A/N: Here is a nice long (for me) chapter to make up for the delay in posting. Thanks again to everyone who has supported this story. You all are the best.
Also, if anyone doesn't know about the "Year Without a Summer" in which this chapter takes place, it might be useful to quickly look it up before reading.
Hope you all like this chapter. More will be posted soon. :)
Chapter 28: June – July 1816
The weather did not improve as the summer wore on. The rain continued, and six inches of snow fell in June, killing the already struggling spring wheat; the winter wheat having been already mostly destroyed from standing in pools of water for weeks on end. Darcy could not understand it. No one in England could understand it and from his correspondents Darcy learned that not only England was affected.
There was no time for visiting or the usual pleasures of summer. Darcy, Charles and Richard were each working day and night with the farm hands to try to salvage what crops they could and, when the rain or sleet kept everyone inside, puzzling over how to grow anything in the cold, muddy puddles that had replaced the fields. Richard, who, although the elder, had little experience with farming, and Charles Bingley both turned to Darcy for advice when their stewards shook their heads in discouragement.
Lizzy, came to stand beside her husband at the window one night, when he was staring out into the darkness where the patter of rain could still be distinctly heard.
"This reminds me of the weather when William was born," she said, laying a hand on his arm.
"He and his sibling will have something in common right away," he said, with an attempt at a smile, gesturing to her growing figure.
"It may still let up and become a normal July," she said, trying to be optimistic.
He did not answer, only turned from the window and picked up a book on agriculture which he had been reading in his spare moments.
"Is it so very bad? I want to know, and I won't stand for being coddled and deceived," she said, a little sharply.
"Goodness knows I could never get away with that. It's not so bad for us. We have resources to fall back on. The people it will be hard on is the small farmers and the tenants who cannot afford a year without a harvest. Food prices will go up and soon all the poor of England will suffer."
"Can we help them?"
"Not as much as I would like. My tenants would rather starve then beg, most of them. I think we can offer relief if we agree they shall pay it back after the first year with a good harvest."
"Can't you find other work for them?"
"If you have any ideas I would be happy to listen. Draining the fields in an almost futile hope of planting something later is the first thing I have set them to do. It keeps everyone busy and provides work that I can pay them for."
"Why don't we have some of them to work in the conservatory? Surely some vegetables can be grown there as well as flowers. And did not you say the stables needed some work done on them?"
"I was hoping to enlarge them to accommodate more horses. But there is scarcely enough hay and oats right now for the horses we have."
"But there's always next year. Couldn't you give the men the work now and raise or purchase the horses next year?"
"I think I could. There's some risk but it might be worth it," he said, smiling at her for the first time in a fortnight. "You are quite the estate manager Mrs. Darcy."
June in Derbyshire ended with another sleet storm. The thermometer read below freezing. In Hertfordshire and Kent, the news was the same. There was little chance for a harvest this year.
The only bright spot in the month came in Mary's letter, saying that she and Mr. Danber had been married quietly, there being no money this year for a big wedding, which suited both bride and groom just fine. The tone of the letter was a joyful one, if Mary could ever be said to be joyful, and Elizabeth rejoiced in her happiness.
Kitty sat down beside Richard who had sat down wearily on the sofa and buried his face in his hands.
"Richard, don't fret so. The weather is not your fault," she tried to comfort him.
"I just don't know what to do. I've never had to worry about weather more than in how uncomfortable it makes quarters or if a ship shall be blown off course. I can't stand this feeling of helplessness; of having no control over the situation."
"Did Darcy's suggestions about drainage not help?"
"A little. But they are proving insufficient at Pemberley too."
"Do you wish you had not given up your commission?" Quietly.
"No, for we need the money from its sale. I will not have Rosings go into debt the first year I am responsible for it."
"But you would rather be in the army?" Her voice was sad.
He looked at her sharply. "So that's what's bothering you. Well, one of us at least can have our worries dispelled. Kitty, there is nowhere in the world I would rather be than here with you, knowing I need never leave without you."
He put an arm around her shoulders, and she smiled brightly as she said, "Don't think that I don't worry about the crops too. But I don't mind a little trouble as long as you are not unhappy."
"How could I not be happy, with you to help me? I could be facing this alone if things had gone differently." He laid his forehead against hers and gave her a quick kiss.
"We shall get through this," Kitty said staunchly. "We have a reputation for getting through things together you know."
"I think you are right."
He kissed her again, more slowly and fully. Kitty shivered a little. Richard, for his part, seemed to have temporarily forgotten the rain.
The first of July came, bringing Elizabeth's confinement and more frost, sleet and rain.
Darcy was in the east fields, digging trenches to drain the water with the rest of the men, for a moderately dry week had reawakened hope that something might yet be done, when the message came that Elizabeth was going into labor.
