Author's Note: I own nothing of Jane Austen's characters or settings etc. Please remember that there are links to the houses of the secondary characters in this Fanfiction just to aid you visually.

Please enjoy this one – only one more after this cause It feels like I've lost it a bit; at the start there was always a theme to each chapter and I don't think there is anymore. Plus I want to weave in more of Lady Catherine/Hurst/London/Fitzwilliam families and I think that might take a while. Bear in mind I have NOT given this up at all and I will be writing other P&P stories in the meantime.

I welcome all comments however trivial you think they might be. Enjoy! xxx

Frustration

Turned and Tossed and Stretched

Wednesday 25th December 1816

7pm

Whatever company was kept in whichever house, one could always be sure that at Christmas, pleasure and happiness were secured. When the company included one's sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers and sons and daughters, such pleasures was increased tenfold. At Beningbrough, therefore, the duty of hosting took on a much more agreeable feature for Mr and Mrs Bingley, when it should have been much more difficult due to the delay in the arrival of the Bingley's second child and the consequent discomfort this provided for the Lady.

However, her guests were her family who did not allow her to stand on any ceremony with them, and in fact, with their small party the festivities were some of the best they had experienced for some time. In the dining room of that great house, as well as the host family and their daughter, were Mr and Mrs Darcy, Master Darcy and Miss Darcy, Mr and Mrs Bennet and their two remaining daughters, Kitty and Mary. Each took delight in observing how festive the house looked; windows each held several candles and wreaths, holly and ivy was hung from many mantelpieces and Christmas garlands were draped beautifully all over the house.

The young children were delighted at being allowed to stay up so late, though Christiana was not as aware of this as her cousin. Bennet was determined not to miss a moment and he watched everyone with as keen an eye as Lizzy had ever seen in an infant. They sat in their chairs, Bennet's belt now as loose as possible due to his age, and nibbled on the food their mothers would cut for them.

The mahogany table was filled with every culinary Christmas delight one might ever have imagined. The jams, jellies, sauces, roasts, marinades, vegetables, salads, dressings and stews were laid out for dinner and the only addition was the turkey, the anticipation of which was voiced by every guest.

The fish course was served; a small dish to whet the appetite, and Georgiana was reminded of Christmases past. "Jane, I believe the last time we had Christmas dinner by your own hand was when we travelled to Netherfield." Georgiana lifted her napkin and placed it on her lap. "And as I recall, there was a little furore over Elizabeth's condition at the time." Her voice grew quiet as she alluded to the sensitive, though partially amusing tale.

Lizzy sighed and rolled her eyes. "Really, to still be mentioning now, Georgiana, it was not such an occasion as you make it sound." Darcy laughed into his wine and was forced to cough violently. "Excuse me, Mr Darcy. I do believe I was perfectly alright, and it was in an effort to tiptoe around my husband's feelings that caused everyone else to think it such a tension on us."

Darcy sliced a portion of his fish and shook his head at her. "Yes, well you certainly would not be travelling to Netherfield now." Elizabeth replied haughtily that she did not wish to go anywhere that he was not and kissed his cheek.

"Perhaps Lizzy is right. Perhaps it is all to do with your perception." Jane nodded in support of her sister. "I certainly had to fight to come downstairs this evening." She made a subtle gesture to her husband who also sighed.

"Jane, I was concerned with your safety."

Mrs Bingley kept her eyes lowered, taking some sauce onto her plate. "Yes, well. Let us all hope this baby is a boy, lest the house should be full of women over whom Charles is superbly overprotective."

The guests chuckled when they turned to see Mr Bingley fixing his daughter's position in her chair. They knew full well that this was the truth, though they jested. "Nonsense," Mrs Bennet chimed in, pouring her husband a coffee, "Longbourn was full of women for many years and your father was not the least bit protective of you."

Mr Bennet feigned insult and said in a sarcastic tone: "Oh, you flatter me, my dear. I am so glad that my fathering has had so little of an effect on my children." Both Lizzy and Jane vehemently protested at their mother's words, defending Mr Bennet and saying that though he may not have been all around them all the time, he made sure they knew themselves well enough.

