Chapter 21 The Growth of Spring

The Journey back from Rosings took six long days, including an extra day at the inn because a blizzard kept them from continuing north.

A distraught Mrs Reynolds had welcomed them home when they finally arrived.

In the beginning of March, Lady Matlock came to collect Georgiana. She would accompany her aunt to town under the disguise of participating in the season that was well on its way. The gossip mongers believed that Queen Charlotte would host a Drawing Room in the middle of May. It was vital that Georgiana was available should the desired event come to fruition. Even Darcy admitted that they might not be able to reach town with any speed, should it become a reality.

The real reason was that Lady Matlock would not have Georgiana alone at Pemberley should the worst happen. Darcy would not have the wherewithal to care for his sister, Richards manic ride to Pemberley had taught her as much. Besides, a maiden could not contribute much during childbirth other than keeping herself out of the way.

The Darcys planned to join Georgiana in town in the beginning of June as long as all went well...

Elizabeth was confident that the babe would come at the end of March, not the beginning. If she should arrive in the middle of March, she hoped she would deliver on the 13th, the day of her own birth. Although most of her family still believed it to be on the 17th of February. Her timely departure from Rosings had saved her from celebrating her birthday a month too soon. It was not possible to correct them without divulging the entire sordid affair, surrounding her birth.

Elizabeth still favoured her morning constitutionals albeit only in the gardens closest to the house and always in the presence of her husband.

A slight twinge slowed her down, momentarily.

"Are you certain you should continue these strolls around the garden so close to your confinement?"

"Yes, I might be ungainly but I am not an invalid.

Besides, spring is in air. The birds are singing and the air is fresh and revitalising."

She smiled at her husband but it turned into a slight grimace.

"You are in pain, do not even try to convince me otherwise. We are returning to the house. Can you walk or shall I carry you?"

Elizabeth huffed but turned towards the house.

"Some breakfast sounds lovely. It is only the 7th though. It is merely light contractions. They are painless and I have had them for the last few weeks. Aunt Madeline told me it was common and natural. My womb is exercising before the labour as should I, really."

"You have had them since Rosings, have you not?"

"Yes, but as I said. It is nothing to worry about."

Darcy stewed the rest of the way to the breakfast room. He was not pleased she was keeping things from him, especially if it meant she was in discomfort.

Mr and Mrs Darcy broke their fast in awkward silence. As they parted to perform their chores for the day, Darcy pulled Elizabeth aside.

"You must promise to alert me should you feel any pain, Elizabeth. Not just when the babe eventually comes but in any other circumstances."

"I solemnly promise to tell you should I ever experience actual pain, Mr Darcy."

Darcy groaned but could do nothing but watch the back of his wife waddle away.

Elizabeth met with Mrs Reynolds to go over the account books which was their usual want when nothing particular was happening.

Elizabeth was tired though and could not quite conceal her yawns.

"You should rest, Mrs Darcy."

"No, thank you. I cannot sleep, regardless of what I do, I cannot seem to find the right position. Neither is it particularly comfortable to sit, to be honest. I prefer to walk, slowly mind you but it is the most comfortable I can get."

"Shall we walk the gallery? We could continue our history lesson on the Darcy ancestors."

"You do not mind?"

"Not in the least."

"Thank you."

Mrs Reynolds helped Elizabeth memorise as many names, births, deaths as her mind could muster. If Elizabeth showed the occasional sign of discomfort, it was not mentioned.

After tea, Elizabeth retired to rest. Hopeful that the day's activities may able her to sleep.

It was not to be. As soon as she lay down, bile rose in her throat. Annoyed she rose and stomped out of her chamber, down the stairs and out into the garden where she paced in front of the library windows. God forbid should her husband catch her red-handed, a few yards from the house.

Elizabeth felt entirely justified in blaming her husband for her predicament, he owned, at least, half of the responsibility.

Pacing turned out to be a rather tiring exercise. Elizabeth found a bench to rest her weary body when she heard a carriage on the other side of the house. She waited patiently for someone to announce visitors but none came.

She was well aware that footmen and maids were assigned to follow her every move. She resumed her pacing but her energy was spent.

She decided to seek out her husband, instead. The carriage could have been the mail... Perhaps there was an exciting letter for her in his stack of correspondence. Reinvigorated, she knocked on the door to Darcy's study and entered when he called.

