Chapter 35: Turn, Turn, Turn

Turn! Turn! Turn!

Thursday, 28 January 1813

Rosings

Mrs. Wilson was busy retrieving something that had come from Elizabeth and examining it closely. She appeared not to have heard him.

Elizabeth was limp in his arms, covered in sweat and utterly exhausted. Even in her fatigue, she had wrapped her arms around the little bundles Darcy helped hold to her breast as both parents watched their adorable little beasts root and suck away. Elizabeth looked at him and smiled weakly. The immensity of it all overtook him as he gave her a passionate kiss in celebration of their success.

But a moment was all he was willing to spare. There was information he urgently needed, and Mrs. Wilson was not providing it. "Ma'am," Darcy said again, a bit more forcefully this time, finally gaining her attention. "What are they?"

Looking slightly confused, she realized what he was asking. "Boys. They are a bit different in size now, but this"—she held up a bloody mess of tissue—"looks like they'll be the type of twins who will grow to be images of each other." Mrs. Wilson looked at Elizabeth, shaking her head. "Lord help you, ma'am. Twin boys can be an explosive amount of energy in one little bundle, and as they get older, they like to work together to come up with ideas." Looking at her with compassion, Mrs. Wilson highly recommended they hire at least two nurses when the boys started walking—maybe even before that—but they would have to watch the temperament of the boys. Some were calm, most were not.

Darcy looked at Elizabeth in amazement—two—she had given him two boys! He nestled his head against Elizabeth's and looked down again at the boys who seemed to be settling down for their first nap. He whispered in her ear, "Two strapping lads, my dear. These are our two strapping lads." Unable to stop the outpouring of emotion happening as he held her and his boys, he told her, "I love you, my darling. More than I will ever be able to express to you."

Elizabeth looked at him with eyes drooping from fatigue and a contented, but weak smile. "I love you as well. And our boys," she added as she leaned her head back, his chin resting on her shoulder as he watched their sons. (1)

When Mrs. Wilson finished looking at the lump of tissue in her hand, she happily announced that since the afterbirths looked intact, Elizabeth was likely safe from childbed fever, but they would still have to watch her for the next few days.

Mrs. Wilson then expertly balanced a baby on each shoulder, while Darcy helped Elizabeth to their bed. As he walked out the door, Darcy glanced toward Anne, having forgotten she was in the room. She was sitting in a corner chair watching Mrs. Wilson take the boys to their room and wearing a proud smile with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Peeke had everything ready for Elizabeth so she could refresh herself, change into clean clothes, and get some well-earned sleep. Darcy tucked her into the bed, as Mrs. Wilson carefully placed the well-swaddled boys in the bed next to her. He moved toward the stairs so he could go to clean himself and change before returning to join Elizabeth and the boys in their slumber, but then he remembered Anne.

Returning to the birthing room, Darcy found Anne still sitting in her chair. Pulling out his handkerchief, he silently handed it to her. She accepted it and wiped the tears from her face, though more continued to fall. Looking at her cousin, Anne smiled. "I am so proud. My boys." It was all she could say.

Clearing his throat, Darcy offered to help Anne to her room.

Anne refused. "I only wish to see my boys. Help me." Lifting her hands, Darcy gave her his strength to help her rise and walk to his room. Anne's eyes shone in exaltation as she looked upon her sleeping sons. Darcy helped her to sit on his side of the bed so that Anne could touch them. Unexpectedly, Anne slipped under the counterpane moving close to the babies and began to quietly profess her love for them as she stroked the cheeks of each.