"I remember one evening Papa," said Lizzy, addressing her family, "when Charles and Fitzwilliam had only just arrived and we had met them at the Meryton Assembly Rooms. Mama was highly vexed by Mr Darcy having slighted me, and you yourself were none too pleased. So you see, Mama, our father was a very great one."

Mr Bennet smiled appreciatively. "If only I could have imparted similar teachings to your youngest sister. How is Lydia?"

The party looked to Kitty, as she had been the chief recipient of Lydia's letters ever since she had been married, though when Jane and Lizzy became betrothed, a fair share had been passed to them, but the lady said nothing had been sent to her for a month. A highly unusual situation in itself, it would have been less so if Elizabeth had not received a letter only this morning in her stocking from Mrs Wickham with some rather startling news. "As a matter of fact," Lizzy said quietly, producing the letter, "I have had a letter from her."

"Well, Lizzy," piped up Mr Bennet, "do not stand on ceremony here, unless there is something rather important within it, which I doubt, knowing Lydia it will all be arbitrary society news." This was said in amusement, but when Lizzy did not laugh and the silence was soon observed, Mr Bennet asked whether there was any earnest news.

Darcy leaned over and placed his hand over hers, "Lizzy?"

The Lady shook off his concern. "It is not bad, certainly not. It is very, very good. Only the fact that she has not told us before that makes it a surprising piece." She folded it out, and flipped through many pages to the passage of import. "Here, you see, she does write on many insignificant matters, but eventually speaks of her children-"

"Oh!" Mrs Bennet exclaimed. "How are the young things? I must say they have grown to quite some size. When I last-"

"Mama," Mrs Bennet remembered herself and allowed her second-eldest to speak, "she does write about her boys, who apparently have grown very well as you say, Mama. She speaks of your visit, Madam, and then says 'since I have observed my mother dealing so well with all three of my troublesome soldiers, I decided I must thank her in some way. The choice of what to do in her honour was decided for me when my daughter was born; I named her Fanny.'"

One could almost feel the audible hush that reverberated around the table. It had not been known that Mrs Wickham had had more children or even that she was with child. Lizzy saw her father's face cloud over, and she was immensely disappointed in herself for not retaining the letter for his eyes later.

Jane felt that she must break the quiet that seemed to hang on them all. As a woman who had many experiences with a family who could be embarrassing, Jane knew that whatever was said next would determine the predominant mood for the rest of the evening. "I think that is wonderful news. We Bennet girls seem to have an affinity for bearing children at the same time."

Lizzy smiled in relief and reminded herself to thank her sister. "Indeed, Jane is quite right. This is an honour for you, Mama. Perhaps later you might like to put in a few words in my reply?" Mrs Bennet said that she would, but Lizzy felt her mother was not as happy as she always seemed upon hearing of her favourite daughter.

Feeling as though they were in danger of falling into an oppressive silence yet again, Darcy said: "Perhaps we should raise a glass to her then," he did so, and the company followed suit, Ben picking up his wooden cup too, "to Lydia, her daughter Fanny and her sons. May they have a wonderful Christmas."

The hope was repeated around the table. "Thank you, William." Lizzy smiled admiringly at her husband and then turned to her son who was asking for more of her fish.

Darcy watched as Lizzy spoke to Bennet, carefully moving food from her plate to his and teaching him how to eat properly. He saw Mr Bennet help his granddaughter drink without spilling her water and while he knew himself to be grateful for their presence, he felt very jealous. Jealous of the fact that his wife could call out 'Mama' and have an answer and jealous that he could not see his parents and their delight in taking care of their grandchildren. Darcy missed his parents; he knew they would have been overbearing with Bennet and sometimes disruptive, but he was sad that they could not have seen what he had become.

The gentleman's musings were interrupted when the servants returned to remove the finished dish. Such an action only meant that the Turkey was about to be brought in, and Bennet, having been told what would happen that evening, began to bang his fork repeatedly on the table.

"Tuck-ay! Tuck-ay! Tuck-ay!"

