Georgiana laughed and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Do you hate me?” he looked at her earnestly.
She shook her head and smiled. “I think I can forgive you.”
Elizabeth heard a sound. She paused her slippered foot mid-stride on the oak floor, cocked her head and listened again.
It almost sounded like muffled voices. She stood still, listening.
Then nothing.
Maybe she had imagined it. Her body felt so foreign these days. She sometimes wondered if her condition could somehow affect her other senses.
She left the kitchen and had started back up the stairs when she heard it again. Or she thought she did.
Male and female voices.
She turned toward the sound.
Downstairs.
It was coming from near the entryway. But she saw no one there as she descended the stairs.
Then, something. A soft thudding noise.
Like someone tapping the snow off their shoes.
Coming from outside.
She walked onto the entryway, pleased no one else was here.
Elizabeth peered out a window and startled. Someone tall was outside the front door.
She moved noiselessly to the door and pressed her ear against it.
Elizabeth paused and wondered for a moment if she should wake up Darcy. Then she heard what could only be a soft female voice: Georgiana. She feared Darcy’s reaction to Georgiana’s tryst more than she did a stranger behind the door. She hoped she was not catching them at an inopportune moment. Glancing around to make sure she was still alone, she pulled back the lock and opened the door.
Cold wind blew in, almost extinguishing her candle, and Elizabeth automatically shut her eyes against it. So she didn’t immediately see Georgiana wrapped in Adam’s tall, lean frame. But then, her eyes opened, and Adam’s form came into view. And there in his arms was Georgiana. In her nightclothes! Both of them. The girl leapt apart from him.
“Elizabeth!” she said, quite astounded.
“Mrs. Darcy,” Adam said, his voice becoming oddly high.
“Mr. Merriweather! Georgiana! What are you doing out here? Get inside immediately!”
Elizabeth pulled the girl inside, allowing Adam to follow. She closed the door and hoped no one had heard or would come down and investigate.
“This is quite unexpected!” Elizabeth looked from Georgiana to Adam and pulled her robe around her stomach as much as she could.
They each stared in shock at each other for a moment.
“This is entirely my fault,” Adam said, stepping forward, pulling Elizabeth’s gaze away from Georgiana.
“Somehow I think not.”
Elizabeth was so angry so couldn’t get her mouth to form more words. After the debacle with Wickham, how could G. do this? At Pemberley’s front door, no less!
Then she noticed the ice glazed in Georgiana’s and Adam’s hair and eyelashes. She touched G.’s brittle, partially frozen hair.
“How long were you outside?”
Georgiana’s eyes brimmed with fresh tears.
“Perhaps half of an hour,” Adam responded quietly. At least he had the manners to appear embarrassed. “We were trying to save her.” Adam opened the collar of his shirt, and a tiny, orange head poked out and cried.
Elizabeth’s mouth fell open.
“What?”
“The kitten ran outside, and we went to get her and were locked outside,” Georgiana said, eyes still downcast.
Elizabeth looked from him to Georgiana. “But why were you together in your nightclothes?”
“I went to the kitchen, to eat,” Adam said, a red blush spreading across his face. “The kitten ran into the kitchen and Georgiana tried to catch her.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips. “And how did she get outside?”
“Mrs. Reynolds came inside moments before. I threw on her coat to run outside.”
Elizabeth eyed the damp coat on her shoulders.
“We huddled in the door to keep the kitten warm, Mrs. Darcy,” Adam said, his eyes cast downward.
She looked at Georgiana’s quivering lip and Adam’s snow-covered frame.
“Oh, I don’t know what to think! But come inside, warm up!” She brushed snow off Adam’s shoulders until her belly brushed against his arm. Gads, none of them were fit to be in public. “Let’s get you both inside before William sees or hears us.” She paused. “Is the kitten all right?”
Georgiana nodded, a tear streaking down her cheek.
“Before William hears what?”
All three of them jumped in surprise at Darcy’s unexpected voice.
