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“Will—come here! There is someone who would very much like to meet you.”

As he drew closer, he could see his wife’s face wreathed in exhausted smiles as she held a small blanket-wrapped bundle to her breast.

She held out her free hand to her husband and he gingerly eased his way onto the bed, as if any sudden movement might cause the whole structure to collapse like a soap bubble.

He had barely settled his back against the headboard when she shifted the bundle into his arms and a pair of enormous blue eyes stared up at him owlishly.

“The doctor says that his eyes will probably darken to brown.”

“Good heavens… wait—did you say ‘he’? ” exclaimed the new father.

“Oh, poor Will—did no one tell you yet? Yes, love, please allow me to introduce you to Mr. Bennet George Darcy, who arrived in this world with ten fingers and ten wee little toes, and a mighty wail that shook the roof tiles.”

The new father was so overwhelmed that he said nothing for a time, fascinated as two tiny fists grabbed hold of the finger he had extended to brush his son’s forehead. “He’s beautiful. Thank you,” he added, leaning over to kiss his wife’s brow.

“Hmmm… I cannot argue—indeed, I can barely look away from him.” She reached over to stroke a little foot before tucking the blanket around it again.

“Bennet…”

“Mmmm…” responded Lizzy drowsily. “I think he looks like a Ben—though he has your nose, you know. A beautiful, beautiful baby boy…”

“But ‘George’? Are you sure?”

“It would honor your father, of course, but also your grandmother, Lady Edna… I’ve come to like her very much from your stories, and from reading her journals.”

“Bennet George Darcy…” repeated her husband. “Ben…” The babe gurgled and grabbed his father’s finger, thus cementing his fate.

Both mother and son were drifting off to sleep when a light tap came from the servant’s door.

Before Darcy could decide what to do, Mrs. Reynolds herself peeked into the room.

Assessing the situation quickly, she opened the door a little wider to allow Tilly in with a tray.

“We brought up some beef broth for Mrs. Darcy… I know she’s exhausted, but it will help her to recover. ”

“I’m lying right here,” muttered Elizabeth grumpily, though with something less than her usual verve.

Without breaking her stride, the housekeeper merely responded, “Of course, ma’am,” and helped adjust the pillows behind the new mother.

Lizzy took a sip of the broth and then looked toward the older woman with an expression that wavered between defiance and mortification. “Mrs. Reynolds, I believe I may have said some things to you over the last few hours for which I should apologize…”

The housekeeper looked up from the blanket she was folding. “Don’t give it another thought, dear.” Taking in the little family, her usually stoic face softened into a gentle smile. “I’m very, very glad it all turned out so well.”

When Tilly took back the empty dish and went off to see to some other duty, Mrs. Reynolds appeared to take hold of herself again. “Sir, will you be informing the staff of the happy news yourself, or would you prefer me to do it?”

Darcy was so fascinated by the baby in his arms that it required a gentle poke from his wife to gain his attention. Once Mrs. Reynolds had repeated the question, he looked to Elizabeth. “Do you mind?”

Doing her best to suppress the wave of anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her at the thought of letting little Ben out of her sight, she smiled; “Yes, of course… keep him wrapped up, though, won’t you?

And don’t let Charles take him… Jane said something about him dropping John Thomas on his head… ”

A great yawn split her face and Darcy leaned over to kiss her forehead again. “I shall carry him as if he is the most precious treasure in all the world, for that is exactly what he is, but for you.”

Lizzy smiled warmly and pulled his head down for a quick kiss before breaking into another yawn.

“Sleep, dearest, and I shall bring young Master Bennet back to you before you know we’ve gone.”

Lizzy settled deeper into the covers with a contented look on her face. When Tilly had returned to sit with her mistress, Mrs. Reynolds led the Master down to the servants’ hall where most of the indoor and even some of the outdoor staff were gathered.

Observing the anticipation on their faces, Darcy could not have been prouder to share the event with those who had cared for him and his family all his life.

Holding the babe aloft so that all might see him, he called, “It gives me great pleasure to present Master Bennet George Darcy, the heir of Pemberley.”

The staff cheered loudly and, though it was a joyous sound, it did of course awaken the young gentleman in question. How such a tiny being could wail so loudly was beyond Darcy’s comprehension, but it pleased the servants and saved the new father from having to make a longer speech.