"Bennet, Bennet!" Lizzy held his hand down with her palm and Bennet spoke more quietly, until his mother's words and his father's warning look silenced him altogether. "Thank you."

Jane smiled at her nephew's wild nature and thought of how much he reminded her of Lizzy. "Now I did want to mention to you all an idea Lizzy and I had about the christenings."

"Indeed? I did not think much planning would now be required, you both can organise that day very well."

"It is not to do with planning Mama," Lizzy said calmly, "we were only thinking that since we shall likely have our children at the same time we might hold the event at home, on one day."

Bingley nodded, but was not convinced this was a pressing matter. "It need not be decided now, though it is a good consideration. The church ceremony is important to me."

"Oh yes, quite." Lizzy replied, hoping to dissipate feelings of his which she perceived arose from his being excluded from this decision. "It is only that with a ceremony at home we may invite family and so we need not worry about being entirely presentable for society and we thought it would be more easily organised."

Bingley looked thoughtful, but Darcy considered his point a fair one; the suggestion was just that and he knew essentially that he and Lizzy would decide for their baby and Bingley and Jane would do the same for their child. "Well, whatever happens to occur, perhaps we should invite some friends from London we have not seen in some time." Lizzy nodded in agreement, and some names of import ran through her mind. "You might consider . . . the Carters at Charlecote?"

Lizzy heard out of the corner of her ears, Georgiana dropping her cutlery in surprise and the gentle clinking as she tried to recover. "Certainly, they have always been good company." Elizabeth and Georgiana knew that Kitty had taken over conversation about Miss Carter's accomplishments and her efforts to pass them on to her when they were at Beningbrough, but all the former knew was that the latter smiled at her brother with a gratitude that Elizabeth had once seen in him, too.

Jane then saw the butler standing proudly at the doors flanked by two other young men carrying tall candles. His entrance stopped all conversation, and in his hands was a perfectly roasted bird which glistened tantalisingly in the soft candlelight and rested on a silver platter, surrounded by roasted seasonings. The men walked slowly towards the table and were followed closely by the gazes of the diners. Upon reaching the head, the eldest man placed in front of Mr Bingley, handed him the carving knife and was asked to leave. The younger men placed their candles on the table on either side of the bird and followed the butler.

"Bingley, it is a fine bird!" Darcy exclaimed; he loved a good roast. The gentleman thanked him and began to carve the bird that would so perfectly continue their Christmas Day.

Monday 30th December 1816

6.15pm

Though Lizzy herself looked just as ready to give birth as her sister, according to the final words of their trusted midwife Mrs Ian-Jones she was still only seven months gone, and so was not in any danger at that time. Darcy had looked warily at his wife at this declaration from the woman, frightened of seeing a knowing expression on Lizzy's face that would tell him she was in fact in some danger. But her face had been full of understanding and in accordance with the midwife and so Darcy's spirit was settled. Consequently, it was thought quite respectable to send Miss Christiana Bingley to her Aunt and Uncle Darcy's house whilst her own mother was in her confinement.

"Respectable it may have been," Lizzy thought whilst she furiously tried to embroider a trim on an infant gown whose sleeve was much smaller than she was used to, "but no-one seems to have taken into consideration that I now have two infants to care for whilst I carry my own." She threw down the gown in frustration; she had not attempted embroidery with Bennet because she knew that her annoyance with the task would drive her to distraction, but this was one of those rare moments in which she found herself without a wailing babe or a fussing niece or an incessant backache. So, she had taken up embroidering new shifts for her babies, but was careful to conceal from her husband that she had sewn two gowns.

Inevitably, frustration caught up with her, but she decided not to push her sanity further by continuing and peered over her swollen belly at her son and her niece. Bennet was stacking coloured wooden blocks and knocking them down with a gleeful squeal whilst his cousin banged on rattles and tore scrap paper much to her delight. It was not quiet or serene by any feat of the imagination, but it was wonderful for Lizzy to sit in her heavenly Nursery and think of the days when she thought such fine things would never be daily used by her.

