Free The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins Page A

bed. Mrs Gardiner was determined to stay behind with her. Elizabeth was also reluctant to leave her sister but was persuaded by both Jane and Mrs Gardiner that she ought to accompany her husband.
    The evening dragged on for both Elizabeth and Bingley, whose anxiety about Jane could not be concealed. Elizabeth apologised to her hosts for her preoccupation and was persuaded only with difficulty to accompany Caroline and Georgiana on the pianoforte, when they agreed to sing after dinner.
    Darcy, realising the extent of her anxiety, had proposed an early departure and they made their excuses to the Camdens. On the short journey home, he tried to reassure her. He knew Jane was not very strong and prone to colds and chills: they recalled her unhappy illness two years ago, during a visit to Netherfield.
    On their return to Pemberley, Bingley alighted from the carriage and ran up the stairs to the room where Jane was resting, while Lizzie went in search of her aunt. She found her in the sitting room taking tea and talking with Mrs Reynolds, whose countenance did not suggest that there had been any bad news. Both women smiled as Lizzie rushed in, taking off her cape as she entered. Even before she could speak, Mrs Gardiner stood up and came to her. "Sit down, Lizzie," said her aunt, seeing her anxious expression, "Jane is going to be quite all right."
    "What did the doctor say?" she asked and seeing her aunt smile, "Do tell me please, what is it?"
Mrs Gardiner spoke gently. "He said what I expected him to say, Lizzie, but I had no right to tell you until the doctor had seen her: your sister Jane is going to have a baby."
Elizabeth cried out, tears filling her eyes; she leapt up and ran out of the room, ran back in again, hugged her aunt and Mrs Reynolds, and then ran upstairs to her sister's room. She found Jane sitting up in bed with her husband beside her, both of them looking very happy indeed. The sisters embraced, and there were more tears.
Bingley decided to leave them alone for awhile and went down stairs to give Darcy the good news. They could barely speak for the emotion that welled up in them. "Oh darling Jane, what a wonderful Christmas present!"
"Lizzie, I cannot believe how fortunate I am; I am sorry to have caused all of you so much concern," said Jane.
"Oh hush, I was concerned that you might have caught a chill in all this bad weather, but my aunt says she expected the doctor's verdict. I have to say, Jane dearest, I cannot wait to be an aunt." Lizzie's voice bubbled over with joy, as her sister reached out and held her hand tight. "We have already decided that Mr Darcy and you are to be godparents," she said, and Elizabeth was ecstatic.
Darcy was so pleased for Jane and Bingley that Elizabeth felt the tiniest tinge of regret that she had not been able to give him the news herself. Later that night, preparing for bed, she ventured to tease him about being godfather to the Bingley's child. But he had anticipated her and refused to be teased, saying only that he knew how much it meant to Jane and Bingley and what good parents they would make. "Bingley," he said, "is very fond of children and will make an excellent father."
"As I know you would," said Elizabeth, determined to find out how he really felt. This time, he did as she plainly wished him to, as he took her in his arms and said, "Of course, my dear, when we have our own children, I have no doubt that we shall make excellent parents," adding with a smile, "I know you will insist upon it."
On the following Sunday, the weather had cleared sufficiently to enable the Gardiners and Bingleys to leave Pemberley for London and thence to Netherfield Park and Longbourn. Bingley, in particular, had been very reluctant to have his wife put at risk in any way by rough weather and bad roads. Elizabeth had been very touched by the extraordinary care he showed towards her sister.
Parting from both Jane and Mrs Gardiner at once was heart wrenching, and for Lizzie, it was also a