Chapter 13
"Isn't he lovely Fitzwilliam?" asked Elizabeth as she presented the baby in his white christening robe to his father.
Darcy observed his little son's attire critically. "It is not very masculine is it Lizzy?"
"It is not supposed to be. There will be plenty of time for that when he is older." Lizzy began indignantly but ended more playfully as she perceived that he was joking.
"Well Elizabeth. That is the only flaw I can see. Yes, he is lovely," Fitzwilliam said decidedly.
"Lizzy!" gasped Mrs. Bennet, hurrying up. Darcy gave a heavy sigh that only Mrs. Bennet's own words stopped her from hearing. "You should be ready. The christening starts in an hour and we have still to drive to the church."
Lizzy rolled her eyes at her husband. To her mother she said, "Yes, Mama. I shall be ready directly." She turned to go back upstairs.
"Leave William with me Lizzy," Darcy said suddenly. "I can keep him out of harm's way for twenty minutes."
She smiled at him and handed the baby over. "Thank you," she said. "I shan't be long."
Darcy carried his son to his study and sat down in his desk chair.
"I agree," he said as the baby whimpered. "It is all rather too much fuss. I would rather have just you and your mother and Georgiana at your christening. But, the heir of Pemberley has to put up with fuss sometimes."
Baby Darcy gurgled and stretched his little limbs. His big dark eyes stared up at his father's face.
"We shall put up with it together, shall we?"
"He is a little too young to carry on a conversation with is he not?" asked a voice from the doorway.
"Is that you Richard?"
"Yes, may I come and sit?"
"Of course."
Colonel Fitzwilliam pulled up a chair and sat down opposite his cousin.
"I would offer you a drink, but my hands are a little full right now," Darcy said dryly.
The Colonel waved the statement away.
"So Richard, how go the wars."
"It is ridiculous how many we are fighting at once isn't it? Well, I am still alive, so I suppose I have nothing to complain of. I am sorry Darcy that I couldn't make it to your wedding."
"Indeed Richard, being halfway around the world in Gorkha in South Asia is no excuse," said Darcy sarcastically.
The Colonel laughed shortly. "You know troops are being called back for fear that Napoleon might cause trouble again. He is still a prisoner on Elba, but his friends are preparing."
"So you are not going back to Asia?"
"Probably not. But then again you never know, at least not until it's too late."
The two gentlemen sat in silence for a moment and then Darcy said quietly, "It is always a relief when you come home safe Richard."
"Thank you, Darcy. It is a comfort to have some relations who are happy at my return."
Darcy frowned. "Your brother does not appreciate your company any more than he used to?"
"No. He does not like that I was Father's favorite growing up and is afraid his money might be drawn upon to assist me."
At this juncture, Elizabeth came in and stopped suddenly as she saw the two gentlemen.
"Goodness, I hope I am not disturbing your conversation," she said quickly. "I looked everywhere for you Fitzwilliam before I thought to come in here."
"Not at all Mrs. Darcy. We were just finished," the colonel replied gallantly.
"Are we ready to leave?" asked Darcy as he handed over the baby and stood up.
"Yes, the carriages are at the door and some of the party have already started for the church."
"We had better hurry then," said the Colonel as he held the door for her.
"Thank you, Colonel Fitzwilliam."
"Please, call me Cousin Richard as Georgiana does. It will save confusion seeing you call Darcy Fitzwilliam. The rest of his relatives are too lazy, so he generally goes by Darcy and I by Colonel. I really prefer Richard however."
"Well then, Cousin Richard," she said with a smile. "Please lead on to the carriages." He bowed and did so.
Outside, the ground was covered with a layer of sparkling white snow. The baby was wrapped in many blankets right up to his tiny nose and the drive to the church was accomplished in a short time.
The church was decorated with hot house flowers and many candles. Jane and Mr. Bingley repeated the vows of a Christian in honor of their godson.
The vicar pronounced the solemn words, "I baptize thee Fitzwilliam Henry Darcy, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." The water was poured, and the infant screamed lustily.
Kitty barely suppressed a giggle and Mary pinched her sharply. The younger girl caught the Colonel's eye and it too was twinkling in a friendly and amused way. Kitty smiled in return and then remembered herself and looked back quickly at the ceremony.
The crying baby was returned to his mother and quieted promptly as she hugged him to her.
