Happy Christmas, Mr. Darcy
Leslie L. Diamond
England, present time
“Daddy! Daddy!” William Darcy groaned as he stretched under the sheets and reached for his phone on the nightstand.
Six? The children were always up early on Christmas morning, but the twins had set a record this year.
Before he could so much as sit up, Olivia and Andrew barrelled into the room and the collected one hundred pounds of two five-year-olds landed in the middle of his lap.
Little knees and elbows jabbing into his thighs, his hip, and. ..
“Omph!” His hands flew to cover a vital part of anatomy before a stray appendage caught it in a way that could not be undone.
“I’m awake!” Why couldn’t a dad stay in bed on Christmas morning?
After all, what he really wanted for the holiday was to sleep as late as he wished.
Mrs. Reynolds often tried on Saturday mornings to let him sleep longer, but Livvi and Andrew would inevitably sneak into his room to wake him.
He had not had a good rest since… Well, surely since they were still in nappies.
“Do you think Father Christmas came last night?” asked Livvi.
William tossed his daughter over to the empty side of the king-sized bed. “I am sure he did… unless…” He dug his fingers into her ribs. “Were you naughty last year and I missed it?”
“Daddy!” She cried between raucous giggles from the tickling.
“Me next!” cried Andrew, bouncing on the mattress.
Livvi moved off the bed so William could give his son the same easy toss he had his daughter.
It had been a game since they were babies.
Then, he would have pretended to throw them and blown raspberries on their stomachs upon the soft landing.
As soon as Andrew’s giggles filled the room, William darted out of bed before his children could pounce on him again.
“Do we open the gifts now or do we wait until later-after we return from Uncle Charlie’s? Which would you prefer?”
“Pressies first!” He winced at the volume of their excitement, even though he should’ve known before he asked. The twins and presents were quite predictable.
“Okay, but at least let me brush my teeth first.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Have the two of you brushed your teeth?” They glanced at each other then raced away. He should’ve known. They always forgot.
After throwing some frigid water on his face and ensuring his breath didn’t smell like the bottom of a budgie’s cage, he shuffled into the kitchen, turned on the kettle, and prepped the French press. Coffee. He needed coffee straightaway.
“Daddy! We’re supposed to be opening gifts!” When he turned, Livvi had her hand on her hip.
“And we will… once I have a cup of coffee in my hand.”
Andrew appeared beside her and the two shared identical eye rolls before Livvi began tapping her foot.
Sometimes, she reminded him so much of Caroline it was frightening, particularly with that one hand on her hip while her toes tapped in a steady cadence on the wood floor.
Thankfully, his daughter didn’t inherit his ex-wife’s selfish streak.
Last he’d heard, Caroline was on the French Riviera with her latest husband.
It was number three now, wasn’t it? It wasn’t like he tried to keep up.
The most interesting part of those behaviours was Livvi hadn’t been in a room with Caroline since she was born.
Prior to the birth, Caroline had signed the paperwork relinquishing any rights to the twins, and she had never backpedaled.
Before they married, she had acted as though she wanted children, but once she found out she was pregnant, she had sung a different tune.
She had never wanted children-she had married him for his money and the lifestyle she thought she would have.
Why she thought they would attend glamorous parties and be a part of the London social whirl was a mystery.
He had hated that lifestyle. He’d never lied or pretended otherwise.
He was only thankful she’d at least gone ahead with the pregnancy. He couldn’t imagine his life without his two little scamps. Without them, his entire marriage would have been a waste-a waste of time, energy, and well…money. His ex-wife certainly enjoyed spending it!
“I’ll bring you your coffee, sir,” said Mrs. Reynolds as she entered. “They get up earlier and earlier every year, don’t they?”
“You’re telling me.” He shook his head. Lord, he needed caffeine!
“It’s Christmas, Mrs. R!” cried Andrew. “Are you going to open pressies with us this year?”
“Yes, dear, I will be in the parlour in a moment. Let me brew your father’s coffee first, though.”
The children grabbed his hands and began to tug him with all their might before he could protest.
“Alright! Let me plug in the tree, then we’ll go ahead. Why don’t you check the brandy and mince pie we left out for Father Christmas.”
