When she opened her eyes and gazed at him, Darcy fought tears. Neither of his sons had affected him to this extent. Oh, he loved his boys dearly. But this little girl? With one breath, with one gaze, she captured his heart. He feared she would never let it go.
“William,” Elizabeth whispered from where she reclined in the bed, “I am pleased we have a girl. Are you?”
How could he put into words the emotions pouring through him? He nodded instead.
For a long time, he held his daughter. This one was far quieter than the other two had been.
Their eldest, Bennet Fitzwilliam Darcy, had come out from his mother’s womb complaining about his changed circumstances. Their second son, Richard Charles Darcy, had waited until his father held him in his arms only to insist that he would rather be with his mother.
This babe, his little girl, was exactly where she needed to be, held by her Papa.
Elizabeth reached over to touch their daughter’s cheek. “Darling, how much has changed for us since the beginning. You, who needed an heir, now have three children. I am so pleased with our family, with you being here to guide, direct, and train our sons. Now you will have a baby girl to spoil. I foresee she will believe herself to be a princess before long.”
He laughed softly, not wanting to disturb the babe. “Perhaps, my wife, she will be the pirate queen to her brothers. Or maybe she will be Gulliver or one of the Lilliputians.”
“Perhaps.”
When the babe began to squirm and whimper, Elizabeth reached for her daughter.
Darcy was bereft at letting the little one go. Knowing what needed to happen, he kissed his wife and newest child. His next task was to inform their sons that they had a sister.
The news was greeted with shocking indifference.
“We wanted another brother,” insisted seven-year-old Bennet. “Uncle Richard and Aunt Susan are unfair. They had two boys at one time both times they picked out babies. They have four! We need two more boys before we next travel to see them. Pray, Papa, take this baby girl back where you got her and bring at least one more boy to Pemberley. It would only be the fair thing to do.”
“It would, would it?” Darcy ruffled his son’s hair. “I am frightfully sorry to tell you, then, that the new baby is Miss Margaret Elizabeth Darcy. She will not be going anywhere. She will remain.”
His youngest son scuffed his shoe on the carpet. “Aw, Papa, ‘tis no fair!”
Darcy kept himself from smiling when he looked at little Richie’s stockings. They did not match. Neither did his shoes. One was black, the other brown. At four years old, the boy was as precocious as his mother and as unwilling to accept help as his father.
“Do not worry, sons, you will become used to her in time.”
“Is she little like Richie was?” Bennet inquired.
“She is.”
“Aw, that really is not fair.”
Thinking quickly, Darcy offered his disgruntled boys, “What you two may not have considered is the benefit to you of having a sister. Why, from this day forward, you will have a damsel to rescue in your outdoor games, a young lady who you will always be older and faster than when you play.”
Both boys’ eyes sparkled with delight. As they ran from the room to return to their nurse, who would escort them to see their new sister, Darcy felt a tightness in his chest.
Unconcerned, he knew the exact cause of his affliction. During the eight years he and Elizabeth had been together, her constant surveillance over his diet had benefited him greatly. He avoided shellfish like the plague and never sampled food or drink that stirred the acids inside of him to erupt.
No, what caused this sense that his chest was about to explode was the fullness of his love for his family. Never, when he began this journey with Elizabeth, had he imagined his joy would increase with each day, with each second of time spent with her. As each child arrived, Darcy’s pleasure was magnified exponentially.
With delight, Darcy had observed the same happen to Charles and Jane Bingley, who now lived an hour away in Derbyshire with their brood.
Elizabeth’s father continued to be a regular correspondent and visitor to the north of England. He and his wife were favorites with all their grandchildren.
Lord and Lady Matlock, out of love for Richard’s sons, extended their affection for Darcy’s boys as well. Both Bennet and Richie called them Grandpapa and Grandmama, to the delight of the older couple.
Less than a year prior, Richard and Susan chose to sell Rosings Park to an investor. Settling themselves in an estate between Matlock and Pemberley, they were frequently in company with the Darcys.
No, this pressure in his chest was not worrisome. It was welcome.
Hearing the whooping yells from upstairs, Darcy decided to join his family. No longer did he have reason for dread. When it came to the future, he had reason to hope.
The End
From the Author:
Christie Capps is the pen name of a best-selling author J Dawn King who, because of increasing demands on her time, has fewer and fewer hours to read. She doubts she is the only one with these circumstances. Therefore, her Christie Capps stories will all be approximately 100 pages of sweet romance and will be priced less than one cup of flavored coffee from your local barista.
Happy reading!
Already Available - From Christie Capps
Mr. Darcy’s Bad Day
For Pemberley
The Perfect Gift
Forever Love
Boxed Set: Something Old, New, Later, True
Elizabeth
Lost and Found
Henry
His Frozen Heart
Boxed Set: Something Regency, Romantic, Rollicking, Reflective
Currently, these books are available exclusively at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes (for audio only).
One Bride & Two Grooms
A Reason to Hope
ALREADY AVAILABLE - FROM J Dawn King:
Friends and Enemies
Friends and Enemies
Mr. Darcy’s Mail-Order Bride
Love Letters from Mr. Darcy
The Abominable Mr. Darcy
Yes, Mr. Darcy
Compromised!
One Love, Two Hearts, Three Stories
A Father’s Sins
Letter of the Law
A Baby for Mr. Darcy
Thank you very much!
I sincerely appreciate you for investing your time with this story. A gift for any author is to receive an honest review from readers. I hope you will use this opportunity to let others know your opinion of this tale. Happy reading!
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