Chapter 21. Preparations for Visitors
Early in the morning, William was in the family dining room breaking his fast when Georgiana rushed into the room, came to his side and kissed his cheek.
“Good morning brother!”
Smiling–something rarely seen on the face of the stern and busy ‘Mr Darcy’ in recent weeks, he reached up and took her hand.
“Good morning, Georgie. What notion has you so animated this early in the morning?”
“I have decided what I should like for Christmas.”
Surprise on his face, William asked, “And what is that?”
Taking a deep breath, she answered, “I should very much like to send gifts to the Bennet family.”
Now she hurried with her reasoning as she saw her brother thinking. “You said we cannot travel to Hertfordshire for Christmas and Christmas is a very important time for the Bennets. Please brother.”
“We have had three Christmases at Longbourn, and we shall miss this year,” he agreed. “It is only suitable that we send gifts.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” she squealed.
“Now, what kinds of gifts are you thinking?”
“May I go to Barnes in Lambton to find gifts?”
“I shall go with you immediately following a visit from the Pemberley steward this morning.”
“I shall...”
“First break your fast with an appropriate meal,” William directed. Georgiana did eat an adequate meal before dashing above stairs for her bonnet, gloves and a coat.
After a meeting with the steward regarding the condition of a barn and stable at the house near Kympton, William sent the footman for his coat, hat and gloves while Georgiana waited patiently at the door and soon their carriage was away from the house and in the park.
“Have you given any more thought to what gifts to send?” he asked.
“I can purchase bonnets and ribbons for Kitty, Jane, and Lydia. Mary will most appreciate sheet music...”
“And for Miss Elizabeth?”
“I should like to give Elizabeth a book,” Georgiana explained.
“A book? I am not certain that Barnes carries many books,” William said.
“Is there something in the library she would like?” Georgiana asked. “She would treasure a book as though it were made of gold.”
William nodded, his thoughts turning to the many conversations with Miss Elizabeth on books, authors and meanings hidden in the words. His sister allowed him think in silence for a full five minutes before she said, “Perhaps the ‘Royal Shakespeare’?”
Her brother’s face was a full surprise. “Georgie, how can you know my thoughts so well?”
“Elizabeth has many passages of Romeo and Juliet memorized. She can recite the scene under Juliet’s window from heart.”
Darcy smirked. “I did not know Miss Elizabeth was such a romantic.”
“All girls are romantic, brother. Lizzy is also very intelligent and determined.”
William laughed and hugged his sister.
“Now what for Thomas, and for Mr and Mrs Bennet?”
“Thomas will like a wooden horse–as wild as his sisters are for horses, I imagine it will not be many seasons before he is astride a pony.”
William nodded and waited while Georgiana twisted her mouth in thought. Then she said, “I know Mr Bennet enjoys wine. Would Mr Barnes have wine?”
“I do not think he would have very good wine, but I know our cellar is full. I shall pull a crate and send him a dozen bottles.”
“And Mrs Bennet–I shall venture to the seamstress shop next door to Barnes for a shawl as well as something for Nanny Brice.”
William pulled out his purse, but Georgiana smiled and said, “I have my allowance brother. Perhaps you can pay for the shawl, but I shall purchase all other gifts with my pen money.”
When the brother and sister returned home, she spent an hour with Mrs Annesley wrapping and addressing each present while William met with the stable master to select a carriage and team to make the trip to Hertfordshire.
There were several men at Pemberley who made the trip between the two houses during the past four years and with all of the gifts stored underneath the seats, no one would know the carriage held gifts.
“A coachman and footman will be enough for an empty carriage sir,” the stable master stated. “They will be to Hertfordshire and back before Christmas day.”
“Give each man a purse with two pounds for food and drink but send sober men.”
“They will be ready at first light.”
William returned to the house to first descend to the cellars with Adams and a footman to fill a crate with a dozen bottles of French wine.
They stuffed the crate with straw to separate the bottles and then the footman carried the crate to the dining room where Georgiana and Mrs Annesley waited with the other presents.
Finally, William went into the library; still his favourite room at Pemberley but often ignored this fall.
He found the old book that had been presented to his ancestor, Alfred Darcy, by King Charles after the restoration in the 1660s.
The family’s story was that the book had been gifted to the king’s father, King Charles I, when he succeeded to the throne in 1625.
The signature of the king took up much of the title page and William smiled as he imaged Miss Elizabeth’s exclamations upon discovering the title page.
He took the book to his sister, and she wrapped it reverently in brown paper and tied it up with red ribbon.
William addressed the paper that Georgiana tied to the book, ‘For Miss Elizabeth from the Georgiana and Fitzwilliam Darcy’.
With the assistance of the footmen, they carried all of the presents to the kitchen and then out to the stable yard while servants stood in surprise.
The wine, book, ribbons and sheet music along with the shawl were carefully placed underneath the seats and then the cushions returned to their normal place.
**++**
At tea the next afternoon, Mr Darcy and his sister were seated together on a sofa when Miss Darcy asked the butler to bring Mrs Reynolds to the parlour. Mrs Annesley observed Mr Darcy’s calm demeanour regarding the request, so she remained silent regarding Miss Darcy’s forwardness.
“Mrs Reynolds as requested, Miss Darcy,” the butler announced as the housekeeper entered the parlour.
“Remain Adams,” Mr Darcy said as both housekeeper and butler approached to stand before the brother and sister.
“My brother informs me that we are to have family members come for Christmas. The Earl and Countess of Matlock, Viscount Lyndon, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Abigail will come in a fortnight but remain only one week, leaving two days after Christmas.”
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter Anne will also arrive and also depart two days following Christmas,” Mr Darcy added.
The housekeeper began to ask, “Shall I have the maids air the remaining bedrooms in the family wing...”
“My sister will assign all rooms for the guests in the guest wing. My only requirement is that none of them be housed in the family wing. Additionally, six footmen are to be on duty in the family wing all night, each night.”
The butler’s eyebrows threatened to disappear into his forehead while Mrs Reynolds merely looked very satisfied with the direction.
“I shall need to take on three more men sir,” Adams replied but Darcy only nodded.
“We expect to have morning foods from seven until ten in the small dining room, a small luncheon at one of the clock, tea at four and dinner at eight in the formal dining room each night they are in residence. Mrs Annesley will join us each night to aide my sister with our aunts and cousins.”
Mrs Annesley bowed her head at Mr Darcy’s instruction and wondered if her gowns were fine enough for such guests.
“And during their stay, if anyone orders a tray to be brought to their rooms, you are to serve only what foods have been directed by my sister for the menu that day.”
Now Mrs Reynolds’ face showed her surprise. “As you wish sir, but...”
“Lady Catherine’s delicate stomach is not my concern,” Darcy replied. “She forces herself upon my company and I have no intention of making her overly welcome.”
“Do we have goose for Christmas dinner?” Georgiana asked. “And can cook prepare a pudding?”
“Spotted dick,” Darcy added referring to a pudding made with a large amount of raisins. “The earl hates spotted dick, so I insist it be served every other night.”
It was extravagant to have the cook prepare the dessert so often but there were sufficient funds to serve goose and pudding with every meal if the master wished.
“During the earl’s visit, I will host one supper with gentlemen from parliament attending. My sister will not join us for supper on that night.”
“Very good sir,” Mrs Reynolds replied.
“And Adams,” Mr Darcy added, “the black sash will remain on my father’s chair until twelfth night.”
“Very good, sir.”
“And remove the chair from the mistress’s place,” Georgiana directed. “No one takes my mother’s place during this visit.”
**++**