“What has you in such happy spirits today?” he asked. “Shall I attribute it to the appearance of Sir Andrew and Lady de Bourgh?”
She chuckled. “Though I have missed Charlotte dearly, my happiness is not for her.” She took his hand, laying it gently against her stomach. “I am with child, Fitzwilliam.”
He looked at her, wonder and awe on his countenance. “Can you be certain?” he breathed.
“I felt our child move this morning. I believe we can welcome our little one in February. And I confess, now that I am certain, I likely felt the quickening some time ago.”
He let out a cry of delight and pulled her onto his lap, kissing her passionately. “I cannot contain my joy! First, I gain your hand, then your heart, and nowthis.” His hands moved to her stomach, resting gently on the slight swell of her abdomen.
“We planned to spend Christmas here…” she said slowly. In truth, Elizabeth wished to remain with Jane until she had settled, but if her husband wished to return to Pemberley, she would not object.
“Yes, and that has not changed. We areneededhere.” His arms tightened around her, and he kissed the top of her head. The sentiment comforted her, and she snuggled a little closer.
“Will it be a sore trial, remaining at Longbourn for the nonce?” she asked.
“Your younger sisters have improved upon better acquaintance. It is the constant attacks from your mother that irritate me.” He growled the last bit, and she reveled in his affront on her behalf.
“We might move to Netherfield,” she ventured. “Mr. Bingley has offered.”
“I should like to stay at Longbourn until after Christmas. By then, mourning will be over, and it would be more appropriate for us to move there.” His logic made sense, and Elizabeth nodded. “Jane does not need my assistance as often as she did, either.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, gazing out across the empty fields. “Let us write to Georgiana and ask her to come.” Elizabeth turned her head so that she could see her husband’s face. He smiled and replied eagerly.
“That would please me greatly,” he said.“I believe your younger sisters would not object to the idea, either.”
“Longbourn has plenty of rooms. Our entertainment will be of a more subdued nature given that we are still in mourning, but Georgiana ought to be with us, regardless. She is our family.” Besides, Elizabeth missed her new sister.
“Then we shall do so immediately upon our return.” He kissed her again, and they both turned to their forgotten victuals,discarded on the rug since Elizabeth told her husband their good news.
They enjoyed the solitude for another hour before packing their basket and folding their rug. The leisurely return to Longbourn gave them ample opportunity to speak at length about their child, and when they had returned, Elizabeth went directly to her writing box and composed a letter to Georgiana.
My dear sister,
How I miss you! It has been more than a month since we were last in company and though I have my sisters, I do not feel complete without you here! I do hope you have been keeping yourself occupied with your studies and your music.
Though I have suspected for some time that I am with child, I did not feel confident in my suspicions until this morning. And so it is with great pleasure that I inform you that come February, you will be an aunt! Your brother is naturally excited to be a father and expressed his profuse enthusiasm upon hearing the news.
We are not to return to Pemberley for Christmas. Jane is still adjusting and relies heavily on our assistance. Instead, we wish you to join us here. This missive will be sent express, and we hope that you and Mrs. Annesley will journey to Hertfordshire within a week of receiving it. Travel to and from Derbyshire is treacherous in the winter and we want your journey concluded before the worst of it.
I shall have the very best chambers prepared for you both, and though our celebrations will be somewhat quieter than the holiday usually calls for, we shall make it the best Christmas any of us have had in a very long time.
Do hurry, for I and my sisters long to see you! And we must not forget dear Fitzwilliam. I am certain he has missed you, too.
Yours in affection,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth sanded and sealed the letter before going in search of a footman. “See this is sent express immediately,” she requested kindly, giving the missive into Martin’s hands. After that had been completed, she went in search of Jane.
Her sister had settled herself in the large chair behind the desk in their father’s former study. Elizabeth still thought of this room and all that it contained as belonging to Mr. Bennet, and every time she entered, memories assailed her. She said as much to Jane as she settled in a chair across the desk.
“You were the only daughter readily welcomed into our father’s domain. He suffered my presence because I did not speak much, but it was your company he truly favored.” Jane said this dispassionately, and Elizabeth wondered if her sister was as uncaring as she pretended to be.
“I know Papa was less than perfect,” she whispered. “I have often wondered how different life would have been had he granted every child the same attention he bestowed upon me.” She ran her finger along the beveled edge of the desk as she had done so many times before.
“There are hundreds of pounds worth of rare books in here; did you know?” Jane gestured to the full shelves and the stacks of books around the room.
“I knew Papa was a collector,” Elizabeth confessed. “I am unaware what his books might be worth.”
