Chapter 36: I Would Walk Ten Thousand Miles
Wednesday, 3 March 1813
Rosings Park
The earl and countess had left London the day before, immediately after receiving the express, so they could attend Anne's funeral along with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. Lady Catherine attended after having been dosed into a stupor with belladonna. Only able to stare at a point on the wall in her drugged trance, Lady Catherine made unintelligible noises that vaguely sounded as though she were instructing those around her.
Once the ceremony was completed, the family returned to the house. The following day would be spent with the solicitor reading Anne's will and distributing the final letters she had mentioned during her decline, but for now, the ladies wished to snuggle the babies while the gentlemen shared a drink to toast Darcy's prowess as a stud—two fine lads at once! Not many gentlemen could brag of that!
As they rode back to Rosings, Darcy shared a few amusing tidbits about his boys. The one that most charmed Georgiana—and Lady Eleanor as well, though she was better at hiding it—was hearing about the boys holding each other's hand while the fed. Their aunt was determined to see it for herself, for nothing in the world could be more adorable, she was certain of it!
Georgiana adored her little nephews upon first sight. She asserted Lewis to be more like his father and Bennet more like his mother. Staying in her room in Anne's wing, she vowed to fill every free moment and free hand with a nephew.
That first evening, she knocked on Elizabeth's door. When given permission, she entered the room that her brother had already warned her was still occupied by both the boys' parents. With a zealous desire to be intimately involved in the care of the nephews, Georgiana assured her brother that she would not be disconcerted if he occupied Elizabeth's bed while helping her with the babies. She wanted to learn how to help with the bathing, refreshing, and feeding as much as she could so as not be left out of her brother's family.
When she first walked in, Georgiana was uncomfortable to discover Elizabeth lying between her brother's legs while they fed the boys. After both had assured her nothing untoward was happening, she took Anne's chair by the bed and relaxed as she was allowed to watch the tiny babies each grasp the other's hand, flailing their joined fists around while they ate. At that moment, Georgiana knew, beyond question, that she had the most perfect nephews that had ever been born and her purpose was to stay with them to help protect and teach them. And maybe spoil them a bit as well.
After their bellies were full, her brother showed her how to get the air out so they would not squall later. He also showed her the best way to refresh them, keeping a cloth over their little fountains that, particularly little Bennet, had a proclivity to spray from.
Once the boys were settled in their cradle, Georgiana shared the details of her morning visits in which she announced the birth of the boys. "Oh yes, at the first one, Lady Huron was there and tried to make rude accusations about you being my brother's foster and his wet nurse,"—Elizabeth blushed at how close to the truth that accusation was—"but Aunt Eleanor reminded her of Lord Huron's threat to banish her to his estate if he heard any more tales of her spreading malicious gossip against his allies. I believe he considers you an ally, right, Brother?"
Mr. Darcy smiled first at remembering his own experience of the sampling of his sons' food—his wet-nurse, indeed!—before he confirmed his sister's question about his friendly acquaintance with Lord Huron and his pleasure at someone finally reigning in Lady Huron's vitriolic wit. (1)
"Lady Huron had the audacity to come by Matlock House yesterday," Georgiana said with disbelief, "wishing to learn more about the boys, but we only had a few moments to speak as we were leaving for Kent, so we turned her away." Georgiana then went back to the four visits on Monday announcing the boys and how excited everyone was. She relayed the envy of two of the ladies who were expecting for their first time, both now hoped for such luck as to deliver an heir and spare at once, freeing them from such further duties to their husband. (2)
Though it felt wrong to be teasing and laughing with one another when Anne had just passed, they all knew it was what Anne would have wanted. Georgiana insisted, "I am promoting her boys in society, and laughing at those who would impede them. Anne had no greater wish than the success and happiness of her child. Children!" Becoming subdued, Georgiana continued. "You will each receive a letter from her tomorrow where she will explain herself. Though I still do not agree with her methods, I see she was working in her own way to improve life for everyone."
Elizabeth and Darcy asked her more about the contents of the letters, but Georgiana could give no answers.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Wednesday, 3 March 1813
Rosings Park
Anne's will was read that morning. It was much as was expected: everything would be left to her sons. When the will was written, Anne had no way of knowing she was having two heirs, so it was unfortunately written such that Lewis, as the oldest and the official heir, inherited all of Rosings Park. It left Bennet to receive any of his support from the Darcy estate. Anne also bequeathed Elizabeth an additional ten thousand pounds in her will, ensuring she was left quite a wealthy woman indeed.
Anne did leave a few surprises for her family. First was the large stack of letters Anne had prepared to be sent out after her death. There were nearly fifty envelopes of varying thicknesses. The solicitor pulled out the letters addressed to those in attendance, distributing them to their intended recipients. The letters to Elizabeth, Lewis, and Bennet were the thickest, with the letters for Lewis and Bennet being given to Darcy for the boys to open upon gaining their majority.
The second surprise was her demand that Darcy wed Elizabeth within a month of her death to secure her mother-of-choice for her sons. She had begun the process of obtaining a special license. Darcy need only go to London and consult with their cousin, the Bishop, who had already expedited the process. He should make haste to obtain it, as Anne saw no reason the two should wait. Just marry and be done with it.
In every one of her final correspondences, Anne included that her greatest wish was to see Elizabeth quickly installed as the mother to her child. She told each friend she could trust Elizabeth to care for it and not allow jealousy to bring harm to it while promoting her own children. These letters would smooth Elizabeth's way for any who would call her a fortune hunter preying on the recent widower with a young baby to care for. Once the boys had been born, Anne added a note to the bottom of all of the letters: "Elizabeth must be the mother of my boys. I have healthy twin boys. My prayers have been answered!"
