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The following day Elizabeth rose just as she had the previous day, and was helped to the chair beside the fireplace by Mrs Reynolds and her lady’s maid. Before the housekeeper left the room Elizabeth inquired of her, “Is Mr Darcy awake?”

“Yes, he is,” she replied. “Shall I inform him that you request his presence?”

She nodded, “Yes, please.”

While she awaited his knock, she steeled her nerves and sat up straighter in the chair. When the knock came, she breathed in heavily, then called out clearly, “Enter.” Mr Darcy opened the door.

“Mrs Reynold’s said you wished to see me?”

Elizabeth held her hand out to the chair opposite her, “ Yes, if you have a few minutes.”

He gave a small smile, stepping in and sitting in the chair she indicated.

Before she could lose her nerve, she boldly blurted out, “I know what the doctor has said, and I understand your desire to follow his directives, but not knowing is causing me much more anxiety than knowing possibly could. So, if you will, please,” she implored with her eyes as much as her words, “I wish to know what has become of my family.”

Darcy looked into her eyes for a long moment, his jaw flexing and relaxing over and again.

He could not look into her imploring eyes for another second, so he turned away to stare out the window.

Knowing Elizabeth as he did, he knew she spoke the truth.

As much as he did not wish to reveal such news to her, he knew it was his place as her husband to be the one to tell her of these last few years.

He turned back, seeing that her eyes had not moved from his features.

He gave a resignated nod and finally broke the silence by stating, “If this tale is too much, you must stop me. I cannot bear it if your health is at risk.” At her nod of acceptance, he shifted in his seat, sitting forward and resting his elbows on his knees, leaning closer to her as he began.

“Jane has said that the last memory you have is of the ball at Netherfield?” At her nod, he continued.

“There is much that took place after that – too much to acquaint you of the details of right now – but Lydia was married to George Wickham the following year. They were very unhappy during the first few years of their marriage, and Lydia spent as much time with your parents as she did with her husband where he was stationed in the north. They were finally blessed with growing their family, when suddenly Lydia found herself without a husband. He was shot in a duel when a gambling debt was not repaid. While I cannot condone the abuses Wickham took out on his wife, it was never my desire to see Lydia a widow at so young an age.”

Elizabeth’s hands went to her mouth as she sucked in a breath. “Oh, my dear Lydia! Oh, how distressing for her!” Her hands began to shake, and she took comfort in the way in which Mr Darcy reached for them, swallowing them up in his own to give her comfort.

“Unfortunately, that is only the beginning of the Bennet family’s troubles.

Your sister was so distressed with the cause of her husband’s death and with the thought of being a single mother at such a young age and with no prospects other than to return to her father’s care, that she became very ill, refusing to eat most days.

She could hardly remove herself from her bedchamber, and your mother took to her bedside most days trying to convince your sister to take in sustenance.

This took its toll on the whole household.

Kitty could stand it no longer to see her most beloved sister in such a state of misery, so she removed from Longbourn and went to London to be with your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.

Lydia eventually entered her confinement and gave birth to a daughter, but being in such ill-health, she did not live through the ordeal. ”

Elizabeth did not have any words for such news.

She did, however, find much comfort in Mr Darcy’s grasping of her hands, his thumb rubbing lightly over her knuckles and his fingers squeezing her own in such a manner that it made her heart beat faster.

Trying to forget such a physical reaction to a man she hardly knew, she asked, “What about… what happened to the babe?”

William’s lips rose on the corners just a little.

“I knew you would have compassion for the child.” He released her hands and sat back in the chair.

“When we heard the news, we, along with the Bingleys, set out for Longbourn immediately. Upon our arrival three days later, our dear Rose was placed in your arms, and she has been as our own daughter since that very day. She is currently in the nursery with her brother.”

She blushed at the thought of the intimacies they must have had to produce a son, her cheeks blazing hotly with thoughts she certainly could never verbalize. She had to ask though, so with a resigned breath, she replied, “We have a son then?”

He smiled, his angular features softening as he nodded. “Yes, we have a son, James Bennet Darcy, who will very soon be four years of age, and we have Rose Francis Darcy, who is two years of age.”

She looked at him with all sincerity, saying “Thank you.”

“For what do you thank me?”

“For caring for my family as you have,” she stated.

He smiled, “They became my family the day we wed. There is nothing I would not do for their comfort and felicity.”

She cocked her head and looked at him. “You are a puzzle I cannot seem to solve, sir.”

He chuckled. “This is not the first time you have said as much to me, though it has been a few years since the last time I heard it.”

She sighed heavily, “Now will you tell me of my Papa? Why does no one mention him in their letters? Why has he not written to me lately? Please… I need to know.”

He looked at her sincerely. “Are you certain you wish to hear?”

She thought for a moment, then replied, “I think the truth shall be easier on me than the unknown. My mind is so full of thoughts that I find myself grieving deeply without knowing the particulars, so what could it possibly hurt to know the truth?”

He nodded. “Then I will try to answer all that your heart desires to know, but Elizabeth, please, I implore you to let me know if anything I say is too distressing for you to hear.” At her acceptance, he took a deep breath, then began the tale.

“After Lydia’s passing, your mother and father grieved so deeply that it caused a rift in the family.

Your mother refused to leave Lydia’s bedchamber, and your father refused to leave his book room.

After several months Mary was so affected that she moved to Meryton to your Uncle and Aunt Philips’ home.

As I said earlier, Kitty had already joined your Uncle and Aunt Gardiner in London. ”

Elizabeth asked, “Is Mary still with the Philips’?”

He shook his head, “No, she married Andrew Simmons, your Uncle Philips’ law partner, last year.

She lives above the law office in a small apartment with her husband, and they are expecting their first child very soon.

They expect to be parents before Easter.

That is why she has not come to your bedside during your distressing illness.

Andrew is kept very busy with the practice, as your uncle has given most of the business over to him.

He is also in the midst of finding a place to purchase so that they will be more comfortable than they would be in the tiny clerk’s apartment above the law offices.

The space was never meant to accommodate a family, or even a married man.

Your sister is happy though, and that is what matters most. However, she is unable to travel at this time. ”

Elizabeth nodded, “Yes, I imagine she is quite uncomfortable if she is to be delivered so soon. Mary was always one to prefer to remain at home anyway. She did not even wish to visit our relations in London the few times she was offered the opportunity.”

He chuckled, “Andrew would never let her leave, even if she wished it at this time. Your mother tried to force Mary to join her when she first heard word of your accident, but Andrew refused to allow it. Your uncle Philips sent your mother here in his carriage.”

“Jane said she was turned away by you and she is currently very upset.”

Darcy gave a small nod. “I have apologized for sending her away, and have had her favorite flowers sent from a hot house in London in hopes that she will forgive my brusque words. I should have held my tongue better,” he looked deep into Elizabeth’s eyes as he revealed a part of his soul to her, “I simply could not let Pemberley turn into the morose dwelling Longbourn did after your sister…” He swallowed hard, unable to finish the statement.

William took a deep breath, breaking eye contact, and said, “Your mother has written to me, the letter arriving just yesterday, and she has forgiven me for such actions, and insists she must return when the roads are clear.”

Elizabeth’s face fell. The last thing she wanted right now was to deal with her mother’s hysterical moods. “And how long will that be?”

“Well,” he said, looking out the window to the white landscape beyond, “I fear it may be several more months before she can make the journey safely.”

She gave a small nod, grateful for such news, though she felt as if she were a horrible daughter for having such thoughts. She certainly was not as angelic in thought as Jane was. “Thank you for caring for my mother,” she said. “Now will you tell me of Papa?”