Okay, so I feel like this story is kind of dragging, anyone else feel that way? I don't know what to do, so ideas would be very welcome! I origianlly planned 30 chapter, but I don't want to speed through her pregnancy, nor do I want to drag it out. So, tell me what you think, and as always, thank you so much for taking the time to read and review!
Lizzy awoke on Easter morning wrapped tightly in her husband's arms, his hand resting on her nearly invisible bump. The only noticeable difference, to her at least, was the increase in her bust.
"Good morning love" Her husband whispered as she moved against him.
"Good morning William" She whispered, turning in his arms to face him. His hand now rested on the small of her back.
"Do you feel well?" He asked. She hadn't been ill in the morning yet, but seemed to be ill after tea in the afternoons. The doctor had assured her that it was normal at any hour.
"I feel perfectly well," She told him, stretching to kiss his lips. "Happy Easter darling"
"Happy Easter Lizzy" He replied.
They didn't have the time to continue their activities, so Mr. Darcy reluctantly dragged himself from the warm bed. He dressed himself in his nightclothes, before disappearing to Lizzy's old room to bathe and dress for church. Lizzy lazily stretched until she realized she would have to call a maid soon to bathe and be ready in time.
Once she was clean, she knocked on Georgiana's door. The young girl was brushing out her long blonde hair.
"Good morning Lizzy" She greeted.
"Good morning Georgie" Lizzy replied. She took the brush from her sister, and started brushing the blonde hair herself. "Which dress are you wearing?" She asked. Georgiana gestured to the pastel pink and white dress hanging on the dresser. Lizzy nodded and began to plait and twist the blonde locks into an acceptable chignon.
"Perfect!" Lizzy announced. Georgiana examined the hairstyle before nodding, and switching seats with her sister.
"Are you well this morning?" she asked, brushing out the shorter, yet still long, brunette hair.
"I wish everyone would stop asking me!" Lizzy sighed. "I am perfectly fine, albeit nervous for telling my family." Lizzy admitted. They had decided to let the Bennet's know about the news during Easter dinner. "I am sad that Colonel Fitzwilliam could not join us thought"
"Richard spent Christmas with us, it is only fair that he has to stay for this holiday" Georgiana reasoned. In truth, Richard had volunteered to travel to Brighton to meet with the party they sent to retrieve Lydia, and to threaten Wickham.
"I suppose so" Lizzy held a piece of her hair while Georgiana safely pinned it in place. The younger girl was surprisingly efficient at doing hair. She pinned little flowers in the back before finishing. Lizzy kissed her cheek.
"Thank you dear, it looks amazing," She announced. "Now, let me go get my dress, and we can tie each other into these lacey, fabric traps"
Lizzy's dress had to be almost completely re-done. The top hugged her chest tightly, then layers of material fell loosely from the sash under her breasts. The sash was light green; the rest of the material was cream satin, cream tulle, and cream lace. It was a gorgeous dress.
"Oh, you look wonderful Lizzy" Georgiana exclaimed. The younger girl's dress was white with pastel pink lace and ribbon adorning it. Lizzy tied her stays and buttoned the back. Georgiana buttoned Lizzy's up, and tied the sash gently.
"Shall we gather our bonnets and head downstairs?" Lizzy asked.
"Jewelry first" Georgiana exclaimed. A knock came from outside followed by Mr. Darcy's voice.
"Come in William" Lizzy called. He walked in with two wrapped boxes.
"Oh, Easter presents!" Georgiana remarked. "So much better then looking for those nasty eggs" William laughed as he presented his younger sister with the top gift. She eagerly torn it off as Lizzy gently removed her own wrapping paper.
"Oh, William, thank you!" Georgiana cried, wrapping her arms around her brother. Inside her box was a strand of pink pearls. She turned to Lizzy, curious as to what her brother had gotten for her. She hadn't received jewelry.
"Oh" Lizzy gasped, pulling out the tiny silver rattle. Tears welled in her eyes as she threw herself at her husband. Georgiana smiled at the sight of them. She removed herself from her room, and retrieved Lizzy's Darcy crest necklace. When she returned, the two had righted themselves. Lizzy was sitting on the bed, the rattle in her hands. Both were staring at it in wonder.
"We're going to be late" Georgiana told them. They both smiled and followed her out of the room. "Oh, I grabbed you this" She passed Lizzy her necklace.
"Thank you dear" Lizzy replied as William clasped the necklace around her neck for her.
The sun shone brightly Easter morning as the Bingley, Darcy's, Bennet's, and Hurst's made their way to the only church in Meryton. The whole town would be in attendece.
