Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (129 page)

Read Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice Online

Authors: Linda Wells

“Yes, but there is nothing wrong with her being reflective about all that has happened, in fact, I would be disappointed if she was not. However with Bingley and Jane staying at Darcy House, she is living with perpetually cheerful people. That should balance any difficulties she has.” He laughed as they rolled their eyes. “Elizabeth and I will be there soon to relieve her as well.”

“What ever happened with his sister, Miss Bingley? Fox lost interest quickly.”

“Oddly enough, the last I heard she had met up with young Walker.”

“Your old tenant at Sommerwald?” Samuel stared. “What does he have to offer?”

“The family
has
money, they could not afford my rent otherwise. They simply were pretending they owned Sommerwald and were caught out on it. I believe that they are seeking a small estate of their own now, to repair their reputation.” Darcy shrugged. “Who knows? I think that Elizabeth’s prediction is correct; Miss Bingley has realized her place in the world. I am just glad to give Bingley and Jane a place to relax away from her. And we will enjoy hosting them when we come to Town.” Then thinking of his wife, he laughed. “Poor Lizzy, as soon as she arrives, I can see Aunt Catherine descending to prepare her for the presentation. She and Aunt Grace have been hounding Jane and Sophie about it for months. I think that Bertie might just have convinced Anne to be presented as well. There is safety in numbers, I suppose. We must plan a grand party for them that day.”

Samuel laughed, “My ears are burning, Darcy. Did you suggest a party? A ball?”

“Elizabeth loves to watch people; she did not have that opportunity at our ball. I can bear it for her, after all, what has she just endured for me?” He rubbed his chin and nodded. “I will write to Richard and ask his mother to host something. It will be an excellent way to put the Fitzwilliams back in good books with society.”

“And all to make Elizabeth happy and to give you a dance.” Harding smiled. Darcy’s eyes were twinkling. “Well done, sir.”

Darcy inclined his head. “Thank you.”

“Harding . . .” Susan appeared at the door. “I do not want to be away from Hope all day . . .”

“Of course not, dear.” He set down his glass. “She is on the verge of taking her first steps. We dare not miss such a momentous event.”

“Heaven forbid.” Darcy held out his hand for his uncle and then for his cousin. “Thank you for sharing this day with us.”

“We would not miss it.” Samuel embraced him. “Give Elizabeth my love.”

“I will.” He smiled and walked to Susan. “Thank you, Aunt.”

“I did nothing but sit and gossip with your bride.” She hugged him tightly. “She has a letter from her mother proposing a match between Miss Collins and young Master Darcy.”

Darcy’s eyes widened and the family laughed, waving, as they took their leave of him. He stared at the empty doorway and reaching to rub his chest, stopped himself and instead turned his ring. “Lord, help me!”

“MR. DARCY, I am to do the night feedings! Where are you going with that baby?” The nurse said with a demanding whisper. The baby, swaddled tightly in a soft blue blanket, moved the only thing he could, and yawned.

“Anywhere I please, madam, and he obviously is not hungry.” Fixing her with an imperious, possessive stare, he made it perfectly clear who the Master of Pemberley was and walked from the nursery. He cuddled William in his arms and entered the master’s chamber where Elizabeth sat up, surrounded by pillows, hot water bottles, and bouquets of flowers. “You look to be in the lap of luxury, love, in the middle of a garden.”

“I think that was your intention, as unnecessary as it was.” She smiled at the man with the ridiculously happy grin on his face. “I think that you are in love.”

“Definitely.” He held her eyes. “I cannot express how much I love you.”

She blushed, “I meant our son.”

“I know. And I knew what I was saying.” Coming closer to the bed, he kicked off his slippers and then considered how to climb in beside her.

“You
could
hand him to me.” Darcy sent her a suspicious look. “Do you think that my goal is to steal him from you? I am offended!”

“Offended or not, I know it is your goal. You carried him for nine months. It is my turn.”

“I promise to give him back.” Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled. “I promise!”

Reluctantly he handed the baby into her outstretched arms and removing his robe, climbed in beside her. Elizabeth was looking down at the baby and touching the tiny hand that clutched the satin edge of his blanket.

Darcy bent and kissed his forehead. “He is beautiful.”

“Boys are handsome.” She corrected with a whisper.

“You are beautiful.” Darcy kissed her cheek, then drawing the covers over them both, cleared his throat. “Pardon me, my beautiful wife, but I trusted you with a promise?”

Elizabeth laughed softly and gave the baby up to his arms. “How can such a strong man be felled by the mere sight of his child?”

“Elizabeth, my heart is so full. I can hardly understand how it can continue to . . .” At a loss for words, he wrapped his arm around her and held the two loves of his life to his chest. “What has happened to me?”

“You are a father now.”

