~~P&P~~
Mrs. Reynolds had shared her suspicions about Mrs. Darcy's condition with the doctor and the doctor had concurred with her but said he would have to speak with her before he could confirm. She stayed by Mrs. Darcy side while the doctor went to speak to the master. Even with the heaviness of the current situation she couldn't help but allow a small smile at the idea of Pemberley once again blessed with children once she was alone. Mrs. Darcy stirred and Mrs. Reynolds placed a cool cloth over her head and then dabbed her face and neck. "Fitzwilliam" she heard Mrs. Darcy speak through a haze.
"No, my Lady, he will be here shortly, he is just speaking with the doctor, it is I, Mrs. Reynolds,"
she explained trying to coax Mrs. Darcy to full consciousness.
"The doctor?" Elizabeth said while trying to sit up seeming alarmed. "Is my baby allright?" she asked.
"Oh, Mrs. Darcy," Mrs. Reynolds exclaimed tears of joy coming to her eyes, while she assisted her mistress to sit up. "Why did you not say anything, and yes as far as we know the baby is fine the doctor said that if our suspicions proved true he had no cause to worry for the babe," she added when Mrs. Darcy's fear seemed to increase upon seeing her tears.
"Thank The Lord" Elizabeth prayed. "What happened?" she asked.
"You fainted mam, and hit your head on the piano bench when you fell. Do you not remember?"
"It is coming back to me now. Is Fitzwilliam allright, he must be very worried, I am so sorry to have upset everyone so needlessly."
"Worry only for yourself and your babe right now mam, Mr. Darcy will be fine once he sees you well, and you should be the one to tell him about the babe, I asked the doctor to wait to inform the master so that you could do so." Mrs. Reynolds explained.
"How, do I tell him?" Elizabeth asked.
"You just tell him, flat out, he will be so happy I doubt he will care how you say it, my Lady."
Just then the door opened and Darcy came in, when he saw Elizabeth sitting up he ran to the bed and nearly pushed Mrs. Reynolds out of the way, grabbed Elizabeth's hand and asked "are you allright my love?"
"I am fine, Fitzwilliam" she answered as Georgiana and a man who must be the doctor caught up with Fitzwilliam.
"Thank The Lord you are awake" Georgiana exclaimed while coming to Elizabeth's other side.
"There seems to be a lot of praise to the Almighty going on in here tonight," Elizabeth teased, "I am sorry I gave everyone such a fright."
The doctor cleared his throat "hello, Mrs. Darcy I am Dr. Wyatt. I am glad to see you are awake and lucid, perhaps your husband and sister would be so kind as to go fetch you some supper and tea while I finish up my exam and ensure you are back to perfect health" he said so kindly, Elizabeth knew she was going to like this doctor, he showed just as much care for her loved ones as he did his patient.
"Of, course, and Fitzwilliam make sure you bring enough for yourself as well, you don't mind dining in here with me tonight do you?" she questioned when she saw a blank look on his face at her request.
"I would not be able to eat anything unless my eyes are able to reassure my stomach that you are indeed well anyway my love, so yes I will stay with you. I don't know if I can even part from you long enough for the doctor to do his job." Fitzwilliam replied.
"We wont be long, I will just have some biscuits and fruit please, nothing heavier, that will keep you buzzy until Dr. Wyatt and I finish, mere minutes I promise."
"I will be right back," he agreed, kissing her forehead on the side opposite of the cut she had incurred.
"Lizzy I am so glad you are alright I will see you after dinner if you will allow" Georgiana asked getting ready to follow her brother.
"Certainly Georgie, I would love your company, especially since I have a feeling the good doctor is going to assign bed rest for a few days, you will get sick of me. I will need you to help me maintain my sanity." Elizabeth replied.
"I could never get sick of you" Georgiana said giving her sister a light hug, then followed her brother.
The doctor closed the door and came to stand next to the bed "based on your lack of surprise in your fainting I am going to assume that my suspicions are correct and you too believe that you are with child" he asked kindly.
"Yes sir, I just figured it out today after getting a letter from a friend who is also pregnant."
"How long since your last courses?" he asked.
Elizabeth blushed and dropped eye contact "about two weeks before the wedding, so approximately seven weeks" she answered quietly.
"Hmm, are you sure?"
"Yes, sir." She replied.
"It is just that your symptoms are a little stronger than most women experience just over a month into pregnancy, are you certain you are not further along?" the doctor pressed.
Elizabeth was shocked was he suggesting what she thought he was, but before she could set him straight Mrs. Reynolds came forward. "I beg your pardon doctor" she began, "you can not be suggesting what I think you are to the Lady, that is an insult not only to her but my master as well, I should hope for your sake he never hears of such," she defended her mistress even coming to stand between Mrs. Darcy and the doctor like a human shield.
