Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth

by Greer Boyd

  As soon as it was made, she passed the cup to Aunt Eleanor, “Lady Eleanor, she needs to drink as much from the cup as possible. If needed, in the next hour, I will make another cup for her and continue to do so. But I dare not use more than six cups in one day.”

  For the next two hours, Mrs. Jolly and Dr. Crawford, Elizabeth and Mrs. Reynolds, and Aunt Eleanor and Aunt Lilly took turns gently massaging Rebecca’s stomach. After more than three hours, their efforts along with Mrs. Reynolds’ tea, seemed to have been successful, as the flow became no more than what was normal after childbirth.

  Georgiana had remained seated in the chair in the room long after the babies had been taken from her arms and given to the wet nurse to be bathed and wrapped in fresh new blankets. She had only left her place once to refresh herself and take a few sips of tea.

  After so much blood loss, Rebecca was extremely weak. But, having consumed so much tea, she needed to relieve herself very badly. As the maid brought the chamber pot to her instead of her going to it, Stanley leapt from the chair to aid his wife, feeling that he was finally going to be allowed to be of service to her.

  As he continued solicitously to assist his wife, several maids and Mrs. Reynolds took the opportunity to clean and bathe her, dress her in a fresh nightgown and robe, then replace the linens on the bed. Looking around her, she asked, “Where are the babies?” Then almost in a panic, “Stan, I do not even know what they are. Do you?”

  Clutching her hand tightly, he looked into her face as he replied, “No, my love, I do not. Forgive me, but I was more concerned with you, since they were already in good hands.”

  Georgiana moved from her chair to lay her hand over where theirs were clasped together on the bed. “Boys,” she nearly whispered, “beautiful little boys: the eldest one has hair as dark as night, and the other the colour of summer wheat.”

  The maid brought the babies to the bed, handing the heir to Stanley and the younger brother to Rebecca. Tears streaming down her face, Rebecca solemnly whispered, “Hello, Justin Stanley Piers Fleming. May I introduce you to your older brother, Phillip William Liam Fleming?”

  On June 12, 1820, the fourth set of twins joined the family.

  Mrs. Reynolds had Georgiana take Justin as she pressed a cup of thick chicken broth into Rebecca’s hands. “Lady Rebecca, you need to regain your strength quickly. You are going to be remaining in bed for the next week at least and not allowed to get up without assistance for any reason, but you will still need to take care of these two. Mrs. Holley will be here in two days, and we will all help until that time.”

  As Rebecca finished the cup of broth, the babies began to whimper. Since Phillip was closer, Stanley helped her hold him as she urged him to suckle. It was only a moment before he was happily humming as only a newborn can do. When he had finally dozed off after nursing for nearly a quarter hour, Stanley passed the sleeping infant to Mrs. Reynolds, and Georgiana handed him Justin to pass to Rebecca. He began to drink immediately and continued until both mother and child drifted into sleep.

  Elizabeth followed behind Mrs. Reynolds and the maid as they carried the infants to the nursery and placed them in their cradle: one at each end, but with their tiny heads close together.

  Darcy returned to the door of the Flemings’ bedchamber and had raised his hand to knock just as the maid was being dismissed. As he glanced through the doorway, he saw Stanley as he lay down on top of the duvet beside his wife placing his hand over hers where it lay on her stomach. Pulling the door shut quietly, he realized that he needed the comforting presence of his own wife. And, he thought he knew just where to look for her. He turned and walked up the stairs to the nursery wing.

  When he looked through the open door to the nursery, he saw Elizabeth run her hand over the foot of each of the occupied cradles and then bow her head as though in prayer. “Oh my Lizzy,” he whispered softly, “you are always looking out for everyone else. How much I love you for that.”

  Not seeing him but immediately sensing his presence, she slowly raised her head and turned dark eyes sparkling with unshed tears toward the open nursery door. Darcy calmly walked toward her until he could wrap her protectively in his arms, then he lifted her gently and carried her to their bedchamber.