He pulled himself out of the trench, mounted Ulysses and galloped for home. In the stable yard he handed the horse over to a groom with hurried orders to rub him down thoroughly. Although he wished to, he could not give him extra oats. They were too scarce.
Darcy hurried to his room, knowing that Mrs. Moore would send him right out again if he came in covered with mud. He washed and changed quickly, not bothering with coat or cravat and hurried through the dressing room door into Elizabeth's room.
She seemed calmer than last time, but she still reached out her hand to him and bade him come sit beside her. Mrs. Moore, sat and knitted, saying comfortably that there was no hurry yet. Every now and then Elizabeth's hand would tighten on his arm and her breathing become more ragged. Then it would pass, and all would be quiet again. An hour passed… two. The steward needed to see Darcy in his study and he left, knowing that nothing would happen in his absence.
When he returned he found that Georgiana had joined the those waiting in the bedroom. Before Elizabeth's confinement, Georgiana had asked Lizzy if she might assist this time, since Jane was too busy with her own infant to come, and Lizzy had gratefully accepted her offer.
The day turned to night and the discomfort increased. Around midnight, Elizabeth's water broke but Mrs. Moore thought it was still not time.
Both Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were exhausted. He had been doing more manual labor for a week than he was used to, and she was suffering from almost continual pain now. Every time Darcy began to nod Elizabeth would clutch his arm as a new bout of pain gripped her and he would force himself awake to encourage her or rub her back.
Georgiana had long since gone to sleep, curled up in a chair in the corner.
Morning broke and Mrs. Moore decided Elizabeth should walk about, hoping it would bring on the birth. She complied, and Darcy supported her gently as they paced the room together. The action soon became too much for her and she was laid back down, tears of pain and fatigue beginning to cloud her eyes.
"Is it not time yet?" Darcy asked Mrs. Moore hopefully.
"Perhaps…" She looked doubtful.
Lizzy cried out suddenly and Georgiana was jerked awake and beside the bed in a moment, suddenly afraid she had slept through the birth and been no help at all.
"I think it is time," said Mrs. Moore. "Hadn't you better leave now Mr. Darcy?"
"No," whispered Lizzy. The midwife bent to catch her words. "I want him here. Please let him stay."
Mrs. Moore pursed up her lips and studied Darcy critically. Finally, she nodded. "Fine. You stay by her head and keep her awake. The danger now is if she faints."
He nodded and did as she asked.
The labor progressed quickly after this, Fitzwilliam encouraging Lizzy, whispering and calling loudly to her by turns.
In another twenty minutes it was all over, and Georgiana proudly laid her newest nephew in his mother's arms.
"He and William will be so close," Elizabeth whispered happily. Then, looking at Darcy, "Can you bring him?"
He nodded and went to the nursery, while Georgiana, Mrs. Moore and Elizabeth's maid Martha spread the fresh sheets and helped the mother change into a fresh nightgown.
When Darcy returned with William he sat down on the bed with the little boy in his arms and showed him his new brother. William was more interested in his mother, who covered him with caresses, knowing he would miss her the next few days, before Georgiana lifted him up and took him back to the nursery.
Darcy kissed Elizabeth's forehead and stroked the baby's little cheek. He felt he needed to sleep for a week and she certainly felt more tired than he did. He closed the door to Elizabeth's room after him and padded down the hallway towards his room in stockinged feet.
As he placed his hand on the doorknob, a vision, a hallucination appeared down the hall and began walking towards him. Elizabeth's father was approaching him. There had been no visit planned. What was the man doing here?
He realized how he must look, clad in only his shirt, breaches and stockings, collar unbuttoned, hair rumpled wildly and holding his shoes in one hand.
Mr. Bennet approached his son-in-law, not seeming to take any notice of his appearance, and said, "Good morning Mr. Darcy. I am sorry to disturb you now, but I arrived here two hours ago, thinking I would give Lizzy a surprise. Goodness knows there's nothing to be done with my estate this year, so I thought to myself, what better time to come? In any case, no one was about but a maid who showed me into the parlor and told me Mrs. Darcy was having her baby. I got tired of fretting in there and went in search of the library. Well, I didn't find it, but I did run into you."
Darcy smiled bleakly. "I am sorry you were not better attended to."
Mr. Bennet waved his apology away. "If a household ever had a good excuse you have one now. How is Lizzy?" The concern in his voice was real.
Darcy's smile was more genuine as he said, "She is well, but very tired, and so is our second son."
Mr. Bennet's face lit up. "That is good news Sir. Perhaps I can see her tomorrow afternoon?"
"Certainly. I am sure she would want to see you now if she knew you were here."
"I don't want to disturb her yet and I would appreciate it if you did not mention my presence. I should still like to surprise her."
