“That is you, my love, setter of trends.” Louisa smiled.
Once the afterbirth had been delivered, and Mrs Brown and Mr Jones separately assured Bennet that both the mother and his new son were well, they left.
Henry soon made his displeasure known. Louisa, after looking at his cheeks and seeing no telltale red birthmark, puthim to her breast, and the newest Bennet ate until sated. With a cloth over his shoulder, Bennet patted his son’s back until Henry released a healthy belch. Seeing that Lulu was already sleeping, Bennet took his son to meet his sisters and the rest of the family.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
1817
14 February 1817
Longbourn
Lizzy, my dear stepdaughter,
You seem to suffer from the same malady as me: an inability to deliver a daughter.
Your brothers cannot wait until we travel to Pemberley in June. Henry loves riding the ponies which William has at your estate. I, like Maddie, enjoy touring the park in a phaeton.
Our boys miss yours greatly. Henry is at least older than his nieces and nephews, but that is not the case for Tommy or James. At only 1 year old, James has no concept of his being an uncle. On the other hand, Tommy, who as you know, will be 3 in a matter of days, is highly amused that Ben, Alexander, Paul, and Matthew are his nephews, especially as Ben and Alex are older than him. (Even if Alex is only 10 days older.)
It is still hard to believe that you had twins less than a year ago. Like you, your father and I pray that He will bless you with a daughter when, or if, next you increase.
At least at 26, you have a good chance of becomingenceinteagain. As for me, as I approach my 38th birthday, I assume my time for bearingchildren is over or close to it.
Jane’s last letter was full of news. They are so happy at Castlemere, but you know that, as you see them quite often. She is very pleased with her two children. I know; both of us are envious that she had a girl, followed by a boy. Annabelle looks so much like Jane, while Charley is a younger version of his father.
Besides the three boys, your father and I are grateful that Mary, Richard, and their three children are only 3 miles away. With Kate having married Phillip (I envy all of you living in Derbyshire and the environs as Phillip’s estate is in Staffordshire, only 25 miles from Pemberley) almost 2 years ago. It took Kate 2 seasons before she met her Phillip and as we all remember it was practically love at first sight. Now that Lydia is engagedto Winston Chamberlain, I will soon be the only female in the house. I still have a hard time with the reality that Lydia will be the Duchess of Hertfordshire one day. The poor Marquess of Hertford had to work so hard for Lydia to want to accept him.
He knows that Jane and Charles own Castlemere, and he says that with the years that have passed since his little brother’s accident, if invited, he and his surviving brother, Lord Harold, would be able to visit the estate and maintain their equanimity. He doubts that would be true for his parents.
On a happier note, how is Anna’s courtship with the Earl of Granville proceeding? Did he not just come out of mourning for his father a few months back? At the age of 27 to have to take on all of that responsibility. I suppose it is a little better than your William, who lost his father when he was not yet 22.
Before I forget, your Uncle Frank, Charlotte (your ‘aunt’) and their 4 children will be travelling in the convoy with us when we come to you in June. Lawrence willbe 8 in November and hopes he can ride a cob this year. Sarah, Jane’s and your goddaughter, cannot wait to see her godmothers again.
I must leave for tenant visits soon, so I end this letter now.
With the warmest regards,
Lulu
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
1819
5 May 1819
Pemberley
Dear Lulu,
First the unpleasantness. Lulu, although you were never close to your sister even before she was committed to Bedlam, I condole with you on her passing. I cannot believe that after their years at the asylum Lady Catherine and your sister finally met, and it ended so tragically.
Charles told us that the letter he received from the administrator explained that they met by chance and when Lady Catherine heard Miss Bingley claim she was Mrs Darcy, the former attacked the latter for claiming she was the wife of the man married to her daughter. In their insanity, they lived in deep delusions. It was unfortunate they were at the top of the stairs and both fell down them, ending their lives.
Now to the more pleasant subjects. Like you, I was very pleased when He finally blessed me with a daughter. Even though I was 29 at the time, I thought perhaps my time for bearing children was over, but then, after not wanting to believe I wasincreasing again, I felt the quickening and little Annabeth was born in December past.
William is ecstatic because Annabeth has not only the same colour and texture of hair as me, but in the last month, her eyes have changed and are the same colour as mine.
