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The Bennet's visit was into it's first full week when one evening the maid from the upper floor silently appeared in the doorway of the sitting room drawing Elizabeth's attention, as per her instructions, and the Mistress of the house rose excusing herself.
Mrs. Bennet asked, "where are you off to so soon after you have only just arrived?"
Elizabeth replied, "I have to see to the children," glancing at Kitty and Mary who were unaware of what she was about.
Mrs. Bennet scoffed. "Oh, let the nursery maid take care of them for the time being, Lizzy. You were just with them not an hour ago."
"Mother, I have been away from them almost three hours, and I am afraid they can wait no longer."
A sudden realization came to Mrs. Bennet, and stood up to follow Elizabeth out from the room and spoke in her normal shrill voice regardless of whether the younger women overheard. "Am I correct in assuming that you have not yet acquired a wet nurse for your children?"
"You have a correct understanding of my situation, Mother, " Elizabeth informed her that she, unlike Jane had not the need of a wet nurse.
Her mother was most surprised and a bit annoyed that she as a gentleman's daughter and now a gentleman's wife would choose to do such a preposterous thing. "Mr. Darcy can well afford the cost to hire a wet nurse for his own wife that she may regain her form and figure sooner than not."
"As you see that is quite unnecessary, Mother," began Elizabeth as they walked up the stairs towards the nursery, but her mother insisted.
"Oh, no, my dear, this simply will not do," replied Mrs. Bennet touching her arm for emphasis. "You absolutely must have a wet nurse. Fashionable women in today's society simply cannot do with not having one." Here Mrs. Bennet did make the attempt to lower her voice. "And men you know have their needs, and it will not do to keep them waiting as it were for what is their due, Lizzy." She fanned herself and nodded to her second daughter adding, "tomorrow I will see to it."
They continued down the hallway to the nursery arguing back and forth of the merits of both points of view when they entered.
"Oh, Mistress," Martha sighed in relief holding one of the babies. "Your little ones have become a bit fussy for going on a half hour now. I tried my best to appease them, but-"
"It's quite all right, Martha," Elizabeth said smiling, and reaching to take the infant from the maid. "Inform the master where I will be for the time being, then you may take tea in the kitchen and return at the half hour."
"Yes, ma'am," Martha answered with a curtsey. She smiled at Mrs. Bennet, and curtseyed to her in turn before she removed herself from the nursery.
"Sit down, Mother. I have need of you for the moment." Mrs. Bennet obeyed, but was not at all comfortable.
"Oh, Lizzy, you know how little good I am with babes this small. They squirm so, and cry until my nerves are so-"
"Mother," Elizabeth interrupted. "Please sit still."
Obeying, Mrs. Bennet was given her grandson to hold while Elizabeth picked up her hungry daughter and sat in a second rocking chair, and began to nurse her, closing her eyes.
Her mother likewise rocked, and her little bundle didn't cry or squirm, much to her surprise, but rather stared at this new face with bright curious eyes. "Humph," she said, happy that the child was being pleasant for the moment.
After a trade of infants that Elizabeth could expertly do now with ease, she noticed how her mother seemed calmer now in the quiet solitude of the nursery. Mrs. Bennet stared at the now sleepy granddaughter that she had seen only from a distance in the previous viewings, and remarked quietly, "Lizzy, she...appears to have red hair."
Elizabeth chuckled softly. "Yes. It was quite a surprise. Do you recall any of your relations to be likewise bestowed?"
Mrs. Bennet, deep in thought with eyes unfocused for a moment, seemed to come up with someone from her distant past. "I recall my own mother remarking when your uncle James was a baby that she thought he too was destined to a similar fate. And told us of an uncle of hers from Ireland who had hair as red as fire, and a disposition suited to it too. Oh, Lizzy I do hope this precious thing does not have such a temper as my mother said of her uncle."
