"Your uncle actually went to Kent? All I expected from him was a sternly worded letter!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
The Darcys had just dismissed his valet and her lady's maid for the night and it was their first opportunity to speak privately all day. They climbed into bed and nestled under the covers as they talked.
"Yes, dearest, he went to Kent himself the day after I spoke with him. Perhaps his motivation was less concern for your brother and more to prevent word reaching London about Lady Catherine's displeasure with our marriage, but the outcome is the same regardless. He installed her in the dower house where she belongs, since Anne is the legal owner and Mr de Bourgh is the de facto manager, and told her in no uncertain terms that he had better not hear another word about her harassing Hunsford's parson."
"I am so glad," Elizabeth breathed. "I have been constantly worrying. Now I suppose I must hope she does not intimidate them out of reporting mistreatment to us."
Darcy considered the possibility. "You will continue to ask your sister for news, and I will write to Anne and request that she keep me informed of her mother's activities. We can also visit them whenever you like; it is barely a three hour drive."
"I would like to visit before the child comes, to ensure she is prepared," she nodded.
"I had no luck in my initial inquiries about a new position for Mr Collins, but I asked the word to be spread that I know an experienced rector in need of a living."
"Jane should receive my letter today; I told her we are hiring her nursemaid and offered Pemberley for her confinement with or without her husband. I hope she responds immediately."
"Would you like to take control of the hiring? I believe you are ready after managing the staff at Pemberley and here these four months."
"Oh! I always have assistance from the housekeepers." She bit her lip. "I suppose I ought to do it, though."
"It will be good practice for when it is our turn to need someone for that role," he smiled and stroked her cheek.
"Now that is a happier subject of conversation," she said dreamily.
Darcy ran his hand from her face down to lightly cover her stomach. "Part of me hopes it will be soon, and part of me is not ready to share you yet."
She laughed lightly. "It will happen at exactly the right time, whenever that may be."
"And in the meantime," he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I believe it is incumbent on us to practise, most diligently."
#
Jane's letter arrived a couple of days later. She refused the offer to stay at Pemberley on the grounds that Mr Collins could not get away, as Elizabeth expected, but gratefully accepted the offer of a nursemaid, somewhat to Elizabeth's surprise, which indicated the extent of Jane's nervousness.
"Mama will be in Hunsford in a week," Elizabeth told Darcy; "do you mind if we travel there shortly after to check on things?"
"As you wish," he kissed her forehead. "Whenever we have a day free of commitments I am happy to take you."
The day came and the couple set out early in the morning. Elizabeth rejoiced in her sister's luminescence and appearance of good health, even as she felt alarmed by the opposite impression of her brother.
She was more concerned by what they were told about Lady Catherine. Her interference into church matters such as his sermons had waned since the Earl's talk with her, but only the day before she had suddenly become exceedingly concerned with the preparation of the nursery and came to their house uninvited to inspect it.
"Forgive me for saying so about your aunt, Mr Darcy, but she was incredibly rude!" Mrs Bennet explained. "Why should it matter whether the babe sleeps on this side of the room or that? But she insisted on rearranging all the furniture."
"She knows she should not interfere in our family's matters," he said, frowning. "I fear she will continue to involve herself in other aspects of the birth whenever my uncle and I are not looking, and cause anxiety to Mrs Collins that could be harmful."
He turned to face the Collinses. "Are you quite certain you will not come to Pemberley for a couple of months? You can be assured of peace, control, and space. We can even have the rest of the family come in December to meet the child and celebrate Christmas together."
Everyone looked at Mr Collins, who would be the one to make the final decision.
"I, er, I do not know," he stammered. "I understand the benefits, but I cannot just hie off to Derbyshire whenever you ask. Lady Catherine will -"
"Lady Catherine is not your true patroness," Darcy reminded him. "She has been acting the part but the decision to grant you leave belongs to Mr de Bourgh now, to whom Anne has given control of Rosings. If I speak with him and make arrangements, will you come? For your wife's sake, and your child's."
"Now?" Mr Collins asked. "It is so sudden…"
"We have no time to lose," Elizabeth said gently. She discreetly eyed Jane's considerable midsection. "It is a long journey, as you know, which will grow more difficult for Jane with every day we delay."
"I will go speak with the man now," Darcy said. "If he is willing to give you a few months' leave while I arrange a substitute parson, then you can decide whether to accept."
He was out the door before anyone could respond.
So it was that the group headed to London later that day, the Darcys sent out notes making their excuses to miss upcoming engagements, and they were on the road to Pemberley the following morning. The parish at Kympton had both a rector and a curate so he sent the curate to take over Hunsford in Mr Collins's absence. Mrs Reynolds delighted in preparing the nursery for the first child to be born at Pemberley since Georgiana nearly seventeen years ago.
Jane delivered a son a fortnight later, on the fifteenth of November. The proud parents named him William Thomas Collins and the Darcys joyously agreed to be godparents to the next heir of Longbourn.
#
"Where did the time go?" Elizabeth asked Darcy. "How is it already January?"