Darcy stood back. It was a loving scene, even if it felt odd to see Anne in his bed. And he would be taking her place when he returned. Allowing Anne time to be near the boys, Darcy excused himself to finally clean up and acquire fresh clothing. Anne waved her hand airily toward him. "Take your time," she told him.

~~~oo0oo~~~

When he returned, Anne was still in his bed and still stroking the infants. "Anne, it is now time for me to rest. Allow me to assist you to your room."

Anne begged him for a few more minutes with the babies. Deciding to allow her only a very few more minutes, Darcy went to find Mrs. Wilson so he could ask about Elizabeth's health now that she had delivered. When he found her, she and Peeke had almost finished cleaning the birthing room. Mrs. Wilson saw him and called him in, saying she had a few more things to tell him. Feeling like a young lad about to be scolded by his mother, Darcy sat apprehensively in the corner chair Anne had occupied during the birth.

"Right," Mrs. Wilson began. "You saw what happened here?" she asked him with her brows raised.

Darcy nodded.

"Good. Her body has taken quite a beating to have your sons," she reminded him. "Now you need to leave her alone for at least two months and let her heal."

His face must have shown he was slightly confused as to her meaning when she demanded he leave Elizabeth alone.

"Young man, I mean you must not importune her for the next two months," she informed him with a raised eyebrow. "Now, I know you have had your way every day since April, but you will have to either deny yourself or find another outlet. She is to be left alone." Ignoring Darcy's chagrined expression, Mrs. Wilson continued. "Peeke will help care for her and the babies, what her mother and friends would normally be doing for her. I will come help her a few hours each day to get her started. Lord knows the girl needs all the help she can get." Looking again at Darcy, Mrs. Wilson wanted to know that he understood her instructions.

Darcy assured her he understood, then asked, "Will I be able to help her as well?"

Mrs. Wilson raised an eyebrow. "You can be in the room while I help her. Then you will know most of it and can assist her when she needs it." Looking at Peeke, Mrs. Wilson pronounced the room returned to rights. It was time to go help the new mother and babies. Starting with a change and a proper feeding.

Following Mrs. Wilson back to his room, Darcy helped remove Anne from his bed and began to lead her back to her room so she could rest. "No, I will not leave," Anne declared. "I want to learn how to care for the babies also."

How dare Anne invade his private time with Elizabeth as they learned together to take care of their sons? He looked down at her as she intently shuffled her way to the chair still beside Elizabeth's side of the bed while Elizabeth remained sleeping. He quickly decided today was not a good day to spend fighting Anne's unusual propensities. Neither he nor Elizabeth would be sleeping unclothed or engaging in amorous activities so Anne might stay as long as Mrs. Wilson and Peeke were in company. Once the other women left, Darcy was resolute, that would be the time Anne must return to her room as well. He and Elizabeth did need some privacy today.

Finding his proper place in their bed, Darcy lay beside Elizabeth, resting his eyes as Mrs. Wilson and Peeke silently began preparing the room, bringing out the linen clouts and pilchers and other baby items that had not been expected to be needed for another few weeks. (2) Anne sat beside Elizabeth with eyes only for her boys.

In all too soon a time, the boys started squirming and began to make little grunting noises. Darcy opened his eyes to watch them. Both had little Monmouth caps on to keep them warm, but he could see strands of dark hair escaping here and there. Their eyes were still closed, but he knew it would be Elizabeth's eyes he saw each time he looked at either of his sons' faces. Their mouths and jaws, he felt, were his own. Their noses were mere little nubs, which parent they would resemble was to remain a mystery for years to come.

Mrs. Wilson and Peeke each reached over Elizabeth and took a baby. Darcy sat up to watch as they deftly untied the linens designed to catch their excretions and replaced each with a fresh one. When he glimpsed the enormous genitals his sons were endowed with, his pride rose once again. (3) Peeke looked at his expression and told him, "They are not so special, sir. All boys come out looking like that."

By the end of the changing, the boys were well stirred up and demanding their mother.

His irritation that they would disturb his resting Elizabeth conflicted with his irritation that his boys were crying, causing Darcy to sit to the side and allow the more experienced ladies to do their job. Elizabeth was roused and encouraged to sit. The ladies placed a number of pillows around her sides to support the babies during the feeding, they told her.

"There are a few ways to do this," Mrs. Wilson began. "With two, you either have to feed one then the other or you have to learn to feed them both at the same time. I recommend trying to feed them both at once so that you will have more time to rest yourself." Mrs. Wilson was holding the smaller baby, the surprise, as she sat beside Elizabeth. Peeke stood to the side, holding the larger one, the heir. Mrs. Wilson attached the littlest Darcy to Elizabeth, with the baby placed along her side, his feet to Elizabeth's back. He was a ravenous one, not always able to hang on like he needed to, but trying desperately and crying out in frustration when he was not able to achieve his goal.

