Just to Hear 'I Love You': An Alternate Tale of Jane Austen's 'Pride & Prejudice'

by Sarah Johnson

  “Joseph? Is there a problem?”

  He heard his master’s voice and was relieved. “No, s’r. ’m sorry sir. Jus’ comin’ from Lambton.”

  “You were walking rather oddly. Is there something amiss?”

  “Nothin’ to wor’y ya wit’, sir.”

  “Very well,” he said with a nod as he continued on to the stables. His wife was not the only one giving birth at this time—his prized mare was as well. Having spent his day pacing the floors of his study, he was willing to endure anything to stop from agonizing over what might be taking place above stairs with his wife and child. He followed the noise coming from the back stall and was not at all shocked to see his cousin in the thick of things, his coat tossed aside onto the stone wall of a nearby empty stall.

  “There you are,” Fitz said, moving over so Darcy could enter the stall.

  “I see things have not changed. You still fancy getting your hands in on anything to do with horses.”

  Fitz chuckled. “Let me get washed up and I can keep you busy.”

  “Actually, I thought I might be useful out here.”

  “You do know this gets messy, do you not?”

  “This is not the first birth I have seen, Fitz.”

  “Peering from the fence as a colt is born in the middle of the field is not the same as being in the thick of it.” When his cousin glared at him, he shrugged his shoulders, “If it will keep you occupied for a time, then who am I to tell you no. You might want to remove your coat and waistcoat. I doubt the mare will care whether it is silk, and I dare say your valet would not be pleased if it must be replaced.”

  Darcy chuckled as he unbuttoned and removed the items, folding them neatly and laying them over next to his cousin’s coat. “What can I do,” he asked as he rolled up his shirtsleeves.

  “Wash up,” the head groom called out from the other side of the stall. “O’re there,” he pointed to a table where a bowl of water, a cake of soap, and some linens were laid out.

  “My hands are clean,” he said in his Master of Pemberley voice.

  “S’r, beggin your pardon, but n’one comes in ‘ere wit’ot washin’ up first.” When the Master did not move, he continued, “Me record wit’ births speaks for itse’f, sir. ‘Tis my way wit’ e’eryone.”

  Fitz patted his cousin on the shoulder, “He has an excellent point, Darce. My hands could stand a wash as well,” he pulled his cousin over to the table, getting his own hands wet and lathering up before handing the cake of soap to his cousin. He quietly replied, “Whether this does any good or not, it would not do to have you thrown from the stables right now. Best wash up.”

  Darcy scrubbed his hands, up to his elbows, then the two returned to the stall.

  “Thank ye, sir,” the groom said with a bow of his head. When the mare gave a whinny, he cried out, “‘Tis abo’t to get messy, sir.”

  The next hour was a blur of activity, and by the time the two cousins left the stables, Darcy did not even remember the offense he had felt at the groom’s insistence that he wash. They returned to the house and went to change their clothes. Darcy was just coming out of his room when he saw Mrs Reynolds enter the hall, a maid following behind with a bucket of water.

  “May I speak with you, Mrs Reynolds?”

  The housekeeper turned to the girl. “Go on in with the water. I will be in shortly. Let Mrs Wilson know it is freshly boiled, and give her this,” she said as she pulled a cake of soap from her pocket and handed it to the girl. When she was gone, Mrs Reynolds turned back to Mr Darcy. “What can I help you with, sir?”

  “Why have you a need for water and soap?”

  “Mrs Wilson will not hear of anyone entering the birthing room without having first washed. She says it was a practice taught in a lecture she attended from a well known doctor, and has since begun practicing it with all her patients. She also insists the windows remain open to give the room fresh air. I must say, her practices are rather odd, but Mrs Darcy is insistent upon having Mrs Wilson as her midwife.”

  Hmmm, he thought, perhaps the groom is correct in his assertion if the medical community is beginning to embrace such a custom for patients as well. He addressed the housekeeper, “If my wife is happy, and she and the babe remain healthy, then maybe there is something to Mrs Wilson’s methods?”

