by Kara Louise
Darcy captured her hand with one of his and brought it to his lips. “And your point, my dear?”
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the blankets and the counterpane completely over their heads and they did not venture forth from their room for some time.
*~*~*
Georgiana awoke an hour later and went downstairs to the dining room. She was surprised that neither her brother nor Elizabeth was to be found there. She poured a cup of steaming tea and wrapped her fingers about the cup before walking over to the window to look out. Despite the blazing fire in the hearth, she shivered as she heard the fierce wind blow and saw the trees leaning away from its fury.
When she had finished her tea and still no one had come down, she grabbed a piece of bread to satisfy the pangs of hunger that were assaulting her. Leaving it barren of any butter or jam, she took it with her to the sitting room, nibbling on it as she went. She walked in, sat down, and began reading to pass the time.
Darcy came down about an hour later and greeted his sister with a warm embrace.
“You are late rising, Brother,” she said, with all the naivety of a young girl. “Are you unwell?”
Darcy started and cleared his throat. “On the contrary,” was his only reply.
Elizabeth came down shortly after and joined them. She immediately walked to the window and glanced out over a large expanse of the front of Pemberley. “It looks frightfully cold outside! How I wished there would be snow for Christmas!”
“It is certainly cold enough,” Darcy offered. “Perhaps later in the day, but I hope it will not be a heavy snowfall.”
“Well, I for one hope for an abundance! I am so anxious to see Pemberley covered in snow!”
“No, a dusting will suffice.”
She sat down and looked at her husband curiously. They had no plans to go anywhere, so there would be no reason for him to worry about a large amount of snow. She wondered if he just did not enjoy it.
Unfortunately, the frigid weather did not permit another day on the ice, so it was spent with the usual employments. Elizabeth worked on her needlepoint in the music room as Georgiana practiced on the pianoforte, although Elizabeth considered it anything but practice. She played most proficiently. Darcy joined them and read a book.
The peaceful ambiance of the room in which the three spent their day was nothing like the fierce display going on outside. Darcy frequently rose and went to the window, arms folded in front of him as he gazed out.
Elizabeth watched him curiously, for he seemed rather unsettled. He had never been one to read a few pages of a book and then set it down. She could not imagine what was prompting him to look out a window when there was nothing that she knew of that would be a distraction to him.
She finally asked, “Is anything amiss, dear? You seem a bit preoccupied.”
He turned abruptly. “Uh, no. I was just watching the weather.”
“Are clouds rolling in?”
He nodded his head. “There are some dark clouds on the horizon.”
Elizabeth excitedly rubbed her hands together. “Oh, how I hope it snows!”
Darcy let out a grumble. “You know my thoughts on that.”
He returned to his chair, with Elizabeth’s eyes following him. He picked up his book to continue to read, but occasionally bit his lip, rubbed his forehead, or looked over toward the window again. He was definitely disconcerted about something, but she had no idea what it might be.
As they continued to enjoy a restful day, Elizabeth gradually noticed something else unusual. The Pemberley servants seemed excessively busy. She had no notion as to what could possibly account for their hustling and bustling through the halls in the spirited manner in which they carried themselves. And Mrs. Reynolds stepped in on more than once occasion to speak with Darcy on some matter. Each time she asked to speak with him, he stepped out of the room to carry on the conversation with her.
It was enough to keep Elizabeth distracted from her stitchery. She could only assume it had to do with some annual year-end task that took place, but why they had to do it around Christmas, she had no idea. She also could not imagine why Mrs. Reynolds was not asking to speak with her.
Georgiana, on the other hand, seemed perfectly oblivious to the fretful weather outside and her brother’s curious demeanour and the servants hurrying about inside. She played the pianoforte as calmly and beautifully as the most accomplished pianist.
After her husband returned from speaking with Mrs. Reynolds for the third time, Elizabeth finally asked, “Are you quite certain there is nothing amiss? You seem unusually ill at ease, the servants are scurrying about as if a large party was expected, and I have never seen Mrs. Reynolds consult you in a week’s time as often as she has in this past hour alone!”