As Peeke handed Mrs. Wilson the heir, Darcy noticed some fluid beginning to come from Elizabeth's free breast. Elizabeth noticed it as well. "Yes, that is the other benefit to feeding them together. You will not leak," Mrs. Wilson told her as she attached the other baby. The larger boy had his own difficulties staying on but was less frantic in his attempts to reconnect.

Darcy watched them feed and watched as Elizabeth began her role as a mother. Mrs. Wilson had more instructions to give, many of which included him if he was willing to take on the role of helper. He was assigned to the role of baby wrangler. When it was time to feed them, he would be the one to hand them to Elizabeth once she became comfortable. Peeke and Mrs. Wilson would continue to change the babies for the first few days, working to teach Darcy how it was done. After all of the newborn excretions ended, Mrs. Wilson felt Darcy would be able to take on the job of assistant nappy changer as well. Their excretions would be less unpleasant after those newborn ones were out.

Once the boys were fed, Mrs. Wilson and Peeke each took a baby, placed it on her shoulder, and then danced around while patting its back until each baby belched. At that point, the boys seemed ready to return to slumber, and Elizabeth slid down between the bedclothes to join them. Mrs. Wilson and Peeke returned the boys to the bed and excused themselves to let the new mother rest.

Darcy looked up at Anne, still sitting in the chair, silently watching everything. "It is time for you to return to your room," Darcy ordered, looking forward to some time alone with his new family.

"We must first give them names. We cannot keep calling them 'Heir' and 'Surprise' like you have been so far," Anne told him. "The first one will be Lewis, named after my father as we decided before. The second one should be called Bennet, as he was a surprise arrival just as his grandfather has been."

Elizabeth turned toward Anne, having not realized she was in the room until she began to speak. "Do you think it wise to give your son my name?"

Anne lifted herself from the chair and began her shuffle to her own room. She stopped, turned, looked at Elizabeth, said, "Yes," and then returned to her arduous trek to her room.

Elizabeth looked toward Darcy as Anne left the room. He chuckled, "She is becoming odder and odder." Looking down on their boys, he bestowed a kiss to the head of each. "Lewis, Bennet, I am so pleased to meet you both," he offered in mock formality. Leaning over the babies, he gave a lingering kiss to Elizabeth. "My dear one," he said as he stroked her cheek. "You did so well. I admit, over the past few weeks, I had grown increasingly fearful for your safety as Mrs. Wilson kept saying he was too large." Darcy smiled looking again at his sons. "They are not so big after all." Then, unable to keep from sharing the one aspect of his pride, his eyes brightened as he asked, "Did you see how well-endowed they are? They will make their wives happy."

Elizabeth, though still exhausted, smiled and shook her head at his foolishness. "You are as bad as Lady Catherine. Do you have young ladies already picked out for them?"

Enjoying her teasing, he continued the game. "Oh no, their wives have yet to be born. They must be younger, you know. But I'll make sure we make note of all the eligible young women born five to ten years hence so we can pick the most desirable ones. We will particularly need to find gentlemen who like to hide their treasured daughters on small estates outside of town."

Again Elizabeth simply shook her head as she sunk into the covers, her eyes beginning to droop from her fatigue.

Darcy looked at her in earnest, wishing to know a few things before she returned to sleep. "How do you feel?"

"Like I fell off a horse," she groaned. "Every single part of my body is sore."

Unable to keep himself from teasing again, Darcy asked, "You know the best thing to do when you fall off a horse?" When she looked questioningly at him, he smiled mischievously, "To get back on." She groaned and pulled the coverlet up further when he realized exactly what he had just suggested. Trying to retract, he quickly added, "But not right away, you need to have time to heal. Mrs. Wilson ordered me not to importune you for two months."

Elizabeth sighed and said "Lovely woman," with a satisfied grin on her face.

He had deserved that. But he still had a few questions that he needed to be answered. "BenKey," he stroked her hair as he spoke, "When Mrs. Wilson asked if you felt 'that' after Lewis was born and when she was concerned about his being so small, what did you feel?"

Elizabeth pulled open one eye. "I felt Bennet move. He was kicking his way out to be with Lewis."

Darcy continued to stroke her hair while she went back to sleep. He then put one large hand across both Lewis and Bennet, as he allowed himself some rest as well.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Thursday, 11 February 1813

Rosings

The first two weeks with the boys had been a blur. Elizabeth could never get enough sleep before they were demanding to be fed again. Peeke had been an incredible help. The first few days, she was always there to take the boys when they woke to freshen them up, bring them back to Elizabeth to feed, pat out their air bubbles, and then place them back in the bed. After a day or two of rest, Elizabeth was able to move about more easily, though still aching and fatigued. Peeke worked to teach the finer points of infant care, like how to get the air bubbles up and the best ways to apply the clout.

