Mrs Hobbs had kept her gaze on Elizabeth. “About five months now are ye, dearie?”
“Nearly six. We are on our way home after a stay in London for my sister’s wedding. No fears about this one being born by the side of the road. We have plenty of time.” She rubbed the small bump which barely showed through her fashionable travelling ensemble.
“Aye, an’ ye look good. Colour in yer cheeks and bright eyed ’n all. Not a bit like the pale, thin waif ye were last time. Ye’ll do, dearie.”
Her eye fell on Alex in Darcy’s arms. “Well, this be the little one made such a to-do last time I saw ye? A fine strappin’ lad he looks, too. Gave yer Mama a bucket full o’ trouble, ye’ did.” She bustled out to see to their refreshments.
Darcy settled Elizabeth at the table before seating himself with Alex on his lap.
“Did Bingley say where he was taking Jane on honeymoon?” Jane and Bingley’s courtship had been a long one. He proposed over the Christmas holiday, but Jane had been most anxious to have her sister by her side on the happy day. So, the wedding had been planned for spring when the Darcys could safely travel to Town. Refusing to marry from Longbourn and Meryton, Jane wed from the Gardiners home.
“He only said he was sure she’d be pleased.” Alex was slapping his little hands on the table repeating “Mama, Mama, Mama” while smiling and showing off his three white teeth. Another was pushing through, and Alex would put anything in his mouth to chew on.
Following their honeymoon, the Bingleys would settle on an estate Bingley purchased, not twenty miles’ distance from Pemberley. Elizabeth was delighted her sister would be so close.
Elizabeth and Darcy had spent the long winter months at Pemberley. On seeing it for the first time, she understood the well-earned pride her husband bore for his name and legacy. It truly was the most magnificent estate Elizabeth could have ever imagined. It very quickly became a home, full of their daily growing love.
Her father planned on relocating to the dower house in Pemberley. He came to an agreement with Collins, releasing Longbourn for a yearly allowance during his lifetime. Charlotte was finally expecting and wrote to Elizabeth of her gratitude to be near her family. Any questions she had regarding the estate and tenants would be dealt with via correspondence to Mr Bennet. It would be Charlotte’s task to find ways to convince her husband the advice sent back was his own idea.
Georgiana and Kitty remained in Town with the Matlocks, who would travel with them to Pemberley at the end of the season.Richard was present as well and would escort them to events. He had recently met a lovely young lady with a handsome dowry, and it looked quite promising. Lady Matlock was cautiously optimistic he may soon sell his commission and retire from the army.
The arrival of their first grandchild had mellowed Lord and Lady Matlock, at least within the confines of the family. The viscount, their eldest son and his wife were blessed with a girl at the start of the year. Still, the earl and countess continued to treat Alex as another grandchild.
Darcy explained to Elizabeth he no longer had any qualms about his uncle pressing an unwanted suitor on Georgiana. Neither of their sisters seemed remotely interested in marrying, although Elizabeth surmised it was only because they had yet to meet their match.
As for Mary, Mrs Gardiner informed Elizabeth she had been reaching out to them more lately.‘Becoming a mother seems to have opened her eyes to the importance of family.’Mrs Gardiner opined.Elizabeth hoped whatever path Mary took would bring the same joy Elizabeth had found.
“Thank you for this surprise, Dearest.” Elizabeth smiled at the picture her husband and son made. Their food had arrived and Darcy, in between eating his own meal, was offering tiny bites of soft food to Alex. After each swallow, he looked up at Darcy in a beaming grin of pride.
“I wish only to make you happy, Elizabeth.” He picked up her hand to bestow a soft kiss on it.
“Mrs Hobbs was right. How much has occurred since that fateful day you rescued me, Fitzwilliam.”
By now the carriage carrying their servants arrived. Dorothy entered after being shown in. “Shall I take master Alex now, Mrs Darcy?”
“Yes. He has eaten and I believe he may be ready for a nap.”
“Very good. Perhaps I’ll walk with him in the sun?”
“Make sure you have two guards.” Darcy directed.
“Of course, Mr Darcy.”
Following their wedding the Darcys had met with Dumfries with a request for two men they could hire as guards.
In an astonishing turn of events, Jax asked if he might be one of the men. Knowing they would primarily be stationed in Derbyshire, Jax wished to remove his wife and children from the dirty air of London.
Elizabeth was overjoyed; Dumfries put out. Darcy compensated the man for the time and effort it would take him to train a replacement.
Jax took on the training of Dumfries’s recommendation. He would also work out a schedule to train any footman or groomsman who wished to take on extra work. The Darcys, and more specifically Alex, would never go unprotected.
“Alone at last.” Elizabeth smiled and promptly repositioned herself onto Darcy’s lap.
The couple shared a tender kiss. Darcy laid a hand on Elizabeth’s middle, marvelling each time afresh at the growing babe within.
“I was so scared that day. I felt so alone when Mrs Hobbs told me my labour had begun.”
“You were never alone, and you are the most courageous woman I know. My heart’s love has been yours, from the moment I saw you in this inn, draped in black.”
