Chapter 28: Lady Huron Taken to Task

Saturday, 1 Aug 1812

Once Darcy left the wing the next morning, Anne entered Elizabeth's room telling her she had ordered them trays in her dressing room, they needed to share confidences.

The ladies consumed their meal with only a few cursory comments between them. Once the dishes were removed, Anne closed the door behind Peeke. Elizabeth raised her brow in curiosity. Surely, Anne would say nothing Peeke could not hear?

"Mr. Pryce sent a note about my child while your father was here, but we have not had privacy to speak of it. He says there is reason to believe we have conceived," she asked.

"Yes. Mrs. Wilson is certain of it," Elizabeth answered.

A hint of a smile started to cross Anne's mouth. "And what is your decision about Darcy?"

What is my decision about Mr. Darcy? she thought. She wanted him to stay with her more than anything, but the longer he stayed the harder it would be when the time came for them to separate. Maybe she should just get the worst over with now. She would have eight more months at Rosings Park to recover from her heartbreak, with the additional benefit of not having her family witness her misery.

Then again, he wanted to stay with her; he thought it would make him a better father. How could she deny him that? "I have made no decision. He said he wishes to stay, but I wonder if it would be better for him to remove himself."

Anne frowned. "Why would his leaving be better?"

"It is over. There is no reason to delay the impending separation. Once the babe is born, I will return to Longbourn, and he will return to one of his properties. We will rarely see each other again"—Elizabeth exhaled deeply—"I have slept with my sister most of my life. It has been easier than would have been believed to become accustomed to Mr. Darcy in my bed each night. Yet when I return home, I will for the first time have a bed that is solely my own."

She had slept alone before when either she or Jane had stayed with her aunt and uncle in London and while she stayed with Charlotte. But to have a bed that would never be shared by another—that would be a first for her.

Anne narrowed her eyes. "I understand your feelings," she acknowledged before growing more resolute. "However, Mr. Pryce will not know with certainty there is a baby before the quickening. Until that time in which I can feel my child move, you must continue your union with Darcy." (1) Anne looked at Elizabeth, leaving her meaning perfectly clear. She would not yield. "No matter your difficulties with Darcy in the past, I will not consent to his leaving until I can feel the life in my heir."

So he would stay. She understood Anne's full meaning. Mr. Darcy would remain throughout Elizabeth's stay or until the end of Anne's life.

Anne now began to smile, even to giggle. "So tell me, what does it feel like? I want to know everything. I want it to be like I feel the pregnancy for myself."

Elizabeth, unsure if she were more glad or sad by Anne's resolution, smiled indulgently at her odd friend and began to tell her of the initial illness, the emotional extremes, the feelings of contentedness and joy, as well as the good and the bad of the increased sensations of taste, smell, and touch. Though some of the benefits of the increased sensation to touch, she would never speak of to Anne!

