Chapter 19

It is not the object of this work to give a description of the Lakes, nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay; let it simply be said that Darcy and Elizabeth enjoyed their wedding trip immensely, in and out of the marital bed. Darcy was glad now that they had not brought Melody; she would have wanted to spend all her time with her papa and new mama, and Darcy and Elizabeth would have had no privacy. They spent every night in the same bed, and Darcy taught Elizabeth new delights, including having more than one pleasure in a row. Elizabeth was curious to try it in a carriage; but they found the experience uncomfortable on the pitted roads, and had to give up their attempt.

They stopped at Dunmore Manor before going on to Pemberley in order to pick up Melody, who was staying with her aunt and uncle. Georgiana came out to greet them when their carriage drove up to the doors.

"It is so wonderful to see you again, Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth! You are both practically glowing with happiness!"

Elizabeth blushed, but said, "Your brother has made me very happy, Georgiana."

"And Elizabeth has made me delirious," Darcy replied.

"Are you not glad now that you took my advice?" said Georgiana.

He put his arm around her shoulders in a half hug. "Do not be smug," he said, but he was smiling.

"Come in. Malcolm has decided we will go back to Scotland soon, but he said we will come back down to England each year to see you. I will admit, I am relieved and excited. The travelling is hard, but it will be worth it to spend more time with you all."

"I am glad to hear it," said Darcy. "Did Melody enjoy her visit with you?"

"Oh yes, but I think she will be glad to be back with her papa and new mama. She has talked of little but you since you left, Elizabeth."

"I am glad," said Elizabeth, smiling. "I am very fond of her."

"As she is of you," Georgiana assured her.

Melody came racing down the steps toward them when she heard her parents had arrived, and threw herself into Darcy's arms. "I have missed you so much, Papa! Are we going to take our new mama home now?"

"We are, indeed," said Darcy with a smile. "And I have a birthday present for you at Pemberley that I have not had a chance to show you yet."

Melody's eyes widened. "A new mama is my present?"

Elizabeth laughed.

"No, poppet. Elizabeth is my present," he said with a smile. "You will have to wait until this afternoon to see it."

Melody was eager to be on her way then, but the Darcys stayed to have tea with the Dunmores. It was the last time they would see them until next year.

Finally they were on their way home, and Elizabeth eagerly watched Pemberley approach in the distance. She remembered the journey she had taken there just three months ago, and wondered at how her feelings had changed. The first time, she had been so unsure of Darcy's feelings toward her, and certain she would never see Pemberley again. Now she was certain of Darcy's love, and he was her husband. He was taking her home. This lovely place would be her abode for the rest of her life.

They were barely out of the carriage when Melody was clamoring for her gift.

"I will show you and your mama your special gift," he said. "Follow me."

To Melody's clear surprise, he led them not inside, but across to the lawn to a large oak tree.

"Look up, Melody," he said.

She and Elizabeth both looked up and saw a wooden tree house nestled in the thick branches. There was a rope ladder that hung down to the ground in front of them.

"Oh, Papa! You had this built for me?" Melody cried, throwing herself into his arms.

"I did. Maybe all three of us can take a picnic up there tomorrow."

"Can I go up there now?"

"You may, but be careful. I will go up right behind you in case you fall."

Fortunately, the rope ladder had been built so that it was easy to climb, even in skirts, and soon Darcy, Melody, and Elizabeth were all up in the tree house. It was surprisingly spacious and featured two windows as well as a table and two chairs. Melody looked around her in wonder.

"You see? You can read up here," said Darcy.

"It is wonderful, Papa! Thank you so much!" Melody threw her arms around his waist again. He patted her blonde head, and pushed her hair back from her forehead with his thumb.

"You are my treasure, Melody," he said, then put one of his arms around Elizabeth to draw her into the hug. "You both are."

Once they were finally inside, they found that they had much correspondence that had been gathering dust there while they were on their wedding tour. Melody went up to the nursery so she could see Patches again, while Darcy and Elizabeth both went to the study to open their letters.

"My mother had her own study," Darcy said. "You may use it if you wish."

"Oh, but we are so much cozier here together," she said. "We will just have a seat brought in for me, and I can work beside you."

Darcy smiled in agreement, and they both opened their correspondence.

Elizabeth had letters from her Aunt Gardiner, Jane, Charlotte, and her father. She read them all with delight, but then saw at the bottom of the pile, a missive from an unfamiliar address.

"It is from Mr. Pritchard," she said after she had opened it.

Darcy laid down his own letter so he could listen. "What does he say?"

"He says they have the first copies printed and that they are planning to print 5,000 copies to start with." Her eyes widened at the number.

"That is marvellous, Elizabeth! I knew you would be successful."

"We shall have to see if they sell, Fitzwilliam," she said, but secretly she was hopeful.

In the coming days, Darcy had to spend most of his time catching up on business for Pemberley. Elizabeth did not resent it. She had always known that he was an important man with many responsibilities, and that he took his duties seriously. She was sometimes able to lure him out of his study on walks on the grounds, or to time in the treehouse with Melody. But soon it got colder, and his work load lessened.

Mr. Pritchard sent them a copy of the completed version of her first published book, Mr. Badger and the Mystery of the Honeycomb. Both Elizabeth and Darcy thought it was very well done, and looked almost identical to the original. Melody exclaimed over it and begged to have it. With a laugh, Elizabeth had said that the girl could have it for her library.

Elizabeth found Mrs. Reynolds to be very helpful in establishing herself as mistress of Pemberley; but the poor woman needed to retire. She was in her eighties and clearly very frail, with terrible arthritis. Apparently Pemberley had been without a proper mistress since Lady Anne died. Darcy's first wife had not been able to take up the reins of the household, and Mrs. Reynolds had run everything for almost thirty years. She was clearly glad to be handing everything over to a capable mistress. She told Elizabeth that she had known Darcy since he was four years old.

"And I have never had a cross word from him in my life," she added.

When Elizabeth brought up the topic of retirement, to her relief Mrs. Reynolds was not offended. "I think it is a good idea," she said. "My bones are getting too old to walk these stairs." She did have some suggestions for Elizabeth for who might be a good replacement for her. There was a woman whom she had been training up to take her place, whenever that happened. Elizabeth was relieved it was so easy.

Elizabeth sat for a portrait that winter. Darcy had insisted that it be done, and so she had informed him that he must be there to entertain her, if she was to be forced to sit still for so many hours. Darcy had agreeably read aloud to her while the artists painted, and both were happy. Darcy also had a miniature made of her, and kept it on his person at all times.

About two months into their marriage, Elizabeth discovered she was with child. Her husband was delighted.

"I always wanted more children," he admitted, "although it was unlikely that, even had Anne lived, we would have had any more."

"But if we have a boy, Melody will still inherit Rosings, will she not?" asked Elizabeth.

Darcy nodded. "Yes, that will always be hers by right. But if we have a boy, he will inherit Pemberley." He smiled. "I have always wanted a son. Do not mistake me; I have been very happy with Melody. But a son would make me happy too."

They waited until the quickening to be sure, and then they decided to tell Melody.

They found her reading in the nursery; the treehouse was covered in snow at this time of year.

"How would you like to be a big sister, Melody?" Darcy asked her.

Her eyes widened. "Like Aileen is with Callum?"

"Yes, but the baby will be born much smaller. You will not be able to play with him or her for a few years. You will have to be gentle," said Elizabeth.

Melody smiled. "You are going to have a baby? Oh, Mama, that is wonderful! But make sure you have a girl, please. I do not want a little brother." Her face formed into a disgusted expression.

Both Darcy and Elizabeth laughed. "I'm afraid we cannot control whether it is a boy or girl, sweet pea," said Darcy.

"How about this, Melody," said Elizabeth. "If we have a boy, then we will just have to keep having babies until we have a girl."

Melody crowed with delight at that, but Darcy's eyes widened. Then he smiled. "I have no objection to trying for as long as you wish," he murmured to her, and her cheeks flushed at his husky tone.

"When will baby be here?" Melody asked.

"I think August," said Elizabeth. "He or she must grow in my stomach until he is ready to come out."

Melody's eyes widened. "She's in there?" She leaned toward Elizabeth's stomach.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes."

Melody put her hand carefully on her Mama's abdomen. "Can she hear me?"

Elizabeth exchanged a look with Darcy. "She can," he said.

They both grew a little teary eyed as Melody began to whisper to her baby sibling. Often after that, she was found with her hand on Elizabeth's stomach, telling her "baby sister" what life would be like when she came to Pemberley.