Chapter Twenty-Three #3
Mr. Harrison permitted Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy time alone before he joined their party, offering each a gift of his appreciation.
The Darcys dined on a Christmas goose with chestnut stuffing, bread sauce, mince pies, and Christmas pudding eaten with sugar and cream.
The Yule Cake, soaked in ale and toasted, supplied the party with tradition.
Darcy appeared quite satisfied, and Elizabeth enjoyed watching him with his household.
He was not the same man she met at Meryton.
They snuck off to various rooms to share intimate moments.
During one such interlude, Darcy presented her with a necklace of small pearls.
“The pearls caress your neck so beautifully. Every time I look upon you it is as if I see you for the first time.”
“But the first time you saw me, my dear husband, you stated I was tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt you.” She kissed his neck.
“Mrs. Darcy, you once said I was the last man you could ever be prevailed on to marry.” He claimed her mouth with the rush they felt when together. “Can we not forget the past, Lizzy? There was nothing in my life before you agreed to be my wife.”
“May we remember our time at Pemberley in August?”
“I doubt I can ever forget you in the conservatory,” he whispered.
“Then let us save the good memories and leave the bad behind.”
The day of the tenant celebration arrived.
Elizabeth and Georgiana rushed about, overseeing last-minute details.
Excessive furnishings were removed from some of the public rooms, leaving only chairs and several small tables in each.
Cold meat, bread, pie, and cider were found in each of the rooms, displayed on tables covered by simple cloths, dishware, and centerpieces of pine cones and berry branches gathered from Pemberley’s grounds.
When the tenants first arrived, they stood to the side of the room barely speaking to anyone and not knowing what to expect, but Elizabeth and Georgiana moved from room to room, engaging each family in conversation.
Soon, more and more people gathered around, enjoying the food and the social time.
Elizabeth took delight in hearing her husband praised for his tenants’ concerns and his efforts on their behalf.
She learned of his spending two nights with the Lawford family, waiting for the passing of their mother, and how he rode into Lambton to purchase draughts for the little Damron girl when the child was sick.
Meanwhile, Darcy walked about the rooms, talking to the families and watching Elizabeth’s magic as she met each cluster of people.
When she took the children onto her lap, he fantasized about her holding their children.
She held a small baby while the mother claimed a plate of food, and he could not resist being by her side.
Emotions filling his reason. He came behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders for a few minutes before moving on.
As he did so, she smiled brilliantly at him and mouthed the words “I love you.”
Some of the men brought instruments, and impromptu dancing occurred, but generally the children played underfoot, rhythmically moving to the music.
Georgiana brought out the gifts the three women had made for the families—scarves, gloves, lace, ribbons, baby items—all decorated by his ladies for the extended Pemberley family.
More than one mother cried at seeing her children so happy with new things.
Darcy and Harrison watched all this from their corner of the largest room.
Harrison wondered aloud at the scene as it played out, making mental notes of how the celebration had shaped the opinions of Darcy’s tenants.
Darcy, usually miserable in large gatherings, took comfort in watching Elizabeth’s and Georgiana’s smiles.
Eventually, Mr. Howard sought out Darcy.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Howard?” Darcy shook his steward’s hand.
“It is a pleasant gathering.” The man hesitated before saying, “Mr. Darcy, if I may make an observation?” Darcy nodded his agreement.
“Your wife and sister have created more goodwill today than all my ministrations. I originally questioned your wisdom in involving Mrs. Darcy in the running of Pemberley, but it was a brilliant idea, sir. All I hear is how these people did not want to come to the manor house today.” The steward stopped suddenly, knowing he had said too much.
“Why not, Mr. Howard?” Darcy asked, unexpectedly curious.
“I do not wish to say anything which may appear inappropriate, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy assured, “I will take no offense, Howard. We have known each other for years. I trust your confidences to hold merit.”
“Your mother’s memory is precious to those who have been at Pemberley for years, but her reign is no more.
For all her generosity, Lady Anne maintained the social classes.
These people expected to be entertained in the barn and then sent home to their drafty houses and hard lives.
However, your wife opened your home to them.
They are calling her the mother of the land.
” Darcy found this reference amusing, but his eyes instinctively sought Elizabeth.
She interacted with the people in the room in the same manner in which he had admired her doing so in Hertfordshire.
Such was one of the reasons he fell in love with her.
He knew when he observed her there that he required her in his life.
“Lucas and Jefferson changed their minds, sir, about going to the city to look for work. They plan to remain on Pemberley lands. They credit Mrs. Darcy’s openness.
They still know their place, sir, but they also know someone cares about their futures.
They agreed to the four-crop rotation after all.
” Although Darcy watched only Elizabeth, Howard continued his observations.
“These people are not sophisticated, Mr. Darcy. They live their hard lives based on their beliefs and their traditions. Old Mrs. Fleming over there swears the mosaic art at the Tissington Well-Dressing this summer was your wife and sister.”
“Howard, you know I take no notice of such superstitions.”
“You may not, Mr. Darcy, but most of the people in this room do. Even good Protestants keep these deep-rooted heathenish superstitions. If you live in Derbyshire, you know one-third of Britain’s population died during the Black Plague while most Derbyshire villages escaped such devastation.
If you ask the locals, the well-dressing celebrations with the blessing of the villages’ waters were the reason we were spared, just as with the plagues of Egypt, we were passed over.
The Tissington mosaic is of two women in a field of wheat and barley.
