Page 79 of Through the Eyes of Love

“If you do not object, I should like to see my chambers.”

“Of course not. Lead the way.”

They slowly climbed the stairs, and before she opened the door, she turned to him. “I have a bit of a surprize for you.” She held out her hand and led him inside.

Darcy gasped. How had she done it? Elizabeth had asked for the decoration of her rooms to be done according to her exacting standards, but he had not seen them until today. “You remembered everything I told you about my mother’s chambers. It is lovely. Thank you.” He touched the lace draperies and lightly ran his hand over the silk hanging papers on the walls, which depicted all the colours of the garden. “Even the Axminster is the same colour as the roses! Every time I enter this room, I shall be reminded of how much I love you.”

He kissed her hand and led her into the sitting room that separated their two bed chambers.

“It is so bright! The sunlight will warm us when the weather turns cold. The chairs and settee look so comfortable that I may never leave this room.”

“I would often find my parents together here—my father working at the desk and my mother sitting near the windows reading or writing in her journals. It was their own little refuge from the responsibilities of running the estate. I hope it will be the same for us.”

“You never mentioned your mother kept a journal.”

“Yes. She wrote detailed notes on everyday matters, planning parties, ideas for her garden, and such, but they were all destroyed by the fire.”

“I am disappointed they are gone. I could have learnt so much about being Pemberley’s mistressandcome to know your mother better if I had access to her notes.”

Darcy paused at her remark. How fine it would be if his parents were here to meet Elizabeth and their first grandchild.He cleared his throat. “We shall look at my chambers later, but now I have something special to showyou.”

They walked a short distance until Darcy held the door open for his wife to enter. She had tears in her eyes as she looked around the nursery. “It is so much more than I ever imagined—our child will be very content here. My love, I adore it but it is a ratherlargeroomfor one little baby.”

He embraced her from behind and placed his hands on their growing babe. “Someday I hope we shall add several more children to our family and I wished to be prepared for that eventuality.”

“I appreciate your foresight, but may we wait to discuss having another child untilafterwe hold this little one in our arms?”

“Yes, my heart.”

Darcy kissed her hair and led her to the next apartment. “There is a suite that was built for Jane, but now that she is to be married, we can use the rooms for family guests.”

Elizabeth suggested they return to the ground floor.

“Are you certain? If you are fatigued, we can tour the rest of the house later—we do live here now.”

“I am well.” After they walked down the stairs, she said, “There is a particular item I wish to show you.”

She led him to the doors of his study, where he commented, “The ceiling has been reinforced, but nothing has been touched in here yet.”

“Well, I would not saynothing.” Her tone was playful. What was she about? She took his hand, then opened the doors and pulled him inside the room.

“My desk! Only you could have managed to have it restored so beautifully.”

“Mrs. Reynolds knew of a local craftsman who repairs damaged furniture. He has been here almost every day for thepast few months, but you never noticed him because there were so many workmen coming in and out all day. I felt my secret would be safe since you have been using the library in the cottage as your study.”

He pulled his wife to him and said in a whisper, “What did I ever do to deserve you, my darling Lizzy? You are the greatest joy of my life and you continue to touch my heart every day.” They clung to each other, fortunate to have found the remarkable love they shared. No words were necessary to convey the depths of their dedication for each other. He said softly, “Are there any more surprizes?”

“Only one more.” He followed her and could not imagine what awaited him when she opened the doors to the library.

“How in the world?” The first bookcase had been restored to its original condition. Half the shelves were filled with new books or those which had been charred and were now refurbished. “I cannot tell you how. . .how much this means to me—whatyoumean to me. I shall not ask how you were able to do this but. . .” He held her closely to him. “How I love you, Mrs. Darcy.” They were smiling through their tears as they walked out of the library to inspect more of the newly rebuilt rooms on the ground floor.

* * *

Since mid-April,every morning and every evening and often at mid-day, Darcy asked his wife the same questions. “How do you feel, my love? Do you think the baby will come today? Is there anything I can do for you?”

When the answer was a terse “no,” it was clear that his wife was as anxious as he for their child to be born.

One day, he and Mrs. Reynolds stood together gazing out the French windows. They watched Elizabeth taking a slow walkin the garden. He turned to the housekeeper. “Should I be concerned that the babe has not yet arrived? Pray be honest with me.”