The Harvest Ball

by Lily Bernard

  Elizabeth had enjoyed having a houseful of guests but was eager for everyone to depart. She was looking forward to spending more private time with Darcy, Bennet and Georgiana. In early January, the Darcys, Gardiners and the Bennets traveled to Birchwood Manor in a caravan of coaches. Everyone was delighted to see the lovely holiday décor planned by Jane and Caroline. On the night of their arrival, everyone was treated to a delicious festive dinner. After dining, all the guests were required to participate in the traditional taking down of all the Christmastide decorations. Charles and Darcy led the men out to a field in back of the house where a large fire had been lit. According to local legend, all the decorations must be burned before midnight in order to prevent any goblins from nearing anyone on the Bingley estate.

  The following day, everyone enjoyed the Twelfth Night Ball where all the guests were expected to don masks and costumes. It took some serious late-night convincing by Elizabeth to garner the cooperation of her husband to such a scheme. He only agreed to wear a mask, no amount of “convincing” could motivate him to also agree to wearing a costume. Since it was a short trip to the Bingleys’ estate and the Darcys would only be away for two days, he convinced his wife that Bennet was best left at home and she ultimately agreed with the decision. Maddie was too young to attend the party but the Gardiner children were invited to participate in the early hours of the dance; they merrily roamed around the ballroom in their colorful costumes and masks. The highlight of the night for the children was the presentation of the Twelfth Night Cake, which was beautifully decorated with elaborate sugar creations, gilded paper trimmings and delicious sweet icing.

  Lady Emily and Mr. Carter attended the party, but initially, neither was seen dancing. Lady Emily tried not to be too obvious as she looked around the Bingley’s ballroom searching for Richard and was disappointed not to see him. At the parsonage, he told her that he was returning to Kent the following day, but she hoped that he might have changed his plans. Mr. Carter spoke to his hosts and saw Miss Bingley directing the servants as to where she wanted the food to be served. He bowed before her and went into the ballroom to speak to some of the other guests. Caroline was saddened by his brusque greeting. Why was he so cold to me? Is he angry at me for some reason? I will get to the bottom of this and I will not leave Derbyshire until I know whether or not Peter Carter has feelings for me! Oh, Caroline, why do you care? He is a poor country vicar and we can never have a romantic relationship. He is not wealthy and never will be. How could I ever maintain my standing in the ton if I was married to a vicar?

  Later in the evening, Peter Carter asked Caroline to dance and she happily accepted. When she placed her hand on his arm, she felt her heart race and she blushed. In the course of the dance, every time their hands touched, she felt a similar reaction. Does Peter feel the same thrill when he touches me? Is his heart beating as quickly as mine? She was disappointed when the set ended; he walked her back to her family, bowed and walked away. Now what should I think? He asked me to dance but we had almost no conversation. If this is what falling in love feels like, I do not know if my heart can bear not being loved by Peter Carter.

  The day after the Ball, the Gardiners left Derbyshire for London and the Bennets were traveling to Winthrope Hall to visit Lady Catherine (nee Bennet) and her husband, Lord Winthrope. Mrs. Bennet could not be stopped from her loud expressions of happiness regarding the grandeur in which three of her daughters now lived. She was certain that now that her youngest child was learning how to be a real lady, only a most advantageous marriage would be acceptable. She was also overheard telling Lydia that she had enough stories to keep Lady Lucas and Aunt Phillips in awe for months.

  As they walked to the waiting carriages outside Birchwood Manor, Elizabeth bade her father a sad farewell. Mr. Bennet turned to his daughter and took her hands in his. “Lizzy, I will not thank you and Darcy for your generous hospitality these many weeks. I do want to thank you for allowing me to enjoy the library at Pemberley to its fullest extent and even take some tomes with me.” Mr. Bennet paused and brushed aside some tears.

  “Papa, what is it? Have we upset you somehow? Would you rather not travel today and remain here with Jane or return to Pemberley?”

  “No child, I wish to thank you for giving your old Papa the joy he never knew he could feel. I love Maddie and our precious little Bennet, and I am so grateful for the joy I see in your eyes.”

  “Papa, please promise to come back soon. Bennet and Maddie need their grandfather to teach them so many things. I am happier than I ever dreamed possible. My love for Darcy and now my son, grows every day. I will miss you, but we will stop at Longbourn for a few days on our way to London.”

  “I will look forward to that. Now, we must be off. I will write you when we reach Longbourn. I am looking forward to spending a great deal of time in my library. Your husband was generous enough to share a number of his favorite books with me. The good news is that Mrs. Bennet will most likely be gone for weeks, crowing about her time in Derbyshire and celebrating Christmas with the nobility.” Elizabeth and her father both smiled as he kissed her cheek and entered the carriage for their trip.

  Chapter 12

  Several days after the Darcys were contentedly returned to the normal peace and quiet of Pemberley, Darcy awaited Elizabeth to return to her chambers after her last visit to the nursery for the night. When she entered their sitting room, he asked, “and how did you find our son, my dear? Much changed from our visit one hour ago?” Darcy enjoyed teasing his wife but silently admired what a wonderfully caring mother she was. He knew that many women of the ton left the upbringing of their children exclusively to nurses and nannies.