By the time Darcy had introduced young Ben to his various relations in the library and was able to retreat upstairs, his son had ceased crying and appeared to be completely occupied with trying to fit his fist into his mouth.

True to his word, Will returned the babe to his mother’s side before Elizabeth had woken, and, having tucked the sleepy baby on the bed between them, he lay down and watched them both until he fell asleep himself.

The subsequent weeks passed quietly for the little family; Pemberley seemed to focus inward for a time, celebrating the new life and what it meant for the continuity of the Darcys and all those who depended on that family for their livelihoods.

Not a few times, Elizabeth laughed at herself for having once proclaimed that it would be no trouble at all to schedule Georgiana’s wedding for barely three months after her confinement.

Though it was to be an intimate family affair and plans for a great deal of the program had been set in place earlier in the spring, now that Ben was born she found that she had very little interest in anything else.

Fortunately, Lady Matlock and her widowed daughter, Lady Lucy, were gratified to be of use.

The pair settled into guest suites at Pemberley with a sense of purpose that their mourning for Lord Ashbourne had recently denied them.

Elizabeth worried that Georgiana might be hurt by her sister’s lack of attention, but it quickly became apparent that Miss Darcy was almost as giddy as her brother over little Master Bennet.

Once she had been churched, Elizabeth made an effort to spend more time working on housekeeping matters in her study or visiting with her guests in the public rooms. However, she found she liked having Ben near her rather than leaving him in the nursery, and it soon became commonplace for a gurgling baby in a basket to be observed beside the Mistress of Pemberley’s desk, and on more than a few occasions the same was observed in the master’s study.

One day, barely a week before Georgiana’s wedding, Elizabeth was so perplexed by her correspondence that she almost forgot to hand Ben and his basket off to the nursery maid before going in search of her husband.

“Good heavens,” she muttered, turning the letter over to reread a section as she walked down the hall.

When a second inspection did not change its content, she shook her head and made her way to the master’s study.

She had only just knocked on the door, however, when the sound of an approaching carriage caught her attention.

Thus, when Mr. Darcy called “Come,” she barely greeted him before turning to the window.

“Why, Jane has come!” she exclaimed.

“Were you expecting her?”

“Not at all… although,” she glanced down at the page in her hand, “I believe I can guess the reason for her visit.”

When Fitzwilliam raised his eyebrows, she merely handed him the letter and then went to meet Mrs. Bingley.

“Lizzy!” Jane barely took the time to hug her sister. “Well? What do you think of this news from Mama?”

Mrs. Darcy laughed and took her sister’s arm. “I only just read her letter myself and was going to seek Mr. Darcy’s opinion.” After sending for tea, the ladies settled in the sitting room. “It is possible, I suppose.”

“Oh Lizzy, do be serious. Our mother must be nearing fifty!”

“Improbable, to be sure, but for myself, I have learnt not to dismiss anything as impossible. After all, I did once say that Mr. Darcy was the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed upon to marry, and look at us now!”

“Lizzy, do be serious,” repeated Jane. She withdrew some papers from her reticule and handed them to her sister. “Here, read the letter Mama sent me. May I see yours? Does it say anything more?”

“Hmmm…” Elizabeth began skimming the letter. “It appears very similar, although mine did not include the news that Miss Maria Lucas is being courted.” Hearing Jane make an impatient noise, she glanced up. “Oh, Fitzwilliam has my letter, Jane. He will be here in just a moment.”

Before Mrs. Bingley could say anything, Mr. Darcy himself appeared at the doorway.

“Ladies,” he bowed to Jane. “An express arrived not long after your carriage with messages from your father for both of you.” He handed over the letters.

“Apparently the rider stopped at Holloway first but your butler was sensible enough to send him along here.”

Darcy settled on the sofa beside his wife in order to read over her shoulder while the sisters shared a look and cracked the seals.

Longbourn, Hertfordshire

Dear Lizzy,

By now you and Jane have no doubt read your mother’s letters.

I fear that she sent them off without my knowledge, else I would have tried to prepare you.

First, allow me to reassure you, my dear.

Your mother is not expecting another child, regardless of what she may have written. It is quite impossible.