A/N - This chapter is unedited. Please let me know if you see any issues, or where you think the story might drag on.

Let me know if you continue to see any issues with consistency, language/usage, or just too much information. This story will be published on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited at some point once it is finished (new target: September 10?).


Chapter 24

Upon returning to Pemberley, Darcy and Elizabeth began to establish a rhythm for the work that needed to be done by the master and mistress of the estate. After the harvest was complete was a slower time for Darcy in some ways, but there was still much business to attend to. Elizabeth also had much to learn and do, starting with the Christmas baskets to be distributed on Boxing Day to the tenants and servants of Pemberley. They spent the mornings together in his study as they completed their individual tasks, although Elizabeth met with Mrs Reynolds after breaking her fast each morning and before meeting her husband in their study.

Elizabeth's condition soon became evident first to the servants of Pemberley and then spread throughout the tenants and the residents of Lambton. When she and Darcy ventured into that town to order supplies for Christmas baskets, many took note of her expanding stomach and offered their congratulations to the couple for the expected blessing. These they received with joy and laughed at how quickly the rumour spread from Pemberley into the town without any formal announcement. Mrs Reynolds, of course, had been informed early on, as a few foods had to be avoided during those early months. When the couple returned from Longbourn, they spoke again with the housekeeper, allowing her to share their news as appropriate. This she did, and they concluded the news spread from there.

Letters were frequently exchanged between Pemberley and points south during this time. They learned about her courtship from Jane and were pleased with her evident happiness. Darcy's requests for information about Mr Hastings were answered, and all reports were positive. Elizabeth felt pleased to encourage her sister and was excited to learn the two were officially courting.

Quite a few letters were received from Longbourn during this time. Only Mr and Mrs Bennet had remained at home, and both became far better correspondents. Mr Bennet frequently wrote to Darcy, asking questions and discussing his ideas for the upcoming planting season. Mr Bennet had acquired a used copy of a farming treatise giving greater detail regarding several of the improvements Darcy and Longbourn's steward suggested. Todd also wrote about discussions between himself and Mr Bennet about these improvements, making Darcy believe they would likely occur. Todd also informed Darcy that an additional payment was made on the loan.

Mrs Bennet also had much to say, and all but one of her daughters received long, newsy letters at least every other week, if not more often. The Bennet matriarch found it necessary to write to fill up her time and wrote without worrying if she received a reply to the previous missive. She still did not write to Elizabeth since she was unwilling to apologise, but Mrs Hill wrote of Mrs Bennet's ennui in her letters regarding the status of Longbourn.

In response, Elizabeth suggested Mrs Bennet take on the role of visiting tenants. This task fell to Jane and Elizabeth in recent years, although their younger sisters also participated when the older ones were not home. Since none of the girls were home, it became necessary for Mrs Hill to do this on top of her other tasks, but there was only so much she could manage. To aid in this and to give Mrs Bennet something to do, Elizabeth asked Mrs Hill to speak to Mrs Bennet about the needs of the tenants so Mrs Bennet could begin to do what was necessary.

Mrs Bennet was reluctant to do this, and the lack of care for the tenants at Longbourn became a source of growing frustration for Elizabeth and, as a result, a source of frustration for Darcy as well.

"Elizabeth," Darcy began one morning early in December, "you cannot continue to assume the responsibility for Longbourn and Pemberley. You have written to your mother and Mrs Hill, and I have written to Todd, explaining what you and your sister typically have done for the tenants, but, my dear, you are with child, and this constant fretting is not doing anyone any good."

"I should be at Longbourn, caring for the tenants there," she insisted again. "Although Jane frequently assisted, I ensured these things were done, William. None of my sisters are home to help, and Mama refuses."

"You cannot be both at Longbourn and at Pemberley," he repeated. "You are the mistress here, and your attention needs to be on our tenants."

She glared at him. "So I should ignore the tenants at Longbourn and their needs? Is Pemberley so much greater than Longbourn?" she demanded huffily.

"Yes," he said, immediately regretting the answer when he saw her flinch. "Elizabeth, your mother is the mistress of Longbourn and has been for many years. You have done what you can, but it is no longer your responsibility. Your responsibility is here, to our tenants."

"I have cared for these people for years, and you would have me forsake them entirely just because I married you?" she asked heatedly.

"No, Elizabeth, that is not what I am saying," he tried again. "Your focus should be here, on our home."

