Page 88 of When Elizabeth Said Yes

The picnic was finished, and both of their husbands were playing pall-mall on the lawn. They had both been happy to simply sit and watch, for in this heat, such physical exercise was too exhausting. Elizabeth, after all, was in her seventh month.

Jane's petite figure showed a small bump, but Elizabeth felt absolutely massive. Indeed, the size of her had led more than one person to joke she was having twins, and it had lately stopped her from being able to go out on her daily walk, which saddened her greatly, for she and Darcy had, since the early days of their marriage – well, after that whole drama with Lydia had been resolved – taken to walking the perimeter of Pemberley every day, rain or shine, just the two of them.

It was the time when they talked most, when they shared what was on their minds and in their hearts. It was a time that still got interrupted by kisses and where they strolled hand in hand around their home.

But now she supposed she would have to wait to recover from having the babe before they could resume their walks.

And then there would be a baby, a physical manifestation of the love that they shared. The first of their children to sleep in Pemberley's nursery, to fill its corridors with its cries and, hopefully soon, its laughter.

Elizabeth rubbed her stomach at a particularly sturdy kick and then smiled at her sister.

"How was Mama when you left her?" she asked.

"Well, she said her nerves were rather raw," Jane said, and Elizabeth couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, poor Mama. When are her nerves not on end? And what was the reason this time?"

"Well, it seems Mary has an admirer, a young gentleman from the nearby village. I have not met him, but Mama thinks he will propose."

Elizabeth frowned. "I do not understand why this would make Mama anxious."

"Well, it seems she thought Mary would be the one to take care of her in her old age. And with you and I and Lydia gone, and her high hopes for Kitty..." The last Elizabeth had heard, her mother had been setting her cap at a baron for Kitty, although she did not know how likely that was.

"Well, I suppose she is worrying about being left alone. And don't you say she can come and live at Netherfield," Jane said with an uncharacteristic glare. "She has already threatened as much to help with the new grandchild."

"I wasn't about to suggest anything of the sort," Elizabeth promised her. "At least we are both having children at a similar time, so she will be distracted between us. And besides, it's not like they're her first grandchildren. Lydia already has little George Jr., although I hope he takes after his father in name and looks only."

"Don't we all!"

"Perhaps Kitty will look after Mother in her old age," Elizabeth said, although truthfully, she did not wish for any of her sisters to remain unwed to have to care for their mother. She had a fine home, which Darcy and Bingley both contributed towards. She didn't think they had asked Wickham, although undoubtedly he wouldn't have had the funds even if he'd wanted to help. Unfortunately, from what Lizzy heard, he had not given up his gambling ways.

"We will find Mama a companion," Lizzy said with a nod, sure that Darcy would agree to fund it with Bingley, "if such a time arises."

It was then that their husbands returned from the game, laughing together. Being brothers-in-law had only made the two closer, and Elizabeth was pleased, for it meant there were always reasons for them to visit Netherfield, or for Bingley and Jane to visit Pemberley.

"Who won?" Jane called out, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Darcy. Of course," Bingley said, but he was smiling as he said it.

They both sat down on the picnic blanket beside their wives, and Darcy grabbed the last cheese sandwich that had been left unclaimed.

"You know," Bingley said, leaning back on his elbow, "I'm not envious of much, but I think I am envious of Pemberley. I do not think there is a nicer house in all of England. Do you, Jane?"

Jane smiled up at her husband with a warm expression and said, "I'm very partial to Netherfield, dear. After all, it's where I fell in love."

Bingley smiled at her, and Elizabeth locked eyes with Darcy. She knew he wouldn't say that he agreed with Bingley in order to be polite, but they both would certainly state that they knew of no nicer place in all of England, and possibly much further afield.

"It's home," Elizabeth said simply. "It's where we belong."

◆◆◆

At nine months pregnant, Elizabeth Darcy was feeling restless.

The doctor had said the babe would come any day, and yet it did not seem to wish to make an appearance. She was fed up of being stuck in the house, fed up of feeling like she could barely turn her own body, let alone bend down to remove her shoes. She was excited to become a mother. But the aches and pains that came with growing a child were a lot to bear, and that was without even thinking about labour.

She'd only ever heard it spoken of, really, by her mother, and considering her tendency towards histrionics, she had ignored everything she had said. After all, she'd gone through it five times. Could it really be as bad as she had made out?

On a misty morning in November, she had had enough.