Page 61 of Through the Eyes of Love

“His family will be relieved when he is out of danger. He told me he needed to go to London on business; mayhap that is the reason.”

“I believe it is. He will return to Derbyshire soon, and you can become better acquainted with him. Unlike my husband, Richard has never been betrothed.”

“What? Darcy was engaged to someone before you?”

“Yes. When he was just a boy, his father signed a marriage agreement obliging him to marry the daughter of an old friend. It turned out she did not behave as the child of a peer ought, and Fitzwilliam was troubled by the thought of being trapped into a marriage of convenience. After the fire, she was repulsed by my husband’s scars and released him from the agreement.”

“So, yours is his first engagement for love, not an obligation dictated by a contract.”

“I suppose that is a good way to look at it.”

* * *

While Elizabeth was undressing,a noticeable bulge developing in her midsection drew her attention.We are intimate so often; he is bound to observe the change. I must speak to my husband immediately.

* * *

His wife saton the bed and watched as Darcy finished his nightly ablutions. “Fitzwilliam, there is something important we must discuss, and I hope you will be pleased.”

Darcy situated himself beside her on the bed and let out a light laugh. “Would you like a faster horse? More jewels?”

When he looked at Elizabeth, she was not smiling. What was the matter? She placed her hand on his. “My love, I am going to have a baby.” Tears sprang to his eyes and he swallowed hard. “I hope you are pleased by the news.”

“Pleased? You have made me the happiest man in England. We are startingourfamily, our beautiful, loving family. You have caught me off guard, but you have just given me the world.” He held Elizabeth and scattered kisses all over her face. “How do you feel? May I get you something? My dearest, I am so happy. Areyouhappy? Why did you not tell me sooner?”

“You have been so busy with rebuilding the house and bringing back all the tenants, you have not been here to witness me casting up my accounts soon after breakfast nor noticed how I am slowly expanding. You have caught me napping during the day on more than one occasion. I remembered how Mama felt and acted with Lydia and Kitty, and my aunt and the midwife confirmed my condition.”

He placed his hand on her stomach and looked into her eyes. Shedidhave a small swelling. How amazing! He kissed the spot where their baby was growing. “How did I not notice?”

“You are meeting with Bethel or the groundskeepers every day, and I wanted to be sure before I said anything. I am overjoyed it happened so quickly.” She stopped speaking as tears began to fall. “I confess I am terribly uneasy about the babe.”

“Why are you concerned? Did the midwife say anything to frighten you?”

“I could not live with myself if the baby was born with a birthmark on their face.”

Elizabeth was soon being held fast to his chest. “Did you not tell me that no one else in your family was born with it? You said the doctors informed your parents it was a random occurrence.” She still had tears in her eyes—good heavens he loved her so! He must kiss those tears away. Each cheek was given a kiss with reverence. “Our baby will be the most beautiful child ever born in all of England, if it is a girl, and the most handsome if it is a boy.”

“I shall pray every day you are correct. You had better tell Bethel to add a nursery to the family wing.”

They lay in bed embracing, lost in their thoughts about the future. “No more riding for you, Mrs. Darcy. We shall have to postpone our trip to the Lake District for now—I shall not have you bouncing around in the carriage. I promise we shall go as soon as we can.”

“Perhaps I can drive the phaeton if I promise to go very slowly.”

“I am only thinking of you and our little one,” he murmured as he rolled her over and once again kissed her belly.

“I know you are, and I shall never do anything that could hurt our family.”

“Ourfamily—how I love the sound of that. I always imagined having a wife and children and now, my Lizzy, you have made my dreams come true. Thank you, my dearest wife.” She was kissed with all the love and gratitude in his heart. From that night on, Elizabeth slept snuggled next to Darcy with his hand resting on their growing baby.

* * *

The followingmorning

Elizabeth was somewhat frustrated. After the happiness of her enchantment, she was loath to leave it behind, so she sought out and approached Mrs. Reynolds. “When Pemberley is rebuilt, will the enchantment of the cottage extend to the manor house?”

“It is believed if the residents are in love, they will enjoy the same happiness wherever they are.”

“That is good news because soon this cottage will not be big enough for our growing family,” Elizabeth said as she placed her hands on her belly.