by Greer Boyd
Aunt Eleanor laughed as well, clicking her heels in a mock salute. “Truly, he told me that even before he joined the army. But, let us plan. If we take the wedding night as the date of conception, then the later part of May to the first part of June should be Charlotte’s time, two weeks after that should be Mary’s, and two weeks after that should be Georgiana’s. Rebecca and Maryann have you had your menses since the wedding night?”
Rebecca looked at her sister and spoke for both of them, “Maryann and I have had almost the exact same schedule all our lives. We finished our menses only a few days before the wedding, but we have not had them since.”
“Very well then,” Aunt Eleanor simply stated, but they could almost see her eyes twinkle as she planned everything in her head. “We will count you as due at the same time as Georgiana. Jane?”
“I have just missed my monthly menses this week, so I guess I may be a week or possibly two after Georgiana, Rebecca, and Maryann,” responded Jane with a smile that brightened her whole face.
Aunt Eleanor leaned forward in her chair as she stroked the underside of her chin with her fingers, a telltale signal that she was sorting things in her mind. When she stood and calmly began to walk about the room, the ladies’ attention was solely on her. “Elizabeth, it is truly a good thing that you and William plan to marry in the chapel at Pemberley. I think that from February on all of you should be again ensconced at Pemberley House. That way we will not be worried trying to travel from one place to the other and we can all look out for each of you much better. We will plan to have one or possibly two midwives in residence starting the first part of April.” Suddenly turning to face the expectant mothers, she placed her hand on her hips and leaned back slightly. “Should any of you be truly with twins, the possibility that they will come early is much greater. With that in mind, I will speak with Dr. Crawford and see if he might wish for a ‘vacation’ at Pemberley starting the last week in April as well.”
Again she started to pace about the room with her hands clasped behind her back, much as one would imagine a general planning for battle, as she addressed them. “While we are here for the season, I suggest that we look at baby furniture at Sheraton’s and Chippendale’s for some ideas. Make note of what you like, and if we do not find anything that we like equally well in the attics at Pemberley, Caenvista, and Matlock, we can look in the shops in both Lambton and Kympton. We also may send to London at any time for whatever else may be needed.”
Suddenly she stopped her pacing and again looked at each one of them, “Agreed?”
Like perfect little soldiers, each of the young ladies stood to attention and saluted Aunt Eleanor. Laughter filled the room like trumpet sounds.
In a most un-military fashion, Aunt Eleanor reached out to hug each one of them and then continued with her plan, “I think we need to let everyone else know what may be happening, since this will affect them as well. I suspect that the weddings for the remaining D’Arcy women and Gabby will need to be accomplished before the time of the first confinement begins. Also, you may want to let Mrs. Wyatt know if certain foods are beginning to make any of you feel uncomfortable or nauseous.”
Jane laughed at the mention of adverse effect from food, “Poor Elizabeth was so ill with her first pregnancy that I accosted Jerome and accused him of abusing her. The only thing that she could keep down was tea and confections from Serendipity.”
As a cloud seemed to pass over Elizabeth’s face, Jane almost leapt from the chair to go to her, “Oh Lizzy, I am so sorry.”
“Oh Jane,” spoke Elizabeth gently, “you have said nothing that was not the truth.” Turning to the others in the room, she continued with a chuckle but great sincerity as well, “Aunt Eleanor is correct. If there is a food that you cannot bear, it is better that it is not prepared. Be sure to keep a bit of mint close at hand for use in your tea, as it will help to calm your stomach.”
She then looked back to Jane, asking if it was near time for Jonathan to be fed. Jane was sure the little boy would be delighted, even though it was a bit early. Summoning the maid, Elizabeth asked her to find Martha, the Bingley’s nurse, and have her to bring Jonathan to his mother. Her gentle words and the maid’s bright response led Georgiana to comment, “Brother said that all the servants would love you, and he is absolutely correct.”
When Nurse Martha arrived with little Jonathan in her arms and saw all the newly married ladies assembled, she could only guess at the reason.
As all the young ladies watched, Jane opened her gown, placed Jonathan’s mouth close to her breast and showed them how to coax the child to suckle her nipple. She explained that in his case it was easy, because he was always hungry and seemed to be growing bigger every day. As they all watched with rapt attention, each one thought of her own child and how one day they would be coaxing him or her . . . or them to suckle.
Aunt Eleanor left the assembled group and headed for the mistress’ study that she often used when she was at Darcy House. She mused that happy as she was, there was no way that she could prevent any of the women from having a miscarriage or being the victim of something much worse. Such things were in hands far more powerful than hers, but once they were sure of their pregnancies, she would do anything and everything that she possibly could to aid them.
Stopping only long enough to ask a footman to inquire if the D’Arcy ladies and Madame Claudine would join her within a half hour if possible, she immediately set to work on scheduling an engagement ball to be held at Matlock House within two weeks.
When the five sisters were all settled in their seats, she dropped her eyes to her lap for a moment before speaking, “I do not know if you are aware yet, but it appears that we will be having a clutch of ‘honeymoon’ babies.”
