by Lily Bernard
“I suppose if you are still indisposed, there are others who can help out. I think we should discuss this topic further but for now…” Darcy took his wife into his arms, began kissing her and they soon forgot about discussing anything else.
Later that morning, they were sitting at breakfast before he had to leave with their steward. He looked up from the correspondence he was reading, “I have received a note from Mr. Carter, the new vicar in Kympton. He asked me if we could help some of his most needy parishioners.”
“I hope you will tell him that he can count on our support. Are you pleased with your decision to give the living to Mr. Carter?”
“Yes, very much so. Although he is on the young side, he came with very good references and he appears to exude a kind of inner peace. Young men like Carter are very rare indeed. He comes from a very wealthy family who made their money in trade; as a second son he will not take over his family’s business. Mr. Carter said that he always felt a calling to the Church.
“Shall we invite him to the Harvest Ball? We can get to know him better and he will have an opportunity to meet some of his flock outside of the church walls.”
“That is an excellent idea, my dear. I will add him to our invitation list, but for now, I must depart. I hate to leave you after such a lovely morning, but I am sure Bethel is waiting impatiently for me at the stables.” Darcy kissed Elizabeth’s forehead and left her to finish her breakfast in the small family dining room.
Later that morning, when she returned from her walk around Pemberley’s beautiful gardens, Mrs. Reynolds approached her. “Mrs. Darcy, I was wondering if you have time today for us to discuss some plans for the Harvest Ball?”
“Of course, Mrs. Reynolds, I am eagerly looking forward to the party. Mr. Darcy told me that Pemberley has not hosted the event for many years. I believe all the tenants and staff are looking forward to it.”
“Indeed, they are, ma’am.”
“I will change my dress and meet you in my sitting room in twenty minutes.”
“Thank you, madam.”
Twenty minutes later, when Mrs. Reynolds joined her mistress, she was carrying a large sheath of papers. “What is all that?”
“These are all the notes I could find on planning a Harvest Ball. Some of them go all the way back to well before I came to Pemberley.”
“Let us each take a handful and see if we can glean any good ideas from them. I would like to make this year’s Harvest Ball the best one Pemberley has ever held.” Both women smiled and got down to work. They looked through the many sheets of notes for ideas about décor, refreshments, music and the guest list. When they came across an idea they liked, they shared their thoughts and Mrs. Reynolds wrote down their decisions. When they were finished, Elizabeth was quite tired and hungry and asked the housekeeper if it was time for lunch.
“Yes, madam, luncheon will be served as soon as you are ready.”
“I am feeling a bit tired right now. I believe I will rest a few minutes in my chambers and then I will ring when I would like my lunch.”
“Of course, just let me know when you are ready. I would be happy to have a tray brought up to your sitting room if you would rather not dine downstairs.”
“Thank you, bringing a tray to my sitting room is a good idea.”
Chapter 2
When Darcy returned home in the late afternoon, he could not find his wife in any of the downstairs rooms. He saw Mrs. Reynolds walking toward him and asked her if she knew where Mrs. Darcy was. “I believe she may still be up in her chambers. After her morning walk, we worked for several hours on the plans for the Harvest Ball. When we were finished, she mentioned she was tired and asked that a lunch tray be brought up to her sitting room.”
“Thank you, I will look for her there.” He bounded up the steps of Pemberley’s grand staircase and walked toward his chambers. He changed out of his soiled clothes before he continued to search for his wife. A few minutes later, Darcy entered the sitting room between their adjoining suites and noticed that the food on the tray had not been touched. He tried not to be alarmed as he quietly entered his wife’s bed chamber. He saw her sleeping in her clothes and shoes on top of the counterpane. As he quickly walked to his wife, a feeling of panic rose in his chest. If anything has happened to her, I do not know if I can continue to live; she is my heart and soul. Darcy sat down on the edge of the bed and his weight on the mattress caused Elizabeth to stir and she slowly opened her eyes. He gently swept some of her curls from her face, “my love, are you well? You have been sleeping for a long time.”
“William,” she said groggily as he helped her sit up. “I was so tired after my meeting with Mrs. Reynolds. All I wanted to do was rest for a few minutes before lunch. What time is it?”
“It is well after four. Are you certain you feel well? Shall I send for Mr. Laurence?”
“I do not need a doctor but now that I am awake, I am feeling hungry. I do not remember eating lunch.”
“The lunch tray in your sitting room was untouched.”
“Will you join me for some refreshments and a cup of tea?”
He nodded in agreement. “Let me find Hannah and then I will help you out of bed.”
When he entered the hallway, Darcy saw Elizabeth’s maid coming toward his wife’s chambers carrying some fresh linen. He requested that food be sent up to their sitting room and asked that Mr. Laurence be summoned as quickly as possible. Darcy returned to his wife’s chambers and helped her as she tried to fix her hair and straighten her skirts after sleeping so long in her clothes.
Elizabeth held on to her husband’s arm as they slowly walked into their sitting room. A few minutes later, their food arrived and they were both quite hungry. Before they were completely finished with their repast, Hannah announced that Mr. Laurence had arrived.
