Pemberley Christmas #2
“Yes,” Darcy agreed. “That was always my parents’ tradition.
I believe it was my mother who began the practice of inviting the tenants to the estate to receive their Christmas baskets.
When she passed, my father and I carried it on.
Georgiana joined us from the last few years before Father’s death, but we have been little at Pemberley during Christmastide the last several years. ”
He paused for a moment, and then asked. “How have you liked preparing the baskets?”
Elizabeth’s smile faltered. “Truly, Fitzwilliam, I have had very little to do with them. Mrs. Reynolds had already obtained most of the items before I arrived, and they were largely assembled by the time I saw them. Other than looking them over, I have contributed very little this year.”
Darcy looked at her curiously, pondering her words. “And that troubles you, does it not?”
Elizabeth sighed, reluctant to admit her feelings.
“It is just… Pemberley already runs so well. Mrs. Reynolds has been in charge of the household since your mother’s death and, in many ways, has taken on the role of mistress.
I do not wish to circumvent her or replace her, but at times I am uncertain what my role ought to be as your wife. ”
“You are the mistress of the estate,” Darcy said gently. “Whatever duties you wish to take on are yours to claim. Do I need to speak with Mrs. Reynolds?”
“No, Fitzwilliam,” she said at once. “There is no need. It is not about her -it is about me. I need to determine for myself what it is I wish to do. I am certain that by next Christmas, I will have a clearer understanding of how I can be of the most help.”
Darcy slowed the horses further and turned to study his wife.
“You have that backwards, my love. It is the servants who are meant to assist you, not the other way around. It has long been our tradition for the tenants to come here to receive their Christmas boxes, and I doubt the contents of the baskets have changed much since my mother oversaw them. But as you grow more familiar with our tenants, you may come to notice needs that Mrs. Reynolds has overlooked.”
He paused for a moment before continuing, his tone thoughtful.
“Mrs. Reynolds is far too occupied with the management of the house to visit the tenants herself, and the weather since our arrival has been too bitter for me to call on them as I normally would. Once spring comes and the days grow milder, I will take you around to meet each tenant and see where they live. That way, you may begin making regular visits -if that is something you would like to do. I know you made such calls at Longbourn, so I assumed you might wish to continue the practice here.”
Elizabeth smiled and patted the hand that held hers.
“Of course I want to visit your, I mean our tenants,” she said, correcting herself.
“But what you say is true -I do not know them yet and have only met a few as we have encountered them on a ramble or in Lambton. Once I become better acquainted, then perhaps next year, when Mrs. Reynolds and I review the list of what is traditionally included in the baskets, I will have suggestions to make. I am certain the tenants’ needs have changed over the past fifteen years, and we may need to adjust based on the size and makeup of their families. ”
Darcy nodded. “Of course. My steward usually provides that information to Mrs. Reynolds, since he and his wife are the ones who typically visit the tenants. I know you have not yet met Mrs. Johnson, but you will soon enough. I believe she could be a friend to you. It will not be the same as with Jane, of course -her husband depends on Pemberley for his livelihood, so your friendship cannot be quite as open, but you will not feel as alone. Then in the new year, we might attempt to convince Bingley and Jane to come north and visit us.”
“I would love that,” Elizabeth replied with a warm smile. “They are welcome to stay as long as they like.”
She paused, then laughed softly. “In fact, I would be surprised if they last another twelvemonth at Netherfield. Even Jane has mentioned, albeit subtly, how often Mama is at the house. Her letters carry the faintest hints of frustration at Mama’s constant interference -making suggestions, often quite forcefully, even going so far as to speak directly to the housekeeper about changes she wanted made to some room or another.
When the housekeeper asked Jane about them, Jane told her quite firmly that Mama could not dictate the décor of any room and that she was to direct any request Mama makes to her. ”
Wryly, Elizabeth added. “Not that it has stopped Mama from trying. I do not believe either Jane or Charles has addressed the matter with her directly. But for Jane to express even the slightest annoyance means that most people would already be at their wits’ end.”
Darcy chuckled at the mention of his friend, adjusting the reins loosely in his gloved hands. “Charles, too, is far too eager to please. I was surprised he finally put his foot down with his sister after the scene she made at our wedding breakfast.”
Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief. “I was shocked at Miss Bingley’s behaviour that day as well, although, in truth, I suspect it was little better than she has ever demonstrated.”
“She waited until the toasts,” Darcy said, his mouth twitching. “And then, in front of everyone -my cousin, your parents, half of Hertfordshire- she said…” He trailed off, his voice lowering in mimicry, “‘Well, it appears that true love really is blind.’”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh. “And then she added, ‘But I suppose even the most refined gentlemen may, in time, develop a taste for simpler pleasures.’”
Darcy groaned. “She called you a simple pleasure.”
“I took it as a compliment,” Elizabeth said with a wicked smile. “Though I confess, I rather enjoyed how your hand tightened so sharply on your wine glass that I thought it might crack.”
“She was fortunate I had too much respect for your mother and Jane to cause a scene and give her the set down she deserves,” Darcy replied.
“Charles looked ready to sink into the floorboards until you spoke with him to tell him we were not upset, but that his sister needed to return to Netherfield immediately,” Elizabeth said with a grin. “Did I ever tell you how much I appreciated how you handled that?”
Darcy glanced sideways at her, a rueful smile on his lips. “You were utterly unbothered by her snipes, as always. And, yes, you thanked me adequately,” he replied with a smirk.
“I was too happy to care,” Elizabeth leaned a little closer, her voice warm, “and too amused by your outrage to let her spoil anything. Besides, the kiss you gave me later did far more to silence her than any words could have.”
Darcy’s smile turned fond. “That was not for her benefit.”
“I know,” she murmured, eyes bright, “but it was satisfying, nonetheless.”
With a grin, Darcy snapped the reins once again as he encouraged the horse into a quicker pace.
***
Once back at Pemberley, the couple changed into dry clothing while the servants brought in their bundles of greenery. Mrs. Reynolds, ever attentive, bustled in with a tray and insisted they each have a hot cup of tea to chase away the chill from spending so much time out of doors.
Darcy had scarcely finished his when Elizabeth, now warm and energetic once more, all but dragged him back down the stairs and into the small workroom where twine, scissors, and other supplies had been laid out in preparation.
“Again, Elizabeth,” Darcy said, surveying the array of tools and trimmings, “I am your willing assistant. What would you have me do?”
Together, they selected several branches of similar length, and Darcy held them steady as Elizabeth began to bind them into the rounded shape she envisioned.
Bits of mistletoe were added with care, followed by sprigs of holly, rosemary, and other leaves, and finally, they added a few carefully chosen ribbons -one a vibrant red.
When at last the bough was complete, Darcy held it aloft so they might admire their handiwork.
“Where shall we hang it?” Elizabeth asked, stepping back to view it from all angles.
Darcy turned to her with a glint in his eye. “Above our bed,” he said smoothly.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and a warm blush crept into her cheeks.
He grinned, entirely too pleased with himself. “It is the most strategic location for ensuring it is used frequently.”
Elizabeth shook her head, laughing softly as she took the bough from his hands.
“I will agree to our chambers, sir, but when this thing begins to wilt, then I do not want what will come from it in our sheets. You may hang it where you wish sir, but only if you behave yourself for the rest of the evening.”
“No promises, love,” he said, already reaching for the materials needed to hang the bough. “Come, we will find a place for it within our chambers.”
Elizabeth placed some additional greenery in a basket, and together the two made their way up the stairs to their rooms.
After agreeing to hang the kissing bough in their private sitting room, Darcy decided that the most fitting place was above the settee where they so often spent their evenings together after dinner.
The space was intimate and quiet and a favourite of both him and his wife.
Grinning to himself, he took the length of twine Elizabeth had neatly tied to the top of the bough, along with a tack, and carefully moved the settee aside to make room.
The servants had already brought up a sturdy ladder, which he positioned beneath the chosen spot.
Climbing it easily, he pressed the tack into the ceiling beam and secured the twine with a firm knot, allowing the bough to dangle at just the right height to place it within his reach to claim one of the many mistletoe berries the two had added to their creation.