Chapter 22. Christmas in Derbyshire #3
William turned his horse back toward the house and paused. He and his sister exchanged glances before he said, “I do not know if Pemberley will feel like ‘home’ for many years. Our house in Hertfordshire feels much more like home now.”
“And the company is more pleasant,” Georgiana commented.
“Oh, ho!” Richard cried. “I am wounded!”
“Perhaps you should come to visit this summer,” William said. “Georgiana and I shall return to Hertfordshire after this winter. Father’s memory has been honoured but I find Pemberley lacking.”
“I am astounded,” Richard confessed to his cousins. “Pemberley is a grand house.”
“But it is not home,” William explained. “And I would appreciate your silence on the subject. Georgiana and I have told no one–not even Mrs Annesley–that we shall close the house when we leave.”
**++**
The ride back to the stables was silent and set the tone for the remainder of the visit.
The earl and viscount participated in the hunt, but both were drunk before the first deer was brought down.
With four does and three bucks taken, Darcy sent his game keeper with five of the animals to be divided among his tenant farmers while a carriage carried Matlock and Lyndon back to Pemberley.
Two deer were taken to the kitchens and butchered for the family and staff.
**++**
Each day, Lady Edith and Lady Catherine continuously clawed at each other, offending Mrs Annesley, Mrs Reynolds, Anne, Abigail and Georgiana.
Only when three of William’s pocket MPs came to dinner did the family attempt to behave.
The Earl was a supporter of the Prime Minister though he had only a single seat in Parliament at his disposal.
With three of William’s four MPs supping at his table, the family was reminded of the power the young man held in his hands.
**++**
When Christmas day arrived, the family ventured to the chapel for services conducted by the parson from Lambton and then returned to the house for luncheon.
After the meal, Georgiana presented each relative with a small gift–stationary, brandy, ribbons and candy, and she received a box from her brother with a large set of paints and canvas.
“Who is your modiste, Georgiana?” asked Lady Edith. “Your mourning will end, and I should like to take you to my dressmaker for new gowns this spring.”
“Thank you, aunt. I shall discuss the matter with my brother.”
“Your brother?” asked Lady Catherine. “What does your brother know of fashion and a good seamstress? Your gowns are six months out of fashion.”
Preparing to offer support for her charge, Mrs Annesley relaxed when she saw that Miss Darcy was in no distress over her aunt’s comments.
Lady Edith commented, “And your gowns are ten years out of fashion, Catherine. You dress as if you were attending the royal box with Queen Charlotte at the turn of the century.”
**++**
At the appointed hour for dinner, William came out of his chambers and went to Georgiana’s door.
When he knocked, Mrs Annesley opened the door and William grinned to see his little sister in her new gown of grey silk with the black trim.
With her hair half up and a cameo on a grey ribbon around her slender neck, Georgiana was on the threshold of being a lovely woman.
“Do I...”
“You are lovely Georgie!”
“Elizabeth and her sisters did well!”
“Yes, the Miss Bennets are most marvellous with their needles,” William said.
“But more so brother, their thoughtfulness makes this Christmas so far from home bearable.”
“Shall we do down, ‘Miss Darcy’? Our guests wait,” William said offering his sister his arm. At the top of the stairs, they saw their guests waiting for them in the foyer and as they came down the steps, every eye turned to Georgiana in her lovely gown.
“And you wondered if William understood fashion?” Lady Edith prodded Lady Catherine who only scowled while Anne and Abigail were most complimentary of Georgiana’s gown.
Richard was proud of his cousins and without paying attention to precedence, William escorted his sister into the dining room and seated her at his side for Christmas dinner.
**++**
On Boxing Day, William and Georgiana gave small gifts and money to the servants of the household who then travelled in the Darcy carriages or wagons across the frosted fields to visit with their families for the day.
The guests complained that there were no full meals prepared in the kitchens that day, but William ignored his relatives.
Early in the afternoon, Matlock and Lady Edith announced their intention of leaving at first light the following morning.
“We shall be home in time for supper,” Lady Edith explained to William. He did not protest the plan in the least and encouraged Lady Catherine to make the same effort. Since she would be a guest with Matlock for a few days, Lady Catherine decided she should follow her brother closely.
At dawn the following morning, the guests were bundled off with heated bricks, extra blankets, corked bottles of hot tea and hotter coffee, biscuits, cheese and bread.
Richard promised to visit them in spring and as Adams closed the door on the Fitzwilliam family, William promised himself that his sister would have a Happy Christmas next year at their home in Netherfield.
**++**