Mistletoe and Mischief

by Jann Rowland

  Mistletoe and Mischief

  A Pride and Prejudice Christmas Anthology

  by

  Jann Rowland

  Lelia Eye

  Colin Rowland

  This is a work of fiction based on the works of Jane Austen. All of the characters and events portrayed in this novel are products of Jane Austen’s original novel or the authors’ imaginations.

  MISTLETOE AND MISCHIEF: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY

  Copyright © 2019 Jann Rowland, Lelia Eye, & Colin Rowland

  Published by One Good Sonnet Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1989212158

  ISBN-13: 9781989212158

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Dedicated to our spouses and children,

  the inspiration for our perspiration.

  Table of Contents

  A Sprig of Mistletoe by Jann Rowland

  A Christmas Gift by Lelia Eye

  Charity Never Faileth by Colin Rowland

  Twelfth Night Stratagem by Jann Rowland

  Mr. Collins’s Spirited Encounter by Lelia Eye

  From the Heart by Colin Rowland

  Traditions of Christmas by Jann Rowland

  The Matchmaking Schemes of Anne de Bourgh by Lelia Eye

  The Yule Log by Colin Rowland

  No Greater Love by Jann Rowland

  The Kissing Bough Mandate by Lelia Eye

  A Sprig of Mistletoe

  by

  Jann Rowland

  Hanging a bough of mistletoe was a common practice in Regency times, as was the custom of catching young ladies under it and stealing a kiss. As I considered this tradition, I began to think of the possibilities involved in Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth being together at a party, not to mention Mr. Darcy continually witnessing Elizabeth's kisses with other men . . . .

  “A Christmas party at Longbourn?”

  “Yes, Darcy, a Christmas party at Longbourn. It is scheduled for tonight. That is the established practice, for people to gather together and partake of Christmas cheer.”

  Darcy glared at his friend while the man’s sister watched behind him, an expression of extreme distaste adorning her features. Caroline Bingley’s opinion of the neighborhood could not be misunderstood, and Darcy saw no reason to comment on it.

  “Georgiana and I have just come from London, Bingley,” chided Darcy. “I do not know that we wish to attend a soiree at Longbourn this evening.”

  “Oh, do let us go, William,” said Georgiana. “It will be so much fun to be a part of the Christmas cheer of which Mr. Bingley speaks.”

  “Do not expect too much of this neighborhood, dearest Georgiana,” cooed Miss Bingley. “In fact, I cannot think of a single person with whom you would be comfortable exchanging more than pleasantries.”

  “I can,” said Darcy without thinking on the matter first. “I am certain you will like Miss Elizabeth Bennet very much, and Miss Jane Bennet—Bingley’s intended—is a sweet and gentle young lady, indeed.”

  The reminder of her brother’s recent engagement to Miss Bennet was not palatable to Miss Bingley, who scowled. The reminder that Darcy thought well of Longbourn’s second daughter was no doubt even less welcome.

  “Miss Elizabeth!” squealed Georgiana, clapping her hands with delight. “That is the young lady whose name you mentioned in your letters to me. Yes, let us go, Brother, for I long to make her acquaintance!”

  Miss Bingley’s scowl deepened at this further evidence of Darcy’s lack of disdain for Miss Elizabeth. “Let us not exaggerate, Mr. Darcy,” said Miss Bingley. “Do you wish for your lovely sister to emulate the impertinence of Miss Elizabeth?”

  “There is nothing wrong with Miss Elizabeth’s manners, Miss Bingley,” replied Darcy, recalling with a slight smile the bewitching young woman of whom they were speaking.

  “I should say not,” said Bingley, fixing his sister with a hard look. “Caroline, you must remember we shall soon be connected with the Bennets. As such, you should refrain from making comments at Miss Elizabeth’s expense. Besides, though you have never warmed to her, she is an intelligent and interesting sort of girl, and I have no doubt Miss Darcy will soon become fast friends with her.”

