The weeks did, indeed, drag by, but preparations for both the babe and the wedding helped pass the time. Dr. Anderson had become a constant fixture in the house, checking on Mrs. Bennet almost every day. There were a few who believed he may come for more than just medical reasons, seeing as he spent a good deal of his time discussing medical practices with the middle sister. The day did finally come, though, when the two eldest sisters returned with their husbands, and took up residence at Netherfield once more.
No one had written to them about the engagement, choosing instead to surprise the couples upon their return. They were pleasantly surprised, too. They had all had a feeling that it would happen sooner rather than later, and were pleased that it had taken place.
"So, do all the men in your family make spontaneous proposals, or is it just the two of you?" asked Bingley.
"At least I didn't fall in the lake first."
This caused Darcy to glare at his cousin, but he was interrupted before he could say anything.
"Ethan planned his, but I understand that my uncle told my aunt she was marrying him," answered Georgiana.
"So it does run in the family. I'll be sure your sons are prepared then," said Bingley, causing those in the room to laugh.
Their days were spent in much the same fashion. Every day, the ladies came together, sometimes with some of the neighboring ladies, and knitted and sowed for the babe and the wedding. Mrs. Bennet was sometimes allowed to sit out with everyone, but most often, the ladies gathered in her rooms. This went on into the first week of September, almost three weeks since the Jane and Elizabeth returned. As is the universal rule, Mrs. Bennet's time came.
Kate had been having a good dream. She and Richard had been taking a turn about their gardens when they turned to the sound of a child calling for their Mama and Papa. Around a corner came a boy about the age of nine, followed by two girls ages 6 and 5. Coming up after them was a toddler being chase by his nurse. Kate's eyes popped open, and her sight adjusted to the dark. She heard movement in the hall and hushed voices. She decided to get up and investigate.
After donning her robe, she stepped out into the hallway and saw her Aunt giving direction to Claudia.
"What is going on, Aunt? Is it Mama?"
"Yes, dear. Her time has come. We have sent for both the midwife and the doctor. I was just telling Claudia to send the stable boy to rouse your elder sisters. They requested to be informed, no matter what time of day or night."
"Is there anything I can do? I doubt I will be able to go back to sleep."
"If that is the case, go and dress yourself. I imagine your sisters will be here as soon as they can, and with the servants being a bit stretched at the moment, you can greet and direct everyone to where they need to go."
"May I see Mama?"
"I will ask. Every woman is different, Kate. I enjoyed having company when I labored with my son, but I recall your mother running most everyone out of the room each time she labored with one of you girls. Now, go dress."
By the time Kate was dressed and ready, Dr. Anderson had already arrived. She made it down stairs in time to bring the midwife to her mother's room. She did get the chance to look in on her mother, but as her aunt warned, Mrs. Bennet did not want many people around. So, a quick kiss to her mother's forehead and she was out the door. She found her father in his study, watching the sky begin to lighten.
"Is there anything I can get for you, Papa?" she asked, startling Mr. Bennet.
"No, I fear there is nothing you can do for me, unless you have the power to make things more along more quickly. That would be most helpful," he said, his usual smirk not showing as strong.
She walked in and gave him a hug, then left him to his thoughts. She did make a note to have a tea sent to him in another hour or so. There was a commotion in the front room. Upon hearing Lizzy, she sighed in relief that her elder sisters were now here. She wasn't sure how, but Georgiana, Mary, and Lydia still managed to sleep on.
"Kate! Has there been any news?" asked Lizzy.
"Dr. Anderson is here, as is Mrs. Mack. I was able to see Mama for myself, but she is not up for any company. She looks so tired and she has only be laboring for a few hours. Papa is in his study. I just left him, in fact. He, too, isn't up for company, though I am going to have a tray sent to him soon."
"Where are the others?" asked Jane.
"Still abed. At least some of us shall be well rested."
"Well, I do not begrudge them the rest, but they can see to the normal callers. They shall be in much better shape, I dare say," said Lizzy.
Kate noticed Bingley and Darcy sitting sleepily nearby. "And you, dear brothers? Is there anything I can do for you? I find I do not care to stand idle at the moment."
"A tray would be nice," said Bingley.
Kate saw to it immediately. Once her brother-in-laws were seen to, the found all her sisters had made their way into their family's favorite sitting room, and were working on more thing for her wedding.
"It is something to do," said Jane sweetly.
Hours went by. The sun was full up, and the entire house was up. Richard, too, had stopped by to collect his cousin and soon to be brother. There was little they could do, and the ladies of the house were not up for conversation. For the moment, Jane and Lizzy were happy to have their husband spend their time elsewhere. Mary had seen to Mrs. Philips and Mrs. Long when they came by. The two were sure to spread the word of the happening at Longbourn throughout the neighborhood.
Lunch had passed and dinner would soon be upon them, and still, Mrs. Bennet labored above stairs. It had been a while since there had been any word, and the sisters could not bring themselves to seek out answers. Off and on, they heard their mother's cries and moans. Mr. Bennet had not yet left his study, and the maid said all but one cup of tea remained untouched. They had just sat down for dinner when they heard a baby wail.
Their food forgotten, they made their way upstairs, and were met by their Aunt.
"Girls, I need you to tell Mrs. Hill to send for the wet nurse, and then you can meet me in your father's study. I know that is where he is."