The last surprise was that, by a fluke of primogeniture, Rosings Park would have been Darcy's even without Lewis as the heir. The de Bourgh cousin who was to inherit had imbibed of an excessive amount of gin in celebration of the New Year, and thus poisoned himself. As there were no other heirs, this specific entail worked to go back up the line and to find the next legitimate claimant and that claimant would be Anne's husband, Darcy. Thus, even if something had happened to Elizabeth's pregnancy or if Lewis' maternity were to become known, Rosings Park would still legally be Darcy's to incorporate into his estate holdings as he saw fit. (3)
As the weather was poor that day, the London party decided to remain in Kent that night. Darcy would follow them to London when they left early the next morning so he could obtain the special license ordered by his late wife.
When he and Elizabeth retired that night, they discussed Anne's change of plans for them.
"Your letter from Anne is quite thick, will you read it tonight?" Darcy asked her, holding his own unopened letter.
"No, I am too tired to do it justice. Anne left us her plans in her will; I imagine this only explains her machinations in more detail." Elizabeth looked at the thick packet in her hand. It would take more than an hour to read such a lengthy missive. Until she and Darcy could publicaly acknowledge their connection, Lewis and Bennet were solely in her care. She did not have an hour or more to read the letter, and if she did have so much uninterrupted time, she would certainly use it to sleep.
Darcy leaned in close to her, kissing her on the nose. "So you will not mind being married to me on paper now? We have already had our ceremony," he quipped.
"While in these chambers, I have felt married to you for these past six months, at least. But if we are to marry so soon, I still fear what it will do, not only to my own reputation but also that of my sisters'," Elizabeth worried.
Darcy smirked. "By London measures, such a marriage will be nothing. Anne's requesting it will generate more talk than the actual wedding. All of the Bennet ladies will easily survive such a slight scandal."
Once Elizabeth could ensure the safety of her sisters' reputations, they decided Darcy would proceed to get the license and they would use it by the first of April, as Anne had asked. Darcy could not resist, "Not the first of April, we need to use it by the twenty-eighth of March."
When Elizabeth looked at him in confusion, asking why that date, he reminded her it would be two months since the boys had been born and he would be allowed to importune her once again!
Of course, she thought, that would be where his thoughts would lie. She now felt much better, though still a bit apprehensive to return to those activities. Darcy had not been left to suffer in his banishment. They still slept together, and she was able to give him the release he needed in other ways, some of which The Letter had taught her. Her breasts were still tender from the unrelenting demands the boys made upon her, but then she had Darcy roguishly asking for his turn to play once the babies were asleep. Her breasts were attention'ed out by the end of each day. Besides that part of her, she was now comfortable moving about in various ways, thus she felt they could return to their previous activities in the next week or two. Definitely before the twenty-eighth of March which he was holding himself to.
She smiled as she wondered how that would play out. Would they remain at Rosings Park until they married or go to London or Hertfordshire? Where it happened no longer mattered. What mattered was that she would never have to leave any of her boys—Lewis, Bennet, or Fitzwilliam Darcy.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Wednesday, 3 March 1813
Netherfield Park
"Good morning, Mama. Good morning, Mary, Kitty, Lydia." Jane welcomed her mother and sisters into her dressing room as she had now entered her confinement at Netherfield Park, expecting to have her child any time now.
"La! Look how round you are! How can you move about being so large?" Lydia cried. "I know husbands require babies, I would not think it such a pleasant thing to give them one."
Jane and Mrs. Bennet glanced conspiratorially at one another and left their response as nothing more than a sedated smile before Jane changed the subject. "Have you heard from Lizzy recently?"
"No," Mrs. Bennet said flatly. "I wrote her on Twelfth Night of my need to update the furniture and drapes in the sitting room, and she has only responded to deny me, adding in a few bits of vagueness on the happenings at Rosings Park. That girl is so tight with the purse strings, I am sure Longbourn will fall into ruins under her management!" she cried in despair. "I have sent several letters since but she has yet to respond. Mr. Bennet believes she has answered me and there is nothing more to say on the subject, that my pestering is keeping her from sending letters to any of us. He has forbidden me from writing her again until I can compose a letter with no references to my needs." She ended her stream of complaints with a petulant huff.
Nodding sympathetically, understanding both her mother's perceived need to spend and Elizabeth's steadfast determination to control Longbourn spending, Jane told them, "I have received fewer letters from her as well over these past weeks. I have been curious, wondering if perhaps she had taken ill and could not write. Then I received an unexpected letter from Caroline this morning."
Mrs. Bennet was always excited to hear updates from Lady Huron. Having a lady who was in such an exalted position as such a close relation could only help her younger girls' prospects. She listened attentively.
"It seems dear Anne had her baby," Jane shared. "I might better say, babies. Caroline says she had healthy twin boys on the twenty-eighth of January. I now see that as being the reason Lizzy has not had time to write. Helping take care of two babies must be exhausting for the entire household, though they much rejoice in it." Looking quizzically at her mother, Jane puzzled, "I only wonder at her not sharing the joy with us in her letters. Maybe the babies struggle, as I believe they were expected the same time as mine, but Lizzy has mentioned naught of it."
"Well, she has certainly shared none of it with us. This is the first I have heard of it." Turning to her other daughters, she accused, "Have any of you heard of this?"
They assured their mama they had not. "But if having one baby is as miserable as Jane looks, it must have been doubly as miserable to have two!" Lydia opined. "And so much work! Mrs. Forster has confided in me how exhausting it has been to help her sister after giving birth, they were up at all hours taking care of the little squaller. Mrs. Forster said she could not believe something so small could take so much work. She resolved to never have one of her own, for she would not wish to give up her fun for such a thing."