  CHAPTER 23

  The next morning things were pretty much back to normal for the young adults. Since none of them would be returning home for most of the year, Aunt Eleanor, Elizabeth, and Darcy had devised a program of study so they would miss no educational opportunities.

  The young men followed Darcy, as he instructed Piers and Richard in estate management, while Elizabeth and Aunt Eleanor instructed the young women in household management. Darcy and Elizabeth, along with Mr. Grove and Mr. Georges and Uncle Edward (when either one or all were in residence), instructed Nathan on investing and finance, often finding Clarissa and Annabel attending the instruction as well. As the quarterly reports of all of the investments were reviewed, Nathan’s sense for investing wisely continued to grow, as did the returns on those investments. Daniel continued to leave his personal monies with Nathan to invest. Then, Annabel and Clarissa handed their allowances to him as well. In each case, Nathan took them to talk with Elizabeth, Darcy, Aunt Eleanor, and Uncle Gardiner before he accepted any of their money.

  The D’Arcy family instructed them in written and spoken French. Elizabeth assisted with the other languages. Piers and Georgiana instructed the young women on the pianoforte and how to play and sing at the same time. Darcy, David, and Richard taught the young men how to fence and shoot, and they were quite surprised when Annabel and Clarissa almost demanded to be instructed as well.

  Gabby, Paulie, and Bella taught the young women the finer points of needlework and sewing, while Lin and Jo taught them all how to manage a kitchen and the basics of how to cook.

  Aunt Eleanor continued her lessons in social graces, from the proper way to serve tea to the different curtsies afforded those of various ranks. Most of all, she taught them how to recognize and avoid the pitfalls and traps often found in various social settings.

  Mr. Quartermain instructed all of them in the finer points needed to recognize quality horse flesh, and, more important, how to take care of it. That instruction included a few weeks of mucking out stalls, brushing and grooming horses, and maintaining saddles and other tack. Darcy, Richard, and David instructed them on the finer points of riding, especially to the hunt.

  All of the young people were encouraged to review as many of the books of history and geography contained within the Pemberley House library as they desired.

  They were also encouraged to read liberally the works of the masters from Shakespeare to Donne to Blake to Wordsworth, and even an occasional novel.

  Daniel found several books in the library that dealt with healing plants and herbs, and he spent as much time as he possibly could with Mrs. Reynolds learning how to use them and where to locate them in the wild.

  ∞∞∞

  Rebecca had been confined to bed and still remained very weak and pale. On the morning of the fifth day of confinement, Dr. Crawford met with Mr. Fleming just outside of her bedchamber after he had finished his examination.

  “I must be quite honest with you Mr. Fleming. I am greatly concerned about Lady Rebecca.”

  “I am as well. She does not seem to be regaining her strength.” Stan looked at the doctor with pain clearly evident in his eyes. “She is still so pale, and Elizabeth just informed me that she is no longer able to nurse the babies.”

  Placing his hand on the younger man’s shoulder, the physician looked intently into his face. “Mr. Fleming, you must prepare yourself. I am not hopeful for her recovery.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. I will inform Piers and Maryann.” Leaving the doctor standing in the hallway, Stan slowly walked to the stairs, but then he suddenly turned and headed to the nursery, almost as if he had been drawn there. Surprisingly, when he gently knocked on the door, there was no one there to respond. He pushed the door open and slowly
walked to the cradle where his sons lay head to head deep in sleep.

  As he ran his finger down the soft cheek of each child, he remembered the first time he saw their mother. It was on the ship as she sailed from France to England. Standing on the deck beside her sister, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever beheld. When she had finally looked back at him, he could tell that she was as affected as he. “How could anyone fall in love so quickly?” Sighing quietly to himself, he grasped the foot of the cradle firmly to help stay upright. “How can I do this without her? What life will my sons have?”

