Chapter 50

Being the considerate gentleman he was and knowing her modesty in these aspects (she still locked the door when going to the bathroom), William suppressed his 'manly urges' and 'behaved' during Elizabeth's first monthly period as a couple. He would occasionally tease her about his 'unfair deprivation' and pat her bottom with a dramatic sigh when going to bed, but nonetheless he respected her discomfort about this situation and did everything within his power to support her in this violent turn her life was giving. Elizabeth could only love him even more because of that and was grateful that she had been able to rediscover all these invaluable traits of her future husband.

Wednesday dawn found the couple driving to the airport in a hired Van to pick up the guests for the wedding. The Bennets were ecstatic to see the family and be back in Encarnación after 15 years of absence, and William's relatives were impressed with the wilderness around them. Though not as green as when William arrived for the first time because the cold weather and some frosts, the landscape was an immense natural resource and they looked amazed at the vast forestation and endless prairies that were untouched by the hand of man.

The guests remained at the hotel La Mision in Misiones that night with the exception of James, who would stay with his son at the house until the wedding. After having dinner all together at the hotel, Will drove to Encarnación with the difficult task ahead of leaving Elizabeth at the farm. They stopped to have some coffee with Charles and Jane, and James had the opportunity to meet Alicia, and saw where Elizabeth had inherited that inexhaustible enthusiasm.

"Hello?" Elizabeth asked drowsily. It was past midnight when the phone rang.

"I miss you." William's voice sounded dramatic.

She chuckled softly. He couldn't be doing this. "William, go to bed."

"I am in bed. I'm here, all alone, by myself, in this huge bed, cold and lonely, and with almost a week of abstinence. I want you back."

"Poor darling." She laughed.

"Are you still 'indisposed'?" He asked teasingly.

"No."

"Are you in your old bedroom?"

"Yes."

"Is your window locked?"

"Yes." She smiled and bit her lip.

"Damn. I will have to use the kitchen door."

Elizabeth giggled. "Attila is there and he will eat you."

"No, we had very nice male chat and I instructed him how to open the door."

"Will, go to sleep."

"Can we arrange a quickie in the barn tomorrow during the course of the day?"

"No." He sounded so cute when he begged this way.

"Behind the bushes?"

"No!" She laughed.

He muttered something unintelligible.

"William, to bed." She tried to sound severe.

"I can't sleep without your breast in my hand." He pouted.

"Will! What if your father hears you?"

"He is sleeping. I can hear him snoring from here."

"Liar."

"Oh, yes? Listen." He moved the phone away and feigned snoring sounds for her to hear. "See? He is snoring and I can't sleep."

"I can't believe you are doing this. It's almost one in the morning." She yawned.

"All right." He sighed in resignation. "You go to sleep. You can do it and, well, I wouldn't wish to be a bother so ..." he made his most pathetic voice "... I'll try to sleep, alone, so aroused and lonely, without my …"

"Will, stop it!" She laughed. "Go and take a cold shower or drink a cup of milk or bang your head against a wall but go to sleep!"

"Do you miss me?" He grinned.

"Of course I do." She smiled.

"Just checking. Goodnight my love."

"Good night."


"William. You decided to wake up." James was walking around the kitchen figuring how to turn on the stove. He was not used to a house without a housekeeper.

"Dad, isn't a bit early to be wandering around?" He checked his watch, it was almost 8.30.

"I don't know what time is it, my watch is still in London's time. I only know we have day light." He was studying the coffee machine. "How do I make this work?"

"First, you plug it in." William said smugly.

"Very funny. I can manage myself pretty well." He looked in amazement how his son turned on the stove with a match. He had not lit a match in the past five years.

"We'll see. The milk is in the refrigerator, would you get it for me?"

James looked inside. This was a new experience for him. He couldn't remember the last time he went into the kitchen of his house. "I believe this is for you." He handed him a note that was attached to the bottle of milk.

William grinned broadly. It was a small paper with a kiss imprinted with lipstick and a good morning.

I know you can't begin your day without your good morning kiss so here it goes.
(imprinted kiss)
I love you.
the savage

PS: brownies on the second cabinet on the left, marmalade in the jar in the fridge. Also cookies and bread inside bread box.

