The Harvest Ball

by Lily Bernard

  “I have known Richard my entire life,” he said as he sat down. “He has never kept any secrets from me. Do you think they are already married, or betrothed? He spoke to us both about his feelings months ago in London. Perhaps, they are having an affair. I believe my feelings are a bit hurt by my cousin’s surprising lack of information.”

  “My love, I feel we will know the nature of their relationship in the very near future. I strongly doubt that they are having an affair. Lady Emily would never flaunt her lover in front of her brother. He is a man of God, after all, and Lady Emily would never humiliate him. Why do we not meet our guests in the drawing room and perhaps learn more there?”

  “I know you are correct, Richard is the most honorable man I know. He would never bring his lover to our home, especially not with Georgiana living here.”

  A few minutes later they joined everyone who was gathered in the drawing room; Jane, Charles and Georgiana were sitting together. Caroline, Richard, and Peter and Emily were standing together, a good distance from the other guests. Peter said quietly to his sister, “we would like to invite you and Richard to marry here in Derbyshire and share our wedding day.”

  Richard and Emily looked at each other and smiled; neither of them wanted a big society wedding in London. Marrying alongside Peter and Caroline sounded like a perfect way to avoid all the trappings that Lady Matlock and Mrs. Carter would plan. “Lady Emily and I would be delighted to join you at the altar. We will have to apprise our parents of this change of venue as soon as possible. I suppose we should pick a specific date, so we can announce everything at once,” Richard said.

  “Caroline and I were thinking about the twenty fifth of October. That would give you ladies six weeks to take care of all the things new brides need taking care of!” They all nodded their heads in agreement.

  “Peter, Richard and I are as anxious to wed as you and Caroline.” They all smiled as they rejoined the others.

  When all the guests were assembled and everyone was enjoying a glass of wine, Darcy stood by the mantel and asked for everyone’s attention. “Elizabeth, Georgiana and I are very happy to have you all here for the Harvest Ball. You were all with us one year ago, the year we brought the Harvest Ball back to Pemberley. Our little Bennet was not yet born and soon we will celebrate his first birthday. We welcome you all and wish everyone good health!” Everyone raised their glasses to toast all the blessings they enjoyed.

  Peter began to speak as soon as the toast was over, “Excuse the intrusion everyone, but I have some very good news to share with my family and friends.” They all looked around the room and no one could imagine the words that came next. “I am delighted to announce that Miss Caroline Bingley and I are engaged to be married!” Peter reached out his hand and Caroline walked across the room to take it. Jane was the only one in the room who was not surprised by the announcement and everyone expressed their happiness to the newly betrothed couple. Caroline had spoken to Jane of her feelings many times and although Jane shared their sister’s feelings with her husband, it seemed that Charles did not take his wife’s words seriously. Charles was thrilled for his sister but still surprised that she allowed herself to marry for love and not a title or great wealth. He had to admit that he had never seen Caroline look so happy.

  After all the congratulations were over, Richard asked for everyone’s attention and said, “I, too, would like to share some good news.” Everyone looked at Richard with amazement; he had been a bachelor for so long, no one believed he could possibly be announcing his betrothal. “I am absolutely delighted to tell you that my days as an unmarried man are soon over. Next month, Lady Emily and I will also wed, and we could not be happier!” Richard walked to Emily’s side and kissed her hand. Elizabeth, Georgiana and Darcy were delighted for their cousin and there were many more kisses and embraces.

  The discussion before dinner was centered on the two newly engaged couples. When Richard told everyone the date of the wedding and that they would share the date with Peter and Caroline, everyone thought it was a splendid idea.

  “Elizabeth and I would like to host the wedding breakfast here at Pemberley,” Darcy said. He looked at his wife and she smiled at him in agreement with his suggestion. Richard looked at his cousin and the two men smiled and nodded at each other with brotherly love.