Another giggle came from Elizabeth. "With William as her father, I have no doubt she will audacious." She looked at her mother and the older woman nodded and added with a snort, "Yes, Lizzy, and with you as her mother I have no doubt of that either."
After a half hour, Elizabeth rose and placed her now sleeping infant son in the crib, and turned to her mother reaching for the other babe. Reluctantly Mrs. Bennet relinquished the child who was placed in the other crib, remarking, "This was...not an unpleasant experience, Lizzy."
"Indeed," whispered Elizabeth gently covering the little girl with a soft blanket, and caressing her small head. Elizabeth then turned to her mother, brows arched, and replied, "No wet nurse."
"But what of Mr. Darcy? His... rights?" began a flustered Mrs. Bennet on that subject once again. "After all you have gone through the 'ceremony of churching' by now."*
Elizabeth folded her arms and bit her lip, and sighed. Then staring at the floor she rejoined her mother with, "You need have no fear that he is being neglected in that regard, Mother." She then stared directly into her mother's frozen eyes.
"But...you are...? While you are also...?" Elizabeth merely arched her eyebrows and waited for her now truly flustered mother to complete a sentence.
Her mother stared at her, and then blinking several times, her cheeks crimson, she finally formed a reply. "Oh, you take great delight in vexing me."
"Yes, Mother," sighed Elizabeth, trying desperately not to smile, and linking arms with her mother's they exited the room.
*This churching ceremony readmitted women to the outside world after childbirth. I am not sure, but probably they had something similar to reinstate women into daily society again along with her husband being able to have marital relations with his wife once more. To read more about this go to: http://www.pemberley.com/pemb/adaptations/regency/archive/messages/2211.html
Having had previous discussions with Elizabeth on the matter of social engagements especially as regards Kitty, Darcy wished to also have a chat with the sister in question before making any plans that would include her presence. And on the morning of the tenth day of the Bennet's holiday he had that opportunity when he found himself walking down the hallway just as Kitty was approaching from the opposite direction as him.
"Miss Catherine, I trust you are enjoying your stay here at Pemberley?" said Darcy with genuine affection, stopping before her.
Perhaps she was feeling the affects of late of a year of her mother's constant scrutiny, or the fact that she had been out of his company for nearly a year, but Kitty found it to be intimidating to talk with Darcy and had avoided conversing with him for almost the entire visit. Now standing in her path she was forced to do just that.
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and she looked up at him, and tried to smile. "Mr. Darcy, I...thank you, sir. Yes, I... am enjoying myself exceedingly well."
"I am glad to hear it." Then he continued with, "but if you could give me but a moment of your time, I wished to discuss another matter with you if I may."
"You wish to...talk to me?" she asked as she swallowed, not knowing what he could possibly want to say.
"If now is a good time?" She nodded, and he motioned her to a bench nearby.
She obeyed his gesture, seating herself on the very edge. And as he sat beside her Darcy noticed she began to pant, and her eyes darted around as if looking for a means of escape, much like Elizabeth had with her fear of horses. He waited for her to calm herself and venture a wary glimpse at him. He smiled trying to allay her discomfort. Cautiously she smiled back.
"Mrs. Bennet seems to feel you are in need of more amusement than is presently supplied at Pemberley with merely your family as company. That is what I wish to talk to you of. I have received numerous invitations to dine by several of the families in the area, " he said, pausing as he gazed at her next to him. "I am sure you would be quite diverted with any of those we care to dine with, and perhaps make some new acquaintances."
"Please, sir," she said almost breathlessly. "I...thank you for wishing me a more entertaining holiday, but...please do not put yourself out on my behalf." She took a deep breath and continued with, "I know you would like nothing more than to be at home with your new family."
Darcy is touched by this kindness from a person he had still thought too silly to be sensitive of other's feelings, but tried to reason with her. "But Miss Catherine, one or two evenings of dinner at the neighbors is not out of the question."
