Edward sat alone in the library. He would need to join his young cousin in Georgiana’s efforts to entertain a diverse household. “Who would’ve thought Georgiana capable of handling any of this?” he asked aloud. “Not I. I saw only a child, but Georgiana is no little girl — not even a silly, giggling teen.” The realization brought a smile. He had always considered his cousin ethereally beautiful — her golden blonde, nearly white hair framed a heart-shaped face. She fought to keep the curls in place, but Edward had always preferred it when the wisps broke free and draped over his cousin’s forehead and cheeks. Gone were the bows and ribbons of a young girl. In their place, Georgiana sported the sleek fashion of a well-dressed lady. With the smile remaining, Edward expelled a deep sigh. “No time to ruminate over more pleasurable ideas. Her Ladyship awaits.” He shoved to his feet. “To everything there is a season.”
“Miss Catherine,” Mr. Winkler bowed as he entered the morning room. “May I join you?”
Kitty had purposely waited at the breakfast table in hopes of speaking to the man. “Of course, Mr. Winkler. I pray you slept well, Sir.”
“An excellent bed,” he said good-naturedly. “I sorely hated to leave it.” He filled his plate and then took the empty place beside her.
“Then you should have remained, Mr. Winkler. We have so few hidden pleasures in which to indulge ourselves.” Kitty adjusted her seat, shortening the distance between them.
The clergyman chuckled lightly. “What sort of man lies about all day?”
“Perhaps a man who works hard to see to his parishioners’ needs,” she countered.
He smiled kindly. “Perhaps a man who takes his duties seriously and who appreciates the living bestowed upon him by Mr. Darcy.”
“You believe this your true calling, Mr.Winkler?” Kitty asked as she poured tea for him.
“It’s been my life’s dream.” Winkler’s voice grew more passionate as he spoke of his desire to serve. He spoke of when he first knew that he would serve the Lord and how he had discovered pure pleasure in earning Mr. Darcy’s approval. “I have such great plans, Miss Catherine. I’d like to see a village school and some sort of organization to meet to the needs of the elderly, especially those with no family to oversee their care.”
Kitty sat entranced. She couldn’t remember exactly when she’d become physically aware of this man. She suspected it was at Lambton’s May Day celebration. As she had watched, Mr. Winkler had joined several other local musicians at an improvisational concert. He’d lent his talent and his beautiful voice to the entertainment, and she couldn’t help but see how the music had overtaken his soul. It was what she thought Heaven must resemble. At that moment, she wanted to know him better.
“It sounds as if you’ve ordered your life, Mr. Winkler.”
The man leaned closer. “Everything except my personal needs, Miss Catherine.” His voice took on a husky rasp.
Kitty glanced up to find Mr.Winkler’s eyes gleaming with emotion. “What else could a man desire?”
“A woman who shares my passion for my work and my life,” he said hoarsely.
Kitty swallowed hard. “You mean to take a wife, Mr. Winkler?”
“If the right woman would agree,” he said with another smile.
Yet, before Kitty could respond, the Bingleys and Caroline entered the room. Groaning silently in frustration, Kitty returned to her meal, while Mr. Winkler scrambled to his feet.
“Good morning, Mr.Winkler,” Jane said as she curtsied. “I hope you slept well. Kitty, how was our mother?” she added quickly.
Thinking of her mother’s marriage manipulations, Kitty said, “Planning for a productive day. She’s the consummate mother.” Kitty shifted away from him as Winkler resumed his seat.
Bingley motioned to a footman. “Would you ask Mrs. Oliver if Mrs. Bingley might have coddled eggs for breakfast?”
“Right away, Sir.”
“Charles, that’s not necessary,” Jane protested.
Bingley escorted his wife to a seat across from Kitty. “It is necessary, my dear. I’ll call on the kitchen later to express my gratitude, but I’ll cater to your preferences when possible.”
