Chapter Thirty-Two
Jane awoke on Christmas Eve and was thoroughly depressed.
She felt guilty for her thoughts. It was a wonderful blessing for her to experience the hopes and dreams of her characters far beyond what she had imagined for them; to help them, befriend them, and share a bit of the lovely world she created…
But…she missed her family.
Edward, Cassandra, Fanny, and her brother’s other children would be preparing to go out and collect greenery to decorate Godmersham today. Jane was certain that her hosts and their guests were preparing for the same, and that it would be a splendid day.
Still, all Jane wanted was to pretend a headache and return to bed. She missed Cassandra, and Fanny, and Edward, and young Edward, and George. She missed her mother.
She wondered if she had caused her wish not to come true by staying up late to complete Mr Bingley’s slippers.
She did not know the rules of well magic.
What if she ought to have gone to sleep before midnight?
She would not make that mistake again this evening.
She would retire early, and forgo the attendance of church at midnight with the others.
It was not a lie that late night entertainments resulted in real headaches for her more often than not anyway.
She would request one of Mrs Nicholls’s sleeping draughts, and hope to wake at Godmersham tomorrow.
It would be ungrateful in the extreme to her hosts to remain in bed on such a festive day, so she rose and performed her ablutions in the dressing room. She dressed with the help of Daisy, then headed to the breakfast room.
Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had returned the day before.
The two men had said only briefly that Mr Wickham had been convicted and executed, but refused to say anything further, citing a desire not to throw a pall on the festive days ahead.
They had sadly missed the nativity while in London, but they heard all about it the evening before at dinner, and Darcy assured his sister and his intended bride that should Mrs Bingley host a children’s festival in the summer, that they would of course make every effort to attend if it brought Elizabeth and Georgiana pleasure.
“Mr Bingley, have there been any further inquiries from your advertisements?” Jane made a point of asking every morning. She could not just stay in the man’s home indefinitely without at least acting as if she were interested in how she had ended up there, or where she belonged.
“No, but I did receive a letter yesterday from a physician who believes that a treatment called mesmerism might help you regain your memory,” answered Bingley as he poured milk into his tea.
“Mr Bennet and Sir William found the suggestion highly interesting, but I must admit, I know little of the science. Darcy does not think much of the idea.”
“Animal magnetism?” Jane replied in surprise. The treatment, known as both animal magnetism and mesmerism, was highly debated in society. She had always regarded the reports of success with skepticism.
“You do well to regard the method dubiously, Miss Jane. I cannot boast of knowing even a half dozen people of sense or sound logic that have anything worthwhile to say about it.” Mr Darcy passed the marmalade to his sister.
“Well we need not reply, if the idea has no merit.” Bingley sipped his tea.
“Mr Bennet and Sir William have been writing a series of advertisements including your likeness and what we know. The day before the ball, we shall get it all together and send them out to all of the major newspapers in England, since only advertising in Hertfordshire and London has not yet borne fruit.”
“I do thank you, sir,” Jane said. “I fear I woke up this morning feeling terribly homesick for my family, and when you do not know how to get home, it is an awful feeling.”
“Oh, that does make me sad.” Mrs Bingley looked sympathetic.
“I know I would miss my family terribly, even if I could not remember much about them, or did not know where they were. You must feel horribly lonely, even among all of us here. I believe I would miss my family even more in such circumstances. Especially at Christmas.”
“You comprehend my sentiments perfectly, Mrs Bingley, but I feel blessed to have made so many wonderful friends amongst your family and neighbours.” Jane bowed her head. “I cannot feel anything other than grateful that if I cannot be with my family, that at least I have made such good friends.”
Later that morning the household was out in the wagons with the gardeners and footmen as the men cut and helped the ladies to gather pine boughs, holly, ivy, hawthorn, laurel, bay, rosemary, and hellebore.
Absent were Kitty and Lydia, who had stayed the night at Longbourn to spend time with their cousins.
The household at Longbourn was spending the day in a like manner, collecting greenery and decorating for Christmas, even though the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts would be held at Netherfield.
The crowning achievement for the outing, a giant Yule Log wrapped in hazel twigs, was dragged back to the house by the men.
After two hours outdoors, the household returned, red-cheeked and in high-spirits, to light the Yule Log, and enjoy soup, mince and pork pies, thick slices of bread slathered with black butter, nuts, fruit, plum cakes, and gingerbread, accompanied by glasses of wassail, which would be drunk by everyone except the children without abandon through Boxing Day, when most of the occupants of this house at least, would exert a bit of self control, at least until the New Year, and the Epiphany, when the festivities would reach the height of immoderation.
Most households celebrated the whole twelve day feast with unrestrained overindulgence.
When the food had been eaten, the household commenced decorating the house with the greenery that had been collected.
Garlands were created, paper chains were hung, boughs and kissing balls of mistletoe went up, and hellebore was tucked in charmingly here and there.
Everywhere was the decor enhanced with thick sashes and ribbons of red and white, as well as the charming ornaments created by the Bennet sisters and their cousins, which had been shared between Netherfield and Longbourn.
Justine’s star was hung above the mantel in the drawing room, and every time Jane turned about, she caught either Mr and Mrs Bingley or Mr Darcy and Elizabeth under the kissing boughs.
When the house was prepared to Mrs Bingley’s satisfaction, everyone went upstairs to rest for a short time, then bathe and dress for dinner.
The Christmas Eve feast at Netherfield was a joyous occasion attended by the entire family.
Mrs Bingley was stunning in a gown of pomegranate, and wearing a pearl and diamond parure that was obviously a generous gift from her husband.
Mr and Mrs Bennet arrived with Kitty and Lydia, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, and all of their children.