"No, please," she insisted that he not accept any invitations on her behalf. "I am quite contented to be sketching the goings on at Pemberley, including the tenants at work, you and my father fishing, or the horses in the pasture, and the gardens that were bursting with color at this time of year."
When he stared at her for a further explanation, he saw how pink her cheeks had become; somehow knowing that like Elizabeth she was reluctant to reveal something she felt was a shortcoming within her own character. He remained silent and waited for her to continue.
"Sir," she finally admitted watching her nervous hands in her lap. "I would be reluctant to be very conversant to strangers, contrary to other's opinions and my mother's insistence."
He found this quite surprising asking, " but when I was in Meryton I witnessed your flirtatiousness with the officers."
She rolled her eyes and further confessed. "Had it not been for my sister, Lydia, I would not have had the inclination or the presumption to do so, sir. I merely accommodated her while I myself felt quite awkward and out of place. Her exuberance has a way of giving me more courage than I would normally possess, sir."
It was then that Darcy realized that she was very similar to Georgiana in her shyness, and must have steeled her resolve through her sister's vivacity to make such an efforts to socialize with the militia. "Very well," he assured her as he took her hand and kissed it and smiled down at his now other younger sister. "You will not have to adjust to any new acquaintances...except perhaps to those safely in their cribs at the moment."
Relieved now she actually laughed then, and acknowledged, "they are the only two at present that I have no reservations about getting to know better."
His smile broadened to show his dimpled cheeks, and he suggested, "then let us go find out if the two little ones are awake for visitors."
She saw his eyes shine with such joy at the prospect of being with his children that she could not help but agree. She nodded smiling as she rose and took his preferred arm to walk the short way to the nursery. Upon entering quietly they find both babes were quite awake and eager to have company. The nursery maid was excused for the time being as Kitty took but little time handing one baby to Darcy while she took the other to cuddle. Neither infants nor adults found any fault in the visit, all enjoying the camaraderie of family. Only when Elizabeth entered did the infants appear to prefer her above all others. Kitty smiled and rose from her chair and left the room to allow them their privacy, only pausing to smile at Darcy who seemed much less intimidating now.
Elizabeth entered the nursery the next morning to find both Mary and Kitty each with an infant, and talking in hushed tones that ceased with the opening of the door. Elizabeth smiled at the presence of both her sisters enjoying her babies, but knew by their expressions that whatever the topic of their discussion, it must have involved her in some way.
"Good morning, Mary, Kitty," she said cheerfully as she approached. The babies hearing her voice became animated, and tried to find her in the room. Kitty gave up her charge and rose from the chair. Elizabeth sat and began nursing the infant silently and then ventured a glance at both women. "Do I wish to know the subject of your discussion if you are at liberty to tell me," she asked quietly.
Both women exchanged a wary look before Kitty blurted out, "Mary and I have a difference of opinion about...about..." Elizabeth knew what Kitty was struggling to say.
"We overheard when you and Mother went down the hallway that night, Lizzy," Mary said, not being comfortable with the entire household knowing what Elizabeth and her mother argued about.
Elizabeth handed her son to Kitty and then took her daughter from Mary and began to feed her, and finally asked, "and the discussion you two were having was of your disapproval? I thought perhaps you, Mary, would be the one to voice your dissension of my decision not to hire someone to care for them."
Mary gave her a pensive look before she again spoke. "When Mother reprimanded you in the hallway the other night, I admit only to my surprise, Lizzy. After all we had been taught about what is expected of us in this regard it was astounding. Even Jane who had not the heart to be without Beatrice hired a wet nurse who would remain in residence. She had been recommended highly by her housekeeper as a reliable person."
"Jane and I never discussed this aspect of childcare, Mary, so we only know how she herself handled it."
"Lizzy, regardless of what the public believe of how advantageous were your matches, both you and Jane married for love." Here Mary glanced at Kitty for a moment, and then looked back to her older sister and continued. "So any children produced would be held in a different light than from a marriage of convenience."
