Chapter 25
Elizabeth took it upon herself to call the midwife and notify the family in Netherfield. To fulfill their promise, Andrew went to Lucas Lodge to locate Mrs. Lucas. She would serve as a birth witness on behalf of Mr. Collins's interests.
When Andrew arrived at the Lucas Lodge, he was surprised to see Mr. Collins himself visiting his wife's family. He insisted on accompanying Lady Lucas to Longbourn along with Mr. Phillips and the Magistrate.
Andrew was worried about his mother-in-law's well-being, and to avoid an unnecessary quarrel with Mr. Collins, he preferred not to object. However, he warned him that he would not allow him to disturb the family's peace at such a delicate moment.
Mr. Collins had been in Meryton for several days, nervously waiting to take possession of his estate. He had no doubt that Mrs. Bennet would give birth to a girl, and everything would return to normal. He was satisfied thinking how he would throw those ungrateful Bennet women out onto the street. They did not know how to thank him for his kindness.
For her part, Charlotte wrote to Elizabeth apologizing for her mother and husband's attitude. She pretended to be ill so as not to travel to Hertfordshire. She did not want to be part of the spectacle Mr. Collins would put on, whatever the situation's outcome. Also, her good friend Anne needed her support so she could escape her mother's clutches forever.
Mrs. Bennet was in labor for almost six hours, but despite the pain, she was calm. Things were well, just as they had when she gave birth to her five daughters.
"Mrs. Bennet, you must push as hard as you can once again. I can see the baby's head now," said Mrs. Allen.
"Mama, this will all be over soon," Jane said. She wiped her mother's sweaty face.
Elizabeth and Mrs. Hill brought boiled water and clean clothes, and Aunt Amanda and Jane encouraged and comforted Mrs. Bennet. While all this was happening, Lady Lucas watched from the corner. She crossed her fingers, praying that the baby was not a boy.
Mrs. Bennet made a last effort, and Mrs. Allen was able to take the child out. "Mrs. Bennet, everything is well; you can rest now."
Elizabeth received the little child with great joy, cleaned the baby, and handed it to Mrs. Bennet received the child and, despite the pain, began to laugh. "Oh, my dear Thomas, how you must be laughing right now."
Jane, Elizabeth, Aunt Amanda, and Mrs. Hill hugged each other and cried with happiness, while Mrs. Lucas cried with anger. To avoid humiliation, she left the room without anyone noticing.
The men were in the drawing room waiting for news. Andrew was very nervous and could not stop walking around the room.
"Do you want something to drink, Norton?" Mr. Darcy asked. "Rest assured; the midwife said everything was well, and Mrs. Bennet had never had any problems…"
"Thank you, Darcy, but I am not worried about Mrs. Bennet. I know she is a strong woman and has never had problems in her previous deliveries. Only Lizzy knows, but in a few more months, my wife will be the one giving birth to our first child. Just thinking about that, it frightens me."
"Congratulations, but do not worry. Your wife is young and healthy…"
"I hope you remember what you just told me when your wife is with child," Andrew replied, laughing. "Are you ready for everything that is coming? You and Lizzy are getting married in less than three weeks."
"I am eager and happy to begin my new life with my dear Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy replied, smiling.
"Excuse me, Mr. Darcy, but I must tell you something now that I have time. In a few more minutes, I shall have to move into my house because I shall not leave my property…"
"To tell me this, you interrupted my conversation with Lord Norton?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"Also, do not get ahead of the facts, Collins. It may be that in a few more minutes, you will lose all your rights," Andrew added with a mocking smile.
Mr. Collins ignored Andrew and said to Lady Catherine's nephew. "Mr. Darcy, I want to inform you that your Aunt is furious with you. She will never forgive you for abandoning Miss de Bourgh to marry..."
"With Lord and Lady Norton's sister," Andrew said defiantly.
"Mr. Collins, if my Aunt does not want to forgive me, it is her problem. You see, I do not care as you what Lady Catherine says or thinks."
"Mr. Darcy, you cannot…"
Mr. Collins was unable to complete his sentence because Jane entered the room with a tiny baby in her arms. Elizabeth went to Lydia and Kitty's room to tell her sisters and Georgiana the excellent news. Aunt Amanda stayed with Mrs. Bennet.
The Magistrate and Mr. Phillips stood up, and the five men looked nervously at Jane.
"Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to my dear little brother, Thomas Andrew Bennet," Jane said, smiling.
Mr. Darcy and Andrew approached Jane to see the little boy while Mr. Phillips and the Magistrate congratulated Jane and the family.
Suddenly, a sound interrupted the happiness that reigned in the room. Mr. Collins could not resist the news that he was no longer the Longbourn's heir, so he fainted, falling heavily to the ground.
P&P
My dear daughter, you cannot imagine how pleased I am to see you so pretty and happy. I know your father would have been very proud of you. It is so sad that he cannot be with you," said Mrs. Bennet excitedly as she fixed Elizabeth's hair.
"Thank you, Mama. I also miss my father very much, but little Thomas has come to make us happy and forget all the sadness that our father's death caused us."
"You are right, my daughter. But enough of this painful conversation. Today is a day to celebrate," said Mrs. Bennet, wiping her tears.
