Netherfield Park Quarantined

by Schertz, Melanie

  “Well, Georgiana, I would dearly love to hear you play some more. What I heard when I entered the room was wonderful.” Elizabeth laid the book upon the sofa and covered it with a nearby pillow. Though Georgiana had brought it wrapped, Elizabeth wished to keep it concealed as much as she could in case someone entered the room.

  Two hours later, Darcy found his two favorite ladies together, enjoying practicing music together. It was a sight which warmed his heart to the core. ~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

  Chapter 20 Darcy smiled from his seat in the carriage, hearing his wife’s gasp as she saw Pemberley for the first time. “William, this must be a dream, as I have never seen a more perfectly designed estate in my life. The way nature seems untouched by man, and the house appears to have always belonged there; oh, William, truly this is my new home?”

  “Yes, my love, this is Pemberley. You are Mistress of all that you see. If you think it is beautiful now, wait until the springtime and summer, when everything comes to life and the flowers are in bloom.”

  “You have brought me to paradise, my dearest William. How am I ever to be Mistress of such splendor, I do not know, though I am sure I will be more than pleased to live here.” Elizabeth could not tear her eyes from the vision of her new home. Finally, turning in her seat, she embraced her husband.

  Georgiana sat quietly across from her brother and sister. She was thrilled to see Elizabeth’s reaction to Pemberley, as the estate was the one place in the world which brought comfort and joy to Darcy. He felt a part of the land, and had always been able to relax when at Pemberley.

  The carriage finally arrived in front of the main house and Darcy jumped down as soon as the door opened. He handed down his sister, who instantly hurried up the stairs to Mrs Reynolds, who was standing at the open door. Georgiana embraced the housekeeper, placing a kiss on the lady’s cheek. She then stood to Mrs Reynold’s side as they awaited Elizabeth’s first step onto Pemberley ground.

  Darcy turned back to his wife, holding out his hand to her. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage and onto the land of her husband’s family. Taking her hand and guiding her up the steps, Darcy was quite proud of himself when he introduced his beloved wife to the housekeeper who had been quite instrumental in raising him and Georgiana. “Elizabeth, this is the lady you have heard so much about, Mrs Reynolds. Mrs Reynolds, it is my delight to introduce you to the most wonderful woman, who has stolen my heart, Mrs Elizabeth Darcy.”

  “Mrs Darcy, it is a joy to finally meet you. I have heard so many things from Master William and Miss Georgiana, I feel as if I have known you for a long time.” The housekeeper gushed her praises.

  “Oh, my, I do not know if I will be able to live up to half the praises my husband gives me, let alone what Georgiana has claimed. I pray you will forgive me if I fail to meet standards. I am sure it will take me forever to learn my duties to an estate as grand as this.”

  “Mrs Darcy, you only need to take on the duties you wish. I have been seeing to things since the previous Mrs Darcy passed on, and I am quite certain you will settle in nicely after having some time to spend with your husband. At first, just learning which hallway is which can be daunting. Take all the time you need before jumping in to duties.”

  “Mrs Reynolds, you are a wonder, just as I had been told. It is an honor to have you as our housekeeper. I know my husband is pleased to have such an amazing housekeeper, and he considers you part of the family.” Elizabeth smiled as the elder lady blushed. “And, as you refer to my husband as Master William and our sister as Miss Georgiana, I cannot abide by being referred to by you as Mrs Darcy. Let us see, what would be fitting. Mrs Lizzy? Mistress Lizzy? Mistress Elizabeth is far too long and formal. Fitzwilliam was shortened to William, so I see no reason you cannot refer to me as Lizzy rather than Elizabeth.”

  Darcy smiled as he watched the look of honor which grew upon Mrs Reynolds’ expression.

  “Oh, dear me, Mrs Darcy, it would not be proper to speak to you so.” Mrs Reynolds stated. “On the contrary, Mrs Reynolds.” Darcy interjected. “My wife is correct in her assessment of the situation. Though you have known me since I was near four, and Georgiana since birth, as my wife stated, you are a part of our family. It is only right for you to refer to her as she requested.”

