Christmas at Pemberley (40 page)

“I'm more than pleased with the lieutenant's service,” Edward announced, as if he recited the lines for the Earl's benefit.

Southland took them to heart, nonetheless. “Thank you, Sir.”

“You've served your country. Don't forget to stress that fact for Her Ladyship. Our aunt enjoys reflected glory. She'll want to ‘steal' your accomplishments,” Darcy explained.

Southland looked from one to another. “Do you believe it so?” he asked the colonel.

“Darcy knows our aunt well. Explain how you've served both on the Continent and on the American front. That'll be a key issue for the Earl.”

Darcy said, “It's important that you speak to Lady Catherine before she returns to Kent. I assume she'll travel on Tuesday, as Mr. Collins will have missed three Sundays. Her Ladyship won't tolerate the man's shirking his duties. It would be unseemly for you to call at Rosings without permission.”

“So, I should speak to Her Ladyship tomorrow?”

“At the latest,” Edward assured.

Southland stood. “Thank you, Gentlemen. You've given me much to consider.” The lieutenant bowed and excused himself from the room.

With the sound of the door's latch closing behind the man, Darcy released the breath he had held. “Was that wise?” he asked with self-chastisement.

Edward returned his booted feet to the desk. “Southland homed in on Anne immediately. At first, I warned him away, but the more I thought on it, the more I realized this might be Anne's last chance.”

“And the man will have to face Lady Catherine eventually,” Darcy reasoned.

“And the fact that Southland's request will occupy Her Ladyship's interest until our aunt's departure had nothing to do with our encouraging the man.” Edward's lips twisted in a smirk.

“At least, the advice we gave him is the same that I would've issued even if I didn't wish to distract Lady Catherine from Mrs. Darcy.”

They sat in silence—each analyzing his part in sending Southland off to face Lady Catherine alone. “I believe it's time that the lieutenant receive a captainship,” Edward observed.

“Feeling guilty?” Darcy taunted.

“I just sent my aide into battle poorly armed. Yes, I'm feeling damned guilty.”

DARCY FOUND HER IN HER CHAMBERS. Hannah assisted her mistress with a clothing change. They'd attend the services that she'd suggested to Mr. Winkler last summer. Elizabeth thought it a unique opportunity at the time, but now she wasn't so certain. Christmas would fall on Sunday, and she'd thought the day's significance would be lost to the usual Sunday service. The thought had occurred shortly after she'd discovered that for a third time she carried Darcy's child, and her fear and her maternal instinct had both arisen at the same time. Elizabeth had thought it a good omen to recognize the birth of the Christ child in a joyous manner.

“Could we not have a celebration of the children?” she had asked Mr. Winkler over afternoon tea. Her hand had instinctively rested on her abdomen.

Winkler had responded enthusiastically, “It's a wonderful idea. Mr. Lancaster's been working with some of the village and estate children. How about a children's choir?”

The idea had grown from there, and tonight would be the first such celebration. Elizabeth was a bit worried over the community's reception.

 

Upon his entrance, Darcy motioned Hannah away and took up the lacing of his wife's gown. They actually each served as the other's dresser on a regular basis. It was part of their natural closeness. “You look lovely,” he said as he examined her appearance. The deep
forest green dress brightened her hazel-colored eyes and contrasted with Elizabeth's pale skin.

Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder at him. “I feel lovely.” Her smile followed. “Thank you for today. Returning to Pemberley to find my sisters and parents was a gift I'll cherish always.” She turned into Darcy's arms and lifted her chin for his kiss.

“The contented look in your eyes when you were in Father Bennet's embrace was worth the trouble of arranging everything. It's been too long since you had the Bennets as company.” He pulled her closer and buried his face in Elizabeth's hair. “I want you to be happy, Elizabeth.”

She turned her head to kiss his temple. “I am happy, Fitzwilliam. I cannot imagine being any place but Pemberley, but seeing my dear family again has been a balm to my grieving heart.You've given me so much of yourself in your gesture.”

Darcy kissed her deeply. His wife smelled of the lavender oil that she preferred in her bath, and she was warm and soft in his arms. “I want you safe—want to protect you. I love you, Elizabeth.” He kissed her fiercely with all the love they shared.

Elizabeth laughed easily when his lips released her. She rested her head on his chest. “We've everything we need as long as we're together.”

He kissed the top of her head before he stepped away and sat on the side of her bed. “Did you have a pleasant time with your family this afternoon?”

“The house has so much greenery. Every room has garlands of holly and rosemary and laurel.” He watched as her excitement grew. “Kitty hung mistletoe in every room.” She turned quickly to Darcy. “By the way, Georgiana reports that Mr. Winkler has spoken to Papa and plans to speak to you about Kitty. It appears that my suspicions regarding his interest in my sister may prove correct, after all.”

Darcy's eyebrow rose in amusement. “Mr. Foxmour praised Kitty's empathy during his mother's final hours. She accompanied
Winkler when Foxmour summoned the clergyman to his cottage. It makes sense that your sister saw a need to attend the services with Georgiana,” he observed.