“Well, we very much suspected Mary and Charlotte,” offered Gabby as she raised her hand and swept it forward to indicate her sisters, “but who of the others is enceinte (pregnant)?”
Aunt Eleanor leaned forward toward her slightly and announced with a mischievous smile, “ALL of them.”
“Oh mon! All?” exclaimed Gabby, placing her hand quickly over her heart in sudden surprise, “Are they certain?”
“No,” answered Aunt Eleanor, moving from her chair to the calendar that was spread over the desk behind her, “it is still very early. But, even if only half prove to truly be increasing, we need to look forward to the time of confinement, which brings me to another reason for your help . . . the engagement ball that I would like to have within two weeks.”
“Engagement ball?” asked the sisters almost in unison, yet each quite surprised.
Aunt Eleanor looked at each of the sisters in turn and, as each one blushed, she knew that her suspicions were being confirmed. “I would suggest that your young men speak with Piers as soon as may be. If we have the engagement ball a few days before we depart for Derbyshire, then we can have the weddings starting directly after the Christmas holidays or in January after the first of the year.”
When none of the ladies spoke, she raised her eyes from the calendar and again looked at each of them intently. “Do you wish to have individual weddings or one or two weddings with multiple brides and grooms? The reason for the inquiry is thus. William and Elizabeth will marry on the ninth day of April, which will be exceedingly close to the conclusion of the seventh month for Charlotte and Mary.”
She went on to explain the arrangements she would make for the confinements to be spent at Pemberley House. When she finished, Gabby asked that she and her sisters have time to consider the news and her proposal before responding.
“Of course, I will await your reply,” stated Aunt Eleanor, as she hugged each one goodbye and told them how much she wished them happiness.
Even before they had all departed, she was suddenly struck with another thought. Smiling to herself, she shifted her mind away from an engagement ball to a wedding breakfast. Within an hour, she had addressed a note to the bishop to obtain the special licenses, along with other notes to reserv
e the church, to every florist in London about flowers, to the butchers and to the fruit and vegetable merchants. Now, the only thing that she needed was confirmation of a pending wedding for the five sisters.
Dinner that night at Darcy House was a very animated affair with all of the Darcy and D’Arcy extended family members attending, as well as the Fitzwilliam, the Bingley, and the Gardiner families, along with Mr. Grove, Mr. Georges, and the three young men courting the three younger D’Arcy sisters.
After dinner the men headed for Darcy’s study and the ladies for the larger sitting room. Aunt Eleanor noticed the somewhat dreamy look on Paulie’s, Bella’s, and Jo’s faces. She slowly made her way to stand beside Gabby and commented with a smile, “Your sisters seem a bit distracted. Something to do with their gentlemen, I presume?”
When Gabby looked away from her sisters and nodded her head, Aunt Eleanor inquired, “Is Mr. Grove very different from Mr. Claudine?”
“Oh yes,” replied Gabby quickly smiling brightly as she sat on one end of a couch and patted the area beside her to wordlessly ask Aunt Eleanor to be seated, “He is. Grant Claudine was not a tender, caring man. Toward the end of the war, he offered my father protection for our family in exchange for my hand. He died protecting us, trying to protect my father. There was not love . . . that I have for Mr. Grove, and I truly believe that he has for me.”
“No wonder that you and Elizabeth are as close as sisters.” Aunt Eleanor looked from Gabby to where Elizabeth sat with the other young ladies clustered around her.
Following the path that Aunt Eleanor’s eyes had taken, Gabby confessed, “True. Some parts of our lives are very similar. That is why I am so very happy for her.”
“As I know that she will be for you,” Aunt Eleanor assured her, then leaned closer and asked, “Will there be an announcement when the men come from William’s study?”
Smiling, Gabby turned to her with eyes that were starting to sparkle with unshed tears and simply whispered, “I truly hope so.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the gentlemen entered, and Darcy held his hands in the air. “May I have your attention for a moment? My cousin has an announcement to make.”
Lifting his chin, eyes bright, Piers laughingly began. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Honorable Mr. Henry Grove has asked for the hand of my cousin Madame Gabriella Claudine; the Honorable Mr. Gerald Georges has asked for the hand of my cousin Linette; the Honorable Mr. Dudley Folkes has asked for the hand of my cousin Pauline; Lord Jacob Tillman, Viscount Pinewood, has asked for the hand of my cousin Arabella; and the Honorable Mr. Lawrence Lively has asked for the hand of my cousin Josephine.”
Immediately, a rush of hugging and cheek-kissing ensued, and then Aunt Eleanor held her hand into the air as she calmly cleared her throat to gain their attention. “Just as Piers had an announcement, I have been authorized to make an announcement as well. As our family is to increase by five wonderful gentlemen, our family is also expanding with the pending addition of two Fitzwilliams, a Fleming, a Denny, a D’Arcy, and a Bingley.”