"Longbourn is my home," she stated churlishly.

"Not anymore," he retorted. "Remember when you promised to forsake all others? Pemberley is your home. I understand that Longbourn will always be important to you, but Pemberley and the tenants here should be your focus."

"I cannot forsake those at Longbourn," she insisted again.

"So you would forsake Pemberley's tenants instead?" he asked softly.

"I am here, am I not?" she asked testily.

"You are in body, but it seems you wish to still be at Longbourn," he replied sadly. "If you wish, I will arrange for you to travel there, but you must understand that I cannot accompany you this time. As the Master of Pemberley, I must remain here to see to my tenants if the Mistress chooses to return to her home."

Elizabeth interpreted his voice as disgusted when he said the last words and believed he was unhappy that he must still deal with Longbourn. "If that is your wish," she said coldly, marching from the study toward her rarely used bedchamber.

She sat on her bed feeling dejected and angry with her husband for his dismissal of her concerns and his refusal to travel with her to Longbourn.

"I do not want to travel to Longbourn," she said to herself. "I do not know what I am proposing to do if I went. Mama and Mrs Hill have done what is needed, or they have not. What good can I do?" Elizabeth contemplated this for some minutes until she realised she had angered with her husband, and suddenly, she began to cry over the silly argument. Even when she lived there, Longbourn had barely felt like home, so why did she insist on leaving Pemberley and her husband alone at Christmas? They had guests arriving soon; would she leave him alone to deal with their families? Upset over the argument and exhausted from carrying their child, she eventually cried herself to sleep.

Darcy was likewise concerned about the conversation and its unexpected turn. Feeling a little like Elizabeth was choosing Longbourn and its tenants over him, he was hurt and upset that his wife seemed to be considering leaving him alone for Christmas. Of course, he was the one who had offered to transport her there, but she had not disagreed. Still feeling unsettled about their argument, he decided to seek her out.

He found her asleep on her bed in the mistress chamber, but the evidence of tears was clearly on her face. Sitting beside her, he watched her for several minutes before removing his shoes, cravat, and jacket and then lying behind her. Darcy placed his hand on her stomach, where their child grew, as he settled beside her, jerking when he felt something press against it. He was uncertain about what he had just experienced for a moment, but then it dawned on him that it was their child. He went from upset to exultant in moments as he finally felt what he had wanted since she told him she was expecting.

More determined than ever to fix things with his wife, he settled in behind her and simply held her and their child as she slept. He occasionally felt movement under his hand and thrilled each time as he quietly conversed with his child. His wife would not leave Pemberley without him, and if she really felt a visit to Longbourn necessary, he would make it happen for both of them.

Elizabeth was surprised by her husband's presence when she finally awoke. She still felt a little frustrated with their misunderstanding, nor was she certain how to clear the air, but she felt happier that he had sought her out and stayed with her while she slept. When she stirred, he was instantly alert. "Elizabeth, if you truly feel you must visit Longbourn, we will go, but, dearest, do you feel that you ought to make such a trip in your condition? I know you can do it, but we have guests arriving soon — your sisters and my cousin should be travelling here in just a few weeks, and my aunt and uncle will arrive soon. We had intended to stay at Pemberley until the baby was born, but perhaps we could travel just after the New Year. It might be difficult with the weather, but we could try."

She sighed and relaxed into him. "I do not want to travel to Longbourn, William, now or in January. I am unsure why I was so upset; all I can say is that being with your child has me reacting in a less-than-rational manner at times, and my reactions at times frighten even me. You are right; Mrs Hill will ensure things are done as necessary, regardless of what Mama does. After my husband and child, Pemberley and its tenants are my main concern. I sometimes have trouble letting go of the things I should."

He smiled at her characterisation of herself. "I do understand that urge, my dear. I agree your condition may have also contributed to your upset," he suggested.

Elizabeth momentarily felt indignant but soon conceded that he was correct. "I am irrational; I know it, but I cannot seem to help it. Carrying your child is driving me to madness, Will."

Darcy laughed. "I felt him move earlier, dearest," he whispered into her ear. "While you were sleeping. I felt him press against my hand."

She turned to look at him, smiling brightly at his excitement. "Our child is a 'he' today?" she teased.

