Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (94 page)

“Papa!”  She beamed and held out her hand to give him a quickly melting snowball.  He glanced up to Elizabeth who was standing in the doorway and biting her lip.  “Snow!”

“Yes it is, dear.  Thank you!”  Taking out his handkerchief, he dried his hand and hers, then lifted her up into his arms.  He kissed her cheek.  “Ohhh, you are cold!” 

“All wet.”  Rosalie corrected.

“That as well.”  He smiled and walked over to the fireplace, and waited for Elizabeth to take a seat before he settled with Rosalie in his lap and covered her with a shawl that was draped over the side.  The baby snuggled into his arms and he kissed her hair.  “You had a good time, I see.”

“We had a very good time.”  She laughed.  “I think that we will enjoy taking you on in some serious snow battles in the future.”

“Two against one?  That is hardly fair!”

“You mean that you are afraid to take on your wife and a baby girl?”  Elizabeth cried and he blushed.  “Fitzwilliam Darcy!”

“I am not afraid; I do not wish to hurt you with my impressive arm.”  He lifted his chin proudly and a little smirk appeared.

“You have never held back from me, no matter what you are heaving in my direction.”  Her eyes sparkled and he looked quickly at Rosalie and back to her.  “Oh, as if she would understand that!”

“We need to start spelling certain words . . .”

“Well that should prove interesting; I can spell the words I dare not speak.”  Elizabeth laughed and put her hand to her mouth when his jaw dropped open.  “Am I teasing you too much?”

“Why,
why
do you always choose the moments when Rosa is in my lap to be wicked?  Why Lizzy?”  He shook his head.  “What has come over you?  You are . . .”  A slow wide smile spread across his face.  “Dearest, I just realized something.”

She tilted her head.  “What is that, Mr. Darcy?”

“You have entered your seventh month.”

“I have.”

“You have begun the insatiable period.”  He looked at her, absolutely glowing with health and smiling at him with a wanton glint in her eye.  “Ohhhhhh I
love
this time!”

Laughing, she got up and held his face in her hands.  “I know that you do, my love.”  She kissed him and he sighed.  “And what are we doing?  Leaving the privacy of our home for the company of family.”

“That may be so, but I intend to test out the beds in every inn most thoroughly along the way, and make good use of our chambers and any other sturdy piece of furniture we might come across.  I think that my dear wife will be tiring easily each night and will require frequent naps.”  He looked at her meaningfully.  “Will she not?”

“Maybe . . .”

“No maybe about it.”  He growled and felt a little hand tugging at his coat.  His eyes softened and he relaxed.  “Yes, little love?”  She looked at him seriously and touched his flushed cheek.  “Hot?”

“No, just warm, dear.”  He smiled to hear Elizabeth laughing.  “There are letters for you on the desk.”

“Oh!”  She retrieved them, and settled back in her chair.  Darcy tucked Rosalie’s head under his chin and watched her.  “This is from Jane . . .”  She read eagerly and put her hand to her mouth.  “She had a girl!”  Darcy beamed and squeezed Rosalie to her instant protest.  “Miss Lucille Jane Lucas was born on the 28
^th
, oh how wonderful!  She is healthy and has blue eyes and . . . oh, auburn hair.  That sounds just lovely!”  Elizabeth wiped her eyes.  “Jane laboured for nearly a day, poor thing, Robert stayed with her almost the entire time.  Lady Lucas was the model of efficiency and a great help to her, almost as stern as the midwife.  Mama wailed and fluttered her handkerchief a good deal, but when the time came to deliver, she was absolutely silent.  Jane thinks that she was vastly disappointed that it was a girl.”

“Lucy.”  He said thoughtfully and felt her silent question.  “Forgive me, love, it brought to mind Wordsworth’s poems of a child named Lucy, but I hope that was not the impetus for the name.”  He smiled, knowing he would have to explain himself later and looked back at the letter. “So your mother was not pleased with the sex of her second grandchild.  No bragging over that, I suppose.”  Darcy smirked.  “No lording it over you either that Jane had a boy first.”