Caroline took the empty setting several seats away. Kitty interpreted it as a deliberate act of disapproval. In spite, Kitty said, “Perhaps Miss Bingley would prefer coddled eggs also, Mr. Bingley.”
A frown crushed Caroline’s countenance. “Heaven forbid. Slimy, half-cooked egg whites.” She snarled in disgust.
Jane took a sisterly note of Kitty’s remark before saying, “Have Mama and Papa had their breakfasts?”
“Papa was down very early. I’m sure he’s holed up in Mr. Darcy’s library. He spotted several titles by Sir Walter Scott he hadn’t read. Mama was still in her chambers. She joined me to do some embroidery work on Papa’s new waistcoat and then returned to her bed.” Kitty accepted the tea a footman poured for her. “Mr. Grange shall escort Mary down in a few minutes.”
“How long has Miss Bennet been engaged?” Mr.Winkler asked. “I don’t recall your saying so, Miss Catherine, when you were at Pemberley during the summer.”
Kitty smiled. The man had recalled details of her life, and that pleased her. “Since the first of October. They prepare for a spring wedding.”
“Then the banns haven’t been called?” Mr. Winkler sliced his ham.
Bingley finally seated himself beside his wife. “They’ve placed a notice in the paper, but the banns will wait until the first of February. Mr. Grange will assume additional duties in Mr. Philips’s office in March. Philips is Mrs. Bennet’s brother in marriage,” he explained.
Winkler shot a glance at Kitty, and she blushed. “Miss Catherine will be the last Bennet sister to marry,” the clergyman summarized.
Bingley laughed lightly. “My wife’s mother will concentrate her energies on Kitty soon.” He winked at Kitty. “Of course, we assume Kitty hasn’t decided on a proper husband previously. For all we know, she plans to marry immediately. It only takes fifteen days to have the banns called three times. Do you have someone in mind, Kitty? Will you beat Mary to the altar?”
Kitty choked on her tea, and Mr. Winkler gently rubbed her back to curtail her coughing. His kindness made her instantly aware of his touch. Between clearing her throat and taking several steadying breaths, Kitty struggled to recover.
“I apologize, Kitty,” Bingley said earnestly. “I shouldn’t tease.”
She swallowed hard. Mr. Winkler’s hand remained. Kitty could feel his warmth radiating through her chest and sinking into her lower abdomen. “I swallowed tea rather than taking a breath,” she rasped. Realizing his hand still rested on her back, Mr. Winkler jerked it away, and Kitty found herself bereft of his touch. “I’ve… I’ve no plans.” She stopped to clear her throat. “No plans for a marriage.”
“Are you open to new possibilities?” Mr. Bingley’s teasing tone returned. “Do you seek a marriage, Sister Dear?”
“Charles! That’s enough,” Jane reprimanded. “I suspect that as a child you were quite unrelenting with your taunts to Caroline and Louisa.”
Bingley casually chuckled. “With two sisters, I had no choice.”
Caroline joined the conversation from her self-imposed isolation. “Louisa and I have always had your best interests at heart, Charles.”
Kitty thought of the pain Miss Bingley had caused Jane and Mr. Bingley when the lady’s manipulations had separated them — exposing Bingley to the censure of the world for caprice and instability and Jane to its derision for disappointed hopes, as well as involving them both in misery of the acutest kind.
Bingley kindly said, “You’ve devoted your time and your interest to my well-being, Caroline, and I’m forever in your debt; however, I’d cherish the opportunity to see you in your own home.You deserve the best, my dear.”
Edward tapped softly on Lady Catherine’s door and a maid admitted him immediately. Her Ladyship lounged on a chaise. She held toast in one hand and a teacup in the other. He bowed and then motioned the maid’s departure. “Thank you for agreeing to see me, Your Ladyship.”
“Why would I not, Edward? You’re a most beloved nephew. You’ve brought honor to the Fitzwilliam name.” She gestured him to a chair.