  “Your son is sleeping soundly, and I kissed him goodnight from both of us.”

  “Elizabeth, I kissed Bennet goodnight an hour ago. Surely, you do not think I am remiss in my attentions to my child?” Darcy teased again.

  “No, William, I know you are a wonderful father as you are a wonderful husband and brother to Georgiana. It seems like so long since it has just been our little family at home. I had not realized how much I missed spending time with Bennet while our home was filled with guests. I will have to remember that if we are ever blessed with another child shortly before the holidays.”

  “Did you miss spending time only with Ben or perhaps your husband, as well?”

  “You poor dear man, are you feeling neglected by your wife?” She teasingly asked as she slowly sauntered toward where her husband was sitting. “I would never wish to deprive you of my company, my dearest husband,” Elizabeth said as she sat on Darcy’s lap and caressed his face.

  Darcy took her face into his hands and slowly brushed his thumbs across her cheeks. She lowered her head and began kissing her husband. “Mrs. Darcy, you have no idea what you do to me.”

  “Perhaps we should retire, and you can tell me all about it.” At his wife’s response, Darcy slowly rose without lowering Elizabeth to the floor. As they gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes, they walked as one into their bed chamber and locked the door behind them.

  Later that night, as Elizabeth was enjoying her husband’s embrace, she smiled at her happiness. Darcy quietly asked, “what are you thinking, my love?”

  “I am thinking about how happy I am. We have a healthy son, I am well, and Georgiana is the perfect sister and aunt.”

  “What about me?”

  “I thought I just showed you how much I love you, but if you need more proof…”

  “No, I am just teasing you,” He turned his head and kissed her hair. “I feel the same way. I enjoyed all our guests, but I am so happy to have you, Ben and Georgiana all to myself. I wish our new found peace could last forever, but, alas, it cannot.”

  Elizabeth quickly sat up and looked at her husband. “William, whatever do you mean? Is something wrong?”

  “No, my dearest, nothing is wrong. You simply forgot that our sister is to make her debut into society in only a few months.” She threw herself back into
her pillows, covered her face and moaned as she continued to listen to her husband. “We must soon prepare to leave for London and plan for Georgiana’s coming out. There is her presentation at Court, a ball at Darcy House to plan, and endless visits to the modistes. Then all the callers who will undoubtedly descend on Darcy House after she is presented to the ton.”

  She turned to her husband and said softly, “I suppose I am so happy we are finally alone that I put Georgiana’s debut out of my head. I wish we could just stay here all the time, and never have to deal with any of the nonsense of the ton. And I am certain our sister would agree.”

  “You have no idea how much I wish for the same. However, are you not the same woman who is always reminding me that our sister is growing up and cannot always be part of our household?”

  “If I said that, I was mistaken. I have decided that we will all stay here forever and never again go to Town and Georgiana will always be with us,” Elizabeth teased. When she looked into her husband’s eyes, she saw the pain he felt at the thought of Georgiana leaving them and one day starting a new life with her husband. Elizabeth knew Darcy would never deem any of their sister’s prospective suitors as good enough, but she also knew he understood that there was no way to hold back the future.

  “If you wish it, my dearest, then that is how it shall be.” Darcy kissed his wife’s hair, “at least for the next few weeks.” He embraced his wife more tightly and added, “were you not about to show me how much you love me?” Elizabeth returned to her husband’s embrace and there was no further discussion of their decamping for London for the remainder of the night.

  Peace and quiet reigned over Pemberley for a few more days, although the three adult Darcys were all waiting until ‘the discussion’ would take place and change everything. They did not have to wait long, shortly after Twelfth Night, Georgiana entered the breakfast room holding a letter. “William, where is Lizzy? There is something we must all talk about.”

  “She is with Bennet in the nursery but should be here shortly. Is anything amiss?”

  “No, but I have had another letter from Aunt Patricia, and she has so many questions about my presentation at Court and my coming out. I suppose it is time we begin planning the next few months.” Elizabeth entered the room just as her sister finished speaking.

  “Lizzy, I have been waiting for you. Aunt Patricia wrote me again yesterday about the upcoming Season and I did not want to respond to her without consulting you and William. I wish we could all stay here and enjoy Pemberley when the spring comes.”

  Darcy and Elizabeth looked at each other acknowledging the similarity of Georgiana’s wishes to their own. “Elizabeth and I were just saying the same thing. We are all so happy here, why does everything have to change?”

  “I feel terrible about having to upset everything, but we have put off answering Aunt Patricia’s questions for too long. I believe we need to make some definite plans about our journey and my Ball and so many other things. When I was staying at Matlock Manor, we talked a great deal about my debut but in more general terms. I suppose now it is time to make some decisions.”

  Darcy looked first at his sister, then his wife. “When did our sister become an adult? She is ready to take charge of the entire enterprise. She will make certain everything we need is packed. She will ensure all of Bennet’s needs are prepared as well and make all the arrangements for our journey. She shall decide when and where we will stop to rest and where to sleep. If we leave it to her, she will probably have her party at Darcy House planned as well!” They all laughed at William’s loving tease.

