"Mother, Jane is engaged to Mr. Stanley. They are getting married in London the second week of March. Can we go to their wedding?" Kitty asked excitedly.
Fanny caressed her prominent abdomen and said, "No, I cannot go; my son is going to be born at any moment."
"But Mother, you told Mrs. Long that your son was due in May."
Fanny shook her head. Kitty was sometimes too naive. "Kitty, I am nearly forty, and many women my age have premature babies. Besides, Patrick takes great care of my well-being and will not want me to go to London while I am so far along in my pregnancy. It is dangerous for me and my baby."
"But can I go to Jane's wedding? Aunt Gardiner says I can stay with them in London." She sighed. "Ever since Lydia married and went to the North with Denny, I have been very bored in Hertfordshire. I do not have any friends here. Even Mary barely invites me to her house."
"I have not seen Mary for many days. You have to tell her that she must visit me. Just last week, my sister told me of the fine carriage Lord Sebastian sent for Mary and Mr. Barton's use to travel to London for his ball a few weeks ago. Who would have imagined that my dear Mary would marry such a distinguished gentleman as Mr. Barton, with connections to the nobility?"
"I promise that when I visit her the day after tomorrow, I will give her your message." Kitty sighed. "Will you let me go to London to the Gardiners?"
"Well, if you want to go, you can go."
Kitty smiled, relieved. She was looking forward to leaving Hertfordshire. She had no friends in Meryton, and her mother had not paid the slightest attention to her since she had become pregnant.
Mary, her husband, and Kitty travelled to London in the second week of March to attend Jane's wedding. Elizabeth had also been invited, even though she rarely saw Jane in London.
Jane was radiant in a light blue dress that brought out the colour of her eyes, and her new husband seemed to be very much in love with her. The wedding breakfast was at the Gardiners', and only those close to the family attended.
Elizabeth was very happy for Jane and was overjoyed to have the opportunity to see her sister Mary again and even Kitty, with whom she had had a very superficial relationship.
At the insistence of Lord Hertford and Lord Sebastian, Mary and her husband agreed to stay an additional two days in London at Lord Sebastian's home. The day before returning to Hertfordshire, Mary told Elizabeth that the doctor had confirmed she was expecting again. This time she was sure everything would be fine, and she would have her child in about five or six months.
PPP
The news of Jane Smith's wedding hit Bingley like a bucket of cold water. Although he had made his mind that he could not marry her, she was the first and only young woman who had ever really interested him. He had thought himself quite in love with her.
PPP
Three days after Jane's wedding, Fanny went into labour. It was not easy, but Edward Stevens was born after 16 hours and a lot of effort. As a result of severe blood loss, Fanny was in critical condition for several days. During the time, it was unknown whether she would survive; Mr. Stevens did not leave her side, not even to see his son, whom a wet nurse was feeding.
Many in Meryton could not understand how a good man like Mr. Steven married such a manipulative woman as Fanny, but the truth is that Patrick Stevens was deeply in love with his wife. He prayed day and night for her recovery; he put cold clothes on her forehead, bathed her to bring down the fever, and begged her to make an effort and not abandon him. On the fourth day, the fever subsided, and Fanny was out of danger. The doctor suggested they take precautions since it would not be healthy for Fanny to become pregnant for at least a year.
Fanny's recovery took several months. The child was healthy, and the parents were delighted with him. After the third month, at the insistence of Fanny, who really loved her husband, they resumed their marital activities, although she never fell pregnant again.