“What could possibly be amiss?” he asked, a smile bringing the dimple to his cheek.
His smile was disarming, and reassured her that everything was as it should be at Pemberley.
Later in the day, as the sun began its early winter descent in the western sky, the clouds grew more ominously dark and threatening. The wind, which had died down somewhat during the day, rose again in cold fury.
When the sound of horses was heard out front, Elizabeth looked up and around, but it seemed as though her husband and Georgiana were not in the least interested in whom the visitors might be.
“Who do you suppose that is?” she asked.
Darcy lowered his head into his book and Georgiana, who was now reading a book herself, merely looked up and smiled.
When Elizabeth stood up to go to the window, Darcy stopped her. “I believe Mrs. Reynolds was expecting some goods to be delivered. Probably a cart bearing food or supplies.
Elizabeth sat down again, content with his explanation.
Several minutes later, Mrs. Reynolds came to the door and nodded at Darcy. She then turned away.
Darcy stood up and reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “If you will oblige me a moment, Elizabeth. Apparently we have guests awaiting us in the ballroom.”
As they stepped out of the music room and walked down the hall, Elizabeth felt as though her husband and Georgiana were sharing some secret, by the looks they exchanged and the smiles on their faces. It almost made Elizabeth dizzy with anticipation.
They reached the door and walked in. Elizabeth came to a halt in utter disbelief.
“Merry Christmas!” cried Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Mary and Kitty, and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Loud and profuse greetings were bestowed upon a very shaken Elizabeth. She looked up at Darcy, her eyes filling with tears.
“How… when… did you all get here?” she asked everyone and no one in particular. “I cannot believe it!” Her eyes shone with the joy that only a pleasant surprise such as this could have evoked.
“It was a most difficult endeavour,” her husband answered. “Now you know why I have been concerned about the weather all day, knowing that they were due to arrive.”
“We were hoping to arrive before any snow started falling,” offered Kitty.
“Did it snow at all on the way?” Elizabeth asked.
“Only a few flakes here and there,” Mr. Bennet said. “Nothing our driver could not handle.”
Mrs. Bennet said not a word. She barely even looked at Elizabeth at all; her eyes were constantly looking about the room.
“But how did you all arrive at the same time? You came from Hertfordshire,” she said looking at her parents, “and you,” she said turning to her aunt and uncle, “came from London!”
Mrs. Gardiner looked down, somewhat sheepishly. “To own the truth, Lizzy, we have been in Lambton for three days now. Your family met us at my brother’s home, and we came over together.”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped. “You have been here three days?”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “And oh, how difficult it has been not to come by and see you!”
“And my little cousins, are they not here?”
“We left them at my brother’s.” She let out a
soft laugh and leaned in conspiratorially. “I wanted to be able to enjoy our stay at the great Pemberley House for at least a few days and not have to worry about where they were or what they were getting into! They will join us on Christmas Eve and for Christmas Day.”
“We have a wonderful nursery and playroom,” said Elizabeth. “And I know one of our maids would be more than willing to act as their nanny while they are here.”
“Well, I think Michael, being twelve, can oversee his little brother and sisters, but we shall see when the time comes for them to arrive.”
Elizabeth continued to hug each member of her family, not truly believing that they were all here.
Darcy eventually settled himself in the corner with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner, away from the excited conversation of the ladies. Mrs. Bennet eventually found her voice and did not cease praising the grounds, the house, and all the decorations, especially the decorated tree that stood majestically before them in the ballroom. Elizabeth was more than happy to explain the reason for its being there.
After visiting for a while, Elizabeth stepped away from her family and walked over to Darcy. With eyes that held more admiration than she could express with words, she thanked him. “This is the best Christmas present I could ever have received!”
