Posted on: 2008-12-24
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were married at Longbourn church just over three years ago. They were the happiest couple in England and for the first few months Elizabeth hadn't worried about anything-she was busy enjoying married life, but then after six months of marriage she worried she wasn't with child yet. She knew one of her duties as the mistress of a large estate such as Pemberley was to produce an heir. Elizabeth tried to keep her concern about not being able to conceive to herself, but her husband knew something weighed on her mind because she wasn't her lively, witty self and the sparkle in her fine chocolate eyes was gone.
One night, a concerned Fitzwilliam went into his and his wife's bedchamber and when he entered, he saw Elizabeth quietly sobbing and noticed she was holding a letter in her hands.
Fitzwilliam walked quickly towards his beloved Elizabeth and kneel before her.
He asked softly as he caressed her hands, "Darling, what is it that makes you cry so? Is someone in your family ill?"
Elizabeth wiped her eyes and blew her nose in her handkerchief and answered, "No, to my knowledge everyone in my family is fine."
"Something is causing you grief. What is it? Does it have anything to do with the letter?"
Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh and looked up at her husband. "I'm a very selfish creature, Fitzwilliam. This letter is from Jane and she said she is expecting her first child in six months. I should be happy for Charles and Jane and I'm glad for them, but I'm quite envious. I wish I were expecting too. I'm afraid I'm failing you as a wife."
After his wife confessed this, Fitzwilliam's heart ached. He felt bad Elizabeth thought because she wasn't carrying his child yet she was letting him down. Fitzwilliam knew Elizabeth probably felt pressure to get in family way, especially from her mother. He never really talked about starting a family yet. Although he dreamed of having children with Elizabeth, he wasn't in a rush. She was just one and twenty, so she had plenty of time to have children. Seeing his Elizabeth in such distress caused Fitzwilliam pain, so he knew he needed to reassure her she wasn't failing him as a wife.
Fitzwilliam put his finger under her chin, making her look at him. He looked into her tear filled eyes and said, "Elizabeth, hear me now. You haven't failed me. I love you with every fiber in my being and I couldn't have asked for a better wife or Pemberley couldn't have a better mistress."
Elizabeth said in a shaky voice, "But we have been married for over six months and I'm not carrying your child. What is wrong with me?"
"Dearest, nothing is wrong with you," he said softly while caressing her cheek. "I believe God will bless us with children when He thinks we are ready."
"I hope He will give us one soon."
"Well, I guess we just have to try harder on our part to help Him out, which I will enjoy immensely," Fitzwilliam told her and gave her a mischievous smile.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile and stated, "You sir are incorrigible, but I love you just the same."
He cupped her face and wiped the tears away with his thumbs, then kissed her forehead. "Now I want you to not worry about this so much. We have plenty of things in our favor. We are madly in love with each other, we are young and we have time on our side. Just trust in God and let nature take its course."
"You are right," she replied with a lovingly smile. "Thank you for being here and reassuring me."
"Any time, my love. Why don't we retire? I think we have some, uh, business to attend to."
After saying this, Fitzwilliam lowered his head and captured her lips with his. At first the kiss was soft and tender, but it soon became more intense and passionate. All her worries about not conceiving a child melted away and was enjoying loving her husband.
For two years their prayers and labors of love had been for naught and Elizabeth had pretty much given up hope she and her husband would be parents but Fitzwilliam still held out hope. Then one day in April, Elizabeth starting feeling ill. A concerned Fitzwilliam sent for Dr. Hampton even though his wife insisted she would be fine in a couple of days. After the doctor examined Elizabeth, he told them the joyous news that she was with child. Dr. Hampton said she was a month along and the babe would arrive around Christmas.
Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were beyond thrilled. They were both thankful their prayers were finally answered.
In the following months Elizabeth was extra cautious as she went on with her daily life. Whenever she went her walks her husband accompanied her. Fitzwilliam made sure she didn't exert herself too much and Elizabeth obeyed him whenever he thought she was doing too much. However when Christmas was near, Fitzwilliam was watching his wife like a hawk because she wanted to direct the servants how to decorate the house for Christmas.
Fitzwilliam was walking out of his study when he spied a very pregnant Elizabeth on a ladder decorating the top part of the Christmas tree. He quickly walked to her to get her down. He did not yell at her lest he scared her and cause her to fall. Fitzwilliam was by his wife in no time.
"Elizabeth, why are you on this ladder decorating this tree?" he asked in a stern voice. "Get down now."
She obeyed and got down with her husband's help. She looked down at her hands, which were on her big belly and awaited for a lecture that would indubitably would come.
"Elizabeth, what did we talk about you being more careful, especially now so near the end of your confinement?" he asked in a firm tone. "What if you had fallen and injured yourself and the babe?"
She started crying and was wringing her hands and cursed herself for being so thoughtless about her and their child's welfare. She replied through her tears, "I'm so-sorry, Fitz-William. I-I was not thinking. I just wa-wanted everything per-perfect for Christ-mas."
Her husband softened and felt bad about how he spoke to her so harshly. He pulled her in his arms and started stroking her back waiting for her tears to cease. Fitzwilliam didn't want to upset Elizabeth; he just didn't want her to harm herself or the babe. Fitzwilliam would die if anything were to happen to them. They were his everything.
"Shh, my love, " Fitzwilliam said softly. I'm sorry I spoke harshly at you. I was scared when I saw you on the ladder."
"I wasn't thinking!" Elizabeth said chiding herself. "After three years of waiting we are finally getting a child and what do I do? I risked falling just to decorate a tree!"
