“Yes, I would like that and shall ask Mrs. Reynolds to arrange it for us.”
“Meanwhile, I shall pray daily for your success.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
The following week, Elizabeth and her aunt were able to visit with the local midwife in Lambton. At that time the midwife noticed a slight swelling when she examined Elizabeth.
Knitting her brow, the elder woman asked, “You say the last time you had your courses was at the end of June?”
“Yes, is there something out of the ordinary?” Elizabeth replied with concern.
“It is hard to know for sure this early on. Sometimes a woman of your smaller stature may begin to increase a bit earlier than most, but for the most part it is not often the case unless she is carrying twins. Tell me, Mrs. Darcy, do twins happen to run in your family?”
“Twins?!” Elizabeth looked at her aunt in complete astonishment. “Why yes, my father is a twin.”
“I see,” the midwife responded. “If you are carrying twins, it is no wonder you are showing these signs and I suspect you may feel the quickening earlier than a woman who carries a single babe.”
Elizabeth smiled, lovingly placing her hand on the small swell. “Physically, I am much the same size as my grandmother who birthed the twins in our family. I understand she managedquite well, and I should hope to do the same,” she said with determination. “Pray, might you have any suggestions for me?”
“For now, I would recommend that you eat well and take plenty of exercise in addition to getting adequate rest. Walking will be most beneficial for your health and will serve you well when it comes to your laying in.”
“That will be no problem,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle. “I am known to be a great walker, am I not, Aunt?”
“Yes, Elizabeth, you are.”
The kindly woman smiled, saying, “Very good, Mrs. Darcy. I shall wish you well over the coming months, and should you have any more questions or concerns, I am always at your disposal.”
“Thank you,” said Elizabeth. “Our family will be leaving Pemberley in late September and may be gone from home for some time, but I shall have Mrs. Reynolds arrange another meeting after we return from the south.”
“As you wish, Ma’am. I am happy to be of service.”
Elizabeth was extremely pleased with this news, and as much as she wanted to tell William, she purposely decided to wait until his birthday, the twelfth of September, three days after the harvest ball for the tenants. If she was truly with child, by then she would be a little further along in her pregnancy, and it would make the perfect time to tell her husband that he would once again be a father.
Following the Gardiners’ departure, there was less than a week until the ball. The Fitzwilliam family was currently in residence at Matlock and had invited several of their close friends from Town, including Lady Gwendolyn, to join them for the month of September. Since Parliament was not in session, it would make a lovely diversion for those who had remained in Town to journey to Matlock for an extended house party and attend the Darcys’ ball. There had not been such a grandevent given at Pemberley since before Lady Anne’s death, and it was something which had been widely anticipated by the neighbourhood and surrounding communities.
A harvest celebration for the tenants and estate workers, complete with musicians, food and a bonfire, was to be given on the ninth of September, following the more formal affair. Other than Boxing Day, this type of festivity had never been held for those employed by the estate and it was to William’s credit that he wished to honour his new wife in this way. Since Georgiana was not out yet, she would attend the first ball only as an observer. At the more informal tenants’ ball, however, it was agreed that both she and Anna would be allowed to participate, interacting with the children and young people who would be accompanying their families.
Saturday Afternoon
7 September
The Study
With the harvest ball lasting into the wee hours of the morning of the seventh, many of the guests who had stayed over did not depart from Pemberley manor until early afternoon. Before leaving, Richard had asked to speak privately with William. Having poured each of them a glass of brandy, William waited while Richard began.
“I must say, Darcy, your wife looked very pretty last night. There was a certain something about her that I had not noticed before.”
“She is an exceptional woman,” William murmured, smiling at the remembrance.
“I should be so fortunate.”
“Should you?” William pointedly asked, wondering what Richard was about. After a few seconds, he continued, “Is there something I am missing? Pray, what in heaven’s name are you doing here in my study complimenting my wife when you should be making your way to the carriage with your parents and the lovely Mrs. Walden?”
“What?! Can I not spend a few minutes in the company of my favourite cousin while the others are preparing to leave?” He feigned hurt. “Are you so eager to be rid of me?”
“Richard….” William scowled, “Out with it. Please do not tell me your superiors are sending you back to the continent or some other godforsaken place where you will again be in harm’s way?”
“No, it is nothing like that.”