Elizabeth looked at him over the pages.  “Do you really think that she would have . . .” Darcy raised his brow and she sighed.  “Of course she would.”  Returning to the letter she laughed.  “Robert was ecstatic, he had hoped for a girl.  He sounds like you.”  She smiled at him and he kissed Rosalie.   “Papa and Sir William dragged him downstairs when it was over and they celebrated with some port that Uncle had sent them for the occasion.  Jane said that he tried to give her some, but she settled for tea.” 

“We will have to bring some champagne.”  Darcy smiled.  “We will stop there to meet the baby on our way home.”

“We will?”  Elizabeth beamed.

“Of course we will.  I could not deny you that, love.  There is no need to meet your mother, they are at Lucas Lodge, write to her tonight that we will let them know our plans, then we can arrange to see her and your father.”

“Oh Will, thank you!”  Elizabeth came over to hug him and gave him a kiss.  “She says that they love the furniture, and Robert was overwhelmed.”

“I imagine he was.”  He kissed her and laughed to see her transfixed gaze.  “What of the other letter?”  Tapping it he reached up to caress her cheek and kissed her gently.  “Dearest?”

“Oh.”  She blinked and returned to her chair to read it aloud. 

4 January 1812

Grosvenor Street

London

Dear Darcy and Elizabeth,

Great news, great news!  Louisa and Hurst have become parents at last!  This morning, after a labour that I believe was all of four hours, my sister delivered the Hurst heir!  Master Samuel Bingley Hurst was born, with a full head of blonde hair and green eyes, and lungs that will undoubtedly keep us all awake for years to come.  He is so tiny!  How can one so small be so exceptionally loud? Are all babies like this?  Hurst is indescribable in his joy and the baby had to be pried from his arms to be fed by his mother. 

We spent the labour in his study.  As much as he wished to be with Louisa, in the end, she sent him from the room; his sheer terror at the thought of losing her was doing her no favours.  Fortunately Abbey and Mrs. Martin were visiting when the labour began, and they jumped to take care of Louisa.  Good thing, too.  The midwife barely arrived in time for the delivery!  You can imagine the cursing that Hurst was expressing in the study, vowing to sue the woman for her tardiness.  I have no doubt that between Mrs. Martin and the staff, my nephew would have come into the world safely.  Well, I say that now that all is calm, but I admit I was pacing just as fervently as Hurst.  Robinson could not bear to be with us, the memory of listening to Wallace’s birth was too fresh in his mind, but as soon as all was well, I sent a note and he was over to celebrate the happy news just as joyfully as you would expect.  Abbey made the announcement, and Hurst was up the stairs before she finished.  I am afraid that she and I quite forgot ourselves for a good long time to enjoy a private celebration.  What a wonderful day this has been!

I took your advice and procured a special license.  What an excellent idea to marry here in the parlour!  Louisa can join us now, I had not thought of her confinement.  It will be simple, a ceremony and a little breakfast, we truly do not want more, although the Martins surely would.  I received an overwhelming invitation from Lord Matlock just yesterday.  It seems that the Fitzwilliams have arrived for the opening of Parliament and as he has

Forgive the smeared ink, Darcy.  Lord Matlock said that he regards me as a member of the family.  A fondly regarded nephew, he said.  It is an honour I can hardly express, but he said that since you look at me as a brother, that he has no choice!  He added that he feels that with Elizabeth’s advanced pregnancy it would be unfair to expect you to host a dinner, so Lady Matlock will give us one a few days before the wedding.  I am overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness.  To be accepted by your family; and for them to accept Abigail into their home is more than I can ever have hoped.  They know nothing of her.  I know without a doubt that you and Elizabeth are behind this, and I thank you once again.

I look forward to seeing you soon.  A very safe journey to you, I know that you have no desire to leave your beloved Pemberley, and I am aware of the honour you show me by taking your family so far to share in our day.  Abbey and I thank you. 

Your brother and friend,

Charles Bingley

“Oh Will.”  Elizabeth wiped her eyes and saw that his were bright as well.  “This page is just covered with smears and splotches, and I know it is from tears.  What a dear man he is.” 

“Where Richard is my elder brother, Bingley is my younger.”  He took a deep breath and saw that Rosalie was asleep in his arms.  “A baby boy for the Hursts!”  He smiled.  “Good for them!”