I don't know what your father likes for breakfast so you can find:
1) coffee in its usual jar - 1st cabinet on the right
2) tea: besides coffee (only have tea bags)
3) chamomile, herb tea or similar: besides regular tea
4) mate: I don't think he has ever tasted it so what would be the point of telling you where it is.
5) scotch, brandy, etc. (just in case) : you know better than I.

Waiting for you with mate and chipá at the farm so…

HURRY UP!


William laughed and shook his head. She was adorable.

"She is something special, isn't she?" James smiled at his son's enamoured face.

"Yes, she is." William poured two mugs with coffee and they moved to the table.

"Now I understand why is that you went after her when she left and confronted those criminals."

"I don't know what crossed my mind at the time." He smiled. "I never felt this way, Dad."

"I'm so happy that you decided to open yourself to life again. But who would resist such a lovely girl? I don't know how is that you did not fall for her sooner."

"Well, I did. But I fought against it so hard that almost ruined any chance I had with her." William began to twist his mug around.

"You two are marrying tomorrow and that is all what matters." James picked a brownie. "Did you think of your replacement?"

"I had a prospect in mind but he didn't accept it."

"Charles?" James raised his eyebrow.

"Yes." William smiled. "He is marrying in two months, he adores this place and he doesn't want to impose that kind of life upon Jane."

"So?"

"New projects can only work with someone that is fully dedicated to work and it's not easy to find a person capable of managing the economic and the operational aspects of the business. I can reorganize it and divide it in two: setting up and financing. Until now I was doing both, but I think that the financing could be done directly from Investment Group and find someone for the setting up. Someone with no personal ties."

"That's a good idea. But don't worry about that until you are in charge." James smiled. "You have far better things in your mind right now."

"Yes, it's difficult to think of anything else but Elizabeth." William smiled too. "Dad, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Why didn't you ever marry again?"

James looked pensively at his mug. "Your mother was a very special woman."

"I know. But it has been twelve years now."

"Twelve long years. When you really love someone, it's not easy to love someone else."

"You are not depriving yourself from seeing someone because you fear that Georgiana or I would oppose your decision, are you?" William asked cautiously.

"Would you be against a decision like that?"

"Certainly not." William looked at his father with a hint of insecurity in his eyes. He didn't remember a conversation about such personal matters since his birds and bees talk. "And I doubt that Georgiana would complain either."

"Though I never really thought you would object to it, I fear that I used it as an excuse to remain single." James smiled.

William took a deep breath. "Meg is a wonderful woman."

James leaned back and looked intently at his son. "So you know."

William smiled shyly. "I do. For a long time now."

He began to laugh. First softly and then aloud. It was a matter of seconds before William was laughing too. "You sly thing." James patted his son's arm. "I can't believe it!"

"You are a sly thing." William pointed his forefinger at his father and grinned. "My own father, living this double life," he teased him.

"Double life indeed! I'm just enjoying some of nature's gifts."

"Is it only that?" William was almost afraid to ask.

"I'll have to do a lot of thinking."

"A wise man said once that life is easier when shared with someone. I tried to live mine by myself before, and I assure you, life with Elizabeth is far better."

"Meg is not your mother, but I think I never gave her the chance. Perhaps it's time to try."

"You should try." William sipped his coffee.

"And there is that matter of her working for me."

"Sack her," William said bluntly.

"But she is the perfect secretary!" James complained.

"I'm sure she is!" William laughed.

A new bond was born between them that morning. Though their love for each other had always been strong, years of solitary life, work and obligations had made their paths go in different directions. They recalled past games, family dinners, fishing trips, and moments of grief, and exchanged profound wishes and expectations for their lives ahead.

Life was wonderful and his couldn't get any better. William was sure of that.

Elizabeth smiled when two tall gentlemen crossed the gate. William's smile broadened as he came closer and his joy was unconceivable when he embraced her.

"Oh, you two," Alicia interrupted. "Who would know that you'd parted just a few hours ago?"

William lowered her to the ground after placing some very noisy kisses on her mouth. "Your daughter has bewitched me, Alicia. Last night was an eternity."

