by Wells, Linda
“You are there, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, the head is crowning.” The man checked again. “The next push should do it.”
“Oh heaven help me I hope so.” She gasped and beared down once more then screamed. Richard looked when he heard the cry of triumph from the midwife and stared as the baby’s head appeared.
“Oh Eva!” He felt her relax then she clutched him again and pushed. “Oh love, you did it!” He watched as the baby was delivered and the midwife went about the business of rousing and cleaning the child. “A girl!” Richard turned and kissed her. “We have a baby girl!”
Evangeline wiped the tears pouring down his face and she sobbed. He kissed her hands and her lips. “A beautiful, beautiful,” the baby started squalling and he laughed, “noisy, fearsome little girl! Thank you, my love.” He sighed and hugged her. “Thank you.”
Chapter 30
A slow smile spread over de Bourgh’s face when he sorted through the stack of post. “Mary.” He sighed and looked at her handwriting carefully. “Your hand shook when you addressed this.” The thought of her being nervous when she wrote his name made his heart leap. His hand shaking now, he broke the seal and read. When he reached the end, he closed his eyes then returned to the beginning to read it through again. An hour later his mother found him still at his desk, the letter in his hand but now his eyes stared out at the rain sheeting down the window.
“Quite a storm.” She smiled and took a seat. When he did not respond she glanced at the letter, but unable to tell anything other than the surety that the hand was that of a woman, she studied his faraway look. “Days like this make me think of your father.”
“Oh?” He said softly. “Thinking of him at sea?”
“Yes.” She said just as softly. “It was the closest I could come to understanding the life he led, I am sure that his letters never told me the complete truth.” De Bourgh smiled a little and kept his gaze with the trees bending in the wind. Mrs. de Bourgh tilted her head and recited softly,
“How can my poor heart be glad,
When absent from my sailor lad;
How can I the thought forego—
He’s on the seas to meet the foe?
Let me wander, let me rove,
Still my heart is with my love;
Nightly dreams, and thoughts by day,
Are with him that’s far away.
On the seas and far away,
On stormy seas and far away;
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day,
Are aye with him that’s far away.”12
“You have become a student of poetry?” De Bourgh asked with a hint of a laugh.
“I found comfort in the words that I could not express myself, waiting for my boys to come home.” She smiled and saw his wistful appearance. “Do you miss it?”
He finally looked to her. “Sometimes, which amazes me. I spent so much time in that tiny, miserable cabin, wishing to be on land, away from the danger, the regulation, the spit and polish, the hierarchy … And then I think of the thrill of the ocean, the power of command, the purpose of battle, the opportunity to see the world. And then I know what a fool I am for missing any of that life. I have an exceptional home, one I never dared dream about, and it comes with its own set of regulation, polish, and power. But I have no anchor here.” He sighed and looked back down. “Mary wrote me a letter.”
“Mary? Not Miss Bennet?” She admonished gently and he smiled and shook his head. “Mary, then. And what was this entirely improper letter about? I take it that this is different from the family letters you have been exchanging.”
“Mrs. Darcy approved it, Mother.” He closed his eyes. “She understands me, Mary does. She read my journals from the age that she is now. She never felt at home at Longbourn. She describes it as a feeling of being a permanently unwelcome guest, but not having the means to move on to better accommodations, not until Elizabeth escaped and facilitated her own.” He looked back to his mother who was nodding slowly. “Rather like Anne de Bourgh escaped her miserable existence and rescued me from …”
“Your father was very lonely at sea, too.”
“Yes.” He looked at the letter, then handed it over to her. Mrs. de Bourgh read it through and smiled. “She has fallen in love with you.”
“Do you think so? We have barely had time together.”
“Yes, but you have shared yourself with her through your journals.” She studied him as he thought. “She is no empty-headed fool, Peter. The girl has plenty of good sense and you said yourself that she can be rather fierce when driven to it. You have told her more of yourself than most men ever tell their wives.” He shrugged and Mrs. de Bourgh handed back the letter and sat up straight. “Then again, you were not educated the way most men are. Well? What is the problem? You are in love with her.