Inside were doctor Scott and the midwife Mrs Crawford, seated in front of her husband's desk. Elizabeth inquired if there were any letters for her without acknowledging the visitors. When there was not, she exited the study but she did hear her husbands sigh of relief. Had she been so difficult over the last few days that he dreaded her reaction? A determination to remedy that settled but first she needed a nap.

This time she managed to sleep for an hour. It would have been heavenly had she not woken up in a pool of moistness. Elizabeth jumped out of her bed. Luckily, she had chosen the bed in the mistress chambers rather than sully her husband's bed. Elizabeth realised that it was the first time she had slept in the mistress chambers, counting days and nights. She rang for Linney to have the maids change her linens.

Linney seemed surprisingly off-kilter while she dressed and guided her mistress to the master's chamber, to lay down while the sheets were changed.

Elizabeth fell immediately asleep but when she woke up a half-hour later, she was no longer alone.

Her husband was pacing the floor, the doctor was checking her pulse while Linney stood by the foot of the bed, wringing her hands. Thank heavens for Mrs Reynolds, she acted completely normal ordering servants around. The midwife was knitting by the hearth, unperturbed by all the ruckus surrounding them. She must have felt Elizabeth's eyes on her because she raised her head and met gaze.

"Don not fret, you have many hours to go."

"Go where?" Elizabeth's mind was still a little fogged from her perplexed awakening.

"The babe is coming. Your laying in has begun but it is in the early stages yet. It will get much worse before it is over."

"Oh, I have felt my belly harden for a while but it is not painful."

"Which proves my point. You should try to rest as much as you can while it is still possible to do so."

"Thank you, Mrs Crawford. I am rather tired."

Elizabeth lay back down and closed her eyes. A few minutes went by before a pain hit her back that made her groan.

"Good, the pains are picking up, as they should. You are doing well, Mrs Darcy."

Elizabeth opened one eye to gauge her surroundings. It was the midwife who was speaking. The doctor was missing, as were Linney and Mrs Reynolds. Her husband was still pacing though, predictable but endearing. Elizabeth wondered if she should rectify the midwife's misconception that she had groaned because of the pain. In fact, it was because of the exertion she put into pushing but in the end, she was too tired and drifted back to sleep for a few minutes before the next urge came to push.

"Should I leave?" Her husband's velvet voice carried her trough another pain.

"No, there is still time, she has many hours to go. I will let you know when you need to remove yourself."

Elizabeth felt somewhat relieved by the midwife's reassurance towards Fitzwilliam. It felt like the babe was on its way out but the midwife knew best, of course.

Elizabeth felt the bed sigh under her husband's weight as he sat down on the edge and clutched her hand.

"Her grip is awfully strong," she heard Fitzwilliam say to Mrs Crawford when the urge to push became overwhelming and she sat up in the bed. Guttural sounds she did not believe she could make, emanated from her throat.

"She is progressing nicely, 'tis perfectly natural for the pains to grow in strength."

Elizabeth wanted to tell them that something was slipping out but she could not breathe, much less speak.

Finally, the pain vanished, something had left her body. She sat up and lifted the covers to look into the bewildered blue eyes of her baby boy. He must have been stunned speechless, as she was, because he did not make a sound.

Elizabeth lifted him up to cradle him at her chest, just as an adorable pout appeared on his lips.

"Shush, Fitzwilliam junior. We will not unsettle your papa with wailing, will we."

The babe safely tucked under her chin, Elizabeth covered the infant with her robe and looked around.

Fitzwilliam looked transfixed at the babe, Mrs Crawford looked stunned and sat with a gaping mouth and wide eyes. Still clutching her knitting.

At that moment Mrs Reynolds entered, a train of maids trailing behind her with steaming pots and clean linens.

"Goodness me, that was swift." She whispered as she froze mid-step in the middle of the room.

Mrs Crawford regained her speech...

"Mr Darcy, out! We need to cut the cord before the afterbirth arrives. Out, I said."

Mr Darcy scowled but did not move.

"Heaven help me if he is a fainter..." Mrs Crawford grumbled before she found the knife, tied off the cord and cut it. A few moments later, Elizabeth grunted and delivered the afterbirth with as little fuss as the babe itself.