At Lydia's mention of the work involved, Mrs. Bennet's eyes lit. "I wonder if they will need Lizzy to stay longer to help with the babies? I dread her coming back as mistress, I will have none of my pin money!" she moaned. "Lizzy could easily stay as she has no prospects calling her home."
As Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Lydia happily laid out their plans for Lizzy to stay at Rosings Park, Charles knocked on Jane's door. "Pardon me, dear. This note just came express for you. It appears to be another from Caroline."
"Oh!" exclaimed Jane in surprise. Since she and Charles had left London, Caroline had only sent that one letter they had received that morning. The letter had been quite insulting toward Elizabeth, implying she was now reduced to being in service to the Darcys. Jane had been writing a reply when her mother and sisters arrived—a reply that reminded Lady Huron that Elizabeth Bennet would now be mistress of her own estate. If Elizabeth chose to aid her dear friend Anne's children, it would be in keeping with her generous heart.
To receive a second missive from Caroline in so short a time was astounding. "Charles, would you like to stay to hear what she sends so urgently?"
"Yes, dear. I admit, I was wondering what information it could contain," he answered, showing his curiosity at what his sister's unusual behavior might mean.
Breaking the seal and quickly reading over the words, tears began to pool in Jane's eyes. Charles quickly moved to her side to offer his support, while the other ladies looked at her expectantly. Jane looked up at Charles before answering. "It seems Anne has died. It must have happened Monday, as the Matlock's and her sister were leaving yesterday. (4) Caroline thought I would prefer to know sooner with Lizzy there, as it will likely consume much of their time and any correspondences will likely be delayed with all the necessary preparations." Then suddenly realizing the magnitude of the loss, Jane gasped. "Oh, what of the boys! They are fortunate to have Lizzy there as such a particular friend to the family."
Charles agreed, excusing himself to finish writing the letter of congratulations he had begun to Darcy when Jane had told him of the twins. Now it would also be one of condolences.
With Mr. Bingley gone, Mrs. Bennet wailed with joy in her eyes, "Oh my, such a tragedy! What will they do?" As she looked knowingly at her other silly daughters, she continued, "They will have to keep Lizzy there! Otherwise, how will they care for the babies with their mother gone."
Mary looked at her mother with disgust, knowing her mother dreaded Elizabeth returning. Though her father may have put a few restrictions on her, most of those he blamed on Lizzy's tightened finances. Now Mrs. Bennet saw Elizabeth's return as the end of her fun and the fun of her favorites.
Jane expressed her sadness at the idea of Elizabeth staying for longer than necessary, as she looked forward to her sister's help once her own baby was born.
Mrs. Bennet brushed aside Jane's wishes, as she made haste to excuse herself and her younger daughters from Netherfield Park. She would send notes to her sister, Lady Lucas, and Mrs. Long as soon as she could return to Longbourn. This was a topic that must be much discussed in her own, though outdated, parlor.
"Mr. Beeennneeetttt," she cried upon entering the house. She knew he despised her gossip, but this was about his darling Lizzy, so it was possible he might care. And besides, it was too good not to share. Lizzy's friend had twins, kept it a secret for a month, and had now died! As she rushed to his library, presumably looking for paper and pen to invite her confidants over, she shared the basics of the story with him. She knew he would not appreciate embellishments but her friends would satisfy her in that regard.
When he abruptly stood, putting down his book without even marking his page, she knew she had hit her mark.
However, when he called his valet to pack his trunk, sent word to the stables to prepare the carriage for a trip to Kent, then called for a footman to send an express to the Gardiners in London announcing his intent to stay that evening, Mrs. Bennet became frantic. This was not what she had expected. After all, it was not how women reacted to gossip. "Mr. Bennet, there is no reason for you to go to Kent," she wondered at his response. "Lizzy is there and helping the family." Then growing angry and defensive, she reminded him, "You expressly forbid me from going to Kent unannounced to save Lizzy the embarrassment. You told me she would refuse to take my call. Why would she accept you?"
Glaring at his wife, he simply dismissed her without further acknowledgment as he began to prepare for his journey. He would be leaving within a few hours.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Thursday, 4 March 1813
Rosings Park
"I will return tonight if I make good time," Darcy promised her. The sun was just brightening the horizon as he kissed her farewell. "Nothing will keep me away beyond the morrow."
He left to join his sister, aunt, uncle, and cousins on their return journey to London. It would take only a few hours to travel to London, then a few hours to find the Bishop and get the license. With the earlier sunsets this time of year, he might not have enough daylight to make it back this evening, but he would do everything in his power to attempt it.
Elizabeth stood at their window, watching him go. She would have felt melancholy as she watched the carriages pull away from the Rosings drive, but the babies started fussing again, so she turned her attentions away from the window to care for her boys.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Elizabeth put the boys back to sleep. It never failed to amaze her how often two such tiny creatures could eat. It seemed just as she finally settled them from finishing one meal, they would begin squirming for the next. Darcy had left four hours before, so he was likely in London now or very close to his arrival.
After a few hours of snuggling the boys in the warm bed, they once again demanded to be fed. While changing the clouts, she thought she heard what sounded like a carriage, but convinced herself it must be her imagination. It was much too early for Darcy to return, and there was no one else with a reason to come. Town only had gossip about the boys; the official announcement would not be published until next week. Anne's death would not be announced for another week after that, allowing the curious to assume she died in childbed. By that time, she and Darcy would be married and on a leisurely journey to Pemberley.
She positioned the boys for their feeding. They squirmed and grunted until each found the hand of the other, before relaxing into their meal with the united fists thumping their mother's chest. As Elizabeth basked in that overwhelming sense of peace that occurred each time the boys fed, she heard a ruckus at the door to the wing. The only voice she could discern was that of her father as he thanked the footman for bringing him to see his daughter.