Elizabeth could not help but grin when she thought of Darcy learning his lessons on freshening up the boys. She had been so exhausted that first day, she was in no way ready for the boys to wake up. But Lewis and Bennet were squirming there beside her, beginning to cry. Peeke came in, taking Lewis to freshen up while their father did the same for Bennet, insisting he would learn to help. Elizabeth stayed in bed and watched. Peeke expertly kept a cloth over Lewis' private region, but Darcy, having yet to learn many of those finer points, allowed Bennet the full freedom he thought all men needed to have once in a while. The chill of the air induced Bennet to happily let loose a stream straight into his father's face. Elizabeth snickered as she watched Darcy cover Bennet's fountain with frustration, then clean himself, before attempting to apply the clout while grumbling to the boy, "You were the one kicking me in the head, were you not?"

Peeke taught her how to position the boys by herself so they would both feed at once, with Darcy learning all he could. Once the boys finished eating, Peeke worked with them both to teach them different ways to bubble them, including a method that involved laying them across one's lap.

Although there was much work to care for the pair, Elizabeth was still thankful there had been two smaller babies rather than one very large one.

Darcy was overjoyed with his two boys. His heir came along with a playmate, all at once. After their second week of life, they had become quite adept at getting their food. "It does not surprise me at all, considering how possessive they were of it when they were inside your belly," he laughed. He had found his own way to be a part of the feeding process. He would refresh one boy, while Elizabeth would take care of the other. Then he would settle Elizabeth in a cozy spot between his legs—her placement had to be carefully arranged so as not to cause him agony—with his knees bent to either side of her. Though they did place a pillow or two on top of each leg to help hold the babies in place, his legs did most of the work of propping the boys in place while they fed. It allowed him to watch from over her shoulder, as well as gave him the opportunity to hold or caress the babies as they ate. He loved this position. He could watch as the boys flailed their hands about at first until they found their mother's breast with one hand and their brother's hand with the other. (4) It also made it easy for him to take the first one finished—usually Bennet, Darcy was convinced the boy was trying to make up for starting off smaller—and get his belch out.

Once the boys had been born, Anne relocated herself almost constantly to the chair beside Elizabeth's bed. Much to Darcy's frustration, it was not uncommon for Anne to be sitting beside the bed caressing and whispering to the boys when they woke in the morning. He would grumble about his anticipation of having his family to himself while helping Elizabeth care for their babies. As eccentric as Anne was, she still obviously loved the boys and Elizabeth felt they owed it to her to allow her what remaining time she had left with the children she was responsible for creating. Darcy would grumble back at her that he would have gotten around to it on his own eventually but finally dropped it, deciding instead to relish the times Anne did spend in her own room.

When Darcy was gone from the room, Anne was there to help with their feedings. Peeke would place one of the boys across Anne's lap and have her pat his back until he released the air from his belly. Then Peeke would sit by Anne as she held her baby, speaking gently to him to assure he knew how much she loved him and what she wished for his future. "When not in company you will call Darcy 'Papa' and Elizabeth 'Mama' because that is what loving families do," she once whispered to them, as Elizabeth looked at Peeke in bewilderment.

On the day precisely two weeks after the boys were born, Anne demanded to hold them both at once. For Elizabeth's comfort, they sat Anne in a large, winged back chair with pillows piled high on the arms to help support Anne's weak appendages. Peeke and Elizabeth both sat on stools in front of the chair to assist her.

While Anne held a boy in each arm, she wore a beatific smile. Looking up at Elizabeth, she thanked her. "This is more than I ever hoped for," she said quietly gazing down at 'her' boys. "They will never be alone like I was. They will always have each other." Again resting, she tried to rock the boys a bit even in her weakness. "You will go with Darcy. You will marry. It is in my will—that is what I wish for." Watching her boys again as she pooled her energy, she finally looked at Elizabeth. "These must not be the only ones. There must be more. A happy house of many children."

Smiling, Elizabeth assured her, "Darcy and I have come to an understanding. We will stay at Netherfield Park while I foster Lewis and Bennet until we can marry. I can make no promises of future children, but we would do nothing to stop them."

"You may tell them when they get older," Anne authorized. "But while they are small, I ask you to keep them mine."

This surprised Elizabeth. If it became known Anne was not their mother, it would deny Lewis his position as heir and would expose her own misdeeds. "I cannot see any reason for them to know."

Anne, now fatigued and willing to relinquish the boys to Elizabeth and Peeke, rested her head against the wing of the chair. "You will be the only mother they know. It may happen that one day that they will do better if they know of your connection to them." Anne breathed deeply a few times to regain her strength. "If that day comes, tell them, but tell them I ensured they were created in love. Created to bring you and Darcy together." Her eyelids began to close, her head tilting further into the chair. When she drug her eyelids up again, she caught Elizabeth's questioning eye. "There will be an explanation when I die. I am not strong enough now." She could no longer ward off the fatigue encompassing her and succumbed to slumber.

