Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer

“Are the pains always so tremendous? I thought they would build up gradually. Perhaps there is something more happening here since the child is coming so early.” It was less than a quarter hour later, and Darcy was shocked by Lizzy’s grueling labor.

“Actually, the child appears to be full term, so do not be concerned with that. Unfortunately, I think your wife has been having pains for longer than you know. Since they were in her back, she failed to identify them as her labor.” Amanda turned to the side table for a towel, certain the birth was only moments away.

Elizabeth suddenly screamed in pain and clutched at his arms, gripped with panic. Something was wrong, very wrong, the pressure on her back excruciating. She began writhing in agony, these contractions far stronger than any before. “My baby, my baby,” she gasped. “Oh my God, William… my baby.”

“Do not push, Lizzy!” Amanda immediately felt around Elizabeth’s stomach as her mind spun through all her experiences years before at her father’s hospital. “The baby has stopped somehow.”

“Do something… anything… Save my baby.” Lizzy was hysterical. “William, whatever happens to me, save our baby.”

“What is it?!” Darcy demanded. “Please tell me what is going on!” Lizzy’s cries were ripping open his heart. “Where is that damned doctor?!”

Amanda gently felt inside and realized the child was presenting face forward, the back aligned to Lizzy’s back. Her father had spoken of this sometimes occurring, but she had never seen it before. During his lessons, he had explained the grave danger it presented to both mother and child. The need was to open her wider, and there was only one way Amanda knew of to do that.

“Oh, I am so stupid. All the signs have been there! Lizzy, I am sorry, but I believe we must get you into a different position.” Amanda reached out her hand to grab Lizzy’s arm. “Since we have no birthing chair, I think you’ll have to squat or kneel.”

A shocked Darcy had already motioned for the maid to take his place. He was instantly at Amanda’s side and pulled her hand from Elizabeth. “Excuse me,” he said in a harsh whisper, “perhaps we should wait for the doctor to arrive.”

Amanda struggled to pull back her hand from his grasp. “Mr. Darcy,” she whispered, “She is in agony. The child is facing forward, a very difficult and dangerous delivery, especially for a woman so small.” She then spoke in a lower voice, hoping Elizabeth would not hear. “We really have few alternatives. Elizabeth is weak and may not have the strength or the will to take much more.”

The anger on Darcy’s face quickly dissolved into fear, the full impact of what she was saying hitting him brutally hard. Not waiting for his answer, she pulled her hand away and pushed the sheets farther back. “No! Wait! This is barbaric!” he shouted as Lizzy grabbed his arm.

“Please, William, do as she says.” She was growing weaker by the moment. “Remember, if you must choose, choose the child. Please, please, promise me this.” He could see the agony in her eyes.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked Amanda, his voice hoarse.

“Help me get her out of bed. Get behind her—you must support her weight as she kneels over this pillow.” Not really certain of what she was doing, she grabbed one from the bed and threw it to the floor. “If that doesn’t show quick results, you will have to help her walk about. Hurry, please. This should open her more—I will try what I can to turn the child.”

Darcy and Mrs. Winter struggled to bring Elizabeth to the side of the bed, and then he grasped her under her arms, supporting her as she began to stoop. Amanda pulled up Lizzy’s nightdress to massage her belly.

***

His heart was near breaking. How could she feel so light and look so huge, and still be so small? How could any of this end without disaster? Would she disappear in his arms like a fog, insubstantial, fragile? She had begged him to choose the child if it came to it, but how could he? She was his whole life. He would surely go insane without her, would never want to live, and it would be this damn child’s fault. No, he would choose Lizzy over it if it came to that, without a moment’s hesitation, would never allow Lizzy to die if it was within his power, even if she never spoke to him again. No. His only desire was to stop her pain by whatever means possible. He watched as Amanda knelt before his wife, her hand probing inside, and willed himself not to pass out from the tension.

“I believe it’s moved a bit…” The next few minutes were an eternity as Amanda alternately rubbed and massaged Lizzy’s stomach with one hand while the other felt within for any change. “It is moving! The baby is turning,” Amanda held her breath as she made small, twisting motions with her hand.

***

“One more push, Lizzy,” Amanda ordered.

“Push, darling, push,” called Darcy simultaneously.