  Her countenance turning green at the thought of the girl whom she wished to impress becoming friends with another whom she detested, Miss Bingley opened her mouth to retort. Unfortunately for her, her reply was interrupted by Hurst, who, as always, appeared to be insensible of the argument, yet proved a keen awareness of what was happening around him.

  “Mrs. Bennet sets an excellent table,” said Hurst. “Of course, we shall attend.”

  Darcy had to suppress a chuckle. Hurst could naturally be trusted to consider the matter with his stomach.

  “I know not if our new guests shall attend,” said Bingley in reference to the Darcys, his gaze warning his sister to refrain from replying. “For our part, however, I have accepted the invitation. Thus, Caroline, Hurst, Louisa, and I will attend.” Bingley turned back to Darcy. “What say you, my friend? There will be nothing to do here at Netherfield should you choose to avoid tonight’s amusement.”

  “Then you leave us no choice,” said Darcy, to Georgiana’s obvious delight. “Georgiana and I will attend with you.”

  Elizabeth was not expecting much from the introduction to Miss Darcy. Truth be told, she expected nothing other than the barest civility from any members of the Bingley party—except Mr. Bingley himself—for they had shown themselves to be proud and above their company.

  “You should not judge Miss Darcy before you meet her, Lizzy,” counseled Jane in advance of their guests’ arrival that evening.

  “Can it be you expect the proud Mr. Darcy’s sister to be anything other than equally proud?”

  “I expect nothing, Lizzy,” said Jane, an unusual hint of sharpness in her tone. “Rather, I prefer to make her acquaintance and form my opinions based on her behavior.”

  Jane would, of course, expect the best. In this instance, however, Elizabeth could not say her sister was incorrect. Regardless, there was little reason to concern herself with the girl’s behavior, for if Miss Darcy were proven to be proud, what would it signify to Elizabeth?

  “There is merit in what you say,” said Elizabeth at last. “Still, Miss Bingley’s character suggests that anyone of whom she approves must demonstrate themselves worthy of esteem.”

  “Miss Bingley is not so very bad, Lizzy.”

  It was all Elizabeth could do not to roll her eyes. “Jane, though you are now engaged to Mr. Bingley, you know his sisters do not favor the match. Why, they followed him to London with the express desire of keeping him there, and you know he was most explicit in informing you of their arguments against you.”

  “And I cannot blame them for their opinions,” insisted Jane. “We are not of high society, Lizzy, and I do not possess a handsome dowry. I understand what Mr. Bingley is giving up in marrying me.”

  “As do I,” replied Elizabeth, “though I should much rather emphasize what he is gaining. Still, it is his decision to make, not his sisters’. Nor his friend’s, for that matter.”

  “Mr. Bingley said nothing of Mr. Darcy trying to persuade him against me.”

  This time, Elizabeth did roll her eyes. “Perhaps he did not. But he has made his opinions clear for all to see.”

  When Jane gave her a quelling look, Elizabeth laughed and patted her sister’s arm, saying: “Do not concern yourself, Jane, for I h
ave no intention of being anything other than gracious and welcoming to Mr. Darcy’s sister. I hope, very much, that she is as amiable as Mr. Darcy is not, but I shall reserve judgment until I make her acquaintance at the very least.”

  Longbourn was not a large estate. It was nothing to Pemberley, and even Netherfield was larger and grander than what Georgiana could see before her. William regarded the estate as if it were somehow dangerous to him personally, and Mr. Bingley’s sisters acted as though they were being forced to step into a hovel in which they would not condescend to house their dogs. But to Georgiana, it was charming. Furthermore, she thought she had a notion of why William was so wary of the house before them.

  It was gratifying to the shy young girl that the residents were so welcoming to her. Not that she was entirely comfortable, for Georgiana had never been at her best among strangers. But though Misses Kitty and Lydia were boisterous, Mr. Bennet satirical and incomprehensible at times, and Mrs. Bennet loud and flighty, the eldest sisters more than made up for these flaws with their kindness.

  “Miss Darcy,” said Miss Bennet when Georgiana was first introduced to her. “How lovely it is to make your acquaintance, for we have heard so much of you!”