Mary went on. "Lizzy, I have read enough now to begin to question some of the traditions of society. After one such questioning session Aunt Gardiner told me that this system of wet nursing had been put into practice merely as a means to propagate more children at a quicker pace to ensure an heir, especially among the wealthy."
"Because a woman would increase sooner if she had a wet nurse for her offspring?"
"Indeed. She said that after all this time of accepting the practice as a norm, society now places itself over those of rank to enforce this practice regardless of other considerations and common sense. During our recent visit attending little Beatrice with Jane relating her size at birth compared to your babies, I understand the significance of your decision to be more a part of their surviving whereas a hired nurse perhaps may not be so inspired."
"Then you do not disapprove?"
"Quite the contrary, Lizzy. I admire your conviction. However, there is no doubt it will be censured if made public."
"I thank you, Mary." Here Elizabeth ventured a glance toward her other younger sister. "And what of you, Kitty? You said you had a difference of opinion with that of Mary."
Kitty had been cuddling her nephew and paying little mind to them just then. Suddenly hearing her name called, she looked up and knew her turn was at hand. "I...was not in disagreement with your decision as it stands, Lizzy," she said softly as the babe in her arms nodded off. "I...merely wondered how you decided at all upon this path. When did you decide and who did you talk to of it and why is it treated with such distain when I see how you enjoy it so." Here she blushed.
Elizabeth smiled at all the questions coming from Kitty in one breath. She sighed and began to explain as best she could to both her sisters who were in perfect harmony now with her deciding to keep her babes as close to her as possible for the moment.
She kissed his cheek before she could calm herself enough to speak. "Oh, William. I am so happy to be home," she gushed.
"That much I surmised," he laughed putting her down, smiling at her glistening eyes.
She then hugged Elizabeth tightly. "Welcome, home, Georgiana. We have missed you."
"And I you," she said smiling, wiping tears from her eyes. "I gather you have been busy of late," she added, her smile broadening across her entire face.
"Yes, as you are well aware," laughed Elizabeth.
Just then they heard, "Georgie!" and they looked up to see Kitty hurrying down the steps. The two girls flew into each other's arms as they hugged and kissed almost jumping up and down in the excitement of their reunion. "Oh, Georgia, I have missed you. Your letters were wonderful diversion, but they are no replacement for you. You must come and see. They are so precious. Come."
And with that preamble both girls held hands and hurried back up the steps into the house followed by Elizabeth and Darcy talking to Mrs. Annesley about the journey from London while the servants unloaded the trunks.
Without much time spent removing her traveling garments, Georgiana and Kitty entered the nursery slowly to make sure the babies weren't deep in slumber. They entered to see Mary rocking one infant smiling down at its cute face. When she noticed their presence she began to rise quietly saying, "Georgiana, I so hoped you would arrive before our scheduled departure."
"It is good to be back home, Mary," Georgiana stated kissing her sister's cheek and then cautiously viewing the infant, and began to coo softly.
"You may take my place," Mary told her, and placed the infant in the young girls nervous arms.
"Oh, he's so little," she whispered, and she saw his brow knit wondering who this new person was. She smiled down at his little face and caressed his cheek. Mary and Kitty exchanged smiles and then Kitty wandered over to the second crib.
Mary whispered, "she is asleep yet, but not for long I am sure." Looking at the watch dangling from her fob*, she added, "Lizzy will most likely be here within a half hour. If she awakens try to keep her placated, Kitty."
Kitty nodded as Mary approached Georgiana, and kissed her forehead. "Welcome home, dear sister," she whispered picking up her volume of John Milton, her ribbon marking 'The Hymn'.
"Thank you," the younger replied and her eyes went again down to the infant as Mary exited the room. Georgiana rocked the tiny baby for a while talking softly to him and Kitty in the next chair when the baby began to fidget and squirm much to Georgiana's dismay. "Kitty, he's beginning to fuss. You must take him for I know not how to calm him."