Elizabeth dragged her eyes to the door as her father let himself into her room. When he saw her in the bed with a baby upon each breast, his face hardened.
"I told you not to feed them. It will only make this more difficult for you," he said curtly. "Finish quickly. They will have to find a substitute right away as we are leaving imminently." He looked around her room, pausing when his eyes landed on their objective. Pulling down the trunk, he opened it and began throwing things in.
"Papa!" she cried as she roused herself. "What are you doing? I am not leaving, not yet."
He stopped for a moment. "Yes, you are. I will not have them further abusing you and your good nature. I am bringing you home now. What we can not pack, we will send for later."
"Papa," she tried sounding sensible this time. "I cannot leave the boys. They will starve without me."
Mr. Bennet stopped, glaring at the babies suckling his daughter.
Watching her father's face closely, she saw no glimpse of clemency. Stroking the head of the smaller child, she looked into her father's eyes beseechingly. "This one is named Bennet. To honor us." His mouth faltered, showing a hint of a grin. His eyes almost imperceptibly softened. She knew if given a chance, her boys would win his heart.
But in another second, his face grew hard again. "Nice of them, but these people will find a nurse. We still must go. This is now their burden to carry. Lady Catherine said as much when she greeted me."
"Lady Catherine? But she is benumbed with laudanum to keep her from hysterics. She has not the senses to agree with anything." Stunned that Lady Catherine was allowed to wander about downstairs, she wondered how her father could have approached such a conversation.
Mr. Bennet broke a savage smile, "So much the better. It will make leaving that much easier for us. Now come, make haste."
"But, Papa, Liam and I are to marry when he returns. Anne wrote it in her will and has sent it in her final notes to her friends throughout the country," Elizabeth told him with a smile.
"Who is this Liam?" he wondered.
"Mr. Darcy," she responded with a blush in her cheeks at her inadvertently using that private name to her father. "He will return tonight or tomorrow, and then we shall be legally wed. I shall never have to give up my boys," she smiled. "I will be the one to raise my sons. We plan to bring the boys to his estate in Derbyshire and spend some time there as they grow stronger. Although out of respect for Anne, we will not announce our marriage for some months."
Elizabeth expected her father to be pleased with the news, considering how happy it made her. He had no reason to shun her boys now, they would be his grandsons in truth now.
But her father was not happy. "So now you will be tied to him for life? You told me the benefit of this arrangement was you only had to attend to the man for a year, unlike Charlotte who had her man for life. I knew these people were not to be trusted! First, she asked for you for a year, then asked you to foster, now she demands you marry her husband! Now it becomes no different than what Charlotte endures for her situation!"
Shaking his head, he swore bitterly, "It will not do. It is bad enough you had to agree to this because of me. I will not allow you suffer a lifetime with the arrogant man!" Thinking a bit more about the idea of Mr. Darcy marrying Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet became angrier. "He does not even have the decency to ask me for my blessing? What does that say about the man and how he will treat you? Will you only be an object for his pleasure? It is difficult enough to live with what I have put you through this year, I will not make you suffer a lifetime for my negligence."
As Elizabeth started to tell her father that it would not be that way, Peeke walked in to see Mr. Bennet begin throwing Elizabeth's things into the trunk. Quickly looking over the situation, she decided to address Mr. Bennet, as there was no one left in the house in any condition to do so. With the bequeathment from Anne's will, she no longer needed the job at Rosings Park and had no fear of repercussions. She stayed only these last few weeks to help with the babies out of loyalty and love for Anne and Miss Bennet.
"Mr. Bennet," Peeke demanded, immediately catching his attention. "Miss Bennet may not leave the premises. If Miss Bennet stops feeding the boys, she will be in severe pain within a few hours and that pain will last for days, potentially even becoming an infection. Beyond that, there is no other way to feed the babes. Even if we were able to get a wet nurse, she would only be able to feed one. Understand, if you take her and harm comes to his heirs, Mr. Darcy will see you hang."
Mr. Bennet stopped for a moment looking at Peeke while thinking through his options. "Send for your wet nurse. We will see if she can feed them both. From there I will decide."
Looking at him through narrowed eyes, Peeke distrusted the man but called a footman to arrange for the local wet nurse to come immediately.
After the boys had finished, Elizabeth had trouble settling them down. Concerned they could feel her unease, she tried to convince herself all would be well. Trying again to explain to her father that marriage to Mr. Darcy was what she wanted for herself, he refused to hear her, believing that she only wanted to stay with her babies and would end up misused and miserable.
Once the nurse arrived, she informed Mr. Bennet there was no way she could step in right away and feed two hungry boys. She also confirmed Peeke's story telling him Miss Bennet would be in severe pain, even risking fever, if she were to immediately stop nursing twins. Peeke exhaled in relief when the nurse confirmed her earlier pronouncements, believing she had convinced Mr. Bennet his daughter should stay.
But Mr. Bennet had his own ideas.
He had continued packing items from Elizabeth's room, but now he looked toward the baby items and began throwing those in. "Which one is named Bennet? He was the second born, correct? Then we will take him with us. There are two. We will have our baby, and he will have his heir."
Ordering a footman to load the trunks in his carriage, Mr. Bennet gave Elizabeth a few minutes to prepare herself and gather items necessary for traveling with little Bennet.
Elizabeth looked beseechingly at Peeke, tears in her eyes as her world spun out of control. "Please tell him when he gets back. Please have him bring Lewis to me." With one last gasp, she added, "Please tell him I love him." Her tears flowed as she slowly made her way to the carriage, hoping against hope that her love would arrive, but knowing he could not.