"Very well," Darcy said. "Now if you will excuse me? I haven't slept in over twenty-four hours." He gave a wry smile.
Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows and smiled too. "Indeed, I think I had better. Don't bother yourself on my account please. I shall be quite content once I locate the library."
"I would take you there myself sir, but under the circumstances, I think you had better ring that bell," Darcy said, gesturing to it with the shoes in his hand.
"Ah, yes the bell. How sensible of you." Mr. Bennet turned away and Darcy went into his room.
"Papa!" cried Lizzy in a voice which made Darcy start, so childlike did it sound. She was twenty-three, but he was struck by how very much younger she looked as she lay there, face still very pale, holding out her arms to her father.
Mr. Bennet took her hands in his and bent to kiss her cheek.
"Papa," she said again. "How are you here? It's so good to see you!"
"I travelled post of course. I wanted to surprise you, but received a surprise of my own instead. I did not think you would have had the child yet."
Elizabeth looked a little guilty, remembering that she had waited for some time before writing that she was expecting again, not wishing to have her mother tell the whole neighborhood any sooner than could be helped. She could think of no explanation which would not hurt him, so she said, while earnest tears filled her eyes, "I am so glad you have come."
"So am I child," he said, stroking her hand gently.
Darcy was standing back unobtrusively, while the two shared these first moments. But Elizabeth soon saw him and called to him. He came willingly and drew up a chair beside the bed.
The baby was brought in and Elizabeth presented him to his grandfather.
"He looks like a fine child. Have you found a name yet?" asked Mr. Bennet, after examining the infant.
Lizzy looked at her husband, a silent question in her eyes. He nodded, and she turned back to her father. "If you do not object, we would like to name him Louis, after you."
Mr. Bennet seemed at a loss for words. Lizzy smiled, knowing how rare this was for her father. After a moment he said, with his usual dry humor, "I do not think it is customary to object in such situations. I believe I shall consent."
Darcy smiled a little. He would have liked to name the boy after his own father, but the name George brought too many painful memories. Louis was a fine name for a boy and if Lizzy wanted it, it should be so.
He could see his wife was still very tired and soon suggested a visit to the nursery to see William. Mr. Bennet and he went hither shortly after, leaving the baby with his mother. William came running to his father eagerly and looked shyly out at the strange old gentleman from under his father's legs. However, the little lad soon warmed to Mr. Bennet's advances albeit they were rather awkward, that gentleman having never had much to do with his own daughter's babyhoods.
William did miss his mother, not having been allowed to see her since the brief visit yesterday morning. Darcy had spent a great deal of the morning with him however, and the bond between the two had grown still stronger, from their shared loneliness throughout the day while Elizabeth and the baby were sleeping.
Mr. Bennet now regretted never taking a part in his children's first years, as he watched Darcy and his son together, and resolved the same should not be true of him and his grandchildren.
Over the next few days, Mr. Bennet and William became the best of friends. Darcy was forced to attend to the sufferings of the estate and those of Lambton from the continued bad weather and was often gone all morning and afternoon, returning in the evenings to spend what time with William and Elizabeth and Louis that he could. During this time it was Mr. Bennet who played with the little boy, Nurse Rosa now having Louis to help care for as well.
Darcy came home one evening to find Mr. Bennet in the library, for he divided his time between it and the nursery.
"I can't thank you enough for spending so much time with William," Darcy said as he poured a glass of sherry for himself and one his father-in-law.
Mr. Bennet waved his words away. "You are the one who is working hard. Your dedication to your estate and its people is something I would aspire to."
Darcy was surprised at the older gentleman's honesty and was at the same time touched. It had been so long since he received praise from a father.
"Thank you Sir," he said quietly.
He sat down, but soon realizing he was too tired for anything but sleep, he bade his companion goodnight and went upstairs. He went into the nursery and looked at his two little boys, both sound asleep, so that he would not risk touching and waking them. Then he went to his own room and prepared for bed. He would normally go into Elizabeth's room for the night, but she had looked so tired and was still so sore that he decided not to disturb her, instead going to his own bed. Despite his exhaustion, sleep evaded him. He lay awake, thinking about the work on the stables and in the fields.
The dressing room door opened, and Elizabeth's voice said quietly, "May I come in Fitzwilliam?"
He started up. "Of course. But you should not be up yet."
"Walking through the dressing room will hardly hurt me." She climbed up beside him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I couldn't sleep without you."
"My intention was to help you sleep, not deprive you of it."
"Well please know that in the future all I require for a good night's rest is your presence."
He smiled into the dark, glad to hear her teasing him again. "I will try and remember that."
She settled down beside him and he put an arm around her. She laid her head against his chest and gave a contented sigh.
Midway through the night it began to rain again, but in the bedrooms at Pemberley, for once, no one heard it.