A closing hymn was sung and then the party trooped out into the cold clear air and into the carriages for the return to the great house, where the christening feast was awaiting them.
A holiday had been declared in the village in honor of the occasion and the villagers lined the road to offer their congratulations to the proud parents.
Back at Pemberley, Darcy and Elizabeth stood inside and welcomed all the guests back inside and received their congratulations again. Georgiana kissed her brother and Lizzy with happy tears in her eyes, Lady Catherine went so far as to pronounce him a fine child and the Colonel received a punch in the face from little William when he bent to shake his tiny hand.
The tired baby was then handed over to his nurse while Elizabeth saw her guests into the dining room where Mrs. Reynolds had outdone herself.
Darcy watched Elizabeth and thought of how well she had risen to the position of mistress of Pemberley. She was all grace and loveliness and eyes followed her wherever she went, as she attended to all her visitors and chatted with her sisters or Charlotte Collins and Anne be Bourgh.
Darcy was thus pleasantly engaged when he heard a rustle of silk behind him and his aunt seated herself beside him.
"I hope you have had a pleasant visit so far Aunt."
"I came over to tell you that Anne is to be married."
He was startled as she had hoped, but not for the reasons she wished. "That is rather a sudden announcement Aunt; and is it not also rather a sudden decision? Who is the bridegroom?"
"Lord Farley. His father, the Earl of Ashton, is a very elderly gentleman and may soon die, and then Lord Farley will inherit the family estate in Southern Yorkshire. He also has a farm in Kent which he came down to sell; that is how we met him. I believe he served in the army for some time. He is a very agreeable gentleman and Anne will be Lady Farley." The last words were spoken grandly.
Is that all you really care about? Darcy thought. Aloud he said, "I wish her every happiness I am sure. Is not her health still too delicate for such a step?"
"She is much better lately," her Ladyship returned shortly.
"You will no doubt do everything in a way most likely to ensure your daughter's health. Now if you will excuse me Madam."
He rose and made his way over to where Colonel Fitzwilliam was telling an animated story to an attentive audience consisting of Mrs. Gardener, Georgiana, Mary and Kitty. Darcy heard laughs and a light clapping of hands as the account ended and Richard bowed and moved away. Darcy leaned against the wall beside him.
"Has Lady Catherine told you the news?"
"Yes. I have been trying to avoid her all evening for fear that I would be her next target for Anne, not that a youngest son is grand enough for Miss de Bourgh, but still, she had been eyeing me in a most unnerving way. But she cornered me at last and I was relieved to hear that the threat no longer hung over my head."
"What do you know about Lord Farley, seeing as how his family lives in the same county as yours?"
"His father, Lord Ashton, has no head for business and the family fortune is dwindling. In short, he needs to marry well to save his estates."
"Have you heard anything unpleasant of the man himself. I feel a certain duty to Anne as a cousin, and for not being able to offer her the protection of a husband myself."
"Heaven forbid," said the Colonel. "It would have been a disaster. But no, I know of nothing that would stain the gentleman's reputation."
Darcy was silent for a moment in reflection before the two were accosted by Mr. Collins who came to inform them that they would both be welcome at his humble abode now that there was no longer any enmity between Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine. Richard looked amused and Darcy gave him a cold bow and moved away.
Lizzy was sitting by her father in a moment where no one demanded her attention. She caught her husband's eye from across the room and gave him an encouraging smile, seeing his stony expression. He smiled in return and Lizzy blew him a discrete kiss.
Her father saw the gesture however and said, "I think you are secure of your husband's heart Lizzy."
"Indeed, I think I am," she returned, not minding the forwardness of the statement from her father as she would from her mother. Her Aunt Gardener had remarked similarly the day before and no offence has been taken then either.
"I must confess I thought your wits had deserted you when you first told me you loved him. But now I see that you were right, and he is everything you claimed him to be then. I could only wish that you were settled nearer."
She leaned over and took his hand. "I want you to make the journey to come visit us more often," she said. "You will be welcome anytime; day or night."
"You are a good child Lizzy," he said, patting her hand.
Night fell over Pemberley and the guests retired. The moon shone down on a tired but contented Mrs. Darcy as she stood by her window with her husband's arms around her and heard him whisper how proud he was of her into her loose curls.
A/N: Thanks again for all the amazing reviews and support!