AN: First, thank you so much for the reviews! I'm writing this because I love the book and the characters and because I want to write, but it makes it all SO much better when there are people who actually want to read what I'm writing. And such readers! You know your stuff - thanks for keeping me on my toes. This is really fun.
This is set 10 years after the original, which means Lizzy is 30, Georgiana is 26, Darcy is 38, and Jane is presumably 32. P&P doesn't specify the year that it takes place, but I decided 1802. The Battle of Salamanca took place in 1812. Lizzy only has one child for a number of reasons, one of which will be in the plot. But she and Richard couldn't marry right away because he didn't have the money. Back in those days, though, officers got rich when they went on campaign, so that's how I imagine he made his fortune - I figured it took him about 3 years. A long engagement, but she was willing to wait for him. He was also gone on several campaigns, so that's another reason there's only one child. Darcy does not have an heir - he only has daughters - so that is, indeed, a problem. And though Austen didn't show people getting truly sick and dying all that often, mortality rates, especially for children, were pretty high, so I figured it would be realistic.
I'm trying more or less to write in the style of the time and with historical accuracy, but it will be a 21st century version of 19th century English! And I will be introducing a new, major character who is a real historical figure, something it surely wasn't safe for Austen herself to do at the time. Apologies up front that I am going to play with the historical character's timeline, so I'm going to take some liberties with the past :)
And I won't always get new material out this fast, but I do have a complete story arc in mind...
The child awoke first, rubbing his eyes with his chubby fists. He looked around the coach, remembering where he was. As awareness dawned, the boy quickly looked about him on the seat, panic setting in.
"Thomas," Darcy said softly, knowing what the child was looking for, "it is there." He pointed to where the boat had fallen on the floor. The child smiled and snatched it up.
"Come sit here beside me," Darcy said, "and we will tell a story about your boat and all the oceans she has traveled – just as you have traveled."
Thomas looked at his uncle timidly and stayed in his seat, for he had spent much of his young life alone with his mother and nurse and was unaccustomed to strangers.
"Has it really gone far, Uncle?' he asked.
"Indeed," Darcy said, nodding emphatically. "She just returned from far off India, where she took on a cargo of silks and spices. But the Captain nearly lost his life to a tiger when they first arrived at the port…" The boy promptly moved to the seat next to him, eyes sparkling.
"A tiger, Uncle Darcy?" he exclaimed. "Truly?"
"Truly," Darcy assured him. The child looked very like his father, sandy-haired and tall for his age, but his eyes seemed almost lifted off his mother's face. They were large, dark, and expressive, framed by long lashes and shapely brows. He was a comely child whose aspect promised he would become a handsome man.
Some time later, Elizabeth became restless in her sleep. Darcy watched her with concern, though the child was quick to tug on his sleeve if he became too distracted from his narrative about the Sultan of Mysore. So they were both startled when Elizabeth cried out, "No! No! Richard! Richard!"
Darcy glanced at the child, who was clearly frightened. "It is fine, Thomas," he said hurriedly, "It is only a dream." Thomas nodded gravely, noting, "Mother dreams all night." Darcy patted the child absently as he watched Elizabeth, who was thrashing her head about on the seat.
"Richard!" She cried again.
Darcy moved to the cushions next to her. "Elizabeth," he said, leaning towards her. "Elizabeth, wake up now. You are having a nightmare." She continued to gasp, and tears were falling from the corners of her eyes.
"Lizzy," he said, somewhat louder. "Wake up, dear one. You are safe now." She opened her eyes suddenly, and covered her face with her hands, shuddering. She looked at Darcy through shaking fingers.
"I am so sorry," she choked. "Oh Fitzwilliam," she whispered brokenly, "it was so awful. It haunts me." She saw her white-faced child and visibly struggled to gain control over her emotions. Darcy struggled as well, stroking her hand gently, but finally could restrain himself no further and took her in his arms.
"Tell me, cousin," he said carefully. "Perhaps it will help you."
Elizabeth took a deep breath, sitting up straight and dabbing her eyes with the handkerchief from her sleeve. Darcy let his arms fall from her sharply, as though he had touched flame, though she did not seem fully aware that he had embraced her.
"I cannot," she said inclining her head in the direction of the child. "It is not something he needs to hear."
"Later, then," he agreed soothingly. She nodded.
"Come, Thomas," Elizabeth held her arms out to him. "I am well. Come and kiss me."
Darcy moved back to the seat across the coach and watched her hold her child, who proceeded to tell her with much excitement about the Sultan and the tiger. "And how came you by this tale?" Elizabeth asked, smiling at him.
"Uncle told me! He told me about my ship!" the boy said proudly.
Elizabeth's eyebrows rose up as she looked at Darcy. She knew him to be an educated and well-read man, with a generosity of spirit, but she had always thought of him as rather too reserved to tell such a story, let alone to a three year old.
"I have had much practice of late," he said, correctly reading her expression. "There are many nights when Phebe refuses to sleep unless I tell her some new tale, and each must be more daring than the last."
Soon, the carriage came to a stop. "We shall rest here for the night," Darcy said. "It is a pleasant inn, and the food is good. We can be away early in the morning and arrive at Netherfield in the afternoon, if that is agreeable?"
Elizabeth nodded, dabbing at her eyes again with the cloth. "Very agreeable, thank you."
