Page 9 of Aunt Felicity

“M ama!” Felicity exclaimed as soon as her mother alighted from the Fitzwilliam carriage. She had taken the post coach to Ramsgate from Meryton as her husband could not spare the Bennet carriage or the horses from the farm for the days it would have taken to travel to and from Ramsgate. Reggie had been waiting for his mother-in-law at the post stop.

“Felicity, my dearest daughter, as happy as I am to see you, should you be outside?” Beth asked as she looked at how swollen with child her daughter was. “I am sure your son or daughter will not make you wait too much longer.” Beth hugged her as well as she could with the belly between them.

“You sound like my husband who would wrap me in cotton fluff if he was able.” Felicity looked at her grinning husband lovingly. “Until I am unable, I intend to keep moving.”

Just then there was a streak of blond hair as Andrew, who had escaped his nurse’s hands, launched himself into Grandmama’s arms. Thanks to his momentum, he almost knocked his grandmother over. Only his father’s quick thinking and support averted the disaster.

“Gwanmama’s here,” Andrew told anyone who cared to listen. “Come Gwanmama.” Andrew pulled at her hand to bring her into the house.

His smiling parents followed their soon-to-be four-year-old and his grandmother inside. He led them up to the drawing room. Felicity followed slowly, leaning on her husband for support. Perhaps it was time to avoid climbing too many stairs.

“Mama, would you like to wash and change first? Mrs Dodsley will show you to your suite on the family floor, and you can rejoin us when you are ready. Do you need to rest first?” Felicity enquired.

“What a nice looking home you have here,” Beth remarked. “I think some restorative tea would be nice, and then I will indeed rest for an hour or two,” Beth responded. She saw the look of disappointment on her grandson’s countenance. “Andy dear, Grandmama will be with you for a long time so we will have as much time together as you desire.”

Andrew perked up, especially when his mother handed him a small cup of hot chocolate and one of his favourite biscuits.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Before the end of her mother’s first week in her house, Felicity felt the tell-tale signs of labour. Her lower back had been hurting for the last day or two, but now the pains were unmistakable. At first, she said nothing, and although she held her peace, her mother gave her a knowing smile. Once the pains started to come quicker, Felicity knew it was time to begin her lying in. They were seated in the private sitting room in the master suite. It had been some days since Felicity had attempted to negotiate stairs.

“Reggie dear, we need to send for the midwife,” Felicity stated as she winced with a new pain.

He did not have to be told twice. Reggie was out of his chair like a shot to see the butler to have the midwife and their physician summoned. Next, he went to the nursery where Nurse was watching over Andy while he napped and asked her to keep him there until further notice.

“I wondered how long my stubborn girl would take to acknowledge she was labouring,” Beth smiled as she assisted her daughter to stand.

“It does not surprise me that you knew, but I thank you for allowing me to move to the birthing room in my own time.” Felicity had not a doubt that had her mother intimated anything to Reggie, he would have carried her to bed himself.

“In not too many minutes, had you said nothing, I would have,” Beth admitted.

Beth helped her daughter to the birthing chair, and it was not long after that the midwife and doctor arrived. Neither mother nor daughter was surprised Reggie had wanted a physician present, although he waited in the study with Reggie in case he was needed.

Unlike his brother, the second son born to Felicity and Reginald Fitzwilliam on the eighteenth day of January 1782, arrived kicking and screaming after four hours of labouring. He was a larger babe than his older brother, and unlike Andy who had sandy blond hair like his father, the tufts of hair on their second son were dark like his mother and maternal grandmother’s.

As soon as she knew her daughter was well and had come through the childbirth without any problems, after being on her feet for about four hours, Beth made for her bedchamber to rest.

Once Felicity had been changed and moved to her bed, with the newborn hungrily suckling, Reggie entered the chamber to meet his new son. Just like he had when he first beheld Andy, Reggie once again marvelled in the miracle of childbirth. With their son satiated, Reggie placed a cloth on his forearm and gently took the babe from his mother. He leaned him gently on his arm and patted his back until he emitted a little belch. He sat on a chair next to the bed and cradled the newborn in his arms.

“What should we name him?” Reggie asked.

“I think he looks like a Richard. For whom were you named Richard?” Felicity wondered.

“My mother’s brother who passed when he was young, which is the reason why I was the one to inherit this house and my grandmother’s fortune. I too like the name Richard,” Reggie explained and then agreed. “What of a second name, or does he not need one.”

