by Kay Mares
Darcy’s features fall, and he begins to regret bringing the subject up. He thought Elizabeth would be ready to select a different horse so that they could resume their rides once more, but it seems as if Elizabeth has given up on the idea of riding altogether. Elizabeth sees his distress, and she goes to him to comfort him and tell him why she will not be riding anytime soon.
“My Love, I cannot ride with you because I am fairly certain that you will once more become a father. Fitzwilliam, I believe I am with child once again.” Elizabeth’s eyes are shining as she sees the joy diffuse through Darcy’s face. He is ecstatic with the news, and he quickly gathers her to him as he heaps terms of endearment on her. Elizabeth likes to tease him so she tells him she already has a new mount selected for when she may resume riding.
“I have decided on that striking yellow horse-colt. The one from the Lusitano mare.” Elizabeth states with authority.
“A colt, Lizzy? You wish for a colt, not a filly?” Darcy asks her with his brows raised.
“Absolutely. Someone needs to beat you and Tempest up that hill. Really, Mr. Darcy, you are becoming too haughty, too proud of that stallion.” Darcy laughs deeply as Elizabeth puts her hands on her hips as she tweaks him. It is wonderful to hear his laughter ring out once more.
More time passes as the fall turns to winter and the awful events of the summer have faded into the background. Elizabeth is sitting in Darcy’s study as she usually does while Darcy works on his correspondence and studies his documents and contracts. The bifocals are perched on the bridge of his nose, and he keeps up a dialogue with Elizabeth as he works. After a significant amount of time, Elizabeth notices that Darcy has been unusually quiet. She glances over at him to see that he is bent over his work while writing feverishly. She figures he must be concentrating, so she does not disturb him. A few more moments of silence and Elizabeth cannot contain her curiosity, so she walks over to the desk and stands next to Darcy to view his work.
“Mr. Darcy, that does not appear to be a pressing business matter.”
“No, Lizzy, it is not. It is a diversion.” Darcy sniffs haughtily. Elizabeth shakes her head and chuckles at the rudimentary drawing of Pemberley House complete with a moat and walls about it. Additionally, Darcy has sketched a catapult which has launched various stick figures out beyond the walls surrounding the house. One stick figure is in midair on his flight away from the manor.
“After the summer we endured, I cannot help but think that a moat and walls to keep people out would be a most welcomed addition to the estate.”
“You never will be completely comfortable with others, will you My Dear?”
“No, Lizzy, I am afraid I will not,” Darcy adds a few more details to his masterpiece.
“Pray tell, who is this most unfortunate man?” Elizabeth asks as she points to the high-flying figure.
“Why that is Collins of course!”
“You have not been in the man’s presence for many months. You are very naughty, Mr. Darcy, very naughty.”
“I’ll show you naughty,” Darcy says as he pulls Elizabeth onto his lap. Once more joy and contentment have returned to Pemberley and its occupants along with laughter and peace; Darcy and Elizabeth will be welcoming Stella Darcy to the family when she is born this coming spring.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to Jane Austen for her wonderful characters and stories. Her writings have stood the test of time, and some of her words appear in this work. Thank you as well to all my friends and family who have encouraged me and guided me in this endeavor. Your support is appreciated and amazing.