“I am glad you are happy, dear.” He looked at her and readily noticed a bit of melancholy in her expression. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, it could not be more perfect except perhaps for Jane and Charles to have been able to come, as well. I assume with his sisters visiting, they were not able to.”
At that moment, Mrs. Reynolds stepped into the room. “Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley have arrived.” She stepped aside, revealing the couple. Elizabeth could not restrain herself and ran to greet them, throwing her arms around Jane. This was more than she could have ever dreamed, and she could hold back the tears of joy no more. This was, by far, going to be the perfect Christmas.
They gathered in the large dining room for a delicious meal, excited voices talking about the latest news, how they kept the surprise from Elizabeth, and how much fun they would have in the next few days. Elizabeth was unusually quiet, looking with great joy and contentment about the room. She was making a somewhat vain attempt to listen to all the conversations that were taking place around the table.
Her husband, seated near her father and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, appeared to be delighting in a fervent conversation with them. Georgiana was turning from Kitty to Mary as each seemed to have an abundant amount of news to share with her. And Mrs. Bennet, in an excited but more hushed voice than normal, was more than happy to inform her daughter of all the latest goings-on around Longbourn and Meryton. While she was not particularly interested in what she considered gossip, her mother did occasionally have bits of information that were of interest to Elizabeth.
As they partook of a much more lavish meal than was normal for any of their guests, Elizabeth smiled as she thought of the servants she had seen earlier hustling about. She had been completely oblivious to the fact that they were all preparing for members of her family who were on the way. She would have to thank Mrs. Reynolds later for the manner in which her family was received.
During the course of the meal, Elizabeth occasionally turned her eyes to her husband and gave him a warm smile of heartfelt love and gratitude.
*~*~*
Following the meal, the men joined Darcy in his study, and the women adjourned to the parlour to visit. When the ladies stepped in, Mrs. Bennet could not refrain from commenting on the beauty of the room.
“Oh, to think that I have a daughter who lives in a place as grand as this!” She reached over and patted her daughter’s hand. “I knew that you would marry well! I always knew it.”
Georgiana sat across the room talking with Kitty and Mary. Mrs. Gardiner sat across from Elizabeth, and Jane and Mrs. Bennet sat on either side of her.
Tugging at her daughter’s sleeve, she said, “Lizzy! Lizzy!” Her voice rose with each utterance. “Why did you not write and tell me how exquisite your home is! I could hardly believe my eyes when we drew up and saw how grand it is!”
Mrs. Bennet turned to Mrs. Gardiner. “Is it not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? It is nothing to Netherfield!”
“Mother!” Elizabeth said in a hushed, but firm voice.
Jane gently placed her hand on Elizabeth’s. “It is beautiful, Lizzy. No one can dispute it.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “I remember coming here as a young girl. The Darcys occasionally held picnics for those in the neighbourhood.” She took in a deep breath and lifted her eyes as if recalling a pleasant memory.
“What is it?” asked Elizabeth.
“I remember one particularly festive picnic on May Day. They set up a maypole with ribbons in many beautiful colours and had dancers who knew how to do the formations that wove the ribbons decoratively down the pole. It was simply delightful!”
Elizabeth clasped her hands together. “I remember when you took Jane and me to a May Day picnic in London one year. I believe you even told us that day about that very picnic. It was here at Pemberley?”
Her aunt nodded. “That would have been the one. There were games for the children and the most delicious food!”
Elizabeth eagerly listened. She wondered how long it had been since Pemberley had hosted a May Day picnic and decided that it would be the most perfect thing for her and her husband to host one in the coming year.
An outburst of laughter came from the younger girls. Elizabeth looked over and smiled at the gaiety with which Georgiana responded to Kitty and Mary. She seemed so comfortable in the environs of Pemberley, and she seemed to enjoy that her two companions were close in age to her.
Elizabeth turned back and noticed her mother speaking with Mrs. Gardiner. She took Jane’s hand and squeezed it. “Oh, Jane, I cannot tell you how happy I am that you all came. Especially you!”