  “Perhaps. What was it you needed, sir?”

  “Just your reassurance, I suppose.”

  He looked like the boy who had lost his mother all those years ago and the housekeeper felt her heart break at the look in his eyes. “Mrs Darcy is in good hands.”

  “Will she see me?”

  “Sir! The birthing room is no place for a gentleman.”

  “I just need to see her; only for a minute.”

  “I will speak with Mrs Wilson—it would not do to upset her.”

  “Thank you,” he answered as she walked away. He paced the hallway until a few minutes later when he saw Elizabeth’s door open and Mrs Reynolds nod that he would be permitted in. With a quick stride he was at his wife’s side nearly immediately. He knelt beside her, taking her hand in his, “Are you well? Please tell me you are, my Elizabeth?”

  A pain came over her and she squeezed his hand as she tried to control her breathing. The midwife came up to the other side of the laboring mother, urging her to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. She then showed Mr Darcy how to comfort his wife by stroking her stomach in a circular pattern.

  When the pain had subsided, she replied, “I know it is not the usual practice for gentlemen to be admitted to the birthing room, but I am never one to turn a father away. I have found the mother is usually calmer with him at her side.”

  “You do not mind my being here then?” Darcy asked.

  “No sir, I do not. As long as your wife is doing well, I will not ask you to leave.”

  Elizabeth smiled, “I must say, I prefer you by my side as well.”

  He squeezed her hand, kissing her fingers, “Then by your side I shall be.”

  The next few hours were agonizingly slow for Darcy, who had to watch as his wife’s body was riddled with painful contractions. By the time the babe was ready to be born, he was eager to step out of the way and let the ladies take over.

  With Elizabeth in the proper position in the birthing chair, and with urging from the midwife to push, Darcy watched as his daughter was born. He was so shocked at the miracle he had been privy to that he was glad to be led to a chair to sit. When his daughter was placed within his arms, he fell in love with everything from her beautiful eyes to her dark curly hair. She began to fuss, her hand waving around, so he reached out to touch her palm, her tiny fingers wrapping around his as she calmed. He smiled at the resemblance she held to his wife. It was as if he were holding a younger version of Elizabeth in his arms. He could not be any happier then he was in this moment with his wife beside him and their daughter in his arms.

  When Elizabeth was cleaned up and settled in the bed, Darcy moved to sit beside her where he could hold both his wife and his daughter in his arms together. Mrs Reynolds showed the others from the room and the new family was left alone to rest after such an ordeal.

  Georgiana and Fitz sat alone in the sitting room. He could tell she was tired, but she refused to go to bed. Aside from the way she acted, Fitz could tell she cared for Elizabeth’s safety. Shifting on the sofa into a better position, he said, “Georgiana, come join me over here. You will be more comfortable.”

  She was about to decline, but the sofa did look inviting. “Thank you,” she said as she sat down, leaning heavily into her cousin’s shoulder.

  He drew his hand around her shoulders and pulled her head down to rest on the pillow. She easily acquiescence, though she stated, “I do not wish to go to sleep.”

  Fitz chuckled. Yes, she truly does care. “Are your trunks packed for your trip next week?”

  She huffed, drawing her arms up to her chest and her feet closer to her body, “Why must I go back with Aunt Edith?”


  “Georgiana, we have been over this. We will not go over it again. You are going.”

  “Well if I must go, at least it is in the summer when I can still ride and be out of doors. Last winter was quite droll.”

  “Your aunt said in her latest letter that her mare has given birth. She plans to take it to Tattersall’s next year when it is weaned.”

  Georgiana perked up, “Really? How wonderful! Has she named it yet?”

  Fitz patted her on hair, “No, she says you are much better at that and she will leave you to find the proper name for this foal.”

  “What color is it?”

  He chuckled, “I know nothing more. You will just have to find out when you get there. Then you must write and tell me what name you have chosen.”

