Chapter 1 #2
“Mama, I am growing older with each passing day. You must not think of me as a child. Da says I am old enough to begin private tutoring lessons. In fact, my lessons commence in January.”
“I suppose you are correct. Do you remember Mr. Collins?”
The answer to her question etched across his face. “The evil—sorry, Meleagant?”
“Meleagant? Is that how you refer to Mr. Collins?”
Ben nodded. “Indeed.”
“But you were about to say, the evil Meleagant, were you not? Is that how you imagine Mr. Collins?”
“In the beginning of our acquaintance, I did. I have since considered he is not evil at all.”
“What brought about the change in attitude?”
“Da told me that I must respect him, on the chance he might become my stepfather. He said Mr. Collins was a good father, admired by Gillian and Emily, and therefore a good man.”
“Fitzwilliam told you all that?” Will wonders never cease? To this day, he has nary a good thing to say about the gentleman; not that I blame him. “With such being the case, why do you refer to Mr. Collins as Meleagant, still?”
“I prefer to keep my options open where he is concerned.”
“Ben, the reason I bring him up at all is that there is something you should know as regards Mr. Collins.”
“There is?”
“Yes, there is. Ben, your aunt Jane and Mr. Collins are married. He is your uncle.”
“Oh! I am aware of that already.”
Elizabeth decided not to press. She supposed Fitzwilliam must have told Ben of this.
“Indeed. How do you feel in having Mr. Collins as your uncle?”
“Better he is my uncle than my stepfather!”
Next, Ben went in search of Darcy’s cousin Anne, and he found her in the east parlour. “Good day, my lady.” Ben bowed before Anne who sat in a chair next to the window overlooking Pemberley’s maze garden.
“Good day, young sir. How was your riding lesson, this morning?”
“I did not have a lesson this morning?”
“Oh! Why ever not?”
“Da gave me permission to forego my lesson. I am on an important mission.”
“Would this important mission have anything to do with the Knights of the Roundtable? Are you off to wage war against your foes or rescue a fair maiden in distress?”
Ben tucked his hands behind his back. “Perhaps.”
“Do not keep me in suspense. Which is it?”
“I shall not say.”
“Then what say you? Is there a purpose to this visit?”
“Indeed. Da gave me an account of his fondest memories of Christmas this morning, which causes me to wonder—”
“—Wonder what?”
“You and Da are cousins; you and the colonel are cousins. Did you also spend Christmas in Matlock when you were a young girl?”
Anne smiled. “Indeed, I did. But mind you, Fitzwilliam and Richard tended to avoid me like the plague when we were small children. However, after Grandfather and Grandmother Fitzwilliam passed away, family Christmases were spent at Pemberley, at least whilst Lady Anne lived.”
“Lady Anne?”
“Yes, Fitzwilliam’s mother.”
“I never knew you were Da’s mother’s namesake!”
“Indeed. My mother loved her sister dearly.”
“Do you miss Lady Anne?”
“Indeed. I miss her very much, especially at Christmastime. After my grandparents’ passing, she made sure that Christmas at Pemberley was everything it had been at Matlock. As children, our joy knew no difference.”
“Did Lady Anne and your mother have much in common?”
“My mother?”
“Yes, the great lady at Camelot. I remember her well.”
Anne chuckled. “My mother sees to it that she is hard to forget. She is as different from Lady Anne as night is from day.”
“I like your mother. She asks too many questions; however, I do not mind. She speaks fondly of my Grandmother Carlton.”
“That is correct. My mother and your grandmother were friends when they knew each other years ago. I am sorry for your loss. You have suffered much for a child so young.”
“Thank you, Miss Anne. Though I never met my Grandmother Carlton, I am sure I would have loved her. I do miss the thought of her.”
“Thank God you have a mother who loves you more than anything on this earth.”
“And what of your mother? Do you miss her?”
“I suppose I do. Though, I am quite certain she is upset with me for choosing to live here at Pemberley rather than returning to Rosings Park.”
“I wager she misses you even so.”
Satisfied with the fruits of his efforts thus far, the young lad headed off in search of the person whom he knew would further aid him in his quest. “There you are, Ben! I have been searching all over for you. I even spoke to Samuel to ascertain your whereabouts. He said you missed your riding lesson this morning.”
“I am glad you found me, Aunt Georgiana. I am on a special mission. I must a have a word with you.”
“Certainly. In fact, we might both be of use to each other.”
“How might I help you, my lady?”
“I am about to begin my afternoon practice on the pianoforte. I thought you might join me and turn the pages.”
“I should like that very much.”
“Capital! How might I assist you?”
“I am gathering fond Christmas memories. I have so few of my own and with Christmas just around the corner…” Ben’s voice trailed off.
“I am sorry to hear you have so little recollection of past Christmases. I am older than you by twelve years, and, sadly enough, I can admit to having very few fond Christmas memories myself.”
“But Miss Anne said Lady Anne did everything in her power to make Christmas here at Pemberley special.”
Georgiana sat on the settee and took Ben’s hand in hers. “Ben, I never truly knew my mother. She passed away soon after my birth.”
Ben’s wide eyes filled with tears. “I am sorry, Aunt Georgiana.”
“You are very kind.” She read the pain in his eyes. “I am sorry to convey such sad tidings.”
“Indeed. I am saddened to hear you never knew your mother. I never knew my father.”
“Yes, I know. We have both suffered great losses. Thank God we have people who love us; who help in keeping us strong and looking forward, rather than regretting our pasts.”
The two wiped each other’s tears away before sharing a long embrace.
“I say that is quite enough of that, what say you?” Georgiana asked.
She wiped any remaining tears from her eyes, stood, and offered her hand to Ben.
They resumed their walk to the music room in silence.
Upon their arrival, the bright, shining sun that bathed the room immediately revived their spirits.
“Aunt Georgiana, about my mission—”
“—Yes, Ben.”
“I need your help.”
Hours later, Georgiana and Ben sat across from each other at the table.
“Your scheme is most agreeable and I shall do everything I can to help you bring it to fruition. With that said, I urge you not to expect too much. It is rather late in the year to take on such an endeavour.” Georgiana perused the list of names she and Ben had compiled.
“Many of our desired guests will have already settled on their plans for Christmas, by now.”
“I should not be surprised if our relations are agreeable to changing their plans. Who would forego a chance to visit Pemberley? It is magical here!”
“Of course you are correct, Ben. Pemberley is indeed magical, especially now that you are here.” She placed the tip of her dainty finger atop his nose.
“Let us embark on our letter-writing campaign. Mind you, this is an arduous undertaking. The first order of business is to recruit additional resources to carry out the tasks.”
“Who do you have in mind? I mean for this to be a surprise for Mama and Da!”
“Yes, I understand. Your father and mother must not know what we are about. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to rally only those we can trust to maintain this confidence. I am thinking of Mrs. Reynolds. I am sure she can be trusted; do you not agree?”
“I agree.”
“Then let us proceed.”