“I like a name I heard in Scotland during our brief foray into that country. Colin was one of the McTavish’s sons. What say you to Richard Colin Fitzwilliam?”

“I agree with you that name suits our second son. Welcome to the world, Rich,” Reggie said proudly. “He is fast asleep; do you want him on the bed with you or in the bassinet next to the bed? I need to go tell Andy he is a big brother now.”

“On the bed next to me, please my love. You can bring Andy to meet his little brother.”

Reggie placed their slumbering son on the bed next to his beloved, kissed her forehead, and made for the door. He found Andrew playing with blocks on the floor as the nursemaid sat knitting while she watched him with a smile on her face.

“Papa,” Andrew looked up from his game with his big blue eyes watching his father intently. “You come pway wif me?”

“Not right now, Andy. I have come to tell you that your mama has gifted you a baby brother,” Reggie said as he squatted down so his face was close to his older son’s.

“I have a bwudder?” Andrew confirmed as his face lit up. “Pway wif him now?”

“Rich, his full name is Richard, is too little to play with you yet, but when he gets older and stronger, I am sure he will love being with you. You are a big brother now, so you will have to teach him how to play games and help him as he gets older.”

Andrew’s eyebrows knit as he considered his father’s words. “I see Wich now?” he requested.

Reggie nodded. Andy stood and raised his arms, and Reggie picked his son up. He carried the inquisitive boy to Felicity’s chambers. Andrew was unimpressed when he saw the little face and a tuft of dark hair protruding from the swaddling.

“My bwudder is not doing anyfing,” he declared.

“No, my good boy, he is just as you were when you were a little babe. He needs to sleep much so he can grow into a strong boy like you,” Felicity explained.

“Remember what I told you, Andy, one day he will be running and playing with you,” Reggie reminded his son.

“I go pway wif my blocks now, when Wich can pway, I come back,” Andrew stated with a serious look on his countenance.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Over the next two months as little Richard grew from strength to strength, and contrary to his prior assertions, Andrew spent much time instructing his ‘bwudder’ on how to play games he enjoyed.

Beth Bennet could not think of a better way to pass the time. She was in a household where love and respect abounded, where she was appreciated and not merely tolerated as she felt she was at Longbourn, and best of all, she could not get enough of the time she spent with her two grandsons.

Andy’s fourth birthday, on the second to last day of February, was the first one of his she had attended. Letters of congratulations had been received from Anne and Robert Darcy, as well as Reggie’s mother who wrote to both her son and daughter-in-law regularly since she had been freed from her late husband’s dictates. In Anne’s last letter she had spoken of how much she wished the babe inside of her, who seemed to know to kick whenever she was trying to sleep, would be born.

As much as she would have loved to be with Anne when her friend and sister gave birth, Felicity knew it was too soon for Richard to travel, and she would not go without him. In this, Reggie gave his full-throated support. He pointed out that among others, Anne would have her mother and mother-in-law with her when her time came.

During the last week of March, a letter arrived, delivered by a Pemberley courier. Andy and Rich were both asleep in the nursery under Nurse’s careful watch. Felicity was sitting in their private sitting room, her mother sat on the settee next to her, both of them making new gowns, socks, and hats for Richard, when Reggie entered the sitting room with a missive in hand.

“This is from Robert; I predict good news May I read it to both of you?” Reggie requested. When neither lady objected, he broke the seal.

25 March 1782

Pemberley

Felicity and Fitzwilliam,

It is with great pleasure and pride I announce the fact that Andy and Rich have a male cousin to play with one day. William Alexander Darcy, the heir to Pemberley and all Darcy holdings was born at 3 in the morning on this day.

Anne laboured bravely for almost 24 hours, and although she is tired, she is extremely happy to have provided us with a child. As there is no entailment to the male line, we did not care if she delivered a son or daughter, but we are well pleased that William has joined our family.

Both my mother and Anne’s mother could not have been more joy filled to be present at the birth of their grandson. For my mother, her first, while your mother now has three grandsons.

I am charged to tell you now that she has witnessed Anne’s delivery, Lady Angeline will be departing to join you in a fortnight. She cannot wait to meet her older grandchildren. She told us that Lord Matlock has not succeeded in getting his wife with child again. Also, she fears they are both sick with the same disease which Anne suspects Jefferson has.

Would you believe that the termagant in Kent sent a letter some weeks before the birth telling Anne she should not give birth before, in Catherine’s words, her ‘older and more deserving’ sister has become with child? There are no limits to the depths of your sister’s stupidity! Even before that, I read and cast Catherine’s vitriol into the fire; from now on I will do so without reading the letter.

