Darcy at once noted this, and he went pale. “You are still ill? We must call the apothecary, and—”
Elizabeth raised her hand, smiling at him with a happy glow.
The hesitation that she’d felt before, even during the previous night, about telling him was completely gone. She just felt a simple happiness that she was bearing his child, and because she hoped that the news would bring him joy. “I have already been seen by the apothecary, and there is nothing to worry about… or it may be more accurate to say that my indisposition is wholly ordinary and expected in my current condition.”
He looked at her, seemingly surprised by Elizabeth’s broad smile.
“But—” His eyes then widened, and he looked to her belly, and back up to her smiling face, and back towards her belly.
As he did so her smile continued to widen.
Georgiana exclaimed, “I thought that was the case! Butyou would not say anything to me, and when I asked Mrs. Reynolds, she just told me not to worry.”
“But, are you sure?” Darcy asked.
“Reasonably so. One is not supposed to be confident until the quickening, but it has been many weeks since my last monthly courses, and all of the symptoms are what is ordinary when one is in the family way — I apologize for not saying as much to you earlier, Georgie, I wished to tell your brother first, and in person.”
The joy that spread across her husband’s face fully answered her hope that the news would bring him happiness. He leapt from his seat, pulled her from her chair, picked her up and swung her round and around. Then he put her back down, backing away with a worried expression. “I hope I didn’t just — and last night when we…” His eyes turned towards Georgiana again, and he had an almost ashamed expression.
“Nonsense.” Elizabeth laughed. “According to both my mother and my aunt, vigorous physical activity,” — half against her intent, a leer came into her voice and eyes as she saidvigorous physical activity— “is an aid to the development of the child.”
“Ah. The advice of two worthy ladies is certainly worth more than that of any learned gentleman physician.”
Elizabeth pouted in reply to that.
Darcy grinned, a handsome smile that made her stomach flutter. “I am more than half serious. I do not trust learned medical gentlemen. I have read too much written by them to trust them, especially when they are confident… when your time comes it might be better if a midwife was present rather than an accoucheur. My mother had one when I was born, and she always swore that the difficult birth would have killed both of us otherwise.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth looked at him, half in wonder. “I did notknow that.”
“Neither did I,” Georgiana said, looking between them with wide eyes. “Lizzy, you truly are with child?”
“I truly believe that I am.” Elizabeth replied, “And god willing, you will soon be the most useful aunt in England.”
“I must imagine,” Darcy said, “that there is a great deal neither of us know about the other. I am determined to see that as an opportunity.”
“Oh, no! Do you mean that we will have nothing to speak of once we have exchanged all our childhood stories?” Elizabeth gasped and pressed her hand against her mouth as though in horror.
Darcy stepped close to her and whispered into her ear, quietly enough that Georgiana likely could not hear, “I can imagine things we might do when we cannot talk.”
That was unexpected from him.
“I know you are flirting,” Georgiana said. “And shockingly so. No need to whisper.”
“On the contrary, I think he must.” Elizabeth’s face had gone hot and flushed, and her heart was happy. “You could have been a successful rake had your principles allowed you.”
“No?” Darcy replied. He nervously asked, “You are certain that you wish to continue to walk so much, and make the journey south? It is long, and then we shall need to return to the north, and—”
“I am with child, not ill.” Elizabeth smiled at him. His sudden worry was endearing. “My mother spent her entire confinement with Lydia taking the carriage to every ball in the neighborhood, and begging Papa until he took her to London for a week when she was already grown very large.”
“Ah, now I understand your sister’s character.”
Elizabeth sputtered, and coughed on the milky tea she was drinking. “And at last,Ido as well.”
“My wisdom enlightens.”
Elizabeth grinned and shook her head. “Join me for the walk? — I wish to keep the habit of walking with Georgiana each morning, but I do not think she would be too disappointed, if we spentoneday just the two of us.”
“I certainly will,” Georgiana replied to Elizabeth. “You’ll wholly forget me now that my brother is here—” Then she blushed looking at her brother. “I mean of course I do not mind.”
