A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward Page B

and Miss Johnstone, the whole time. Then Miss Johnstone excused herself, extricated herself from her chair with some difficulty, and headed for the adjacent parlour. Mrs. Reynolds followed her there. As other guests too began to take their leave, Georgiana brought Mary to her and introduced her as Mrs. Darcy’s sister who would be visiting them for a while. They all smiled and welcomed her. Later, when most were gone, Mary realized she had seen nothing of Miss Johnstone. Mrs. Reynolds hurried in then, whispered to Georgiana, and took her place with the remaining guests, while Georgiana hurried to the small parlour. Mary felt glad indeed when she too could excuse herself and seek out the library. At-home day at a great manor did not much appeal to her.
    ***
    Slightly ahead of schedule, on November the eighth, the Darcy boy arrived in a painfully long ordeal Lizzy could never have imagined, and she appreciated all the work at strengthening her muscles. The surgeon, who had been requested to stay in the house just the day before, assisted the birth, as did an attendant nurse-midwife, Mrs. Kaye. Finally the doctor handed a bundle to Mrs. Kaye, who washed and wrapped him, and called for Mr. Darcy. Darcy had been right outside the door, had not liked what he had heard from the room until then, and accepted his son a bit gingerly, craning his neck to look at Lizzy, who was being cleaned up while the bed linens were changed beneath her. Having been assured by the doctor that Elizabeth was fine, Darcy relaxed somewhat and regarded his perfect little son. Leaning over Elizabeth, he solemnly asked, “May we call him Charles?”
    As Charles squalled and jerked his fists in the air, Elizabeth said, “I’m not sure he likes it.” Mrs. Reynolds came in with Mrs. Downey, who was to be the baby’s wet nurse, took the baby from Darcy, and handed him to Mrs. Downey, who knew just how to quiet the babe.
    â€œSee? He likes it fine.” Darcy grinned.
    Elizabeth, tired and spent, murmured weakly, “Not Fitzwilliam?”
    â€œOh no. I never used that name. Why should I give him what I did not like?”
    Elizabeth nodded and whispered, “Charles.”
    Darcy sat next to her and took her hand. “To keep peace with Aunt Catherine, I welcome the boy, else I would have loved a little Elizabeth and watching her grow. However, Lady Catherine would have blamed you if we had produced a girl, or possibly would have accused us both of intransigence.” At this point, Georgiana and Mary were permitted a glimpse of the baby and Elizabeth, who was just nodding off to sleep. The serene picture the room now presented made childbirth a sweet prospect indeed for the young ladies.
    In the weeks following, Elizabeth rejoiced in her gradually returning strength, even with the new call in her life for patience, responsibility, and sweet needfulness. She asked Mary to join her in her sitting room each afternoon for an hour of needlework, and Mary, thinking she was helping Elizabeth, gladly did so. She even began to enjoy working the needle and grew adept at it, her fingers strong and disciplined from her musical practise.
    When she was again permitted stairs, Elizabeth ventured down to the breakfast room, leaning on Darcy’s arm. After breakfast, Callie, the official nursemaid, brought little Charles to place in her arms, and she nursed him, as her mother had urged her to do, despite Mrs. Downey’s ministrations. Darcy, who had breakfasted earlier, spent the quiet time reading the day’s mail, exclaiming over the many answers to the invitations they had sent for the Christmas ball. “The Gardiners say they will not miss it.” “Lady Elliott looks forward to it.” “The Langleys gratefully accept.” Then an exaggerated groan introduced, “Miss Johnstone will gladly attend.” Later, after a long pause, in a sad voice, Darcy read, “Lord Exbridge regrets that he cannot leave