Edward took the seat, but he remained alert. Years of dealing with his aunt had taught him to never underestimate the woman. Dressed in a dark purple velvet gown, his aunt was a paragon of determination, and many shrank from her renowned inflexibility. She was dark of eye and hair, much darker than her brother, Edward’s father, and the complete opposite of the fair-haired Lady Anne, Darcy’s mother. She could convey her arrogance with a lift of her square chin or a glare along her straight, high-bridged nose. “My choice of military service came as the lesser of two evils, but I’m content with my time. I believe God has placed me in this role to save men from death’s grip. I’m thankful for that position.”
“As you well should be.” Lady Catherine pushed her way to a seated position. “Of what did you wish to speak, Colonel?”
Edward frowned deeply. “I’d like to know your true reason for coming to Pemberley uninvited.”
“You came to Pemberley uninvited,” she accused.
His eyes forcefully demanded that his aunt not fence verbally. “True. However, I’ve never expressed indignation regarding Darcy’s marriage. Neither did I send him language so very abusive, especially of Mrs. Darcy, when he announced his engagement. You’ve not spoken to Darcy or his wife for over two years, and then suddenly you appear on my cousin’s doorstep. I ask myself why, but I cannot decipher your way, Aunt.”
“Possibly, I had no other recourse,” she said slyly.
Edward forced himself to hold her gaze. Years had taught him that Lady Catherine used her dominating stare to quell her dissenters. “I might believe you sought Pemberley’s safety if you hadn’t sent word to Mr. Collins before you left Matlock.”
“Georgiana told you that, did she?” Lady Catherine accused.
Edward struggled for an obliging response. “I’m Georgiana’s guardian. It would be natural for her to seek my advice. And I would warn Your Ladyship not to think that I’ll fall for your diversionary tactics. Georgiana isn’t the issue. Now, let’s revisit your motive for returning to Pemberley.”
Lady Catherine’s mouth tightened in a furious line. “In reality, I have no response.” She waited for his retort, but Edward’s silence demanded a longer explanation. “Matlock left for Lincolnshire. I’d already promised Collins a means to Kent.” She ticked off her reasons on her fingers. “The road conditions deteriorated before I could make other arrangements. I saw my niece in your family home some days prior, and I realized I missed my sister’s offspring.”
Edward’s eyebrow rose in disbelief. “Do you mean to say, Aunt, that you wished for a reconciliation with Darcy?”
“Marriage is forever. I cannot change what’s been done. Although I vehemently disagree with Darcy’s choice, I’ve come to realize that my objections are also keeping me from Georgiana. In order for my niece to have a successful Season, Georgiana needs the weight of her connections. Darcy’s position gives Georgiana impetus, but Matlock and Lindale’s names lend credence to her consequence.” His aunt’s words didn’t sit well with Edward, but he couldn’t identify what it was about the image of his cousin’s Society Come Out that bothered him most. It was certainly not Georgiana’s appearance; his cousin’s beauty would awe even the most hardened heart. Possibly, that was it: He couldn’t picture Georgiana in another man’s embrace. “The De Bourgh connection shall strengthen my niece’s suit.”
“So, for Georgiana’s sake, you’ll swallow your distress regarding Darcy’s marriage?” he said incredulously.
“Darcy has thrice sent correspondence offering an appeasement. Admittedly, I’ve ignored his olive branch, but Christmastide seemed a time for forgiveness.”
Edward certainly didn’t believe her reasons, but he knew from experience that his aunt believed what she said. Therefore, Lady Catherine’s frankness penetrated his reserve. “You are an intelligent woman,Your Ladyship, so I’ll forego the customary warning.You’re aware of Darcy’s nature. My cousin will never tolerate your condemnation of his wife or his guests.”
Surprised, he watched as Lady Catherine swallowed her temptation to criticize. “I am appalled by the people with whom Darcy surrounds himself, but I can tolerate his acquaintances without considering them my intimates.”
