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“Three? Whatever do you mean?” Georgiana smirked, knowing full well that Elizabeth would elaborate, and she would learn something she had always wanted to ask another woman. Oh, to be as bold as Lizzy!

“The number of times we make love on a given day ... well now that the honeymoon is over and the cares of life insist on their share of our lives.” Elizabeth smiled dreamily. “In the first week we were married, we often made love that many times in a night.”

By now Jane’s face was bright red, and she tried to stand. “If you insist on embarrassing me, I shall just have to go inside and rest while Peter is napping.”

Elizabeth rolled over on her side and studied her prim and proper sister with a slight smile. Jane was soon to be a mother again, and still she was not comfortable speaking of the act of love. But that was Jane, and she loved her very much just as she was ... as she would always be.

“Please do not go! I do not mean to embarrass you, Jane. It is just that I have no way of knowing if my life is ... average. Maybe I should just be grateful that it is wonderful and not care whether or not it is normal.”

“Life with my brother will NEVER be normal, I fear!” Georgiana offered, as all three giggled again. “And I must admit that it is disconcerting to be discussing my brother in this context!”

“Then I shall change the subject. We can talk about courses!”

“Courses?” Jane sounded incredulous, looking about even more nervously. “Why would we discuss ...” A knowing look soon spread across her face, and she was speechless.

Georgiana, however, was not, her voice rising in excitement as she rolled onto her stomach and propped upon her elbows, she cried, “Are you with child, Lizzy? Pray tell us!”

“Shhh!” Now it was Elizabeth's turn to sit up and look around. “I am a week past my time, but William has not noticed, and I do not want to get his hopes up just yet.”

“Oh, Brother will be so happy if it is true,” Georgiana said a bit too loudly, her enthusiasm hard to control. “He has wanted children for so long.” She sat up and moved over to hug Elizabeth. “I want so much to be an aunt, and Millie needs cousins with whom to play. It would be a dream of mine come true.”

Elizabeth beamed. “I just had to tell someone! The last time William was so disappointed when my courses came.” Reflecting on that event, she took a deep breath as she continued. “Actually, I think he was more worried for me—because he knew how much I wanted to be with child. He told me not to worry, that it would happen all in good time. But, if I tell him now, and it is not to be …” Unbidden tears filled her eyes.

Jane reached for her sister’s hand. “Lizzy, you have been married such a short while; give yourself time. It will happen eventually.”

“I know I am being silly, but I remember so vividly being in my room at Northgate, considering the madness of my life and wondering if I should just ...” Her voice trailed off, and she stared into the distance.

“It was in those times that I imagined I was married to Fitzwilliam—it was my only solace.” She smiled, completely unaware of how her mien transformed when she spoke of her husband. “And when I dreamed of him, we were always sitting on a lawn, under a huge tree.” She looked up to the strong limbs of the oak above. “And our child was lying in a basket between us.”

Tears now flowed from all three women as Lizzy tried to recover her former cheerful mood. Suddenly, she remembered Georgiana’s miscarriages and touched her hand. “I am sorry, Georgiana. I should never have mentioned—”

“Nonsense!” William’s sister interrupted. “I have my Millie, and I am exceedingly happy. Evan and I are even talking of taking in another orphan; so do not fret for me. I have no reservations in praying that you are with child. I yearn for this for my dear brother’s sake as well as for yours!”

Elizabeth took both her hands. “I have very little family left, and you have truly filled a place in my heart as a sister.”

Touched, Jane held out her hands, one to Elizabeth and one to Georgiana. “And you have become like a sister to me as well, Georgiana. I could not love you more.”

“Then we are all agreed!” Georgiana declared, sniffling. “I have always wanted sisters, and now I have two!”

Elizabeth and Georgiana stood and helped Jane to her feet. Then all three hugged as only women are prone to do—giggling and whispering. Their laughter could be heard through the upstairs window where, unbeknownst to them, an audience was watching.

The Billiards Room

While William and Evan finished one last game of billiards, Mr. Williamson slipped to the open windows to enjoy the breeze and take in the breathtaking view of Mr. Darcy’s estate. As he did, he contemplated how much his life had changed since Mr. Savage, the young vicar of Kympton, invited him to move north and help with his growing parish. He had agreed, not only because Lizzybet had begged him to stay but also because his heart demanded it. No one had known the extent of his loneliness after Gregory had been lost at sea and Lizzybet had been spirited away from Meryton, and now that the Darcys had assured him that he was a welcomed part of their family, his joy had returned. He had a purpose! He was a father once more! He relished that title and looked forward to being a grandfather, which, were he a betting man, he would wager to happen within the year.

Even as he smiled to himself, as so often happened, his thoughts drifted to the small cemetery at Meryton where his parents and dear wife rested. He would never forsake them and had sworn over their graves that he would return often. It had eased his mind when Mrs. Haversham, blessed friend that she was, vowed to tend their graves in his absence.

“I will care for their graves just as I do my own dear mother’s,” she had assured him when he returned to Meryton to make arrangements to move. “Rest in confidence that not one weed will flourish and fresh flowers will be present in season. In addition, I shall keep you informed of the goings on in Meryton, since I know you will miss us as much as we will miss you.”

Thus he had left half of his heart in a village that he had served almost his entire life, to move closer to the other half—to Lizzybet. A familiar giggle and soft trill of feminine chatter drifted up from somewhere below, and he stepped closer to find the source. At this angle, he could see Elizabeth lying on the ground with Georgiana, while Jane rested in a chair.

“What do you suppose they find to talk about?”

Evan’s question startled the vicar, and he turned to find Evan standing on one side. William was behind them both, holding out a glass of brandy for each. He did not answer Evan, but instead took a sip as William moved to his other side and looked down as well.

“I suppose they are discussing the latest fashions,” William offered confidently. “Elizabeth has finally decided on the wallpaper she wants in her bedchamber, and she and Jane were all aflutter about paint colours for the Bingleys’ estate at last night’s dinner.”

“You are probably right, Darcy. Ana loves to talk of paint colours!”