“So it does.” She smiled. “Her full name is Amelia Elizabeth Rose Darcy. What do you think, girls?”
“Mama! She has our name, too!” Anna excitedly said still trying to keep her voice soft.”
“Thank you, Anna. I knew you would like it.”
“Elizabeth,” added Georgiana, “Amelia Elizabeth Rose Darcy is a beautiful name. I am so pleased that you and brother have chosen to honour us in this way. Thank you, sister.”
“Dearest, you are most welcome. Our Amy will be blessed to have the two of you in her life.”
“Mama, do you think we can find a little pink blanket for our Amy that looks like the one I have on my bed? I think she would like a pink blanket much better than this white one.”
“I agree, Anna. The white blanket is very plain and I shall ask one of the maids to look for another blanket, since you asked.”
“And Mama, if she cannot find one, Dolly and Janie will be happy to share their blankets with our new sister. Since Amy is so little, I think their blankets will be large enough to cover her.”
“That is a lovely idea, and if you like, you may bring the blankets when you come back to see me and the babes later today. I also think pink will look very pretty on our little girl.”
After a bit Georgiana and William helped Anna to hold her little sister. Almost at once Anna began humming a quiet littlemelody. When she finished she said, “Mama, Amy likes my song. Look, Papa, she has a little smile on her face.”
“I see.”
“Mama, when Amy gets a little bigger I shall teach her how to sing with me, and Bennet, too. Dolly and Janie and I will help them learn.”
“That will be very nice, Anna. Both Bennet and Amy have heard your lovely voice from the time I carried them in my womb. Your music and Georgiana’s will continue to be a great comfort to them as they grow. The two of you will be excellent teachers for our little ones. I am sure of it.”
For the next half an hour, the Darcys chatted with one another while the babes continued to nap comfortably in so many loving arms. William knew Elizabeth needed to rest, and once he happened to see her yawn, he remarked to the girls, “I think our new mama is a bit tired. After all, she did not sleep while she was working for so many hours to give birth to our babes. Let us go now so she can rest, and I shall bring you in again later today.”
Once the babes were returned to their cradles, Elizabeth said in parting to the girls, “I wonder if the two of you could take a walk this afternoon and bring me back some spring flowers. Since I will be confined to this room for several days, having the flowers would cheer me very much.”
The girls agreed, and as they were leaving, Elizabeth added, “William, might you stay a bit longer?”
“Of course.”
After the door was shut, Elizabeth pulled back the coverlet and motioned for her husband to join her on the bed. First removing his shoes and jacket, he happily stretched out beside her, pulling her close.
“William, please stay with me for a time. Sleeping in your arms will give me great comfort, and I know you are tired aftersuch a long night. Your letters to the family can wait a few hours, can they not?”
“Yes, my love,” he said as he tenderly kissed her, “they can wait, and I shall stay as long as you like.”
It was several hours before the babes awoke, ready to eat. During that short time, William and Elizabeth had slept soundly. While William was still tired, Elizabeth awoke with newfound energy when she heard her son’s cry, followed by his sister’s. Mrs. Potter came into the room directly and changed the babes before handing Bennet to Elizabeth and Amy to William. As soon as she refreshed the bedding in the cradles, she left the room, leaving the Darcys to their privacy.
William held his daughter in the rocking chair, cuddling her close to his chest as she wrapped her little fingers around one of his larger ones and fell back to sleep. Looking to Elizabeth, he was completely fascinated watching his son nurse at his wife’s breast. He had never seen anything more beautiful or moving in all of his days. His prayers had been answered. Elizabeth and the babes were well and his family was whole.
“Elizabeth Darcy, today you have made me the happiest of men,” he said, tears misting in his eyes. “I love you and our family more than I can ever put into words. Everything I do, I do for you, our children and Georgiana, and I cherish the gifts I have been given with you by my side.
“Dear William.” She smiled lovingly, stretching out her hand to touch his. “Our family is blessed, and I shall be forever grateful.”
“Yes, my love, forever grateful.”
EPILOGUE
OUR FUTURE
Pemberley
August 1822
Over the ten years that followed the birth of the twins, the Darcys were blessed with five more children: Daniel Richard, eight years of age, Madeline (Maddie) Francine, age six; Alexander Gregory, three and a half; and yet another set of twins, Thomas Edward and James William, now eighteen months. With children ranging from one and a half to fifteen, the household was never dull.
