Taking a damp cloth, William wiped the perspiration from her brow and began massaging her lower back as instructed by the midwife. “Sweetheart, if I had known of your discomfort, I would have come sooner.”
“It is of no matter, William. I am far better, now that you are here. Please, hold my hand. I feel the urge to push again, and it is not easy.”
With each push Elizabeth could not help but cry out, and after three such attempts she looked at William, saying, “Our first child is showing no mercy, husband. It must be a boy, since his stubbornness decidedly takes after you!”
“If you say so, my love,” he replied, trying not to chuckle.
“You must push again, Mrs. Darcy,” the doctor emphatically said. “I can see the head beginning to crown.”
“William!” She screamed this time as she bore down with all of her might.
“Again, Mrs. Darcy. One more push and the head will pass through. Excellent! Now, for the shoulders.”
Continuing to squeeze William’s hand as tightly as she was able, her next efforts quickly expelled the shoulders, followed by the rest of the child’s body.
All at once the boisterous cry of the babe filled the room, informing everyone that he had arrived. “Mr. and Mrs. Darcy!” the doctor exclaimed. “You have a healthy son!”
“We have a son, William,” Elizabeth cried with tears of joy. “Please let me see him.” As soon as the cord was cut, the midwife wrapped the child in a thin cloth and handed him to William.
“Please, William, let me touch him.”
Though he had yet to be cleaned, William placed the child in Elizabeth’s waiting arms, pulling back the cloth for her to see his long and lean body and head of thick dark hair.
Kissing the child she said, “William, he is perfect.”
“Yes, perfect, my love, just like his Mama.”
At that moment, Elizabeth’s face became strained. “William, our second child is coming, I can feel it.”
William handed the babe back to the midwife and resumed his position at Elizabeth’s side, again holding her hand. This time it was far easier, and within minutes she was able to expel the body of the second child. Though not as robust as her brother, she also made her presence known with a cry, higher-pitched than her sibling’s.
“Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, you have a lovely daughter. She is smaller than your son, but perfectly formed.” As before, once the cord was cut, the midwife wrapped the child in a thin cloth and handed her to William.
Smiling broadly, he said, “Elizabeth, she is the image of you. Just look at her little fingers and her dark curly hair.”
Holding her daughter, Elizabeth lovingly kissed the petite little girl and exclaimed, “Dear William, we have two beautiful children, and have been blessed beyond measure.”
“Yes, my heart, we have.”
“Mr. Darcy, it would be best if you left now,” the midwife gently spoke, taking the babe from Elizabeth. “We need to clean both of the children and take care of Mrs. Darcy and theafterbirth. We shall send one of the maids to you as soon as all is ready for you to return.”
“You have my greatest appreciation and thanks, both of you,” William said to the midwife and doctor. “And to all of you who have assisted Mrs. Darcy today, I thank you as well. I shall be waiting in the music room with Miss Darcy and Anna.”
Seeing Mrs. Reynolds, who was now standing to the side weeping tears of joy, he nodded and said, “Today is a blessed day for Pemberley and for all who serve her. Thank you. When it is convenient, I should like someone to go ‘round and inform our tenants of the births and also, if you would, please send out a short note to the rector and have someone notify the village of our good news. Then you should go and get some rest. There is no need to immediately send out the baskets of celebration we spoke of. They can wait until the morrow.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy,” the kind lady answered. “Today is indeed a blessed day, and I know your dear parents would be very pleased, just as I am.”
Before leaving, William went back to Elizabeth’s side one more time and whispered how much he loved her and how proud of her he was. “I shall return soon, my love.”
“William, please kiss the girls for me and tell them that I love them, too.”
“Yes, my darling.”
Later
The girls were overjoyed when William gave them the news about the two babes. Georgiana broke down into tears of joy while little Anna clapped her hands and then picked up her two dolls and twirled them around and began singing.
“Papa, how long must we wait until we can see Mama and my new brother and sister? Dolly and Janie and I have been waiting all day.”