"First you keep yourself calm, Georgie," replied Kitty smiling reassuringly, and she took Georgiana's smallest finger and placed it before the tiny mouth. The baby took no time to latch onto it and begin to suckle. "It will appease him for a little while," she replied smiling down at the baby.
"But does this not mean he needs to be fed? Is the wet nurse about?"
Kitty nodded and responded with, "Lizzy should be here soon," which caused Georgiana some confusion. But before she could inquire further Elizabeth entered the room, and Kitty whispered relieved, "Oh, Lizzy. He has been wanting you for some time now."
Elizabeth gently removed the baby from his aunt's lap and stood talking to the little one as Georgiana rose from the chair with, "I will go find the wet nurse for you, Elizabeth."
Without taking her eyes from her child Elizabeth said gently, "I will take care of it. You and Kitty must have many topics to catch up on from being so long apart. I will be along directly."
And with that both Kitty and Georgiana departed the nursery together to enter Georgiana's chambers. They had time only to open the door and sit upon the bed when Georgiana began her interrogation. "Why was the wet nurse not in the nursery? Has she a room in the servant's quarters? What is her name? Did she reside nearby in Lambton before William hired her?"
Here she paused for breath and noticed how Kitty was staring back at her, mouth open to begin to reply, but without a sound coming out. "Kitty, what is the matter? What have you to tell me?"
Kitty took a deep breath and held Georgiana's hand and said, "There is no need for a wet nurse, Georgie."
Georgiana's eyes widened and she began to speak, but Kitty rushed on with her explanation. "There is no need because...Lizzy has chosen to take on that task herself."
At first Georgiana was shocked, astonished, and quite unbelieving. "But how could she...? I have always heard that ...it is not done by...even Aunt Matlock always remarked that only lower class women would..."
Here Georgiana swallowed as Kitty remained silent and allowed her to sputter on, grasping this information regarding her own family, as her face blushed crimson. She had always been told of how appropriate it was to have a wet nurse, how unfashionable it was to not have one, and how only those below her social station would condescend to such an act. Georgiana knew Elizabeth cared little for society's dictums, but always believed that Elizabeth would have more reasons than merely wishing to flaunt those restrictive mores to have done something of this nature.
Finally Kitty could wait no longer and asked, "Georgie, you must speak to me of what you are thinking."
But the young woman smiled at her sister and squeezed her hand in reply hiding her discomfiture in a dismissive way for the time being. "I am well, Kitty. I was merely...surprised by this news. Elizabeth must think it perfectly acceptable, so I must likewise. She...she...must have more insight than I in this matter."
Here she paused before saying, "Come, let me show you what I have brought from London." And with a change of topic the two young women fell into conversation that involved less serious subject such as the newest fashion and balls.
*1800's ladies gold and silver Verge Fusee Chatelaine watch with original key that perhaps Mary might have worn: http://www.collectibleskingdom.com/chatlwt.jpg
Georgiana entered the nursery that evening wanting just to another peek at her precious new relatives. When she opened the door she heard Elizabeth's sweet voice reciting a poem in a very lyrical fashion, and Georgiana stopped to listen to the poem.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. *
When Elizabeth finished she turned around to see her younger sister staring at her. She smiled. "Georgiana, I was not aware you had entered. Please come in. I have taken care of one, but still have the other yet."
Georgiana dropped her eyes and obeyed her sister, and having been handed the tiny boy into her arms, immediately began to smile. But when she looked up again to Elizabeth her smile faded once more. Elizabeth was in the other rocking chair nursing her small daughter, and talking to the precious little one.
"Lizzy," began Georgiana.
"Hmmmm?"
"Lizzy, I...that is..."
Elizabeth's eyes focused now on her companion, sensing her unease. "What is the matter, Georgiana?"
