Author's Note: I do not own any rights to Jane Austen's work or characters. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I loved writing it but I have to say that the next one is going to be awesome! Lots of things will be developed that have been hinted at here. I feel that I am probably going to write about two more chapters after this one, and then leave it for a while. The place I want to rest it on feels like a good way to go, and I want to try writing another 'what if' story and maybe one just after their engagment or their marriage. Please understand that I am in no way finished with this story; I don't think I ever will be, I just want to get some creative distance and then come back to it with fresh eyes and ideas maybe at the end of the summer. So here is your 3rd last chapter, please rate and review! Thanks xxx
What is Truth?
Turned and Tossed and Stretched
Sunday 8th September 1816
11am
Since the first week that they had begun to live at Pemberley, Elizabeth and Darcy had enjoyed the peace of a Sunday afternoon. It was a day for family and as such, there were no callers and no disturbances and husband and wife could relish in the company of the other. Those days were improved by the addition of Miss Darcy when she returned from school and her elation at the marriage of the couple could be evidently seen in the confidence which she expressed through increased participation in conversations. When Jane and Mr Bingley moved to Beningbrough, Lizzy communicated to her sister the wonderful quiet of Sundays and from then on, the two families would occasionally visit and the pleasure was shared and appreciated by all.
Of course, to the surprise of everyone in the small party, the arrival of Bennet, and then Christiana, added greatly to their happiness, especially when they were treated to their first steps and illegible attempts at conversation.
On this particular afternoon, Mr and Mrs Darcy were entertaining their brother, sister and niece at Pemberley. Their visit was in anticipation of Darcy's birthday the following day, and Elizabeth had reminded him several times that it was on his birthday that she had told him she was having their son. This year, the reminder brought a smile to her face, as each time he kissed her abdomen, and as the days went on, the kiss became more than a kiss. Consequently, Lizzy was careful not to mention it in company, especially the present company.
These were the thoughts that occupied the Mistress' mind as she sat with her two sisters in the front lawns of Pemberley. The elder women were joyous over their conditions and even moreso this time because they happened to be only two months apart, Jane six months gone and her sister four. They did discussed much of their conditions, including the reaction of Bennet and Christiana to their new siblings and the fact that both Jane and Elizabeth could now feel the movement of the child, though those on the outside could not yet decipher Baby Darcy's.
"I assume Fitzwilliam is none too pleased that he cannot feel the baby yet." Jane commented, when the conversation took that turn.
Lizzy smiled, thanking Georgiana for peppermint tea she had brought and noticing that her husband and Mr Bingley were not at their seats. "You assume correctly, but he is not quite as vexed as he was with Bennet. At least with the second child they may have a little distraction; the sensation remains wondrous but not quite as all-consuming as it is at first. We both can see what we felt when we look at our son." Lizzy did so, and Bennet was playing fetch with Izzy, throwing it as far as his little arms could manage and running to chase her when she caught it as fast as his little legs could carry him.
"Lizzy, he is so precious! I cannot get enough of him." Georgiana laughed when he fell, and ran over, offering her assistance and teaching him how to get the puppy to come to him.
Jane smiled and watched her daughter draw scribbles on paper and she thanked her Nurse silently that she had remembered to send her daughter's apron. The picture of tranquillity painted by the two children was shattered suddenly by the raucous noises of Bingley and Darcy. "What on earth are our husband's doing?"
"I do believe they are racing one another. Bennet attempted to join them for a while but they wouldn't let him win so he played with Izzy and Georgiana instead." Lizzy rolled her eyes making her sister laugh and she turned again to see her husband rolling about on the ground trying to prevent Bingley from gaining the upper hand. "Darcy, I do not think that is fair. What you must be teaching our son just now about equality!"
"Lizzy, this is entirely unfair! You only look now, whereas a moment ago Bingley was wrestling me himself! I have only just gained an advantage!" Darcy was red with the effort of it and both men were in an extreme state of undress. No headway was made by either man because they had fallen into fits of laughter.
