After the Beginning of Our Lives: A Pride and Prejudice variation by Manuh Port

Author:Manuh Port [Port, Manuh]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“Mercury!” Richard exclaimed after being told the news “My brother died of Mercury poisoning!” He punched his fist on the table. Hard. “I knew there was something strange about James’s death” He rose from his seat to pace the room “and we discover this only now,what a calamity! I should have gone to Stewart lodge, I should have investigated things myself”

“You did everything as you ought to have” Darcy tried to comfort him “none of us could have predicted such a despicable act to have been committed amongst friends”

​“Which begs the question of who would have wanted to kill James” Elizabeth added

​“I do not yet know, but I will find out” Richard vowed.

​The three of them spent the night studying the symptoms of Mercury poisoning, which included muscle weakness and lack of coordination. No wonder poor James had fallen off his horse.

Elizabeth rubbed her temple, stifling a yawn, and decided she should better get to bed. Her husband accompanied her up the stairs, a steady hand in support on her lower back.

She laid in the bed grateful for the end of what seemed like an unduly long day.

“Poison is a coward’s weapon” Darcy said out loud, after getting into bed next to Lizzie

“Or a woman’s” Lizzie reminded him “but we should not draw conclusions with so little information”

Darcy nodded “I shall write to James’s valet, he likely has some information on when the symptoms began, and we can maybe delineate a timeline from there”

Elizabeth hubbed her belly, as she felt the child kick. She sighed anticipating another night of difficult sleep. “speaking of more pleasant things, we have yet to discuss the baby’s name”

Darcy looked surprised at her change of subject “I have to admit I haven’t given it much thought”

Lizzie smiled, mulling the mater over in her head “I’d like to give the baby your nickname if it is a boy, I like William for a name”

“and our cousin Mr Collins would be over the moon at it” he said with a grin

Lizzie shook her head “don’t spoil the name for me”

“what if it is a girl?” he asked, placing a kiss on her bump

“Jane would be the obvious choice” Lizzie caressed her husband’s head “but I thought you might wish for Anne, after your mother”

“Georgiana is out of the question, then?”

Lizzie laughed at his teasing “Not at all, but your parents did enjoy names that are a mouthful, didn’t they?”

“Elizabeth is not exactly short” he added “we could choose Rose, after your mother”

“Mama despises her name” Elizabeth said with a giggle “she thinks it is a peasant’s name, whatever that means” she rolled her eyes for good effect “when papa wishes to particularly annoy her he calls her Rose”

That elicited a chuckle from Mr Darcy “so we must choose between Jane and Anne, what is your final say?”

she shrugged “I am partial to Jane, I shall not deny it”

“it is settled then” he leaned back into the pillows, contented “we shall welcome either William or Jane Darcy

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