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Sighing, Richard said, “I suppose I had better go up and see if my staid cousin can use some company. Perhaps I may even be able to coax a smile from him.”

“Thus far, no one has even been able to coax him from Mrs. Darcy’s side.”

Suddenly recalling why she had come downstairs, Mrs. Reynolds said, “I forgot. I need to find out what happened to a bucket of hot water that I asked a footman to fetch.”

She began to walk away before abruptly stopping to turn. “Forgive me, Colonel. I have not asked if you would like a bath or something to eat. Cook already has dinner prepared; she wished to be ready in case Mr. Darcy decided he would eat. Thus far today, he has refused everything.”

“That sounds like my cousin. He never eats when he is upset.”

“Perhaps you can persuade him that he will be more useful to Mrs. Darcy if he does not faint from lack of food.”

“I will try. Also, I appreciate your concern for me. In answer to your questions, I would like a bath. So, if you will have the footmen fill my tub, I shall bathe at the earliest opportunity. Do not worry about heating the water; I am hot and would not mind a cool bath at all. As for eating, I am hungry, so I shall endeavour to tease Darcy into eating dinner with me, but do not hold your breath.”

“Certainly.”

As the housekeeper hurried towards the kitchen, Richard looked up at the length of stairs in front of him and slowly began to ascend them. As he did, he thought, I am not well-rehearsed in comforting men whose wives are travailing in childbirth, but I shall give it my best shot.

Then he made his way up to see William.

Upstairs

Once Richard reached the chambers set aside for Mrs. Darcy’s lying-in, he peeked into the sitting room adjoining it to find William at a window with his head hanging like a condemned man. He was gripping the sides of the frame so tightly that both hands were white with the effort. At that moment, a loud moan emanated from the room that held Elizabeth, causing William to grimace and bring both hands up to cover his face.

Touched by the scene, Richard walked over to clasp his cousin’s shoulder. As he gave it a squeeze, he said, “I am here, Darcy. I would have come sooner had I known what was happening.”

A strangled sob escaped William’s throat as his head came up, and he began to wipe his face with the backs of his hands. “I-I found that I am entirely useless, Richard! I am wealthier than most of Derbyshire and can command hundreds of servants and tenants to do as I wish, but I cannot help my wife bear the pain of bringing our child into the world.”

“That is simply the way God ordained it, my friend. We are burdened with the sin of Adam and Eve. Men are punished by having to toil for their bread, whilst women are cursed with excruciating pain in childbirth.”

“If only I could do something … take any little portion of her pain—” Another agonising cry pierced the air, causing William to stare at the door separating him from the woman he loved.

Richard patted William’s back. “If you could, I have no doubt you would shoulder all the pain. Still, you must remember what the Bible promises: joy in the morning! Mother says that once the babe is placed in her arms, a woman forgets everything she endured. So much so, that she will be willing to bear another child not long afterwards.”

“That is no comfort when one is in the midst of such suffering.”

“When did the babe decide to be born?”

“Elizabeth said she experienced pains on and off yesterday, but she did not say anything because she had previously experienced false pains. It was around midnight, however, when they became steady.” William threw up his hands. “If only she had said something then, I might have been able to fetch Mr. Drummond before—” He could not finish the sentence.

“Did Mrs. Darcy say why she did not alert you?”

“I had not slept much in days, and last night I happened to be sleeping like a log, so she did not wish to wake me until the pains were closer together.” William shook his head in disbelief. “Can you believe that? She was more concerned about me.”

“You forget. I saw her fling herself between you and a bullet.”

“In truth, Elizabeth is a better wife than I deserve.”

“I cannot agree. I say that you deserve each other; I have never seen two people so much in love.”

William rubbed his eyes. “I-I did not realise the babe was on its way until I woke at daybreak to find Elizabeth walking the hall outside this room. The midwife had explained to her that walking after the pains began would hasten the birth, and Elizabeth took that advice to heart. She walked until she could not continue and only then took to bed.”

“From what Mrs. Reynolds said, I thought to find you in there with Mrs. Darcy.”

“I was until a few minutes ago. Mrs. Wickham asked me to leave.”

“Truly? What did you do?”

“It seems my mask does not work when it comes to watching Elizabeth suffer; subsequently, seeing my distress was not helping my wife. Mrs. Wickham insisted I remove myself from the room to allow Elizabeth to wail or cry as loudly as needed to deliver the child.”