As the carriage pulled from the drive, Elizabeth held Bennet close to her as she felt Lewis begin to cry. Bennet, sensing the absence of his brother, or hearing his twin's cries, began to join his brother's protests. Elizabeth's whole body felt their sobs in a way she did not expect. The front of her dress became drenched as the babies' cries caused her body to release that which would comfort them. Quickly working to attach and comfort Bennet, she grabbed a clout from the bag to absorb the milk flowing from the other side. Bennet would suckle, but then quickly become frustrated as his empty hands flailed about seeking Lewis' hand. Trying to act as a substitute for his brother, Elizabeth gave him a finger to hold. He accepted it for a moment before understanding he was being fooled—his brother was not next to him—which made him wail even harder.
And so it was, the whole trip. Mr. Bennet stopped at the Gardiners in London for the evening, with Elizabeth sharing the story they had told the servants, that she used a device that allowed her to become able to feed her sickly friends' children. Elizabeth also shared with her aunt and uncle that her tears were because Bennet's twin brother had been left behind in misery. She no longer cared what her father thought or how others thought of him. She was enraged by his cruelty to her and to her sons, as Bennet cried in misery throughout the night, inconsolable due to his lost brother.
By the time she was ordered into the carriage early the next morning, she and little Bennet were both exhausted. She was sick with concern for little Lewis and could only worry about how he fared. Her tired and angry mind began to work on plans to reunite her boys and punish her father. Bennet complained much of the trip but finally fell into a weary slumber shortly before they reached Hertfordshire.
The carriage finally pulled up to Longbourn, with her mother and sisters waiting in front of the house, her mother waving a handkerchief in an artificial greeting. Elizabeth saw with sordid amusement the shock on her mother's face as she exited the carriage. Her mother froze upon seeing a baby in Elizabeth's arms.
"Ohhhh, dear, a baby!" her mother raved falsely as she came to examine the baby more closely. Looking questioningly at the child, her daughter, then her husband, but receiving no response, she finally asked, "Whose baby is this?"
"It is one of her friend's children. Her friend wished for her to foster both, but as Mr. Darcy was not there when we left, I did not wish for him to think we kidnapped his heir," Mr. Bennet explained tersely.
"Oh, a little boy!" Mrs. Bennet gushed as she started cooing over him. Having tried so often for a son herself, she could not but help feeling partial to this little one. "What is the handsome gentleman's name?"
"Bennet," Elizabeth answered flatly.
Mrs. Bennet's eyes flew open as her mouth hung. Composing herself as best she could in her excitement, she told the little gentleman "Oooooohhhhh, that sounds so well! You are a perfect little gentleman, Bennet. We have long wanted one around this house, and now you are here!" she effused.
"Mama, I am tired. Bennet and I need to refresh, and I need to feed him," Elizabeth purposely moved to the house to achieve her ends.
Her mother's confusion was evident. "You feed him? How is it that you feed him?"
Feeling both exhausted and vindictive, Elizabeth answered, "I'll leave that for Papa to explain." And she disappeared into the house, returning to her long-abandoned room to feed and comfort both her son and her soul.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Thursday, 4 March 1813
Rosings Park
It had been an arduous journey, but well worth it to come home to Elizabeth and the boys that night. He approached Rosings thinking of a warm bath where his Elizabeth/BenKey would help him wash.
He climbed the steps to the main door with a grin on his face. He looked forward to giving each of his sons a kiss, and then put them down for a rest so he could turn his attentions to Elizabeth.
Until he walked in the door.
Lady Catherine was wandering the hall in her drug-induced stupor. She stopped in front of him, saying, "They have taken the boys to foster, just as Anne asked. He said we should not have asked it of her, and perhaps we should not have. He said we should be ashamed, but I am not. Anne was so happy with her friend. More happy. More happy …" and she wandered off, heading toward the parlor.
Confused, Darcy began to head toward the stairs to his room. He happily realized he would only need to use those hidden stairs another day—two at the most—before he could move her into his room. He would move into hers, but it was in such an inconvenient location. Or, an even more appealing thought, they would have everything packed and begin their journey to Pemberley within the week.
He had spoken to his uncle about Aunt Catherine. She could be sent somewhere in her mania, but it would be just as easy and, better for the family name, to keep her at Rosings Park and under the care of her long-serving lady's maid and staff. None felt her likely to be much longer of this world as she refused food and water in favor of laudanum and oblivion. Uncle Henry would send his older son out to look after her until more could be known of her recovery.
As he approached the downstairs wing, Peeke flew down from the upper levels. "Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy, come quickly! He has taken them! Lewis remains, and he will not feed!"
Quickening his pace, he overtook Peeke as he raced up the stairs to check on his family. His mind in turmoil, who could have taken them? Bennet, it must have been Mr. Bennet. He was the only one capable of stealing those most cherished by Darcy. Bursting into his room, he saw a strange woman trying to feed Lewis as the baby revolted, his arms flailing as he screamed with all the force his little lungs could muster. An unknown young child played in the corner. His room was in disarray, many of Elizabeth's things were missing. Elizabeth and Bennet were nowhere to be found.
As Peeke rushed into the room panting, Darcy turned on her. "Where are they?" he demanded.
"That's what I tried to tell you, sir," she gasped. "Mr. Bennet came around noon. He was only going to take Elizabeth, but we"—she indicated herself and the wet nurse—"tried to convince him she could not just stop nursing. We thought he would allow her to stay. Instead, he took her and Bennet, leaving Lewis. Lewis has been inconsolable. He began crying when his mother and brother were forced into the carriage and has not stopped since."
Darcy took his tiny son from the nurse, placing the baby on his shoulder and walking him about the room Though it often worked to calm him, this evening it did not. As Darcy walked, Peeke conveyed Elizabeth's message to him.
