As her baby made itself known again, Lizzy rubbed her rapidly expanding belly and admitted to herself the reward of becoming a mother far outweighed any remorse she had about not being able to ride Mercury.
“We can ask him for you in the morning, Kitty. He will decide.” She winked at her sisters and nestled into her husband’s side.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next day, just as the residents of Pemberley finished their luncheon, Douglas informed them four coaches and a wagon had passed the gate house and would arrive shortly.
The Darcys and Kitty descended the stairs to the drive just as the first of two carriages came to a stop. The carriage with the traveller’s valets and maids and the wagon and the outriders had gone to the servant’s entrance.
Once the stairs were lowered by a footman the Bennet twins alighted, followed by Mary and Richard. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Lilly Gardiner, and Anne de Bourgh alighted from the second conveyance. Edward and Madeline Gardiner and the three youngest Gardiner children were in the third carriage.
The arriving party, save for Mary and Richard who knew, looked at the rotund Elizabeth Darcy with surprise. “Is there something you would like to tell us Lizzy?” Fanny smiled playfully at her daughter.
“I was going to wait until we were in the drawing room, Mama, but yes. I am very obviously with child. I suppose you would have to be blind not to see it as there is nothing that Jacqui can do with my dresses to hide it anymore,” Elizabeth owned.
“When will your babe arrive, Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet asked as the party headed up the stairs into the house and then the drawing room.
“End of May or beginning of June, Mama.” Lizzy smiled ruefully.
“My my, Fanny. Lizzy is as large as you were at the same stage when you were pregnant with Tom and James,” Aunt Gardiner offered.
“I was about to say the same, Maddie,” Fanny agreed.
“Twins!” Elizabeth and William exclaimed simultaneously.
“It does run in our family; Tom and I are living proof of that are we not,” James smirked.
“Oh my,” gasped Mrs. Darcy as she was aided into a comfortable chair by her husband. “When I started to get so big so soon, I just thought that maybe I was eating more than normal.”
“No, my love,” her husband disagreed as he held her hand, “I have not noticed you eat in excess. We will have to be extra careful; we will retain the best accoucheur in London to be in residence the last six weeks of your confinement. I do not care how much it costs me.” Darcy started to settle when his wife placed a calming hand on his arm.
“William, I am sure that the possibility of twins frightens you given your dear late mother’s experience, but before you stands living proof all can be well in the person of my mother. Five of her children are in this room, and as you can see by your two brothers, bearing twins did not harm mama, and I am sure I will be well,” Elizabeth reminded her husband.
“I could not carry on living if I lost you,” Darcy stated with a look of dread on his face.
“If it will make you feel better, I will be more vigilant and I will agree to you retaining an accoucheur,” she promised.
“The best one I am aware of is Sir Fredrick Gillingham, and he is a good friend of ours so you can mention the connection in your express, Darcy,” Gardiner offered. “I will give you his card.”
“Thank you, Gardiner, that is most appreciated.” Darcy nodded at him with relief.
“Let us show our guests to their chambers so they can change out of their travel attire and rest. Shall we all meet back here at half after five o’clock for an aperitif before dinner?” Lizzy looked at her family happily.
Everyone nodded their agreement, and the travellers followed the housekeeper up to their chambers while a worried and harried Fitzwilliam Darcy went to his study to compose his express to Sir Fredrick.
The rest of the evening past companionably, and although the worry Darcy was feeling for his young wife was evident, he did manage to keep it in check and not vex his Lizzy too much.
Their twin brothers took their minds off the pregnancy while they regaled the assembled company with tales of their experiences at Cambridge after but one term. Like their father, Uncle Reggie, cousins Andrew and Richard, and brothers William and Charles before them, the boys were enrolled in Trinity College.
Their illustrious connections were widely known, resulting in deference from other young men, even titled ones. The message that the Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Bennet, de Bourgh, Bingley, and Hurst families were not to be trifled with and would be defended by all was a lesson that had been well learnt and passed onto all members of theTon, then to the circles below the first circle.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning the Bingleys and Hursts arrived just after ten. The arriving party was met at the entrance to the house by Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Fanny was in her element with all six of her children together again, and the prospect of becoming a grandmother in less than six months made for an even happier Mama Bennet.
With the distance between Pemberley and Longfield Meadows so negligible, the arriving party returned to the drawing room right after changing out of their travel attire. As soon as she kissed her mama and aunts, Jane sat comfortably and smiled.
“Lizzy, I have seen women close to confinement as large as you are now,” Jane teased.