  “I love you both, and it matters not what the future brings, that will never change.”

  Elizabeth saw that Darcy had tears in his eyes as he listened to the young woman he had raised sound so grown up. “Well, Miss Darcy, I believe there is no time like the present. Shall we meet with Mrs. Reynolds and begin making our plans for our journey and all that awaits us in London?”

  “That sounds like a wonderful idea. If you can wait a few minutes, I would like to have something to eat before we meet with Mrs. Reynolds. I was so afraid of what you would say this morning that I hardly ate any dinner last night. Thank you for understanding and helping me through the next stressful months of our lives.”

  Later that morning, Mrs. Annesley was shown into Darcy’s study. “Thank you for seeing me, sir.”

  “Are you well, Mrs. Annesley? You know we consider you to be part of our family. If there is anything you require, you need only ask.”

  “That is why I have asked to see you privately, Mr. Darcy. My daughter was married shortly before I became Miss Georgiana’s companion. She is going to give birth to her first child in March and asked if I could come and stay with her and her husband in Bath. Now that you and Mrs. Darcy have your own family and Georgiana is so much better than she was when I met her, I think the time for her needing my services has passed. I thought I would discuss it with you before I spoke to your sister about it.”

  “I suppose you are correct when saying Georgiana no longer requires a companion and we would never attempt to prevent you from being with your daughter at such an important time.” Darcy paused, “would you like me to speak to my sister about it?”

  “Yes, I would appreciate you telling her first. I will speak to her afterward and would like to stay on until the family returns to London. I will be sorry to miss Georgiana’s debut, but my daughter needs me more.”

  “Leave it to me, Mrs. Annesley. I can never thank you enough for everything you have done for my sister and our family.”

  “It has been my pleasure, sir, and I will miss you all when I leave your home.”

  At Birchwood Manor, Charles rose from the breakfast table and kissed his wife before leaving the room. A few minutes later, as Jane rose to leave, Caroline asked, “do you have a few minutes this morning to talk?”

  “Of course, I hope you are enjoying your stay. Is anything wrong?”

  “I am enjoying my stay in Derbyshire more than I ever dreamed possible. I need some advice and I believe you are the one person I can trust to tell me the truth.”

  “How can I help you?”

  “I believe I have fallen in love and I do not know how to proceed from here.”

  “Who, may I ask, is the object of your affection? I have an idea, but I would rather hear it from you.”

  “Peter Carter, the vicar at Kympton. We have had several conversations and we danced at the Harvest Ball and Boxing Day and at the Twelfth Night party. We talked about so many things when we sat next to each other at Christmas dinner. I am certain you would never believe that I could consider a man without great wealth or a title, but there it is. I think I love him. When I see him, my heart begins to pound, and my knees are weak. Jane, what am I to do? Please, tell me the truth.”

  “There is not much I can say. I am happy you have chosen to love someone based on their character and not on the trappings of the ton. You have not told me how Mr. Carter feels about you.”

  “I am not sure. He seeks me out whenever our paths cross and he told me at the Christmas dinner that he was happy I was staying in Derbyshire. How can I be sure of his feelings? If he does not care for me, I do not know what I shall do. I think about him all the time and I dream of him at night. Jane, please tell me what to do.”

  “If Mr. Carter feels the same affection for you, you will soon know it.” Before she could say any more, a footman knocked and entered the room.

  “Pardon me, madam, but you have a caller.”

  “Did they leave their card, Jenkins?”

  “Yes, it is a Mr. Carter, ma’am.”

  Jane looked at Caroline and smiled. “Please show Mr. Carter into the drawing room and ask Mrs. Wilson for some tea.” The footman bowed to Jane and exited the room.

  “Can it be true? Has he really come to Birchwood to see me? I do not know what to say or how to act; this is an entirely new experience for me.”

  “You will be fine, Caroline. Try to
keep calm and respond politely to anything Mr. Carter asks. Now, let us go. We do not wish to keep your caller waiting, do we?”

  “No, we do not. Thank you for your advice. You are a wonderful sister; you are much kinder to me than I deserve.”

  “Nonsense, Caroline, you deserve every happiness. Now let us go!” Both sisters were smiling as they entered the drawing room and greeted Mr. Carter.

  A few days after the decision to leave Pemberley was made, Darcy asked his sister to join him in his study after breakfast. “Mrs. Annesley has a married daughter who lives in Bath. Her daughter has asked her mother to come and live with her family and help her with the new baby. I know we shall all miss her but I believe your need for a companion has long passed. How do you feel about it, Georgie?”

  “She told me her daughter, Margaret, was increasing. I can certainly understand her desire to be with her. I will miss her but I do not wish to keep her from being with her own family. When does she plan to leave for Bath?”

  “Shortly before we leave for London, I will send her in one of our carriages and make all the arrangements for her journey. It is time she moved on to her new responsibilities as a grandmother.”

  “I suppose this is the first of the many changes in my life over the next few months.”

  “All will be well, little one. All will be well.” Darcy embraced his sister and did not see the tears that filled her eyes.