"You can be at no loss as to why I am here." Lady Catherine looked down her nose at Elizabeth.
"No ma'am, I cannot account for the honor of your visit." Elizabeth resolved to stay as polite as possible.
"My nephew informs me that you are to give birth to a child, presumably the heir to Pemberley and the Darcy legacy." Lady Catherine glanced down at Elizabeth's stomach.
"It is true."
"Then we must hope that this child is male, for it is unlikely that you will give birth again." The tone in Lady Catherine's voice hinted she knew more than she was saying.
"I beg your pardon, your ladyship, but I do not understand what you mean. Pray tell, would you explain?" Elizabeth decided to not let Lady Catherine suspect that she knew.
"I believe you know exactly what I mean. You have been married to my nephew over two years and have borne no other child until now. Then there would be the disaster of losing a child before birth." Lady Catherine drove her point home.
"No one knew about my first child. We told not a soul, save Jane, Bingley, and Georgiana!" Elizabeth could not believe it.
"I have my connections, so my want of information is absolutely limitless."
Elizabeth could stand it no longer. "I know not how you came to learn of our misfortunes, but I believe that you are no longer welcome in my presence. You must leave...now!" She was hurt and upset that her one secret had been spoken to the one person in the world she could not tolerate.
"Darcy will not stand for this. It is entirely improper and impolite. You stupid, selfish..."
Before Lady Catherine could finish her sentence, the door clicked open and Darcy walked in. He took his wife into his arms and stared at his aunt, anger seething from his very soul. She had dared enter his house, uninvited, and then insult his wife while she was in her delicate condition, exposing her knowledge of their miscarriage of their first child. It was beyond uncivil and he had to step in.
"Aunt, I have heard enough. You have come to my house with the grand design of insulting my wife and revealing information that is private in nature. For many years I have endured your foul disposition out of propriety and civility. Now I cannot any longer. You are no longer welcome at Pemberley and must take your leave immediately. I will see that your things are taken to your carriage at once." Darcy was firm and stood his ground.
"I have never been thus treated in all my life!" Lady Catherine huffed and walked out of the room. As she walked down the hall, she muttered to herself that this matter was far from over.
Once she was out of earshot, Elizabeth broke down. Darcy supported his wife as she cried into his shoulder. It was not like her at all, but he understood that her emotional state was shaken due to her pregnancy. Gently, he guided her to the nearest couch and sat down with her, holding her and rocking her back and forth. The two of them stayed like this for a long time before Elizabeth was able to regain control of her sobs.
"I am sorry Darcy, I do not know what came over me." Elizabeth's eyes were still full of tears. "I tried to remain calm and civil, but I could not."
"Lizzie, it was not your fault. I do not know how my aunt learned about our first child, but it was not proper of her to mention it, especially in your present state. That is irrelevant now. My first and only concern is your health." He pushed back stray hairs off her face and lowered his hand to her stomach. "And that of our unborn child."
"Do not fret over me. I shall recover in time."
"Always my strong and stubborn Lizzie." He caressed her cheek softly.
"That is why you love me so." Elizabeth smiled.
"Indeed. But there are other attributes that I greatly admire in you. Also, you are the only woman I would ever want to bear a child with."
"We are soon to meet that child."
Elizabeth stayed in Darcy's arms until it was time for dinner. They talked about plans for their precious little one and what would happen in the next year at Pemberley as that little one came into the world. Darcy kept his hand on his wife's stomach, feeling the baby squirm and kick beneath her skirts. Though he was happy in this moment with her, he could not help but still be angry that his aunt would come into his home with so grand a design as insulting his wife and causing her such great distress. It broke his own heart to see his beloved so anguished once again.
In his mind, he made a note to write a letter to Lady Catherine expressing his great amount of anger toward her behavior. He thought time would change things, but obviously his aunt was still stuck in the past where he had been meant for her daughter, Anne. Though he greatly respected his lady cousin, he knew that he would be anything but happy in marriage with her. He had known this since he was a lad, but had accepted that he would marry Anne to strengthen family bonds. That is, however, until he met Elizabeth Bennett. She was the only woman he had ever met that could challenge him in every way possible and not think twice about it. He couldn't have ever imagined marrying anyone else once he met Elizabeth. For nearly a year he pursued her quietly, without anyone's knowledge, and she resisted him with all her might, without another soul knowing. Not even her sister Jane, who is and always has been her closest companion, knew. They somehow completed one another and finally learned that upon Elizabeth's acceptance of his hand in marriage.