  She looked up at her cousin, “I will do that.”

  It was several hours later when Mary finally came into the room. She smiled at the sight of her husband asleep against the corner of the sofa, and Georgiana curled up beside him. It was just as she suspected a daughter would be with a father. She walked over behind them and gently kissed her husband’s cheek, rousing him.

  He smiled when her face came into focus. “Has Elizabeth had the babe?”

  “Yes,” she signed. “It is a healthy baby girl.”

  Georgiana began to move and as soon as she noticed Mary’s presence, she asked, “How is she? How is my brother? Is everything well?”

  Fitz put a calming hand on her arm, “All is well, Georgiana. Elizabeth has had a girl, and they are both doing well.”

  She squealed and bounced on the sofa in her excitement, “A niece! Oh how wonderful! I am now an aunt! Can you imagine? Aunt Georgiana! Oh it has such a wonderful sound to it, does it not?”

  Fitz leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, “Yes it does. Now then, Aunt Georgiana, you best get up to bed so you can see the babe for yourself tomorrow.”

  She quickly left the room, giving a final smile to both Fitz and Mary.

  Fitz chuckled at his cousin, then, when he was alone with his wife, he reached for Mary’s hand, drawing her around the sofa and down onto his lap. She sank into him, resting her head on his chest in clear exhausted. Fitz reached for her hand and together with his own, he began to caress her expanding belly.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes before Mary stayed his hand. “If you continue, I am likely to fall asleep here. Let us retire while I can still walk up the stairs.”

  Fitz kissed her forehead, then helped her stand and they went upstairs and to their room.

  By the time the neighborhood broke their fast the next morning, news of the birth of Miss Rose Amelia Darcy was spread far and wide.

  Mary felt relief at being able to be a part of the experience before her own time came. Mrs Wilson was good about explaining exactly what was taking place, and Mrs Reynolds made sure Mary stood in the proper place and was not in the way. They even allowed Mabel, Mary’s personal maid, to be present to sign to her mistress when it was necessary. Sometimes being deaf in a hearing world was quite difficult, but Mary was shocked at the ease with which the events of that day unfolded. Later, when she and her husband were sharing their stories of their day, she was happy to find that she no longer feared what was to come for them as well in about five months time.

  Mrs Edith Darcy visited Pemberley for the first week of the babe’s life, celebrating her arrival with the family at the christening, then she returned to Havendale with Georgiana. Her niece was not happy to be sent from Pemberley, but without any other choice, she acceded to her family’s wishes. She did find a small amount of anticipation in being able to name the foal when she arrived with her aunt. The Fitzwilliams returned to Rose Bluff as well, leaving the new family alone at Pemberley.

  Maria Lucas excitedly awaited news from Mary about Elizabeth’s confinement. She dearly wished to be there, but knew it was not possible. When the mistress finally returned, the two could be seen together, conversing about the birth for days. Mary was able to give Maria some insights she learned from the midwife, and she delivered a letter Elizabeth had written. Although Maria did not look forward to her own confinement with much anticipation, the letter did assuage some of her fears of the process. She also felt better knowing Mrs Annesley was to return for her confinement. The dear lady had made quite the impression on Maria, and she spoke often of the care she provided and love she showed during the days they spent traveling to Derbyshire.

  Fitz was working in his study, watching out the window as his wife and their guest sat in the garden enjoying the summer sunshine. The two had become quite the odd pair, Maria even learning to sign so they could speak with more ease. Sometimes, however, they chose to write out their conversation, as they clearly were doing today. He saw Mary write something in her notebook and hand it to Maria, who wrote her own answer before returning it to Mary. Shaking his head and chuckling at them, he looked back down at the papers strewn across the table in front of him. He did not enjoy this part of being a land owner, but he could not be happier to be in such a position, with a wonderful wife with whom to share his life and a child on the way, instead of being out on the battlefield somewhere or possibly even injured or dead.

  “Sir?”

  “Yes Mrs Lewis?” he answered the housekeeper.

