Page 46

W illiam paced up and down the hall at Pemberley, nervous as a cat.

Richard appeared in the doorway, smiling but also a little unsettled. “Darcy, stop that infernal pacing and come sit down. Wearing a hole in the floor will not make this go any faster.”

William glared at his brother-in-law with an intensity that spoke volumes.

“Come have a bourbon.”

He shook his head. “No, I want a clear head in case—in case she needs me.”

“She’s got her mother and your sister, and the doctor’s coming. What does she need you for?”

William jabbed a thumb at his own chest. “It’s my child!”

Giving up, Richard sighed and turned around to go back into the parlor.

“We should have gone to the hospital in Glasgow. I should have rented a house there, so we would be close enough,” William muttered to himself, running his hand through his hair as he paced.

A shrill voice called from above him. “Mr. Darcy, you are going to wear yourself out. Just go on about your business. Lizzy will be just fine, and we’ll call you when the baby arrives.”

He looked up and saw Mrs. Bennet descending the stairs.A wisp of her graying hair had come out of its clasp, and she was wiping her hands on a towel. “It will probably be a while—first babies usually are. It took me fourteen hours to have Jane.”

Fourteen hours! He didn’t think he could take fourteen hours of this boundless anxiety.He stared despondently at Mrs. Bennet.

She returned the stare, and then her expression softened.She reached the bottom of the stairs and sat down on the bench in the hallway.

“Come here and sit for a minute.” She patted the seat beside her.

He considered that he would rather do almost anything than try to make polite conversation with his mother-in-law, but worry had overridden every other emotion. He plunked down on the bench and leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees, his chin in his hand.

“My goodness, you certainly are a tall fellow.” Mrs. Bennet turned toward him, crossing her arms. “Look at you—when you sit on this little bench, your knees are almost up around your ears.”

He smiled in spite of his nerves.

“You shouldn’t worry, you know. Lizzy is doing fine. She’s healthy as an ox—always has been.And stubborn as one too.”

William gave her a withering look, which she missed entirely.

“I know you must want a boy, but you should prepare yourself, in case it’s not.”

“I couldn’t care less if it’s a boy or a girl, as long as I have a healthy wife and child at the end of this ordeal.”

“That’s probably a good attitude. Then you’re not disappointed.”

He rolled his eyes.

A cry echoed from upstairs, and he leapt to his feet.

Mrs. Bennet sighed. “Well, the noise has started. I suppose I’d best get up there. She’ll scare your poor sister to death.”

William sat back down, his head in his hands.

Elizabeth’s voice drifted downstairs, louder this time, and he could make out his name. She was calling for him! He looked at Mrs. Bennet, his voice fraught. “She wants me.”

His mother-in-law looked at him in surprise. “Why would you want to go in there?”

“She wants me,” he repeated. “She’s calling my name.”

For a few seconds, they looked at each other as if in a stand-off, but then he was shocked when a motherly smile crossed her face. She leaned over and laid her hand on his arm. “I guess it won’t hurt for a little while. But be warned, the doctor will probably chase you away when he gets here.”

William bolted to his feet and raced for the stairs.

“And don’t listen to anything she says,” Mrs. Bennet called after him. “She will let you touch her again someday, and she doesn’t really hate you.”She rose and slowly followed him up the stairs. “She loves you,” she continued softly, “almost as much as you love her.”

As it turned out, the doctor didn’t chase William out of Elizabeth’s birthing room.

By the time Dr. Nelson arrived, the entire event was over.

The good doctor ran upstairs just in time to see Mrs. Bennet laying the baby on Elizabeth’s stomach and matter-of-factly discussing with Mrs. Reynolds whether they should cut the umbilical cord and with what.

William sat on the bed behind his wife, with her leaning against his chest, his legs on either side of her, his arms around her in a protective embrace.

He was pale, his expression rather harried, but he also had a huge smile on his face.

The baby’s fists were clenched, eyes shut tight, and he was wailing loud enough to reach the rafters.

Mrs. Bennet whirled around when the door opened.“Oh, it’s you. It’s about time you got here.”

“I thought we had time. This is her first one.”

“Well, her first one decided he was coming without you.” She stepped back and let the doctor examine the scene. He called over the noise. “Mrs. Darcy? Can you hear me?”

Elizabeth looked up at him, exhaustion written all over her face, and gave him a weak little smile. William brushed a sweat-soaked lock of hair out of her face and kissed her temple.

“He’s got a good set of lungs,” the doctor said. Then he spoke loudly again. “Mr. Darcy, I need to cut the cord, deliver the afterbirth, and clean them both up a little. Everything looks just as it should be. Why don’t you go down and tell the rest of your family you have a son.”

“Will you be all right?” William spoke low in her ear.

Elizabeth barely nodded, and he slipped carefully out from behind her, laying her back gently on the stack of pillows. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

“You are my brave, strong darling. I’ll be right back.”

He descended the stairs, his shirt damp with her sweat—and his own. Georgiana, Richard, Maggie, and Ruth instantly appeared in the doorway. William looked at them, his expression tired but ecstatic.

“She’s doing fine. It’s a boy.” The four of them whooped and hollered for joy. Maggie jumped up and down, and Ruth insisted, “Wanna see baby! Wanna see baby!”

“Soon, Ruth darling,” Georgiana assured her. She hurried over to her brother and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m so happy for you! Congratulations!”

Richard stepped up, shook his hand and clapped him on the back. “Congratulations, brother!”

“Thank you. I’m going to go call the Gardiners, so they can tell Dr. Bennet and the girls.

They said they would drive over once the baby arrived, and I’m sure Elizabeth would like to see them after she’s rested up a little.