“I pray you can, Aunt.” Her sincerity rang of possibilities. “It’s comforting to think that you’ve considered Georgiana’s future, but you should also make room for Mrs. Darcy’s role in your life.You must maintain no delusions of Elizabeth ever being replaced in Darcy’s estimation. The man loves his wife, very much in the manner that the late Mr. Darcy loved Lady Anne.You must accept it, or Darcy will limit your access to Georgiana.” He hoped she didn’t practice some sort of chicanery.
Their conversation at an end, Edward prepared to leave her; however, Lady Catherine reached out to stay him. “Tell me what has transpired with Mrs. Darcy.”
“I don’t understand, Aunt.”
Lady Catherine sighed deeply in exasperation. “As you said, Colonel, I’m far from lacking my wits. I have overheard bits and pieces of information. Why has Mrs. Darcy not given her husband an heir?”
Edward’s suspicions returned. “If you mean to insinuate that Mrs. Darcy hasn’t presented my cousin with his first child because of her low connections, I’ll warn you of the danger of doing so. Darcy will bring his ire to your doorstep, Ma’am.”
“That wouldn’t stop me, Edward,” she declared. “I’ve faced a man’s dudgeon before. Give me the facts, and I’ll decide my actions.”
Edward growled. “I will not be a part of your venomous ways, Your Ladyship. A moment ago, you spoke of harmony. You cannot have it both ways, Aunt.”
“You make the assumption that I mean Mrs. Darcy harm. I never said I would openly criticize the chit. I simply said that Darcy’s ire wouldn’t deter me. Would you prefer that I ask Mrs. Darcy’s witless mother?”
Edward felt his cheeks flush. “Mrs. Darcy hasn’t carried to term previously,” he said through gritted teeth. “But the lady’s with child. Darcy hopes the pleasure of seeing her family for Christmastide will give Mrs. Darcy comfort. He’s surrounded his wife with those who love her.”
“Except for uninvited guests,” she observed.
“That’s more than half of those in attendance,” Edward responded. “Darcy isn’t likely to be happy with the alteration in his plans.”
“I suppose that means me.”
Dismay tightened Edward’s jaw. “Your presence will truly be a Christmastide surprise,Your Ladyship.”
Caroline Bingley tarried at the morning table. Her brother and Winkler sought the billiard room, while Jane and Kitty planned to assist Mrs. Reynolds with the Christmastide decorations.Along with her fiancé, Mary Bennet, to whom Caroline had barely spoken, had come and gone. Mrs. Bennet had taken her breakfast in her room, as had Lady Catherine. Caroline would have liked to converse with the latter, but was thankful not to encounter the former.
Caroline hated being in this situation again. At four and twenty, she was close to being on the shelf, and she wondered if this would be her existence: the uninvited guest at a house party her brother attended. Her parents had always thought her the pretty one, the one who would easily win a husband. Instead, Louisa had won Mr. Hurst’s attention within six months of making her Come Out. Soon, Caroline thought, she’d be expected to chaperone the younger people in attendance. Eventually, Charles’s growing brood would be referring to her as Aunt Caroline. She didn’t think that she could bear it. Tending to her own child had once been her girlish dream, but dealing with other people’s children would prove tiresome. For a split second, she considered burying her face in her hands and having a good cry, but the sound of approaching footsteps shoved Caroline’s shoulders back and her chin upward. She would let no one know her frustration.
“Miss Bingley, I didn’t expect to find you here. I went out to have a look at the grounds. Even coated in an icy glaze, Mr. Darcy’s home is quite impressive. I’d thought you had joined your family.”
“I did, Mr. Manneville.” Caroline gestured to a place setting across from hers. “But they had others with whom to converse, and I preferred my own company.”
Manneville’s step faltered. “I apologize, Miss Bingley. If I’m disturbing your solitude, I’ll take my meal in my room.”
“Of course not, Mr. Manneville.” Caroline motioned him forward. “The festive days often make me maudlin. I didn’t mean to offend.”
“Is it not peculiar that such a joyous celebration can leave many to question the values they find in their lives? We miss those who’ve gone before, and we reevaluate the choices that we’ve made.” He allowed a footman to choose his breakfast meats.