The four of them walked then to the porch to drink mate and eat some of the still warm chipá that Elizabeth cooked that morning. As always happened with a newcomer, Attila played his role of guard dog and kept James under his watch for a while until Elizabeth called him away.

"How much does he weigh?" James asked as Attila rested his head on William's shoe as was his habit.

"Around sixty kilos, that must be about 100 pounds," Elizabeth answered while serving the first mate.

"What kind of dog is he?"

"He is the product of an escapade of a neighbor's English Mastiff bitch with a Rottweiler. He is mum's big bad dog isn't he?" The dog wagged his tail at her.

"You must feel pretty safe with him by your side." James observed the mate ritual as Elizabeth served each one of the party.

"We've become friends now." William returned his mate. "But the first time I came here I was 'under observation' for quite a long time."

"Charles has called from the plant," Elizabeth commented. "He will send a driver to pick up the van and then go for the others in Misiones. Do you want a mate, James?"

He eyed it dubiously, but didn't want to be rude by refusing it. "What is it?"

"One of the delights of life Elizabeth introduced me to." William laughed. "You should try it."

"Be careful, it's hot," Elizabeth warned him. "I put some sugar in it so it it's not so bitter."

"It's different." He wasn't at all convinced yet. "Did you cook this too?" He ate a chipá. "The brownies you left at the house were delicious."

William squeezed her cheek. "I told you she was an excellent cook, Dad. She is a treasure."

"No doubt she is." James smiled. "You must teach my cook how to make this."

"I'll make them for you whenever you ask, James."


The overseas guests arrived at noon for an Asado that the now cast-free Anselmo made on the grill. They made a tour around the farm where James saw the famous orange trees that almost took his son's life and everyone had a very entertaining day enjoying the pastries that Alicia cooked to honor her new family.

Too soon it was time to leave. This time, William drove them back to Misiones in company of his father, and Elizabeth remained at the farm finishing the details for the following day. On their way back, they stopped at the farm for a light dinner and the couple said their last goodbye before becoming husband and wife.

Elizabeth walked them to the car, and James entered the van immediately, escaping from the cold weather and to allow the couple some privacy in this special goodnight. Before opening the car, William took her hands. He was too emotional too speak, so he leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.

She smiled. Could this be the same man that commanded business of millions of dollars? He was so vulnerable. Her private, loyal, sensible, powerful William was speechless. She raised her hand to his cheek and looked at him with adoration in her eyes.

"You are the most wonderful person in the world, William, I am proud to become your wife."

William smiled down at her. "I can't conceive my life without you, Elizabeth, I am the one that should be forever grateful of your love and acceptance."

He kissed her lips softly and pulled her into his arms for one last warm embrace before leaving. He hugged her tightly and kissed her hair, releasing her with a wide grin.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Don't run away."

She shook her head and kissed him one more time. They were too overwhelmed for words. Another kiss, and William drove away.


"Hello?" Elizabeth knew it was him before answering.

"Did I wake you up?"

"No." Her sleepy voice betrayed her. "I was expecting you to call."

"I just wanted to check if you were all right." He smiled.

"I'm fine now that you called."

"Go back to sleep, my love. Sweet dreams."

"I love you, Will, good night."


The day when Elizabeth Bennet married Fitzwilliam Darcy was a sunny winter day. A nervous groom arrived at quarter to eleven and waited anxiously for the Justice of Peace to arrive. William's heart stopped when he saw his dearest Elizabeth joining him. She was looking so pretty in that simple pearl-white dress with a very Jackie O. cut, her hair pulled back tightly behind her ears and then loose in a curly mane, secured by dozens of tiny flowers.

Half an hour later, the now Mr. and Mrs. Darcy kissed in front of the noisy crowd. Then came the religious ceremony. The blessing was short but full of emotion and now, as nerves and anxiety were over, the couple was able to celebrate the first day of the rest of their lives.

It was almost five when the couple took their leave. Running under the rain of rice that was falling over them, they reached to the covered-in-balloons pickup that would take them to the hotel. Their joy was immense. They were kissed, hugged, patted until they couldn't wait any longer and drove away with full hearts and wide grins.