  On a raggedly inhaled breath, his decision was made. He turned from the cradle and left the nursery, closing the door softly behind him to walk down the stairs to the first floor sitting room. Maryann rushed to him when she saw his face. “Stan, is something wrong?” When he did not answer immediately, but simply looked into her face, she grasped his hand and placed her bowed head against his chest as she started to sob.

  Piers leapt from his seat on the couch beside Georgiana and came to his sister’s side. In a low voice, Stanley notified them, “The doctor asked that I prepare myself.” By now everyone in the room realized what he had said. “I pray that he is incorrect, but she is so very weak.”

  Gently taking Maryann by the shoulders, he directed her to Piers, left the room, and headed back up the stairs to Rebecca.

  He sat beside her bed holding her hand and telling her of his love for her, while Maryann held her other hand and sobbed softly until she had no more tears to shed. Piers and Georgiana sat quietly, offering support not only for Rebecca, but for Stan and Maryann. Gabby and her sisters occupied chairs that were placed just outside the bedchamber door. Each of them and every other member of the extended family came to the bedchamber throughout the day to lend their support and whatever little comfort they could.

  Shortly after midnight, they heard Maryann’s wail and, as Stan opened the door with tears streaming down his face, they knew that Rebecca was dead. Elizabeth rushed to him quickly, with Darcy only steps behind. The sisters began to cry. They rose from their seats and pressed their hands to his arm in turn, as they passed by him and went to Maryann and Piers.

  Darcy took it upon himself to make arrangements for the burial of his cousin. Although the estate of Caenvista was centuries old and had been inhabited by servants since the fifteenth century, there had been no “master” until Piers and his family had claimed their inheritance. This was the first time that there had been a need for a “family” cemetery at that estate.

  On June 18, 1820, Dr. Crawford made confirmation of the date and time of Rebecca’s death and gave a copy of the record to Mr. Grove. Darcy sent an express to the rector of the parish church in Kympton, asking him to preside over the funeral service to take place three days hence. He also sent an express to Mr. and Mrs. Gray, so that they could make the necessary arrangements at Caenvista. He suggested a site on the small hillside overlooking both the waterfall and Caenvista House as Rebecca’s final resting place, and Piers readily agreed.

  As Rebecca’s body was being prepared and before the coffin lid was nailed into place, Maryann entered the room to say a tearful goodbye to her older sister. Denny had been consistently by her side throughout the entire ordeal. Leaning heavily against his side as they left the room and walked down the corridor, she suddenly slumped against him with a sharp cry of pain as her water broke.

  Elizabeth was exiting Rebecca’s bedchamber when she heard Maryann’s cry. She swiftly walked to the couple and urged Denny, “Take her to her bedchamber. I will notify the doctor and midwife.”

  Turning from him, she asked the nearest footman to locate Mrs. Reynolds and the midwife while she sought the doctor. Finding him in the sitting room, Elizabeth explained about Maryann. Piers and Georgiana, and Aunt Eleanor and Aunt Lilly were up the stairs almost on the heels of the doctor as Darcy gently folded her in a tight embrace. He knew instinctively what she was thinking. “How would she survive should anything happen to him?” For his part, he was not at all sure he would survive at all should anything happen to her.

  Moments later Stanley walked into the sitting room. “William, Lizzy, Gabby. May I speak with you for a moment?”

  “Of course, Stan, any time,” Elizabeth responded warmly. Almost overcome with grief, it was a few moments before he could continue, “I would like for you and William to be godparents for my sons.”

  “Stan, we would consider it an honor,” replied Darcy.

  Turning to face Gabby, he looked intently into her eyes. Before he could say anything, she offered as though able to read his mind, “Stan, you do not even have to ask. Henry and I will be glad to look out for your sons to any degree that you may wish for as long as you want us to: as will Lin and Gerald, and Lizzy and William. I can assure you that Piers and Georgiana will want to help as well. In fact, they will most likely insist upon it. You know that Henry is in London right now but he is scheduled to be here week after next. He can work out whatever legal arrangements that you wish to make. Perhaps you will see him in town before he leaves to come to Pemberley?”

