Page 81 of Through the Eyes of Love

“Thank you, aunt!”

He entered Elizabeth’s chambers carrying a vase of flowers, which he set down on the bedside table. Elizabeth kissed her baby’s forehead. “Sweetheart, your papa is here.” He sat beside his wife and stared at the little bundle in her arms with tears in his eyes. “Papa, would you like to meet your daughter? May I present Miss Anna Jane Darcy, who is, as you can see, absolutely beautiful.” She suddenly began to cry. “Fitzwilliam, I am so relieved. Before she was in my arms, I opened the blanket and examined her from head to toe. There are no birthmarks—she truly is flawless.” She spotted the blossoms next to her bed. “Are those from our garden?”

“They were my mother’s favourite roses—they were cut from the bushes you were pruning when I saw you for the first time.”

“I cannot thank you enough. It is like having your mother here with us.”

Elizabeth gently placed Anna in her father’s arms, and as he carefully held his daughter he declared, “She is simply the most gorgeous baby ever born! Do you not agree, Mrs. Reynolds?” His daughter! He was in love at once. He kissed her hair and said softly, “She is perfect—she is just like her mother.”

“I do agree, sir, although Miss Georgiana was a lovely child. It must be a Darcy family trait.” They smiled as the nurse tookthe baby from her father’s arms. “Sir, Mrs. Darcy has been up all night and needs to rest.”

He took his wife’s hand and kissed it. He was so proud of her! “Rest well, my heart. I shall be here when you awaken.”

Elizabeth caressed his cheek and closed her eyes.

* * *

September1813

Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were reading in the drawing room while the baby slept nearby on a blanket. Mrs. Reynolds knocked gently and entered. “Pray excuse me. Mrs. Darcy, there is a woman here who claims to be your mother.” Her whole body stiffened and the little hairs on the back of her neck sprang up.

“My mother? I had no idea she was coming. Have her wait in the small parlour—I shall ring when we are ready to receive her.” She and her husband exchanged puzzled glances. Why would her mother suddenly appear without letting her know? Did she expect to be welcomed with open arms? She had been critical and thoughtless towards Elizabeth her entire life and now her mother had arrived with no notice and. . .

“Fitzwilliam, I do not know what to do. How can I face her remembering all the years of being ridiculed by her and made to feel less than my other sisters? Why? Because she was certain I would never marry and therefore had no worth? Her coming here is a shock—I never expected to see her, well, maybe ever again. I am not the same person I was in Meryton.”

“No, you are not, my love. You are happy and adored by all who know you. You have a husband who worships you and a beautiful baby.”

“Even though I am certain she is still the same uncaring person as she was at Longbourn, perhaps it is time to leave the past behind.”

“Wise words from my clever wife.” Darcy rang to signal Mrs. Reynolds to allow Mrs. Bennet to enter the drawing room.

A moment later her mama hurried in. “Goodness gracious, Lizzy, I cannot believe it! This house is so big! You have done very well for yourself, very well indeed.”

Her loud voice woke the baby, and Fitzwilliam rang for Mrs. Reynolds. “Pray ask Anna’s nurse to take her up to the nursery.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mama, welcome to Pemberley. You did not tell me of your plans to travel here.”

Mama scowled. “I did not think to ask permission to visit my own child.” Her mother had no idea that it was ill-mannered to arrive at someone’s home without warning yet she behaved as ifshehad been insulted.

Before the nurse came, Fitzwilliam picked up his child, walked towards his new mother, and spoke quietly. “I am delighted to meet you, Mrs. Bennet. This is your granddaughter, Anna Jane. She has fallen back to sleep, but when she awakens, she will be delighted to have someone new to pamper her.”

“Oh my, she is a beautiful baby. Does she have any of those dreadful birthmarks anywhere?” Elizabeth cringed at the reminder of her childhood. Had she made a mistake allowing her mother to enter her home?

“No, Mama. Remember the doctors said mine was not inherited.”

“Well, that is a relief,” said Mrs. Bennet.

The nurse arrived, took the baby, and was soon on her way to the nursery.

Fitzwilliam rose. “Pray excuse me for a moment.” He gave her a rather quizzical look. Was he asking if she could fend off her mother’s verbal attacks? She smiled to indicate she would be well in his absence. Elizabeth Darcy was a strong, capable woman and her mother could no longer bring her pain.

Once he was gone, she was pleased at the confidence that remained in her. She was the mistress of Pemberley, after all. “Pray have a seat and tell me how you came to be in Derbyshire. Did you know Jane and Richard are but an hour from here?”

“Yes, I know. Now that your three younger sisters have safely given birth, I decided it was time I visited my two older daughters and met their husbands. Mr. Darcy is very tall and would be quite handsome if he was not so badly scarred. It is too bad about his limp—he will never be able to dance with you.”

It was all she could do to not put her face in her hands. Her mama had not changed. Instead, she held her head high. “Fitzwilliam and I look at each other through the eyes of love. We see each other as we see Anna—perfect in every way.”