“With your leave, I shall attend to all the particulars, mistress. Have you informed your sister?”
“No. I have been sitting here trying to decide what ought to be done.”
“There is a small private room at the back of the house. It contains a bier, and through the years we have used it to prepare the dead.”
Elizabeth raised her eyes in surprise.
“You have prepared other bodies?”
“Yes, mistress. We have a large household, and deaths do occur from time to time. One year, we lost three servants during the influenza that swept through this part of the country. Both of Mr. Darcy’s parents passed away at Pemberley. More commonly, however, it is an accident or old age that claims them.”
Mrs. Reynolds paused before continuing.
“If you wish it, we can lay Mr. Collins there until arrangements are made. It is cooler than a bedchamber and more suitable for the purpose.”
Elizabeth nodded slowly. “Yes. That seems best.”
“Very good, mistress. I shall see to everything.” The housekeeper excused herself, and Elizabeth watched as Mrs. Reynolds returned to the house and disappeared through the French doors. She remained in the garden until the first drops of rain began to fall. Then she reluctantly went inside.
When she reached Mary's bedchamber, she tapped upon the door before letting herself in.
Mary sat in a birthing chair, deep in hard labor. Both midwives attended her. Elizabeth heard her sister grunt and then cry out in pain.
“Push, Mrs. Collins, push,” Miriam urged. “I can see the head.”
Elizabeth moved closer while taking care to remain out of the way. The second midwife stood ready with a blanket, prepared to receive the first infant.
After another minute of strenuous effort, the child was born.
Tears filled Elizabeth's eyes as she watched Miriam tend the infant. The baby appeared alarmingly blue. For one dreadful moment, Elizabeth feared the worst.
Then the infant gasped. A moment later, a lusty cry filled the room.
Miriam’s voice was bracing. “Mrs. Collins, you have a baby boy. He has all his fingers and toes.”
Miriam handed the infant to Mrs. Harwood, who carried him to the bed and began gently cleaning him.
Almost immediately, Mary cried out again as another contraction seized her.
Half an hour later, the second infant was born.
Miriam bent over the newborn and began working with him.
“Mrs. Collins, you have another baby boy.”
She passed the child to Mrs. Harwood, who continued tending him.
Elizabeth saw at once that this infant was much bluer than his brother, and he made no sound. Fear gripped her as she watched the midwife work over the small, lifeless form. Then she heard Mary cry out.
Miriam must have read the alarm on Elizabeth’s face, for she said, “Mrs. Darcy, there is nothing to concern you. The placenta shall soon be delivered. Everything has gone better than we could have hoped. Though the little ones are small, they are well developed. I have no fears for them.”
Elizabeth heard a weak cry. Another followed, stronger than the first. She drew near to Mrs. Harwood and the second-borninfant. He was kicking and flailing his tiny arms. Relief swept through her. Mary and her two babies appeared to be doing well.
After cleaning him, Mrs. Harwood wrapped the infant in a blanket and placed him in Elizabeth's arms.
“Tap his heels, Mrs. Darcy, if he appears to stop breathing,” the midwife instructed.
Elizabeth nodded and looked down at the tiny face peeking out from the blanket. He seemed impossibly small. She brushed the back of one finger across his cheek.
