Hertfordshire Christmas #4
“He will run if his life becomes inconvenient,” Darcy replied. “Such measures will resolve matters here, but leave him free to do the same somewhere else. I have purchased many of his debts…” He trailed off, guilt gnawing at him.
“You wonder whether you ought to use them?” she guessed. “I suppose that remains to be seen.”
Darcy and Elizabeth spent the rest of their time gathering greenery speaking more openly than they had before.
He enjoyed their time together, and could tell Elizabeth did, too.
Cold and weary, they returned to Longbourn.
Darcy sat next to his beloved, drinking tea and eating biscuits.
Though the beverage helped warm him, it was the lady’s consent to a courtship that truly drove away the chill.
***
25th December 1811, Longbourn
ELIZABETH
Longbourn had never looked lovelier on Christmas than it did that year.
Elizabeth wondered if her budding feelings for Mr. Darcy were the cause, or if Mrs. Bennet’s lack of nerves helped the day flow smoother.
Whatever it was, she had no cause to repine.
The gentlemen from Netherfield had been invited to spend the entire day with the Bennet family, and Elizabeth eagerly looked forward to speaking privately with Mr. Darcy.
After supper, they retired to the drawing room for parlor games.
Kitty had heard of a delightful game called ‘The Minister’s Cat’, and asked to teach it to the party.
They began with the letter ‘A’, chanting ‘the ministers cat is an angelic cat,’ or using some other descriptor beginning with that letter until someone lost the rhythm or could not think of another word.
It proved to be a delightful game, and everyone laughed as each person lost the round.
Darcy and Elizabeth were the last two, and they battled brilliantly with the letter ‘M’ until the latter finally stumbled.
“I was about to say malevolent!” she protested, laughing loudly.
“Good show, Miss Elizabeth!” Bingley cried. “What a wonderful game. We shall have to play it every year.” He shared an amorous look with Jane, whose cheeks pinked in return.
As Mary played carols quietly in the background, Darcy pulled Elizabeth aside.
“I have a present for you,” he murmured.
They were in the corner a little removed from the others.
“I do not know if it is part of your family traditions, but we have always exchanged gifts -Georgiana and I.” He pulled a wrapped parcel from his pocket and offered it to her.
“I saw it in a shop in Meryton and thought of you.”
Elizabeth pulled on the twine and removed the paper.
Inside was a small wooden box. The top was engraved with flowers and birds -exactly what she loved most. Carefully, she opened the lid.
The mechanical works inside began to play Greensleeves, one of Elizabeth's favorite songs.
“Oh,” she breathed. “This is lovely. It must have cost a fortune!
I have only seen them in my uncle's warehouse.”
“I would give you the world, Elizabeth.” Mr. Darcy’s stare penetrated her soul, and she returned it with equal fervor.
As she looked up into his eyes, she noticed the kissing bough above their heads.
He followed her gaze, and a slow smile spread across his face.
His hand came up and cupped her cheek. Elizabeth's eyes fluttered closed as his lips descended and met hers.
Ecstatic, she quickly lost track of everything else around them as Mr. Darcy kissed her. The music box stayed in her hands, pressed between them. When they broke apart, she immediately felt the loss and wished it would have lasted forever.
“But he does not like her!” Mrs. Bennet's slightly slurred voice reached them, and Elizabeth turned, noting that every other guest now looked in their direction. Darcy reached up and plucked a berry from the bough, handing it to Elizabeth.
“I assure you, madam, my feelings are quite the opposite.” He turned back to Elizabeth, his affection for her obvious in his gaze.
“He apologized, Mama,” Elizabeth said, her voice sounding strangled. She loved him! She knew it in an instant, all doubts and dislike banished.
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. He raised an eyebrow and gestured to the door. “If the pair of you would oblige me,” He left the room without waiting to see if they would follow.
Mr. Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm. She took it, and together they left the parlor to speak with Mr. Bennet.
***
1st January 1812
The news that Mr. Darcy had proposed to Miss Elizabeth Bennet came as a surprise to most of the residents of Meryton.
No one had seen his growing regard as he had worked to improve their opinion of him.
Matrons and gentlemen alike attributed his lack of preference for others to his growing ardor for the second Bennet daughter.
Mr. Darcy wrote a letter to Mr. Silas King, Miss Mary King’s uncle.
He whisked her away to Liverpool, thus protecting her from Mr. Wickham.
Merchants in Meryton realized how many debts the militiaman had run up and cut off his credit until they were all paid.
Colonel Forster did not appreciate his officer’s attempts at deflection when asked if he could fulfil his obligations and made arrangements to have Mr. Wickham transferred to the regulars, thus making the debts Darcy held unnecessary.
Wickham's unit was sent to Canada, and no one ever saw him again.
Darcy and Elizabeth enjoyed their engagement to the fullest. They continued to grow closer, learning more about each other with each passing day.
With Wickham gone, Darcy felt comfortable having his sister come to Hertfordshire.
Bingley insisted he extend an invitation to all his family, and in consequence, Lord and Lady Matlock, the heir, Viscount Bramsley, and their younger son, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam came to stay.
They loved Elizabeth immediately, thus putting to rest Darcy’s fears his family would disapprove.
Lady Catherine learned of the engagement through Mr. Collins as he returned to Hertfordshire to marry Miss Lucas.
She descended upon the residents of Netherfield Park, intending to make her sentiments known, only to find her brother there and in full support of Darcy and his intended.
Her protestations turned to blustering before fading into nothing.
Hopes for a marriage between Pemberley’s heir and that of Rosings Park dashed, she instead pushed ahead with the intention of engaging her daughter to Bramsley or Colonel Fitzwilliam.
The former refused, for he had lately asked another for a courtship.
The latter had no such qualms, and declared he would happily propose to his cousin, Miss de Bourgh, if that was what she wished.
Darcy and Elizabeth watched it all with hardly a care. They had their love and their happy ending, found during one Hertfordshire Christmas.