"William I would perhaps be more convinced of the merits of this game, if you would not exclude your son." Darcy looked at Bennet, who was gazing jealously at his father.
"I am sorry, Ben. Here," Darcy picked him up and placed him at the starting point, marked by their jackets and coats. "Alright, Bingley, get your daughter."
"What? My little girl is employed in the accomplishments of drawing at present. Do you honestly expect me to disturb her whilst she is involved in the earnest improvement of her skills?"
Jane scoffed at this. "Nonsense, she will have plenty of time to practise sketching when she is too old to be running about, which is to say, never. Do not make me say that you are afraid your own daughter will beat you!"
"Very well." Bingley called on Christiana, who excitedly toddled over and joined them. "Right. Bennet, Christiana, the first to reach Darcy's cashmere coat –"
"Fitzwilliam Darcy! Your coat!" Darcy could only feign regret at Lizzy's reprimand, and her cheeky smile told him she had scolded him for Bennet's sake.
Bingley continued, "the first to reach Darcy's very replaceable coat, wins." Bennet yelled 'okay', and they were off. Unfortunately, Bingley's own expensive coat was placed in just the right position that it caught the feet of both older men, and Bennet, in a stage of his life where he supposed his father to always do rightly, also fell. Consequently, Christiana triumphed.
Jane, Lizzy and Georgiana could neither stop themselves laughing, nor console their pride-wounded husbands. "Oh, that was very well done! My niece can barely run and she beat both her older cousin and two grown men!" Lizzy was ecstatic; Christiana was very much like her Aunt and she could see her spirited character causing several tension-filled moments for her dear brother and sister.
For relief from the pain of too much laughter, Lizzy turned for her tea, but instead came upon a letter from Mrs Bennet, which would have immediately caused the cessation of all hilarity, but was slightly too heavy and she risked ruining the entire afternoon by revealing its contents. So, she waited until she was abed with her husband and her son before relating news which, though necessary, must have had a bitter taste to it.
"This is incredible, Lizzy! When Bennet was born we swore not to have so much company over again, and here you are barely showing and your mother and father and sisters are on their way to Pemberley!" Darcy paced incessantly up and down their bed chamber, almost seething with rage, whiles Lizzy sighed hopelessly in bed, with Bennet curled up against her. "Our previous visit to Longbourn would have told me that I need not worry about this anymore. Honestly, we had just begun to be used to living alone at Pemberley, and now I shall have to invite my Aunt and Uncle and cousins-"
"Well I am very sorry that having another child is going to be so detrimental to your good health, Fitzwilliam." He stopped, realising only too late that he had gone too far, and now she was up and out of bed. The hurt was evident on her face. "What kind of attitude is this you are displaying to Bennet about his grandparents? Do not ever think you may speak about my parents in that way. In a few months, we shall be parents to two children, and Bennet is not even at lessons yet." She grabbed her dressing gown. Darcy looked at his son, who was confused and upset at seeing his mother in such a state. "You have no idea! I need my parents and you most certainly will not invite the Fitzwilliams or the Leightons or anyone else to this house or I swear I will have this child in Hertfordshire."
"Lizzy-"
"No! Why must you insist on acting this way? My mother and father have been nothing but wonderful for us since Bennet was born and now two of their daughters are with child and they wish to be close to them. I would want to do the same if this baby is a girl." Wrapping herself in a shawl, she made to leave the room, barely able to help her tears from escaping. She was very angry with him, and he knew not to follow. "I dearly love our small party here, but they will not be so bad an addition and we shall never manage without their help."
She slammed the door and he sighed. Rubbing his eyes, he picked up his son and saw how tired he was, but thought an explanation would comfort both of them. "Ben, Mamma is very tired and very unhappy with me because I said some unfair things. She is not angry with you, do you understand?" He nodded and yawned and his head lay on Darcy's shoulder as his father took him to the nursery.
