Darcy sat on the bed beside a reclining Lizzy, not ready to relinquish the lively bundle cuddled in his arms. With eyes locked onto his son's face, he asked of his wife, "Has he had any bouts of colic while I was away?"
"No. He was a bit fussy two nights ago and slow to suckle contentedly. I gave him a few drops of tonic and we rocked. I discovered that gazing into the flames soothes him. Finally he nursed and slept well. I was relieved it did not ripen into a serious episode, as you were not here to sing to him." She chuckled at Darcy's wry smile. "I would not count on him being musically inclined, as he seems to prefer your singing voice to mine."
"Have no fear, love. Georgie adored my singing and she is incredibly talented. Maybe you will be the Darcy male to break the mold, my darling." He brought the baby to his lips for a number of tender kisses, Alexander patiently enduring. Darcy ran a hand all over his son's round body, marveling anew at the combination of vulnerable softness and solid strength. Developing rolls of fat could be felt on his arms and legs, his entire body dominated by an enormous abdomen, and his head hard was still covered with a mass of brown curls. Darcy removed one thick knitted bootie to nibble kisses to a plump, pink foot.
"Praise be to God for keeping you so healthy and perfect," Darcy whispered, kissing the baby's brow. "I love you, my son, my precious, precious son."
"We received a few more gifts before the storm struck. I piled them with the others in the parlor." She reached up to tickle over Alexander's exposed toes, dropping her hand to caress lightly over Darcy's bare knee emerged from an open robe. "We received a package from Lady Catherine and Anne, including an envelope addressed to us which I assume is a wedding invitation."
"You did not open it?"
"I wished to wait for you. I heard from Charlotte as well, a brief note as they likely all will be for a time to come. She says that the girls are in excellent health; the youngest, Rachel if you recall, has nearly caught up to her sister Leah. What a relief it must be for them."
"Rachel and Leah. Lovely names, although I find myself thankful they were not male children or they may have been christened Cain and Abel."
Lizzy laughed. "Or Jacob and Esau, neither option boding well for future sibling tranquility. Anyway, Charlotte says the wedding plans are consuming life at Rosings. I gather it is to be an extravaganza. Apparently, Mr. Collins was disappointed that the ceremony would be taking place in the Ashford Cathedral with the Bishop presiding."
"Foolish man! What did he think?"
"You know the answer to that question! The date is officially set as February twenty-seven, a week after Mary and Mr. Daniels. That is fortunate if we decide to travel."
Darcy patted the hand lying on his knee, smiling sympathetically. "Do not worry over it, love. I will do all in my power to ensure you are present at your sister's wedding and that Alexander is safe. The carriage is solid and we possess a plethora of thick quilts and down comforters. Alexander is healthy and a temperate infant who will travel well, I judge, especially cuddled by us. We can journey in short stages over several days. Of course, all this depends on you, my wee love," he paused for fresh kisses, Alexander wiggling. "Stay strong and grow stout so we can proudly show you to the rest of your relatives."
Lizzy smiled joyously at her husband's antics, nodding in agreement. "Let me see, what else happened while you were gone? Reverend Bertram visited to say he cleared and cleaned the balcony and opened the side rooms to allot more space."
Darcy laughed. "I have told him at least three times not to fret over it. He seems to imagine half of Derbyshire showing up for the affair, which I deem unlikely. We may esteem our son's christening as a premiere event, but I assured him that a baby's naming in general is not a cause of major enthusiasm."
"It has been many years since a Darcy heir was christened, so to the good Reverend, it is an event of momentous importance. Allow him his moment of glory. By the way, I took the liberty of planning a luncheon party of sorts for that afternoon. Mrs. Langton was instructed to keep it simple and not lavish too much attention on the meal or christening cake, orders that I am sure she will ignore. I trust this meets with your approval?"