William opened the suite of the exclusive hotel and stopped his bride before she walked in.

"Allow me, Mrs. Darcy." He lifted her and carried her in.

Elizabeth grinned and kissed his neck. "You are so gallant, Mr. Darcy."

"Elizabeth, stop doing that." He laughed when she nibbled his earlobe. "Or I'll have to take you directly to the bed."

She stuck her tongue in his ear and giggled when he squirmed and hurried to the bed. He sat her there and began to slowly strip his clothing. Elizabeth was grinning broadly as she discarded her jacket, revealing the small sleeveless silk dress.

William was wearing only his trousers when she stood on the bed (after removing her shoes) and unzipped the dress. She shrugged out of it and lowered it slowly down her body as her husband observed with hungry and burning eyes. His Elizabeth standing before him, white lace underwear over creamy skin, silk stockings, garter and a sexy and wicked smile. William put his hands on her hips and pulled her close to him to feel her skin against his. His face was leveled with her stomach and he began to apply soft kisses and bites all around while his hands roamed up and down her body.

His hot, wet and hungry mouth was making her crazy. He was biting, licking and stroking her in such a delightful way that her legs were not able to support her any longer. Suddenly, William put his hands on the back of her knees and bent them, throwing her flat on the bed.

Elizabeth couldn't but gasp at the unexpected move, and William could only grin at his own impulsiveness. Laughing, he leaned over her and joined his lips to hers in a long and deep kiss.

"Have I told you how much I love you, Mrs. Darcy?"

"Not as many times as I would have wished."

Not one to escape a challenge, he began to place kisses all over her face and chest while whispering 'I love yous' in between. Pausing only to discard the bra, he continued to attend her body with his mouth, nibbling breasts and stomach as one hand slid inside her knickers to tease her most sensitive parts. Elizabeth couldn't stop her moaning and undulation under his mouth. He was doing everything so right that there was no way she could stay still. But he was determined to play with her and so he did, so he raised his head to look at her with pure lust and desire as his finger slowly teased her warm heart. He held her gaze and stroked her until he saw her coming and stopped suddenly, determined to take her pleasure to higher levels.

Elizabeth looked at him in awe. He had never done something like this, and now was curious to know what he would do next. William's attention turned to the garter. That was really turning him on. Carefully, kissing all around the end of the stocking, he brushed her thighs with his lips as he unhooked the garment to remove her underwear and hooked it to the stockings back again. There was no way he would proceed without this attached to her body. Elizabeth giggled at his determined expression. She was sure he was really enjoying all this.

Decided to continue with this torture a little longer, he positioned himself between her legs and kissed her from nose to wetness. He was so good at this. Gentle, eager, and so maddeningly precise that once he reached where she sensed most, it did not take her long before she was crying in ecstasy.

His mouth went up to hers again. She tasted herself on his lips and tongue as his body covered hers in urge and need of release. But things wouldn't progress any further if he was still wearing his trousers, so she pushed him away by the shoulders, moving him back all the way until he was standing by the edge of the bed. With a determined look, she knelt in front of him and returned his previous favor, sliding an impertinent mouth over his chest while she disrobed him from his remaining clothing. The tongue he adored showed up to tease him, playing with his nipples, following that thin hairy line to his navel and then lower to the nest of his manhood. William closed his eyes and swallowed. She had never reached this low and now he was burning as he waited for what would come next.

She pulled back to look at him. He was such a sight. Tall, erect, perfect and all she could do was admire him. Broad shoulders, flat and firm stomach and muscled legs. Her eyes swept him up and down and up again, looking at the piece of flesh that was pointing at her like an arrow. She licked her lips and caressed his flanks with her fingertips and leaned down slowly to begin to taste his body. His whole skin was bristling.

William shivered when the tip of her tongue moved from base to head, moaned when she licked him, but what he felt when she took him fully into her mouth simply paralyzed him. So hot, so wet, soft lips and hard tongue. Her movements weren't shy or hesitant, they were decided, sucking and licking in such a way that forced involuntary thrusts into her mouth.