Now, two years later, they were happily married and expecting. There were times when they fought, like all married couples do, but never did they allow that to get in the way of how much they truly loved one another. He was daily reminded of how precious Elizabeth truly was to him. After all, she was one of the few who could tolerate him, save for his household servants, his sister, and his close friend Charles Bingley. Others outside his circle viewed him as a proud, unpleasant man, but those close to him knew otherwise of his true nature. Inwardly, he was a kind man that deeply cared for his family and would do anything to keep them safe, even if it meant dejecting other, less liked members of his family. Elizabeth was his world and their child would be part of that as well when it arrived.
During Elizabeth's eighth month of pregnancy, Jane came to stay with her until the baby would be born, bringing little Beth with her. Mr. Bingley had to stay behind to take care of some business matters, but would join his wife and daughter in a matter of days. Elizabeth was delighted to see her beloved sister and niece once again. Beth was just beginning to walk on her unsteady legs. Both Jane and Elizabeth sat, watching Beth attempt to walk from one end of the room to the other, amused at the tiny toddler's determination. Finally, after falling down several times, Beth made it from one end of the room to her mother's waiting arms on the other side. Jane held her child close and praised her for her triumph. Beth giggled and placed her head on her mother's neck.
"Oh Lizzie, I cannot wait but to see you like this with your own child in a few months." Jane beamed.
"Only a while longer until I shall meet this child." Elizabeth rubbed her stomach.
"You know mama will be here within a fortnight's time, with Lydia right behind her." Jane's tone changed and she put Beth on the floor to crawl about.
Elizabeth nodded. "I have given strict orders that the only ones in the birthing room with me are you, the doctor, the midwife, and Georgiana. Darcy will wait right outside my door should something occur."
Jane smiled, knowing full well that her sister would plan months in advance for the baby's birth. Their mother would not be happy to miss a second birth of a grandchild, but both sisters knew it was better their mother was not in their presence when they gave birth. It was stressful enough with their mother under the same roof for the birth, but the same room would be torture. The two sisters talked well into the middle of the day when Beth was put down for her nap and the cooks began preparing dinner.
"Lizzie, once Beth was born, I became a totally different person than I was when we were younger. I discovered a part of myself that wanted to protect Beth no matter what. I would rarely let anyone hold her besides myself and Charles."
"I think that is normal of any mother, Jane. Even now, I feel so protective of this child and it has not even entered the world. Lady Catherine came for an unannounced visit and I felt as if she were threatening my baby."
"Lady Catherine? For goodness sakes, Lizzie! She knew you were with child and in a delicate emotional state. How could she do such a thing?" Jane was agast.
"She wished to frighten me and show her unchanged disapproval of my marriage to Darcy." Elizabeth could feel her own hatred for the woman rising in her chest. Lady Catherine had always been a spiteful woman, contempt and full of pride. "I remained civil until she revealed her knowledge of my miscarriage."
"Oh Lizzie, I'm so sorry. She is truly a dreadful woman." Jane sympathized with her sister.
"Do not fret Jane. Darcy came in at that very moment and told her to take her leave! I have never seen him so uncivil with any person. For that moment, I felt like he was not my husband that I knew, but somehow like a wild beast protecting its mate."
"Lizzie, you read far too much! A wild beast protecting its mate? Honestly." Jane rolled her eyes. Since they had been children, Elizabeth devoured every book she could get her hands on: history, literature, and even books on nature. She was by far the most intelligent member of the Bennett family, along with their father.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Bingley. Dinner is served." A small little girl stood in the doorway of the parlor where Elizabeth and Jane had been secluded all afternoon.
"Thank you Rebecca." Elizabeth dismissed the little girl and stood up.
"I have not seen her before." Jane was perplexed at the little girl called Rebecca.
"Mrs. Reynolds found her on one of her trips into town. The poor dear was all alone, orphaned by a terrrible accident apparantly. Her mother and father taken by fire. Since then, Mrs. Reynolds has taken her in as if she were her own child."
"How unfortunate circumstances to come from. She seems very polite."
"Oh, indeed. I intend to have her properly educated so that she will have a chance in life to succeed. Darcy supports my decision and is willing to pay for her education."
"That is very kind of you and Darcy, Lizzie."
"Shall we depart for dinner? I'm sure by now our husbands are beginning to wonder where their wives have disappeared to."
"I agree." Jane stood up as well.