“I'm certain Mr. Winkler's the basis of Kitty's motivations, but maybe not as you expect. According to our sister, she asked Kitty to accompany her today rather than the other way around. In addition, the Foxmours' situation has enthralled Kitty. She taught the young girls something about art and helped them create a drawing—several drawings, in fact—that Mr. Foxmour placed in his mother's casket. One drawing was of the late lady's dream dress. When my sister returned to Pemberley, she spent hours reworking a gown she found in the attic for Mrs. Foxmour's burial. Kitty has shown herself to possess all the compassion she'll need as Mr. Winkler's wife.”

Darcy evaluated his wife's words and doubted her conclusion. Although he'd noted Kitty's improvement, he still retained images of a flighty, giggling Kitty tagging behind Lydia Bennet Wickham at the Netherfield Ball. “Mr. Winkler will be a good influence on Kitty.”

“You'll give Mr. Winkler your approval, shall you not?” Elizabeth asked apprehensively. “It would be a good match, and I'd enjoy having her so close to Pemberley.”

Darcy frowned. Although Winkler would be an excellent match both socially and emotionally for Kitty, the idea of his wife's sister marrying a clergyman—one depending on him for a living—needed to be considered.What would the community think? What of the
ton
? “Georgiana's Come Out could be affected by the connection,” he said softly.

Elizabeth, who'd been braiding her hair as they spoke, turned quickly to look sharply at him. “Surely you won't consider denying Kitty's match because of Georgiana's Society entrance. You'd punish my sister to benefit yours? Would not the Earl's influence counter Kitty's alliance with Winkler? The man is a gentleman's son. He's not a tradesman or a simple farmer.”

Darcy knew there had been a time when his wife would have said more—would have argued unreasonably. “As this is the first I've heard of Winkler's attentions beyond your speculations, please allow me to hear the man out. I'll protect Kitty's interest, as well as Georgiana's. I'll deal with each honestly and honorably.”

Elizabeth's ire faded. “That's all I can ask, Fitzwilliam,” she said grudgingly.

“Trust me, Elizabeth,” Darcy insisted.

“I do,” she responded. “I just want the best for both our sisters.”

Darcy added, “As do I.”

Elizabeth returned to dressing her hair. He knew they'd have this conversation again, but not until he met with the clergyman. “Would you mind if I kept Kitty with me when my parents return to Hertfordshire?”

“If that's your wish, I have no objections. Kitty is good company for both you and Georgiana,” he observed.

Elizabeth twisted her long braid and wrapped it tightly in a simple loop at her nape. “What are we to do with Lady Catherine?” she asked.

“Her Ladyship's presence is something for which I have no contingencies.”

“That is obvious. Why now? After all the times that Lady Catherine has ignored your gestures for a reconciliation? Why now, Fitzwilliam?”

Darcy came to stand behind her so they might converse through their reflections in her dressing mirror. It was important for her to see his facial expressions when he spoke. “I know not why my aunt has chosen this time to return to Pemberley. I'll speak to her privately once we return from services. If she expresses her usual disdain, I'll see her on her way on Boxing Day. If not, it is my understanding that she plans to depart on Tuesday.”

Elizabeth smiled humorously. “I'll have to write to both Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Joseph and express my gratitude for their detaining us in Harrogate. At the most, I'll have to tolerate Lady
Catherine's venom for three days more. It could've been for a full week.”

Darcy's eyebrow rose in answer. “There's that blessing.” He bent to kiss Elizabeth's exposed shoulder. “Please remember, my love. In this house, you're the mistress.You take precedence over all others, including my aunt.”

She and Darcy sat shoulder to shoulder in the family pew. All their guests, except Lady Catherine, who claimed a megrim, had joined them for the services. As she looked about the church, Elizabeth was pleased to see many from the community in attendance. Kitty's eyes glistened with pride as she watched Mr. Winkler, but, surprisingly, Georgiana's eyes glowed equally as bright, and Elizabeth wondered privately if her husband's plans for a Season for his sister might be taking a divergent path. She also chastised herself for not seeing the obvious.
I've been so consumed with my own misery that I've forgotten that life goes on. It all makes sense when I see Georgiana look upon the colonel's face.This evening I'll find time to speak to Georgiana privately. I've neglected her too long. My thoughts shall no longer dwell with those who have never seen the light of day; I must return to the world of the living.

 

As the children finished an interesting rendition of “Come, Thou Almighty King,” the gathering fell silent and Mr. Winkler took his position in the pulpit box. Elizabeth relaxed into the comfort of Darcy's shoulder. His warmth brought her contentment, and she sighed deeply.

Then Winkler began to speak from the heart. “This is the Eve—the eve above all others. It represents the ultimate of sacrifices on God's part. Before He sent His Son into the world, our Heavenly Father knew what Jesus would face. Christmas also represents a personal sacrifice on the part of Mary and Joseph. In all practical terms, God asked the impossible. Of real people. There would be
very few in this room who would willingly accept what God asked of this couple.

“Mary made an unbelievable claim, and Joseph accepted it, but please think of the censure they must've faced from family, friends, and neighbors. Mary's apparent infidelity would've driven a wedge into the best of marriages. Add to that the financial strain of a long journey to pay their tax debt. However, although it was emotionally bizarre, Mary and Joseph accepted God's plan for them, and they learned that accepting God brings its own disputations. God's presence in a person's life does
not
necessarily make his life easier; instead, it makes his life more fulfilling.”