by Wells, Linda
“Where did their sweet papas go?” Audrey laughed. “Oh Robert, relax! She is not marrying today!”
“I think they are remembering all the times they spent playing with their toys in this room.” Elizabeth sighed. Gradually the dance floor filled with guests, and still the fathers danced unhappily on. “Come love, where is your smile? Rosa needs you to smile.” Elizabeth whispered urgently. Darcy’s face was blank and she knew exactly what he was feeling. Rosalie was trying her best to tease him out of his sadness, but not even his little girl could succeed. As they spun by she looked worriedly at her mother. “Oh Will.” Elizabeth stepped forward so that she was directly in his line of sight. He focussed on her and she smiled, caressing the locket that held curls from all of their babies and her husband. Darcy visibly relaxed, and his lips lifted. He turned with Rosalie and looking into his little girl’s eyes, smiled at last.
“There you are, Papa!” Rosalie said with relief. “What would we do without Mama?”
“I do not care to know.” He laughed softly. “That smile is a blessing.”
“Oh Rosa, you won!” Annabel giggled.
“Won what?” Fitzwilliam startled out of his trance.
“Are you betting?” Stephen demanded of Margaret.
“Oh really, Papa, with you constantly wagering on the silliest things …”
“I am a man.” He glared.
“Well …what …what was the bet?” Singleton asked Grace.
She blushed and looked at him shyly. “Which one of you would smile first while we danced.”
“Rosa!” Darcy laughed fully and spun her around. “You had faith in me?”
“I certainly hope that you bet on me.” Fitzwilliam asked Annabel.
“Of course I did, Papa, but you lost.”
“Yes, he did.” Darcy grinned.
“Watch it, Darcy.” He growled.
“And what is the prize?” Stephen demanded.
“A trip to the pastry shop for ice cream.” Rosalie told Darcy who beamed at her. “I knew you would like that, Papa.”
“I do!” He chuckled and his eyes twinkled. “You know my weaknesses.”
“Well it was that or books, soooo …” Rosalie giggled and smiled triumphantly at Elizabeth who wore a glowing smile. “It is for all of the papas and daughters, just a day to ourselves.”
“No mamas?” Darcy looked to the ladies lined up and watching them.
“I think they will be glad to be rid of us.” Fitzwilliam grinned as he matched Darcy’s moves, step for step.
“I have no doubt of that, after all the trouble they have suffered leading up the presentation and this ball …” Stephen joined them and smiled at Alicia. “Look at her, she knows!”
Singleton studied their wives and was soon in stride with the others, then laughed when he noted Audrey’s nod. “They always know.”
“What did Eva call us once?” Darcy asked Fitzwilliam as they passed the mothers in tandem.
The four ladies all looked at each other and laughed, calling out together, “Idiots, but ours!”
“All is right with the world again.” Georgiana breathed as guests all around watched the family with reactions ranging from admiration to disbelief. “Look at them, all dancing together now! It is a shame that Abigail is missing this. It is such a special day for the family.”
“She will dance soon, and with so many children between us, there will be many more days like this.” Bingley laughed to see the fathers challenging each other and posturing again, and smiled back to Georgiana. “I remember dancing with another Miss Darcy not so very long ago at her coming out ball. If I am not mistaken, she was wearing precisely this same necklace.”
Georgiana laughed and touched the jewels glittering around her throat. “You remembered!”
“Oh, if there is one thing that I have learned from your brother, it is remembering the significance of symbols. In your case it is jewellery that marks events in your life. I remember a certain butterfly …”
“Well when my daughter receives that on her seventeenth birthday, she will certainly know what it means.” Georgiana said decidedly.
“And your husband will stand out of the way.” Bingley chuckled. “It is at times like this that your blood is truly on display.”
“You have always liked teasing me, Mr. Bingley.”
“I suppose it is just my nature. Ask your sister, I always teased the girls I like. I remember when Abbey thought that I loved Elizabeth …” His smile faltered a little and he looked back out at the dancers. “I cannot wait to dance with my daughter at her coming out ball. I will not be like this lot and be scared; I will be smiling like a fool.”