Miss Bingley was eerily silent today. She dressed in a simple white frock, devoid of any parisan lace or oriental silk. It was simple, it was meek. In other words, it was not Miss Bingley.
After the mass, the families adjourned to Netherfield for an Easter feast.
As soon as Mrs. Bennet was in proximity to her second eldest, she began praising her dress, her bonnet, and her necklace of course.
"Oh, what a beautiful necklace Lizzy! Look, Kitty, does she not look wealthy?" Lizzy would usually be bothered by such words, but smiled instead at her mother.
"Thank you Mama" She fingered the necklace, "William gave it to me as a wedding present"
"Oh, what a thoughtful man!" Mrs. Bennet searched the room for her darling son in law. "Where is that darling son in law of mine? Lizzy, where did your husband disappear to?" Lizzy searched the room herself and found her husband ushering the men out of the parlor. Lizzy smirked at his quick wink.
"The men seem to have decided to go hunting" Jane told her, sitting next to Lizzy on the couch.
Mr. Darcy could not escape from Mrs. Bennet for long. Eventually everyone was called to the dining room to feast upon the several course meal that Miss Bingley had worked so hard on.
"Oh, everything looks wonderful, Miss Bingley" Jane said kindly. Miss Bingley had been oddly silent the entire day. Lizzy briefly wondered if something had happened, but brushed that thought away as she remembered that she would have to tell her family in a few moments.
"Thank you" Miss Bingley murmured.
They dug in to the deliciously cooked ham with thyme, adorned with leafy greens, mashed turnips, apricot stuffing, and hot cross buns.
When everyone was nearly done, Lizzy anxiously began tapping her fingers against the table. Her husband noticed and stilled her hand. He smiled at her gently before tapping his fork against his crystal goblet, earning him the attention of everyone seated.
Georgiana, Kitty, and Jane looked on in eager anticipation. Georgiana knew the news, while Kitty and Jane merely suspected.
Mr. Bennet had a small smile on his face. Lizzy was sure that he knew what was going to come next, as did Mr. Bingley.
Miss Bingley, Mary, and Mrs. Bennet looked up startled and confused at Mr. Darcy's rising.
Mr. and Mrs. Hurst seemed too focused on their food.
He motioned for Lizzy to stand. She stood shakily. Everyone was looking at her now. They had practiced what they were going to say, they had prepared a small speech in fact. Mr. Darcy would speak first, and then Lizzy. It would be calm, and collected.
Lizzy always had a problem with speaking too fast. Her aunt always told her to not to just blurt things out. While usually witty and sharp, announcing something like this made her extremely nervous.
She found herself rising; Mr. Darcy was already beginning to speak. She locked eyes with Jane, who looked so eager, so happy, that she found herself speaking over her husband in a rush.
"I'm pregnant," She said quickly. The whole table stilled. Georgiana was giggling into her napkin, along with Kitty. Jane was biting back her smile. Her husband, his speech interrupted, turned to give her a confused yet amused look. Everyone else was shocked in silence.
"Well, thank you Lizzy dear" Mr. Darcy said loudly. "I guess that is a more efficient way of telling them. Lizzy and I are expecting a child in September"
Mrs. Bennet was the first to recover, and began fanning herself, mumbling about her nerves. Mr. Bennet stood and hugged his daughter, before shaking hands with his son. Jane leapt from her seat and embraced her sister, before embracing a slightly shocked Darcy.
After all the congrats were given, the party broke into separate groups, the males going to the library to enjoy a glass of port, while the females went to the parlor to talk more about the baby.
Miss Bingley feigned a headache and disappeared upstairs.
"Charles gave her an ultimatum after she refused to call for the doctor" Jane whispered as Lizzy quirked a brow at Caroline's sudden departure.
"She refused?" Lizzy hadn't heard that. Jane nodded somberly.
"She has been increasingly horrible to me as the wedding looms closer. Charles is sending her to London with the Hurst's after the holiday."
"Of course he is!" Lizzy groaned. "William and I are going to town after this, to introduce me to society before I am as large as a whale" Jane simply patted her sister's hand with a contrite smile.
Later that night, Lizzy found herself leaning over the chamber pot, emptying her stomach. William held her curls back from her face with one hand while the other rubbed gentle circles on her back.
"My mother is convinced it will be a boy" Lizzy told him between bouts of nausea, "She insists on coming to Pemberely in August, and staying until Michaelmas"
And suddenly Mr. Darcy had the urge to vomit as well.