Whoops of joy and heartfelt cheers of congratulations and best wishes filled Darcy House for the second time in a span of mere minutes. After everyone had again hugged everyone else, Mr. Grove approached Aunt Eleanor. “Lady Matlock,” he commented looking to where his betrothed sat with her sisters as they rose to come to him, “Gabby told me that you wish to have an engagement ball within two weeks.”
“I have considered that,” she nodded, smiling to him as she waited patiently for what he was going to say next.
“Might I suggest a wedding breakfast instead?” asked Mr. Grove.
Placing her hand on his forearm, “Mr. Grove,” responded Aunt Eleanor, “I can think of nothing I would like more. May I assume that all of you wish to marry in the same ceremony?”
As they all nodded their heads, she looked at each of them in turn before she spoke. “I have sent a note to reserve the church for Monday after next and have started the process for the special licenses. I have also contacted various florists, butchers and fruit and vegetable merchants. Monday after next only gives us twelve days. Will your wedding gowns be ready in time?”
“Aunt Eleanor,” gasped Gabby, “I do not know why we are continually surprised by you.”
She hugged Gabby closely to her, “And, I do not know why we are continually surprised by all of you.”
Swiftly, all of the ladies agreed to meet with Aunt Eleanor the following morning to coordinate their activities over the next eleven days, starting with the invitations for the wedding, which would need to go out immediately by express riders.
As the excitement in the sitting room continued, Darcy quietly invited Nathan and his parents to join him in his study. With a look of concern, Nathan asked, “Your Grace, Mr. Darcy, have I done something to offend you?”
“No, not at all, Nathan,” Darcy insisted. “I have something that I would like to discuss with your parents that will affect you. That is all.”
Once Nathan and his parents were comfortably seated before the fireplace, Darcy began: “Uncle Edward, Aunt Lilly, I wanted to speak to you about Nathan’s education. I know that he is scheduled to continue at Eton after the first of the year.”
“Yes, that is what is scheduled,” confessed Uncle Edward unsure of where this conversation would be going. “What do you have in mind?”
“An alternative,” stated Darcy, casually examining the crease of his trousers.
Looking at Nathan as Aunt Lilly and Uncle Edward exchanged curious glances, he continued: “Nathan, over the past six months or so, you have worked closely with me and Piers as we discussed various areas of estate management, from crop projections and rotation, to breeding and livestock management, to marketing the crops, livestock, wool and timber. You also reviewed some of the investments that were brought to my attention alongside Mr. Grove and made suggestions as to their worthiness and the reasoning for your conclusions.”
As Nathan blushed, both of his parents beamed with pride.
“Uncle Edward,” continued Darcy while his gaze still rested on the young man, “I see no value in having Nathan waste his time for another year at Eton, when in my estimation he is truly far beyond their level of teaching ability in most areas.”
Very surprised, Aunt Lilly grasped her husband’s hand as she asked, “William, what is it that you are suggesting?”
“An educational ‘apprenticeship’ of sorts,” replied Darcy finally turning to look at them, as he uncrossed and then re-crossed his legs. “For the next year before he goes to Cambridge or Oxford if he should so choose, I would like for him to work directly with Elizabeth and me, Mr. Grove and Mr. Fleming, as well as with you, Uncle Edward, and Mr. Bingley regarding investment and finance. I will have masters come to him either at Pemberley or here at Darcy House or at your home on Gracechurch Street to assist in whatever areas he may need instruction and that we are not collectively able to address.
“Nathan,” he pressed on again, looking squarely at the young man, “the investment recommendations that you and Mr. Grove made were followed closely. The majority of the investments that you did NOT recommend failed within the first few months, while the rest have returned only minimal results at best. The majority of those that you did recommend will most likely double by the end of the year. A couple of them have already doubled, and one has even tripled within the last few months.”
Smiling, he ran his hand back and forth along the chain attached to his watch fob and concluded, “Apparently you and your cousin Elizabeth are of a similar mind.”
“Your Grace,” Nathan practically beamed as he leaned forward from his seat, “I consider that a very high compliment.”
“This ‘apprenticeship’ will not be easy,” Darcy warned. “Is this something that interests you, when you know you will have to work with masters for additional studies as well as those who will be schooling you with their knowledge of finance and investing?”
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bsp; Nathan’s smile spread from ear to ear, “Yes. Yes, I do so want the opportunity that you have presented.”
“Excellent. Now, go ahead and return to the sitting room,” implored Darcy, dismissing him with a smile and a wave of his hand. “I would like to speak with your parents.”
Nathan walked to where Darcy sat and shook his hand before bowing and leaving the room. When he had closed the door behind him, his father spoke seriously, “Darcy, you honor us with your request for Nathan. I must tell you that he has been investing his allowance for quite a while. Right now his personal investments are worth almost £7,000.”
“That is very good.” Darcy leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin. “Actually, this information is better than I expected. When Mr. Grove and I reviewed the investments that Nathan recommended and made the final decision to invest, I awarded one percent, totaling £2,000, of the initial monetary investment to Nathan. Currently, his return equals the amount of the original investment that was awarded him.