“Once we knew that Caroline and the Hursts had changed their minds and were not coming to Netherfield for Christmas, nothing could prevent us from coming.” Jane’s eyes glistened with tears. “I have missed you so much, Lizzy! I wish we could see each other more often!”
Elizabeth leaned in and hugged Jane. “Being such a distance from you is my only regret. But has Charles made you happy?”
Jane’s smile told Elizabeth all she needed to know. “Yes, Lizzy. I am so happy!” A soft blush coloured her cheeks. “And you?”
“I could not be happier. We have both married the best of men!”
Their conversation came to a halt when footsteps were heard and the men stepped in.
“Come!” said Darcy, who stood just inside the door. “There is something you shall all want to see!”
Excitement filled the air along with raised voices and hurried steps. They followed the men to the front door of Pemberley, where Mr. Haywood, the butler stood ready to open it.
Darcy gave a nod and the tall, lanky gentleman opened the door. A gust of cold air assaulted everyone, but as Darcy waved them closer, they could see in the darkness that snow was falling.
Elizabeth came to her husband’s side and took his arm. “It is beautiful! And it could not have been better timed!” She looked over to her family and said, “I am so grateful that you are all here, and you were kept safe in your travels!” She let out a soft laugh and looked up at Darcy. “And while I am grateful I was not the one worried about the weather while they were travelling, I still cannot believe you kept this from me!”
Without thinking, he wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her close. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
At the sudden realization that everyone was looking at them, he quickly said, “Come, let us catch a few snowflakes, and then come back in to the warmth.”
The snow had not begun to accumulate on the ground, but it was coming down in huge flakes. The three younger girls stepped all the way outside and tried to catch the flakes in their open mouths, as they wrapped their arms about themse
lves to keep warm.
The others merely watched from the top of the stairs, smiling at the fun the young girls were having.
Steaming wassail and pies waited the guests back in the parlour where they returned to enjoy the fellowship of all.
As the evening drew to a close, both Darcy and Elizabeth expressed their gratitude to everyone for making the long journey. Then they were all ushered to their rooms for the night, except Bingley and Jane, who wished to spend a little more time with Darcy and Elizabeth.
When the four sat down together, there was a mutual feeling of comfort and joy that only the closeness of friends can bring about. Elizabeth did not have to fear any longer about what her mother might say or do, and the years of friendship that Darcy and Bingley shared was as deep as the sisterly bond between Elizabeth and Jane. That they were now married added a new depth to their relationship that distance had not yet diminished.
At first they talked of family, the ladies’ adjustment to being mistresses of much larger homes than Longbourn, and how much they enjoyed married life. Their friendship allowed them to be candid with each other. They shared many a laugh and story with each other, and before they knew it, two hours had sped by and not another soul in the house was still awake besides them.
Darcy and Elizabeth showed the Bingleys to their room, and then they proceeded to their room arm in arm.
“You must tell me, Fitzwilliam, how this all came about. I cannot even comprehend what brought about your decision to invite my family to Pemberley for Christmas.”
“It all took shape from a conversation I had with your aunt and uncle prior to our wedding. I cannot recall where you were, but the Gardiners first talked to me about the possibility of us going to London to be with them. I expressed my doubts, but did hint at the possibility of their coming to Pemberley!”
“It has been planned all this time?” Elizabeth asked incredulously.
“Not quite. The Gardiners initially did plan to stay in London because her brother’s family was coming to visit them. Bingley and Jane were expecting his sisters to join them at Netherfield. The Gardiners wrote to me, not wanting to get your hopes up in case things did not work out, but they told me about their change in plans and that they would now be travelling to Lambton. When Charles and Jane’s plans changed, I wanted nothing more than to bring them all here. I knew having your whole family here would be something you would enjoy with your whole heart. We decided to keep it a secret in case poor weather put an end to the scheme.”