Elizabeth was mesmerized by his reaction, how he hardened and grew with every move of her mouth. William was so entranced by her actions that couldn't stop his movements, but he knew this should end or he would spill himself right then and there. He withdrew and lowered his face to hers, kissing her lips, pulling her back until they were both lying on the bed. His need for her was so intense that he entered her immediately, and embraced by legs and arms drove them both the edge of passion and sealed this union of man and wife.


The sigh that escaped her was more a purr than a sigh. William smiled against her shoulder and continued to brush her sides down to her thigh with his fingertips with the sole purpose of amusing his eyes with the sight of her tingling skin.

The post-coital daze in which they were immersed was too intense to allow them any other movement than breathing or caressing. At least William was able to move his hand, because Elizabeth didn't know how she managed to walk to the bathroom after their third lovemaking since their arrival. This man really had stamina. He rode her so eagerly the last time that he produced one peak and even demanded -he demanded, not asked- a second one before emptying himself inside her exhausted body. She sincerely hoped that he was spent for today.

"I'm hungry." William kissed her shoulder.

I can't believe it. "Will, it's almost two in the morning." Elizabeth thanked heavens that she was facing the other way because she was sure he would not like to see her rolling her eyes.

"I know, but I'm hungry. You made me hungry." He grinned.

"Call room service."

He reached for the phone and dialed the number. "Do you want something to eat?"

"A hamburger."

"I knew you were hungry too."

"Promise you will go to sleep after that, will you?"

"Lazy."

She frowned and turned to him. He was ordering three cheeseburgers, two of them deluxe. Oh no, that could only mean that round four may start after he reloaded batteries.
William adjusted the pillows and reclined on the bed, pulling her close so she was resting her head on his chest as he waited anxiously for the food to arrive. They heard knocking and he bolted up, apologizing immediately for disturbing her rest so abruptly. He enthusiastically rubbed his hands while the waiter left the food on the table, and proceeded to attack the two deluxe and what was left of her plain cheeseburger with the eagerness of a famished lion. This couldn't be happening. That twinkle in his eyes only meant that lovemaking 4 was playing in his mind -and other parts of his body- and it may happen at any moment if she didn't play her cards wisely. Not that she didn't like it, but she was really, really tired.

"My love, why don't you wait for me in bed? I want to go to the bathroom first." Perhaps if he left him alone he would fall asleep, if not, she could always try knocking his head with a chair when he had his back to her.

William smiled and kissed her. By the time she came out, he was snoring, unconscious like a bear during hibernation.


Their first weekend as a married couple was glorious. Once William updated his needs after the week of abstinence, husband and wife were able to leave the room and behave like normal people. They walked in the park, rowed in the river, lay on the grass and loved each other in every trip to the bedroom.

Monday morning found them back at the farm on their last day at Elizabeth's former home before beginning their new life. Now free from guests and with the tension of the wedding behind, both couples enjoyed a relaxing meal before the newlyweds departed to their seaside honeymoon.


William was making the last check up on their luggage and papers when he spotted his wife from the bedroom's window, walking through the garden in the direction of the lab. He smiled and closed his bag.

Elizabeth walked silently into the building that had been her life and joy during the past years. She had grown, worked and lived the most important moments of her life between these walls. She remembered her chats with her father, the sleepless nights of research, William's letter and the shock of finding her sanctuary destroyed after the robbery.

It was very strange to see her lab like this, so immense and empty. All her plants had been relocated to where they could grow without her care and observation, as she was sure that Jane would not look after this place after she was gone.

She could breathe her essence in this place, she could hear her father's voice in every corner. Her cocoon. William had been so right then. This had been her cocoon, her refuge from life until he arrived to shake her plain world. 'You brought me back to life' he said once. Did he ever realize how much he had filled hers?

She headed outside the lab, there was still another farewell.

There was no better time for orange trees than wintertime. When all the other trees were naked and sleeping, these were producing in all their glory. Dark green leaves and fire colored fruits. Life and fecundity in a world of slumber. These were her trees, her father's trees. She cut a leaf and inhaled the citrus scent until her lungs were full. How she loved that smell.

"Here you are." William walked to her with that slow smile of his.

