[for Mr Darcy] [backdated]

[bennetsister]

Elizabeth was enjoying her married life every bit as much as she expected she would. Mr Darcy was the best husband she could have asked for; attentive, generous, and kind, in his own quiet, formal way. There was no note of discord or unpleasantness between them. That they were entirely suited for each other only became more and more evident with

Comments

[most_ardent]

It was, Darcy believed, one of the critical duties of any devoted husband to not only recognise his wife's shifts in mood, but to attend to her needs in such a way as to ensure contentment even when her spirits were down. As such, he paid close attention to the ministrations of his bride, in the hopes of knowing her all the better, and marking when his intervention might be needed.

Elizabeth had always been an extremely competent young woman, and was becoming quite skilled at keeping house. Her passions were wide and varied, her enthusiasm untempered. Yet, the intense focus with which she had attacked her duties today was curious to Darcy, who was quick to notice the lack of buoyant spirits that typically accompanied most anything his wife chose to do.

After a moment's hesitation in the doorway, Darcy crossed to Elizabeth and pressed a lingering kiss to the crown of her head as she sat mending.

[bennetsister]

"Hello," said Elizabeth, who was truly glad to see him. She looked up from her work, kissing his cheek. She was certain that Darcy did not fully understand how much she appreciated small gestures of affection such as that one. "I hope your day has bene pleasant this far."

[most_ardent]

Darcy could have answered in the affirmative, but did not, instead pulling a chair before Elizabeth's so that he might be closer to her. "Is something troubling you?" he asked, one hand gently curved over one of her knees.

[bennetsister]

Elizabeth looked down at the material in her lap, smoothing out a wrinkle, and did not answer straight away. She would certainly never lie to her husband -- the very idea of it was unthinkable and repulsive -- but she felt her disappointment was rather selfish, given the short time they had been married. She felt as though she really did not have a genuine cause to be disappointed, not yet, and was unsure of what his opinion might be.

In any case, he had asked, and she would be honest. "A little, yes," she admitted, looking up at him, and her hand covered his, squeezing lightly. "But it is something rather selfish of me, I'm afraid."

[most_ardent]

It was true that Elizabeth was capable of selfishness, but never in any conscious way, and so Darcy could only commend her self-awareness and modesty, and assume that whatever part of herself she had found fault with was not nearly so bad as she was making it out to be.

"How so?" he asked, watching her.

[bennetsister]

As she thought about how to express her answer to his question, her cheeks grew pink with embarrassment, but she did not let that deter her. "I had hoped," she began, looking at their hands, "to be with child by now, for I know how much you are looking forward to children, as I am. It has only been two months since we were wed, and I know I should not worry. But I cannot help it, for I am most anxious for such a blessing."

[most_ardent]

Immediately, Darcy's expression softened into quietly adoring understanding, and he took both of Elizabeth's small hands into his own. "I do not believe there to be any great selfishness in wishing such a thing," he confessed in earnest. "There is time yet, Lizzy. Do not worry yourself over the delay, nor any possible fault in your character. It must surely be a perfectly normal desire for anyone." She could not be expected to be a saint, after all.

[bennetsister]

Elizabeth let out a breath she had been holding while he spoke; her sense of guilt at her feelings had kept her from even realising she was doing so. But Mr Darcy's words gave her a great sense of relief. She squeezed his hands gratefully, and was reminded again how fortunate she was to have a husband that understood her so well. "It is not worry, not truly," she said. "I suppose it is only that I am so looking forward to it that I cannot help myself."

[most_ardent]

Idly, Darcy rubbed his thumbs over the soft skin of the back of Elizabeth's hands, a quiet consolation. "Then we shall anticipate it together, for there is but one event in recent memory that I can recall looking forward to with as much eagerness, and without it, we would not be having this conversation."

[bennetsister]

Leaning close to kiss him lightly upon the lips, Elizabeth smiled, somewhat abashed. "I must be the luckiest woman in the world to have such an understanding husband," she said, affection evident in her voice. To have him acknowledge her worry and empathise, rather than dismiss it as a womanly trifle, was a great relief, and improved her spirits enormously.