“I can believe that, and she will be just as happy.” Georgiana smiled gently up at him. “I thought she would do for Asher one day. She reminds me of Elizabeth, so lively, and he is so like Fitzwilliam.” Seeing his surprise she started to laugh. “Oh that is right, you are the matchmaker in this circle.”
“No, that is your sister.” He smiled at Elizabeth, who was talking with Kitty about the painting she envisioned. “I cannot wait to see what she and the ladies do about all these children growing up. The next decade will be very busy.” Laughing, he nodded towards Kitty as she drank in the scene. “Many pictures will be drawn. I wonder if Evans will ever dance with her, she will be so busy.”
“Oh he will get his dances.” Louisa walked up to them. “She just wants to talk it out so she will remember everything. Her husband will see things she forgets. I am sure that each family will have a new oil painting waiting for them when they return home in July.”
“Why are you not dancing?”
“I will. Gerald just has to get his courage up.” She smiled. “One will be more than enough for us both.”
“Robinson and Lydia though …” Bingley laughed to see them whirling around and grinning at each other. “She will have him spinning all night, pregnant or no.”
“She is so good for him.” Georgiana smiled and passed her hand over her baby. “But far less cautious than me.”
“Well if she goes into labour, Darcy can deliver it, so there is no problem at all.”
“Heaven forbid, in the middle of the ball?” Louisa clucked. “I think that his days as a midwife are over.”
The dance ended at last and reluctantly, Darcy handed Rosalie off to the first young man brave enough to approach. He kissed her cheek and glared menacingly at the boy, then walked off to stand with Elizabeth, taking her hand and entwining their fingers without a moments’ hesitation.
“You were wonderful.” She said softly and smiled at him.
“It was so hard.”
“But once you smiled, it seemed to be easy.”
“Once you made me smile it was easier.” He looked down at her. “Thank you, love. I could feel how nervous she was and I just could not muster my courage. I will miss her so much.”
Elizabeth sighed. “She will not be gone for years, I am sure of it. Rosa wants to marry someone just like her papa; she is spoiled by watching our marriage, and will expect so much from her own. I am afraid she is about to find out how unique we are.”
“She deserves the very best.” He squeezed her hand and took a steadying breath. “Will I feel this way with the boys?”
“No.” Elizabeth leaned on him while they watched Rosalie dance, and her voice broke. “It will be me feeling so lost then.”
Darcy let go of her hand and slipping his arm around her waist, drew her close. “Dearest Elizabeth, then I will be the one to help you.” He looked down, saying that he loved her without words, when they both jumped. “Did … did you feel that, love?” He looked to where his hand rested on her belly and back to her wide eyes.
“Yes.” She whispered and put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, Will, it is true.” Tears began rolling down her cheeks. He laughed, and wiped his eyes while she laughed and hugged him. Joy radiating from them both, he picked her up and ignoring the stares of the crowd, spun her around and kissed her lips
.
Darcy searched his pockets for a handkerchief, finding nothing just as she did. “I … I will order more in the morning! We will need them, I think!” They laughed and leaned back into each other’s arms; Darcy rested his cheek on top of her head and watched his daughter dancing with another young man and smiling at her embraced parents. He returned her smile, and sighed. “I will be Papa again.”
The End
Notes
1 1 Corinthians 13, King James Version.
2 Robert Burns, “To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough,” 1785.
“But Mousie, you are not alone in proving foresight may be in vain, the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.”
3 “Jack and Gill”, The Original Mother Goose’s Melody, As First Issued by John Newbery, of London, 1760.
4 Robert Burns, “The Parting Kiss,” 1788.
5 Church of England. Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
6 6 Matthew 12, King James Version
7 Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel, 1532, translated by Sir Thomas Urquhart, 1653
8 Robert Burns, “On a Bank of Flowers”, 1789
9 William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4, 1601
10 Little Goody Two-Shoes, Author unknown, published by John Newbury, 1765
11 Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice, Chapter XVI of Volume III (Chap. 58), 1813.