“I hardly know …”
“Of course you do.” She became business-like. “I paid great attention to her when we were at Michael’s wedding. Her sister Elizabeth impressed me very favourably, but she is married and a mother, hardly a fair comparison. But I saw potential and most of all; I saw how you ran after her when she was hurt by her younger sister’s callousness.”
“I did.” He smiled and blushed, thinking of how much he had wanted to wrap her up in his arms and kiss that hurt away, and assure her that she would be forever safe with him. “How did this happen?” He said almost to himself.
Mrs. de Bourgh laughed to see the bemused look in his eye. “Oh my son, you have been wishing for a home and a family since you were a little boy.”
“I suppose that I have. I have a pile of invitations here, asking us …” He laughed as her eyes rolled, “Well, asking me to come to the neighbour’s homes to enjoy an evening.”
“With their daughters.”
“Naturally.” He sat up and looked at the stack. “Do you see them at church? Thank heaven that Michael delivers a sensible and short sermon, I can stay awake and escape before the mama’s greedy fingers latch onto my arm and drag me over to greet the girls.”
“They are rather anxious.” Mrs. de Bourgh smiled. “Lady Catherine was spitting mad last week. She overheard one group of ladies discussing strategies to capture you before the Season began and you were lost to the social whirl of London. She pronounced them all fools.”
“Lady Catherine supported me?” He stared in surprise. “I find that hard to believe!”
“I believe that she has a personal agenda. She failed at installing Darcy as her daughter’s husband and owner of the estate, but I have no doubt that she is feeding tidbits of information to selected friends about you, to give their daughters a leg up in their charming your favour.”
“What a conniving idea! What have you heard?”
Mrs. de Bourgh warmed to her subject and leaned forward. “Well, I have it on the best authority that she has sent her maid to gossip with our staff to learn your favourites in food, drink, activities, and even reading selections.” De Bourgh’s mouth hung open. “What her ultimate goal is, I could not say. Perhaps she hopes for a pliable mistress to be installed so that she can make her own circumstances more comfortable.”
“Play on the lucky girl’s gratitude for winning such a magnificent husband?” He growled. “The woman disgusts me, Mother. A year after her daughter’s death; and she still grasps at what she never had.”
“Yes!” Mrs. de Bourgh’s eyes grew bright as she smiled widely. “And I cannot wait to see her with the Darcys!”
“Mother, behave.” He admonished sternly.
“Can you just imagine how put out she will be when you marry the sister of the woman who stole Darcy?” She laughed and clapped.
“You are enjoying yourself far too much, Mother.” De Bourgh laughed at her and shook his head, “And you assume too much.”
“Do I?” She stood and walked around the desk to kiss his cheek and put Mary’s letter on the blotter. “Will your hand shake as much as hers when you respond to this letter?” Seeing his astonishment, she caressed his hair
and strolled from the room, humming a little love song as she went.
“KITTY, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE BOOKROOM.” Mr. Bennet stood up from his seat at the dining room table and waiting for her to precede him, followed her to his sanctuary and closed the door. “Please take a seat.”
“Yes, sir.” She whispered.
He cleared his throat and walked around the room, looking at his books and hoping for inspiration. He noticed that her face was turning pink and her hands were twisting. “I looked through your sketch book last night. You have a talent I never knew of before. I am sorry that I have missed enjoying it until now.” Kitty’s bewilderment was clear and he closed his eyes before stopping and patting her shoulder. “I am sorry that praise from me brings surprise, as well.”
“Oh, I …”
He took a seat behind his desk and held up his hand. “No, there is no need to say a thing. Now then, I am assured from all that I have seen of you over this holiday that you are indeed benefitting from your schooling, and I must say that I am even more greatly pleased to see that you have resisted Lydia’s attempts to domineer you.”