She loved to watch Darcy arranging and rearranging her pin money and her account for the children. When she had first told him she was carrying their son, he had slapped her accounts with more money and she had been furious. Originally she had intended to storm his office and demand why he thought that was the manner in which to gift her for bearing a child, but marriage to Darcy had taught her that he was not so superficial.

The money was not just for her amusement as most women would have assumed, but much of it was for the room in which she now sat, and since then he had added more and more to her account. With each addition, she put finances away to fund her children as they grew because she knew that when they were young and unaware you could afford to give them as much or as little as you wanted. But their adolescence would prove the fashionable years, even for their son, who would strive to impress every young lady he met, and even though she knew there was not a single one who would be good enough for Bennet, Lizzy at least wanted their eyes to be drawn to him in yearning.

She laughed at this thought and wondered if Lady Darcy watched her from heaven and thought she did not deserve Darcy. Lizzy recalled her husband's answer when she had put the question to him; he had said that she dearly would have loved her daughter-in-law when she saw how much her son adored her.

Her laugh caught Bennet's attention. "Mamma? Baby here?"

He had begun to ask her that question every time he saw her now that she had grown so large. Lizzy into his excited little eyes and saw his father. "No, no, my son, they are not yet come." As she watched his face brighten with happiness, she realised she had misspoken, and she listened in horror as he asked her again who they were. "Mamma said a wrong word; I meant 'it is not yet come', alright?" But Bennet was unconvinced and she cursed that he was intelligent enough to decipher such things. As he shouted and shouted about two babies she grew more frightened that Darcy would hear him and a headache developed. "Bennet! You will not speak another word!"

He stopped and looked at her with a none-too-pleased pout on his face. He stomped over to her and crossed his arms. She glared at him, but, to her horror, he spoke again. "No"

"I beg your pardon?" He repeated his answer with a defiance she had not expected in one so young. Though she knew he could be petulant, this did not seem like a childish tantrum; he was defying her in a battle of wills and by his stubborn expression she could tell he thought he'd win. Lizzy had, however, seen the same look in his father's eyes when he had first proposed to her and many times since and she knew exactly how to deal with a Darcy man. "I am your mother and however much you dislike it, you must do as I say. Now you can either play quietly here or I shall call the Nurse and you shall go to bed now."

Bennet seemed to deliberate for a moment. "No." She warned him again but all he did was stamp his foot and repeat 'no' over and over again until Christiana began to imitate him. A dull pounding headache developed and her back ached and she was irritated that she seemed to have adopted the Darcy stubbornness because she had been so convinced she could curb his behaviour.

"Ben, please stop!" She put her hand out to prevent him from moving too far from her that she could not chase him, but he only shouted louder at her. Lizzy groaned and fell back into her chair. Slowly, the posture of the seating began to soothe her and she closed her eyes in relief, desperately trying to block out her son if she could not shut him up.

Unfortunately, that was the moment that some doomed soul decided to burst open the Nursery and she suddenly got a glimpse of what life would be like when the new baby arrived. "Where's my Godson?"

"Unky Rishard!"

Though his mother was grateful that he had now forgotten their argument, she knew it would come up again and that this was not a battle to let go unnoticed. She pulled herself up and waddled to Richard Fitzwilliam, who was hoisting his Godson up and down like a swing. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Richard, will you put him down for a moment, please?"

He watched her expression and placed Ben on the floor to face her. "Oh Ben, your mother does not look happy, what have you done to anger such a beautiful woman?"

Lizzy threw him a sarcastic smile in appreciation of his comment and peered down at her scowling son. "I gave you a warning and you did not heed me, Ben. Now you must go to bed." She went to ring for the Nurse and Bennet collapsed into a wild tantrum. Lizzy turned to watch him with great relief; she much preferred this screaming behaviour to a battle of wills because it frightened her less.

Richard looked from Bennet to his mother a few times, wondering what he should do, but he concluded that child-rearing was not his employ and if she was ignoring him then so should he. "How do you fare, Mrs Darcy? I hear your sister is soon to be delivered of her own child?"