"I do not mean offence, and I am not judging. I simply need to know. I can tell you it has happened more than once that a lady felt compelled to hide that the child was conceived before marriage, and I understand the need to keep it from the public but I need the truth to be able to care for you and the babe to the best of my ability. I assure you anything you say will not leave this room," the doctor defended but continued to push.
"There is nothing to tell, this babe must have been conceived after the wedding we did not precede our vows," Elizabeth stated strongly while questioning her first impression that she would like the man.
"I apologize mam. I am afraid that a few years ago that I had a patient that did mislead me in this regard and unfortunately because of this when she went into labour I was not available, I was visiting my brother but was on my way home wanting to be there for when the baby was to be delivered. As soon as I arrived home I rushed to her but there was nothing I could do at that point, we lost them both and only then did her distraught husband tell me the truth. I should have known but she barely showed at all and had very few symptoms, I simply took her word, if I had of pressed I would have been there for her rather than her being in labour for 28 hours breech without my aid."
Elizabeth had tears in her eyes and placed her hand over her womb when he said the babe did not make it, she couldn't stand the idea of anything happening to her baby. "I am sorry, I understand now, but I assure you I am telling the truth I would not gamble with my child's life for my pride" she said.
He believed her "Well then lets put that ugliness behind us shall we" Elizabeth nodded at his words. "Every woman is different in their experience but you have been having symptoms for about a week, yes?" Again she nodded. "Well then I would say the babe was likely conceived in the first few days of your marriage. Your symptoms are strong but most women see relief of the nausea after the third month. You were correct earlier I want you to rest for a few days and I suggest you have someone accompany around the stairs incase you faint while on those lovely but dangerous marble steps. Also take care to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position and eat lighter meals but snack more regularly, the baby needs the food too."
"I had already taken to eating smaller portions at more intervals before I even realized I was pregnant," Elizabeth explained.
"Well then I guess all thats left if to do is tell the proud father, I will leave you to it mam. I will not give you anything for the pain in your head because of the babe, but rest and relaxation should help. I will return in one week to check on you."
"Thats fine, thank you doctor," Elizabeth said dismissing him. When he had left she turned to Mrs. Reynolds "thank you for defending us, it means a lot that you never even suspected us of such actions."
"Never, we may still be getting to know each other but I have known Mr. Darcy since he was a babe and I know he would not do such a thing and because he chose you, you must be the best of ladies because he is certainly the best of men, his regard for you is testimony to your character," Mrs. Reynolds explained.
Elizabeth began to cry "Thank you, I don't know why, I am not normally one to cry but I assure you they are happy tears" Elizabeth said.
"It is the babe, it is normal for women in your condition to cry quite easily," Mrs. Reynolds explained kindly while handing her a handkerchief and patting her on the shoulder. "I will send Mr. Darcy in," she said while leaving.
Thirty seconds later Fitwilliam came is caring a tray, when he saw Elizabeth crying he quickly set the tray on a table and sat down on the bed, scooped her into his arms and asked, "what's wrong my love, are you in pain, are you ill, what wrong, should I call the doctor back?"
"I am fine Fitzwilliam" Elizabeth sniffled between cries. "These are happy tears, Mrs Reynolds is a great friend she came to my defence and spoke strongly of my character, her devotion just touched me is all."
"Why did she need to defend you did the doctor insult you, hurt you?" Fitzwilliam said moving to get up and go after the man.
Elizabeth realizing her mistake restrained him, "no of course not," she quickly settled. "He merely implied that we had proceeded our vows," she whispered.
"He did what! Why would he dare suggest such a thing?" Darcy roared.
"He did not mean it in that way he just was trying to confirm when we conceived, and asked me to be honest as it could affect both our healths if he was misinformed" Elizabeth continued to whisper.
It took Fitzwilliam a minute to process what she had said partly because she was whispering so quietly he was straining to hear her but also because it took his brain a minute for it to realize what her words meant. His eyes whipped to hers and he saw the joy in them through the tears and he felt his own tears spring forth. "You are with child?" he asked while bringing his hand towards her belly, he hesitated his hand hovering over her.
She reached out and directed his hand to its destination while saying "yes, Fitzwilliam, we are going to have a baby. I know it happened quickly how do you feel?"
He smiled "I am overjoyed, and when I think about it, it really isn't that surprising, we are so incredible together, of course we would get it right on the first try. Although I admit part of me is upset to have to share you, but we have eight more months alone, we should make the best of it," he declared just before his lips closed over hers.