~~~oo0oo~~~

No letters had been written. No announcements had been made.

Darcy did send short notes to both the earl and Georgiana letting them know of the boys' entry into the world, but warning them not to speak of it until a later date of which they were still deciding.

Of course, the servants knew. Peeke had them sending up prayers of thanksgiving. They all looked forward to the day they could meet the twin boys they felt responsible for bringing safely into the world with their fervent pleas to the Savior. The servants, of course, told their family and friends, but Peeke had told them the official announcement had yet to be sent out. Until it was, they needed to keep their information local.

The servants also knew of Miss Bennet's service to her friend. As Mrs. Darcy's health was beginning to wane—the birth took much out of her you know—Miss Bennet was stepping into the role of mother for her dear friend's babies. Mrs. Darcy had begged Miss Bennet to foster her boys, knowing she would be a loving mother to them, which is all the mistress wanted for her boys. The servants, among themselves, felt Mrs. Darcy wanted Miss Bennet to become the next Mrs. Darcy to keep her boys from having a jealous stepmother who might harm them to promote her own progeny.

Anne's health was rapidly declining, but she felt it important to wait before sending word of the birth. Lady Catherine was now allowed in Anne's room each day to see her grandsons. Though showing the proper amount of required adoration for her grandsons, she was more concerned about appearances, lest Rosings Park be lost to her. To appease Lady Catherine, Anne assured her mother that appearances were being maintained. The servants were content and Anne had Elizabeth and Darcy's promise to wed, guaranteeing her sons a proper stepmother. Lady Catherine was at first seriously displeased with the idea of her daughter being replaced by someone from so low a station, but Anne insisted.

And insisted.

And insisted.

And insisted. Eventually wearing down her mother's objections so the union would have her blessing, an important step in it being accepted by the ton.

The first of March, Anne decided. The first of March was when they should send out their official notifications. The boys would be a month old, and Elizabeth would have had a full month to heal. No announcement would be made before the first of March, even if she should pass before that day.