He shrugged. "I do not care if it is a boy or a girl, as long as you and it are delivered safely, dearest," he replied. "I confess, I look forward to having my heir, a son, to share my love of Pemberley, but I will be equally pleased with a daughter. Of most importance to me is that you are well, my love. Besides, Pemberley is not entailed; a daughter might inherit, as long as her husband is willing to take the Darcy name."

The couple spoke happily for several minutes longer about their child and their hopes for the future. Eventually, they returned to the topic of their earlier argument and agreed on what needed to be done there. Elizabeth grudgingly relinquished control of her former duties at Longbourn and realised that she needed to trust those in charge of the estate to do what was required. Mrs Hill would ensure that what needed to be done would be done and recalled that it had always been done before Elizabeth had taken charge six years before.


After returning to London and paying half a dozen calls to Jane in Gracechurch Street, Mr Hastings asked for a courtship, which was happily accepted. Jane was of age, so his permission was not required, but Mr Gardiner was asked for his blessing, and he quickly gave it.

Due to this courtship, the Gardiners and Jane decided to remain in London for Christmas, and it was coordinated that Colonel Fitzwilliam would escort Georgiana, Mary, and Kitty along with their companions to Pemberley and the Matlocks intended to travel a day or two after.

Given the circumstances at Longbourn, Jane chose to keep her courtship a secret from her mother during this time. Outside of those living in Gracechurch Street, Jane only told her favourite sister her news as she did not want anyone to make an issue of it when it was all still so new.

Through November and December, the two quietly courted, attending a few events, but Mr Hastings was a frequent guest of the Gardiners for meals and other smaller evening gatherings as his work as a barrister kept him busy. He was invited to celebrate Christmas at the Gardiners in London and happily accepted the invitation. While that gentleman would typically return to his parents' estate for the Christmas season, this year, he chose to stay in town to be nearer to Jane, and he had a very particular present for her for the holiday.

On Christmas Day, after attending service with the Gardiners, Mr Hastings requested permission to take Jane on a walk in the park near their home. Permission was quickly granted, and the two set off with a maid following behind. Nearly as soon as they entered the park, Mr Hastings escorted Jane to a bench in the centre and helped her sit before sitting next to her. "My dearest Jane," he whispered as he took her hands in his, "we have courted for six weeks, and I knew you a month before that. In that time, you have become very dear to me, and I would like it if we would never have to be parted again. Do you think you could ever love me? For I love you, most sincerely."

Jane had tears gathering in her eyes and, for a moment, could not speak. "I could," she finally whispered, squeezing his hands in response. "I do."

"You love me?" he asked. She could only nod. "Please, my dear Janie, please say you will marry me and be my wife?" he begged. "I love you so much and cannot imagine my life without you in it."

Finally finding her voice, Jane agreed as enthusiastically as she could. He squeezed her hands tighter in his and brought them to his lips to kiss. They sat there speaking softly of matters until Jane shivered. Hastings seemed to finally feel the cold himself and led them back toward the Gardiners, where they shared their news, to no one's surprise, it was a joyous celebration nonetheless. Knowing that Elizabeth would be unlikely to return to London before spring, they decided to marry in February and visit Pemberley as a part of their wedding trip.


While Christmas on Gracechurch Street was celebrated happily, the residents of Longbourn celebrated less so. Lydia had been fetched from school by a Darcy carriage and transported home for the school break. She had been invited to both Pemberley and the Gardiners in London but chose to travel home and looked forward to the novelty of being the only Bennet daughter there for once.

Despite only being in school for a few months, she already began to realise her previous behaviour was not all it should be. She went home for this fortnight, determined to show her family, or at least her parents, that the time in school had not been wasted. Hearing Mr Darcy tell her how close she had come to being forced to marry Ben Lucas or have it known that she was unmarriageable, if not utterly ruined, had frightened her. He explained many things Lydia never understood regarding the rules of propriety she had never thought to wonder about before, thinking these rules were merely in place to prevent her from having fun. Hearing them from an 'older brother' who explained how those rules were there for her protection and hearing examples of how girls had ignored them and the consequences they faced had been shocking. She vaguely recalled her elder sisters telling her similar stories before, but said by Mr Darcy in his grave tone, they seemed ever so much more severe.

Therefore, she took the opportunity at school to learn how to control her liveliness and direct it into more proper behaviour. She finally understood the seriousness of the actions that had led to her going to school, realising that it was not a 'fine joke' as she had proclaimed when it happened. She had written letters to her sisters to apologise for her actions, and now she needed to show the people of Meryton she had grown and changed.

