Author's Note: Not sure if this is an epilogue or an additional chapter. There are still a few things to wrap up, and I'm trying to get to those (the disposition of Mary, Kitty, Lydia, and maybe Anne).

Chapter 40

While the rest of the party remained only a little over a week after Elizabeth's birthday celebration, Mrs Gardiner and Mary were to stay behind to see Elizabeth through her confinement. Darcy had wanted Elizabeth to give birth to their child at Pemberley. Still, Elizabeth's desire to celebrate her birth at Briarwood and recreate one of her few memories of her grandparents had convinced him to make the journey. However, he had only agreed if they remained at that estate through the birth of the child and for the following month or however long it would take for both Elizabeth and the child to be ready to travel.

Since Mary was to remain at Briarwood, Fitzwilliam begged his cousin for an invitation to stay, claiming he needed advice on managing the harvest. The two had been courting for several months, and the gentleman found every opportunity to spend time with his preferred lady. Her guardian had graciously allowed the two to exchange letters that summer since Fitzwilliam had been needed at Rosings, especially after Lady Catherine passed, and he was technically in mourning.

Darcy was unwilling to let the occasion pass without teasing his cousin a little, so he agreed but added a caveat. "I would appreciate your assistance, actually. I will have to travel back and forth between here and Pemberley several times, but you can assist me by acting as my go-between. If you travel to Pemberley, you can stay several nights at a time, allowing me to remain here with my wife."

Fitzwilliam's face fell, making Darcy smirk. "Surely you realise you are the best person to travel back and forth during this time. You are always welcome at Pemberley."

"But Mary will be here," Fitzwilliam said, as close to whining as Darcy had ever heard him.

"Yes, she and Mrs Gardiner will be here to assist my wife as she prepares to give birth. Miss Gardiner —" he emphasised her proper name — "will be far too busy to court during this time."

Again, Fitzwilliam looked disappointed. "I suppose I can be of aid in this way. But you do know that is not why I asked to remain."

"I thought you wanted to stay to get experience with the harvest. There will be much to oversee both here and at Pemberley. You can gain valuable experience speaking with both me and my steward."

Finally, Fitzwilliam saw the slight smirk on his cousin's face. "Damn it, Darcy. When did you learn to tease like that? You know I wanted to remain to be able to court Mary. And your wife will not need that much assistance, at least not until she actually enters her confinement. And then Mary will not be necessary."

Darcy frowned then. "Yes, she and Georgiana will likely need to distract each other. I will be very grateful for your presence while she labours, as I believe I will also need someone to distract me. I … I wished to be with my wife when she gave birth, but I was told that it was not appropriate for me to be in the room. Ellie would like me with her, but Mrs Gardiner and the midwife have declared I am unnecessary and would be a distraction. Mrs Hill will be there for her as well."

"You are worried." It was not a question.

Darcy blew out a long breath. "How can I not? Mother was so ill after giving birth to Georgiana and never fully recovered. I know that Ellie is a far healthier woman than Lady Anne ever was, but I still worry. She lost both her parents before she reached her first birthday. We speak about so many things but never about this."

Fitzwilliam eyed him thoughtfully. "Then perhaps it is time for you to trust her with your fears. You spent much of your courtship worried about earning her trust after it had been abused by her family, but have you trusted her with your biggest fears?"

Darcy considered this for several minutes. "I think she knows a little, but I have never said it explicitly. I suppose this is something we should speak about. I am not certain that I will not still worry, but it will allow Elizabeth to share her concerns as well."

Not being able to add significantly to the topic, Fitzwilliam just nodded. After a moment, he seemed to have considered something. "I know it is not the same, but Anne always feels better when she can speak to me about a situation she is dealing with. She does not always want me to do anything, merely to listen."

Nodding, Darcy acknowledged the truth of that statement, as it was something he had also noticed about his wife. After a terse farewell to his cousin, he sought out his wife. "Dearest," he began, "I know we have discussed my remaining with you when we give birth ..." he trailed off, uncertain how to continue.

"Yes, I would like you to be with me, but my aunt and Mrs Hill both feel it is better if you were not. I ... I will not demand it of you, but I would like you to be with me. I know it is not typical."

"I would like to be with you, Ellie, but I confess, I am afraid."

"Afraid? Of my giving birth? Or are you afraid I might die as a result?"

"My mother died as a result of giving birth. She was not very healthy even before she became with child, but the act of giving birth was traumatic. She never recovered." Darcy's head was bowed slightly, but he held tightly to his wife's hand as they spoke. Elizabeth used her other hand to caress the dark curls on his head lovingly.

"I am healthy, my love, and not weak. I vaguely recall your mother, sitting with her after she gave birth. We spoke of it — in the nursery at Pemberley, do you recall?" He nodded, and she continued. "I know you were a child, but you have told me often your mother was never particularly healthy. Your aunt confirmed that Lady Anne lost several children between you and Georgiana, and each time, she was weaker afterwards. She was bound to her bed almost entirely through her confinement with your sister, was she not?"

Again, Darcy only nodded, moving his head to lean it against the back of the settee. Elizabeth continued to caress his hair, giving comfort as they spoke. "I am well, dearest. I feel certain I will be with you for many years yet."

"I know, Ellie, but it does not mean I do not worry about you. So many die in childbirth or just after due to fevers and other various ailments."

"Will being with me while I labour help or worsen it?"

"I do not know," Darcy admitted. "But I would prefer to be with you than without you, wondering how you are faring."

"Then it is decided. You will remain with me until my aunt feels you need to leave. We will speak with her of our determination together."

In the end, the conversation with Mrs Gardiner was irrelevant. Elizabeth gave birth just a week after this conversation, and Darcy was gone for most of the day. He arrived at the last moment and was the first to hold the new baby.

"Should we also name her Elizabeth, after her mother and grandmother?" Darcy asked.

"Perhaps as a second name," Elizabeth replied tiredly. "What of Hope?"

"Hope Elizabeth?" Darcy asked. "Why Hope?"

"I have undergone many changes since we met, but all my life, I hoped for more. Once I learned the truth of what my aunt and uncle had done, I wondered if there was anyone I could trust, and you have been a constant. I learned to trust you, and you have given me all I hoped for and more. This, our daughter, is the living embodiment of the hope and trust I have found in you."

Darcy leaned down to kiss her. "I love you and am so glad you have given me Hope. It is the perfect name for this little angel."

She laughed. "Angel might be a stretch. After all, she is my child. Recall what I was like when I was demanding you and Jon entertain me."

He merely shook his head, but he did smile broadly. "I do remember. You trusted me then to care for you, and you can always trust me. I will take care of our daughter just as well as I do you."

Author's Note: I know what happens to Lydia and Mary, not sure where Kitty ends up. What else do you want to know?