Lizzy nodded as she directed the Nurse to her son. "Indeed she is." Lizzy went to Christiana and stroked her hair gently. The little girl watched her cousin being taken out with a curious fascination. "This is her daughter, Christiana Bingley, over whom Darcy and I have charge until her mother is well enough to take her back . . . or I go into confinement, whichever happens first."

He laughed. "I am glad to hear it. I am pleased to meet you Miss Bingley." Christiana giggled and handed him a rattle, initiating him into her make-believe. "Why have you not begun your own then? You certainly do not look well enough to be wandering around now." Lizzy explained to him the opinion of her midwife and doctor, but he was very sceptical. "My dear Mrs Darcy, my own wife Victoria had her twins only a few years ago now and they run in the family. She was about your size when she gave birth and so I would take your doctor and your midwife's opinion with a pinch of salt." She raised her eyebrow, surprised that he had mentioned twins. "It is a possibility, and I doubt either of your experts will have been present at the delivery of twins before."

Lizzy thought over his words but was too scared to admit that she had not heard of Mrs Ian-Jones or Dr Howards having previously attended multiple births. The truth of it terrified her. "I shall take this child as it comes. Richard, you cannot scare me."

"I intend no such thing!" He feigned insult and made her laugh. "Now, may I see my Godson downstairs, he has not been so very bed has he?"

Lizzy fervently shook her head. "Indeed you cannot. He must know that he shall be punished when he disobeys me and he shall stay in bed until tomorrow morning. It is not so early now." She went to Christiana and picked her up, unbuttoning her gown as she did so. "They are to go to bed soon."

"Really, Richard. It is one thing when you disrupt your own children's routines at home, but to seek out such problems in your cousins' house is inexcusable." Lizzy turned to see the very welcome figure of Victoria, with whom she had not been acquainted for some time, standing next to her husband. She gratefully assumed they had not brought the children and wondered how many arguments that had caused.

"You are both very welcome," Lizzy said, smiling as she pinned Christiana's clean cloth and pulled a gown over her head, "but Richard I think my husband is in the library and you shall have more amusements suited to you there." He thanked her and bounded down to that room, leaving Lizzy with a woman with whom she had wanted an audience for some time. "I want to ask you something."

The lady waited expectantly with a perceptive look on her face. "I thought as much to look at you. You do not look seven months, Elizabeth."

"Twins," she said simply, and quietly, "I think twins." Victoria nodded and took Christiana from her when Lizzy struggled to place her in her crib. "I do not know what you think, but I want your advice. You have twins."

"Yes, and they are wonderful. Very close." The lady sat down opposite the crib and dropped her voice so as not to disturb the baby. "It was such a surprise for Richard. I know Darcy is worried about you not delivering twins, but at least his worry stems from care for you."

"Richard cares for you, does he not? I am sure of it!"

She scoffed. "Of course, but do not be so naïve. You may have married for love, my dear, but not many other young ladies do. I did not," Lizzy knew this to be true, and she thanked God that she had been so fortunate as to find her husband. She wondered if either Victoria or Richard had ever been in love with someone. "It is not bad; I certainly did not ever seek love, really only in my girlhood. I have a wonderful husband who cares for me and my children. Love grows, Lizzy, do not give a pitied look to me as I do not care for it. I am perfectly happy." Suddenly, Lizzy had a great desire to see Charlotte Collins. "When I tried to speak of twins, I was dismissed as suffering from a mother's brain; one which is unreliable and apt to dream up falsehoods. Your Mr Darcy does not think that of you."

"Certainly not," Lizzy replied in his defence. "But he must have had to eat his words when you delivered two."

Victoria said that he had been shocked and was not above capitulating where he was wrong. She explained that it was not much different than delivering one baby and that she herself was not quite so drained of energy as might be expected when one had to expend so much effort so close together. "I do not think one has much time to recover in most cases, so one cannot reflect on the experience as much as one usually would."

Though Elizabeth knew she meant to refer to the painfulness of it all, she did not mention it, as it would not have been quite appropriate. "Thank you," Lizzy said earnestly, "it is nice to have someone acknowledge my guesses, even if they do turn out to be incorrect."