Anne listened raptly, absorbing all the information Elizabeth had to give.

~~~oo0oo~~~

While Anne spoke with Elizabeth in her dressing room, Darcy took Georgiana for a ride. He hoped to explain himself, or at least to seek her forgiveness, and the best way for him to have such a conversation was while in motion.

Once they rode past the gardens and into the pastures of Rosings, Darcy gathered his courage and began. "Georgiana, I need you to tell me what Anne told you of what is happening."

Georgiana, though obviously not comfortable and unable to meet his eyes, did obey his command and recounted much of what Anne told her.

"And what do you think of what is happening?"

"It is not fair that Elizabeth would have to do this," she declared. "Her father should have made better arrangements."

Waiting a few moments, he hoped Georgiana would continue her thoughts on her own, thus saving his humiliation at having to ask. She did not. "What do you think of me?" he cautiously inquired.

"You will always be the best of brothers to me," she smiled sadly, finally looking at him. "I am surprised, disappointed even, that you would agree to do this, but Anne explained to me why you agreed. She also told me the reasons she chose both you and Elizabeth. I agree with her reasons but believe there must have been a better way."

Taking a deep breath to solidify her resolution, Georgiana offered her brother the forgiveness he was seeking. "Brother, I am accustomed to seeing you as my guardian, as a stand-in for my father. Although I have been reminded of your eligibility for as long as I can remember, I have never appreciated that it meant you are still young and searching to begin your own family. You have delayed having children of your own as you have guided me, but now it is time. You need to teach them as Father taught you so they will continue to keep Pemberley secure and prosperous." Now looking directly into his eyes, she confirmed her support. "This has already begun. It is my duty to help you succeed and keep your confidence as you did for me with Wickham. Once this ends though, you must promise me you will begin seeking your own happiness."

Darcy felt the relief course through his body. His little sister would not reject him for his misdeed. She may no longer look upon him with the innocent reverence she once did, but as she quickly matured into adulthood, her brother could offer an example of a flawed, but caring and mostly virtuous man. He gave her his promise, knowing that even before he left Rosings Park, he would be seeking his own happiness. He knew what his happiness would entail, but he had not yet devised a plan to achieve it.

"I asked Anne why Richard was not chosen," Georgiana offered. Darcy froze a moment. He had not thought of Richard and his role in this. His sister laughed, "Anne said Richard was not to be trusted unsupervised with her estate. Since this would be his only property, he would be forced to live with Lady Catherine. Anne said she would not do that to either of them."

The siblings spent the rest of the morning riding across Rosings Park, sometimes speaking further on Darcy's actions with Elizabeth, but most times speaking of family and dreams.

When they returned, Darcy walked his sister to her room before going to the downstairs rooms to clean before dinner. "Georgiana," he said in a whisper. "May I share something with you?"

"Of course. Anything."

"Elizabeth is with child now. She is not so far along, but the doctor says to expect a baby by March," he beamed.

"Oh, brother!" she whispered back excitedly. "I am so pleased!" She paused a moment before looking up at him earnestly. "Now you must begin to work toward your own happiness."

~~~oo0oo~~~

At tea that day, Lady Catherine, having spent the morning with Mr. Collins, was more authoritarian than usual, giving her ludicrous advice to everyone in the room.

During a few intolerable minutes of listening to such nonsense, Anne watched Elizabeth grinning at the absurdity displayed before them all. Darcy was lost in his own thoughts, while Georgiana was trying diligently to make sense of all that was being said. Finally having enough, Anne dismissed the servants from the room and asked Darcy to close the doors. She had to ask him a second time, only to have Georgiana nudge him to gain his attention, whereupon she had to make her request a third time. Elizabeth could not hide her entertainment at the scene.

Once they were alone, Anne gently took charge of the room from her mother by quietly making her announcement. "Mr. Pryce is cautiously hopeful we will have a child in March. Mrs. Wilson is more certain."

Lady Catherine flew into raptures! "I am saved! Anne, dear, you are such a proficient. I knew your scheme could not fail." She looked toward Elizabeth. "You must do everything you are instructed by Mr. Pryce and Mrs. Wilson to ensure I have the healthiest of grandchildren."

Elizabeth wondered amusedly how Lady Catherine would feel knowing Mrs. Wilson had instructed her to continue coupling until the child arrived.

But Lady Catherine had not yet finished. "My grandson, for I know it will be a son, sons are so much better at running an estate, will be the most exalted landowner in England! Once born, I will begin arrangements for him to become titled. None can own such a vast estate without a title. He will be the most desired of gentlemen on the marriage market when his time comes. He might even marry one of the children of the Prince Regent's daughter, Princess Charlotte!"

Darcy scoffed unbelievingly at her. Though his own thoughts had been running somewhat similar to Lady Catherine's, he would never admit it. "You would do best to allow the child to be born first, before planning the wedding."

"You can never plan an auspicious match too early."

Darcy promised himself he would regularly speak to his son, or daughter, about his own hopes for the child's marriage, none of which would include his aunt's ideas of an auspicious marriage.

When Georgiana spoke up to tell her brother and Elizabeth how much she anticipated becoming an aunt, Lady Catherine realized with horror that her young niece, who was not to know the maternity of the child, was in the room. Even more concerning was Georgiana learning of the maternity with such sanguinity. The girl should be shocked! Such activities must offend her sensibilities until she was married and experienced enough to become accustomed to such activities by gentlemen of means. As selfish and inane as Lady Catherine could be, she still felt a responsibility to ensure that her niece maintain her propriety.

"Georgiana! Anne, why would you make such an announcement with Georgiana in the room?" Lady Catherine accused her daughter.