  “Mr. Carter, since you are the vicar at Kympton, who will officiate at the wedding?” Georgiana asked, and everyone looked at Peter for his response.

  “Miss Darcy, that is a very good question. I have asked Mr. Hatcher to briefly come out of retirement to perform the ceremony and he told me that he would be very happy to do so.”

  Darcy stood and said, “It appears that we will have two weddings next month and I am sure all the ladies in the room will have much to do to prepare. In the meantime, I believe it is time we eat!” Everyone followed Elizabeth and Darcy into the dining room where there was another round of congratulations and many toasts to the happy couples.

  When the ladies left the gentlemen to their brandy and cigars, Charles and Peter began a private conversation about Caroline and her dowry and other matters for which the head of the Bingley family was responsible. Darcy and Richard began their own private conversation, “Richard, I am very happy for you, but your announcement took us by surprise. We had no idea you and Lady Emily had seen each other after the Townsend’s Ball. How is it you were traveling together and staying overnight at inns along the way? Has there been a compromise? You know you can trust me with the truth.”

  “No compromise, I assure you. We were traveling with Emily’s maid and my valet and we all had separate rooms. Emily was so unhappy during her marriage to Lord Howard that we are behaving as if this will be her first wedding. I would never take advantage of the woman I have loved for the past year.”

  “Have you spent much time together? You must admit that we knew nothing about it.”

  “We wanted to keep our relationship private. You have met Emily’s parents; if they got wind of us spending time together, I would hate to think of the things they would have done to keep us apart. As it is, when we visited the Carter’s in Suffolk, her mother would not look at me for three days. Thankfully, she came to her senses before we left and I believe she is truly happy for her daughter. I do not know how she will react to us marrying in Derbyshire, but we are determined to do what is best for our own happiness.”

  Darcy rose and embraced his cousin, “I am very happy for you and Lady Emily and I hope you know you will both be welcome here whenever you wish.”

  “Darcy, I must be honest with you. I have watched the way you and Elizabeth love each other, and I have envied your happiness. I never thought I would find the right woman, but Emily is the most wonderful person I have ever met. How would you feel about standing up for me?”

  “Richard, it would be my pleasure.”

  THE HARVEST BALL

  September 1814

  The Harvest Ball had been scheduled to take place the evening after everyone learned of the two betrothals. During the day, Elizabeth, Georgiana and Mrs. Reynolds were busy seeing to all the last-minute details before the tenants and their other guests were to arrive.

  After breakfast, Peter Carter called on Caroline at Pemberley and they, along with Richard and Lady Emily, went for a leisurely walk through the beautiful gardens surrounding the manor house. They began chatting about some of the details of their wedding and discussed the specifics of a ceremony with two brides, two grooms and four attendants. After they were finished with their talk, the two couples separated. If anyone was watching from the house, they may have seen Richard stealing a kiss or two from Emily and Peter and Caroline standing very close to each other.

  “Before we greet our guests, I wish to remind you of a promise you made to me last year,” Elizabeth said to her husband as they walked toward the staircase.

  “A promise? I do not recall promising you anything.”

  “When I wished to dance last year, you promised me that th
is year you would dance me off my feet while our beautiful boy was happily asleep in the nursery.”

  “Ah, yes, now I remember. You have made your point, madam, and I would never think of backing out of a promise,” Darcy said with a smile as he kissed his wife lightly on the lips.

  The second Harvest Ball at Pemberley was a bigger success than the first one had been. All the guests enjoyed the food, the music and the lovely gift baskets the tenants received before leaving. Once again, Georgiana kept all the children happily engaged in various games. She was very surprised when she looked up and saw David Arlington walking toward her.

  “Mr. Arlington, I am happy to see you although I did not know my brother and sister had invited you.”

  “I wrote to Darcy and told him I was hoping to be at my family’s estate this month. He wrote back and said if I was nearby, I was invited to Pemberley. I hope you are not unhappy that I am here.”