12 “Hush a By Baby”, The Children’s Opera, Walter Crane, song origin unknown possibly 17th century, published 1877.
13 William Blake, “The Laughing Song”, Songs of Innocence and Experience, 1789.
14 Sood M, Sood S. Problems with teething in children. Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2010 [cited 2010 April 1];7. Art # 20. Available from: http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/diseasesandcondition/PEDIATRIC_DENTISTRY/teething.asp
15 Robert Burns, “My Wife’s a Wanton Wee Thing.” 1792.
16 Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter X, Volume 3, (chapter 52), 1813.
17 Siqnor Pasquali http://www.americanrevolution.org/songs/songs%20-%20love/ls1.jpg
18 William Shakespeare, Richard III, Act IV, Scene II, 1591.
19 William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act V, Scene III, 1591-1595.
20 William Shakespeare, Love’s Labours Lost, Act 2, Scene 1, 1588.
21 Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice, Volume I, Chapter V, 1813.
22 Philippians 3:13, King James Version
23 William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act 4, Scene 7, 1603-1606.
24 Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice, Chapter XVIII of Volume I (Chap. 18), 1813.
25 The Brothers Grimm, Little Red Riding Hood,Children’s and Household Tales, 1812.
26 The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs Patr., Asher, 5, Asher is regarded as the example of a virtuous man who with singlemindedness strives only for the general good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asher
Main Cast of Characters
Volume 3
The Darcys
Fitzwilliam b. 2 October 1784
Elizabeth b. 16 August 1791
Married 21 June 1809
Rosalie b. 10 April 1810
Georgiana b. April 1796
The Fitzwilliams
Lord (Henry) & Lady (Helen) of Matlock
Stephen (Viscount Layton) m Alicia
Margaret
Richard m. Evangeline
Anabelle
Audrey m. Robert Singleton
Grace
The de Bourghs
Lady Catherine
Mrs. de Bourgh
Captain Peter de Bourgh
Rev. Michael de Bourgh m. Charlotte Lucas
The Bennets
Thomas and Francine
Mary b. August 1793
Catherine b. August 1794
Lydia b. June 1796
The Gardiners
Edward and Marianne
The Bingleys
Louisa m. Gerald Hurst
Caroline m. Harris Robinson
Charles b. 1788
Others
Abbey Martin
August Martin
Jessica, Jill, and Emily Simkins
The Lucas’
Sir William Lucas and Lady Lucas
Robert m. Jane Bennet
Maria b. 1793
Two other brothers
Friends of the families
Jeffrey Harwick m. Laura Stewart
Lord and Lady Moreland (Stewart)
Daniel Stewart m. Julia Henley
Servants
Mrs. Somers (Nanny Kate)
Mr. Foster (butler, Darcy House)
Mrs. Mercer (housekeeper, Darcy House)
Mrs. Reynolds (Housekeeper Pemberley)
Mr. Nichols (Steward, Pemberley)
Adams (Darcy’s Valet)
Millie (Elizabeth’s maid)
Mr. Conrad (Darcy’s Secretary)
Bernard (Pemberley’s butler)
Mr. Green (Pemberley’s gardener)
Mrs. Robbins (wet nurse/nanny)
Mrs. Annesley (companion)
About the Author
Linda Wells worked for years in the environmental engineering world until she traded her career as a geographer for one as a mom to a challenging and really great son. After seeing the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, she bought a copy of Jane Austen’s masterpiece and fell under the spell of her unforgettable characters and story. Eventually, a story of her own started nagging at her until she finally wrote it down. It has become a wonderful and rewarding experience to stretch her imagination, and with ideas for new stories still nagging at her, she hopes to write many more.
If you would like to contact Linda, she would be happy to hear from you: [email protected] or you may find her on Facebook, as well.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue