Chapter 3.20
“I am looking forward to a stroll in the park,” Elizabeth said, looking outside in awe, finally ready for breakfast.
Darcy put his arms around her. “I knew you would be, from the first moment I saw it was snowing. I also look forward to enjoying the first snow with you, my love. If only the wind would abate a little.”
“Surely we are be frightened by a little breeze..”
“It is not a breeze, but a true blizzard. And we are not frightened, but wise.”
Elizabeth turned in his embrace to face him. “You are always wise and proper, Mr. Darcy.”
He quickly claimed a kiss. “I am surprised you call me proper, considering how we spent our morning, Mrs. Darcy.”
She laughed again and blushed with false modesty. Yes, she had to admit that proper was not an adequate choice of word.
Several more kisses followed, so it was rather late when they went downstairs. It was past breakfast time, yet the table was prepared in the dining room, waiting for them. There was nobody inside, but they heard the sound of the pianoforte and found Georgiana and Emily in the music room.
Georgiana was arranging her music sheets, while Emily was watching her, fascinated. At their appearance, the girl hurried to her feet and curtseyed to them politely.
“Good morning. We are sorry to be so late—would you join us for breakfast?” Darcy enquired.
“Good morning; yes, we have been waiting for you,” Georgiana answered with an understanding smile.
She had grown accustomed to her brother and sister-in-law appearing late in the morning and enjoying their privacy several times a day.
In the beginning, it seemed strange to her, but she now understood that this was what marrying for love looked like.
“Emily, will you eat with us? We would be happy to have your company,” Elizabeth added. The girl glanced at Darcy and, with her eyes down, shook her head in refusal.
“Oh no, ma’am…I already ate…”
“No, you have not. Only a little milk and some biscuits,” Georgiana smiled to comfort her.
“I would be sorry to hear you do not wish to join us because of me. Am I still so frightening to you?” Darcy asked. The girl panicked even more.
“Oh, no, master! You are not frightening… but…”
Elizabeth took pity on the girl, as she remembered with amusement how many others considered Mr. Darcy to be frightening.
“My dear, do not trouble yourself. We would be glad to have your company, but only if you wish to. We would not force you into anything.”
The girl looked at her, then at Georgiana and glanced at Darcy again. Eventually, she took Georgiana’s hand and stepped forward with her, still hesitant.
For a week now, Georgiana had been teaching the girl to play the piano, while Elizabeth had begun some reading lessons with her.
The girl was still uncomfortable around strangers and most men, and every time Mrs. Talbot—the housekeeper—or another senior servant raised their voice, Emily startled as if she was guilty of something.
Towards Elizabeth, the girl felt the utmost gratitude, but she was still a little restrained and intimidated by the notion of speaking to the mistress of the house. With Darcy, she barely dared to interact at all, except for a short greeting and a curtsey.
Emily had confessed to Sarah—who shared the secret with Elizabeth—that she feared she would do something wrong and be sent back to Madame Claudette.
Elizabeth had a long and delicate conversation with her, assuring her that she was part of the family now and nobody would send her back, no matter what she might do. But the girl’s fear remained.
After Sarah, Emily was most at ease with Georgiana, and she followed the young lady like a shadow.
The biggest step so far had come when Elizabeth finally convinced Emily to sleep in a room upstairs, as there were plenty of free chambers. Sarah was still sleeping with her, as this placed the maid closer to her mistress’s apartment.
The move was at first overwhelming for Emily, and for days she barely dared to move in the room, for fear of breaking something, and even two weeks later, she was not utterly comfortable.
They ate in silence for a while, all hungry and enjoying the delicious food.
“The snow is so beautiful,” Georgiana said. I woke up this morning, and all was white like in a fairytale.”
“I adore the first snow! I was talking to Mr. Darcy about it earlier,” Elizabeth said, slightly crimson as she recollected the details of what had happened in between their words. “We plan to go for a walk as soon as the wind dies down. You will join us, I hope?”
“Of course!” Georgiana answered joyfully. “Fitzwilliam and I enjoy winters at Pemberley very much. We used to skate on the lake too. Do you know how to skate, Elizabeth?”
“I most certainly do! Oh, I cannot tell you how much I long to see Pemberley! If I had to choose, we would go immediately. No weather would keep me away. But since I understand Mr. Darcy’s concern, we shall be content with London for now.”
“It is my wish to go to Pemberley as soon as possible too. But your safety is more important than eagerness,” Darcy said, exchanging a loving glance with his wife.
Elizabeth felt chills down her spine as his eyes caressed her. She tried to conceal her reaction, turning to her companions.
“Emily, would you like to come with us to the park? You could run and play in the snow,” Elizabeth enquired.
The girl startled, staring outside, then looked back to Elizabeth.
“Oh, do I have to?” she whispered, with apparent distress.
“No, you do not have to, my dear. But I thought you might like it. All the children I know love the snow. Including me,” Elizabeth jested.
“Me too,” Georgiana added.
“But the snow is cold and wet, and it ruins your clothes…freezing your shoes and gown, and they need a long time to dry again…” the girl whispered with sudden panic.
The words and the distressed expression on the child’s face grieved them.
Elizabeth remembered the first time she had spotted Emily, carrying some packages in a storm late at night.
Surely the girl had many such painful memories and found enjoyment in few things.
She apparently did not know how to be a child.
“My dear, come here,” Elizabeth asked, stretching out her hands to her. The girl obeyed and left her chair, approaching with her head down.
“I will come to the park, if you wish me to, ma’am…”
“My darling, I do not wish you to do anything against your will. But surely you know that you now possess enough clothes and shoes to change when we return home! Then you may have a hot cup of tea and hurry to bed to warm yourself if you would like to. That is what my sisters and I did when we were younger.”
The girl’s eyes widened at the revelation as she tried to imagine this completely unknown scenario.
“Oh…Could I? I have never played in the snow…”
“Well, it is a good moment to begin,” Elizabeth smiled.
“As soon as the wind stops, not sooner,” Darcy interjected. “Until then, I shall be in my library; there are several papers waiting for me.”
“I will practice a little more, and Emily will turn the pages for me,” Georgiana said.
“And I will keep Mr. Darcy company, writing to Jane,” Elizabeth declared, blushing again.
“Excellent plan,” Darcy approved, happy to have his wife’s private company for a little longer. He might not be very efficient with his papers, but having Elizabeth with him was enough compensation.
“Will the wind stop soon, do you think?” Emily enquired.
“I hope so. Are you eager to go out? I confess I am.”
“I am not sure, Mrs. Darcy. I will do as you say.”
“Very well, then; I will say you should eat a little more, as you have barely touched the food,” Elizabeth said, and the girl nodded, staring at her.
“Mrs. Darcy?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“You are the kindest lady I have ever known.”
Emily had said the same thing countless times, and Elizabeth was equally affected every time. Not because of the compliment but because of how little goodness the child had experienced in her life and how much gratitude was in her little heart.
“And you are the sweetest girl I have ever met,” Elizabeth replied.
“Come now, enough with the praises. I feel neglected, being the only man among three ladies. Shall we eat or not?” Darcy interjected with pretend severity.
This time Emily was not fooled. Flattered to be considered one of the ladies, she chuckled, covering her mouth with her palm, and looked at Elizabeth with rarely seen laughter in her eyes.
“My father used to complain about the same thing. Do you know I have four sisters, Emily? Can you imagine my poor papa?”
“Are all your sisters as pretty as you, Mrs. Darcy?”
“Oh dear, I would say they are prettier. My eldest sister, Jane, is exceedingly beautiful. She is also kind and generous and gentle.”
“So she is just like you,” Emily concluded in perfect seriousness, chewing a biscuit. “Oh look, I believe the wind has stopped,” she then said, running to the window. “And look how large the snowflakes are! Can we go now?”
Her sudden change of spirit, from horror to excitement, as only an innocent child could do, was heart-wrenching to witness, but rewarding nevertheless and warm emotions enveloped the Darcys.
“We should wait a little longer, but yes, I believe we could take a short stroll,” the master of the house approved. “Later on, the storm could grow stronger, so we should take this opportunity. You may take care of the indoor business later.”
“Emily, go and ask Sarah to help you put on some warm clothes. Two pairs of socks certainly, and gloves. Ask her to join us if she wishes to,” Elizabeth advised the girl.
“Very well, ma’am! I am going right away!” the girl replied, her face bright with excitement.
“You have just created another devotee of outdoor activities,” Darcy remarked, smiling at his wife, as the door closed behind Emily.