As to other correspondence, Anne asked Elizabeth to set aside more time each day to keep up with it. Elizabeth had fallen behind over the past two weeks and would tell of Anne's delivery and care of the twins as her reason.

She congratulated Charlotte on the healthy birth of her daughter, Miss Catherine Collins, born on the fourth of February, which their friend had announced in her most recent letter. Elizabeth already knew Mr. Collins had left Hunsford for Lucas Lodge in the middle of January to attend his wife, and the three were to return at the end of March.

She returned letters to Jane, the Gardiners, and Longbourn, providing enough information to keep them sated and dispel any concerns.

To Georgiana and the Matlocks, Darcy sent letters granting them permission to announce the twins on their calls starting on the first of March.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Friday, 26 February 1813

Rosings

Once the boys were born, once she was able to name them, hold them, and assure Darcy would make Elizabeth their mother, Anne no longer had a reason to stay.

After holding both boys in her arms at the same time that one day, she was never strong enough to do it again. During the third week of their lives, she was able to have a baby across her lap with Elizabeth or Peeke there to help as she patted its back, but this past week she had not even the energy to remove herself from the bed. Elizabeth and Darcy would bring the boys to her, laying them on the bed beside her so she could caress and coo at them.

By Friday, Anne no longer had the strength to lift her hand to stroke their cheeks or the breath required to murmur her adorations. Mr. Pryce was called. Anne was not able to rouse herself to attend the exam. He gravely informed Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine, and Elizabeth that Anne was unlikely to awaken again. He advised them that she was starting to get a fever, that it would likely rise to an alarming level, and it would lower only when the life passed from her. He counseled that she would live no more than a few days, the week at most.

Considering Lady Catherine's selfishness throughout the entirety of Anne's life, including during her demise over the past couple of years, Darcy, Elizabeth, and Peeke expected her to take the news with a level of serenity.

Which she did—at first.

She walked calmly to Anne's side after Mr. Pryce's pronouncement, taking her hand and patting it. "Now, Anne. You need to sit up, and we need to discuss your boys and where we should send them to school. I think Eton is the only option for those of such elevated rank. From there, either Oxford or Cambridge. The men in my family have gone to Cambridge, but Oxford has produced a few remarkable gentlemen, including my husband. I think it must be Cambridge to respect the most elevated side of the family." She looked at her daughter who had not moved. "Anne! I told you that you need to sit up so we can discuss the boys. I know you were speaking of Darcy marrying Miss Bennet, but that is not possible when he is already married to you. However, we can have an arrangement like the one I had with Christine and move Miss Bennet here permanently for his pleasure. Their children will be raised as yours …" and on and on she went, discussing things that would never happen.

Mr. Pryce handed Darcy another bottle of laudanum while Aunt Catherine continued to speak to Anne, intermittently berating her to sit up, these discussions must be had! "When she realizes it is too late, you will need to give her a few drops of this. She may need to take it for an extended time."

Looking up at the doctor while holding Bennet, Elizabeth asked, "Why is she doing this?"

"Likely it is because she has never given her daughter the love or the attention parents should give their children. Now that it is far too late, she is trying to make up for it first, but when she realizes it is too late …" Mr. Pryce trailed off before finishing. "It can be devastating for them once they realize they have thrown away the only part of their life that really mattered."

As there was no way to know how long it would take Lady Catherine to understand that Anne may be alive a few more days but she was no longer with them, he bid his farewells and offered to send the replacement rector Mr. Collins had installed to cover his stay in Hertfordshire.

Darcy and Elizabeth took the boys into their bedroom, laying them on the bed so Elizabeth could take over their care and refresh them for their upcoming feeding. Before she began, Darcy engulfed her in his arms, kissing her intently. "I thank God that we will never be like that. We will never withhold our love from each other or from our children." Kissing her again, he returned to his aunt and awaited her coming realization, sending Peeke in to help Elizabeth.