The room was cool and Darcy held his son for several moments before putting him to bed. He could not understand why he had not had the capacity to recognise what he was saying to her; he most certainly did not resent the arrival of Mr and Mrs Bennet or Kitty and Mary. Their company was pleasant for everyone, especially Bennet, and their experience was valued and appreciated by him. He attributed it to tiredness, and thought of how much he must have hurt Lizzy.
Darcy looked at Bennet, lying ungracefully in his arms and breathing through his wide open mouth. Suddenly, he remembered the time when Lizzy had reproached him for trying to teach his day old son about estate business when he was supposed to have let them both sleep. He had grown so quickly, and even now, Bennet would sit for several minutes with him and watch his father count and calculate in the study. Even the morning after she had given birth, Lizzy knew more than he did about their son; she could feed him, bathe him, amuse him, put him to sleep and clothe him. This second time around, he would have to know all of that for his son by himself and he only then realised that it was Lizzy that had taught him everything.
He gently kissed Bennet's forehead and lay him down. Tucking the coverlet around him, Darcy stepped back to admire his son's first proper bed. Bennet at first took this opportunity to steal through to their room and sleep with them, but Lizzy then had taught Darcy how to deal with that situation too, and Bennet was getting better. Darcy had also noticed that he was barely wearing cloths and Lizzy had told him it was because he was learning to use the toilet. His own son was growing before his eyes and his wife, all through his first year, during her miscarriage and now carrying their second child, she had done all of the work. He had merely been a novice student, enjoying the benefits of parenthood and assuming a little misbehaviour here or there was the low point of it all. He was thoroughly ashamed of himself.
Lizzy was curled up on a sofa in a sun-room she had decorated when she first arrived at Pemberley. It was not often used or seen by guests, and she felt it out of the way enough that if it did not look as she had wished, it would be no great disaster. In fact, she was so pleased upon its completion that she had since spent many days within its walls. So many in fact, that when she had gone to town with his sister, Darcy had attached a garden balcony to the room so that she might take the opportunity of enjoying the outdoors as well. She loved this room, and it calmed her, even when she was crying hysterically and perhaps a little irrationally.
Upon reflection she knew he had not meant what he said, but the words had still stung her, and she needed to weep. Though she would not admit it even to herself, Lizzy wanted him to be with her and to wrap his arms around her, a gesture she had so loved ever since they had been engaged.
"Lizzy." His voice penetrated through her sobs. "I am so sorry," she smiled, though it was not evident to him, "I do not know how to explain myself. Please, do not be angry with me for too long; I cannot stand to see you so."
"Come here, my love." Her affectation soothed him and he did as she bid. "Hold me." He put his arms around her, placing her legs over his so she was as close to him as possible. He had always loved to hold her this way, ever since they had been married.
Darcy kissed her head and took out his handkerchief. "Here, wipe your tears." She did so, and he paused to let her collect herself before he began. "I know how much your parent's experience will be and has been of value to us. You know they are always welcome, Lizzy."
"Yes." He was relieved. "William, Bennet is my pride and joy and I cannot put into words how much I love him. But he has not been easy. I am so tired, and when we were in Scotland it was hard because he had been my sole focus for so long that I did not know what to do with myself." She smiled when she saw his hand on her stomach, which was round with the baby, and she kissed his hand. "I am going to need you to take care of Bennet for me. I do not want him to feel excluded by the baby, and I know that if you at least are there then he will feel part of our family."
"I will work harder for you, Lizzy. I love you."
"I love you, too." Darcy leaned down and closed her lips with his. They kissed softly, not wanting or requiring more words to express what they felt. Darcy soon carried her to bed and only fell asleep when he felt her to be deeply taken by exhaustion, and after hearing her whisper his name in her sleep. Then he knew her to have forgiven him, and he dozed off, happily.
Saturday 26th October 1816
2.10pm
The Harvest time of every year was always a time for celebration; no matter what quarrels were in motion, or tensions in the community, all would come to Pemberley on an afternoon, to rejoice in the plentiful harvests reaped that autumn.