Think I’ll go clean up too, while the doctor finishes tending her.

” His brilliant, dimpled smile spread across his face and drew big grins from the rest of his family.

He thought his heart might explode with joy.

Sometime later, after the company had gone, William approached the bedroom door.

He peeked in and saw Elizabeth, sleeping soundly.

Beside the window, his mother-in-law sat in a rocking chair, looking down at the little bundle in her arms. She was smiling at the baby, cooing to him in soothing tones.

She looked up at the sound of the door opening.

“He’s awake—and just staring at me like he was trying to figure me out. Reminds me of you.” She rose from the chair. “Here. Would you like to hold him for a while? When he squawks again, she should probably try to feed him—it will help her milk come in.”

She directed William to sit in the rocker, placed the baby in his arms, and stood back to look at them. He looked up at her in wonder.

“I still can’t believe he’s here.” His voice cracked with emotion. “He’s”—he paused, racking his brain for the right word—“he’s amazing.”

“Well of course he is,” she replied. “He’s yours.” She patted William’s cheek. “I’m going back home.My poor nerves are shot.”

William grinned.

Mrs. Bennet stepped over to the bed and brushed a lock of Elizabeth’s hair off her brow. William watched in disbelief as she leaned over and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “You did well, little Lizzy. Mama loves you.” She turned to go.

“Mother Bennet?” William called in a quiet voice.

She stopped and turned, the doorknob in her hand. “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, William. Goodnight.”

The door clicked behind her. Darcy knew Mrs. Bennet would continue to try Elizabeth’s patience—and his for that matter—but he couldn’t help but notice she had stayed when the going got rough today.He supposed there were times when his mother-in-law could be...tolerable.

The moon rose, casting an ethereal light across the room. William moved the baby around until he held him on his lap, large hands cradling the round head, tiny feet resting against his stomach. The baby stared at him with a dark, penetrating gaze.

“Well, little man. What should Mother and I name you?”

The little one responded by screwing his face up into a wrinkled grimace and letting out a squall that shattered the peaceful quiet. Elizabeth woke and turned toward the pair sitting by the window, bathed in moonlight.

She rose up on her elbows. “I should try to feed him. Mama and Georgiana say he needs to drink the newborn’s milk often, because it will make him strong and healthy.

”She eased herself gingerly up against the head of the bed, wincing as she tried to sit up.

She gave up about halfway there and opened her arms for her son.

William stood and laid the baby in her embrace.

She put him to her breast like her sister-in-law had shown her, and the squalling ceased as he sucked greedily.

William sat down on the edge of the bed and put his hand on the baby’s head.

Then he leaned over and bestowed a reverent kiss on the soft, fuzz-covered warmth.

He could feel the little jaws working, working.

He whispered, a smooth, sure rush of unintelligible words.

After several seconds, William raised his head, an adoring gaze roaming his wife’s face.

“What did you tell him?” she asked.

“I wasn’t talking to him, Lizzy. I was thanking God for him—and for you.”

Her eyes filled with tears. She smiled through them. “I suppose we need to finally decide on a name for him.”

“He and I were just discussing that.”

“Oh? And what was his opinion on the matter?”

“He didn’t seem too interested. He just squawked at me, so I did what any good father would do.”

“You did?”

“Yes,” he said, feigning complete seriousness. “I gave him to his mother.”

She laughed.It was amazing to her that Mr. Serious managed to make her laugh so often.

Her laugh faded to a tender smile as she gazed down at her son:body tense, fists clenched, eyes shut, deep in concentration on his task. After a few minutes, he relaxed into a limp, slumbering creature, jaw slack. She disengaged him and winced.

“This is going to take some getting used to,” she said, grimacing. “So, what are your thoughts on the name?” A mighty yawn escaped her.

“Lizzy, you’re exhausted. We can talk about this later.”

“No, I think I want to decide now. At one time, you were thinking about Richard.”

“Yes, but that was before I knew he and Gi were expecting.If their baby is a boy, they may want to name him Richard.”

“That’s true.Would you want to name our son William?”

He shook his head.“Too confusing, and I don’t like the nicknames for William. What about Thomas, after your father?”

“Perhaps. What was your father’s name?”

“George Joseph.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes in thought. She was quiet for so long, he thought she might have dropped off to sleep again. Rising to leave her in peace, he felt her stir and saw her tired eyes open. He sat back down carefully so as not to disturb the sleeping baby.

“I like the name Joseph, and I was thinking, perhaps his middle name could be Edward, after my uncle. If he hadn’t suggested my family come and live at Longbourn, you and I wouldn’t have met, you see.”

William smiled broadly. “Joseph Edward Darcy. I think it’s perfect.”He leaned over and kissed the little head again. “Sweet dreams, little Joseph.”

He lifted his head and looked intently at his wife. “It’s extraordinary, isn’t it? As if the heavens opened and he fell right into our lives.”

“It was a little more involved than that,” she said in a wry tone.

He kissed her one more time.“I do love you, my wife.”He trailed a finger over her brow and cupped her cheek in his hand.

“Now”—he sat back and reached to take Joseph out of her arms—“he’s sleeping, at least for a while, and so should you be.” He gently swaddled the baby and laid him in the bassinet beside the bed.

“William?”

“Yes?”

“I would like it very much if you slept here tonight.”

“If you wish,” he said, pleased at her invitation.

“I do wish.”

“Then I will be back shortly.”

“William?” she said as he opened the door.

“Hmm?”

“I love you too.”

William smiled, dimples flashing. “Sleep, darling.”

She leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. Very quietly, he shut the door behind him.