Elizabeth looked at her husband with feigned anger. “I told you that I did not need the doctor.”
“I know, but I was worried about you sleeping so long today. I just want to hear Mr. Laurence tell us that all is well.”
“I will allow Mr. Laurence to examine me and when he is finished, I am sure he will tell you that you are worried for no reason.”
While Elizabeth was being seen by the doctor, Darcy was unable to sit down and paced back and forth in the sitting room,. He could not stop thinking that giving birth to his sister had led to the untimely death of his mother. After Mr. Laurence had finished his examination, Hannah helped Elizabeth get dressed and the doctor opened the door to the sitting room and asked Darcy to join them.
“Sir, your wife is absolutely fine. Her fatigue is quite normal for a woman in the final months of carrying a child. She told me that she often has trouble sleeping at night because the baby’s movements are keeping her awake. Her irregular nighttime sleep is likely the cause of the long nap today. You should not be surprised if the fatigue increases until your child is born. Please summon me if you think anything unusual is happening. The baby is growing nicely and should arrive by the end of October. Mrs. Darcy must eat well; continue her moderate exercise and a daily rest should see her through to the birth of a healthy baby.”
“Thank you, Mr. Laurence. I told my husband there was nothing to worry about.”
“I will see Mr. Laurence out and then return to you. Since you are so tired, would you like to have dinner in our sitting room tonight?”
“I think that is a lovely idea.”
When the two men stood by the front door, Mr. Laurence turned to Darcy. “I did not wish to alarm your wife, but I noticed that her ankles are a bit swollen. That could mean absolutely nothing, or it could be an indication that she is developing a more dangerous condition. My best advice is to watch her carefully and make sure she sits with her legs elevated whenever possible. I will return in two days and we should know more by then. Please try not to worry, your wife is a very healthy young woman and she and the baby will be fine. Good day, sir.”
“Thank you for coming so quickly Mr. Laurence.�
�� As soon as the doctor had departed, Mrs. Reynolds walked toward Darcy.
“Sir, I overheard what Mr. Laurence said about Mrs. Darcy, and I will make sure that his orders are followed. We are all very fond of the mistress and will do anything to accommodate her needs.”
“Thank you, I do not know what we would do without you. I know you will instruct the staff on what needs to be done. I am trying not to worry, but you know the basis of my concern.”
“Indeed, I do. You would do well to remember that Mrs. Darcy is much healthier and far more active than your dear mother. I am sure she will easily bring your child into this world and probably go for a five mile walk the next day.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled at the man she had known since he was a boy. She placed her hand on his arm and gave him a reassuring squeeze, “worry not, all will be well.”
Darcy smiled at the woman who was so much more than Pemberley’s housekeeper and placed his hand briefly over hers. “Thank you for your comforting words.” He climbed the stairs and returned to their sitting room where he found Elizabeth reading a book. “How are you feeling now, my love?”
“I feel refreshed by my nap and the food, but I am still a bit fatigued. I like the idea of having dinner sent up tonight…if that is still agreeable to you.”
“More than agreeable. However, Mr. Laurence just told me that when you are sitting, you should keep your feet elevated.” He quickly glanced around the room and spotted an ottoman near the fireplace. He did not want to wait for a footman to help him and quickly brought it over to her and kneeled at her feet. He took both her legs and placed them atop the soft foot rest.
“Seeing you kneeling before me like that, I thought you might be trying to propose again,” Elizabeth teased. “In fact, I do not remember you kneeling when you proposed to me on the terrace at Birchwood Manor.”
“I am so grateful every day that you are my wife. If you would like me to propose to you from this, or any other position, I will most happily comply,” Darcy responded trying to keep his voice from reflecting his concern for his wife’s health.
She smiled and looked into the eyes of her husband. “I do not believe that will be necessary and besides, you do not look very comfortable right now. Will you not sit next to me while I read? Or better still, will you read to me? You know how I love to hear the sound of your voice.” Darcy sat beside Elizabeth and began to read aloud from the book of poetry she had been holding. He placed his arm around her shoulder and she very happily leaned into his chest as she listened to his beautiful voice reading some love poems by William Blake.
Before they realized how much time had passed, several maids began bringing in their dinner trays. They both sat up from the position of comfort they found in each other’s arms. “Do I need to keep my feet elevated while I eat?”
“I believe the doctor was very explicit. Your feet are to be elevated whenever possible. I will be happy to prepare a plate for you so there is no need for you to get up.”
Elizabeth was not happy about her husband’s edict but decided to relax and enjoy being so well cared for. After she told him which foods she wished to eat, he brought the plate, cutlery and napkin to where she was sitting. When her husband attempted to feed her, she had had enough. “William, I am not an invalid! I will sit here with my feet up on the ottoman, but I refuse to be spoon fed!”
“I apologize if I went too far; you know I would do anything in my power to help you.”
“You are forgiven, and I love how you wish to care for me but there has to be a limit. Please, make yourself a plate and join me.”