“I am delighted for Louisa, she was worried that she was getting too old, and now they have an heir, and a cousin for Wallace to play with.  Perhaps her in-laws will be a little more welcoming now.”  She sniffed and found her handkerchief.  “Did you really have to convince Uncle Henry to accept Abbey?”

“They have learned to accept that the heart must be allowed its due when making a match, and they certainly cannot disapprove of the dowry she brings with her, nor her education.  Lord Matlock thinks that she is suitable for Bingley although he would have preferred that he had married a gentlewoman.”  Elizabeth sighed and he shrugged.  “It is her parents that he finds much harder to disregard; Mr. Martin is without question a tradesman.”  Darcy saw her disappointment.  “Remember it took Anne’s attack on me to convince them that the Gardiners were worthy.  And it was a good deal of work to convince them to accept Bingley.  They are changed in many ways, but they are still peers, love.  I imagine they will be cautious when they meet the Martins.  But in all likelihood it will probably be the only time they will be invited to their home, for a private dinner.”

“But at least they are willing to overlook their provenance for the sake of their
nephew
.
  At least for one night.”  She laughed and he smiled.  “I am glad that they wish to welcome Abbey into the family.”

“I am, too.”  He kissed Rosalie’s head and reaching over to take Elizabeth’s hand, looked to the one that rested over the baby.  “One more journey before we are through.” 

“I intend to have a wonderful time.” 

“AND I SAID; what on earth are they coming to London for?”  Mrs. Mercer shook her head and picked up her cup of tea.  “Why come all this way in this weather with the mistress so far along?  I thought for sure that the master had taken leave of his senses when I read the letter to open up the house!”

“Now, now, you know as well as any that the master is very close to Mr. Bingley.”  Foster nudged her.  “And do not tell me you aren’t glad to see Rosie running about again?  When we heard Mrs. Darcy was expecting, I was certain we would not see them again for ages.  This is a treat!”

“Well of course it is.”  Mrs. Mercer sniffed. “I never said it was not.  I just worry for the mistress.  Did you see how enormous she is?  And she has months to go!”

“Mrs. Darcy is doing so much better with this pregnancy, she is not so frightened, she is still active, and not quite as . . .”  Millie searched for a word.  “Forgetful?”  She looked at Adams who smiled.

“Silly, perhaps.”

“Silly?”  Mrs. Mercer asked.

“She manages to stop herself before giving in to some whims.”  He said diplomatically.  A footman arrived with a box and set it down on Mrs. Mercer’s desk. 

“What is all this?”  She stood and started pulling out items.  “Marmalade, chocolate . . .”  The staff smiled and looked at each other.  “It seems Mr. Darcy has been shopping this morning while Mrs. Darcy was receiving visitors?”

“Yes ma’am.  He dropped me off with these things before continuing on.”  The footman nodded.  “We were stopping all over the city, I thought we’d be sitting outside his club all morning, but he was there just long enough to pick up Colonel Fitzwilliam and then the two of them were off.  Giddy as a bunch of women with their purchases they were.” Foster looked at him sharply and the footman straightened.  “I understand that more will be delivered to be packed up for Pemberley.  This is just for their stay.  He said you would know what to do with them.”

“I do.”  Mrs. Mercer nodded.  “Go on with your work.”

The tall young man disappeared and she sank down in her chair.  “Giddy as women.”  She laughed.  “I can just see those two boys!  Oh the master does love taking care of her.”

Adams picked up the box of chocolates, and examined the wine.  “I think that we will have a great deal of time to ourselves this trip.”  He winked at Millie.  “Enjoy it while you can, we will not be back for a very long time.”

“But the master said to keep the extra staff that we brought back when we reopened the house.” 

Nodding to Foster, Adams picked up his glass of ale.  “They will not be here but I understand that the master will offer the house for the Season . . .”

“He is not renting it out!”  Mrs. Mercer cried.

“ . . .to Mr. Bingley or the Colonel.”

“Oh.  Well that’s all right, then.”

“Sorry to ruffle your feathers, Mrs. Mercer.  Either one is acceptable?  Shall I let Mr. Darcy know that you approve?”  Adams chuckled

“I believe that is Mrs. Darcy’s concern.”  Mrs. Mercer noted severely.  “And she would not take kindly to you forgetting it.”

“You certainly do not!”  Foster laughed and raised his glass.  “To the mistress and the hoped-for heir!”