  “Perhaps,” he almost whispered as he ran his hand wearily through his hair. “I intend to leave for London immediately after the funeral service.” Raising his eyes now filled with tears to look at them, he confessed, “They are my family, but I am not prepared to take care of them by myself right now.”

  “Stan,” Elizabeth proclaimed grasping his hands and squeezing gently, “we are all your family now. You do what you need to do and do not worry about your boys. We will all take care of them until you are ready.”

  Meanwhile, Maryann labored throughout the remainder of the day and night, and by mid-morning on June 19, 1820, she delivered a beautiful little girl, Miss Rebecca Elizabeth Eleanor Denny. The lusty cries of the newborn filled everyone’s hearts with hope and helped to mitigate the sadness that gripped their hearts at the loss of her aunt.

  True to his word, Stanley Fleming left Pemberley for London the afternoon of the day Rebecca was buried in the new cemetery at Caenvista.

  Humor slowly returned to Pemberley House.

  ∞∞∞

  Both the modiste and the confectionary shops in Lambton proved to be even more successful than Nathan had anticipated when he first broached the idea with Gabby and Lin. After the shops had been open for only a few months, it was learned that many women were coming into Lambton from the northernmost corners of England, and even Scotland, to have their clothing needs met by Madame Claudine’s Lambton Modiste. This proved to be an unforeseen boon for the other Lambton merchants, as well, since the visitors most often needed lodging for a day or two while measurements were being taken, and fabric and clothing selections made. Business owners started displaying more of their wares in the front windows of their shops so that the visitors’ interest might be piqued as they took their daily walks or rode through the village during their stay.

  The local jewelry-maker, who had designed and made the myriad of tiny bracelets for the infants at Pemberley House, arranged to meet with Gabby and Nathan regarding a business proposal. He asked if he might leave a small display of simple, but beautifully made, jewelry in the modiste to be shown as complementary pieces to match the high quality dresses that were being made. He offered to pay them ten percent of the purchase price for any merchandise that was sold from their shop. When Gabby voiced her lack of expertise and knowledge of fine jewelry, the jewelry-maker offered his daughter to oversee the display and answer any questions.

  Jane was in the sitting room reading when Gabby and Nathan came back from Lambton with the news of the arrangement that had been made with the jewelry-maker, and five large boxes of confections from the shop in Lambton: four boxes for the staff, servants, and wet nurses, and the other for the family.

  Gabby turned to the footman. “Please request a fresh tea service be brought to the sitting room if you will,” she instructed, as she handed him the boxes of confection to be taken to the kitchen.

 
Carefully taking the boxes, he smiled, “Right away, My Lady.” Jane placed one hand on the lower portion of her back as she reached for one of her favourite confections. “I think she wants to come today.”

  Gabby’s eyebrows shot up instantly: “She . . . not he?”

  As Jane continued to rub her hand down over her back, she smiled at Gabby, “I think it will be a girl. I have truly thought so from the very beginning, but of course no one can know for sure until she is born.”

  As the tea service arrived, Gabby prepared a cup and walked over to hand it to Jane so she would not have to strain herself. “I hope mon bébé is a son for Henry. He would love a little girl just as well, but I would so dearly love to give him a son.”

  “I know how you feel. Charles wanted a boy so badly, since he has only two sisters. They are married and live in London. We do not see them very often.” The expression in Jane’s eyes was all the explanation Gabby needed.

  As Jane finished her tea and placed the cup on the small table beside her chair, she struggled to stand up. Gabby began to giggle as she waddled over to assist her to her feet. Walking arm in arm with her to the door, she requested two footmen to lead Jane up the stairs, and she followed behind them accompanied by footmen as well. Thanking the men as they turned to head back down the steps, she stated cheerfully, “Please locate Lady Elizabeth and then the doctor. There is no urgency. We do not want to alarm anyone.”