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“ RICHARD FITZWILLIAM !” the normally serene Jane yelled as she was gripped by another labour pain, “how could you do this to me!” As the pain subsided Jane relaxed the death grip she had on her mother’s and Elizabeth’s hands on either side of her.

Her in-laws had arrived from Snowhaven a day before she entered her confinement, so Lady Elaine was mopping her daughter-in-law’s brow with a cold damp cloth.

The pains had started early that morning with a dull ache in her back, but had intensified as the sun rose higher into the clear Hertfordshire sky.

Sir Frederick had confirmed that she was in labour and had recommended that she walk the halls of the manor if she felt able.

Jane walked with Ladies Elaine and Rose each holding an arm until the pains became too much for her.

She had been led to the bed over two hours previously.

Richard had come to comfort her but as he arrived without a sword in his hand, he was no match for the midwife when she ordered him out of the birthing chamber with her hands on her hips and a look on her face that brooked no opposition.

Richard had decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and after kissing his wife, retired to the library to be kept company by the men of the family.

All of the men heard Jane’s voice thunder her husband’s name.

Said husband’s first instinct was to sprint up the stairs, but his father-in-law placed a hand on his shoulder.

“She will be well Son,” he soothed. “Sarah was no less vocal as her pain came, and you see how hale and healthy she is today.”

“Yes, I know that,” Richard said wishing that there was a way to comfort his wife. “But Jane and Marie are not…” Richard stopped himself at the look his father-in-law gave him, daring him to finish his statement.

“Women have brought babes into the world since the time after the creation, my son,” Lord Reggie said as he placed a comforting hand on his son’s shoulder. “Besides,” he said with a smirk, “can you imagine how William will be when Lizzy starts her confinement?”

“Thank you for making me think of that, Uncle Reggie,” William’s reply was heavy with its sarcasm. “However, if it will lighten Richard’s mood, I give him leave to think of that scenario.”

“Take it from one who has waited for his wife to deliver his children many times,” Lord Thomas assured his son-in-law, “you will soon be holding your son or daughter, and then all of this will be forgotten.”

“Have some more of Father Bennet’s fine brandy Richard.” Andrew offered his brother a liberal pour of the brown liquid which his brother gulped down as one would water.

With Sir Frederick standing by if he was needed, Longbourn’s midwife, the very same one who had delivered all of the Bennet children, told the Countess that it was time to push.

A few minutes later there was the wail of a babe who was most indignant at being expelled from the only home he had ever known, and was cleaned up while the midwife delivered the afterbirth.

After a cursory examination, Sir Frederick pronounced Jane to be doing as well as could be expected and that there was no excess of bleeding.

He departed the room to wait in the hall until he was needed again.

Now that he was clean, the tiny new Viscount was placed in his mother’s waiting arms. It did not take long for the babe to latch onto her breast and begin to take nourishment.

Even though it was one of the mores of the Ton to have a wetnurse feed their babies, Jane, with Richard’s wholehearted endorsement, had decided to feed her child herself.

“Did you and Richard choose names?” Elizabeth asked as she marvelled at her new nephew. He did not have much hair, but what he had was the sandy blonde hair of his father.

“We did choose names for both genders,” Jane said contentedly.

She was sore yes, but none of that bothered her as she watched her son drink at her breast. “For the boy,” she looked at her Aunt Rose, “we chose Sedgwick Reginald Thomas Fitzwilliam.” Rose sniffed back a tear as she looked at her late husband’s namesake who did not seem to have a care in the world as he had his fill.

“Welcome to the family Viscount Broadmoor,” Marie beamed with happiness as she stared at her nephew.

Lady Anne slipped out of the birthing chamber after young Sed was satiated and had dropped off to sleep to once again make her way to the library. The men all stood as one when she entered the library, “Richard, your wife and babe are both doing well,” she informed her nephew with a smile.

“Do I have a son or daughter, Aunt Anne?” Richard asked excitedly.

“Go to them and you will find out,” his aunt waved him leave.

Richard did not need to be told twice and shot out of the library like the ball expelled from a cannon, taking the stairs two or three at a time.

