Given how enormous her belly was by the end of January 1791, Becca was doubly thankful she had been able to attend Connie’s coming out in November past.
Thinking of the ball recalled the memories of some of her husband’s concerns he had expressed to her back at Longbourn coming to fruition. Like Thomas had predicted, there were some denigrating comments made about him in his hearing. Just as she had assured him, those remarks had been stopped very quickly when the jealous insulters realised that the match was supported by three dukes—Devonshire, Bedford, and Hertfordshire—and a slew of other peers led by the Earl and Countess of Matlock. It had not taken long before the message that a slight or cut to Mr Bennet was taken as the same by all the peers who approved of his marriage to Lady Rebecca Bennet née Cavendish. What they said in private was not known, but there had been no further overt or public disapproval of Thomas Bennet expressed.
It was the end of February, and Becca was grateful that her mama, Aunt Elaine, and Marie were resident at NetherfieldPark to assist her. She had also come to agree with Mama and her aunt that she was carrying twins. At first she had scoffed at the idea she was to birth twins. She had pointed out that even though she was a twin, neither her mother nor aunt had had twins herself. All of her self-assuredness fled when her mother and aunt had informed her that based on their family history, birthing twins seemed to skip a generation.
Added to that was the fact that at times it felt like there was a stampeding herd of horses inside of her. Becca could hardly believe one babe could be that active. Also the midwife—not Mrs Brown, who had attended the late Fanny Bennet and had since retired—but Mrs Parsons, the new practitioner who followed the practices of cleanliness very closely, and the apothecary and doctor in one person, Mr Jones, were both sure Mrs Bennet was carrying twins. In the face of the overwhelming evidence, Becca acknowledged the facts .
To make certain his local family had the best medical care possible, the Duke of Devonshire had funded the doctor-apothecary’s move to Meryton, and paid to have his practice set up, just like he did close to any estate he or his family owned.
The pains in her lower back commenced in the early afternoon of the third day of March. By the evening of the next day, Friday, Becca was labouring in earnest. She had Mama, Mother, Aunt Elaine, and Marie with her in addition to the midwife and Mrs Hill.
Bennet was downstairs pacing back and forth in his study, and nothing his father-in-law, uncle, brother-in-law, or Mr Jones said to calm him had that effect or stopped his stalking. When he heard the screaming from the birthing chamber, it took the combined strength of all four men to hold him back so he would not bound up the stairs and burst into the room.
The first babe was delivered at half after two on the morning of the fifth of March. That child had cried but was quite placid compared to the second. This one came out kicking and screaming, quite indignant to have been left alone for a half hour, or perhaps at not being born first.
“Mama, what did I have?” a tired Becca asked as soon as she was cleaned and changed.
“Elaine is holding your firstborn, a son, and Marie has his sister. She is the one who complained about being born second so bitterly; however, as you can hear, she is calm now,” Lady Georgiana reported. “They both look very healthy and are a little smaller than a single babe, which, we are told, is to be expected with twins. Are you ready to hold one?”
Becca nodded emphatically. The Countess stepped forward and gently placed the sleeping and swaddled son into Becca’s waiting arms. “What little hair he has is Thomas’s light brown; we will have to wait and see if his eyes remain blue,” she said in wonder as she watched her slumbering son, his lips sucking the air. She looked at her new daughter, who was now in Mother’s arms. “Janey will be so pleased that she has a sister. She hoped for two sisters, but she will have to settle for one.”
“Little Janey is already such a complying child; she will not object to the sex of the babes as long as they are able to play with her at some point.” Beth smiled. “That brute Clem Collins will not be pleased. He rubbed salt in the wound when Thomas was gifted a daughter and the woman passed away. He boasted about his having a son where Thomas did not, and in his words, would never have one. It will be a pleasure posting a letter to him with the news that Longbourn has an heir.”
“Mother, may we swap babes, and someone needs to summon Thomas to meet his children.” Becca looked at Marie. “Sister, will you please request that my husband join us?”
Marie nodded and made her way down to the study.
Ever since the sounds of his wife labouring stopped and was replaced with the squalling and crying of babes, Bennet had been on edge as he waited for news. His glass of port remained untouched. When the door opened and his sister-in-law entered, all it took was one nod from her, not a word, and he was out the door as if shot out of a cannon.
“Becca delivered a son and daughter,” Marie related to the four remaining men in the study. “Mr Jones, you may go and examine mother and children, but from what I could see, all three are well.” Devonshire visibly relaxed upon hearing his daughter and grandchildren seemed well.
Jones bowed to the men in the study, picked up his bag, and made his way out of the room.
When Bennet entered the birthing chamber, he froze as he saw his contented wife with a babe at her breast. That did not cause him to vacate the room, and none of the family members within said anything about his presence while one of his newly born children was being fed.
“Becca, you have done so very well. What do we have?” Bennet asked as he approached the bed.
“I am feeding your son, and Mama is holding your second daughter, whom I am sure will demand to be fed soon enough.” Becca did not miss the look of wonder on her husband’s countenance. “Yes, my dearest man, we have been blessed with a son and daughter.”
There was a knock on the door, and Mrs Hill informed Mr Jones that he would have to wait a little while before entering.
No sooner had the male child been sated than his sister demanded sustenance. Bennet was able to hold his son brieflybefore his mother took her grandson to the nursery, where Mr Jones would be able to examine him.
After their daughter was sated—she seemed to take quite a bit more than her brother—Bennet held and burped her before she too was taken to be checked by Mr Jones. By the time Mr Jones came to check on Mrs Bennet everyone other than her husband had vacated the room. Jones announced her in fine fettle for one who had just birthed twins. With his duty discharged, he exited the room, leaving wife and husband alone.
“What should we name them, my Love?” Bennet asked as he caressed one of his wife’s hands.
“Your father was named Henry, correct?” Becca verified. Bennet allowed it was so. “Then, if you agree, I think our son should be Henry William after his grandfathers. Seeing that your father’s life was cut short, it will be good that the master of Longbourn to succeed you should bear his name. For our daughter, following the convention for our son, I suggest Elizabeth Georgiana. What say you?”
“I think those names are perfect for them. Welcome to the family, Henry and Lizzy,” Bennet intoned. “Calling her Lizzy will reduce confusion as Mother is called Beth.”
The family members who were present found the names perfect for the new twins. The next day, when Jane woke and was informed she had a brother and sister, she was most excited to meet ‘Henwy’ and ‘Wizzy.’
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As expected, if the letter he had a clergyman write for him was anything to go by, Clem Collins was none too pleased when he received the information regarding his distant cousin having been blessed with a son.
15 March 1791
