Mr Darcy's Second Chance by Gillian Smith

Author:Gillian Smith [Smith, Gillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-26T04:00:00+00:00

*~~*~~*

It took a little more effort for Elizabeth to roll over but she did and found him sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a cup of tea and staring at her.

"What is it?" she asked, scooting up on the pillows. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing. I was just checking on you," he whispered, setting the teacup down and putting his hand on her belly again. "Seeing if Humfrey was awake. I didn't mean to bother you. Go back to sleep. You need to rest."

She stretched and then moved his palm so he could feel the hardness of a tiny head or bottom pressing against her skin.

"Heaven forbid you do bother me. I barely remember the last time we bothered each other."

"Elizabeth…" he mumbled sheepishly, stroking her abdomen.

"Actually I would settle for opening my eyes and having you on your side of the bed instead of on the sofa or in a bed in another room. We can even draw a line down the centre of the mattress and both be sure not to cross it." She tugged gently at the starched front of his tuxedo shirt. "Lie down. I promise I will tell no one."

He protested but let her manoeuvre him down, pillowing his head on her chest and stretching his long legs out across the bed.

"Georgiana said she isn't part of my life now, that she's just an unwanted obligation who doesn't belong. Just when I think she's doing better, she tells something like that and I never know what to say to her."

"Be patient. You want her to heal faster than she can and she tries to pretend to please you."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because she idolises you, Mr. Dense. Sit up," she said and rubbed her hand over her belly, resting her palm against one side."Here. Put your ear here."

"Why?"

"Just listen," she murmured, and he laid his head where she pointed out, wondering what in the world he was listening for. "Can you hear it yet?"

Darcy narrowed his eyes in concentration. He exhaled, then smiled and answered, "yes. I can hear something. It sounds like he's pounding on a little wet drum. What is that?"

"His heart."

"That's his heart?"

She nodded, not interrupting as he listened.

"It's so fast."

"It is supposed to be fast."

"Who told you that?"

"My aunt."

He listened for a long time, laying one arm along her body and bending one over her belly. The sound of the baby was comforting, like the ocean.

"I have to go to Kent for a few weeks," he whispered. "There are things I have to deal with. Richard though, a great soldier he was, cannot do it properly and Mr. Stone, the steward, needs my present there. And I thought I'd take Georgiana with me. Will you and Jane be all right?"

"We will be fine. I think would be good for you and Georgiana. You will be back, though, before the baby comes?"

"Of course, Elizabeth... Would you like me to visit your family in Hertfordshire?"

"And what would you tell them? Hello, I am Mr.

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