He looked down at his son. “I want him to grow up quickly so I can . . . I can read to him, and teach him to ride, and teach him to be proud, and love, and . . .” He saw her trying to stop from laughing, and the grin was back on his face, “I am babbling.”

She caressed his cheek, “Beautifully.”

“I have not babbled in at least a year. I thought that I had conquered this.” Elizabeth giggled. “And you, my love, sound like a young girl when you do that.”

Instantly she objected, “I am hardly an old crone!”

“No, not at all.” Darcy kissed her tenderly and then nibbled her throat. “When may we . . .”

“Fitzwilliam Darcy!” She gasped.

“Well, I had to ask. You do not want me to have unhappy testicles do you?” His lips twitched.

“Oh . . . I wish that you had forgotten that! I feel so foolish.” Elizabeth’s cheeks were bright red.

“Oh no, love. I will never forget the gems that fall from your lips.” Laughing, he kissed her cheek. “Or the warmth of your face when I tease you with them.” The baby made a soft noise, drawing his attention back to the child settled in the crook of his arm. “He seems very . . . Can it be comfortable to be bundled up so tightly?”

“I suppose it is meant to feel as if he is still within me. Safe, and warm . . .” Elizabeth blushed anew when Darcy looked at her with that certain stare.

“That is how I feel, too.” Kissing her temple he hugged her closer. “What shall we name the heir to Sommerwald when he comes? Remember we are to have four boys . . .”

“You are already planning for the next! My goodness, Fitzwilliam, I am not even able to . . . entertain you yet.” She saw his eyes twinkling. “Oh no . . . Oh no, sir. I will
not
provide you with more fodder for embarrassing me in the future. I will not say another word. And what if I want a girl? Selfish man, wanting all of his sons first.”

“Entertain me, eh?” He grinned.

“Hush!” She looked determinedly away from him. “A name for our next son . . .”

“I thought that you wanted a girl. And that you were not speaking to me?” He laughed when she pinched him, “Benjamin?”

“Theodore?”

“Theodore!” He objected.

“What did Samuel propose? Arthur?”

“That is because he was reading Hope a story about the Knights of the Round Table.” Darcy grinned when her eyes looked heavenward, “I have a feeling that it was an excuse for him to read the story, she certainly had no idea what he was talking about. She is more likely to eat the book than listen.” Elizabeth laughed and he delighted in it. “And as for the name, he might just as well have chosen Lancelot.”

“I would have objected to that.”

“As would I.”

“George?”

“Thomas?” He suggested quietly and Elizabeth shook her head. “Edward, after Uncle Gardiner?”

She beamed, “Oh, that would be lovely, and he would be so honoured, but I think that another man should be honoured.”

“Who?”

“You.”

“Lizzy . . . We have William. I will not have a houseful of sons named after me. I am not
that
conceited.” She giggled and his eyes widened. “You were teasing me!”

“I cannot begin to imagine what you are implying, Mr. Darcy. Me? A tease?” Elizabeth caressed the hair from his temple and kissed his smile. “Well, maybe. I come by it honestly; I live with a man who loves to tease.”

“Hmm.” Darcy watched as she touched him and felt his heart lurch with the expression of love he read in her eyes.

She caught his gaze and blushed, then lifted her chin, “Perhaps we should have a daughter first? She will need a name. Shall we begin trying now?”

“Did you not just chastise me for making suggestions?” His brow rose, but his voice was soft.

Elizabeth breathed in his comforting, familiar scent and snuggling deeper into his protective embrace, listened to the steady beat of his heart, “Well, it is different if I make the suggestions.” Chuckling, Darcy drank in the perfume of roses and lavender that seemed to infuse her skin. She rested her hand over his and together they watched their son yawn and drift to sleep. Their fingers laced together and she looked up to Darcy’s warm, happy eyes. “Whoever the next child is who enters our lives will be just as loved.”

He nodded and whispered, “And it will be for both of us.”

The End . . .

Bibliography

Austen, Jane,
Pride and Prejudice
, 1813.

The Holy Bible, King James Version

Shakespeare, William,
As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet

Aesop’s Fables,
The Lion and the Mouse

Lewis, Judith Schneid -
In the Family Way, Childbearing in the British Aristocracy, 1760-1860
p. 143,
Rutgers University Press (1986)

The Thanksgiving of Women After Child Birth, The Book of Common Prayer.

About the Author

Linda Wells worked for years in the environmental engineering world until she traded her career as a geographer for one as a mom to a challenging and really great son. After seeing the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, she bought a copy of Jane Austen’s masterpiece and fell under the spell of her unforgettable characters and story. Eventually, a story of her own started nagging at her until she finally wrote it down. It has become a wonderful and rewarding experience to stretch her imagination, and with ideas for new stories still nagging at her, she hopes to write many more.

If you would like to contact Linda, she would be happy to hear from you: [email protected] or you may find her on Facebook, as well.