Darcy's ire at Mr. Bennet engulfed him, making it difficult for him to think clearly. Lewis' misery further frayed his nerves. Taking a few deep breaths, Darcy looked at the chaos around him. It was late. He could not leave now, but if he left at first light he could make it to Longbourn by tomorrow evening. To do that, he would need to have the carriage ready for travel tonight. Once he retrieved his family, he would take them directly to Pemberley. Starting from Hertfordshire would remove more than a day from the journey so there would be no reason to return to Kent. Anything he could not carry with him now, he would arrange to be sent later. Turning to Peeke, he asked her to help prepare a bag with items Lewis and Bennet would need for the journey to Pemberley, as well as arranging things Elizabeth might have missed in her haste.
He then looked at the wet nurse, he told her to prepare for a journey of a few days. She would come with him to Hertfordshire, and then he would ensure her safe passage back to Kent. The nurse was quick to inform him that would not be an option. She was already forced to leave her other young children alone that night, bringing her still nursing toddler with her. That explained the child playing in the corner. Darcy's irritation increased. "How shall I feed my son?"
Peeke sent for Mrs. Wilson, she would know of a way. While waiting for her to arrive, Darcy went about Rosings Park to inform the servants to prepare for his departure on the morrow and the preparations to have his and Miss Bennet's things sent to Pemberley, he would sort everything else later.
Thankfully, Mrs. Wilson did have a solution. The nurse would fill a container with her milk during the night. He would place some of that milk in a small cow horn to feed Lewis with on the trip. It would not be as effective or as comforting as his mother would be, but he would at least receive some nourishment. (5)
Once those tasks were completed, Darcy found himself naturally going to the room he had shared with Elizabeth for almost a year. Lewis was still inconsolable. Darcy found himself pacing through the night with Lewis on his shoulder trying to comfort his poor son who was missing both his mother and his brother. As he walked, he thought on what would happen the next day. He would spend much of the day in travel. Peeke showed him how to feed Lewis so at least the boy should not be starved when he reached his mother. He would send notes to Netherfield Park and Pemberley as soon as he entered Hertfordshire. He had no doubt that Bingley would allow him to spend tomorrow night at his home. Darcy would prefer to marry Elizabeth in Hertfordshire before embarking on their trip to Pemberley, it would establish him as her protector before they began, thus allowing Mr. Bennet no more chances to interfere with his family.
It was a long night. When dawn finally broke, he refreshed himself and Lewis before leaving. The journey to Longbourn was no easier than the night before. Lewis did eat but only slept after crying himself to exhaustion. When the carriage finally pulled up to Longbourn, Darcy was in no mood for diplomacy.
He stormed out of the carriage and rushed through the front door of the house, not bothering with any of the social niceties of knocking or being granted entry or introduction.
When he stormed into the dining room, much to the surprise of all those gathered at the table, the ferocity of his gaze was undeniable. With the crying baby on his shoulder, he quickly searched for Elizabeth. Not finding her, he threw a glare toward Mr. Bennet that left no mistake about his willingness to kill the man. "Where is she?" he demanded.
"Oh, Lizzy?" Mrs. Bennet's irritating squawking began. "She is in her room taking care of the other little one, the most adorable …"
Darcy turned his glare to her. "Silence," he commanded. "Where is she?"
The sister who had played the piano at Bingley's ball, Mary maybe, answered. "Up the stairs, second door to the left."
Darcy nodded his gratitude as he turned and made his way to find her.
"Oh no, sir! You can not go to Lizzy's room! It is most improper." The squawking hen said more, but Darcy did not hear it as he made his way up the stairs to find Elizabeth and Bennet.
Bursting through the door, he sighed in relief as he saw her sitting on her bed, wrestling a wailing little Bennet while trying to persuade him to eat. Looking up to see him standing in the door, Darcy watched the look of relief come over her face, along with a beautiful smile. Closing the door behind him—propriety be damned, they would be married tomorrow, and they had children together after all!—he brought Lewis to her. Once the boys were together, they pulled each other's hair a bit, hit the other in the face a few times, and left a few scratches, but when they finally found their twins' hand, they were able to calm themselves enough to begin a serious and long overdue meal. Darcy climbed behind her in the bed, not caring that his boots were still on, and helped support the boys with his legs while holding, and gently rocking his family in his arms.
When Mrs. Bennet burst in a few minutes later, outraged that the man would dare hie himself into her daughter's room in such a bold manner, she was greeted with such a scene as she never imagined seeing before. There was her daughter feeding two babies while sitting in the lap of the gentleman. Before she could get her voice back, Darcy warned her, "If you say a word, if you make a sound, I will have both you and your husband hanged for kidnapping. Now quietly close that door and leave us or I will go to the magistrate." (6)
Mrs. Bennet, for once in her life, shut up. Quietly closing the door and returning downstairs, she saved her complaints for Mr. Bennet's nerves. She went into the dining room, complaining to her husband of Mr. Darcy's being in Lizzy's room while she was feeding those babies, and she had some other grievance but had become so inarticulate he could not make them out.
He thought Mrs. Bennet would be enough to drive Mr. Darcy out of his house. He was now even willing to let him leave both boys. After two days of listening to the one baby scream while watching the misery of Lizzy, the silence he now heard had him agreeing with his daughter: those boys should be together. But he would not allow Mr. Darcy to take his daughter away and marry her for his convenience. His Lizzy deserved a better life than that.
When he opened Lizzy's door, expecting to easily boot Mr. Darcy from the room. What he found was something very different, indeed. The two were entwined in her bed, still feeding the babies. To see his beloved daughter in such an intimate embrace with this man shocked him. It was such a tender moment, unlike anything he had ever shared with Mrs. Bennet. He watched as the new father held and rubbed the heads of the babies with his arms surrounded Lizzy. Her head was resting on his shoulder, her face turned into his neck, and his chin was resting on her head, watching his sons as they held hands. He gently swayed the bed to rock his family to sleep.