“I am trying, sir.” She whispered. “I have found better examples at school and elsewhere.”
“Yes.” He took a moment to think of how to approach this daughter he barely knew. Seeing her nerves increasing, he dove in. “I am concerned about your sister. She still seems to be resistant to the direction and threats that she has received from all of us. You know her best, has anything we have said reached her?”
Kitty stared down at her clasped hands and thought about Lydia. At last she looked up to see her father’s expectant expression. “I think that she is confused, especially when Mama told her to stop complaining and to pay attention to the teachers so that she could marry very well.”
“Yes.” Mr. Bennet smiled. “I was rather surprised at that. Mrs. Wilcox’s visit to Pemberley and her vivid description of the estate and the graciousness of Lizzy and Darcy made quite an impression on her.” He saw Kitty’s confusion and waved it away. At last his wife understood that her behaviour had denied her access to her daughter’s world. “So, do you think that she will continue to flirt with these soldiers?”
“I do not know, Papa. I think that she might forget all that was said to her as soon as she is back with her friend.”
“I thought as much.” He nodded and looked down at the letter he had received from the headmistress. “Very well, then. I know what I must do.”
“What is that, Papa?”
He smiled. “Be a parent, my dear. Now then, you return to London and learn all that you can. Lizzy wrote that they will be there in March. If you like, you may accompany her family to Rosings for Easter rather than returning home, it is up to you.”
“Oh.” She smiled happily. “I … I would like very much to be with them. And Rosalie.”
“Of course.” He nodded, and felt the heaviness of his failure weigh on his heart. “Well, off with you, I am sure that you have packing to do before morning.” She stood and was about to leave when he said quietly, “I am very proud of the young woman you are becoming, Kitty.”
“Oh.” She blushed and looked at her feet. “Thank you, Papa.”
“Please ask Lydia to come to me.” He watched the door close behind her and sat back in his chair. “Well, let us see if I can summon the strength of my sons.”
“I THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER LEAVE!” Jessica rolled her eyes at the backs of the retreating servants and closed the door with a bang. She turned to where Lydia sat on her bed and smiled widely. “How long have you been here?”
“A few hours. Papa wished to speak to Miss Edwards before he left.”
“Oh.” Jessica studied her and sat on her bed. “Are you in trouble?”
“No.” She lied. “Did Miss Edwards write to your father?”
“What about?”
“The militia.”
“Oh that.” She shrugged. “He said that Miss Edwards is well-paid to look after me. He looks at her like another governess, someone to keep me out of his way. I do not know what she is so worried about. All of our soldiers are so very lovely to us.” She giggled. “I have been begging him to let me go to Brighton this summer! Lieutenant Tike said that all of the soldiers go there then, the place is just teeming with officers! You have to ask your father if you can come with me! What fun we will have! I so want to marry an officer!” She stood up and started going through Lydia’s closet, held up a new dress to herself, wrinkled her nose and tossed it on the bed. “Only one new dress? I got five.”
“Papa would not let me get more than one.” Lydia started to whine. “He said that he has to save money for when I come out.”
“Only one more year for me!” Jessica crowed and grabbing Lydia’s new bonnet; stuck it on her head and spun around the room. “And I will have dresses and jewellery and slippers, and all of the men will look at me!” She took off the bonnet and tossed it in the air. “Papa will give me anything I want.”
“Why?” She grabbed her bonnet from where it landed on the floor and held onto it.
“Because I am so pretty! And I ask him very nicely.” She smiled. “My sisters are so jealous. They tell me to settle down all of the time, but they do not get dresses and ribbons and the men do not look at them like they look at me. So I must be the one in the right! They will all be old maids, and I will have the handsomest husband.” She sighed.
“Mama wanted us all married at fifteen, but my older sisters changed her mind. She said that I have to pay attention to what they did to capture their husbands. Even Mary might have found one.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“Oh, I asked Papa if he knows about the Darcys.” She sat on the bed and stared eagerly at Lydia. “They are VERY rich. You must go to London with them, and they will buy you anything you want.”