"You have always been so good to me about..."
"Yes?"
"About answering questions. That whatever the topic, you said I could come to you and you would answer me as best you are able..." Georgiana whispered, and then swallowed.
"Of what do you wish to ask me, Georgiana?"
The young girl stuttered her request. "W-W-When I first arrived and Kitty told me that you were...were...that you had decided on...not having a...wet nurse..."
"You were surprised?"
"I was astonished. I had always been told of that women of our social stature do not..."
"Nurse their own children?"
"Yes, that it was unseemly, and below us. Lizzy, I...find it difficult to disbelieve what I have been taught all my life-"
"And mine as well."
"Lizzy, I just want to understand. Can you not tell me why you have deliberately chosen this? I am sure you have a perfectly good explanation that I do not see."
"Georgiana, if I but told of it being merely a wondrous feeling..." Elizabeth shook her head an replied, "I am assured you would not be satisfied with only that answer for that would not be the complete truth behind my decision." She searched the young woman's face wondering if she could explain it to her in a way to help her understand.
Both Kitty and Mary had accepted her decision without much question because they knew unlike their mother Elizabeth was the most sensible of them all, and would make decisions based on common sense over decorum.
And William who had witnessed her rapture during her vision of their children that first night at Pemberley, had also accepted her decision with only a modicum of discomposure that was put to rest upon his witnessing the newly born infants take to her in an act that filled him with such joy.
Unlike them Elizabeth knew Georgiana would need of a more complete explanation behind her decision. The younger woman stared at Elizabeth, awaiting her reply. But instead Elizabeth began her response with a question. "Do you know of the Countess of Lincoln*?"
"No, I have not heard of her. Why?"
Elizabeth paused again, biting her lip, trying to decide if her younger sister was old enough to hear what she was about to impart. Finally deciding in favor of it, she stood and removed a volume from the bookshelf across the room, and handed it to Georgiana.
"When William and I married and came to Pemberley, I had already been of a mind to attempt this should we ever be blessed with children, but my thoughts had not been completely set upon the idea." She paused and tenderly touched the front of the book in Georgiana's hand, and continued. "When I found this book in your brother's library not long after I had become with child again I began to read of this woman's trials. It was written by Elizabeth Clinton, the Countess of Lincoln recounting her life as a noble woman who bore eighteen children, Georgian, all of whom she had sent out to be wet-nursed, and none of who survived. She concluded her narrative by entreating all who have the capacity to nurse their own to do so in order that what occurred to her would never happen to others."
Here Elizabeth paused again, sitting next to the wide-eyed girl in the next rocking chair. "Oh, Georgiana, they were so small, that I wished only to ensure as much as I was able that William's children not suffer that same fate. I knew he could not survive without them. So, I decided that contrary to all that is deemed the standards of the day and everything I had been taught, to follow Countess Clinton's pleas and attempt to nurse them for their sakes and for William's. Can you understand that?"
Georgiana at first merely stared into Elizabeth's expectant eyes, waiting for some response from the young woman. Then the baby Georgiana was holding make a tiny sound and yawned. Georgiana cradled him to her, and inhaled that wondrous aroma that only newborns have, and she smiled.
"Yes," she finally agreed. "I understand now why you would do everything within your power to ensure their survival. You could do no less than the Countess entreated."
"Nor could I do less than the owner of this book," replied Elizabeth opening the inside page. Georgiana read the inscription as her eyes flooded with tears. 'To my beloved Anne'
* for the entire poem by Jane Taylor on which the children's song is based go to: http:www.rec.umd.edu/praxis/ecology/morton/morton.html
* the Countess Elizabeth Clinton of Lincoln, England wrote a pamphlet entitled The Countess of Lincoln Nurseries in 1662 as a result of the death of all 18 of her children due to wet nursing which was a common but unreliable practice even during Regency time. If you want to read more go to: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/postpartum/historybreast/index.php