Chapter 3
PATIENT
The exuberance with which Georgiana embraced her brother’s impulsive desire to host a whole family of guests for Christmas both surprised and pleased him.
When he arrived at Darcy House on the sixteenth of December, two days before their guests were due to join them, he found his sister and Mrs Annesley in a meeting with their housekeeper, Mrs Gaines.
Once Darcy had finished properly greeting the ladies, Georgiana immediately invited him into their planning.
“It is my understanding from your letters that the Bennets are rather lively, and I hope I have arranged it so that we shall not lack for tradition or entertainment. Will they want to engage in the hanging of the greens, do you think? And shall we have music, and perhaps dancing? And do you think the younger daughters will wish to play some games like Snapdragon, or would it be unladylike of me to suggest it?” she asked breathlessly.
Darcy found himself chuckling. “All of that sounds delightful, dear one. Yes, you will find the younger sisters especially spirited, and you will not lack for amusements between yourselves. It has been a rather long time, I think, since you have been among young ladies your own age for a party, perhaps since you were at school. I hope the prospect pleases you and does not make you nervous.”
“I am certainly eager for them to enjoy themselves, and I wish to please Miss Bennet most of all since she is to become Mrs Bingley, the wife of your dearest friend.”
“Never fear, Miss Darcy,” said Mrs Annesley with gentle firmness. “You are preparing with as much thoughtful care for your guests as any kind and seasoned hostess. And with Mrs Gaines here to see to their comforts and to the delights at the table, you will not fail.”
Mrs Gaines responded to this praise with a modest smile for Mrs Annesley and a reassuring nod aimed towards her young mistress. “It will all be done well, Miss Darcy. You and the master may rest easy. However, I must beg your pardon to go and see to the next steps of our preparations.”
After Darcy dismissed their housekeeper, Mrs Annesley gave his sister a knowing grin and excused herself to the library.
Georgiana took the opportunity presented and turned to her brother curiously. “You have not written much of Miss Bennet’s character, aside from her sweet temper. What sort of lady is she? Is she much like her sisters?”
“Miss Jane Bennet is quite ladylike, and warm and kind. In that way she is much like her next sister in age, Miss Elizabeth.” Here, Darcy paused, tempted to expound upon what was fast becoming his favourite subject. He reminded himself that his sister had asked about the eldest Bennet sister only.
Georgiana had noticed his hesitation, however, and her curious expression bespake permission to continue.
“Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth have a very close sisterly bond, although their temperaments do differ,” he explained.
“Where Miss Bennet is somewhat reserved, Miss Elizabeth is open and expressive. Miss Bennet often smiles, but her sister more often laughs. You will like them both, I am sure of it, and they will certainly approve of you, Georgiana. There is nothing at all in them to fear.”
His sister let out a little breath. “I should have expected as much. Mr Bingley is such a kind man—I could not imagine him marrying anyone who was not equally as kind. And Miss Elizabeth, it seems, has easy, merry manners very much like Mr Bingley himself. I imagine that makes his companionship in some ways familiar and pleasing to Miss Bennet.”
“That is very astute,” said Darcy with some surprise. “I had not considered before now the similarity in the temperaments of Miss Elizabeth and Bingley, but you are in many ways correct.”
“I once believed that ‘opposites attract’, as they say, in the traits of happy couples. But I think holding to such an idea led me astray.” Here she looked away, clearly thinking of Wickham and his affable charms, so unlike her own quieter but truer kindness.
“Perhaps seeking the traits one already values in one’s closest friendships is the real path to happiness in the married state. ”
Darcy regarded her seriously for a moment, considering the merits of her argument. “When did you become so wise, my dear sister?”
“I have a wise elder brother,” she answered with a shy smile, “who selects excellent friends. Come, help me finish these arrangements so that we can give your guests our best hospitality.”
The guests began to arrive just as the first snowflakes settled in London. Georgiana had spotted their carriages approaching from a window above and had rushed to summon Darcy and Mrs Annesley.
Georgiana peeked through the curtains at the first carriage as it pulled forwards and revealed its passengers. “Oh,” she said in surprise. “Mr Bingley has handed out two young ladies. And there is an older gentleman with him—is that Mr Bennet?”