Mr. Bennet had gone up the stairs adamant in his belief that Mr. Darcy needed to remove himself from Longbourn and from Elizabeth's life. Now seeing the affection between his daughter and the gentleman, he began to question his assumptions. Perhaps Elizabeth wished to marry Mr. Darcy for reasons other than simply access to her boys.
No longer as resolute as when he began to ascend the stairs, Mr. Bennet addressed Darcy. "Sir, I must insist you leave my daughter's room. I have three other daughters in this house, and it is not proper for you to remain here."
Glaring up at the man, Mr. Darcy told him resolutely, "At this moment I have nothing to say to you, which is to your benefit. My family will now rest. You and I will speak in the morning."
"Sir, my daughter has informed me of your intention to marry, but as it has not yet happened, I cannot allow you to remain in this room," Mr. Bennet said firmly.
Raising a brow as he narrowed his eyes in warning, Mr. Darcy asked, "If you do not already know the penalty for kidnapping, it is hanging. You took my son from my estate. If I leave this room, as I have already informed your wife, I will go straight to the magistrate. It is your choice, sir."
Thomas Bennet finally realized that his undisciplined anger, which was mostly due to his own idleness, had led him to make a critical error. He had no way to protect his daughter, though seeing the two together, he was no longer sure she needed his protection.
It was, however, in no way appropriate for him to allow Mr. Darcy to stay in Elizabeth's room for the night. His younger three daughters, particularly the youngest two, did not need to be exposed to that licentiousness.
As Mr. Bennet began to again address Mr. Darcy, little Bennet had fallen asleep with Lewis not far behind. He watched as Elizabeth passed little Bennet up to his father, who put a cloth over his shoulder and then balanced the baby while Elizabeth did the same for Lewis. "Mr. Darcy, I would ask that you remain discreet while you remain for the night. It is best for everyone if my wife and other daughters not know you remain in this room. The guest room will be prepared. I recommend you use it in the morning." He then turned to leave, fully feeling the weight of his neglect.
"Papa," Elizabeth began quietly as Mr. Bennet turned around. "This is something I dearly want, not something I am being forced to do. This will make me the happiest of ladies."
Her father looked at her sadly, then turned, and left the room.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Saturday, 6 March 1813
Netherfield Park
"Oh, Lizzy, they are the most precious boys ever. Look at all of that fluffy black hair!" Jane adored the Darcy twins. "And such a sparkle in their eyes! If I did not know with certainty they were Anne's, I would easily believe they were yours. Anne was right, you will be the best mother in her stead." With concern in her eyes, she asked, "But what of you being married to Mr. Darcy? I know you are doing as Anne asked, but will that not be difficult for you?"
Elizabeth smiled, "No. I do not believe it will. I now know him to be the best of men, a devoted father and brother. What more could I ask for?" She did know what more she could ask for, but after nearly a year with him, she well knew Darcy could answer any demands.
They had relocated themselves and the boys to Netherfield Park upon waking that next morning. Jane and Mr. Bingley were overjoyed to have them, insisting they stay a few nights so they would be well rested for the remainder of the journey. As travel on Sunday was frowned upon, this would allow them to stay in a more comfortable location than some roadside inn. When told of their plans to marry that day, Jane and Mr. Bingley broke the confinement to make the short trip to the church so they could attend the ceremony that morning. The former Miss Elizabeth Bennet was now Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy.
Darcy, still angry with Mr. Bennet for absconding with his wife and child—even if he had not yet officially married his wife—decided Bennet would, from that point on, be known as Bennie to separate him from his grandfather. Elizabeth started calling them Louie and Bennie to amuse herself, and the others quickly followed suit.
After the marriage, there had been much discussion of the events of the past two days. Elizabeth assured her husband she had been just as outraged at having to leave Rosings Park and her—Anne's—son behind. When Darcy expressed his offense that her outrage had not extended to leaving him behind, she assured him she felt that he was fully capable of taking care of himself, unlike the baby boys who were so wounded by it all. However, her father was, in his own misguided way, trying to protect her after more than twenty years of neglect. When Elizabeth compared it to Lady Catherine's response to Anne, Darcy softened. Though he did not need the man's permission and did not find himself caring at all for his blessing, he would try to make some form of peace for her sake.
Elizabeth and Jane then retired to Jane's sitting room with the boys while Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy went to speak to Mr. Bennet. Charles went along to help keep the two men reasonably calm. Thankfully, Mr. Bingley did an excellent job as a mediator, continually reminding both gentlemen their accord would ease the mind of Elizabeth, now Mrs. Darcy. Hearing his daughter referred to as Mrs. Darcy did little to calm Mr. Bennet. "You could have at least behaved like a gentleman and asked for my blessing, then allowed me to give my daughter to you." Darcy had little to say about that, which Bingley was grateful for. The men did form a sort of truce, with the understanding that time and children can do much to heal a breach.
Mr. Bennet could see the boys at Netherfield Park were his grandsons. During the trip to Longbourn, he could not help but recognize his daughter's sparkle in little Bennet's eyes, as well as her spunk in all of his protestations. Whether he wanted to or not, and whether he would admit it to the proud gentleman in front of him or not, he already loved those boys and knew he needed to be a part of their lives. They were his legacy, now more so than Longbourn. He had been lazy in his duties toward Longbourn as a young man, and had begun his duties as a grandfather on a sour note. But thankfully, as he was still alive, he still had time to make repairs to the damage he had caused.
Fortunately, the boys would never remember this episode, so he now had an empty book into which he could write a new story for himself.