Elizabeth was particularly enjoying the visitation of the tenants of their estate as she always had, and was very happy in the knowledge that they were contented with their situations. They, and each family was very vocal on this point at least, were thrilled to find the Mistress touring the grounds with Bennet.
"Dear Mrs Darcy, he is such a vision of our Master! Very handsome, and clever, I think. I was only saying just now to my daughters that he shall be the handsomest little man since his father!"
Lizzy smiled at the woman; she was the matriarch of the family she had visited first upon her arrival at Pemberley and had such an amount of conversation as to render Elizabeth's part in it entirely unnecessary. "Thank you Mrs Morton, what do you say to such excellent compliments, my son?"
"Tank oo, Mishy Momo." Bennet babbled, inducing an adorable smile in the lady.
"Very good, little Mister Darcy." Mrs Morton smiled affectionately at him and leaned down. "And you have grown very fast; I remember your father being just as tall at your age. Madam, I must congratulate you. He is a fine young man." Lizzy thanked the woman profusely and asked her how she was enjoying the season's food and was given a pleasant reply. "You must be very pleased with how well it has been received. This must be a very happy time for you; first your family extensions," she nodded to Bennet, who was now playing with a stray ribbon, "and now your condition-"
"I beg your pardon? My condition?" Lizzy was taken aback; they had told no-one because of her fear of another miscarriage. Yet, Lizzy had noticed it was hard to conceal her growing state and thought she was not quite as uncomfortable at this point with Ben. "I . . . I do not –"
"Elizabeth," Darcy's voice had never been so sweet to her and she turned to him with a grateful smile, "Mrs Morton!" He said with a voice full of surprise. "I am glad to see you. My dear, might I request you bring Bennet to the nursery? His grandmother insists on a nap."
Elizabeth smiled thankfully and picked up her son, who was, admittedly, very drowsy. "I certainly shall. Good day, Mrs Morton." They lady curtsied and walked away with a look in her eyes that unsettled Elizabeth. "William, I think she knows. What shall we do?"
"Nothing. We can do only nothing." She looked panicked and begged for a more considerate reply. "Lizzy, you cannot deny you have turned heads today, and it is not only your beauty that is the cause of such attention." She smiled at his compliment and sighed, having resolved that she had no control over those realisations on the parts of her neighbours.
"Mamma, here is your grandson."
"Ah! There he is! Now Ben, before you go to sleep, come and help your grandfather find some sweets, hmm?" Mrs Bennet took his hand and led him to a briar patch where Christiana and Mr Bennet were digging for some unknown treasures.
Lizzy sighed. "Mamma, do you not think it insensible to give them sugar before a nap? They shall never rest!" Mrs Bennet dismissed her daughter and Lizzy made to follow her, when Darcy took her arm and led her to the Garden rooms. "William . . . we cannot be absent for-"
She was quietened by his kiss. "Let us enjoy a few moments of silence, hmm?" He gestured to Bennet. "Look at them. Perhaps you were right about their visits." As he said this, Mr Bennet tried to reason with his grandson about the amount of sweets he was consuming. Having failed to do so, he took them away and the toddler fell into a fit of rage. Lizzy and Darcy watched as Mr and Mrs Bennet, with their years of knowledge in this field, ignored their grandson. Both parents supposed they should go outside, but the peace of the room prevented them. "Yes, I am convinced. Your parents can never leave."
Lizzy chuckled and, seating herself, she assumed now was as good a time as any to tell her husband about his sister's first romance. She had secured permission from Georgiana the evening before and at the girl's request, she would make the first step toward an introduction. "William, come. I have something to tell you."
He laughed, but there was an air of confusion in his voice. "Such a statement always fills me with a boyish excitement, but I am already aware you are with child, so what can this mean?"
A mischievous grin appeared on Lizzy's face, one which she always wore when she had a piece of news to relate which she knew would shock her husband. "My dear, I know that you trust me and you must remember this when I tell you what I am about to tell you." Darcy was worried and of this he informed her. "Do not be, just bear in mind that your overprotective nature is the reason why this news does not come from Georgiana's lips."