He looked at her with a humorous smile and twinkling eyes. "Yes, it meets with my approval, Mistress Darcy. Another occasion to swell with pride at the blessings gifted me in you and our son is always welcomed. Although you, my little ball of energy, will not be attending I am afraid. We have been fortunate thus far to avoid any illness and I will not press our luck." Alexander erupted in fresh squirms at his father's tickling fingers under his chunky arms.
"Care to hazard a guess as to who else is in love or a reasonable facsimile thereof?" Darcy lifted the left brow inquiringly. "You will never guess."
"If you say my baby sister I may have to cry."
"No, silly. I am speaking of Miss Bingley."
"You are not serious? Who is the unfortunate gentleman?"
"Fitzwilliam Darcy! Shame." But she was laughing and he was unrepentant. Lizzy shook her head, slapping him playfully on the knee. "His name is Sir Wallace Dandridge of Chelmsford, Essex."
"Ah, that mystery is solved."
"Pardon?"
He shrugged, telling her of Bingley's frustration regarding endless references to Essex. "I do not believe she has thus far confided in her brother. How did you discover this piece of stunning news?"
"Girl talk, my love." She replied sweetly with a flutter of her lashes.
Darcy grunted. "Female blathering is the germane phrase, but I am thankful you were not bored in my absence."
She raised her chin at his lopsided grin, pouting adorably. "I see. And you and Colonel Fitzwilliam swapping romantic advice qualify as professional consultation?"
"Precisely! So when shall Miss Bingley become Lady Dandridge?"
"We gather that it is not official as yet. She hints strongly to an 'understanding' of some nature, reveling in the secrecy of it all. Perhaps Sir Wallace is waiting on an opportune moment to speak with Charles."
"Do you judge her truly in love?" His inflection clearly indicating his dubiousness.
"Difficult to say. Charles is right. Every other sentence is 'Sir Wallace this' or 'Sir Wallace that' and once she even called him 'Wally,' then blushed crimson. It was hysterical. Still, I speculate that she is as enamored by the gentleman's title as the gentleman himself. Perhaps I am being uncivil, but she does seem particularly smug over the fact that he bears a title and none of our husbands do."
"I am positive I could buy myself a title if it would please you." Lizzy snorted and pinched his knee. "Ouch!"
"You deserved that, ridiculous man."
"All flippancy aside, I do pray she has found true emotion and happiness. I am acquainted with Sir Wallace and he strikes me as a kind man. If they are blessed with a fourth our joy, they will be content. Of course, no child could possibly surpass my Alexander for sheer cuteness and sweetness, is that not correct, my pudgy lamb?" He clutched the baby under his arms, bringing the round abdomen to his mouth for blowing tickles.
Alexander released a short squeal, fingers instantly grasping fistfuls of Darcy's hair with legs kicking crazily.
Shortly, Alexander's tolerance gave out, and his tiny face lost all serenity. "My turn," Lizzy said with a laugh, pulling the blanket away as Darcy positioned a now seriously hungry baby at his mother's breast. After adding three more logs to the fire, Darcy stripped off his robe and joined his family on the comfortable bed.
There was something incredibly intimate and peaceful about these interludes with their son nestled between their bodies. Watching him suckle from Elizabeth, the most basic of maternal acts, was joyous. Darcy could not quite explain it, but it brought a level of tranquility and pride to his soul that was immeasurable.
He snuggled close, nose pressed to Alexander's curls and fingertips caressing lightly. "I missed his birthday."
Lizzy frowned in puzzlement. "I beg your pardon? William, you were only gone five days."
He smiled into Alexander's hair. "His one-month birthday, and do not pretend you did not note the day, my heart."
"I bestowed an extra dose of kisses, told him he was a month old, and confirmed the all consuming love his parents hold for him. Otherwise it was just another day. Do not fret so." She stroked over his cheek. "You were merely melancholy about the mill catastrophe and being away."
"I suppose." He sighed, rolling away slightly and meeting her eyes. "I missed you both terribly, but I confess having Richard as companion eased the pain. I am afraid I was not initially too pleased, quite rude to him actually. I thought you had sent him, which irritated me, but now that I think on it I would have appreciated the gesture."