Mr. Bennet also secretly looked forward to the boys being his greatest revenge on their father. Elizabeth had been a constant torment to her mother as a baby, and these boys were no less high-mettled. (7) Even better, these two came with their own co-conspirtor to instigate more trouble than Elizabeth could ever have come up with on her own. And they were boys. Oh, yes! Mr. Bennet found he greatly looked forward to witnessing the antics Louie and Bennie.
~~~oo0oo~~~
As the men made peace, Elizabeth and Jane delighted in Jane's pregnancy. Elizabeth considered telling her sister the truth but decided too many people already knew. Jane had been her confidant for many years and still would be for most things. But life moves on, and as Charles had replaced Elizabeth in Jane's daily confidences, Darcy had now replaced Jane in Elizabeth's own.
Charlotte paid a visit to Netherfield Park with her daughter, Catherine. The friends excitedly filled one another in on their experiences, with Elizabeth carefully turning her own experiences into Anne's. Charlotte heartily congratulated Elizabeth on her marriage, though it did surprise her at first. She had long felt Mr. Darcy held a tendre for her, but even if he only married her out of duty to his late wife, Elizabeth would never want for anything in her new life. Then with a sly smile, Charlotte asked if she had kept a copy of Aunt Margaret's letter for herself. If not, she would arrange for a copy be sent to Pemberley. The ladies laughed as Elizabeth told of her mother finding The Letter before Jane's marriage. Jane laughed, much less embarrassed now, telling of her own duty to copy it for her aunt and uncle while Elizabeth returned to Kent.
After Charlotte had returned home, Jane had a similar experience to what Elizabeth had, with a large amount of fluid in the chamber pot. Elizabeth excitedly told her sister her time had begun. Both were heartily glad the Darcys had extended their stay, as Elizabeth was there to help her sister through her arduous delivery of the quite large Wesley Bingley, named after his illustrious grandfather whose dedication as parent allowed his son, and now his grandson, to live as gentlemen.
~~~oo0oo~~~
The night Darcy and Elizabeth slept for the first time as man and wife in the eyes of all, Elizabeth wore the lace gown and stays she had received on her birthday, Darcy—much to his chagrin but at Elizabeth's insistence—wore his lace breeches and nothing more.
"It has not been two months yet," he moaned, cursing the creeping of the weeks.
"No, it has not," she agreed. "But that is not to say I would not welcome your importunement. I would say you are a most fortunate man; your babies were much smaller than anticipated, leaving much less to heal." (8)
He smiled as he began tracing the lace patterns in her gown, then the outlines of her body. After which, he slowly removed her gown, once again tasting her, and relishing her mostly-restored body. After ensuring she felt the first one or two—it could be difficult to tell sometimes—of her nine parts, he returned to her head-level. Now much more singularly focused, she removed his breeches, ensuring she caressed every contour previously hidden by the lace. As she ran her fingers along his thighs, then up to his rear, then around front, his groans became more demanding. As she caressed him, he removed the stays and attacked her breast with a ferocity and need that much exceeded anything his greedy little Darcys could produce. Feeling his way to the spot guaranteed to ensure her comfort upon his entry, he worked his magic until all was well ready for his return.
And such a return it was! To lay with her again in this way was like finding a lake in the dry desert of his abstinence. He found it in many ways better than before, as now each truly loved the other, now each knew the heart and soul of the other, and now they were eternally joined through both matrimony and children.
Upon completion, he returned to his familiar position by her side as he recovered. They spoke for a few minutes of their future, his home, and her role in both when Darcy suddenly raised his brows with a large grin.
"What amuses you so," Elizabeth asked.
"I received a wedding gift from Bingley." He reached over to the bedside table, opening the drawer and pulling out some papers. "Shall we read it?" he asked with a sparkle of amusement in his eye. He lit a candle for some light, as he pulled Elizabeth into his lap, with his arm under her breast and a leg trapping her. She only needed to read the first few lines to realize it was The Letter, written in Mr. Bingley's blotched hand. She looked at it and was thankful she had read the original, which had been written in a much more illustrative hand.
~~~oo0oo~~~
(1) Go ahead, act like you're grossed out, but we all know that's one of the first things every parent thinks once they start feeding a baby—bottle or breast—"Hum, what does it taste like?" You can act like you're better than everyone else, but if you now understand why humans love candy so much … ahem … Well, I'll keep your secret.
(2) Back to the book To Marry an English Lord, there is a section in there about how the American heiresses were taken by abject surprise and horror at the agony of childbirth. Minnie Paget was one who was envied because she had twin boys, then the lady could get it over with in one go. (Though she also had a third son and a daughter, so more than just the twin boys.) And I thank my beta who told me the term "heir and spare" was attributed to Consuelo Vanderbilt, in the 1890s. But it's such a perfect term, I decided to leave it. I highly recommend her book The Glitter and The Gold.
(3) As I established early on in this story, I am not a lawyer, and I know very little about Regency estate law. I'm making this up because it is convenient for my storytelling purposes.
(4) When I say Georgiana's sister, technically, as Darcy's paper wife, Anne is her sister. In case it confuses anyone.
(5) This was one of the things they would use as a baby bottle way back then. They would sometimes put leather or a cloth over the open end to keep the milk from coming out too quickly. Other things they used were dried cow teats or small pitcher things with a long stem on it for the baby to suck on. It was pretty interesting to search on "history of infant feeding."
(6) That was true. Kidnapping was punishable by hanging because it would damage the lineages of those who were entitled to estates/titles. I don't know about punishments for kidnapping for the lower classes.
(7) High-mettled = spunky, energetic
(8) I know it doesn't work that way. Even small babies can do a lot of damage. It's just a story I need to finish writing.
~~~oo0oo~~~