"We need to clean up your wife and your son, Mr Darcy. If you could take the babe to Mrs Reynolds in the next room. I will take care of your wife. Mr Darcy nodded and kissed his wife's forehead.

"I love you, dearest Elizabeth. May I hold him?"

Elizabeth kissed the top of her sons head before she handed him to his father. The babe did not appreciate being removed from his warm and cosy nook and wailed his displeasure.

"Healthy set of lungs," Mrs Crawford remarked before she shooed Mr Darcy out of his own chamber.

"Very little blood, you will be just fine, Mrs Darcy. The easiest birth I have witnessed to date and I doubt there will ever be another. Your first child is usually the hardest, Mrs Darcy. I would count my lucky stars if I were you."

Elizabeth smiled while maids and the midwife fussed around her. She was washed and dressed in clean attire, the linens were changed before her refreshed son was brought back to her.

Unabashed, Darcy lay his son beside her, in the middle of the bed and lay down beside him. The Darcys cooed over the wonder between them. Paying no heed to the people surrounding them.

"I heard you call him Fitzwilliam. It is a mouthful, are you certain you would not like to call him Bennet after your father?"

"Absolutely not! He is your son from his dark tresses to his long toes. He even has your discerning disposition. Look how he is studying us intently, without any fuss. He should be named for you first, we might use Bennet as his second name.

To avoid confusion we should call him William for everyday, Master Fitzwilliam on Sundays and the Darcy heir on special occasions..."

The Darcys spent the next weeks getting to know their little son. A short dispute arose when Elizabeth insisted on nursing her own child. Darcy had only been concerned for her wellbeing but in this, she stood firm and Darcy relented.

Well-wishers poured in their door within the first week had passed. None beat Jane though. She was on their doorstep the next day, even beating aunt Eudora who lived on Pemberley land. Having left her visitors and husband behind to fend for themselves. Her guests were Charles sister and husband so she did not feel too guilty by leaving them behind. Mrs Caroline Crowe was not welcome at Pemberley, neither was her debauched husband. A heartfelt apology had been delivered after just five months of solitude in the wilderness of Ireland. Charles had forgiven his sister, as so many times before. They were twins, after all...

Jane did bring her plump and happy little son Charlie. At six months old he was thriving. Despite his rotund form, he was already getting around and about on the floor. His somewhat unique style of skipping forward on his behind was a great source of amusement.

Jane had good advice for Elizabeth and she was heartily grateful because Jane was not the only one who provided that dubious pleasure. Neighbours poured in from far and wide while those who could not visit in person sent her longwinded letters. The advice was usually highly contradictory, a new mother could get utterly lost if she should try to enact them all. Jane was her usual source of serenity and comfort to Elizabeth who learned quickly to shut her ears when the let me advise you entered a sentence. Jane could not stay away too long from her family and after a week, she left for Bellevue. The sisters took great comfort in knowing they would all be together again in town. Bingley had no townhouse of his own, they usually stayed at his sister Louisa and her husband Mr Hurst but this year, Darcy had invited them to stay at Darcy House.

A month after the birth, Elizabeth was churched. She received her blessing and thanksgivings at the St Johns church in Lambton. The ceremony meant that she was no longer confined to her chambers and her husband's gander month where he had to deal with the domestic affairs, had come to an end... It also meant that she could travel and pay a visit to all the callers that had come to offer their congratulations but first, they held a celebratory breakfast at Pemberley. Inviting all their friends, neighbours and relations.

A gaunt-looking Richard attended as one of the godparents, together with Charles and Jane. A male child demanded two male and one female godparent and Darcy thought the gesture would show mercy to his guilt-ridden cousin.

Elizabeth had gotten back her sparkle and dazzled her guests with witty remarks as she flitted among them.

Lady Throwbridge from their neighbouring estate, Edensor House, could not help herself with delivering a little sting towards the interloper that had usurped her daughter's place as Mistress of Pemberley. Not that she had ever been a candidate for the role in the master's eyes...

"I am astounded you look so well a month after your laying in, Mrs Darcy. It can be such a gruelling experience, taking its toll on one's body as well as one's mind."

"Not at all, Lady Throwbridge. I slept through most of it. I honestly cannot comprehend what all the fuss was about."

Elizabeth greeted her next guest, leaving a fuming Lady Throwbridge behind. It seemed like there was no end to Mrs Darcy's luck...