"Thank you, but I had nothing to do with it. We were informed of his departure by a hastily penned note found on his breakfast setting. I wished I had thought of it, in fact, and was grateful that he chose to insinuate himself. It eased my mind to know you would have him there to cheer your gloominess."
"That he did, to a degree, as well as rolling up his sleeves and working alongside the others." He paused, collecting his thoughts, and launched into the details of the fire and its repercussion.
Lizzy had turned to the other side to nurse Alexander on the opposite breast, Darcy spooning wholly head to toe and continuing his account with chin resting into the bend of her neck.
"The poor boy," she said, speaking of the Hendle youth, "so tragic to lose your father so young. I am sure your words encouraged him to dwell on his father in a positive light."
He ran a finger down Alexander's downy cheek, voice thick and low, "I thought of Alexander and remembered your chastisement before I departed..."
"William, don't..."
"No, it is all right, beloved. You were correct, completely. Life is uncertain, naturally, and I do not plan on leaving this earth anytime near soon, but I would like to hope that my death, when it comes, will be later rather than sooner." He paused yet again, Lizzy waiting. She did not need to see his face to know that he was struggling with how to express a painful sentiment. "I never imagined that I would be able to consider my father's death as it occurred a... positive, so to speak, from a certain point of view. I have such full memories of him, joyous times, years of mentorship and friendship. The years we shared taught me how to be a man, a husband, a father, a Master, and so many other qualities that I cannot fathom them all. Now I have been gifted the opportunity to pass on this knowledge to Alexander and any other children we are blessed with. God, what a fortunate man I am!"
He reflexively clutched her tighter into his body, face pressed into the tender flesh of her neck with eyes on their sleeping son. "Forgive me, Elizabeth, for momentarily forgetting to prioritize my responsibilities. If this time away has taught me anything, it is how important family is above all. And how fragile life is," he finished quietly.
Lizzy rubbed the thigh lying on top of hers then removed the slack mouthed infant from her breast, nestling him away before turning in Darcy's arms to gaze into his face. She embraced him, palms soothing over his back, and kissed tenderly. "You are the best man in the entire world, Fitzwilliam, and need never apologize to me for being human and vulnerable. But I do appreciate it." She smiled with that humorous lilt to her lips that he so adored. "I never thought I would be saying this to that stoic, reserved man I met in Meryton, but you need to learn to suppress your reckless impetuousness to a degree. And listen to the superior wisdom of your wife."
She grinned sunnily, Darcy grinning and laughing in return. "Agreed."
"Do you truly predict no financial deficits from the fire?"
He was stretched above her, propped on one elbow with head resting in his hand, the other breezily running over her body. He shook his head negative. "We spent hours over the figures. I am confident that our capital is abundantly sufficient to cover the cost of repairs and buying new machines. I trust Mr. Shultz to handle those aspects efficiently."
"So what still worries you?" She asked, fingering the tiny creases between his brows.
"Until we have everything restored, there is no way we can fulfill our current contracts. Fortunately, it is the slow time of year, but there are nonetheless stacks of waiting cotton that needs to be processed and more constantly arriving from warehouses. That is one of the issues I discussed with Mr. Keith. I will be writing several letters over the following days to placate our clients."
"Surely they will understand and sympathize with your plight."
"Undoubtedly they will. But business is business. Their livelihood depends on us processing the raw cotton and providing cloth. Our livelihood depends on a finished product, with orders needing to be filled on the other end to keep contacts happy; and so if necessary, our buyers will go elsewhere. I do not blame them, as I would do the same. Financially, it is not the here and now that concerns me, but the future five, six, eight months down the line. It is imperative that we not lose clients for the future profits and function of our company."
"So... will you give incentives? Offer discounts if they stay with you? Process some bales for free or half cost, that sort of thing?"