  Mrs Reynolds reached out a hand to pat Darcy’s cheek lightly. “I am so pleased to see you have married a young lady with the same sort of kind heart as yours. Very well, Mistress Lizzy it is.” The housekeeper turned her eyes back to the new Mistress of Pemberley. “It is an honor and a pleasure to have you here and married to my dear boy.”

  ~~ ** ~~ Darcy had escorted his wife to their rooms, noticing a bath was already being drawn in her dressing chamber. “Well, it appears you will be taken care of first.” He laughed.

  Elizabeth was confused. “What do you mean, William?” “Usually there is a bath being drawn in my rooms when I arrive. As you see, yours is being drawn first, and I am now forced to wait my turn.” He said with a smile.

  “My poor, dear husband, the trials you are forced to suffer on my account.” Elizabeth said, attempting not to laugh out loud. “You had best be kind, my love, or I will leave you to find your way through the maze of hallways. One word from me and none of the staff will assist you in finding your way about the house and you will be lost for hours.” Darcy teased as he placed a kiss on his wife’s nose. “Now, behave yourself and I will see you shortly.” He turned her around and swatted her behind lightly as she giggled.

  Elizabeth entered the dressing chambers to see Hannah directing two other maids in their duties in preparing the bath for the new Mistress, as Hannah had seen to laying out fresh clothes and toweling for her. “Ah, Mistress, the bath shall be ready in a moment. Let us get you out of these dusty clothes so you can enjoy a nice long soak in the tub. I added the jasmine scent this time, as I overheard the Master saying he enjoyed the fragrance.”

  “Thank you Hannah. You take such good care of me. And which gown have you chosen for me to wear?” Seeing the dark blue gown, Elizabeth nodded her head in approval. Once she had undressed, Elizabeth stepped into the tub which was now perfectly filled for her with piping hot water and fragrance.

  “I will leave you to relax, Mistress. I will return in ten minutes or so.” Hannah stated as she left the room by way of the servants’ door. Several moments passed by when Elizabeth heard the door behind her open and close. She had been resting her head against a towel on the back of the tub, with a cloth covering her eyes, so, rather than look, she assumed the person who was at the door was Hannah, checking on her. Elizabeth nearly screamed when she suddenly felt lips placing kisses on her neck.

  “William!” She exclaimed as she yanked off the cloth from her eyes and gazed at her husband. “What do you think you are doing, scaring the wits out of me?”

  “I told Foster not to bother with filling a tub for me, as I thought to enjoy this one with you. It will save our servants from having to carry so many buckets of water, and I believe it will be ultimately more enjoyable for us.” Darcy said as he dropped his dressing gown and scooted his wife forward enough for him to climb in the tub behind her.

  “The tub is not made for two adults, my dear husband.” Elizabeth giggled. “Ah, but I am quite pleased with the tight squeeze of being here with you, my luscious minx.” Darcy explained as he picked up the bar of soap and the cloth he took from Elizabeth and began to wash her. Any tension she had was quickly melted away by the movement of his hands roaming freely over her body.

  The door from the servants’ hall began to open, as Hannah had returned. “Do not enter, Hannah. I have assistance, you may have the rest of the evening off.” Elizabeth called out quickly. The door closed quickly as Elizabeth found herself attempting to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Darcy, too, was trying desperately not to laugh at the situation, and soon, the couple returned to their bathing.

  As Elizabeth began to wash her husband, she chuckled at
the thought of her poor maid nearly finding the couple in such a shocking situation. “I guess Foster was unable to locate Hannah before she returned to assist me. Poor, dear Hannah, she would have had an attack of apoplexy from such a sight.”

  “I was grateful you had the presence of mind to call out to her, as I was too caught up in my pleasure to think of what to say when I heard the door opening.” Darcy stated, his head relaxing against the back of the tub, while his wife tended to his needs.