"Georgiana? What news can you have of her?"
Lizzy smiled; she was excited to finally be in a position to tell him. "Your sister is a grown woman, with aspirations for her own life that have grown beyond these walls, as much as she holds them dear and always will. Though she is most certainly not of an age to consider leaving us, and she is aware of this, Georgiana has had the good fortune to enter into a friendship with Miss Carter of Charlecote Park."
Darcy seemed pleased by this. "But this is not of any great import. She has many important friends from equally fine families."
"I am glad to hear you speak of the Carters as a fine family, as it is with quite another member of that family whose relationship has become dear to her." Lizzy paused, waiting to respond to anything he might have to say, but he was silent and it became evident to her that she would be forced to tell all before he would say anything else. She dared not imagine the wild reaches to which his imagination was now taking him. "Mr Carter, the friend's elder brother, met Miss Darcy at Beningbrough when we were in Scotland. They were the guests of my brother and sister and since that week, Georgiana and Mr Joseph Carter have retained a steady connection."
"Goodness." Darcy leaned back. He seemed not in the least angry or annoyed that he had not been told. "I suppose you must have felt me to be upset at your not informing me of this before. But I am not, I confess. One of my great comforts in your good friendship with my sister was that you would prove a trustworthy confidante when it came to such matters." Lizzy smiled, and kissed his hand, holding it carefully and examining his response. "Be assured, dear Lizzy, I am glad of its being a family such as the Carters."
Lizzy was not at all reassured. He may not have been angry, but he was uneasy. "You are not being truthful with me. That is decidedly unfair after I have been so honest with a business that is not even my own."
"I am upset." He sighed, and she perceived to her great surprise that he was close to tears. "My sister, she is only a child. I am not ready for her to leave, Lizzy. I am not ready. I did not know she had so outgrown us."
"No, no indeed!" Lizzy drew his close and whispered to him. "She is not anxious to leave by any means. Georgiana has intimated to me that she is afraid of his wanting to take her from here, but that she is prepared to make him wait." She felt him laugh, and knew it was not fair to induce in him a state of denial. "My dear, she is a grown woman, a very intelligent woman who is capable of making her own decisions in this area. She does not leave now, but when she does, I encourage you to be prepared. Most likely, by the time she does go away this house will be filled with little children who shall be so loud and uncontrollable that we shall be glad of the extra space!"
Darcy laughed and they parted for a moment while Mrs Bennet carted her grandchildren through the rooms to the nursery upstairs. Elizabeth and Darcy were astounded at her ability to persuade two very excited infants to be calmly carried to their beds whilst there were hundreds of people outside, but the fact that she had raised five daughters almost by her own hand reminded them that by her this small task was not considered arduous. "My dear, you are invaluable to me."
Lizzy linked her hands behind his neck and felt his hands on the small of her back, pulling her closer into his embrace. "Mmm . . . I think you should kiss me now."
"Indeed? And why should I comply with such a desire?"
She ran her fingers through his hair. "For several reasons, which I could detail, or would you not rather kiss me?" Darcy replied that he would very much rather kiss her and he did so, though unfortunately only in a manner suitable for the public situation in which they found themselves. Georgiana watched with gladness; the wink from Elizabeth calmed her anxieties and she waltzed off in the direction of her sisters.
Wednesday 4th December 1816
5.17am
As much as Elizabeth had been thrilled at the sensation of the movements of her first child at five months, she was not at all enamoured of the fact that at seven months, she had been able to feel this child moving since the fourth. Not only had she had to put up with it for longer, but this baby seemed much more animated, especially when she was trying to sleep. She had her own wild theory as to the violence of the movements, but knew it was most likely only another trial of second motherhood and one she was very willing to tolerate. Moreover, Jane was now due to give birth and she had complained of a similar trouble, but was reminded time and again that the increased awareness was a result of her having carried before. Despite the problems, the idea that she held the life of her child inside her own body gave her shivers, and knowing the indescribable feeling of holding her son in her arms, she anticipated with joy the moment when she would meet their second child.