Elizabeth returned his smile with one of her own. She rested her head and back on his chest as his strong and protective arms enveloped her completely. William kissed her hair and murmured in her ear, gently rocking her body as she said goodbye to her old life.

"When are we starting our new investment?" He looked at the orange trees.

"Never."

William was a little taken aback with the comment. "But, my love, they are the work of two generations. You love them, you created them. They mean too much for you to just let them be."

She put her hands over his and stroked them gently. "They are stained with blood, William, your blood. They are not worth it."

He sighed and rested his chin on her shoulder. "And what do you want to do with them?"

"I'll donate them to the Institute. They will produce them for free for anyone who wants them. I don't need them, Will, I have you, and you are all I need."

William kissed her cheek and remained embracing her tightly for a long while. "Come, Mrs. Darcy, it's time to go."

She turned in his arms and smiled. William kissed her nose before walking her to their new life.


Epilogue


William was sitting on the couch reading some financial reports with Elizabeth's feet on his lap. It was a cold and snowy Sunday afternoon in London and without anything else to do but watch TV and read; all the couple could do was stay at home and indulge themselves in pure laziness. The billiard championship that Elizabeth was watching was really boring, but the delightful massage William was applying on her feet kept her entertained.

She released a big sigh. William looked at her over his reading glasses.

"What?" She asked when she saw him watching her.

"Nothing." He looked back at his report and continued to massage the sole of her foot with his thumb.

Elizabeth purred.

William turned the page of the report.

Ten minutes later she sighed again and William saw her checking her watch.

"My love, are you all right?" He looked at her again.

"Hmmmmmm."

He raised his eyebrow and returned to his reading. Elizabeth's foot went to his face and tried to squeeze his cheek with her toes. He chuckled, kissed the sole and put it down without raising his eyes from the pages.

Five minutes later she was sighing again.

"Are you bored?"

"No. Well, a little." This massage was fabulous, he really had great hands.

"Do you want to go out?"

"Hmmm. It's snowing."

"OK." He returned to his reading.

"Patton," she whispered and snapped her fingers.

The white Bull Terrier raised his ears and blinked in acknowledgement but did not move from the armchair.

"Patton, pig face, come here," she called him.

The dog hid his muzzle between his legs and continued to sleep.

"He is the laziest creature I've ever seen." Elizabeth sighed.

William looked at the dog and then back to the report as his fingers massaged her toes.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and released it slowly. She looked at her watch again.

"Love, you have been checking the time every ten minutes for the last hour." He put down the report and stared at her. "If you are really bored we can go out somewhere. That will help you to pass the time."

"You are wrong. I have been checking the time for the last two hours."

"So?"

"I think that we will have to go out anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"Just that."

"You are a little fastidious today, aren't you?" He kissed her big toe.

Elizabeth smiled sheepishly. "Sorry dear, maybe I am. But I've been feeling these pains for the last two hours and I think that this time there is no escaping a tour to the hospital," she said calmly.

William smiled and looked at the report. He froze as her meaning sank in. "What!?" He straightened up immediately. "You ... you ...are you sure?"

She nodded without taking her eyes from the TV.

"I'll call the doctor, and the hospital, and I'm telling them we are on our way," William said nervously. "Stay there, try to stay calm, I'll pick up your things ... and ... don't move." He carefully removed her feet from his lap and stood up.

"Help me up. I'll call Dr. Jergens." She extended her hand.

William helped her to sit up and ran around the house at full speed picking her stuff, warming up the car and trying to control his blood pressure while Elizabeth finished her call.

"Where are you going?" William asked when he saw her climbing the stairs. "We must go to the hospital!"

"I'm going to take a shower, that will help me to relax. I don't think I can take one once we arrive there."

"That's a joke, isn't it? You are joking, just to make me die of a heart attack," he said from the bottom of the stairs.

She turned to him. "No, I'm not joking, I'm in labor, and trying to stay calm, and you are not helping."

"Sorry," he said guiltily. "What did the doctor say?"

"That we have plenty of time, that this might take more than 10 hours, and it would be better if I stay in a calm environment and relax." She didn't look nervous at all. "He told me to take a long shower and meet him at the hospital in two hours." She took a sharp intake of breath while placing a hand on her abdomen as another pain came.

