning about how I might tell you. I did not think you would grow so anxious. I am with child, you see. I ought to have seen the signs before, but we’ve been so busy planning the ball for Georgiana. I only realised it this morning.”
He stared at her, his vision going white around the edges. He had always hoped, but he had never allowed himself to dwell on the prospect.
“Darcy?” Her voice was tinged with wariness. “I know we have never spoken of this, but I assumed…”
“Oh no, my dear, do not think I am unhappy. I am not. The opposite is true.” He shook his head as the magnitude of it hit him all at once. “I shall be a father! Oh my dear, it is wonderful news. Are you sure?”
She bit her lip and nodded; it was clear to him now that she was as delighted as he was. “It is lucky my aunt is staying with us. Otherwise I would not have known for sure until I grew frustrated with my symptoms and thought to write to Jane about them. My aunt believes it is conclusive. In fact, she admonished me for not realising sooner.”
“It is not like you, I agree.”
Her eye shone and he had the sinking feeling that he had brought trouble on himself now that she was no longer preoccupied.
Her next question confirmed it. “Speaking of which, what were you talking about earlier? I was distracted as I thought of a way to tell you our news.”
“And what wonderful news it is too,” he said wistfully.
“Darcy.” Her voice was full of warning. “Do not think you can distract me and evade my question? You are up to something. And as the mother of your child, you cannot deny me an answer.” Her eyes twinkled.
Darcy shook his head.
Lizzy laughed playfully. “Perhaps I shall send for my mother to help with the birth and ask her to stay on awhile afterwards.”
He froze, not wanting to appear horrified by the prospect.
“Well? Are you going to tell me?”
Darcy laughed. “Are you blackmailing me with the threat of inviting your own mother?”
“Yes, I suppose I am,” she laughed. “Will you risk testing if I’m serious?”
He sighed. “I cannot tell you. I promised a dear friend.”
She bit her lip and paced. He watched her move. He could see no tell-tale sign that she was carrying his child, but he supposed it was still very early.
“Ah, so it is something that concerns Bingley.”
He sighed and threw his head back. Sometimes having a quick-witted woman for a wife was impossible. “Now, why do you say that?”
“It’s obvious,” she said, eyes blazing. “He is your dearest friend. There is no one in the world you would do something like that for but Bingley.”
He groaned inwardly. “But you suppose it is Bingley. I might have been speaking of Georgiana, or your uncle or—”
“No. You would not have said ‘friend’ then.”
“I cannot say.”
“That is fine,” she said breezily. “I suppose I shall write to Mama.”
He groaned. There was never a dull moment in Pemberley now, and that was the way he liked it, even though it frustrated him when she scored a victory over him, which happened often.
“Very well,” he said evenly. “In that case, I shall write to my aunt. I think you will find her an invaluable help; full of advice and guidance.”
Elizabeth maintained her calm expression for a second or two before her fine features twisted into a smile. She threw a cushion at him. “Blasted man,” she cried. “If you ever think of doing such a thing I shall scream.”
He pulled her to him and they embraced, staring into each other’s eyes and laughing until Mrs. Reynolds arrived to announce that breakfast was served.
Mr Darcy to the Rescue: A Pride and Prejudice Regency Variation Page 14
