Chapter 8

The rains continued through the night and before dawn, Sophia Francine Bingley began her journey to the arms of her grateful father and mother. Elizabeth had risen early after being awakened by a maid who had come to her room to see to the fire in the hearth.

She was happy the woman had come for she had lain cold between wakefulness and sleep for hours. When the room had become warm enough to venture throwing back her covers, Elizabeth decided to dress and find her way to the library. Rainy, winter days in London were perfect for just such a treat.

Jane’s cries stopped her at the top of the stairs. Charles came dashing out of their room without his banyan and Elizabeth giggled at the sight of him as he called up and down the hallway for the midwife.

The woman was quartered in the attic of the townhome with the maids and Elizabeth turned and ran for the door at the end of the hallway opposite Mr. Bingley. She took the back stairs two at a time and soon had the midwife wide awake.

By midday, Elizabeth had left an exhausted, but happy Jane with the midwife and gone downstairs at last to break her fast.

As she filled her plate with the bounty Cook had supplied, she recalled the modiste was to come that afternoon. Leaving her plate on the table, Elizabeth dashed to the parlor and wrote a hasty note to be delivered to Miss Darcy.

Returning to the dining room, she rushed through her meal so that she might visit the children and tell them of the new babe. It would be several days before Rose and Richard would meet Sophia. Elizabeth did not wish for them to worry when they came down in the afternoon and found Jane missing from her usual chair in the salon.

Slowing to linger over her tea, Elizabeth thought of Mr. Darcy and his sister. It seemed both were of a mind to welcome her to their family though in very different ways.

Miss Darcy seemed a lonesome young lady, eager for a friend. Here, Elizabeth reminded herself to write to her father once she’d visited the nursery. All the Bennets would come to London now that Jane had given birth. At least her sisters could stay at Fitzwilliam house and give Jane and Charles some peace.

Turning her thoughts to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth marveled again at how different he was from that night in Meryton at the Assembly. He seemed to care very much for her, but perhaps it was only the memory of his cousin which caused him to be kinder to her.

Elizabeth found she quite liked the idea of receiving his good opinion no matter the reason. She would need it as she learned the ways of the Matlocks. The Earl had not seemed to dislike her, but Elizabeth would not fool herself into thinking the man might take her side against his own wife.

She rose, eager to see her son and Rose before sitting with Jane again. Below her, the door to the entry flew open with the force of a windy gust and the footman she’d sent to Darcy House stumbled in and leaned against the door to shut it again. He called out as he took to the stairs.

“Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Miss Darcy has written a reply and wishes for your answer.”

Elizabeth took the note.

Dearest Elizabeth,

You must come to Darcy House. My modiste shall keep our appointment here instead. William and I are most pleased to hear of the new arrival at Bingley House and wish to send our regards to your sister and Mr. Bingley. Please say you will come!

Georgiana

Elizabeth left the footman in the entry and went again to the writing desk. She did not wish to venture out and leave Jane. But Miss Darcy had gone to the trouble of arranging for the modiste to see them at Darcy House and she would not disappoint her new friend. Writing quickly, she gave her answer and waved the note in the air to dry the ink. In a moment, she returned to the entry and sent the footman back into the rain.

She must hurry and see the children and visit Jane and the babe again before preparing for her short trip to Darcy House. The dress she had donned earlier had served her well during Jane’s labor but would never do for a fitting before Miss Darcy’s modiste. Nor before Mr. Darcy, she thought as she rushed upstairs.