The last three weeks were filled with joy. Peace and harmony reigned in Longbourn, and the presence of little Thomas completely transformed everyone's routine. The little boy not only had his mother but also four sisters who were watching over him all the time. Lydia often jested that little Thomas would be even more spoiled than her.
Although Mrs. Bennet laughed at Lydia's witty comments, she knew she would do things very differently this time. She did not want little Thomas to grow up without guidance or support from a frantic mother who was constantly panicking about the uncertain future. She wanted her son to make Longbourn prosper and be remembered as a fair and kind master, and she would be the mother her son needed to be successful in his life.
Mrs. Bennet knew that her son would not have a father figure. For that reason, she planned for her young son to spend time with his uncle Gardiner so that he would learn to temper his character and manage money. She also wanted him to spend time with Andrew so that he could learn to deal with difficult situations without losing his good humor. And, of course, from his brother-in-law Darcy, he would learn discipline and to be proud of his family and heritage.
In a few more minutes, Elizabeth entered the church on the arm of her uncle Gardiner and was in her room arranging the last details of her hairstyle. Jane had left for the church with her sisters while Andrew and Georgiana accompanied the impatient groom.
"William, I know that today is the happiest day of your life, but I want you to know that it is mine too," Georgiana said, hugging her brother.
"Elizabeth has changed our lives, and from today onwards, we shall have her forever in our lives," Mr. Darcy replied excitedly.
"And you owe all this happiness to me. When I met Elizabeth, I knew she would be the perfect person to accompany and guide you, Georgiana. Of course, at that moment, I never imagined that she would also be the woman who would conquer my nephew's heart," said Lady Margaret.
"But I was the one who convinced this headstrong to fight for Lizzy's love," Richard said, interrupting his mother.
"I think we shall have to continue this conversation later," Andrew said, indicating that the carriage with Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner had arrived.
Mr. Darcy and the rest of the family entered the church, and in a few minutes, Elizabeth entered with her uncle. Mr. Darcy could not stop looking at the beautiful face of the woman he loved; this time, her smile was reflected in the light of her eyes. He remembered everything they had to overcome to be together and knew it brought them together even more.
P&P
A few months later…
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's wedding was a grand event in and around Meryton. It was the first time that so many rich and influential people came to the humble town church. Lord and Lady Norton were the hosts, and Aunt Amanda accommodated many of the guests at Netherfield.
The Countess was happy that her nephew had found such a lovely wife, who would also make an excellent sister to Georgiana. Richard was also excited to see his dear cousin with the woman he loved; he knew better than anyone how happy he deserved to be.
Mr. Bingley could not attend the wedding because he was in Scotland trying to find a purpose in his life, but he sent a loving letter to the bride and groom wishing them happy lives. Finally, after so much searching, he discovered what he wanted to do with his life. To fulfill his father's dream, he bought an estate and raised sheep. But to follow his passion, and with the help of his uncle, he dedicated himself to the wool business and the production of fabrics. In this way, he managed to become a gentleman landowner and remain active in the business world.
Louisa and Mr. Hurst continued living in London and associating with the same group of friends. After so many years of trying without success, they abandoned the idea of being accepted by people from the first circle. For her part, Caroline had to resign herself that would never be part of the first circles. In order to continue living with the Hursts, she had to learn to control her temper and forget about Jane and the rest of the Bennet family. Mr. Hurst had been emphatic; he would not allow her to live another day with them if she created trouble. When she learned about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding, for several days, she cried and thought about how unfair life was.
On the day of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's wedding, Lady Catherine locked herself in her room and ordered no one to disturb her because she did not wish to see or speak to anyone. Seizing the opportunity, Anne ran away from home and married Mr. King. They had corresponded with Charlotte's help until they decided they wanted to be together forever. When Lady Catherine discovered what her daughter had done, she almost had apoplexy.
Finally, Anne was able to assume control over her property, and although her mother insisted that she was the owner of everything, the law said the opposite. In order not to have to listen to her son-in-law's long tirades, Lady Catherine preferred to spend as little time as possible in his presence. For her part, Anne enjoyed listening to her husband and his affection. Everyone in Kent commented on how much Mr. and Mrs. King loved each other, although no one could understand why.
Mr. Collins returned to Hunsford and would never speak of Longbourn or the Bennet family again. He preferred to think that everything about the inheritance had never happened and settled for his work as a parish priest. He was fortunate enough to continue listening to Lady Catherine's wise advice. He was the only one who thought she still owned Rosings. Charlotte was very grateful for her husband's change of attitude; it made her life with him more tolerable.
Two months after little Thomas was born, Lady Lucas came to Longbourn to visit her friend. Mrs. Bennet treated her with cold cordiality because she did not wish to have trouble with any of her neighbors.
Mary went to live with Aunt Amanda but frequently visited her mother and little brother. For their part, Kitty and Lydia lost all interest in officers, balls, and laces. Their world was little Thomas, and they became a great help to Mrs. Bennet.
After her brother's birth, Jane, Andrew, and the girls returned to Parkland. Fortunately, Agnes had moved to London, where she met and married a wealthy merchant. Her new husband was very jealous and forbade her from having contact with her previous life. Nobody ever missed her.