“You’ve captured my thoughts, Mr. Manneville. I was missing my dear mother and bemoaning my choice of coming to Pemberley rather than joining my older sister Mrs. Hurst and her husband in Devon.”
Manneville raised a brow. “Well, I, for one, am appreciative of your presence at Pemberley.”
Caroline blushed. She couldn’t remember the last time a man openly flirted with her. “When you took to the frozen grounds, did you not risk the chill’s return?” she taunted.
“It was the coffee, Miss Bingley.” Manneville looked her over with an assessing eye. “It warms a man properly.”
“Can a person find a proper cup of tea in America, Mr. Manneville?” she asked, her lashes lowered.
He laughed lightly and leaned back casually in his chair. “I imagine it possible. Afternoon tea is still quite popular in Charleston’s finest homes, and if that doesn’t please you, I understand Boston Harbor still reeks of the brew.”
The soft roll of his words enticed her. “Would you tell me something of your home, Mr. Manneville?”
“With pleasure.” He smiled easily. “Now what would a beautiful woman wish to know?” He dragged out the words in a teasing manner.
“How large?” Caroline interrupted. “How large is the city?”
He tilted his head in a razzing manner, but Manneville spoke with pride. “Somewhere between twenty and five and twenty thousand. Charleston’s the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia. It’s truly a bustling trade center, with rice and cotton and naval products. It is the center of law in the area. For example, at the Broad and Meeting Streets’ intersection, one finds the Four Corners of Law, which is a large civil square surrounded by governmental and religious buildings. St. Michael’s Episcopalian can rival many churches in England, and the elegance of the capital conveys its architectural superiority. Churches and banks and civic destiny abound,” he said with a touch of conceit. “It’s truly a great city.
“It’s my hope, Miss Bingley, to place my hat into the political ring. I hold with the belief that the United States’ government shouldn’t be supporting itself with state governments’ hands.”
Caroline leaned forward with interest. “And your home, Mr. Manneville?”
“In Charleston, a stately house overlooking the Battery.We raise cotton rather than rice on my plantation. Mr.Whitney’s cotton gin has revolutionized how quickly we can process the crop.”
“Cotton?” Caroline puzzled. “I don’t believe I have ever seen the crop. Nor do I know anyone who wears cotton clothing. Can it truly be profitable?”
His forehead wrinkled in exasperation, and the man ignored her question. Instead, he concentrated on describing the land he loved. “Imagine rows and rows of fist-sized clouds bursting from dark cocoons.” He held Caroline’s gaze, and the melodic rhythm of his speech mesmerized her. Manneville paused, and she nearly begged to hear more. “It’s my hope that if I marry that my wife will agree to a small vacation home in Hickory Valley.”
The tone of his voice called to something deep inside her. “Hickory Valley?” she asked with interest.
“About halfway between Charleston and Savannah. Much cooler in the summer months than the cities. It’s so beautiful there. I’ve my eye on the perfect house — a large wrap-around porch where a person might enjoy the night breeze — moss-draped oak trees. The community has plans for a library and a school. Also, rolling hills with pine and hickory trees surround the town.”
“It sounds heavenly, Mr. Manneville. A woman would be a fool to reject such a house.” Caroline sighed deeply. She’d always wanted her own home; several, in fact. A summerhouse, like in the English countryside, not just a town house.
“Now, it’s your turn, Miss Bingley. I want to know of your life.”
Caroline flushed. “I have no idea what might interest you, Mr. Manneville.”
He sat forward, bracing his weight on the table. “Well, I know of your brother and sister already. Perhaps you would care to speak of your parents. That is, if it’s not too painful. From where do you hail? Is your brother’s estate your family’s heritage?”
Caroline stammered, “I… I fear… I fear, Mr. Manneville, that you misunderstand. My father lacked both a title and land. Our wealth is not old money, and because of it, some of a particular ilk would deny our presence in Society. My brother Charles owns an estate in Cheshire and a house in town, but he didn’t inherit either. We’re not of Lord Shelton’s station.”