  “You have a visitor,” she said with a puzzled look on her face. This was the first time they had received a visitor since no invitations were sent because of their guest.

  Fitz was taken aback until he saw Bingley step into the doorway. “Bingley! Come in, come in. It is a surprise, to be sure, but a pleasant one. Mrs Lewis, could you bring us some refreshments?”

  “Right away, sir,” she answered as she left to do as he bid.

  Bingley looked around the room, “I see you are settling in here. You are in need of some shelves,” he nodded at the books stacked on several surfaces and the floor around the room, “but otherwise it is quite the cozy space.”

  “We have recently changed a few of the rooms around, and this one was chosen as my study. The shelves are being fashioned now and should be delivered within the month. As you can see,” he pointed to the table at which he sat,” I am in need of a desk as well. We are giving quite the custom to the local carpentry shop.” He looked around the room, his eyes drawn to the bare windows. “I will leave the finer details to my wife. My cousin is to visit in about a month, and I am certain our wives will have drapes ordered before too long.”

  Mrs Lewis returned with the refreshments. Fitz quickly shuffled the papers around, clearing a place on the table for the tray, then thanked and dismissed the housekeeper.

  “I am sorry I cannot offer you a more comfortable seat,” he said, indicating the two chairs at the table.

  Bingley nodded, “It will do nicely; I thank you.”

  The two sat, Fitz leaving the chair facing away from the window to Bingley. He breathed a little easier when he saw movement out the window and realized it was Mrs Lewis speaking with the two ladies. They then stood and walked off to the far end of the garden, out of sight from this prospect. “So what brings you to Derbyshire?”

  “I was compelled to come by Darcy, who cannot stop talking of his beautiful daughter, and since you told me before to stop by here any time I was in the neighborhood, well... here I am.”

  Fitz remembered extending the offer, but it was well before they knew they would have their guest staying with them. “How are your sisters?”

  “I just received a letter from Hurst saying Caroline is being courted, and he expects to be approached for a private meeting very soon, perhaps even this week.” Bingley leaned back in the chair, “The freedom that knowledge gives me is unimaginable!”

  Fitz chuckled, “Yes, I dare say your sister has been quite the burden.”

  “I tell you Fitz, if she would give up this notion that she is worthy of marrying a peer, my life would be much easier.”

  “I take it this beau of hers is not a peer then?”

  “Who knows? Hurst does not gi
ve a name, and honestly, I doubt I would deny anyone’s suit, even if it was your brother.”

  Fitz laughed aloud, “Now there is a match I would have never seen coming!”

  “We would be like brothers, so it is not as if everything would be horrid if that were true.”

  “Well, in all seriousness, Darcy has heard from my father that Croome Court is in need of an influx of money, so you might want to keep an eye on your sister. Her £20,000 dowry would be quite the lure for my father and brother.”

  “I will keep that in mind, but really, it is up to Hurst as I am not in Town right now. Caroline is of the age that anything I say would be disregarded anyway.” Bingley stood and went over to the window, looking out to examine the garden. “You have quite the view here.”

  “Yes; my wife’s love of flowers is what made me choose this particular room for my study. I can easily look outside to see where she prefers to be when I am required to be in here about my business.”

  Bingley chuckled, patting his friend on the shoulder, “Oh, ho, you do have it bad, Fitz.”

  He stood as well, “I only hope you too will one day meet your perfect match.”

  “Ahhh, now that is something I would like to happen soon.”

  “You have now decided you are old enough.”

  He began to pace around the room, looking at different items as he spoke, “I know I am still young, but I am old enough to want to be settled. I hoped with leasing Netherfield Park last year that I would have found a neighborhood in which to remain, but with everything that took place, I just do not see that happening. I have let the lease go. Now I must find another estate, and this area has drawn my attention. I would not mind being within a days’ journey of Pemberley and Rose Bluff.”

  “I know nothing of the estates available around here. Have you spoken with Darcy?”