"Georgiana already knows, Mother. She and I have spoken on it. She is now one of us." Looking over at her younger cousin, Anne smiled acknowledgment of her new role in their endeavor to save Rosings. "Georgiana herself suggested a role she can play to help us. She must return to London soon. While there she will be required to accompany Aunt Eleanor on her visits, so Georgiana can help mold the gossip among the ton. She simply tells them how well I am, how the pregnancy agrees with me, how much Miss Bennet improves my health and disposition. That will be enough for them to start creating their own stories of joy."

Darcy scowled, "There is no need for Georgiana to be a part of your plans. She is innocent in this."

"But it affects me too," Georgiana cried. "If any scandal comes from this, it will fall upon me as well. It is my duty to my family to keep our names among the honorable ones," Georgiana reminded her brother, her role in the plan now sealed in her mind. "I have no wish to be excluded from something so important to my family and my future."

Thus, Georgiana let the others know she would not allow them to leave her out. She may be young, but she was no longer as naïve as she was last summer. Anne speculated that her youth and perceived naiveté would play well in directing the London gossip. It was decided Georgiana would extend her stay to allow Anne more time to instruct her in the best ways to respond during drawing room conversations.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Mid-August

Georgiana had been a welcome addition, but after a fortnight at Rosings, there were no new conversation. All topics to be discussed had been discussed and re-discussed until they were discussed to death.

During Georgiana's extended visit, Anne, sometimes with Lady Catherine, spent much of their time play-acting different potential drawing room conversations and how Georgiana should comment to help guide the talk of the town. Anne was now quite confident Georgiana would sway the gossip in their favor.

For Elizabeth, letters remained a welcome respite from the monotony of life at Rosings and a connection to her home and previous life. Her frequent exchange of letters with Charlotte, the Gardiners, and with Longbourn continued to sustain her.

Her letters with Jane slowed to once a week, as there was little to write of from Rosings. Jane had more interesting confidences to share with her sister.

One was related to Miss Bingley's drunkenness at the wedding and the repercussions. Apparently, Lord Huron renegotiated their marriage contract, stipulating her ability to reside in Town would be subject to her ability to hold her tongue and refrain from over imbibing. He had also forced her to write letters of apology to Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, and Anne before he would proceed with their engagement. Jane pitied poor Caroline, even though the lady had behaved poorly while at Netherfield Park for the wedding. Though Jane was no longer as willing to think so well of everyone after experiencing more time with Miss Bingley, she could feel sympathy for someone in so much misery.

Caroline had lost the Darcy fortune for herself, one she had valiantly pursued, to a woman of greater station and worth. None of her education could make up for what she lacked in breeding. At the same time, she lost all hope of a connection to the Darcy family when her brother chose to connect himself with the Bennet family. During the period at Netherfield Park, with all of its memories, and being back in Hertfordshire, which she so openly despised, she was again reminded of what was denied her due to her inferior birth.

In London, she had been humiliated more than once in society when she tried to disparage Darcy for marrying his unaccomplished and mousy cousin. The ladies of the ton had openly laughed at Caroline's hypocrisy and stupidity.

Finally, she managed to come to an agreement with a titled gentleman but would have to learn to economize due to his reduced estate, even though he would be allowed to maintain the same lifestyle he had as a bachelor. She would be allowed to live in his parent's home in the most desirable part of town, as long as she curbed her behaviors, but he would be the one to choose her lady's maid, which seriously displeased Caroline. Elizabeth wondered if Lord Huron would do what the Prince Regent did and appoint his mistress as his wife's maid. (2)

Jane had recently shared her own expectation of a child in March, as well as her anticipation of having her most beloved sister, who would be the child's most beloved aunt, spend much of her time at Netherfield Park once her time in Kent was complete. That Elizabeth was not able to share her own experience side-by-side with her sister was painful. She compensated by carefully writing all of her own details to Jane under the guise of describing Anne's experiences.

When Jane returned from her wedding trip, she had related her father's brief description of his journey to Kent. He had complained bitterly that it was unpleasant to travel such a distance. The people of the house offered him much entertainment, with the exception of Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy amused him in a different way, being such a proud and arrogant man. Jane shared that her father expressed his joy in knowing Mr. Darcy would soon be leaving the estate with his wife having conceived, thus leaving Lizzy free from the man's moods. As Jane was concerned that her sister may be suffering, Elizabeth wrote to assured her sister that she was happy and well, though none of her letters spoke of Mr. Darcy's continued presence at Rosings Park.

Charlotte updated Elizabeth with her own perspectives on the Meryton gossip, as well as information on her own increasing. She held hope a girl would come in January, to help with the home. Boys were always so unruly as they aged, better to have a girl first, she wrote.

The Gardiners greatly entertained their niece with descriptions of the events in Town as well as the antics of their children. Though Elizabeth had little to write back, she could ask questions and send her love.

Letters from Longbourn were the least entertaining, as they primarily consisted of her mother complaining about her father's unfair reduction of her pin money. That he tightened the purse strings on Kitty and Lydia further mortified her, and the diatribes on her misuse flowed long. Her father only wrote once, just a few lines entreating her precipitous arrival to end his own misuse by his wife and two silliest daughters.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Tuesday, 25 Aug 1812

Mr. Pryce and Mrs. Wilson made their monthly visits to Rosings to check on their patients.

Lady Catherine ensured Mr. Pryce knew that Anne had become more fatigued of late. Mr. Pryce had no more treatment to offer. They could once again try to remove the black tumors, but it would be painful, and they would grow back. Anne admitted her fatigue but felt it due more to the heat of the summer than the progress of her illness.

Darcy, as he had vowed, attended Elizabeth's visit with Mrs. Wilson. Initially, Mrs. Wilson tried to remove him, but when he refused, claiming that as this was a business venture of sorts, he certainly needed to attend any meetings ascertaining the progress, she finally consented. Mrs. Wilson did warn him she would not censor herself for his sensibilities.

She noted Elizabeth's thickening waist and felt the increase in the size of her womb, telling her all looked well. She recommended further letting out her gowns to help conceal the growing belly.

When Darcy asked about the pregnancy and what could be expected, Mrs. Wilson, true to her word, held nothing back. Elizabeth looked down and blushed for him a few times at the frankness of the midwife. Darcy was not sure if he was more terrified, or fascinated, by all of the information.

Of course, he retained the most important part, which Mr. Pryce had already told him: it was best for him to remain in union with her until the end. He was happy to offer his utmost assistance and was willing to perform his duties to ease her condition in any way possible.

Mrs. Wilson would allow him to attend the birth if he was man enough and able to help out, but she had no use for those men who swoon over the sight of blood and made patients of themselves. She still felt the baby would come toward the end of February or early March. And no, she could not tell what sex it would be.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Late September 1812

With the small group at Rosings, the days were unvaried but eventually passed. As September drew to a close, Georgiana's time to return to London arrived.

With her trunks packed and loaded on the carriage, she bid each member of the household farewell before her brother handed her into the carriage that would carry her to Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Henry's home.

Once in Town, Georgiana accompanied Aunt Eleanor on all of her morning visits. One morning, on the last day of September, the ladies visited Lady Amelia, an old school friend of Aunt Eleanor. Georgiana was overjoyed when she saw Mrs. Bingley arrive as another of Lady Amelia's callers that morning, though seeing Jane's sisters, Mrs. Hurst and Lady Huron, did not elicit the same response.

Georgiana had accepted Lady Huron's letter of apology, for politeness' sake, but had no desire to seek her company. Fortunately for Georgiana, Lady Huron seemed to feel the same, choosing a seat across the room.

With Mrs. Bingley seated next to her, the two ladies began warm conversations covering Jane's wedding tour and Georgiana's trips to Matlock and Kent. Georgiana gave well wishes for Jane's blessed event, while Jane gave well wishes for Mrs. Darcy's blessed event. "You will make such a fine aunt," Jane assured her young friend. "Much like Elizabeth will be. I do look forward to having her near. I wish she could be with me now."

Georgiana had spent the past weeks practicing with Anne. "Oh, but Mrs. Bingley," she cried. "Elizabeth is so wonderful in Kent! She does so much that improves Anne's health, even the servants have remarked on it. Now with the babe, Anne has been tired, but Elizabeth lifts her spirits and encourages her to go on walks, which are again improving her health."

Any sorrow Jane had expressed for her sister's absence was replaced by a feeling of pride that her sister was able to provide such assistance to Anne. Until the end of the call, the ladies spoke of Anne's improved health and how much the presence of such a lively friend had improved her constitution.

There were a number of critical gossips at Lady Amelia's that day. Neither Jane nor Georgiana seemed to notice the ladies' attention shift to the conversation discussing the sickly rich woman married to the handsome and wealthy Mr. Darcy. Even Lady Huron listened. The story of the miraculous improvement of Lady Catherine's daughter was too good not to spread and would not anger her husband.

~~~oo0oo~~~

Mid October 1812

London

She had done what was needed during the visit at Lady Amelia's. Her aunt had arranged to have the Bingleys, along with a few ladies who spread scandal among the ton, attend her friend's morning calls a few weeks ago. Since that time, Aunt Eleanor had brought Georgiana through many of the finer drawing rooms in town where she repeated the story of Anne's improved health and the family's expectation of happiness in March.

When they indulged in an ice at Gunter's, they overheard the ladies at the table next to them discussing the Darcys and their upcoming heir. Aunt Eleanor smiled at Georgiana as the voices drifted toward them.

Tonight's dinner party should seal the story. By next week, the paper would have the information.

Georgiana did not care for it but knew it to be necessary. She always enjoyed Mr. and Mrs. Bingley's company, but the others were challenging to attend with. It was a large party, so she would not have to be near Lady Huron or Mrs. Hurst during much of the dinner party.

All knew Lady Huron was not to be trusted. The valets and lady's maids had whispered disgraceful tales in the ears of their masters and mistresses of the sanctimonious and false accusations the lady had made in her jealousy of the Darcys. The ladies of the ton knew the bitter social climber wished to besmirch the Darcy name with scandalous accusations. It caused them to laugh in private at her stupidity and hypocrisy while smiling to her face.

As Georgiana excitedly told a friend about how well her cousin had become, just with the care of her buoyant friend, Lady Huron sniffed disdainfully. "I have never heard of a friend's visit improving the health of one who had been so ill for so long."

At that moment, Lord Huron strode over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder while giving his wife a look that would brook no disagreement before addressing the assembled ladies. "Please, excuse us." He led his Lady away as Georgiana excused herself to get some fresh air. Inadvertently, she found the Huron's conversation drifted to her position on the balcony.

"Madam, I will not have you further maligning the Darcys," he commanded her. "You are already viewed as a fool. You will do well to remember the fine words of the Biblical Proverbs: Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." (3)

Georgiana heard the woman gasp and doubted anyone had so confronted her behavior. "I only speak the truth," she said arrogantly in her own defense.

Lord Huron chuckled. "You speak to injure the character of those born above you. You always have. I will have your trunks packed tomorrow to return you to the estate for the remainder of the season. Pity, it is so early, but there is nothing that can be done. I did warn you this would be the result if you defied me."

"I refuse to return to that hovel! You deceived me when you described your estate before the marriage. It will take much work to bring style to it—all of the furnishings are from the last century!"

"You no longer have a choice. If I say you must go, then you will leave for your journey tomorrow," he said with finality. Continuing, he let her know, "You do not have my leave to change any of the furnishings. I have begun the repairs necessary to maintain my home, so you will be confined to the rooms without work being done. Fortunately, by next summer, the entire home should be available to you, though you will still have no leave to decorate. I will not have that nonsense you admire in my estate."

Georgiana could hear Miss Bingley–Lady Huron–gasping for air. Lord Huron had no care. "I will return to the party now. You shall not return until you compose yourself. I will delay your trip to the country this once, but you will not receive another reprieve. You shall not be accompanying me in society until you learn to comport yourself in the manner deemed appropriate for a baron's wife, and this is not it."

With that, Georgiana heard the man's steps return into the house, while the woman began to sob. (4)

~~~oo0oo~~~

Tuesday 27 October 1812

Rosings Park

Elizabeth had started feeling the baby move in September. She said it felt like a butterfly. He tried but felt nothing.

He copied what Mrs. Wilson did on her lower belly and felt the part of her growing inside, but still, he could not feel it move. As the pregnancy progressed, he felt her getting larger with wonder. Elizabeth laughed at his awe, but she could still feel the things inside her that he could not.

Each time Elizabeth told him she felt it move, he would put his hand to her belly. Nothing. He then tried putting his more sensitive cheek on her belly. Nothing. She was starting to feel it more often. Each time he would become excited and try to feel what she was feeling, only to feel … nothing.

Particularly frustrated this evening at not being able to participate, he growled at that uncooperative baby, "What have I done to you to make you so disagreeable?" He laid his check on Elizabeth's belly as she once again laughed at his frustration. It is not particularly kind of her to laugh, he thought grumpily.

He looked up from his position on her belly. "Fine, little Darcy." He then commanded his baby, "You stay right there and do not move, while I play with your food." At which point Darcy reached up to stroke Elizabeth's breasts while he began kissing her belly.