Clara and Matilda were delighted when they learned they would soon have a little brother. Jane knew she was fortunate to have a loving husband like Andrew and the opportunity to be the mother of those two wonderful girls.
Georgiana lived happily in Pemberley with her brother and best friend and was preparing for her debut in society. Now, she had many friends and was not afraid to face London society because she knew Elizabeth would be by her side.
Elizabeth was in the library at Pemberley with Georgiana, reading letters from her mother and sisters. The day was freezing, and after walking, she sought refuge in the library and sat in her favorite chair in front of the fireplace. While she was reading, Oscar was lying in front of the fire, accompanying his favorite person.
"Lizzy, I received a letter from Kitty, and she told me that little Thomas has a beautiful smile. I really want to see him," Georgiana said enthusiastically.
"I also want so much to see him and to be able to hold him in my arms and play with him. My mother told me he has some new and lovely things every day. But we will have to wait until the winter is over and settle for reading about him," replied Elizabeth.
"I knew you would be here, next to my wife, Oscar," said Mr. Darcy, stroking his faithful dog's head.
"My poor Oscar accompanied me on my morning walk even though he was freezing to death," Elizabeth said.
"I shall go to my room now. I want to write a letter to Kitty. Also, I should write to Mrs. Bennet. I want to tell her that I am knitting a blanket for little Thomas. I shall see you at dinner."
Mr. Darcy kissed his sister on the forehead and said to her with great affection. "After dinner, I want you to play that melody I enjoy so much."
"Of course, William," Georgiana replied happily. Then she said goodbye to her brother and sister-in-law and left as quickly as she could.
Georgiana was happy with her new life and loved spending time with her family, but she knew the newlyweds needed time alone. Therefore, she preferred not to be with them all the time.
"The day is very cold; you should not have gone out. I do not want you to get ill, my dear." Mr. Darcy took his wife in his arms, sat down in the chair, and then sat her on his lap.
"I only walked for a few minutes, but you are correct, my dear; it is better not to go out when it is so cold." Elizabeth kissed her husband's cheek and snuggled into his arms. "Do you not have work to do today?"
"No, I had to write some letters for my solicitor, but I prefer to do it tomorrow. If you want, we can continue painting."
"That is an excellent idea, but later. Now, I want to stay here with you for a few more minutes."
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were painting a landscape of the Lake District. During their honeymoon, they had made sketches of some places, and now, with Georgiana's help, they were trying to paint them and reproduce the colors recorded in their minds.
"William, my mother wrote to tell me that little Thomas is getting his first tooth. Kitty and Lydia's letters also only talk about my dear brother. I am really looking forward to seeing him. I hope we can travel to Hertfordshire during the Spring and then to Somerset to help Jane and Andrew with the birth of their child."
"Of course, you and Georgiana can stay with your mother while I make my annual visit to Rosings. If I had to be patient with Lady Catherine, imagine with Mr. King," Mr. Darcy said, laughing.
"Anne seems very happy with him, and I suppose that is all you should care about."
"It makes me very happy to see Anne living as she wants. She deserves to live in peace and without the constant authority of Lady Catherine. Although Fitzwilliam and I know that Mr. King will not be easy to endure, we know that he is not a bad person, and he is the only one who has managed to silence my Aunt," explained Mr. Darcy, laughing.
"I shall send letters and some gifts to Charlotte. She conducted herself with dignity and never supported her husband or mother in their ridiculous actions."
"I shall be happy to greet Mrs. Collins. I just hope I do not have to see Mr. Collins. That will be a lot more than I can bear. But speaking of more pleasant topics, do you not think it is curious that your brother will have a nephew or niece almost the same age as him?"
"Perhaps he has two," Elizabeth said with a mischievous smile.
"Elizabeth… Are you…?"
"I do not know, William. According to Mrs. Reynolds, I have all the symptoms, but it is too early to know."
"Why did not you tell me? Elizabeth, you cannot be so irresponsible and go out for a walk in your condition when it is so cold…"
"That is why I did not tell you, William. We do not know if I am with child yet, and you are all worried, saying what I can and cannot do."
"I am so sorry, my dear. I sincerely hope you are expecting. I am very excited to be a father. But if it turns out not to be true, we can always keep trying," Mr. Darcy said with a mischievous smile.
"William, how dare you speak that way in front of Oscar?" Elizabeth replied, laughing. She loved her dog as much as Mr. Darcy, and he was around them all the time.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner made sure Oscar was well-fed, but they knew the dog had never warmed to them the way he had to Mrs. and Mr. Darcy.
"Oscar is sleeping happily beside the fireplace; I doubt he cares about our conversation. Mrs. Darcy, even if you say I am too concerned, please promise me that you will take care of yourself and not go for a walk when it is so cold."
Elizabeth caressed her husband's face and said lovingly, "I promise I shall take care of myself… I love you, William."
"And I love you, too, my dear wife."
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy continued speaking about family and the future, happy to be together.
FIN
Many thanks to everyone who read the story and took the time to leave comments.
Saludos,
Yo