In two seconds William was by her side. "Come, love, I know what I have to do. I didn't take those awful classes for nothing. Why didn't you tell me this earlier? I could have helped you or do something or ... or do whatever is needed ..."

Elizabeth put her hand on his face. "You already did. That massage on my feet was delightful."

William encircled her waist and kissed her temple. "I'll run you a hot bath."


The trip to the hospital was a torture. William drove as carefully as he could through the snow as Elizabeth held his hand tightly with every pain. And they were very strong and close to each other. With his limited knowledge on these matters, he knew that pains every four minutes were too frequent for a woman in a car with a panicking husband.

"It's over?" William asked quietly as Elizabeth eased the hold on his hand.

She released the air slowly and relaxed her shoulders. "Yes."

"You are not having the baby in the car, are you?" William tried to sound playful.

"I hope not. It would be a pity to ruin the leather seats." She sounded as casual as she could, but with this last pain she wasn't sure she would reach the hospital.

"The doctor said we had plenty of time." William swallowed and turned his attention to the road as the traffic stopped.

"It seems he was wrong."

"I'll kill him," William muttered.

Elizabeth chuckled. "I told him that fast labors were a family trait. My mother delivered me in five hours and Ja…" She cursed in Spanish with the next pain.

Now he was really scared. Elizabeth rarely swore, but curses in Spanish were reserved only for the most extreme situations. Thank God they were at the entrance of the hospital.

The arrival wasn't any better. A nervous and belligerent William argued with everyone on his way demanding attention for his wife. The nurse at the admission counter attended him calmly while he protested about the careless service of the hospital, threatening to sue them if anything went wrong only to feel like a complete idiot when he realized that his wife had disappeared with the doctor, taken to the delivery room without his notice.

William was sitting with his head leaning on his hands in despair. Why is that husbands must go through all this? He tried pacing, drinking water, walking around, reading a magazine, but nothing helped him to pass the time. Forty five minutes of pure agony. They had taken his wife away forty five minutes ago and no one in this damn hospital was giving a hint of what was happening. Bloody inconsiderate.

"Mr. Darcy?" A nurse approached him.

"Yes?" He raised his head.

"Your wife is doing fine, sir. Things are a little faster than usual in this case. Normally we expect a 10 to 15 hour labor with first pregnancies, but it seems that this will not take that long, she told us that her labor began only five hours ago. I'm sure we'll have news within the hour." She smiled and walked away.

Was that a good or a bad sign? God, didn't these people know that they have to say something that made sense? He paced, sat, paced again. This was driving him crazy. Thirty minutes. Thirty fucking minutes more without knowing what was going on. He could explode at any moment.

"Mr. Darcy?" Another unknown nurse appeared.

He shot her a dark look. "Yes?" He expected positive news, not just an update of his wife's suffering.

"Congratulations, sir." She grinned. "You have a very healthy child."

William dropped himself on the nearest chair as his legs were not able to support him any longer. "And my wife?" His voice was above a whisper.

"Excellent. She is very courageous. She behaved like a champ and delivered that very big infant in only two pushes."

He leaned back on his chair and ran his hands through his hair. He was a father. His baby was born, his Elizabeth was fine.

"You will be able to see her in her room in half an hour." And before he could ask any other question, she left.

During the following ten minutes, William was unable to move as all his strength had left his body. All his life since he met her came to his mind. Their unusual friendship, that magical first weekend, the fight that opened his heart and the unbelievable joy that his life had been in this nearly two years of marriage. He laughed softly. There was no way he could feel any better.

His daze was interrupted by his cell phone. "Hello, Dad." He smiled as he recognized the caller ID.

"William, where the hell are you? I've been calling to your house for the last hour and there is no one there."

"No, Dad."

"I don't think it is wise to go out with Elizabeth in this weather. She is too close to term and if ..."

"Dad, we are at the hospital." William grinned.

Long pause. "Am I a grandfather?"

"Yes."

"How's Elizabeth?"