Elizabeth turned and saw her husband standing in his neatly tied robe and slippers. Even at his hour, he was immaculate. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. How would they explain this?
“My dear, what are you doing out of bed? Is everything well?” Darcy asked, looking worryingly at his wife.
Elizabeth smiled sweetly at him. “I’m quite well. Georgiana was good enough to accompany me for a glass of barley water. She was retrieving an escaped kitten.”
Darcy’s gaze moved to Adam, his eyes taking in his damp head.
“He helped me retrieve the kitten,” Georgiana said, and his eyes narrowed at Adam.
Darcy’s dour expression didn’t change.
“Why is he a party to this?”
Elizabeth uncharacteristically put her hands to her stomach to display her condition. “Mr. Merriweather was good enough to help us capture the cat,” she said and smiled. “You know I can’t reach down anymore. Thank you again, Mr. Merriweather! Now I am tired. Fitzwilliam, will you accompany me to my bedchamber?”
“Pleasure to be of service, Mrs. Darcy,” Adam said.
Darcy’s eyes flicked from his wife to Adam suspiciously. He didn’t like what he had encountered, but he extended his arm to Elizabeth.
“I trust we all are returning to our respective bed chambers,” he said.
“Of course,” Elizabeth said calmly and took her husband’s arm, but not before shooting Georgiana and Adam a scorching look.
Chapter 4
Back in their bedchamber, Darcy helped Elizabeth onto her side of the bed.
“Now, are you going to tell me what was going on, or do I have to guess?” he asked, looking very serious.
Elizabeth smiled to her husband as she lifted her legs onto the bed.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” she said innocently.
Suddenly, she felt something pull deep inside herself and sharp burning in her back. It made her catch her breath. Oh. Something was happening.
She swung her legs back out of the bed and stood up as quickly as she could
“Now what on earth are you doing?” Darcy asked testily.
Elizabeth’s hands reflexively went to her stomach. She looked up from her hands to Darcy’s gaze.
“Oh, oh. William.”
He stood absolutely still for a moment before he scrambled to her side.
“You mean?” He gestured to her midsection.
She nodded, feeling a warm trickle down her legs.
“Elizabeth!”
“I’m all right. Why don’t we move to my bedchamber? It has been set aside for this occasion.”
He nodded quickly and let his wife place her arm on his shoulder.
“Shall I carry you?”
“No, I’m perfectly capable of walking. Will you rouse Harriet?” she said of her lady’s maid.
“Of course. Shall I run?” Darcy’s face had a sheen of pale sweat.
Elizabeth smiled and placed a palm on her husband’s excited face. “Not at all. The physician said it may take a while. Days even.”
He nodded, but still rushed off. As he passed Georgiana’s door, he knocked on it impatiently. “Georgiana! Will you wake Harriet?” Further down the hall, Adam, who hadn’t yet reached his room, saw the commotion and came back quickly.
“How may I help?” he asked earnestly.
Darcy paused and frowned.
“Shall I ride out and fetch the physician?” Adam asked.
Darcy said nothing, his mouth twisting.
“Please let me be of service,” Adam said.
Darcy barely had time to nod before Adam hurried in the direction of his room.
Georgiana quickly changed into a dry dress and warm shawl and caught up to Darcy and Elizabeth as he shuffled with his wife on his arm.
“I can walk,” Elizabeth said to her husband. The only sign she was in any distress was that one hand was on her back.
“Are you—? Is it the baby?” Georgiana said. Her brother nodded once, briefly, a sign he was anxious. She knew the look well.
She saw Adam, also now dressed, striding purposefully down the stairs ahead of them. He looked quite distinguished in his greatcoat, boots and hat. She wondered if he would look back at her in recognition of what they shared huddled outside, but he simply walked out the door, following a footman, and closed it behind him. She felt a pang of disappointment, but then told herself she was being silly. It was only Adam Merriweather after all. It wasn’t as though it were Hugh. She realized she hadn’t thought of Hugh in a while.