Her mother, so thrilled with their conception of a son, was convinced that this would be a second boy and Darcy had been very curious as to Elizabeth's thoughts on the sex of the baby, but she had no views on that matter; it had come to her so naturally the first time that she had not had to think at all. Now, she wondered why it was the movements that so fascinated her and not the sex and concluded that it might possibly be because she was kept wide awake by them in the early hours of the morning.
"Elizabeth, you should not be awake at such an hour as this if we are about to become parents to another child. You shall need your sleep." Lizzy looked at her husband; hair dishevelled and tired eyes. She asked how it was possible that he could make such a clever observation when he was so tired and that he might pray that such a gift with words is passed onto his very active child. "You should not keep your mother awake, my child. It is very unkind of you." He said, speaking into her swollen stomach. "You might at least explain to me why you are in the drawing room at this time?"
Lizzy felt a pang of guilt but did not regret leaving him to sleep; one of them at least should be well-rested. "I am sorry, but I could not sit still or sleep. I thought a walk would tire me." He was not bothered by her sneaking off, only that he had wondered where she had gone, so that he might find her. Upon reaching the doors to the drawing room, low voices could be heard, and Darcy immediately moved Lizzy behind him and motioned for her to keep silent. Pushing the door gently and almost as though it was a natural movement, he glanced cautiously into the room. His caution, however, was unwarranted.
"Mr Darcy, what on earth do you do here? Surely you have not left my daughter alone?" Sighing at the sight of Mrs Bennet and stepping aside to let his wife in, Darcy replied that neither one of them could sleep. "Strange indeed, for I find I am awake earlier now that I have I only to daughters at home. But Lizzy, you often woke at this hour to walk when you were at Longbourn."
"But this morning it was not my decision to wake early; the baby is kicking somewhat ferociously. I cannot find rest, Mamma." Overcome by her frustration, Lizzy's voice took on a childish tone and one that had only ever used when she was ill as a young girl when her mother would nurse her. "I do not understand, Mamma. Bennet sometimes kept me awake, but it was my own fascination with him that was the cause and it was never to this degree." Darcy had listened for many months to her sleeping troubles, but had quite obviously missed what the movements had told his wife.
"Miss Lizzy, you are not a ridiculous person and you never have been." Lizzy and Darcy both felt affection for Mrs Bennet whenever she called her daughter Miss Lizzy. She seemed to do so regardless of her married state. "You are very intelligent, something which I think your husband has recognised in you," Lizzy turned to look at him and he kissed her cheek, "I think you have your own theories."
Darcy rolled his eyes at her assumption that there was some special reason to the movements. "Mrs Bennet, I believe you may be making more of this than is necessary. Could Lizzy not just be more aware, or could the baby not just be moving more actively this time."
"Very simplistic theories for a man such as you, Mr Darcy."
"Mamma!" Lizzy glared at her mother's unwanted tone and reminded her that both of his suggestions were very good possibilities.
Darcy had not heard Mrs Bennet and only watched his wife. He touched her shoulder and asked: "But, you have other theories?"
Darcy's expression was one of surprise, and she felt almost as though she was betraying his confidence by admitting that she did. "You will not make me feel bad, William." He denied any intention of doing so and she continued. "I am much, much bigger than I was with Bennet, and it is not just a case of my body being used to childbearing now, because Jane is to give birth soon and she is not as large as me-"
Darcy stopped her, sensing an undertone of self-consciousness to her 'theory'. "Lizzy, you know perfectly well that you are the most beautiful women in the world. You are not at all to remain under the impression that you are larger than you have ever been."