"Calm yourself, dearest, " he told her, still holding her. "It isn't good for either you or the babe."
"I know," she replied, letting herself calm down. "I promise I will let the servants do the rest of the decorating."
"I'm glad to hear it." Fitzwilliam replied then pulled her away a little from his embrace then asked "Why don't I take you upstairs and you can rest before dinner.'
"I think I would like that."
Fitzwilliam escorted Elizabeth upstairs to their bedchamber and he stayed there until she fell to sleep. When he exited the room and saw Elizabeth's maid coming down the hall. He told her she wasn't to disturb his wife's rest until just before dinner. After the maid nodded, Fitzwilliam went back downstairs to get done the rest of his urgent business. He wanted to get all of his business matters finished before their child was born.
On Christmas Eve, Elizabeth was disappointed because they couldn't go to their church for the Christmas Eve service with the Bangles or Georgiana for it was snowing hard outside. She perked up when Fitzwilliam suggested after dinner they could read the Christmas story from the gospel according to Luke and then in they would go into the music room and sing carols. Everyone thought Fitzwilliam's idea was excellent.
This wasn't to be because when they were eating their dinner; Elizabeth felt great pain in her abdomen. She must have let out a cry because she noticed everyone at the table was looking at her. Fitzwilliam was at her side in a instant.
He looked at his wife with concern written on his face and asked, "Elizabeth, what is wrong? Is it time?"
Through her pain, she honestly replied, "I-I don't know." She looked at Jane with pleading eyes to help.
Jane sprang into action. "Fitzwilliam, I need your pocket watch to check how far apart the pains are in have the maids get the birthing room ready. Also if it keeps snowing like it, I don't see the doctor coming, so ask your servants if any of them delivered a child before."
He gave her the watch and he and Charles hurried out the room. Jane looked back at Elizabeth and asked if her back hurt before dinner.
"Yes," she said simply and then she had a sharp pain again. Not a moment later, Jane felt wetness on the floor.
"Oh, dear!" She exclaimed. She turned to Georgiana and told her to get her brother. She eagerly did what she had been asked.
When Georgiana return with Fitzwilliam a couple of minutes later, Jane said, "We need to get her into the birthing room right away."
He quickly went to his wife a scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the room. After he laid Elizabeth on the bed, he said, "Mrs. Reynolds says she have delivered a few children."
"Please get her. Have a servant bring a basin of water and some fresh towels. I will let you know when you can come and see Elizabeth and your child."
Fitzwilliam didn't like what he heard. He was actually being dismissed in his own home while his wife was in pain. He told his sister-in-law, "I'm going to stay here and help my wife."
"You cannot," Jane calmly told him. "It isn't proper."
"I don't care about what is proper or not," Fitzwilliam said angrily. "My place is with my wife."
Elizabeth spoke up saying, "Please, Fitzwilliam, leave. I know you want to stay, but I don't want you see me in pain."
He knew it was pointless to argue with his wife now. He went to the side of bed and bent down and kissed her forehead.
"I will send Mrs. Reynolds up and have servants bring up water and clean towels then I will wait in the library," he told them. Before leaving the room, He turned to Jane and said, "Please take good care of them."
"I will, Fitzwilliam," she promised and gave him a sweet smile.
After Fitzwilliam left, he went looking for Mrs. Reynolds and had servants bring what Jane asked for. When he was done with those tasks, he made his way to the library where he found Georgiana and Charles. Unlike them he couldn't read or talk-he was worrying about Elizabeth and their unborn child. Fitzwilliam sighed as he plopped down in his armchair, knowing it would be a long night.
Six hours went by and all Fitzwilliam could do was to listen to his wife's cries and pray that all would be well. It was killing him he wasn't with his wife's side helping through this. He tried many times to leave and go to her, but Charles stopped him every time. The waiting was pure torture and Fitzwilliam wondered how Charles did it twice.
Finally at one o'clock Christmas morning, Jane entered the library. Fitzwilliam immediately rose from the chair and walked to her.
He asked, "Jane, how is Elizabeth and the babe?"
Jane smiled warmly at her brother and said, "Elizabeth and the children are fine."
He couldn't believe what he heard, so to make sure he asked, "Did you say children?"
"Yes," she said happily. "Elizabeth had twins."
"Congratulations, old chap," Charles said, slapping his back.
Fitzwilliam started laughing for joy. After kissing Jane on her cheek and excused himself, he made his way upstairs, taking two steps at a time. When he entered the room, saw the most precious sight he had ever seen. Elizabeth was laying in bed hold their two bundles of joy in each arm,. When she saw him, she bade him to come closer, so he could meet his children.
After Fitzwilliam sat down on the bed, she said, "I would like to introduce your son Bennet Thomas and daughter, Jane Georgiana to you."
He looked at the babes and swore he never saw more beautiful children. He believed they were a gift from God just as he gave His only son to save all mankind. As Fitzwilliam was thinking how God was so good to everyone, he eyes was getting misty.
When Elizabeth saw the tears in her husband's eyes, she got worried. "Fitzwilliam, what is the matter? Aren't you happy?"
Fitzwilliam saw the concern on her face and knew he had to assure her all was well. "Dear, don't worry. I'm crying because I'm so happy. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife and two beautiful children. I'm very lucky."
Elizabeth also began crying as well. Her gaze with from her husband to the twins and thought he was right. They were most fortunate. God had brought her and her husband together and now He had given them two miracles. She knew every day from now on, she would thank God for her little family.