"How is Mama?"
"Do we have a baby brother or sister?"
"Are they both well?"
"Your mother needs rest and the baby is fine. Meet me in your father's study and I shall answer all other questions."
Georgiana volunteered to find Mrs. Hill while the rest joined their father in his study. He looked up when they entered.
"The baby had been delivered?" he asked rising. "I thought I heard a cry."
"Yes," said Jane. "Aunt Marianne said she would meet us here and bring the babe. A wet nurse has been sent for."
Mr. Bennet sat back down, and they all waited. Georgiana joined them first. Thirty minutes after they came to Mr. Bennet's study, their Aunt finally arrived with a bundle in her arms.
"Well, brother, this will be a very different experience for you. Boy's tend to get themselves into trouble more often than not, but then, your daughters have never been able to let a male outdo them, so he may very well be tame in comparison."
"We have a brother!" exclaimed Lydia.
Marianne handed the boy to his father, and the ladies gathered around to see him. They cooed over him for a moment, then Jane asked after their mother again.
They could see their aunt was prepared for this. "She needs rest. The labor and delivery were very hard on her. Dr. Anderson will be here soon to tell you more. But now, Brother, what name have you and Fanny settled on? She refused to speak a name until the child was born."
"George, after her late father. He was a good man, and Edward has been used far too much in our line as it is."
Kate and Georgiana grimaced a little at the name, but then each decided the name would have a better connection now. They all continued to coo over him until the wet nurse was announced and he was taken away for feeding. Dr. Anderson followed soon after.
"How is our mother?" asked Mary.
He seemed to hesitate, but Mr. Bennet waved away his worries. "They will want to know, and I have no objection in them hearing it. They are all ladies are married and likely to marry soon. This should be no great mystery to them, as it will one day be a concern."
"Yes, well, as I am sure Mrs. Westfield has informed you, Mrs. Bennet had a difficult time. She lost consciousness before we could tell her she had delivered a healthy son, and has yet to gain it again. She is sleeping restfully at the moment, and that is a good sign. According to Mrs. Mack, however, it is possible that she may not be able to nurse the child herself. Mrs. Mack has already discussed Mrs. Bennet's options beforehand, so I am sure there is a plan in place?"
Marianne nodded.
"Good. I will be back to check on Mrs. Bennet in the morning. I would suggest having one or two people sitting with her at all times. I should be able to assess her condition better once she has had some time to rest."
"Thank you, Dr. Anderson. I shall see you out," said Marianne.
Plans were quickly made. Jane and Lizzy had decided to stay, so they sent out word to their husbands as to what had transpired. Georgiana and Mary would sit with Mrs. Bennet through the night, since they had gotten more sleep the night before. It was now quite late and the household sought their rest.
The morning brought bad news. Mrs. Bennet had not yet awoken and she had developed a fever. The house was in shock. In the twenty-four years that the Bennet's had been married, rarely a day went by that Mrs. Bennet's dulcet tones could not be heard in or around the house. There was almost complete silence. Darcy and Bingley had arrived early with a few of their wives things, knowing they would wish to remain close by their family. Mr. Bennet stayed locked in his study. They ladies all took turns sitting with their mother and tending to their brother. Despite everything that was going on around them, they refused for the little one to feel even the slightest bit of neglect.
The gentlemen kept themselves busy as well. Bingley and Richard made sure they were all sleeping, insisting they have a lie down if they knew they had been up for a while. No one was sleeping during what would be considered normal sleeping hours, except for Elizabeth that is, and that was because Darcy was constantly hovering over her, making sure she was well rested. More than one person in the house noticed this, but no one asked.
After four days, Mr. Bennet finally came out of his study for more than necessity, and was found in the nursery reading to his son. A few neighbors had stopped by, but none stayed longer than to hear of any new developments. Finally, a week after the delivery, Mrs. Bennet's fever broke. Kate was with her when she first came to consciousness.
"Oh, my head…" sobbed Mrs. Bennet.
"Mama! Mama, can you hear me? Georgie, go get my Aunt! Mama?"
"My head, it hurts," she continued to groan. Her hands went to her stomach. "The baby! Where is the baby? I lost the baby, didn't I? I lost my baby," she sobbed.
"No, Mama. He is fine. He is in the nursery, right next door. We can bring him to you."
"A boy," she whispered. "I have a son. I have son." She then drifted back to sleep, this time, with a smile on her face.
"Mama!"
Marianne and Dr. Anderson came through the door at that moment.
"She was awake but she just drifted back to sleep! I couldn't keep her awake!"
The doctor looked her over. "That is alright, Miss Westfield. I can tell she is sleeping more peacefully than she was. Did she say anything other than her head hurt?"
"She panicked about the baby, but I told her he was fine. The last thing she said before going back to sleep was that she had a boy."
"That's good. It's hard to know when patients will be fully awake. I would not be surprised if we have a few more incidents like this. I would say that things are only going to get better from this point. I shall go and tell your father the good news."
Marianne left with the doctor, smiling at her niece. Kate stayed by her mother's side and stroked her hair. She was going to be alright.
It's a boy! I actually wanted to name the babe something else, but George just felt right. Comment, review, just let me know what you think, or what you believe is going to happen next. I gave a little hint.