"I haven't seen her yet, it just happened, but they told me she is fine." William was beginning to feel that this was real.

"Why didn't you call? Forget it, it doesn't matter. Congratulations, son." James talked to someone beside him. "Meg sends you her love."

"Thank you." William smiled. Who would know two years ago that James Darcy would marry his own secretary?

"Boy or girl?"

William swallowed. "I ... I don't know."

James laughed. "I can't believe it!"

"Well," he frowned, "they didn't tell me."

"Call me as soon as you know. Go to her son, give her a very big kiss from us. I'll call Georgiana and Christian. We'll leave you two to enjoy this moment by yourselves and come to meet the baby tomorrow."

"Thank you, Dad, bye." He closed the phone with a dreamy smile.


When William walked into the room, the nurse was adjusting the bedclothes around his wife. He was overcome with such turmoil of emotions that he didn't know what to do. He was afraid, happy, anxious, exhausted, revitalized, and completely overwhelmed by the joy that had come into his life. With a very proud and content grin, he approached the bed and kissed Elizabeth's forehead.

"I'll bring you the baby in a few minutes," the nurse announced.

"Thank you," William answered and sat on the edge of the bed. He turned to Elizabeth and stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. "You disappeared rather unexpectedly."

Her smile was serene and tired. "I couldn't wait any longer."

He touched her face tenderly. "How are you feeling?"

"As if I just gave birth to a closet." She smiled.

William chuckled and kissed her. "I thought I was about to explode." He leaned over her and embraced her carefully but tightly.

"Will, I've been in the delivery room for little more than an hour." She stroked his back.

"A lifetime to me." He kissed her nose and smiled. "I love you, Elizabeth Darcy. So much you can't imagine."

"I can and I know, William Darcy." She cupped his cheek. "You are the very best of men."

William's eyes watered with tears of happiness. He was still in awe of what to say or do. "Have you decided the name?"

"I thought we decided it together."

"Yes, but which one did you choose?" he asked.

"You know it very well. Andrew for a boy and Emily for a girl." She frowned.

"I know that," he said, sounding almost offended. "So, you didn't change it."

"Of course I didn't, the baby has the name we chose together." The corners of her mouth twisted up.

"I see."

"Will, you don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl, do you?"

"How could I not know the gender of my firstborn child?"

"You don't know it, admit it." Her smile broadened.

William was saved by the entrance of the nurse, carrying a bundle in her arms. The woman walked to the bed and he moved aside as she deposited it carefully in Elizabeth's arms.

"Here, Mrs. Darcy. I'll leave you two alone for a while so you are acquainted with each other and come later to show you how to feed your baby."

Elizabeth smiled in motherly pride and began to caress the tiny face. "Don't you think this is the most beautiful baby you have ever seen?" She said to her husband as her eyes filled with tears of utter happiness.

William looked at his child for the first time. A tiny face, dark hair and Elizabeth's pout. He sniffed and swallowed as his emotions took the best of him. "You've made me the happiest of men, Elizabeth. Since the day you came into my life, you have been light and joy of my existence. I love you. I love you both." He leaned down and kissed his wife's lips and the infant's head.

They continued looking at the sleeping baby with such love and tenderness that all words seemed vain. Then Elizabeth sat up to give him the child but William immediately pulled back.

"Come on," she said gently, "aren't you going to carry your firstborn?"

"I'd drop it," he said with the apprehension of a new father.

She smiled at his panicking expression. "Don't be silly, William." She leaned over. "Here … yes … like that. Be careful with the head." She continued as his big arms gently nestled the tiny bundle.

At that moment the baby yawned lazily and they both laughed.

"Two seconds in my arms and already bored." William smiled with such pride and love that Elizabeth's heart was about to burst out. "Well?" he asked.

"Well what?"

"Will you not tell me?"

"Tell you what?" She pursed her lips.

"You know what." He looked at the baby with a crooked smile.

"No, I don't know."

"Elizabeth, tell me." He tried to remain serious.

"What?"

"If it's a boy or a girl."

"You mean, you really don't know?"

 

THE END

 

Back to Paper Jam's page

Return to Belén's page
Return to Austen Interlude
e-mail Belén