Chapter 26

I t was Christmas morning before church, and still no sign of Giana's surprise gift! The morning was the latest his sister had ever presented him with one of her gifts, regardless of whether it be one of the rare times she had managed to keep the knowledge from him. Yet so far, there had been nothing. Could it be his sister's surprise was that there was no surprise gift.

While all the residents of Pemberley, save little Joshua, were waiting to board the coaches, Darcy attempted a new tack. "Does your new pianoforte sound good?" Darcy hinted.

"It sounds very well, as I would expect from such an instrument," Georgiana replied while trying to school her features. She was fully aware of what information her brother was trying to glean. She also knew it was eating him up as he loved to be in control which led him to be so good, under normal circumstances, at uncovering her surprises before the time. "You know, Wills, good things come to those who are patient." She entered the Matlock coach with her aunt, uncle, eldest cousin, his wife, and Bingley.

Darcy was left to ride in the following conveyance with Richard and the Hursts for company. By the smirk on his cousin's face, Darcy could see he knew what the surprise was, but interrogating Richard would be a waste of time. He hated being the only one not privy to a secret.

The service at the Kympton church was as uplifting as one would expect on this holy day. During the service, Darcy had pushed any thoughts of his sister's getting one over on him from his mind. As soon as it was over, and he shook Parker's hand—the vicar who held the Lambton, Kympton, and Pemberley livings—his sister's surprise, or lack thereof was forefront in his mind again.

When they arrived back at Pemberley, it did not pass his notice that when Giana led them into the largest drawing room, the walls between it, the music room, and the parlour were pushed open to make an extremely large room. Before he could ask, his sister smiled at him.

"We are expecting some friends," Georgiana stated nonchalantly.

"I know Parker and Miss Parker will join us, but they are but two," Darcy puzzled. "Why would we need the expanded drawing room for two more guests?"

"We will need the space," Georgiana stated cryptically.

Before Darcy could question his sister's meaning, Parker and his younger sister entered the room. Miss Diana Parker was two and twenty, and kept house for her brother, who to date, had not had his head turned by a lady.

"Welcome, Parker, Miss Parker." Regardless of his distractions, Darcy was nothing if not a good host. "As they always are, your sermon was right to the point of the meaning of the day to celebrate the Son's birth."

"Thank you, Darcy, I always try to tailor my sermons to be meaningful to my parishioners." Arthur Parker, who was the youngest of three brothers, replied modestly. His eldest brother, Tom, was trying to garner investments to develop the town of Sanditon into a holiday destination on the southern coast of the country. The middle brother, Sydney, had gone into trade with his father-in-law. Parker was between Darcy and Bingley in age, and had been a year behind the former at Cambridge. They were both somewhat reticent and studious men.

Speaking to Parker almost made Darcy forget about his questions about the opened room and what, if anything, his sister's revelation would be. Those in the expanded drawing room had been speaking for about an hour when Douglas appeared at the open drawing room door and nodded to his sister.

"William, I must go take care of something, I will be back shortly," Georgiana stated as she stood before her brother could react. "Richard, would you mind assisting me?"

"Do you need my help?" Darcy enquired.

"No, but thank you, brother. One of us needs to remain here with our guests," Georgiana insisted before she disappeared on her cousin's arm.

Were it not untenable to do so in public, Darcy would have scratched his head.

Once they were sure no one in the drawing room could hear them, Richard stopped his young cousin who was effervescent with joy at being able to so completely pull the wool over her brother's eyes.

"Giana, you must tell Miss Bennet that William is unaware who is joining us. We know how he feels, but she may not want to be part of a surprise like this."

"You are right, Richard, I will do so," Georgiana promised. The two continued towards the door to the courtyard.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Elizabeth had been travelling in the lead coach with her sisters, Charlotte, Lilly, and Addie. After they had travelled past the gatepost, passing some miles worth of forest either side of the drive, Elizabeth had been able to visualise the miles of trees at their verdant best, even though the branches were at present bare and stark. Now that she was very comfortable atop a horse, she could only imagine what a pleasure it would be to explore this estate, on foot as well as on horseback.

As much as the woods had impressed her, they were nothing to the view which greeted her when they had crested the rise which allowed her first view of the mansion and the valley below. The enchanting sight was made even more magical with the sparkling sunlight on the dusting of fresh snow.

It was well over a half mile down the other side of the rise until the coachman guided his team under a porte cochère , and into a large internal courtyard. From the courtyard, the house looked ever more imposing. As soon as the three carriages were drawn to a halt, footmen placed the steps and opened the doors. The arriving guests were guided to the steps which led to the entrance into the house, where Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam stood ready to greet them.