But now, they must see to Elizabeth. She climbed the stairs to the servants’ quarters and rapped gently on Harriet’s door. It opened on the first knock.
“Yes, miss?” Harriet wore a white nightdress. She looked like she hadn’t been sleeping either.
“Mrs. Darcy asked for your service. I think it may be time to begin Mrs. Darcy’s lying-in,” Georgiana said. Without a word, Harriet’s eyes widened, and she nodded and closed her door. In what seemed like only a few moments, she opened it again, now wearing a day dress.
“I keep it by the door for when Mrs. Darcy…” she said and paused meaningfully. Georgiana nodded. She needed to remind her brother to give her a generous Christmas gift.
Georgiana and the maid walked down the hall. She knew Harriet had helped with births in the village before. Despite their differences in stations, they were similar in age, but Georgiana felt foolish and unknowledgeable around her.
“Is Mrs. Darcy comfortable?” Harriet asked as she tucked her hair under her cap.
“Yes, I believe so. I’ve not witnessed a birth before. I don’t know what to expect.”
“Usually nature does most of the work,” Harriet said and smiled shyly at Georgiana.
She was glad someone had experience with this, as she felt herself completely ignorant about many things.
Three hours later, Elizabeth walked slowly down the hall. Georgiana and Darcy stood behind her, watching. She stopped and touched the wall for support as a contraction tightened momentarily, but she knew they were still far apart and fairly mild.
Darcy, on the other hand, looked as though he might be ill. His face tensed as he watched his wife experience another wave of pain.
“Would you like to lie down?” he said for at least the third time.
Elizabeth exhaled as the pain diminished and straightened up.
“No, I am all right,” she said. The pain ebbed, and she drew in a deep breath. Darcy had removed his coat, and his cravat hung loose around his neck. Elizabeth smiled at his worried, handsome face. She knew she would be confined to her bedchamber soon and he would wait outside, and she wanted to forestall that as long as she could.
“Walking eases the pain,” Elizabeth said, entering her chamber.
“Blast, where’s the bloody physician?” Darcy said quietly.
Elizabeth turned back to him. “Have you summoned the physician?” She told him she thought it wasn’t necessary yet.
“Adam Merriweather has ridden to fetch him.”
Elizabeth slumped. “You sent him out in this weather? Oh, Darcy, why?”
Darcy glanced toward the window and looked chastened. “He offered to go.”
Elizabeth sighed and rubbed her forehead with a hand. “Of course he offered. It’s because...”
She stopped talking and looked at Georgiana and Harriet as they entered the room.
“It may be many hours yet. You should not have made him go.”
Darcy leaned against a chair and pouted. “I did not make him. I didn’t put a pistol to his head.”
Then he went to Elizabeth and rubbed her shoulders. “Do not be mad, my love. Please don’t worry about him. Adam is a hearty lad. I’ll send a groom after him if he hasn’t returned soon. Do not deplete your strength.”
Elizabeth frowned, walking slowly around the room. The pain, although not bad yet, had drained her. Harriet brought her a cup of barley water.
The horse Adam rode—a fine, tall black gelding, borrowed from Darcy—moved easily through the stinging sleet. Adam was grateful for the warmth coming off the horse’s glossy body. The woods around Pemberley were dark and eerily muted by the snowfall. Thick snowflakes fell, creating a whispering slush as they landed. On the ground, snow glowed blue against the dark trees. Despite the cold, he would have liked to show this scene to Georgiana. In his mind, he saw her blue-gray eyes looking up at him on the steps. He thought of her with the kitten and wondered how she felt when they huddled together on the front step.
Might she have feelings for him?
She’s previously seemed distracted when he’d seen her, turning her attention to the others in the room, but then the few times they were together were either at assembly balls or in a friend’s sitting room, and one could hardly blame her.