Enough about your debauched siblings. I hope you will escort your mother back to Pemberley in June or July and spend the summer with us. By then my newest nephew should be able to travel should he not?

With regards to all of you,

R.A.D

“I am so very happy for Anne and Robert,” Felicity enthused. “There is nothing she said about your older siblings I am surprised to hear.”

“The less I hear of them the better. Annie never mentions them any longer; I assume Robert is not aware of that. What say you to the summer in Derbyshire?” Reggie queried his wife.

“As long as we do not depart before late July, I would like that. Unfortunately, Mama will have to return to Longbourn at some point, and by then Rich will be more than six months old, a good age to travel,” Felicity stated. She turned to her mother. “You know I would prefer that you never leave us, Mama.”

“Well I know it, my darling girl. Even with the letters Dr Paulson writes to my husband each month, he will expect me to return at some point,” Beth responded sadly.

“In that case, you will not return to Longbourn until we travel north. I will wear my veil when we enter Meryton, and we will take you from here to the Red Lion Inn. My mother will not ride post to go home. All you have to do once home is to convince Mr Bennet you need to spend winter and spring at the coast each year. I am sure Mr Richmond will assist you in that. If I cannot have you with me all the time, then half of the year will have to do.” Felicity stood arms akimbo. How she disliked Mr Bennet for this subterfuge he had forced them to take in order to see one another.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Lady Angeline Fitzwilliam, the Dowager Countess of Matlock arrived in Ramsgate in the middle of April. When she saw her son, who she had not seen for almost five years, she burst into tears as she held onto him as if her life depended on it.

“I am so sorry, I am so sorry,” Lady Angeline repeated between sobs.

“Mother, with the way my father controlled your every move, there was nothing you could do while he still lived. The only good thing Jefferson ever did was agreeing that you could go live at Pemberley as long as they paid for your upkeep. Had it been our choice, we would never have been parted,” Reggie soothed his mother. “You bear no blame in this at all, it was my late father who caused the breach, and he alone is responsible for the time we did not see one another.” He looked his mother in the eyes as her tears ceased. “You are here now, and there is no one left who can forbid you from seeing us. May I introduce my wife, sons, and mother-in-law to you, Mother?”

The Dowager gave a watery nod. “I would enjoy meeting Mrs Fitzwilliam."

Felicity pulled her mother-in-law into a warm hug. “Now Mother, there will be no formality between us, you will address me as Felicity. The young man in my arms is your grandson, Richard Colin. Your eldest grandchild is yet napping, and you will meet Andrew James as soon as he wakes. I am surprised he managed to fall asleep as he was so eager to meet his other grandmother.”

“I like her, Reggie,” Lady Angeline declared.

“As I knew you would, Mother,” Reggie grinned.

Soon the two grandmothers were speaking like they were the oldest and best friends. Formality between them disappeared almost as soon as they began to speak.

After Felicity delivered Richard to his cot, she called for tea. They had just begun drinking their chosen beverages when the door was pushed open and in marched Andy. He kissed his mama, papa, and grandmama. Then he stopped in front of the lady he had not met and looked her over. “Are you my grandmother?” he asked. He was very proud that in the last couple of months he had begun to pronounce words properly. “I know I have never met you before,” he added seriously. He gave the lady a wobbly bow.

“Yes, young man, I am your Grandmother Angeline, you must be Andrew,” the Dowager replied with a wide smile.

Had she not known she was looking at Reggie’s son, she would have sworn she was looking at her own son at the same age. The sad thing was that unlike Jefferson, who resembled her side of the family, the son her late husband had cut from the family looked a lot like he had, which meant so did the little boy standing before her.

As soon as the lady identified herself, Andy climbed into the waiting embrace of his grandmother’s open arms, and with her assistance he climbed onto his grandmother’s lap. She offered him her cheek, and Andrew obliged her by delivering a rather moist kiss.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

All too soon it was time for Beth Bennet to return to Longbourn. They travelled in two conveyances: the Dowager Countess’s being the second. Just outside of Meryton, Beth joined her friend Angeline. While the other carriage continued through Meryton, she would be delivered home in the large traveling coach.

When her husband and son asked the inevitable questions, she would say she had been offered a ride with a friend she had met in Ramsgate. It was mostly true!

A half hour later the dowager joined them again a little north of Meryton, and as planned, Nurse, Andy, and Richard were transferred to Lady Angeline’s coach.