  Elizabeth continued to wash her husband, her hand gliding gently over his body, until he could stand it no longer. Standing up, he reached down to take hold of his wife’s slippery, wet body and scooped her into his arms. Carrying her to the bed, Darcy laughed as she scolded him with regards to their being too wet, and that the sheets would be soaked.

  “My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, I do not care a lick for the sheets. I wish to ravage you, here and now, and it matters not to me if the bed is wet from our freshly bathed bodies.” He stated as he deposited her on her bed, nearly pouncing on her playfully.

  No one in the house saw the couple the rest of the night, and no one entered their rooms, with the exception of the maids who added to the fire and brought the refreshments requested to the room.

  ~~ ** ~~

  Over the following fortnight, Darcy and Elizabeth would disappear together to investigate more areas of the grand house of Pemberley. Maids and footmen would discover the couple coming from different rooms throughout the house, sometimes making adjustments to their clothing as they were making their way to other locations.

  Elizabeth found her study of duties to be pleasant enough, though she preferred to spend time with her husband in his own. After a week of her attempting to utilize the sofa in Darcy’s study to sort her correspondence, Darcy requested another desk brought in to the study for Elizabeth. His reasoning was that his wife was learning her duties as Mistress, and this arrangement would be easier on her when she had questions for him. The servants all found this to be humorous, as it was obvious to all that their Master and Mistress preferred to be together.

  A letter arrived announcing the wedding date for Bingley and Jane. They had set the date for March first, and they asked Darcy and Elizabeth to stand up with them. Bingley also asked his friend and future brother in law to begin a search of potential estates in the area near Pemberley which were for sale. Though he was pleased with Netherfield, the nearness to his future in laws, especially Mrs Bennet, was beginning to wear on his nerves. Bingley also knew how close Jane and Elizabeth had always been, and felt it would be more comfortable to live near her favorite sister and his best friend.

  ~~ ** ~~ Near the middle of February, Elizabeth was finally convinced she was with child. She had thought she was, and had confirmed the symptoms she was discovering with Mrs Reynolds. The babe’s existence would be known for certain once the quickening had happened, and Elizabeth decided to wait until she felt it before announcing to her husband. Mrs Reynolds agreed with Elizabeth, Darcy would be a nervous father in waiting and would be overprotective of his beloved wife.

  Feeling the fluttering in her abdomen, Elizabeth was thrilled with the movement of the babe inside her. She hurried downstairs and to her husband’s study. As she reached the door, she knocked before opening it, not waiting for the call for her to enter. Darcy was seated at his desk, working on his ledger, and looked up to see his wife enter the room.

  “Dearest, is everything well?” He asked as he stood up and began to walk towards her.

  “Everything is wonderful, William. So very…” Suddenly, the world began to spin and then, everything went black. Fortunately, Darcy was near enough to stretch out his arms to catch his wife’s limp body, keeping her from striking the ground. Frantically, Darcy called out for Mrs Reynolds to come and for someone to send for the physician in Lambton. He placed Elizabeth on the sofa, lifting her hand to place the palm against his cheek.

  “Lizzy, my love, please do not leave me. Please, dearest, you must be well.” Darcy choked out the words as he attempted to keep tears from flowing freely down his cheeks.

  Mrs Reynolds hurried into the study, nearly breathless. “Master William, what has happened?” “My wife came in quickly and appeared to be excited about something, and suddenly, she collapsed. I am not sure what happened. I sent a footman to Lambton for Mr Walsh. Has she shown any signs of being ill? Have I missed something?”

  Knowing her Mistress’s suspicions of her condition, Mrs Reynolds could only assume the fainting was related to being with child. “I am sure she will be fine, Master William. Perhaps she did not eat enough at breakfast. You were already in your study when your wife came down to eat. She has been busy preparing for your departure to her sister’s wedding. I am sure between being busy and not eating enough, she just became faint. Mr Walsh will most likely find she needs to relax and eat better meals.”