Adam found her to be exquisite the first time he met her, like a delicate doll come to life. His eyes were always drawn to her when she was in the room. How was it this magnificent creature had not been taken? Might he dare to hope she could return his affection? She kissed him back on the steps, her lips as soft as a teacake. But perhaps she was merely caught in the moment—and freezing—so that she’d have kissed nearly any warm thing that was there.
Certainly, he wasn’t an obvious choice for her. The fact that his father was a tradesman complicated things. But his family was rich. Adam hoped that when she saw see how much he loved her and how well he would take care of her, she would see what a good choice he was. Certainly he made a better choice than the unlicked cub of a man Hugh Devereaux, who pranced about in his fine frocks and carriages when everyone knew his family had no money.
He blew onto his hands to warm them and wondered how Mrs. Darcy was faring. He had another mile to go before he’d arrive at the village where the physician resided. He somehow had to get there without becoming an icicle. He had promised Mr. Darcy he would, and frankly, he feared him more than he did the cold weather. He didn’t want to disappoint him, and he particularly wanted to please Georgiana. Of course, he wanted Mrs. Darcy to be well too.
Adam urged his horse to move more quickly through the dark wood.
Darcy watched his wife lean back on the love seat, close her eyes, and grimace, her lovely face lost in her pain. Her labor was becoming more difficult, and he winced sympathetically, wishing he could take the burden for her.
“My darling?” he said after a moment as Elizabeth opened her eyes again. A fine sheen of perspiration glistened on her face and neck.
Her eyes stared at something far away and then found his gaze again.
“Was that terrible?”
She shook her head and smiled weakly. “Not so bad.” She exhaled and reached for more barley water.
He thought she may be downplaying her pain and he tried to return her smile. But a pleasant expression was hard to come by for him even under the best circumstances. Her hand, gripped in his, loosened as he brought the cup to her lips.
An older maid insisted on stoking the fire and shutting all the windows, despite the languid air of the room.
“Must we shut out all the fresh air?” Darcy asked.
“Labor needs warm quiet air,” the maid said and turned blew out a candle in the window before leaving the room.
Darcy was not sure he agreed, but he said nothing. He knew he would be asked to leave the room soon.
“How is she, sir?” Harriet asked.
“The pain is increasing,” Darcy said. “Is it all right to open the shutters?”
Harriet placed a cloth on Elizabeth’s forehead and gazed down at her. “Aye. Old midwives kept birthing rooms warm and dark. But some doctors now recommend fresh air. Likely, it matters not, but for the mother’s comfort.”
Harriet stood up and opened the shutters nearest to them. Darcy glanced at the snow still falling in the darkness. He hated how powerless he felt at the moment.
“Darling, would you like another pillow?” He picked up a ridiculously ruffled yellow one off another chair to offer to her.
Elizabeth sipped more barley water and shook her head. She sighed softly and leaned back, her eyes now focused and her face smoothed.
“That is a fine pillow, and I should only be using the older, plain ones,” she said and smiled at her husband’s lack of domestic knowledge.
“Aye,” Harriet said, taking the yellow pillow from Darcy and handing him a plain off-white one. Elizabeth smiled at Harriet and sat up more.
“Has Adam returned?” Elizabeth asked.
Darcy, wishing he had not mentioned Adam’s journey to Elizabeth, lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Briefly he shook his head.
“I daresay I may not need a physician,” Elizabeth said.
“Perhaps it’s for me,” Darcy said, forcing a smile. “I may need one to get through this day.” He said nothing more as her face contorted with discomfort.
Georgiana’s heart beat faster as her brother tended to Elizabeth lying on the love seat. Darcy held her hand in his, leaning toward her and talking quietly. She wanted him to take away Elizabeth’s frightening pain and have her and the baby be well. She always looked to Darcy to find a solution to every other problem they’d encountered. She was beginning to realize it might not be that simple.
Georgiana hung back by Harriet, helping her fold linens and place them near the delivery area.
First Christmas at Pemberley Page 4