When he arrived at the birthing chamber, he saw the accoucheur seated in the hall.

Sir Frederick nodded toward the door and Richard rapped impatiently as he waited for someone to open it.

The door was opened by his mother who hugged and kissed him as she thanked him for gifting them the first grandchild in the family.

Richard hugged his mother and received kisses on his cheeks from the rest of the ladies, and after what seemed like a lifetime he was beside his beloved wife’s bed as she held a swaddled babe in her arms glowing with happiness.

“Come meet your heir, Richard,” Jane said as she indicated that Richard should sit on the chair next to her bed.

“We have a son?” he marvelled as he sat down next to his wife, “Thank you, Janey, for this gift,” he said as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

“Sedgwick Reginald Thomas Fitzwilliam, Viscount Broadmoor, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to your papa,” Jane said with a smile that glowed like the sun as she gently placed the sleeping bundle into Richard’s arms. As soon as he held his son, Richard was lost. He knew that just as he would for his wife, he would do anything to protect his son, including laying down his own life.

“He is so small and so handsome,” Richard exclaimed, eliciting smiles from all of his relatives.

“He is your son, Richard,” his wife said smiling. “He could not help but be handsome, just like his proud papa.”

“I am going to take him to meet his grandfathers and uncles,” Richard informed his wife as he slowly stood.

Little Sed squirmed in his papa’s arms a little but did not wake.

A footman opened the door to the library for Richard as he advanced with his treasure securely in his arms to where the men were sitting.

He approached the two grandfathers first. “I would like to introduce your grandson, little Sed.”

Lord Thomas choked back his emotions as Richard handed him his grandson named for his beloved brother.

It had been many years since a baby had commanded so much attention at Longbourn.

The tiny viscount was then passed to his other grandfather who was captured by the little babe as he screwed up his face as if he was about to release a cry, but then relaxed in Lord Reggie’s arms. William and James looked on as they ribbed Richard that it was lucky that little Sed did not look too much like his homely father.

It was with great reluctance that Richard relinquished his son to the nursemaid who took the new babe to the suite next to the birthing chamber that was being used as a temporary nursery.

Lady Sarah was heard joking that mayhap the suites should be converted to permanent birthing chambers and nursery if her daughters kept returning home for their confinements.

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

In mid-November, some days after Lady Georgiana Darcy turned seventeen, the various members of the family made their way to Town for the little season.

Only Richard, Jane, and Sed Fitzwilliam remained at Longbourn.

Sed had grown significantly in the almost month since his birth, but his parents were not ready to travel yet even though Jane had been churched.

The day after all the families arrived in town, the four soon-to-be out young ladies met at Bennet House.

Loretta was the only member of the group who had been absent from the lavish party that had been thrown to celebrate her cousin’s birthday.

“Tell me all about your birthday please Georgie,” Loretta begged after the tea service was cleared away from Mary and Kitty’s sitting room where they had congregated.

“More importantly, ask Georgie about the bracelet that she has not taken off since that day,” Mary teased her sister-in-law.

“Mary!” Georgiana managed as she blushed to the roots of her hair.

“Do not Mary me, Georgiana Darcy,” Mary said with a twinkle in her eye.

“You know as well as the rest of us that after James presented you with that diamond bracelet, none of the other gifts measured up. William told you about the new Broadwood Grand that was waiting for you at Darcy House, and you barely heard him.”

“William and Richard allowed James to present Georgie with such a gift?” Loretta asked as she admired the delicate white gold bracelet with diamonds and sapphires.

“As we are all family,” Kitty explained, “and James’s gift was not out of line with other gifts that were given, William and Richard agreed so, as you see it now resides permanently on our Georgie’s wrist,” Kitty finished with a sly look at Georgiana who was blushing again.

“Well, I for one understand how Georgie feels about her gift from the man that she loves,” Loretta said.

She saw that both Kitty and Mary were looking rather pleased with themselves so she added, “If Wes presented you such a present, would you want to remove it Mary?” Mary’s mouth closed as she looked on sheepishly.

“And you Miss Kitty, how would you react if your Mark were to gift you such a bauble?” Kitty’s mouth hung open, but no sound emitted from it.