  For an instant, Georgiana looked to her brother for assistance. Miss Bennet’s words were an echo of what she had endured from so many other young ladies who flattered her to impress her brother. William, however, was not attending, for he had fixed his gaze on a young woman to whom Georgiana had not yet been introduced. Deciding Miss Bennet had not meant anything untoward with her comment, Georgiana endeavored to respond.

  “You cannot have heard as much concerning me as I have of you, Miss Bennet,” said Georgiana. “I dare say Mr. Bingley has not stopped speaking of you since the moment I came to Hertfordshire!”

  The blush appearing on the lady’s face confirmed Georgiana’s supposition and delighted her in the process. Mr. Bingley was a good man, and he deserved a woman who cared for him as a man—not for his pocketbook.

  After a few stammered and shy replies, Miss Bennet’s attention turned to Mr. Bingley, and she all but forgot about Georgiana. Soon thereafter, Georgiana was introduced to the second-oldest Bennet sister. In Georgiana’s opinion, the introduction could not have been any better.

  “Your brother has had much to say of you, Miss Darcy,” said Miss Elizabeth. She then directed an arch look at William. “According to him, it seems you are accomplished at everything to which you try your hand, you are sweet and obliging to all, and you are in possession of the most excellent temper of any young lady in the land.”

  This time, it was Georgiana’s turn to blush. “My brother, of course, exaggerates. He is far too kind to me.”

  “I am not, Georgiana,” said William, giving her a smile. “You are everything Miss Elizabeth says and more.”

  “Well, Mr. Darcy,” said Miss Elizabeth, “it seems you are an excellent elder brother. If your sister is willing to paint such a flattering picture of you, it seems I must allow her the greater knowledge of your character.”

  “Would you disagree with this representation of my character?” challenged William.

  “Oh, I could never be so bold,” replied Miss Elizabeth. “It is clear that Mr. Bingley esteems you, as does his family. Now, meeting your sister, I am convinced her sweetness is a point in your favor. I hope to know her better the longer she is in the neighborhood.”

  At that moment, Miss Elizabeth was called away to assist her mother, leaving the Darcy siblings to watch her as she departed.

  “And I hope to come to know you better,” murmured Georgiana. It was clear her brother overheard her, but Georgiana did not reply to his questioning look.

  It seemed Jane was nothing less than correct regarding Miss Darcy, rendering Elizabeth grateful she had greeted the girl with the open-minded acceptance her sister had demanded. Though she might never have expected proud Mr. Darcy’s sister to be shy, it was no less than the truth. Regardless, Elizabeth already had decided she liked Miss Darcy very well.

  “The decorations of the season are lovely, Miss Elizabeth,” said Miss Darcy sometime later as she admired the festive nature of the room. “Oh! And you have a kissing bough!”

  “Indeed, we do,” replied Elizabeth with a grin. “What celebration of Christmastide would be complete without a kissing bough?”

  Miss Darcy turned to Elizabeth, wide-eyed. “Has a gentleman caught you under the kissing bough?”

  “Of course,” replied Elizabeth, favoring her new friend with a grin. “It is nothing more than a little harmless fun, after all.”

  At that moment, a grinning Lydia, who had been standing under the kissing bough and casting an inviting smile at Lieutenant Denny, was rewarded when the officer stepped forward, plucked a berry, and gave her a kiss. The hoots of laughter rang throughout the room, much to Lydia’s satisfaction. Elizabeth only shook her head. She was not certain it was proper to stand under the bough as an invitation; rather, the gentleman was supposed to catch a young woman passing under it unaware.

  “Yes, I suppose it is,” said Miss Darcy, looking at it with no little alarm. “I am not yet out, Miss Elizabeth. I am not sure I would welcome a kiss when I am only sixteen.”

  Elizabeth smiled. At least Miss Darcy showed greater sense than Lydia. “Then you need only refuse the kiss, my dear Miss Darcy. It only means you will not marry in the next year, and as I suspect you do not wish to do so anyway, you lose nothing.”

  “What of you?” inquired Miss Darcy. “Do you wish to marry soon?”

