“Yes, your Lordship, your Ladyship. I cannot be sure as it is far too early, but the rate of increase that her Ladyship has displayed could mean that there are more than two babes. I will not be able to confirm it unless I can hear more than two distinct heartbeats after the quickening,” Sir Frederick told them in a very business-like manner as if he told women that they may be carrying more than two babes every day.
“I may have more than two children!!” An alarmed Elizabeth exclaimed. “What am I to do, what should I do, or not do? Are we still allowed to have … er … well …?”
“If your Ladyship is asking about marital relations then yes, so long as it is not uncomfortable for you then there is no reason why not.” He could not quite hide his smile.
“And travel? Is my wife allowed to sit in a carriage for the long journey home?” Darcy was fidgeting as his nerves were about to get the better of him; he then remembered that his wife was not the only pregnant woman in the world, though the news was unusual. He took a breath and silently thanked Mary for her pointing out his need to take care of her without being a useless jumble of emotions.
“Again, until she enters month seven, I do not see why not, unless she does not feel comfortable travelling.” After he thought for a moment Sir Frederick continued, “If you can break the journey into shorter legs with more frequent stops and exercise, then I believe that her Ladyship will be even more comfortable.”
“Would you be willing to attend my wife at Pemberley approximately a month before she is due? No expense is too great,” Darcy asked, nodding when his wife noted his calmer demeanour and slid her hand into his. She would have to thank her sisters again.
“I have too many patients for me to leave them for longer than a week, my Lord. I suggest that if you are willing, you and your wife could be in Town for her confinement. April or May, when we expect the delivery, is not normally too hot in London. That way I can give her the attention needed while attending to other cases that require my attendance.” He waited as the Countess considered her options.
“Would you be willing to attend me in Hertfordshire, just over four and twenty miles from Town? Our family’s estates are there. Given the foul odours and fumes in Town, I would prefer to give birth in the country,” the Countess asked hopefully.
“I believe that will work. It is close enough that I can see my patients in town during the week and any emergent cases as needed. I have two colleagues who have practiced for a number of years and were trained by myself. They should be able to consult with me and take care of my patients as needed when I am in Hertfordshire. Yes, that will work,” Sir Frederick nodded at the Earl and Countess.
After discussing logistics for a while longer, a much-relieved Darcy and his contemplative wife returned to Darcy House. As Bennet Park belonged to his wife, there was no need to ask permission to stay at Longbourn, but after he canvassed his wife’s opinion, suspecting and having it confirmed that she would be more comfortable in her childhood home, the Darcys made the short walk across the square to Bennet House.
It was only Lord and Lady Longbourn at home which, given the disclosure that the Darcys needed to make, was a good thing. The three youngest Bennets were at school and Tim was visiting Matlock House along with Georgie. After some small talk, Bennet could see that there was something troubling his second daughter.
“What is it Lizzy, I know you well enough to know that there is something that you want to tell or ask us? Is that not why I gave you away to your husband so he would have to be the one that you asked things of?” he teased but frowned when his daughter did not smile as she normally would.
“William read something about another lady who increased rapidly that made him concerned, so we saw Sir Frederick today,” Lizzy saw the look of horror on both her parents faces as they assumed the worst. “All is well with me!” she held up a hand to waylay questions and nodded when her parents resettled into their chairs. “I promise,” she soothed. “However, it does involve his suspicion that I may be carrying twins.”
“Are you and the babies well, Lizzy?” Fanny asked softly.
“His examination showed that everything is normal, but…” she tried to take a breath.
“But what?” her father cut her off, his concern rising again. “What is wrong?”
“Not wrong, Bennet,” Darcy responded calmly, “but given the rapidity of Elizabeth’s increasing from almost day one of her pregnancy the accoucheur suspects that there may be more than two…” He never finished the sentence.
“MORE THAN TWO!!!” His mother-in-law yelled then went quiet as she stared at her daughter in a stupor while her father was looking at her as if she had grown a second head.
“Mama and Papa, we will return to Town at the end of January to see Sir Frederick. We will not return to Pemberley until after I deliver the babes.” Seeing looks of confusion on her parents countenances she explained. “William asked Sir Frederick to come to Pemberley before my lying-in and for the duration, but he cannot be three days from Town at Pemberley for that length of time while he cares for his other patients.” She saw the realisation dawn on her father, “I do not want to give birth in London so, we suggested Hertfordshire. That is agreeable to him. We can of course stay at Bennet Park, but if you agree I would prefer to be at Longbourn.”
“My dear, dear Lizzy ofcourseyou will come to Longbourn. You are welcome to stay for as long as you need and want. The Lavender suite is waiting for you.” Fanny sighed in relief as she sat next to her daughter and took her hand. “Whoever else needs to be there to attend you, we have the room. My grandbabies will be born at Longbourn. Hattie and I will be there as much as you need us. In her last letter she told me how excited she is at the prospect of becoming a great aunt. Will you use our midwife, or will Sir Frederick bring one with him?”
“Thank you both, it removes one worry for us. As far as the midwife goes, I know not. We will inquire when he examines me in January. Is Mrs Richardson still working? She was the midwife when we were born!” Lizzy smiled at the thought of seeing the woman who helped deliver them.
“She is a little long in the tooth,” Bennet quipped with a smile, “but she did help bring all of my daughters into the world starting with Jane three and twenty years ago.”
“Until Lizzy is seen by Sir Frederick in January, is it agreeable that we keep this news between us?” Darcy asked as he looked at the other three. “Once he has examined Lizzy, then we can share the news with the family, just in case he is wrong in his suspicion.”
“I agree with, William.” Lizzy slid her other hand into his as she spoke.
“Then so be it,” the Bennet matriarch patted her daughter’s hand “Until you tell us otherwise, we will not mention this news to anyone.”
A much-relieved couple returned to Darcy House. Lizzy knew she would need to visit Madame Chambourg’s again before they travelled north as she was fast outgrowing the gowns that had been made for her a month before.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The convoy of carriages crested the rise that led to Pemberley. Tim Jacobson, who thought he was prepared for the magnificence that was the Darcy main estate, felt his mouth drop open. There was an early dusting of snow, but he had never seen anything that resembled the manor house on the rising ground at the west side of the valley below. He was not the only one who had never seen Pemberley before. The Bennet parents and their younger three daughters were amazed at what they beheld. They knew that Lizzy was mistress of a grand home, but nothing prepared them for the sight that greeted them. They had heard tales of the grandeur of Pemberley, but had thought at least some of them to be exaggerations. What they saw told them that the descriptions had downplayed the magnificence of the estate.
“Lizzy is mistress of all of this?” A dumbfounded Lydia asked.
“This, Darcy House, and three smaller estates,” her father informed her matter of factly as if it were an everyday thing. “I have heard so much about my son’s library, I cannot wait to see it,” he said while smiling at his wife and daughters. “Have no fear, I will not spendallof my time in that sanctuary,” he said with a wink to his wife.