"Victoria?" The two women looked to the door to see Kitty leaning on the frame; evidently she had been searching for her for some time. Lizzy put her fingers to her lips and Kitty lowered her voice. "Hello, Lizzy. You look well this afternoon. There is no news from Jane at present, but I have sent some tea and food to your study as Mrs Reynolds says the papers for the baby's announcements have arrived." Her sister thanked her and made towards the door. "Victoria would you join me on the pianoforte; Georgiana and Mary have issued a challenge to me and I cannot play on my own."

Victoria looked at Lizzy and giggled. "Of course, my dear. We shall easily best them!" Kitty kissed Lizzy on the cheek, and the two ladies left to join their companions. As she stood at the door and observed the Nursery once more, the white light of the moon began to overpower the sun as it set and it looked so peaceful. Lizzy sighed happily and felt movement inside her as though the baby – or babies – wanted to remind her of something. Gently, she clicked the door shut and descended the stairs to attend to her business.

Friday 10th January 1817

2pm

Through the long nights of winter, Lizzy sat many times with the two babes before they were put to bed. She enjoyed the peace of watching them sleep and knew that Bennet was still adjusting to his new bed and he took comfort from her presence next to him. By January, Elizabeth was one month away from entering her own confinement, but she had not stopped growing and her swollen belly alarmed Mrs Ian-Jones when she saw her wandering about the grounds. The woman had immediately declared her to be lying-in and that was why she was now filling out the birth announcements in her room, instead of her study.

"Tea, my dear." Darcy set her cup at her right hand and took a seat opposite her. She had already taken to eating in her room by Christmas, due to the discomfort of walking up and down the stairs at night, and Darcy chose each time to join her and amuse her. "When is my Aunt to come?"

Lizzy looked up and thought for a moment. "Today, but she could arrive at any time." She stroked his hand softly when she saw the sad expression on his face. "He cannot be here any longer, and neither can his cousin. Lady Fitzwilliam shall take her, too."

"Yes, poor Jane. Poor Bingley, I cannot imagine having to wait such a long time. She has been confined for nigh on two months or more." He filed away another card and began to write a new one. Darcy loved how she looked, even if a scowl passed her face whenever anyone commented on her size. Her face was bright and the only difference he really observed was her belly, as far as he was concerned she carried the same figure as when they had met. "I am curious as to when this new baby will appear. I sincerely hope it does not continue to be tardy for the rest of its life."

Lizzy giggled, and her revelled in it. "I am sure he will not. His will inherit his parent's aptitude for kindness and he shall never intentionally offend a host by leaving too late to arrive promptly."

"Ah, but most often those who are late never intend to be so." She rolled her eyes at his exaction on her choice of words and replied that the difference was that he would go out of his way to ensure punctuality. "Perhaps you are right." She reminded him that she was hardly ever wrong. "You have been referring to him as a boy for quite some time now, and yet you have not decided the sex of our own baby . . . or babies." He added the last as an afterthought, but Lizzy was grateful for the remembrance of it in any case.

"Quite, but as you know I have been overwhelmed with the thought that we shall be having twins." He sighed impatiently. "Do not give me that, William. Look at me. There is no denying the high chances that I am carrying twins."

He had to relent to her; she was right and he could not run away from the possibility. Truth be told, he was excited at the prospect. He heard a roar from Bennet and saw him hiding behind a chair. He was pretending to fight with a wooden sword Colonel Fitzwilliam had given him and apparently, the puppy was a dragon. "Lizzy, you know that I do not care what happens. I am excited to meet our new baby . . . um . . . babies."

He laughed, embarrassed. "I know, my dear." They both returned to their writing, but Lizzy stopped, and felt butterflies in her stomach as she spoke. "Girls."

He looked up as though he was not sure if she had spoken at all. "Pardon?"

She smiled nervously and blushed. "I think we shall have girls. Twin girls."

Darcy leaned back in his chair and eyed her carefully. When he had determined that she was in earnest, he said: "Well, that seems about right. Your mother certainly had a penchant for delivering girls. So it seems only right that you should have two at one time" Lizzy tried to be shocked in defence of her mother's honour, but she was amused too much by the lightness in his tone to be offended. "God never sends us more than we can handle."

