Chapter 4
BOLD
The merriment increased over the coming days, rising to a crescendo of delights on Christmas Eve.
The ladies cheerfully finished fashioning and hanging up the greens, and Bingley himself oversaw the efficient placement of the ball of mistletoe, making the youngest ladies giggle and Miss Bennet blush prettily.
After their party dined together that evening, nobody looked askance when Bingley suggested they take advantage of the festive atmosphere by dancing, and Miss Mary and Georgiana immediately offered their services to play the music in turns.
Darcy, as their host, led his younger sister to open the dancing, and her usual shyness in such a display made no appearance as both tacitly acknowledged that this dance was more for the benefit of the happy couple in their midst than an act of their own hospitality.
Indeed, Darcy could only applaud the way Bingley used every opportunity to openly admire and even flirt with his intended bride, leaving her in no doubt of his affections at every turn of the dance.
When Bingley then led her away to refill her cup and conveniently stepped beneath the mistletoe to steal a kiss, there were winks and sighs but not one raised eyebrow among their party.
All were too well-pleased by the happiness of the match and the liveliness of the day’s events.
Even Darcy, who prided himself on his correct comportment, could only feel a strange gratitude to Bingley for setting the tone of the evening’s proceedings. It made it all too easy to ask for Elizabeth’s hand in dancing the next, and to receive her warm acceptance.
Perhaps it was some effect of the evening’s high spirits, but Darcy could swear her eyes were sparkling up at him as he turned her through the figures of their set.
He caught himself smiling at her as something like hope kindled in his chest. This was nothing like the uncomfortable tension of their last dance at Netherfield.
Both had been cautious of each other that night: she had been strangely anxious to examine him with impertinent questions, and he had been rigid with perplexed affront at her inspection and suspicious of her feelings towards Wickham.
Here, there was no occasion for suspicion or anxiety, only for the pleasure of moving through the dance together in a room made bright by warm company and happy celebration. It was enough to embolden him to speak.
“I hope you have enjoyed the day’s events as much as I,” he offered, glad when Elizabeth’s smile answered his hidden query.
“How could I not? You and your sister have ensured us every comfort and delight. Indeed, sir, I am surprised at how very at home we have made ourselves here,” she replied.
Her eyes searched his. “I hope my sisters’ exuberance has not been too trying.
For I fear more is to come. If they hold to Longbourn’s traditions of this particular night, they may continue to amuse themselves until a very late hour. ”
Darcy guided Elizabeth through the turn in the figure of their dance and answered easily, “That is similar to our tradition as well. I assure you, my sister especially has enjoyed the additional company of young ladies so near her in age.” Here, he glanced at Georgiana, who was now playing the pianoforte with evident fervour, even swaying to her own music.
“She also spoke very highly of your aunt, whom she met on Thursday last during your visit to the shops. I believe she wished to preserve a Longbourn tradition by inviting the Gardiners to dine with us for Christmas tomorrow.”
He was gratified to see Elizabeth grin in what appeared to be real pleasure, even pausing to work through some emotion before she responded, “Your sister is all kindness. As are you. I believe Mr and Mrs Gardiner are honoured by your invitation and delighted by your thoughtfulness towards their children. I would miss them very much if I did not have an opportunity to enjoy their company at Christmas dinner this year.”
Darcy struggled for words around the surge of warmth he felt at her sincerity and unexpected praise.
Finally, he managed to reply in equal frankness, “Georgiana’s childhood seems very recent to me in some ways, but too long ago in a strange sense.
It ended quite abruptly for her when my father died.
She was not yet twelve years old. It has been many years since Darcy House has had the happy occasion to host children for dinner and amusements on Christmas Day. ”
Elizabeth’s figure circled him in the dance until a turn brought her round to face him again.
Her eyes shone with that same warmth he had seen before, which left him breathless.
“Then, sir, I hope we may evoke happier times for her with all our noisy company,” she said, her words barely audible over the music.
The compassion in her voice was almost too much.
He swallowed back a knot of gratitude. His conviction in the genuine goodness of Elizabeth’s heart made him wonder why he had not trusted her before with the other great source of distress in Georgiana’s life: Wickham’s deception.
He was tempted to tell her—but not here, not now.
For the moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the dance and to permit his heart at last to revel in the soft and full sensation that came with the knowledge that he loved Elizabeth—and to hope that her heart was similarly touched.
All too soon the set finished, and Darcy led her towards the table laden with refreshments where her other sisters now gathered to recover from their exertions.
“La, that is enough dancing for now!” Miss Lydia declared in a voice loud enough to engage the whole room. “Jolly fun that it has been, after such a dinner, I cannot catch my breath enough to enjoy it!”
Beside Darcy, Elizabeth stiffened, but Georgiana rose from the pianoforte with alacrity and regarded her friend with an indulgent grin. “We might play Snapdragon instead,” she suggested.
Miss Lydia looked thoughtful and glanced about the room to take in the expressions of the other members of the party.
While all the young ladies looked eager enough to engage in such an activity, Mr Bennet and Mrs Bennet were already beginning to drift into a relaxed satiety, blinking at their daughters’ antics from the sofa.
Mr Bennet yawned and said, “I cannot object to any amusements meant for you young people. However, I have had enough of brandy and fire. I believe I must seek my bed. And dear Mrs Bennet looks to be in a similar state.”
Mrs Bennet looked for a moment as though she might object to being thus described, but she shook herself and nodded regretfully. “Indeed, Mr Bennet, if my nerves are to withstand tomorrow’s company and activity, I believe I must retire as well.”
She stood and curtseyed unsteadily, saying in a diminished voice, “Good night, Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, Mrs Annesley. Goodnight, dear Mr Bingley and Jane.” She took Mr Bennet’s arm, letting her other hand drift to stroke across Miss Lydia and Miss Catherine’s shoulders as her gaze took in her other children. “Goodnight, all my dear ones.”
Once their parents had quit the room, the younger ladies began to whisper together earnestly, punctuated by some giggles. Darcy raised an eyebrow curiously at Elizabeth, who offered only a delicate shrug and a grin as she edged into their midst to glean their conversation.
“With costumes?” Darcy heard her say in a surprised tone.
Darcy’s interest grew until he could no longer keep his place. When he approached the group, his own sister looked up at him with a mischievous smile that made him catch his breath. He had not seen her so animated in many years.
“Brother, we ladies wish to try our hand at play-acting,” she announced. “Unfortunately, I am afraid we have left our copy of Twelfth Night, which is most suited to the Festive Season, at Pemberley. Can you think of a play in your collection here that might suit our cast of actors?”