They are dressed in green and brown. Look at what Mrs. Darcy wears.
Your wife represents the emerald green valleys of Pemberley in the early spring, and your sister is the brown earth hues.
They epitomize the changes coming to Pemberley, but they also show these people who profess loyalty to your family that the land will always be here.
Mr. Darcy, you have chosen well. Very well, sir. ”
Darcy listened intently, never removing his eyes from Elizabeth.
“Thank you, Mr. Howard, for your observations. Enjoy your evening.” He urgently wanted to be near Elizabeth.
It was important to tell his wife how much he appreciated her.
Darcy caught her about the waist. “Have I told you this afternoon how very beautiful you look, Elizabeth?”
She smiled up at him tenderly, and her eyes sparkled with delight. “Do you not think the green is too bright? I wanted a more leafy forest green, but the dye did not take as well as I had wished.”
“Yes, it did, my dear. Mr. Howard says the people relate it to the green valleys of Pemberley in the spring.” He whispered in her ear.
Glee overtook her expression. “Then it worked. Georgiana’s brown velvet is the rich land, and I am the life springing from it.
It was a silly ploy—an idea sprung from a tale Hannah related last summer when I stayed at the Royal Crown about maids in the field bringing good fortune—but I hoped it would create a mood. ”
“And from where, may I ask, did you learn such devious manipulations, Mrs. Darcy?” His smile portrayed his bemusement.
“From the master, my love—from you.” She smiled generously, and he tapped her chin with his index finger before moving on. He found Harrison still staring at the proceedings.
“Mr. Darcy, you are blessed with two very progressive thinking women in your household.”
“Some would not call progressive thinking in a woman a blessing, Harrison.”
“Then, they would be the foolish ones, Darcy. Look how well they have orchestrated this evening. People are happy. They praise your family as caring landowners: They praise you, sir, for your attention to the land and your wife and sister for their attention to the people. This is a lesson I wish to replicate at Hines Park. It is amazing how something so simple may be so ingenious.”
“My Elizabeth changed me, Harrison. She has presented Georgiana a voice, and now she weaves her magic over my ancestral home. You are correct, sir, I am blessed.”
Elizabeth approached, “Come, Darcy, we must bid our guests farewell. You know everyone. It will assist me in learning their names if I hear you speak to them as they leave. Mr. Harrison, would you consider assisting Georgiana with the baskets to be given to each family?”
“Gladly, Mrs. Darcy.” He moved past her to find Georgiana in the hallway.
“What is in the basket, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked, curious as to what she thought the people required.
“The basket is your sister’s idea. It has some cold meat, bread, a few potatoes, corn, candy, and some tea.
She even added a candle and a branch of consecrated mistletoe to proclaim in each dwelling a blessed year, and I should not forget a slice of our family’s Christmas plum cake to be shared on New Year’s for good fortune.
Georgiana wished for everyone to have a good meal on New Year’s.
She has a very generous nature, William. ”
As each family departed, Darcy and Elizabeth spoke to them, wishing them a blessed New Year’s and Twelfth Night, and then Georgiana and Mr. Harrison presented them a gift of fresh food so all would have a filling meal to start the new month and year.
“Elizabeth,” Darcy whispered in between families, “I erred. My mother was not perfection. You are, my Lizzy.”
“Then I pleased you?” she teased and reached up to caress his cheek.
“Our matrimonial felicity, I may assure you, Mrs. Darcy, is guaranteed. By the way, the green accents your eyes.”
“Yellow is my preferred color, sir, as well you know, but the green is a nice alternative.” She squeezed his hand before greeting the next family.
As they ascended the staircase that evening, they were both very satisfied with the day.
“I will be happy to greet our guests tomorrow, William. I miss Jane’s company desperately, but if I have my way, we will not see much of her or Mr. Bingley for the first few days.
I know it is devious, but I gave them rooms secluded from the rest of the party.
I want Jane and Mr. Bingley to find time for each other. ”
“Who says they did not do so previously, Elizabeth?”
“William, they truly have more affable natures than do we. They have tended to Mr. Bingley’s sisters and Mr. Hurst, as well as my mother and sisters.
Could you imagine our distress if we were at Netherfield?
” Darcy rolled his eyes; the image of having so many unwelcomed people about would easily have had him more than a bit irritable.
He thought he would likely resort to removing them physically from his home.
“If it is up to me, we will not see them for at least eight and forty hours,” Elizabeth remarked.
“My sister’s romantic nature is influencing you, Mrs. Darcy.” He laughed at her feigned innocence.
Elizabeth attempted a happy face, but he noted that she was, obviously, wearier than expected. She sagged against Darcy as they climbed the stairs. “Are you not well, Elizabeth?”
“I am just a bit overdone, my love.” She pushed her hair from her face and fanned herself. “Something I ate has not set well. No more concern.”
“I will not have you wearing your energies so thin, Elizabeth. You do too much.” He picked her up to carry her to their room.
Enjoying a renewal of his attention to her health and well-being, she whispered, “I will reduce my duties, William. I promise. After New Year’s, you, my love, may control my schedule.”
“Elizabeth, I will hold you to that promise.”
“My fate has been yours, William, for so many months. I cannot remember a time when there was no Fitzwilliam Darcy in my life.” She kissed him passionately, and then she sank against him.
“Tonight, you sleep in my arms, and I do mean sleep.”
“Yes, William, I require sleep.”