At this, Lizzy could not help but roll her eyes. "Oh William, let me hear no more of your heavenly prophecies as they always seem to land us in some sort of an argument. You seem to cause much more trouble than you intend."

He admitted this, promising not to make such proclamations again, and they soon fell into a rhythm of sorts with their task. When filling out the card for Mr and Mrs Hurst, Lizzy remembered that she had not seen them or Miss Bingley in quite some time and she said this to her husband. "They have the baby, who is now just a little older than our son, and I imagine he keeps them busy. Caroline Bingley will not be near her brother or sister at present because she remains unmarried and does not wish to give up her society in London. Did you not tell me that she sent you a raving letter detailing her riveting courtship with some high-born gentleman?"

"Yes, but she could have been talking about you." He laughed and sighed at the same time and she knew it was because he was tired of hearing her tease him over Miss Bingley's attempts to make him jealous of her childless calendar. "I do not remember anything! My mind is much taken up trying to get out of bed, or a chair, or across the corridor, let alone keeping up with my own family." She had recalled each piece of information as he related it to her and frustration grew inside her; helplessness seemed to be the overriding feeling. Lizzy was ready to deliver and excited to be so but it seemed her babies were not ready to be delivered.

As they once again descended into quiet with only the make-believe sounds of their son to disturb them, both Darcy and Lizzy felt as though their current situation seemed as though it was to be permanent.

"LIZZY!"

The volume and violence of the sound would have frightened the family had it not been for the possibilities of the news which might follow it. Any number or things could have happened and Lizzy was grateful for whatever distraction they provided. Eventually, a red-faced and breathless Kitty burst into the room, and she ran to her sister, thrusting a thin but crumpled piece of paper towards her. She smiled. "From Mr Bingley!"

Lizzy looked quickly from her sister to her husband and her son, who had decided to join them and was sitting on his father's knee and Izzy was jumping happily at her feet. Evidently, they were all waiting for her and she unfolded the note. "'My dear brother and sister, Jane has delivered a healthy boy this afternoon, and we would like to ask your favour in naming him.' William, what on earth shall we suggest?"

Darcy smiled and stood, kissing her and holding Bennet up while he did the same. Kitty had not read the letter herself, and only knew it was sent express from Beningbrough. "Lizzy, how exciting, Ben shall have a cousin he can fish with!"

Kitty lifted her nephew from Darcy and danced him around the room. Darcy took the note and read it, his beam evidence enough of his joy. "I think Christiana perfectly fulfilled that role, Kitty." The young lady laughed and Lizzy rose, slowly, taking Darcy's pile of announcements and adding them to her own. "What on earth are you doing?"

"Well I cannot very well travel to see my sister myself, and Bingley will want to see at least one of us. He will want to show off his son and heir." Darcy rolled his eyes, but he replied that he would go, and told Kitty she and her sisters may join him, to which she agreed and skipped happily out of the room to pack some clothes. "Mr Darcy, you must take Christiana with you. She cannot stay any longer, and she must see her brother." Darcy watched her take to the pile of cards with something like regret; he very much wanted to celebrate with his friend, but not at his wife's expense. She seemed especially tired of late and here he was about to leave her with a mass of work. "I know what you are thinking, and I am warning you not to be so ridiculous." He stepped back, wary of what she would say, and ready to pounce on her mistake if she had interpreted him incorrectly. "You have just invited all of our guests to Beningbrough, and I am ready to say goodbye to our son any minute now. There shall be no one to annoy me or clamour for my company; I shall be very content."

Of course, she had not been wrong at all and it amused him greatly. "My dear, I am astounded at your ability to predict these things. Not my mood or my thoughts, since these things seem to have been apparent to you since our first meeting." She smiled in remembrance of such occasions and prevented herself from pointing out to him that she had marvellously misinterpreted his gazes when they had first met. "But Jane delivering a boy, you guessed perfectly."