Lizzy replied that this was not what she meant. "I know how well you admire my figure whether or not I am carrying your child." She said this quietly, for his ear only, and he blushed profusely when he saw Mrs Bennet straining to hear her daughter. "I mean that the baby is either very big or . . ." Darcy did not at all like the knowing look being exchanged by mother and daughter; he felt exceptionally left out and began to feel nervous at the prospect of discovering the other option. "It may be that I am carrying twins."
"Twins? Can you be serious? Lizzy, this sounds like wishful thinking, my dear."
Lizzy laughed mockingly. "I most assuredly can say that it is not. You think I want or intended to have two newborn babies to care for at once? William, I am not so stupid. I am only taking your own advice."
"My advice? When did I encourage you to think such a thing?" Lizzy begged him to sit down and reminded him of his assurance to her when she miscarried that God shall reward them twice over. Darcy was astounded. "Yes, but Lizzy . . ." he hesitated and she raised her eyebrows in expectation of another meaning behind his words.
"William, you told me that God did not think it the right time for us to have another baby. I think that perhaps he is giving us that child again and another."
Darcy stood and paced. Twins would certainly be a wonderful surprise, and his concern did not rise from a fear of unwanted children. Rather, it was that it was not a surprise. Lizzy was assuming that the child they had lost would come back to them and he was worried about her should it turn out that they had only one baby. Seeing that he would need to talk to his wife, he turned to Mrs Bennet. "Madam, may I beg some time alone with my wife?"
Lizzy looked cross with him, and asked why he made such a request, but Mrs Bennet knew herself why she had been asked to leave. She certainly would not have encouraged her daughter's assumption because she knew how damaging it could be if she did not get what she wanted. "Very well, I shall see you at breakfast, my child." She kissed Lizzy on the forehead and softly closed the door behind her.
Once she had left, it seemed as though she had lost her ability to hear. The silence almost frightened Lizzy; she never liked it when he paced in such a way and she refused to listen to his denial of her belief. At length, he sighed and leaned against the mantelpiece. Looking at her with an expression that told of his incredulity, he spoke: "Elizabeth, you cannot allow yourself to believe this. It would make more sense if you thought that the baby was the one that He took from us, but to think we have that child plus-"
"What on earth is so unbelievable about this? Why may it not be considered a possibility?"
Darcy was shocked. "You will not even listen to me, Lizzy. You will not hear me out. That is not like you." He saw how she furiously wiped away angry tears. "Lizzy, come and sit with me." She did, though he had to move her himself. "Tell me then." She looked confusedly at him. "Tell me what you think. You know that I trust you."
"Yes, but you think I am in an emotionally unbalanced state and anything I say you will dismiss out of hand."
"Do you think I respect you so little? Mothering has never unhinged you in such a way as to prevent you from being as perceptive and witty as you have been since the moment I met you." He kissed her forehead and begged her tell him once again.
"I know that you think I want twins because I think that one is the child that I lost." Darcy was anxious to remind her that she had not lost the baby, but keeping quiet, he knew that he was not to interrupt her. "That is not the case, although it is a good explanation and one that I would only apply if I did give birth to two babies. You cannot deny that my abdomen has grown to almost double the size that it was when Bennet was born. I have had to have an entirely new wardrobe commissioned and it is a waste of money because I shall never wear them again." Lizzy smiled and stroked the baby. "Fitzwilliam, I do genuinely think it possible."
He nodded. "Alright, I shall call Dr Howards and Mrs Ian-Jones. We shall need to see them soon enough in any case and their opinion is very important in this situation." Lizzy thanked him, declared herself tired and made to leave the room. "Ah, I am not finished yet, my dear, I have something to ask of you in return."
"Indeed? I am listening."
Darcy went to her and took her hands. "Please do not yet convince yourself of twins, Lizzy. Please. If we have one child, it will be such a blessing, as is Bennet. I am worried that you might persuade yourself that you can only be happy if we have twins."
Lizzy smiled understandingly and assured him that she was only trying to find an explanation as to why she was carrying more. She stepped closer to him and in each others' arms, both man and wife learned where to take comfort.