The man’s eyebrow rose sharply. “If you think that a deterrent, Miss Bingley, you’ll find me of a sterner disposition than that. Now, I ask again to know of your family.”
For a brief moment, she paused to assess his sincerity, and then she said, “My parents came from Manchester, and my father earned his wealth dealing in silks and spices and many of the riches of the East India Company. He had an uncle who brought him along in the trade…”
She kept an eye on Mrs. Joseph’s restless slumber. Elizabeth didn’t remember her sister Jane having such a fretful time, and Jane had carried twins.Yet, Mrs. Joseph was quite large, and Elizabeth supposed it affected the woman’s sleep.
Having sent Darcy and Mr. Joseph away so Mary could rest, Elizabeth had spent some time reading a collection of poetry she’d bought at a small bookstore in Newcastle. Now, she returned to the stack of letters. The other evening she hadn’t read the two that Darcy had composed upon the loss of their children, but today, she felt compelled to revisit them. She’d acknowledged her pregnancy to Darcy. Obviously, her husband knew of her condition, but he’d accepted Elizabeth’s fears and made them his own. Somehow, Mrs. Joseph’s appearance at Prestwick’s had changed everything. As nonsensical as it sounded, Elizabeth no longer dreaded what might happen. If she lost this child, she would try again and again until she delivered a healthy Darcy heir. She possessed no other alternative: Because of Darcy, she could smile; her life was worthwhile, and she owed him her constant devotion.
First checking Mrs. Joseph’s blankets, Elizabeth settled in a chair near the window. Outside, she could hear the water’s steady drip from the roof to the ground. The rhythmic pattern made her think of the Maelzel’s metronome model, which sat on Georgiana’s pianoforte. Hopefully, by tomorrow, she and Darcy would be on their way to Pemberley.
Untying the ribbon, Elizabeth removed the two letters on the bottom. She normally kept the notes in order by the date Darcy had written them, but she had shuffled these two special letters to the stack’s bottom when she had read from the missives two nights prior.
She removed the one her husband had composed after the first disaster and unfolded the pages. Shifting her weight so she might see better, Elizabeth read…
2 February
My dearest, darling Elizabeth,
I sit in this semidarkness watching the rise and fall of your shoulders. I recognize your pain and am helpless to drive it away. You pretend not to know that I write this note, and I pretend that you sleep at last. I will not minimize your loss by repeating what you have already heard. What I will say is that although it may seem that you face this loss alone, please remember that I am here — standing beside you. Love — the truth of love — lies between us. I live only for the honor and the love you have given me.
Inside each of us grows a faith in a new day. So, put away the rage. From this we will learn how precious life can be — something I would not freely recognize if I had never held you in my arms.
All my love and devotion,
D
Her poor husband had suffered as much as she; but for her sake, Darcy had hidden his misery. Elizabeth had seen the lines deepen around his eyes and across his forehead. Had Darcy shed tears? She was certain that he had. Elizabeth knew his anguish — how the sunshine had disappeared from his smile.
Carefully, she refolded the first letter and replaced it where the note belonged within the bundle and then removed the second one. It held more tender memories than did the first. She had grieved briefly after the initial incident, but hadn’t felt the full loss until the second. Actually, Elizabeth prefaced that. She had experienced the total impact when her sister Jane cradled a small babe in each arm. Her most beloved sister had delivered twins when she could not give Darcy even one child. She had thought herself a failure and had refused to go through that emptiness again.
Elizabeth shot a glance at the resting Mary Joseph. The woman’s face betrayed the essence of her dreams — as if an angel had kissed the woman’s cheek. Allow me to reach eight full months, she thought. Even with my own imminent mortality, she prayed, give Mr. Darcy his child.
Unfolding the letter she read her favorite part first.