"You forget that I am now a mother, and one who is with child – greatly. I am very sensitive to these things." He bowed subtly to her genius, and she giggled. "And I am perfect in almost every way almost all of the time in almost every aspect of our lives. You should not have expected anything less."

He had walked to her, and placed his hand on the back of her neck, and kissed her. "I should not, Lizzy. I am sure that you shall also choose the perfect name for our nephew?" She suggested Bingley's father's name, as it was one that Jane had mentioned several times, and in not at all a long length of time, the small party was off, and Lizzy immediately cleared her table and went to sleep.

10pm

When Darcy and his sisters had arrived at Beningbrough, the scene was quite different from the palaver Elizabeth had encountered when she went to attend to her niece's birth. The atmosphere of peace remained, but Mrs Bingley was resting in her room, and the midwife had been allowed enough time to reach the house to aid the mistress. In the parlour, Mr Bingley sat with his father-in-law and another very small person, whom Darcy thought was awfully young to be downstairs at such a late hour.

"Darcy, we have been watching the clock, where on earth -?"

"Bingley, do not pretend not to know that it is very hard to leave a beautiful woman who is also carrying your child." He shook his friend's hand.

"I sincerely hope you mean my daughter." Mr Bennet spoke sarcastically, but he could not hide his smile. Evidently, he was very happy to be surrounded by his sons and his new grandson as opposed to his many daughters and his wife or locked up in his library. Darcy replied that he did, and told him that she was happy to be left alone and was most likely sound asleep now and would not wake until luncheon tomorrow. "Well, she shall be very sorry to miss her nephew, I think."

"How is Lizzy? Jane has been asking for her and is very anxious to make us aware that she wishes her to be present for the Christening and so it seems we shall not have our children named for some time."

Darcy laughed. "She is frustrated, but determined not to show it. May I?" He gestured to the squirming bundle in the bassinette, and with Bingley's consent, he picked him up. "You must be very proud."

"Yes, indeed." Bingley sung his son's raptures and Darcy remarked on how much the babe resembled Jane. He had wisps of blonde hair and seemed embody his parents' gentleness perfectly. "Did Lizzy suggest anything for the name?" He related their thought, with which Bingley was very greatly pleased and then Mrs Bennet came to return the baby to his mother.

When they had all sat down again, Mr Bennet warned his sons not to take these moments for granted as he himself could simply not believe that he now had six grandchildren, and his favourite daughter had not yet given birth and Darcy said that he and Lizzy had discussed much the same thing.

Bingley chuckled and addressed Darcy: "Do you remember your unsuccessful proposal to Lizzy?" Bingley watched his friend glare at him and he quickly surmised that Mr Bennet had not been made aware of this tale and he thought that perhaps Darcy was not entirely pleased to have this story made public, which it surely would be, if Mrs Bennet ever caught wind. That was a situation Darcy did not want either himself or his wife or his sister to face in society.

"I am shocked." The old gentleman leaned forward in his chair and placed his brandy down, wanting to soberly absorb as much of this as he could. "I do not think I have heard this tale. As far as I know, my daughter accepted you."

Darcy replied that she did accept him, and attempted to leave it at that, but Mr Bennet's eager expression and Bingley's straying eyes told him that this was not to be let go by either of them. So, very reluctantly and in a manner which severely reduced his own rudeness and selfishness, Darcy explained to his father-in-law what had happened. In the meantime, the housekeeper entered the room and handed a missive to Darcy, and he found it strange that he did not hear her leave but thought as though she remained standing behind him. Bingley too, noticed this and bade her leave, but she looked nervously at Darcy and so the gentleman assumed there must be a response.

Mr Bennet did, however, find the tale very amusing. "Well, well, well! How unfortunate! But I think whatever romantic situation you created when she went into Derbyshire must have been very effective for she was very much in love when she spoke to me."

Darcy said that he was grateful such feelings were observed in her and denied any attempt at having set tricks to make her fall in love with him. As Bingley continued the conversation on the vein that included his new son, Darcy quickly scanned the letter and could feel his pulse race when he read the words mistress and labour; Lizzy had begun her trial and he had left her all alone.