He felt it!

It kicked him right in the mouth! He frowned. It kicked him in the mouth. That was not a propitious beginning with his son or daughter—probably a son—kicking him in the mouth.

When Darcy looked up, he saw that Elizabeth knew. She smiled sweetly at him, encouraging him to move up in the bed while taking one of his hands firmly to her lower belly. He waited to feel it again.

And waited.

And waited.

Finally, again frustrated with the stubborn boy (a girl would not be this cantankerous) growing within Elizabeth, Darcy told the baby he would now not only play with his food but also steal it. Elizabeth still held his hand firmly on her belly as she laughed at his attack of her breasts. She called him a silly man, so he became more focused in his attentions to her breasts, beginning to forget the intractable baby as his own desires began to claim his attentions.

There it was again!

His head snapped up toward Elizabeth, knowing he wore a foolish grin. The baby moved again! The more attention Darcy paid to the baby's food source, the more the child fought to make him stop.

Still wearing his grin, he shared his theory with Elizabeth. "Look at how he defends his food. He is already a strapping young man!" Darcy declared.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him. "Unless she is the one defending her food."

Darcy considered, "She might be. It matters not." His grin grew even larger. "I now get to feel him. Her," he corrected himself after the look Elizabeth gave him.

He was sincere that it mattered not. He now had a most pleasant way to play with his baby and his wife … no, Elizabeth. (5)

~~~oo0oo~~~

(1) For those who may not get this, Anne is extending Elizabeth's required time to sleep with Darcy. The quickening, when the mother can feel the baby move, is usually around 4 months but nobody else can feel it that early, at most it feels like gas or something. (Even to the mother it can feel like gas.) For others to feel the baby move would be around five to six months.

(2) That is basically what happened. The Prince Regent appointed one of his mistresses, Lady Jersey, as the Princess' "Lady of the Bedchamber." I wanted to share a few interesting side notes about the "Lady of the Bedchamber" Lady Jersey. First, she was forty, had ten kids, and was a grandmother when the affair with the Prince Regent began. (Let's hear it for the experienced ladies out there!) And second, her daughter-in-law, the next Lady Jersey, also had lots of affairs and was one of the main patronesses of the social club Almack's. Lady Sarah Jersey's fortune not only came from trade, but she was also actively involved in the business. Her grandfather established the banking firm Child & Co. whose fortune passed to his only child, Lady Sarah Jersey's mother, and then down to Lady Sarah Jersey as the oldest daughter. (Her older brother received their father's title and estate.) The whole time she was snubbing people in trade as beneath her, she was an active senior partner in the bank. Oh, and her husband was reportedly once asked why he did not defend his wife's honor. He said he would have to fight every man in London.

(3) This is the New International version of Proverbs 17:28 because I thought it sounded more appropriate. The King James Version is "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Though many times a similar saying is attributed to Mark Twain: "Better to stay quiet and be thought a fool than to open your lips and remove all doubt.")

(4) I despised writing this. I have known people who were treated more like property than anything else by their spouse or lover. I wanted to make a scene where Lord Huron basically took the spoiled Caroline in hand, but it ended up being much crueler than I wished for. On the other hand, after reading how most ladies were treated in that time, particularly with the classism (no matter how much money or training she had, Caroline Bingley was still considered only slightly above the tradesman class), he morphed into an unfeeling man who viewed her only value being the dowry he could get. He does have his mistress, who would likely be from an even lower class. I think Caroline will spend some time alone on the estate and maybe meet a few country girls who teach her to stand up for herself and to stop being ugly. (Note: I wrote this the day of the US presidential election, which probably influenced me.) (Note 2021 - I wrote it the day of the 2016 presidential election.)

(5) Nurses used to tell pregnant women to stimulate their nipples to get the fetus to move more while doing a stress test. (I have no way of knowing if they still do, it's been a long time since I've been around L&D.) Nipple stimulation causes a release of oxytocin and oxytocin is what naturally induces labor. I believe it is the contractions that cause the baby to move, but I'm no expert. It was just a nicer way to end the chapter than the thing with Caroline.

Note 2021: on the line about Caroline not being able to "compete with what she lacked in breeding", it was supposed to be a bit of a dig at all the inbreeding happening among nobles and gentry. The family trees with one branch and all.