After an hour of speaking without stopping, Aunt Catherine finally started to become angry with Anne for not sitting up or even waking up. She became more and more irate at her recalcitrance. Darcy finally caught her attention. "Aunt. Anne is no longer able to speak with us. She only barely remains with us. Now is the time to say your goodbyes."

When his aunt had looked at him, then at her daughter, then at him again, and once again upon her daughter, she truly saw her daughter for the first time in many years. The frailty. The pallor. The tumors. The labored breathing. This time when Aunt Catherine looked at her daughter, she began to shake, unable to utter a word. As the shaking intensified, she collapsed in a wail. "NOOOOOOOO! NOT MY BABY ANNE!" She continued to wail as she curled into a ball on the floor.

Darcy was shaken to see his formidable aunt respond in such a way. He would never have expected this. He prepared some tea with laudanum and managed to get the solution in her mouth as she lifted her head to inhale for another round of wailing. She refused any comfort he offered while he waited for the sedation to start. After another quarter of an hour or more, she finally began to calm. Darcy called for her lady's maid and two footmen to return her to her chambers, instructing the maid to give her a drop every few hours to keep her calm during this turbulent time.

Returning to Anne, Darcy watched. Her only indications of life were the barely perceptible movements of her chest and the rising temperature of her body, yet she lay there with a slight smile. He could only hope she was looking forward to leaving this world and entering some place better. He offered his prayers that she would soon be reunited with her father, her beloved Aunt Christine, and the Doctor Bloome whom Elizabeth had mentioned. While sitting in her room, he penned quick notes to the earl and Georgiana, updating both on the situation at Rosings. He called a servant to have the letters posted early the next morning.

When he returned to their room, he asked Peeke to stay with Anne while he rested and helped with the babies. When he lay beside a now sleeping Elizabeth who was curled around Lewis and Bennet, he wrapped himself around them all, as he stroked her hair to comfort himself to sleep.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Monday, 1 March 1813

London

Today was the day. Georgiana and Lady Matlock took their news about the birth of Lewis and Bennet Darcy with them on their morning calls. The note from Darcy about Anne's decline had not yet reached London when they left, so their only news was that of the strapping young heir and his surprise identical brother.

At Lady Amelia's, Lady Matlock happily allowed Georgiana to announce her nephews, now a month old, as well as answer all the ladies' questions.

"Yes, we are all so happy. They were quite the surprise, the doctor expected a larger than average child, you know my brother is so tall. I believe their mother was well pleased to deliver two smaller babies instead of one larger one."

"The heir was named after his grandfather, the surprise named for his mother's dear friend who is even now stepping in to help my sister, Anne. We are all so pleased dear Anne has had Miss Bennet to help her. She loves the boys as if they are her own. Anne has even secured Miss Bennet's promise to care for them, perhaps even foster them, if Anne's poor health becomes a problem. Miss Bennet is a dear friend of mine also, and I shall gladly extend her an invitation to my home to help me care for the boys." Georgiana recited the script they had practiced for the group of ladies.

"They are in perfect health. Fitzwilliam says they already lift their heads to find their food. They were born about six weeks early, but they seem to not be affected by their early birth." Another group of ladies nodded how wonderful that was.

"Anne's doctor has extolled the advantages both for the mother and the baby of the mother being the one to feed the child. But with Anne so frail, we are taking the advice of the esteemed doctor John Sims and having a friend help with it to keep the illnesses away." (5) Georgiana continued her performance for the ladies.

Lady Caroline Lamb was attending the morning call, trying to move beyond her summer scandal with Lord Byron but still mourning his rejection. She loved children, though she found it difficult to carry her own. She lauded the merits of feeding one's child for one's self and then began a discussion on her good friend, Lady Erie, who had adopted a foundling and fed it herself, much improving her décolletage, keeping her courses at bay, and kept her from becoming with child. (6) Not to mention the effects on the mind, much like laudanum without the nasty parts.

