Disclaimer - Not Austen, characters are not mine and I don't own them
A Christening and a Conversation
The next day saw the christening of Charles Bennet and Henry Fitzwilliam Darcy, in the stone font of the Darcy family church. Mrs Bennet sobbed, Lydia lamented on her own lost child, Kitty fixed her eyes on Colonel Fizwilliam for most of the service, the Darcys radiated pure happiness and Miss Mary Bennet acted as godmother to the heir of Pemberley. Mary stood alongside her sister, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, as the eldest son, Henry, was accepted into the church, between the emphatic sobs of his maternal grandmother. The moment put Mary in mind of the christening of her eldest niece, Miss Wickham, and the great unhappiness of their separation. The void little Frances had left in the heart of her aunt was indeed deep. For the ceremony, the middle Miss Bennet wore her hair in neatly pinned curls, with a simple gown of white, edged with blue lace, and upon leaving the church it was noted by Elizabeth that her younger sister appeared quite becoming, as she exited alongside Colonel Fitzwilliam, her eldest nephew in her arms.
The winter sunlight filtered through the trees which lined the winding path back to Pemberley house, as the new godparents exchanged the usual pleasantries and Miss Mary enquired as to how long the Colonel should be in the county. "Alas," replied he, "my stay will only be of a short duration, for I am called to Brighton at the month's end. My regiment will be quartered there for some time. I -" He paused and tilted his head towards her "- had great hopes of making your better acquaintance, Miss Mary, during our respective stays."
Mary blushed slightly at this, as the Colonel continued; "How long will your family be lodged at Pemberley? Shall you stay for the Christmas season?"
At this diversion, Mary's countenance resumed its natural state, as she calmly replied to Fitzwilliam's enquiry; "I should think for as long as my Mama can prolong our leaving, I imagine it shall be well past New Years before we depart for Longbourn once again."
"Would Mr Bennet allow such an imposition on his son-in-law's hospitable nature?"
"Colonel, I believe my Papa only desires for peace within his family. If mama's imposition, as you put it, achieves that end, he will, I believe, do nought to stop her."
"Is Mr Bennet fond of Pemberley?"
"Of its great library, indeed. However, Mama much prefers to be in Derbyshire, she does so love being 'Mrs Darcy's mother', even more so than Mrs Bingley's or Mrs Wickham's. Her married daughters are much beloved." Mary stopped, believing that perhaps she had breached the boundaries of propriety, although her mother's blatant favouritism of her married children was no secret. Noting her hesitation, the Colonel swiftly changed the subject to their young godson and the conversation continued along this vein until they reached the house.
The luncheon which succeeded the christening was attended exclusively by the Darcy, Bennet and Bingley families, with Caroline Bingley and the recently widowed Louisa Hurst, coming to Pemberley to pay their respects to Darcy heirs. It was a rather grand affair, which was dulled not even by Caroline Bingley's sour face, or snide remarks towards the Bennets, nor Lydia and Mrs Bennet's dramatic lamentations on their own positions and the loss of Frances Wickham. When they sat down to eat, Mary supposed that her mother had aided Mrs Darcy with the seating arrangement, as Mary found herself sat between Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Collins. Mary supposed correctly, as Mrs Bennet had told her husband the night before; "Mr Collins is, naturally, the greater match, for Mary shall then be mistress of Longbourn after your death. However, we should not completely discredit the Colonel, for he is the son of an Earl, and has some wealth of his own." Everyone believed Mrs Bennet to be a woman of mean understanding, and that she was, except when she became aware of prospective matches for her daughters – at these times she could be almost Machiavellian. It was this, of course, which drove her to place her eldest unmarried daughter between the two eligible men. Mary was not disheartened however, as the Colonel's conversation was charming and his manner agreeable, as she had found him to be on many other occasions. Mr Collins, however, was not as consistent. He had been pleasant to her at first, but had, on other occasions, been very disagreeable, stubborn and very much like his elder brother had been. The luncheon passed uneventfully, with one exception – Mr Darcy announced to the party that the Christmas Eve ball, held annually in Pemberley's great hall, would this year mark the debut of Miss Georgiana Darcy into society, after being presented earlier in the season. This being the case, he insisted that all present attend, including Mr Collins, who was returning to Kent the following week. With luncheon over, Mr Darcy retired to his study, inviting Mr Bingley and the Colonel to join him.