They were still exclaiming over the bite of the mince pie and the lip prints on the glass of brandy when he took a seat on the floor to distribute the gifts. Who knew lip balm would be so helpful? On the advice of Mrs. R., it had even been mint flavoured.
His brilliant housekeeper and nanny entered shortly after with his coffee along with a cup of tea for herself.
As soon as he handed Andrew the first gift, the tornado of gift wrap and ribbon commenced and did not stop until every last present under the tree had been freed from its wrappings.
Thank heavens he’d taken some of the gifts to Jane and Charlie’s or they might have joined the carnage spread from one end of the room to the other.
“Daddy, can we go play?” Livvi picked up the new doll she’d just unwrapped with bright eyes.
“After you dressed to go to Uncle Charlie and Aunt Jane’s. We’re having sweet rolls before we open gifts there. Remember?”
Before the twins could protest, Mrs. R. shuffled the children to their rooms while he stared at the whirlwind of paper bits and toys strewn all over. “Mrs. R, make sure Livvi and Andrew help you clean up!”
As soon as everyone was dressed and the parlour tidied, Mrs. R. was off to spend the day with her own children while he and the twins drove to Netherfield to spend the day with Charlie and Jane Bingley and their two children.
They had only pulled in front of the house a minute before Jane opened the door while he helped the twins from the car.
“I’m so glad you decided to join us this year instead of going to Pemberley.
Gracie and Liam have been chuffed to bits to be able to play with their cousins today.
” When Livvi and Andrew rushed up the stairs, Jane shifted to the side and touseled each of their heads. “Liam is in the playroom.”
He sagged back against the car. “They were up at six.”
She laughed. “Yes, ours woke us at about the same time.” She rubbed her swollen belly as he approached and kissed her cheek. “And next year, we’ll have three waking us up. I can’t wait.”
“How are you feeling?” Caroline had complained non-stop by this point. She had moved out, but she left constant messages on his voicemail about the stretch marks, the swollen ankles and fingers, as well as other complaints he could do nothing about. If he didn’t respond, the texts would follow.
“Tired, but you don’t want to hear about my pregnancy woes.
” He could’ve laughed at the difference between the woman Charlie married and Charlie’s sister.
They were such extreme opposites. Jane rarely spoke of negatives.
After thirty years listening to Caroline, it was no wonder he proposed to Jane within four months of their first meeting.
With her usual serene smile, she ushered him into the house then into the parlour where he came to an abrupt halt.
“You remember my sister Lizzy, don’t you William?”
He nodded with a hard swallow. “I do, but it’s been a long time.” Gracie’s christening two years ago if he remembered right. “How are you?” If only he could forget that day. It had haunted him since.
“I’m well, thanks, and you?” She had changed so little, but if anything, she was more beautiful than the last time he saw her. He thought that every time he saw her, though.
“I’ve been well enough.” That much was true. Life as a single dad wasn’t boring, by any means. However, he did find it lonely at times.
Jane clasped her hands in front of her. “Lizzy is living in England again, and we are thrilled. Especially that she’ll be here for this little one’s birth.”
“You’re staying?” His tone was a bit high, but she’d been living in New York and working as a fashion photographer for as long as he’d known her. What about her career?
“Yes, several design houses here have asked me to work with them, and I saw it as the perfect opportunity to move home. I’ve missed my family, and I want to be around to spoil my nieces and nephews. I’ve already missed two of their births. I couldn’t miss another.”
Charlie clapped him on the shoulder. When had he entered?
“She has built a reputation as a go-to photographer these days,” said Charlie. “At this point, she can live anywhere she wants and still have work.”
“As long as it’s in some fashion centre.” Elizabeth held up a finger. “Not that I mind since London is on that list.”
He shifted on his feet; his hands shoved in his pockets. This was the awkwardest conversation ever! “How long have you been back?”
“I returned in September, two weeks before London Fashion Week.” Their gazes held before she couldn’t seem to maintain the connection.
Jane glanced between them for a moment. “She’s been staying in one of the guest houses until she finds a flat in London.”
“I don’t want to spend a small fortune for a property I don’t positively adore.”
“That’s understandable.” He had spoken low. All he could do was stare at her. How could she still affect him so? His tongue was like it was glued to the floor of his mouth.
“Charlie, why don’t you fetch the children to the kitchen for sweet rolls,” said Jane. “I’ll go get their plates ready.”