Had I never known you, my Elizabeth, I would have never realized what was missing from my life. I am no longer lost: I can emerge from the rain. Living outside your love is not living at all. You are the light in my darkness.
“What do you read, Mrs. Darcy?” a sleepy voice broke through Elizabeth’s thoughts.
Elizabeth blushed and refolded the letter. “Nothing important. Only some letters.”
With difficulty, Mrs. Joseph rolled onto her side, “From Mr. Darcy, I suspect,” she said teasingly.
Elizabeth’s color deepened. “I shall admit to nothing except that they came from a most handsome gentleman.”
Mrs. Joseph smiled indulgently. “Mr. Darcy then. He’s an intriguing-looking man. Was your husband the most exciting man of your acquaintance, Mrs. Darcy?”
Elizabeth thought immediately of her first impression of George Wickham, whose appearance was greatly in his favor; he had all the best parts of beauty — a fine countenance, a good figure, and a pleasing address. “A pleasing face doesn’t define a man’s true character, but I admit to preferring Mr. Darcy’s countenance above all others.” Elizabeth scrambled to her feet. “Let me put these away, and I’ll help you to straighten your dress. Perhaps we could go below and join our husbands for tea.”
Elizabeth dutifully replaced the letter and retied the outside ribbon. Then she carefully placed the bundle in the bottom of her portmanteau. “Now,” she moved to the bed, “allow me to support your stance. You really must exercise more caution, Mrs. Joseph. You have God’s most priceless gift to attend.”
The woman swung her legs over the bed’s edge and sat with Elizabeth’s assistance. “I don’t understand it,” she observed. “When we departed Stoke-upon-Trent, I was quite a bit smaller. I feel as if I’ve gained weight each day we were on the road. I imagine myself quite heavy.” She gently massaged her enlarged abdomen.
“Women, generally, gain their most weight during the last six weeks of their gestation,” Elizabeth said absentmindedly as she braced Mrs. Joseph’s weight with her own.
Taking several deep breaths, the lady rose slowly. “And how would a gentlewoman know such details?” Mrs. Joseph lightly taunted.
“This gentlewoman’s sister’s weight doubled with her confinement.”
Mrs. Joseph countered, “Maybe that was because your sister delivered twins.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly. “There’s that possibility.” She stepped away from the woman. “I sent Mr. Joseph and Mr. Darcy away so you might rest.” She checked her own appearance in the mirror.
Mrs. Joseph shook out her skirts. “How long did I sleep?”
Elizabeth glanced at the small clock on the mantelpiece. “Nearly two hours.”
“Two hours!” Mrs. Joseph gasped. “I never sleep so long.”
“Your body must have needed the rest,” Elizabeth asserted.
Mrs. Joseph began to repair her chignon. “Mr. Joseph must be terribly worried. We definitely should join the gentlemen, or Matthew will storm the door shortly.” She pinched her cheeks. “I look so pale.” She straightened her shoulders and turned to Elizabeth. “And don’t tell me being pale is part of being with child,” she warned.
Elizabeth smiled widely. “I shan’t speak of it as you know the obvious.” She reached for the door, but a grunt of discomfort from behind her brought Elizabeth up short.As she pivoted to the sound, Mrs. Joseph’s grimace spoke Elizabeth’s worst nightmares. “What is it?” she demanded as she rushed to the woman’s side.
Mrs. Joseph swayed in place. Complete fear crossed her countenance. “I… I,” she stammered. Then she raised her skirt’s hem, and Elizabeth could see the woman’s underskirt’s dampness.
“Oh, my, you poor dear,” Elizabeth sympathized. “Let’s get you out of those soiled garments. I’ll order some warm water so you might wash, and we’ll soak the items afterwards.” Elizabeth guided Mrs. Joseph to a plain wooden chair. “I should have considered your personal needs.” Elizabeth flushed with embarrassment.
Mrs. Joseph sank heavily to the chair. “No!” she rasped. “You don’t understand.The baby… the baby’s coming.”