  “Not at all, welcome to Pemberley and I hope you enjoy the party,” Georgiana turned back toward the children playing. What is HE doing here? He smiles at me, he dances with me, he talks to me, he seems to enjoy the time we spend together and then he disappears! I will not build my hopes up again. He can just dance and speak and eat with someone else. I will not allow myself to play his game, whatever it is.

  David Arlington approached Georgiana later in the evening and asked her to dance. She could not very well say ‘no’ and they had a very pleasant time while they were together. After their set, he walked her back to where she had been standing with her brother and sister. He did not return to Pemberley to call on Georgiana the day after the Harvest Ball; nor did she see him again for many months.

  After the Harvest Ball, Peter wrote to his parents announcing his betrothal to Miss Caroline Bingley. He, along with Emily and Richard, wrote to their parents and announced the new wedding venue and the date of the ceremony. Emily wrote to her parents that she and her brother would be married in a double ceremony and they had already begun making wedding plans. Emily and Caroline planned to travel to London to shop for their trousseaux. Both Lady Matlock and Mrs. Carter expressed their surprise at the changed location of the wedding, but both agreed to meet the future brides in Town and assist them with their shopping as quickly as it could be arranged.

  On the night before the double wedding, Elizabeth found her husband pacing in their sitting room. Darcy knew he would be expected to propose a toast to Richard and Emily. He had already told Elizabeth that he was honored to do it, but he feared he might become emotional. “William, speak from your heart and the words will come. If you feel that tears of joy will be shed, everyone will understand. I doubt it will be the only time tomorrow that happy tears will be seen,” his wife advised him.

  “I am so happy for both of them; I had my doubts that Richard would ever lower his guard enough to fall in love.”

  “I am certain that many people said the same thing about you,” Elizabeth teased. Darcy nodded in agreement and went to his desk to commit his thoughts to paper.

  The two happy couples married in the church at Kympton at the end of October. Emily’s parents were very impressed with all the nobility and wealthy members of the ton in attendance despite the location of the wedding. Mr. Hatcher did a wonderful job and when the brides said their wedding vows, tears could be seen in the eyes of many of the guests. After the ceremony, everyone entered their carriages for the short trip to the wedding breakfast at Pemberley.

  When everyone was seated, Darcy rose to propose the toast he had been working on until the early hours. “My friends, Elizabeth, Georgiana and I are very happy to welcome you to Pemberley on this very special day.” Darcy tried unsuccessfully not to look at Richard’s smiling face. “I would like to be the first to propose a toast to Emily and Richard. Emily, you came into our lives last year and it has been a pleasure getting to know you better. We welcome you to the family. Richard,” Darcy paused to composed himself. “Richard, I have thought of you as my brother since our childhood adventures here at Pemberley and at Matlock Manor. Those of us who know you well, had our doubts that you, as a seasoned soldier, would make yourself vulnerable enough to fall in love. However, at last year’s Harvest Ball, it seems that you were instantly smitten by the lovely Lady Emily.” Richard looked at his new wife and smiled before he raised her hand to his lips for a kiss. “Everyone, please, raise your glasses. Wishing our newlyweds happiness, health and love. To Emily and Richard!”

  As Darcy sat down, Charles Bingley rose to propose another toast. “Last year, Jane and I watched Caroline dancing with Peter at the Harvest Ball and my sister was a changed person after that night. Caroline, we are all so happy that you have found a man to love and a new attitude toward life.” Charles did not need to describe the person Caroline was before she met her husband. “We could not be happier that you have found such a loving, kind and caring man. Peter, we are very happy to welcome you to our family. Friends, please raise your glasses and toast the happy couple! To Caroline and Peter!”