Although Elizabeth wanted to ask if Mr Darcy was away from the house, she waited until the butler and several of his footmen assisted all of them out of their outerwear.

"Miss Bennet, before we proceed, I need to make you aware of something," Georgiana began. Elizabeth nodded for her hostess to continue. "My brother is unaware of your presence, yours or anyone else in your party for that matter. Knowing how much he enjoyed meeting the Bennets in Hertfordshire, before the tragic events which took your sister, and how he has been concerned you are well, I decided to surprise him and you… all of you are his Christmas surprise."

Elizabeth had to fight not to blush. She was very good at reading between the lines, but she did not want to think of the meaning of Mr Darcy's sister wanting to have her at his home, unknown to the master of the estate. She was glad she had left the handkerchief in her chamber at Lambert Hills, because she was sure she would have been embarrassed beyond words had Mr Darcy discovered it was in her possession.

"Should my sisters and I enter last?" Elizabeth enquired.

"No, if it is all the same to you, I would prefer you enter on my one arm, with Miss Mary on my other, while Richard escorts Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia." Georgiana turned to the Gardiners and Lamberts. "Will you follow us into the drawing room?" It was agreed by all.

Giana offered Miss Bennet her right arm and Miss Mary the left. As soon as she noted that Richard and his two Miss Bennets were ready, she began to walk towards the drawing room. Walking behind his young cousin and the older two Miss Bennets, the Colonel would have preferred to swap one of the young ladies on his arm for one on his cousin's arm.

Darcy had been discussing the upcoming spring planting with his older cousin and his uncle when he heard footfalls in the hallway, and it sounded like more walkers than just Richard and Giana. He was about to go investigate when his sister entered the drawing room, a lady on each of her arms. At first, Darcy did not comprehend what he was seeing, until Richard followed his sister into the drawing room with the two youngest Bennets accompanying him. Darcy looked at his sister's companions with much closer scrutiny, and as his jaw dropped to the floor he knew what his surprise was.

As her sisters were, Miss Bennet stood smiling at him, clothed in a deep mourning gown. Unlike the previous time he had seen the woman who held his heart, rather than her eyes being dull with sorrow, they were shining with mirth. As if he could not be more shocked, the Gardiners entered the room with Miss Lucas. They were followed by the Lamberts. He suddenly realised where Miss Bennet and Miss Mary had been staying. Of course! Lambert was Mrs Gardiner's older brother, and his estate was near…Metting! That was where Giana had gone to shop, but it was more than an hour of travelling unless…they changed the team at the Blue Bird Inn. Why had he not thought about that? He realised everyone was looking at him with varying degrees of amusement. He needed to snap out of it before Miss Bennet thought him a blithering idiot.

"Bennets, Gardiners, Lamberts, and Miss Lucas, even though I had not an idea you would be joining us today," Darcy speared his family members, especially his sister with a ‘just you wait' look. He turned back to the arriving guests. "I am more than pleased to welcome you all to Pemberley and wish all of you a happy Christmas."

Elizabeth was impressed, rather than express anger at his sister, for getting the better of her much older brother with his cousin's assistance, Mr Darcy was displaying good humour about the situation .

After greeting all of the arriving adults and the older children—the younger ones had been guided to the nursery to join a very happy Joshua, overjoyed at so many playmates—Darcy felt himself drawn to Miss Bennet who was chatting to Miss Lucas and his sister. One thing he could not but notice was the difference in the comportment and behaviour of the two youngest Bennets. It had improved by leaps and bounds. Before he reached Miss Bennet, Bingley and the Hursts stopped before her to greet her.

"Miss Bennet, when we were notified you and Miss Mary were to Town, we never expected to see you here," Bingley stated.

There was no missing the black armband he wore, or that his older sister was somewhat uncomfortable. "It is good to see all three of you, Mr Bingley." Elizabeth saw how Mrs Hurst relaxed when she emphasised three. She leaned over to the lady. "Did you forget I accepted your apology and forgave you?"

"Given the tumult at the time, I was concerned you may have done so, though I hoped not, Miss Bennet," Mrs Hurst revealed quietly.

"Not at all, I appreciated it and hold nothing against you," Elizabeth reassured the woman. Mr Bingley and the Hursts moved away and were replaced by Mr Darcy .

"You know there was only one reason I accepted your sister's kind invitation, do you not?" Darcy shook his head. "To visit the books you purchased from my father which are in your library," Elizabeth teased .

"I did not know they were from Mr Bennet until I saw a bookplate in one of the books," Darcy revealed. "How are you, all of you doing?"

Before she could answer, two couples approached. Elizabeth guessed based on the similarity of the looks to the Colonel, the older man was his father and the other a brother.

