After lightly kissing Elizabeth on the lips, William lowered his head so that he might kiss the place where his fingers rested. Ever so softly he spoke, “Your Papa is waiting for you, my child. Be kind to your Mama while you are in her care.”
William was fascinated with the multitude of changes which were taking place in Elizabeth’s body, and unlike his experience with Anne’s pregnancies, his wife was eager to share every aspect of their child’s growth. Fortunately, Elizabeth was healthy and did not suffer excessively with morning sickness as Anne had. Every day she insisted on long walks, and every afternoon she would nap when Anna rested. While seeing her thus did much to alleviate William’s worries, he longed to consult with Mr. Mitchell. To that end, Elizabeth was not surprised when William invited the doctor to visit Longbourn under the pretence of reassessing Mr. Bennet’s health.
“William, I know full well why you have invited Mr. Mitchell here,” she teased. “Nevertheless, because you are so very dear to me, I shall never fault your concern over me and our child.”
Previously, Mr. Mitchell had predicted Bennet could not be expected to live much longer than six months to a year at the most. To his amazement, this time Bennet’s heartbeat was a bit stronger, and he had not shown any further signs of deterioration. While the doctor had no real explanation, he suggested that the happy events of late might have boosted the man’s spirits, and in turn Bennet’s body was maintaining itself more positively.
When it came time for Elizabeth’s examination, Mitchell declared there was no doubt in his mind that she was with child, and like the Lambton midwife, he strongly suspected that the babe was not one but two. Based on his assessment and the dates when Elizabeth last had her courses, the doctor predicted the child or children would be born at the end of March or at the very latest in early April. Following Mr. Mitchell’s departure, the happy couple decided it was time to share their joyous news with the family. At present they would withhold the information about the possibility of twins, since it was less certain to predict.
Before telling the Bennets, however, Elizabeth and William first wanted to tell Anna and Georgiana. That afternoon, William suggested his little family take a leisurely walk and enjoy a picnic in one of the nearby meadows. There, he spread out a large blanket and the four of them sat down to enjoy the food Hill had provided.
When they were finished, Anna remarked, “Mama, there are so many beautiful flowers here. May I pick some for you and Aunt Georgie?”
“Yes, sweet one, I would like that very much. We can take them back with us and later dry them in the still room, since they will last longer that way. But first….” She smiled lovingly at William. “Papa and I have something wonderful to tell the two of you.”
Georgiana gasped with excitement, her hands nervously twitching, trying to quell her suspicions. “Dear Brother, Elizabeth,” she whispered with tears misting in her eyes.
“Papa, why is our Aunt Georgie crying?”
“Well,” he said, smiling and reaching for his sister’s hand, “she is crying tears of joy because she has guessed Mama is with child. Our new babe will join us in March, a few weeks after your fifth birthday.”
“Mama!” Anna squealed, leaning in to her mother and saying, “Aunt Georgie and I have been praying for a little one to come to our family.”
“You have?”
“Yes,” Anna innocently said. “I told Aunt Georgie that I could not remember Baby Lewis, and she said we might ask God to give our family another babe.”
Elizabeth pulled Anna tightly into her embrace, attempting to stay her emotions. “Thank you, my dear girl, and thank you, Georgiana. God has listened to all of our prayers.”
William leaned over and kissed his sister on the forehead. “Dearest Georgie, you know my heart only too well.”
“Yes, Brother, I do.”
Although she was nearly twelve years younger than her brother, Georgiana had been witness to much of William’s suffering, and following Anne’s death she had prayed diligently that he would recover and be given another chance at finding happiness. Those prayers were answered when he married Elizabeth and now again with the possibility of another child. These past few months Georgiana had never seen her brother happier, and for that she was grateful.
“Anna, Georgie,” William said more seriously, “while our Elizabeth is a very healthy woman, against her protests, I would like the two of you to take special care of her when I cannot see to her needs. May I count on you both?”
“Yes, Papa,” Anna eagerly said. “I shall sing to Mama and our new babe every day and bring her flowers, and Dolly and Janie and I shall tell her stories.”
“I would like that very much,” said Elizabeth, kissing her daughter on the forehead.
“And I shall gladly do my part,” seconded Georgiana. “You need not worry, Brother. Anna and I shall see that she wants for nothing.”
Elizabeth let out a hearty laugh, saying, “Oh my! It looks like I shall be thoroughly spoiled yet again by my two favourite girls and excellent husband. However shall I bear it?”
“You will bear it for our sakes, Elizabeth, because we love you,” William answered.
“Yes, Mama, we love you.”
“And I love all three of you,” she said, with tears threatening to spill from her eyes, stretching out her arms to touch each of them in turn. “There will be much to do before the babe comes, and I am glad that I will have all of you to help me with our child.”
Returning to the house, the Darcys found Mrs. Bennet and Mary enjoying a cup of tea in the parlour while Mr. Bennet rested in his book room. As soon as the joyous news was announced, Mrs. Bennet became a flutter of nerves.
“I knew it, I knew it,” she said, taking a seat next to her daughter. “Elizabeth, you clever girl! Another child for Mr. Darcy! How very grand!” Then whispering so as not to offend her son-in-law she offered, “Do let us hope you are blessed with a son, Lizzy. These great men expect it.” In her next breath she announced, “Forgive me, I must be away and tell my sister and Mrs. Long of our good news.” Before anyone could properly respond, Mrs. Bennet had rushed from the room and was calling for her bonnet and shawl. Not a moment could be lost, for she was on her way to the village.
“Mama, what happened to Grandmamma?” Anna asked. “Why did she run away?”
“Grandmamma is very happy about our new babe and went to Meryton to tell her friends.”