"Mama, Papa," she called when she arrived, surprised that neither was downstairs to greet her when she arrived.

"Your father is in his library, and your mother is out visiting tenants," the housekeeper informed her. Lydia was surprised by this knowledge but decided to visit her father in the library.

"Papa," Lydia greeted him when she entered. "I was surprised that no one seemed to know of my arrival and more so to find that Mama is out visiting tenants."

Mr Bennet looked up in surprise. "No one was aware of your coming, Lydia," he said. "I, for one, am glad to have you home for Christmastide, especially as we were not expecting any guests. The Gardiners and Jane remain in London, and Mary and Kitty travel to Derbyshire. We assumed you would remain at school or join your sisters travelling to Derbyshire."

"I sent several letters to you and Mama announcing my intention to return," Lydia protested. "I knew you and Mama would be alone and thought you might like my company. Plus, I have learned much at school and wanted to apologise in person for my previous behaviour. I hope to apologise to the Lucases as well. I have realised how my actions could have impacted their family and my own."

Mr Bennet was taken aback by his youngest daughter's acknowledgement of her fault. After blinking at her a few times, he finally spoke. "Well, Lydia, I am not sure how we missed the news of your coming, but I am proud to see that you seek forgiveness for your past behaviour."

Lydia explained further what she had learned at school and much of what her brother said to her. Since this had indeed been the catalyst for Lydia opening herself up to learning better behaviour, Mr Bennet felt once more frustrated that his son-in-law was continuing to be a better father than he had been in the last twenty-plus years.

When Mrs Bennet returned from a visit, she was also surprised to find her youngest daughter in residence. Listening to Lydia repeating her conversation with her father, she likewise felt slightly frustrated that, yet again, a Darcy proved able to do what neither Mr nor Mrs Bennet had ever bothered to do. Since Elizabeth married Mr Darcy, all of their daughters' lives have been impacted for the better. This should have pleased the couple, but instead, their resentment toward the couple grew.

Christmas at Longbourn was quiet, with just the three of them in residence. They attended a few entertainments in Meryton for the holiday but kept mainly to themselves. Both parents exerted themselves to learn more about their daughter during this time. Mr Bennet was surprised to realise that while Lydia may never be as interested in books as his favourite daughter, Lydia did have a wry wit when she applied herself, and he discovered he enjoyed speaking with her — in small doses.

Mrs Bennet found Lydia remarkably helpful in ideas to help the tenants and in going to visit them. She was surprised to discover how well Lydia knew the tenants, especially the children, and more so when she discovered Lydia frequently accompanied her elder sisters on visits before they all left home. Having not been raised on an estate, Mrs Bennet never troubled herself with visiting Longbourn's tenants before and ignored the fact her daughters handled this duty in her stead. Before this, she viewed Lizzy's actions as inappropriate for a gentleman's daughter and frequently used this to chastise her least favourite daughter. Realising her other daughters had helped with this as well was surprising. It was one more indication that she viewed Lizzy's actions through a lens that led her to criticise every action rather than praise her for taking on something she should have done. However, this fact alone was not enough to do anything more than contemplate it.

Just after the new year, Lydia called at Lucas Lodge to apologise for her behaviour in the autumn. Her reception was cool, as relations between the Lucases and Bennets had been since Elizabeth's marriage, especially after the Darcys' visit in October. Their son-in-law, Mr Collins, had been removed from his position as the rector in Hunsford, the bishop finding several violations of ecclesiastical law related to his sharing private information from his parishioners with Lady Catherine, stealing from tithes donated to the poor, and, of course,, there was the treatment of his cousin. Presently, the bishops were still deciding his fate, and there was some speculation he would be sent to Africa as a missionary for the Church of England. The Darcys had already offered Charlotte a cottage in Derbyshire or Meryton if she wanted it. Charlotte chose to wait until after the new year to decide but was seriously considering the offer of a home in Derbyshire. She knew she would never marry again, but she would be happy in her own home, especially if she were near her friend. After living with her parents and then with Mr Collins, she relished the idea of being on her own and far from the gossip of Meryton.

Regardless, Lydia apologised as she intended, and her behaviour reflected her newfound intention of mimicking her elder sisters and the girls she looked up to at school. Her behaviour in the fortnight she was home was all that was proper, and while a few in Meryton were convinced of the girl's growth, some still wondered if it would last.


Copyright 2023 Melissa Anne