  “She has never been so fragile, not since I have known her.” Darcy stated, his eyes could not look anywhere but at his beautiful wife. “She is a strong lady, the only time I have seen her ill was in Ireland. Not even during the epidemic at Netherfield did she become ill. Something must be seriously wrong with her. I pray she will not leave me, she is my life.”

  After what seemed like hours, but was only half of one, Mr Walsh arrived. “Mr Darcy, it is a pleasure to see you. I was told your wife has taken ill.”

  “My wife came hurrying into this very room, and then, suddenly, she fainted in my arms. She has not opened her eyes since.” Darcy stated, remaining at her side.

  “Well, my dear boy, I am sure it is not anything serious. Ladies can be quite delicate at times. Now, scoot from this room so I may examine her. Mrs Reynolds, would you remain with me?”

  Darcy was reluctant to remove from the room, but finally did as he was told by the physician he had known all of his life. He paced in the hallway outside his study, never stepping more than a few steps past the door.

  When the door opened, Mr Walsh stepped out, shaking his head. “My dear boy, your life will never be the same again. You must see that she eats properly, and rests whenever needed. Mrs Darcy will become fatigued much easier for the next six months or so.”

  His heart nearly shattered as Darcy listened to the physician’s words. “Six months? Is that all the time we will have?” “Yes, now that your wife has felt the quickening, I believe she is a little over three months along. Do not fear. My own wife stated she felt like time flew by, and yet, it seemed to take forever before she was able to hold our son in her arms.”

  Finally, the elderly man’s words sunk into Darcy’s mind. A babe was coming. Elizabeth had felt the quickening. In six months, he would be holding his child in his arms. A sudden shout of joy was heard throughout the house.

  Darcy rushed into the study, and seeing his wife was awake and smiling, he scooped her into his arms and twirled about. “I am going to be a father?” He asked her. Seeing her eyes sparkling as she nodded her head, Darcy began placing gentle kisses all over his wife’s head and neck. “I AM GOING TO BE A FATHER!” He shouted to the world.

  All the while, Mrs Reynolds and other members of the household staff gathered, watching with joy, as the news of the future generation of Darcys was proclaimed by the soon to be father. Everyone was pleased, as this gave Pemberley yet another generation of Darcys to care for the estate.

  ~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

  Chapter 21 The Darcy family arrived at Netherfield a few days before the wedding of Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet. They would stay at Netherfield until after the wedding breakfast, when they would leave for London. Darcy had decided to spend a fortnight in Town, shopping for items for redecorating the nursery and to prepare for the baby.

  As her husband rambled on of all the items they would have to shop for, Elizabeth began to laugh. “William, I have never seen a man who was so excited in the preparations for a baby. How is it you know what the babe will require?”

  “I have spent many years raising Georgiana, and I did
spend a great many hours in the nursery when she was a baby.” Darcy stated proudly. When his wife gave him a look with an arched eyebrow, Darcy blushed lightly as he confessed. “I spoke with Mrs Reynolds and had her make a list of most of the items which will be needed for a babe. It has been a long time since there was a new Darcy babe, so I am sure that we will need many new items. And, I am sure, there are many new items for babies. I intend to check them all out, and find what we will wish to have for our child. And I intend to have a physician living at Pemberley when you go into your confinement. The midwife is fine, but I wish to have a physician there just in case he is needed.”

  “William, my mother birthed five daughters with no problems. My Grandma Gardiner gave birth to three children with no problems. I come from hardy stock, birthing children is not a problem in my family.”

  “Please, my love, remember that this child is part Darcy. My mother had a difficult time with childbirth. Mother had five miscarriages between my birth and Georgiana’s. Her mother lost six babies between the three children she was able to carry. My father’s mother could not conceive again after giving birth to my father. The birth of Georgiana ultimately caused my mother’s death, as her body was so weak from previously losing a babe and she never recovered. I will not take chances with your health. Everything I can do to prevent harm to you and my child, I will do. You, my beautiful, delightful, impertinent wife, are my world. Do not think for a moment I will give you up easily.”