  With a laugh, Elizabeth patted her young friend’s hand. “I would not be against it, but I must insist on marrying a man whom I deeply love. Should a man catch me under the mistletoe, I shall agree to the kiss—as long as he is not repulsive—for I wish to keep my options open.”

  The nod with which Miss Darcy replied was distracted, as if she were considering some other matter. Elizabeth’s words were put to the test when, only a few moments later, she was caught passing under the bough by a local gentleman. As he was a man whom Elizabeth had known all her life, Elizabeth laughed and allowed him to kiss her, though she knew very well he had no interest in her as a wife.

  As kisses were frequent, the number of berries rapidly diminished, and soon there would be none left to provide opportunities to surprise young ladies with a kiss.

  It seemed another party noted the dwindling number of berries, though at first Darcy had little notion she was paying any attention. The festive season rendered the general exuberance of the company somewhat less trying on Darcy’s nerves, and as a result, he found himself enjoying this gathering more than was his wont. The opportunity to observe Miss Elizabeth Bennet so frequently also did wonders for Darcy’s mood.

  “Oh, William!” exclaimed his sister as she came near. “Is this party not so much fun? I declare I have never experienced such a setting as this!”

  Darcy glanced at her, noting her glowing countenance and wide grin, and he reflected that even though it had not been his preference to spend the evening in such a fashion, the exuberance of these people had been beneficial to his sister. Thus, he could answer in the affirmative.

  “There is one thing I wished to ask you,” said his sister after he spoke. “I overheard Miss Lydia speaking of Mr. Wickham a short time ago. Is Mr. Wickham in the neighborhood?”

  The scowl with which Darcy met her questions might have induced her to silence in the past. On this occasion, however, Georgiana contented herself with watching him and waiting for a response. Discussion of Wickham was one place Darcy did not wish to go, but he knew his sister would not be content with attempts at evasion, so he endeavored to respond.

  “Wickham joined the militia regiment not long before Bingley’s ball,” said Darcy, noting his sister looking about at the assorted officers as if Wickham might be hiding among them. “There is no need to concern yourself, Georgiana, for Fitzwilliam came to Meryton at my behest and spoke with the colonel here concerning Wickham’s character.
That libertine shall never again distress you.”

  Standing nearby, Elizabeth could not help but overhear Mr. Darcy’s comments about Mr. Wickham, and her first reaction was to be offended by them. The gentleman, it appeared, would not cease his persecution of the officer, regardless of his own culpability in Mr. Wickham’s state of poverty.

  Then again, it was unusual for Mr. Darcy to call the man a libertine, as he rarely descended to use such a term in the normal course of conversation. Furthermore, his talk of distress spoke to some further situation with respect to Miss Darcy. The memory of Mr. Wickham calling her proud returned to Elizabeth, and a hint of doubt entered her heart because of it.

  Before Mr. Darcy could continue speaking, cheering rose in the room again, for Miss Bingley had taken a position under the mistletoe, her coquettish look at the tall gentleman a clear invitation for him to kiss her. Mr. Darcy, however, either ignored the woman or did not notice her—the latter, if Elizabeth saw aright. But another young man had seen her.

  “It seems I have caught you, Miss Bingley,” said Samuel Lucas, Charlotte’s younger brother. He reached up to the bough and plucked a berry, before leaning in, saying: “I believe I shall claim my kiss now.”

  Miss Bingley shrunk away with revulsion, exclaiming: “A kiss?”

  “Unless you wish to refuse,” said the gentleman with a smirk, “in which case you cannot expect to marry in the coming year.”

  The glance Miss Bingley shot at Mr. Darcy informed anyone watching of her thoughts. However, it appeared Mr. Darcy was not about to save her from the ignominy of being kissed by one of the locals, for he only looked on with amusement. In the end, Miss Bingley accepted her fate, though with little grace and an obvious desire to flee thereafter.

  When that bit of excitement had played out, Mr. Darcy and his sister resumed their conversation. Though Elizabeth knew eavesdropping was not admirable, she listened, eager to hear more.