"Gardiner introduced us to the rest we had not met, so will you do the honours with this lady, please William," Lord Matlock requested.

Darcy made the introductions as requested. The glower he directed at his uncle and cousin told them he was about to speak to Miss Bennet before their interruption, so the Earl and Viscount guided their wives away. As if the gods were against him, just then Douglas announced the festive meal. Determined to have her with him during the meal and thanks to the informal seating for a family meal, Darcy offered Miss Bennet his arm to lead her into the dining parlour, and to his delight, she took it without delay.

As she was escorted into the dining parlour by Mr Darcy, it felt like there was electricity where Elizabeth's hand rested on his arm. She lifted her eyes to the heavens. ‘ I hear you Janey, my heart is open, there is no need for you to push me. '

Rather than give in to the disappointment he had not been able to have a discussion with Miss Bennet yet, Darcy indicated the chair to his right. He did not allow the footmen to pull the chair back, instead he did it himself and made sure Miss Bennet was comfortable.

Lord and Lady Matlock were seated at the other end of the table to Giana's left side. The latter leaned towards the former as soon as they had been seated. "That boy is lost," Lady Matlock opined. "Mark my words, he will marry her or not at all. You know from your late brother-in-law and sister, once a Darcy man bestows his heart, it is forever."

"Elaine, you are correct. I am sure we are looking at our future niece."

" If she accepts him."

"Of course she will take William, what woman would not?"

"One with a firm backbone, a strong character, and one who would never settle for less than the deepest love. I get the idea if William did not present himself well, this is one of the few young ladies who would refuse him."

"Is it just me or does our younger son seem enamoured of Miss Mary?" Lord Matlock wondered.

"They have only just met, but I have seen the surreptitious looks she shoots at him when she thinks herself unobserved," Lady Matlock agreed. "As much as I desire Richard to settle down and leave the army, they have a long way to go first."

Charlotte was happy to be seated between Mr Parker and his sister. While she enjoyed the conversation, she could not but help notice the closeness between Mr Darcy and Eliza, and she did not mean the fact they were in conversation which had their heads leaning towards one another.

"Do you remember the question I asked before my family asked to be introduced?" Darcy wondered.

"Yes, I do," Elizabeth responded. "Thank you for asking, Mr Darcy. Some days are more difficult than others, but the number of good days are slowly beginning to outnumber the bad ones. You may have noticed a slight change in Catherine's and Lydia's behaviour from when you met them in Meryton." Darcy allowed it was so. "As much as I wish my Jane were still with me, and she is and always will be in my heart, but I mean in the mortal world, there have been some positive changes with my family. So much so Mary and I will return to Longbourn after Twelfth Night, if we are welcome, that is. I am waiting for a reply from my father."

"Is the sale of your father's books part of the change?" Darcy enquired.

"It is, but there is so much more." Elizabeth looked up and saw Uncle Edward speaking to Mr Bingley who seemed to be nodding agreement to something. "In fact, I believe my uncle just asked Mr Bingley if he has room for some of us to join him in his coach on his return to Hertfordshire."

His inclination was to ask Miss Bennet if she would be pleased if he travelled to Netherfield Park as well, but Darcy did not want to pressure her. He remembered her tease regarding the books he had purchased. "As you are only here to see the books which used to belong to your father, would you like to see the library after the meal?" Darcy invited.

Elizabeth was pleased he was teasing her right back. Mayhap she would mourn Janey for six months rather than a year. The norm for a sibling was three months, but that would definitely be too short, even though she knew Janey had not wanted her to mourn too long. "Will you be needed to teach your friend any more, or does he no longer need your assistance?" Elizabeth queried rather boldly.

The question taught Darcy to hope like he had not before allowed himself to hope. "I believe Bingley may still need some assistance from me," he stated with a smile.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

When it was time to depart, Elizabeth had secretly hoped it would have started to snow which would have forced them to remain at Pemberley. The library had been beyond her imaginings, and no matter how much her father was changing, Elizabeth was well aware what his reaction would be if he ever saw that particular room.

The whole of the Darcys' Fitzwilliam family had been extremely welcoming. It had not taken Elizabeth long to feel comfortable with them. At the same time, the four Bennet sisters had become very close to Miss Darcy. So much so that the Darcys and Colonel Fitzwilliam would call at Lambert Hills the day after the morrow, and the whole of that estate's party were invited to spend the final day of the year at Pemberley, stay the night, and return to the Lamberts' estate the following day. As there would be no party or other guests invited, other than the vicar and his sister, there was no conflict for those still in deep mourning.

For the first time since her sister's passing, Elizabeth had been willing to imagine what her life could be like.