Pemberley Christmas
Melissa Anne
Entering the library, Elizabeth Darcy quickly spotted her prey.
There, seated before the fireplace, was her husband.
That he had a book in his hand was likely the only reason he did not immediately notice her -well that, and the fact that she had entered quietly on slippered feet, hoping to catch him unawares.
She crept closer until she stood beside him. Then, with a mischievous grin, she playfully snatched the book from his hand and settled herself in its place.
“Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, a teasing glint in her eyes, “just the man I wished to see this fine morning.”
“A fine morning, is it, Mrs. Darcy?” he replied, glancing towards the tall windows on the opposite wall that framed a sky the colour of pewter. Though the panes had been well fitted to keep out the cold, frost still lingered at the corners.
“It is indeed,” she said, “for it is Christmas Eve, and, as this is to be our first as a married couple, I had hoped we might venture out and cut some greenery ourselves. I would like to make a kissing bough, and of course -we must have mistletoe.”
“Must we, my dear wife?” Darcy murmured, brushing a trail of light kisses along her jaw, drawing a soft giggle from her.
“Why brave the cold, when we could stay here by the fire? You are no longer a maiden in need of mistletoe to steal a kiss from her suitor. It is not as though you need to worry about not marrying in the new year,” he teased.
“Perhaps not,” Elizabeth admitted, her smile softening, “but it was tradition in my family to gather our own greenery that we used to decorate the house. I know the staff has collected plenty already, but I would like to do a bit ourselves -especially to decorate our chambers.”
Her tone grew more serious as she spoke, and she dropped her gaze to her hands. She did not quite dare meet his eyes, perhaps fearing his response.
Two months into their marriage, Elizabeth felt oddly superfluous at her new home. Though it had long been without a mistress, Pemberley still ran like clockwork. Mrs. Reynolds welcomed her involvement, but there was little that required her hand.
Not only that, but she missed her family and the chaos and chatter of Longbourn. A walk in the woods, cold though it might be, offered a small taste of home, especially as she prepared for a holiday without the company of her family.
Darcy seemed to understand. He lifted her chin gently until their eyes met. “You truly wish to leave the warmth of Pemberley to cut branches in the snow -for a kissing bough?” he asked with a raised brow.
“I do,” she said, her teasing note returning. “You know how I love the outdoors, and it has been days since I ventured out. In spring, I suppose I must yield to your insistence that I improve my riding. For now, I prefer to go where our feet will take us.”
Darcy smiled. “It is quite a walk to get to the woods. Since there is snow, I will have a small sleigh prepared. We will still be by ourselves, but it will make the task of carrying back your greenery easier, as I quite expect you will want more than a little.”
“You know me so well, already, husband?” she taunted him, her face lighting up as she attempted to rise to prepare for their outing.
But her husband did not release her immediately, restraining her so that she could not rise from where she sat on his lap.
“Not so fast, my dear,” he said, his voice low and laced with mischief.
“If you insist on dragging me out into the cold, then it is only fair we warm ourselves... most thoroughly... before we go.”
Whatever protest she might have made was lost as his lips found hers. It was well over an hour before they actually started preparing for their outing to the woods.
***
Soon enough, they were settled comfortably in the small sleigh, their legs covered with thick woolen rugs and warm bricks tucked at their feet.
Both were bundled against the cold, and Elizabeth was at last wearing the fur-lined witzchoura her husband had insisted she purchase in London shortly after their wedding.
At the time, she had deemed it a needless extravagance -but now, wrapped in its luxurious warmth, she was thoroughly grateful for his insistence.
As they glided across the snow-blanketed park, Elizabeth leaned a little closer, savoring the much-missed pleasure of spending time in nature with her love.
Since their arrival at Pemberley earlier in the month, they had spent a great deal of time together, though much of it had been indoors -within the intimacy of their chambers or in a few select rooms of the house.
During their engagement, most of their private conversations had taken place out of doors, stolen moments on long walks through the Hertfordshire countryside.
Now that privacy was theirs without subterfuge, they passed many hours reading together in the library, or with Elizabeth reading quietly in Darcy’s study while he worked.