Mr and Mrs Phillips came as well in their own equipage.
Mrs Bennet ranted about the grandness of her daughter–Mrs Bingley–in her jewels–and Jane was filled with contentment at that moment to witness the family’s joy.
The children ran about in excitement, and the adults drank wassail punch and conversed until dinner was announced.
Of course, any dinner hosted by Mrs Bingley was certain to be sumptuous.
The family dined on goose, pheasant, and partridge with lavender stuffing, a delicacy Mrs Bingley had brought with her from her mother’s receipt book, and which was the envy of the neighbourhood.
The table groaned under the weight of the venison haunch and beef roast, brawn, pies, potatoes, and other root vegetables, in addition to delicacies from the hothouses of the rich, such as creamed spinach, artichoke, and asparagus.
Breads of every kind passed around the table.
Just before the pudding, there was a great pounding at the front door, and voices from outdoors. They all rose, and followed Mr and Mrs Bingley into the hall, which was filled with carolers.
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
“Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
“To you, in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign:
The heav’nly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.”
Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God on high,
Who thus addressed their song:
“All glory be to God on high,
And to the Earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from heav’n to men
Begin and never cease!”
The household enjoyed the first song, then joined in for the second, which was Joy to the World.
Mr and Mrs Nicholls brought forth the wassail bowl and a tray of mince pies, and though the carolers of Meryton were more interested in spreading good cheer than begging, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy both made small gifts to each caroler, and each child left with a stick of peppermint from Mrs Bingley.
Since there was no family at home at Longbourn, Mr Bennet made gifts to the carolers as well, and Mrs Bennet gifted each child a pair of mittens that she had brought with her for just such an eventuality.
When the carolers moved on, the party returned to the dining room and were in awe at the puddings, molded jellies, fruit cakes, trifles, custards, tarts, and syllabub that awaited them, but applied themselves to the challenge with relish, as more wine was consumed, toasts were offered, and conversation rang out with great energy for another hour or more, before the entire party rose, forgoing the separation of the sexes, and withdrew to the drawing room for a few hours frivolity.
Some of the group exchanged small gifts when they returned to the drawing room.
There were gifts for the children, and some of the ladies exchanged small tokens.
Mr Darcy gave Elizabeth a ruby and pearl parure to wear at the ball.
She had already decided that she wished for no other adornment on her wedding day besides the garnet cross that had been given to her on her debut by her father.
The younger ladies were charmed by the gifts Jane had given them.
Lydia felt that she would be very sophisticated, writing to her sister and Miss Darcy on her new stationery.
Miss Kitty insisted that her gift, the beaded reticule, was finer than Lydia’s, and vowed to begin using it immediately.
Mary loved the hair pins that Jane had found to match the beaded necklace that Georgiana had given to her weeks before.
Georgiana was well pleased with her sheet music, and Elizabeth and Jane both laughed out loud when they exchanged small pocket volumes, Elizabeth’s gift a book of Cowper; Jane’s gift was a small volume of Wordsworth that Elizabeth had annotated with her thoughts.
Mrs Bennet was enchanted with the fine lace cap that Jane had trimmed with the last of the seed pearls from Elizabeth’s sewing box and little rosettes, and all of the ladies exclaimed and gathered round to admire the stunning white wrap that Mrs Bingley would allow no one to handle with ungloved fingers.
Mrs Bingley embraced Jane warmly in thanks for the lovely gift that had obviously required a great deal of work, which had been carried out in secret right under her nose.
Mr Bingley insisted that his slippers looked extremely comfortable and well made, and announced his intention to begin wearing them immediately; just as soon as his valet got him out of his confounded boots!
Jane was touched when Mrs Bingley had quite obviously thought of her as well, presenting her with an embroidered handkerchief.
Mrs Bingley had rendered an astonishingly well designed pattern of the folly at Netherfield, surrounded by flowers and greenery.
“To remind you of Netherfield, when you eventually return to your family.” Mrs Bingley accepted Jane’s thanks with her usual serenity, and then she returned to exchanging gifts with her family.
Jane dispensed sweets from the confectioner’s shop to the unmarried Bennet sisters, Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, and the Gardiner children, who whooped and jumped about, playing with their new toys.
The rest of the evening was spent playing games with the children.
Mr and Mrs Bingley, Mrs Bennet, and Mrs Gardiner played snapdragon, bullet pudding, and charades, while the Hursts and Mrs Phillips played cards at a nearby card table.
Mr Phillips, Mr Bennet, and Mr Gardiner spoke of books, current events, and business.
The Darcys, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Jane, Elizabeth, and the other young ladies danced reels at one end of the drawing room, Mrs Annesley generously playing lively tunes for them.
So much wine and wassail punch had been drunk that dancing had become a dangerous sport, and after dancing with the Colonel, Elizabeth, slightly tipsy, crashed into a table that held a tray of mince pies.
“Well that table is fortunate. I usually reserve that sort of treatment for Fitzwilliam’s pride,” she joked as her betrothed helped steady both her and the tray.
“My pride will recover, but the pies may not, my dear.” Darcy gazed down at his intended, who burst into giggles and sat the next one out, but demanded that he dance with his sister next.
At ten o’clock, determined to give herself enough time to be asleep before midnight, Jane claimed a headache and bid the others goodnight, declining to walk with them to church.
I do not know if that will help me or hurt me, but I am determined.
Mrs Nicholls sent her up a sleeping draught, and a headache powder, that Jane felt could only help her come morning, given how much she, and everyone else, had drunk.
She placed the small volume of Wordsworth, the embroidered handkerchief, and Lydia’s reed grass ring from Amwell beside her bed, saddened by the idea of leaving them behind, and was deeply asleep long before the others left and walked to church for the midnight service.