“I do not think so.” Lydia glanced at her closet and felt her anger rising. “Kitty is going to spend the Season with them.”
“What about you?” Jessica demanded. “Why does she get everything?”
Lydia shrugged. “Lizzy likes her. She goes to school with Georgiana Darcy.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Jessica thought. “I bet that she is spoiled.”
Lydia thought about the last time she saw Georgiana and how shy she was. “I do not think …”
“I cannot wait to see Lieutenant Tike.” She sighed. “I spotted him when our carriage came through the village. He saw me and he smiled so widely, then he made the secret sign that we have. I will meet him tomorrow!”
“Oh …” Lydia bit her lip. “Miss Edwards told Papa about us speaking to the soldiers.”
“So? That was in her letter to my Papa, too. He asked me what I was about and I said that we were just talking in the shops and he was satisfied.” She smiled slyly. “I think I might let him kiss me.”
“But what about the chaperones?”
“What about them?” Jessica demanded. “You will distract them!”
“I think that they might know about that.” Lydia cringed when she saw Jessica’s glare. “Papa said something about that.”
“Well I do not know how they found out, but nothing is going to keep me from seeing Lieutenant Tike!” She folded her arms and stared off into a corner. There was a knock on the door and Miss Edwards entered.
“Ladies, we have decided to separate you. Miss Simkins, follow me. You are going into the empty chamber near the sitting room.”
“Why?” Lydia and Jessica demanded.
“I do not owe you any explanation.” She sniffed at them and looked to Jessica. “Come along.”
Jessica turned to Lydia and whispered, “That room has a window right above the roof for the kitchen!”
“What are you going to do?”
“I do not know, but … something.” She glared at Miss Edwards’ back. “Nobody will tell me what to do!”
30 JANUARY 1811
Grosvenor Street
London
Dear Darcy,
Is it rude to proclaim joy at the departure of one’s flesh and blood? Well then Hurst, Louisa, and I must be the most uneducated, uncouth lot of relatives to live on this earth because I would say no more than five minutes after we assured ourselves that the Robinson’s carriage had turned the corner, we were standing in the parlour with glasses in hand and toasting our good fortune. I rather imagine the staff was undoubtedly doing the same in the kitchen. All that remains of them is a larder full of marmalade. Well whatever decorating was accomplished at the Robinson home, I sincerely hope that they enjoy it. I cannot imagine what it would have been to endure all that time with them at home. The fights!
Beyond that happy news, I also wish to confirm that I am set to lease Netherfield beginning at Michaelmas. I am delighted and excited to at last take this definite step forward in fulfilling Father’s dreams. I hereby invite your wonderful family to join us there. At last I have the opportunity to return the gift of hospitality. And will not Mrs. Darcy enjoy seeing her sister and perhaps her parents again? Well, I leave that for your private discussion.
I look forward more than I can say to your arrival in town. I hope to steal a dance or two during the Season from the lovely ladies of Darcy House. By the way, rumours abound about the new master of Rosings. De Bourgh should be wary, they have the prey in their sights! Perhaps after I have Netherfield I will be just as desired? Oh, a young man’s dream!
Please offer my love to all three of your ladies. I miss you all.
Sincerely yours,
Charles Bingley, Esq.
Darcy shook his head and set down the letter. “No mention of Miss Martin.”
“Are you surprised?” Elizabeth smiled and he shrugged. “I imagine that if their paths crossed it would be different. They simply live in such different worlds. He would have to seek her out.”
“And that is unlikely when he undoubtedly has the attention of many ladies. He is not as undesired as he claims; word is travelling about him as well. What do you think of his warning to de Bourgh?”
“It is perfectly reasonable that he would attract attention, however I believe that his heart is set on course.” Elizabeth laughed when his eyes rolled. “I cannot resist the nautical terms.”