  Lord Matlock and Viscount Ashford also toasted Richard and Emily; Peter’s father and Mr. Hurst toasted Caroline and Peter. When the toasts were over and everyone was enjoying their meal, Richard turned to his bride, “Do you think we should tell your parents that I am Mary Greenley? I worry that at some point your parents will encounter Lord and Lady Greenley in Town. I am certain they would comment on your correspondence with their daughter and your visit to their estate which is not called Rosings Park.”

  “They look so happy, Richard. Why spoil their enjoyment? I think that when and if we are blessed with a child, we can tell them then. I think they will be so excited for their first grandchild to arrive, that they will forgive us for all the times we have misled them.”

  Richard kissed his wife’s hand, “I will take my direction from you, my dearest wife. Whatever you desire shall come to pass.”

  “Thank you, my love. Would you think I am utterly shameless if I tell you how much I am looking forward to tonight?”

  Richard smiled at his wife, “no, my love, you are hardly a wanton vixen, but I am quickly losing my patience with these festivities!” The wedding breakfast was a huge success and as soon as it was acceptable, both newlywed couples left Pemberley to begin their new lives together.

  Darcy had offered Peter and Caroline the use of Heatherwood, the Darcy estate in Scotland for their wedding trip. It was not too far away, and Peter was grateful for the Darcys’ generosity. He did not wish to be away from his parish for an extended period of time. Mr. Hatcher graciously offered to resume the duties of vicar until the Carters returned from Scotland.

  Richard and Emily traveled to Margate for their wedding trip. They rented a small seaside cottage and planned to stay for several weeks before returning to Rosings. They intended to remain in Kent until the holiday season when they had been invited to return to Pemberley for Christmastide. The Darcys had also extended an invitation to Emily and Peter’s parents. They very happily accepted after they heard that Lord and Lady Matlock would also be in attendance. Darcy and Elizabeth were anxious about Mrs. Carter’s reaction to Mrs. Bennet’s occasional lack of propriety; although Lord and Lady Matlock seemed to be amused by Mrs. Bennet’s lack of decorum.

  By the time the Harvest Ball of 1815 took place, both Jane Bingley and Elizabeth Darcy had given birth to their second children and Emily Fitzwilliam and Caroline Carter were both happily round with child.

  Epilogue

  During the Season which followed the Harvest Ball of 1814, Georgiana met and danced with David Arlington at various parties in London. After one such ball, he called on her the day after they had danced together the evening before. He told her that he had never had the opportunity to call on her because he had returned to his family’s estate immediately following the her ball. He explained that when they met at her coming out party, both of his parents were already quite ill and he wanted to spend as much time as possible with them. Georgiana expressed her condolences and now understoo
d why he never called on her the day after any of their dances. After his first call at Darcy House, one visit led to another and after they spent a great deal of time together, David asked Georgiana for her hand. She could hardly say no to the one young man she had started to fall in love with at her coming out ball.

  David was the second son of the late Duke and Duchess Hamilton of Hilltop Manor, a large estate that was less than 10 miles from Pemberley. Darcy was familiar with David’s family and after a short deliberation (not to mention vigorous urging from Elizabeth and Georgiana), he finally gave his blessing for his beloved sister to marry. Georgiana and David married from Pemberley and shortly before their first wedding anniversary, Georgiana gave birth to their daughter, Beth Anne. It was not long after his daughter’s birth that David’s older brother was tragically killed in a riding accident. Georgiana was now a Duchess and the mother of three beautiful daughters and her son, William George Arlington, the Viscount Holmes.

  Richard and Emily lived comfortably at Rosings with their children. Richard’s dreams of his happy marriage to Emily and being surrounded by laughing children became a reality. They were happy to be the parents of five fine sons. Richard began to realize that he was wrong when he told Emily all those years ago that Rosings was too big by half. With five growing boys, tutors, and nannies, he was often hard-pressed to find an unoccupied room for some peace and quiet. He was so happy and there was nothing he wished to change about his life. Over time, Emily’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, came to accept Richard as tolerable enough for their daughter which made their semi-annual visits to Rosings bearable.