They were on the road, along with Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, returning to London. They had stayed at Pemberley from the time they brought the Collinses and Mrs Bennet through the festive season when Georgiana and the remaining Bennets had joined them to celebrate. Everyone spent the trip fawning over little William who all declared was the sweetest, handsomest little boy they had ever seen.
After the Bennets returned home to Hertfordshire Darcy and Elizabeth persuaded the Collinses to remain at Pemberley for a while longer to enjoy their son in peace. Jane was still recovering and Mr Collins, though everyone had expected his health to improve during his extended absence from Kent, continued to deteriorate. The apothecary who examined him could offer no explanation except that his stress may have exacerbated some secondary unidentifiable illness. He was unfit to work and the curate who was temporarily overseeing his parish was happy to remain where he was, having no family to motivate him to return to Derbyshire for a lower position.
Elizabeth's presentation at Court was scheduled for a fortnight hence, and so the Darcys were obliged to return, leaving the Collinses to the comforts of Pemberley. Elizabeth had at least one more fitting for the gown being made specifically for the event, and additionally was planning a ball with the help of Lady Matlock to be held at the Darcy townhouse to celebrate afterwards.
"I do not anticipate spending the entire season in London," Darcy said. "I rarely do. We can return in early spring, if you prefer, or go to Hertfordshire then, or anywhere in the country you like."
"We will not decide today," she smiled. "Let us wait to see how we are enjoying ourselves, and how easy the roads look for the journey back. I suspect I will be eager to return to Jane and our nephew."
"I miss them already," Georgiana spoke up.
Elizabeth chuckled. They had only departed an hour ago. "So do I."
#
The dressmaker commissioned with Elizabeth's presentation gown was not pleased.
"You ate too much over Christmas," Madame Bouvier complained. "Now I must rush to take it out."
"I do not understand," Elizabeth said, puzzled. "I feel as though I have been eating less lately, not more. I have had some nausea off and on making many foods unappealing to me."
Lady Matlock and Mme Bouvier looked at each other knowingly.
"Nausea and food aversion?" her aunt asked. "How long have you experienced this?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment. "About a month," she said. "I believed it to simply be the amount of sweets and delicacies present for the Christmas season. The carriage ride here from Pemberley was rather nauseating as well, but I do not usually face backwards. I have been better the last couple of days."
"Hmm," Lady Matlock considered this. "I suppose those are possible explanations. Can you tell me, when was the last time you had your monthly courses?"
Elizabeth blushed furiously and looked around. "Aunt," she hissed, "how can you ask me that in a shop where anyone might overhear?"
"No one is here," she replied. "Please tell me."
Still blushing, Elizabeth reflected for a moment. "October, I think. I suppose that is rather unusual. Do you suspect it has to do with my nausea?"
"I do," Lady Matlock said with a gleam in her eye. "Did your mother never tell you the signs when one is expecting a child?"
"A child! Truly? No, she never did - we were too focused on the news of my sister expecting when I got married, I suppose. Do you really think it could be that?" Elizabeth paced around in excitement. "What should I do?"
"Calm yourself," Lady Matlock laughed. "Luckily your presentation is in only ten days. Mme Bouvier will let out your dress, and we will take you to a midwife to be examined when we leave here."
#
"A child! Truly?" Darcy asked in bewilderment.
Elizabeth laughed heartily. "That is exactly what I said. I will not feel the quickening for another month or more, but the midwife seemed quite certain we will have a new Darcy in July."
"What wonderful news, Elizabeth!" He pulled her into a tight embrace, and abruptly released her when he began to fear injuring the babe. Having been instructed that she may continue all her usual activities as long as she feels comfortable, Elizabeth reassured her husband that a hug will do no harm. He did not need to be told twice.
They spent the next hour in joyful conversation, sharing their dreams for their child and their future.
That night at dinner they shared their news with Georgiana, who expressed her delight in a most unladylike manner. They forgave her for the lapse.
They resisted sharing with everyone they knew, deciding it would be prudent to wait for the quickening to be more certain, but did inform the Bennets and Collinses who all quickly wrote back to express their own joy. Even Mr Bennet was moved to write a rare letter to his daughter.
Elizabeth's presentation and ball went very smoothly. Though they did not tell anyone else their news - excepting only their dear friends Charles Bingley and Charlotte White, who both attended their ball - she could not contain her happiness. Everyone remarked on how absolutely radiant Mrs Darcy looked, and if anyone suspected the reason for her special glow, they at least had the sense to not ask her directly.
#
A few days later husband and wife were in the nursery of their townhouse having a good-natured argument about its organisation in their eagerness to begin preparing for the arrival. Elizabeth had just suggested they bring in Lady Catherine for expert advice when a light knock sounded at the door to the room.
It was their butler.
"An express has arrived for you, ma'am," he said, and handed it to Elizabeth before slipping out.
The envelope was trimmed with black.
Darcy and Elizabeth stared at it in her hand, then looked at each other. Had the day come that they had feared for the last three months?
They went to the privacy of their suite's sitting room and opened the letter together. It was from Jane.