Mrs Annesley gently took Georgiana’s arm. “Come, my dear Miss Darcy. Let us not spy out of windows. Mr Bingley, I am sure, will present our guests to us very soon. Let us go and meet them in the vestibule.”
Darcy followed his sister, feeling no less eager but showing more restraint.
He had already surmised that Bingley had kindly offered his carriage to the Bennets as the necessary additional conveyance for their large family’s journey.
It was a generous gesture that spoke well of his friend and the care he extended to his beloved’s family.
In moments, Hainsbrook, the Darcys’ butler, had opened the great doors of the house, and his guests were shown inside.
While a maid and a footman stepped forwards to assist the Bennets with their outer clothing, Bingley briskly shook off his hat and greatcoat, smiled at his hosts, and looked around the vestibule.
His gaze was clearly admiring the greenery that Georgiana had draped along the banister of the great stairs and the inviting wreaths of holly and ivy placed around the tapered sconces.
“Ah! I see you have already begun the hanging of the greens,” he said with a smile, and turning to Georgiana, he bowed with a flourish. “Miss Darcy, you do me such honour and favour by hosting me and my betrothed and all her family in such a welcoming way.”
Darcy suppressed an affectionately amused grin as his sister immediately turned pink. She was never easy receiving praise, although Bingley was always equally ready to give it. As she stammered a modest response, Darcy extended his hand to his friend.
“You are very welcome here, Bingley. Thank you for bringing the Bennets with you,” he said warmly as they shook hands. Then more quietly, he observed, “I see that Miss Bingley has elected to stay with the Hursts.”
Bingley’s reply was equally soft. “As you so accurately predicted, Caroline was decidedly put out that our plans for Christmas at Pemberley had changed to an invitation to join with the Bennets in London. Whilst you may yet prevail upon her to dine with us here on Christmas Day, the idea of staying under the same roof—” Bingley’s face twisted into a frown as he waved the hand still holding his hat in a helpless gesture.
“I understand, and I am relieved for your sake that such tensions will not carry into your stay here at Darcy House,” Darcy affirmed, plucking the hat from his friend and handing it to a nearby footman. “Come, let us introduce the rest of our guests to my sister and her companion.”
When the ladies from the Bennets’ carriage entered not long afterwards, Darcy was pleased to see his housekeeper had prepared his servants well for the flurry of activity produced by receiving so many ladies in wraps at once.
His sister seemed less confident in their preparations.
Georgiana stood next to him nearly vibrating with anxiety as she oversaw their reception to the house.
She was rendered quite speechless by the chaos of pleased exclamations from several of the ladies, the gruff remarks from Mr Bennet, the shuffling of pelisses and greatcoats, and the jumbled bodies in travellers’ deshabille.
Thus Darcy took it upon himself to make introductions once most of the Bennets had gathered their bearings.
“Mr Bennet, Mrs Bennet, your family is very welcome to Darcy House,” he began, taking a bow. “May I introduce my sister, Miss Darcy, and her companion, Mrs Annesley, to you? They have been instrumental in planning our celebrations and have been eager to meet you.”
Once these introductions to the master and mistress of Longbourn were made, Darcy then tasked himself with remembering all the Bennet sisters’ names in quick succession.
Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth he introduced easily enough, and after a moment’s pause, he was able to correctly identify Miss Mary, Miss Catherine, and Miss Lydia to his sister.
The younger girls seemed a little awestruck in their new environs and were uncharacteristically quiet.
He was grateful to the eldest Miss Bennet and to Bingley, who entered their gathering with joyful energy at their reunion.
Buoyed by the warmth and delight suffusing their party, Georgiana regained her courage and invited them all into the salon for refreshments with a promise to show the ladies to their quarters above stairs once they had restored themselves with some victuals.
Tea, cakes, clusters of fruits and cheeses were indeed enough to return their younger guests to their liveliness, and in Miss Lydia’s case, her boldness.
“Miss Darcy, my sisters and I are so eager to see our rooms. Everything here is beautiful, rather like a museum, and I am beginning to doubt one could ever sleep here! Would you mind showing us now?” that young lady said enthusiastically, standing and brushing crumbs off her dress like a little child.