Lady Huron was calling that morning as well. She did nothing to hide her amusement in dear Eliza being so reduced as to be a nurse, maybe even a foster, for Mr. Darcy. Lady Huron wondered about that last statement, it sounded as if dear Eliza was now a wet-nurse for Mr. Darcy. As Lady Huron smirked, she began to allow her wit to flow about Eliza Bennet and her reduction in status, before Lady Matlock quickly cut into her conversation to ask about her upcoming trip to the country that Lord Huron had mentioned at dinner a few weeks past. Lady Matlock understood that Lord and Lady Huron may be making a trip to his estate soon if certain behavioral reports were relayed to him. Lady Huron's face visibly soured, and she remained silent for the remainder of the visit, returned home, and complained of a headache after her visit to Lady Amelia's.

Although Lady Huron knew what her malicious gossiping in town would earn her, she felt free to share the information with her sister, dear Jane, who was currently at Netherfield Park beginning her confinement. She ensured she let dear Jane know of dear Eliza's coming disparagement in a way that ensured dear Jane would remember the lower status of her family compared to that of Lady Huron. Feeling quite smug, she posted the letter that day, finding her headache much relieved as the letter began its journey to Hertfordshire.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Monday, 1 March 1813

Rosings

The servants watched as the doctor and midwife left Rosings with a grim expression on their faces, speaking quietly to each other.

They could hear the babies, so they knew they were in good health. It must be the mistress. Lady Catherine had collapsed from nervous exhaustion on Friday and had been under sedation since. It could only be the mistress.

They saw the undertaker arrive and make his way up the stairs. Mr. Darcy's melancholy as he directed two of the footmen to attend him, the servants knew that it was the mistress. Her time had finally come. Mr. Darcy sent an express to London to inform the rest of the family of Anne's passing.

The servants all paused in their chores as they said a prayer for her soul, said a prayer for the continued health of her boys, and said a prayer for the future success of Rosings Park. As they returned to their tasks, they comforted themselves knowing that even if the residents inside of Rosings Park changed, little at the estate would change.

~~~oo0oo~~~

(1) The temptation was strong to use Han Solo's line to Princess Leia here: "I know." Feel free to substitute that line if you prefer it. (Edit: Wow, I cannot believe Carrie Fisher died since my last post. This was written quite a few weeks ago. It was not meant as any tribute to her or anything like that. But I raise my light saber in salute to a witty and brilliant woman who made so many movies better, even uncredited, and whose books make me laugh out loud.)

(2) Much of what I learned of Regency babies' care can be found by Googling "Baby Jane Austen's First Two Years" and is on the JaneAustensWorld site on WordPress. 'Clouts' were the linen clothes used as baby diapers. 'Pilchers' are the diaper covers. The people of Regency times considered urine a disinfectant, so had a much different attitude toward it than we do today.

(3) If you do not already know, baby boys are typically born with relatively large testicles. I have heard more than one father comment on his son's endowment, crediting his genetic bequeathing.

(4) I have twin girls, but they used to do this. They fed holding hands. One of my beta's is a twin and it was reported that she did the same.

(5) Doctor John Sims was an OB doc called in to help Princess Charlotte in 1817, but they did not let him do anything. There seems to be some speculation that if he would have been able to use forceps she might have lived. I am making this up about him recommending feeding your own child or having a friend for the illness. Maybe Georgiana is also making it up, I do not know. I am having her throw out well known and respected names to not only give respectability to having Elizabeth feeding the babies but also not giving too many details unless specifically asked.

(6) Since I had Lord Huron (I picked the name from the band, but I think the band took their name from the lake), I made up a Lady Erie to throw in the mix. Super Beta 42isIndeedTheAnswer reminded me "And we know Caroline is a 'Superior sister'." Thank you for that one! Also, please do not take anything in this story as medical truth.

Note: If you didn't catch it, the midwife is Mrs. Wilson - Will's son. I thought I was being clever.

Note in 2021: I appreciate all of your comments! Thank you for them. This semester has taken so much more than I anticipated, it will be mid May when it ends and I will have time, but I am going to have this finished posting long before that. There's really one more chapter after this one, then Anne's letter, an epilogue, and Anne's POV on chapter 27 (when Georgiana found out.) I'll do my best to get everything posted this week.