Elizabeth was still tired despite her nap. She had been awake most of the night due to the baby’s kicking. Darcy was tired after a day of riding from farm to farm and helping out wherever an extra pair of hands were needed. Shortly after finishing their dinner they decided to retire for the night. When they got into bed, she turned her back to her husband and he reached over her hip and placed his hand on her large stomach. “Elizabeth, please do not be angry with me for summoning Mr. Laurence. You and the baby are my only concern. If necessary, I will stay at home and look after you and Bethel can handle the harvest on his own. Would you like that?”
Elizabeth slowly rolled over to speak to her husband face to face. “You, more than anyone else, know how independent I have always been.” She began to cry. “I am not angry with you. How could I be when your only concern is for my well-being? In truth, I am angry with myself. I behaved like the same foolish girl I was in Hertfordshire where I could walk as far as I wanted. I know I walked too far earlier today and then I had a long meeting with Mrs. Reynolds. I realize that I have been very selfish. You have responsibilities to Pemberley and our tenants and Mr. Bethel.” Darcy dried her tears as she caressed his face. “I promise that my only responsibility will be to take care of myself and the baby. Although, I still do not think it is necessary for you to feed me, I will follow the doctor’s orders and keep my feet up as much as I can. Now kiss me goodnight, I believe I heard Mr. Laurence order me to fall asleep in the arms of the man I love. I am very happy to follow those doctor’s orders and get plenty of rest.”
He was eager to comply and gently kissed his wife. A few moments later, he could hear the sweet sound of his wife sleeping. Darcy believed what Elizabeth said about following the doctor’s orders, but he would worry until Mr. Laurence returned in a few days to see if she was in any danger.
The doctor returned to Pemberley in two days’ time. After he examined Elizabeth, he told her that she and the baby were quite well and that the swelling around her ankles had decreased. “I still believe that it is a good idea to keep your legs elevated whenever convenient. You should continue your daily walks, but you must not walk too long or walk alone. If anything unusual occurs, please do not hesitate to summon me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Laurence, I will be happy to convey your instructions to Mr. Darcy.”
It had been several weeks since the day Darcy had shown Elizabeth his childhood hideaway and, once again, he left the house directly after breakfast to supervise the harvest with their steward. After finishing her meal, Elizabeth left the manor house accompanied by Mr. Sanders, one of the new footmen. As they were walking past the stables on their way to one of the walking paths, Sanders hesitated before asking, “Pray excuse me ma’am, but as this is the first time I am escorting you, how close do you wish me to walk?”
“I do not believe there is any reason for you to stay too close, but for safety’s sake, you should always keep me in sight.”
“Yes, madam, I understand. Please lead the way.” Elizabeth began a slow walk along one of Pemberley’s more scenic paths, although with the advent of autumn, every day the path was covered with more and more multi-colored fallen leaves. She walked for about an hour and then returned to the house for lunch and a rest.
Chapter 3
The following afternoon, Darcy returned home from supervising the harvest and was happily surprised to find his cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam, awaiting him in his study. “What a wonderful surprise! Why did you not let us know you were coming?”
“Darcy, I am here to speak to you about a very serious matter. I have not yet seen your lovely wife, and you should decide if you will want her to know what I am about to tell you.”
“Richard, you are frightening me. What has happened that is so serious that you travelled here all the way from Kent? If it could not be put in a letter, it must be a very grave matter, indeed.”
“I came in person because I wish to help you eliminate the danger your family is now facing.”
“Please continue. I am always happy for your assistance, but I do not know what kind of danger you believe we are facing. I have not received any messages from Mr. Harris warning us of any danger.”
“Harris would have no knowledge of what I am about to tell you. Some of the Bow Street Runners who helped us recover Georgiana, have written to me. It seems that several of Wickham’s men who escaped capture in Ramsgate two years ago, have been seen
in Derbyshire.”
Darcy jumped up from his chair. “What are you saying? Where are they? We must find them today!”
“Think about what you are saying. These men are all lifelong criminals know how to hide. Wickham never got his hands on Georgiana’s dowry and he never paid any of them a farthing. The Runners believe that Wickham’s men are desperate and may still try to harm your family in some plan to make money. I would suggest you accompany your wife and sister whenever they leave the house. Perhaps it would be wise if you hire a few more guards, armed guards.”
“Is the situation so serious that Pemberley needs to become an armed fortress in order to protect my family?”
“These men thought they were going to make a great deal of money helping Wickham kidnap your sister. I have no doubt that they would abduct any member of your household and hold them for a very high ransom. The armed guards would only be here until the danger has passed.”
“Georgiana is currently visiting your parents at Matlock Manor, but I will write to your father and tell him to be more vigilant. I will also send extra guards to protect my sister on her journey back to Pemberley.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea. What about protecting Lizzy on her daily rambles?”
“That has already been taken care of; she no longer walks out alone, she is always accompanied by a servant or me. I just hired two new footmen to ensure someone is always available to escort her while I am with my steward. Richard, she should be made aware of this new threat. I will ask her to join us here, so we can both speak to her.”
Darcy rang for his housekeeper and after she entered her master’s study, “Mrs. Reynolds, would you ask Mrs. Darcy to join us?”