After their wedding in Hertfordshire, they had travelled to London, spending the first week almost entirely within Darcy House. Gradually, they began venturing out -first to visit the modiste, then the cobbler and the furrier, before attending several social engagements as required by Lady Matlock.
Though Lord and Lady Matlock had initially been disappointed that their nephew had not formed the exalted match they had long envisioned, their doubts faded swiftly upon meeting Elizabeth.
It had taken little time for them to recognise her keen mind, her quiet wit, and the gentle yet undeniable influence she had on their nephew.
She challenged him, encouraged him to be more open, and for that, they came not only to approve of the match -but to be wholly pleased by it.
Yet not long after their arrival in Derbyshire, a sudden cold snap had driven them indoors, confining many of their first days at Pemberley to the hearth rather than the grounds.
This was Elizabeth’s first foray beyond the Park, certainly since her visit last summer, and she was delighted by what she saw.
Darcy leaned down towards her, “Are you well, my dear?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied hastily, looking up at him with a beatific smile. “Pemberley appears so very different with the snow all over the ground than it did this past summer. I look forward to experiencing all the seasons here and determining for myself which is my favourite.”
Darcy returned her smile and subtly drew his arm closer to his side, gently pressing Elizabeth’s hand that encircled his arm. “Ahh, I have found the downside to driving ourselves on this occasion. I cannot kiss you as I wish to do when I have to focus my attention on the path in front of us.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly at his jest, but it was not the same bright laughter she normally bestowed upon him.
“Truly, Elizabeth, are you well?” he asked again. “You are happy here at Pemberley, are you not?”
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“I am very happy, Fitzwilliam, but I confess that I do miss my family. My Aunt and Uncle Gardiner have likely arrived at Longbourn by now, and they intended to bring the children this year, since they are now old enough to make the journey. Pemberley is lovely, but with Georgiana visiting Matlock right now…” Elizabeth sighed, uncertain how to continue her thought without offending him.
“As much as I enjoy time with you, my love, I miss my sisters,” she finally blurted. “Mostly I miss Jane. In some ways, you have taken her place, and although I love you very much, it is just not the same.”
Darcy laughed, momentarily moving both reins into one hand so he might place the other on top of Elizabeth’s.
“My love, I do understand,” he replied. “I may not have been as social a creature as you, but I also enjoy spending time with Bingley and the colonel. We have been rather isolated here since we arrived, and with it being Christmastide, there will be few gatherings. Some of the ladies of the neighbourhood would have called on you sooner, but I believe this weather has prevented many of their visits.”
Elizabeth nodded distractedly as she pressed her hand into his. A moment later, he released her hand as they arrived nearer to the wooded area where she wished to obtain her branches.
“Here we are,” he said, extricating himself from the warm layers and stepping down. He helped her from the sleigh, retrieving the shears and basket they had brought for the outing. “Point out what you like, and I shall cut it for you. I am your humble servant, madam.”
She laughed, more brightly this time, and began directing him towards a patch of holly.
***
For the next half hour, they worked in cheerful companionship, Darcy clipping branches and greenery as Elizabeth selected what she wished to bring home. By the end, they had gathered an impressive assortment, including the mistletoe and clusters of bright red holly berries Elizabeth had requested.
Pleased with their haul, they climbed back into the sleigh and began the journey back towards Pemberley. With the added weight of the branches, Darcy took the return trip more slowly, allowing them to converse more easily than they had during their earlier ride into the woods.
“Elizabeth,” he began, “you said earlier that you miss your family. While I know nothing can replace your sisters -particularly Jane- is there anything I can do to help Pemberley feel more like your home?”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam,” she said quickly, “thank you. I did not mean to make you think I do not feel at home here. It is just… with the holiday, I find myself missing my family more than usual. I know that the day after tomorrow -on Boxing Day- your tenants will all come up to the main estate and we will hand out gifts to the families and children,” she continued.
“Given the size of Pemberley, it would have been difficult to visit each household individually. I love this idea of having them come to us instead.”