Jane and Elizabeth made their way to dinner. When they arrived, Darcy and Bingley were already there awaiting them. Both husbands pulled out their wives chair for them as a gentleman should. As soon as they were seated, their food was served. Dinner was relaxing and a relief to Elizabeth, who had a lot on her mind with the impending birth of her child and the arrival of her other relatives in the next few days. The couples and Georgiana talked about the latest news from London and Georgiana's newest piece that she was composing. However, Georgiana remained very secretive about it, stating it was to be a surprise. She would not even give the title. After a while, everyone decided to stop prodding to get information about it, much to Georgiana's relief. Dinner concluded with a lovely dessert of chocolate pudding with blueberries mixed in, one of Jane's favorites. After dinner, everyone gathered in the parlor to chat. Georgiana played the pianoforte softly in the corner while Jane, Bingley, Elizabeth, and Darcy all talked. A while later, one of the servants alerted Jane that Beth was awake and upset. Jane and Bingley retired for the evening. Georgiana finished one last song before retiring herself, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Darcy alone. Elizabeth yawned slightly, trying to hide it, but was unsuccessful as Darcy saw it out of the corner of his eye.
"Lizzie." His whisper in her ear was so gentle that it was almost seductive. "You are fatigued. Shall we retire for the evening to our chambers?"
Elizabeth nodded and stood up slowly, her stomach protruding under her skirts. "Come with me darling."
"As you wish." He stood up and joined her, taking her arm under his.
The couple walked together up the stairs and down the hall to their chambers. When they arrived, their bed was already turned down and the candles were lit. Elizabeth sat at her vanity and let down her hair. It fell in perfect curls down her back. Darcy admired from behind for a moment before stepping forward to help his wife undress. He unlaced the back and slid the material off her shoulders and delicately around her stomach to the floor. In only her underclothes, she stood up and faced her husband. The dim candles provided just enough light to illuminate her figure. Pregnancy had only made his Elizabeth more beautiful than ever. A light of joy glowed around her as she smiled at him.
"Tis not fair that I am the only one ready for bed." She reached forward and pulled off his coat.
"Then we shall correct this issue." He began unbuttoning his vest and pulled it off, letting it fall to the floor.
Elizabeth took control of the situation, unbuttoning his shirt. While she was occupied with that, he laid gentle kisses on her forehead. As soon as his shirt was dispatched, he kicked off his boots. When they were gone, he swept his wife into his arms and laid her gently onto their bed, bestowing kisses to her lips and neck. Slowly, he moved down her neck to her chest and her stomach. He kissed her stomach lightly, knowing that within in her was their beloved child. Elizabeth brought his attention back to her as she tilted his chin toward her loving gaze. He leaned forward and captured her lips once more in a passionate kiss, careful not to press any of his weight onto her stomach in fear of hurting their baby. When their lips unlocked from one another, Darcy moved to the head of the bed and beckoned his wife to lean forward. Without much difficulty, he slipped behind her and began rubbing her back. To Elizabeth, his massage was heaven as the weight of their child had taken its toll on her back. While massaging her back, he laid kisses on the nape of her neck and whispered endearments into her ear. Soon, Elizabeth was taken with exhaustion and laid back on Darcy's chest, resting her head on his shoulder. His hands fell to her stomach on top of hers. In his warm, comforting embrace, Elizabeth allowed sleep to overtake her and she dreamed of the day when she would finally meet the child she had so longed to know.
Darcy remained awake for a while before sleep overtook him as well. Jane's arrival meant that in a few weeks time he would become a father to a newborn. The very thought of holding something so fragile made him nervous. When Georgiana had been born, he had refused to hold her in fear of breaking his baby sister, the only thing left of his beautiful mother. Silently, he wondered to himself if he would refuse to hold his own child when the time came after Elizabeth's delivery. Certainly he could not refuse the beautiful creation of the love he shared with Elizabeth. But what if he were to hurt their child? His wife would never forgive him, nor would his sister. Elizabeth seemed so at ease with the idea of a baby. Perhaps it was because that she grew up with three younger sisters and already has a niece on which to practice her motherly skills? Darcy did not know why, but he was sure that he lacked whatever confidence Elizabeth had and it would show whenever their child would enter the world. Darcy wondered if he should ask Bingley for advice when he arrived. For nearly an hour he debated with himself while Elizabeth slept peacefully in his arms. In the end, he decided that he would ask Bingley for help. After deciding that, he fell into a listless sleep with his arms still wrapped around the love of his life.
A/N: Yay...another chapter within a month! Thanks again for all the reviews! Keep them coming guys and I'll try to write some more before another month passes.