Chapter 12
"We are almost there, Lizzie…wake up!" Kitty said urgently while shaking her sister mercilessly. "Are they expecting us today? Who will be there to greet us? Are we too late for a grand supper?"
"Calm down you silly child! No, we are not expected. Mr. Darcy may still be vising Lady Catherine, and Georgiana is often invited to soirees because of her extraordinary skills on the piano. We certainly will not starve, as we have two baskets of food that we have never touched. If nobody is here to greet us, we can take some food up to our chambers and have a picnic while you unpack. Please do not invite Mr. Reynolds for dinner until we have discussed it with Mr. Darcy." Pemberley was now in sight, and another carriage was just leaving the portico. "I wonder who that was."
As the carriage drew to a halt, the door flew open and an excited Georgiana came flying out to greet them. "You brought Kitty home with you! What an absolutely marvelous treat! How are you, dear sister-in-law? How long are you staying? I will plan a party with music and dancing to celebrate your gracing us with your presence!"
Elizabeth interrupted, "Georgiana, where were you coming home from? Is your brother back from seeing his aunt? Has anything exciting happened while I was gone?
"He is expected back this evening. And won't he be delighted to find his bed being warmed by his bride! He has missed you terribly. The only excitement here was that the fellow I was introduced to just before you left for Longbourn turned out to be quite possibly my new love interest. I cannot wait for you to meet him."
"That is wonderful. And I am just as anxious for you to meet Mr. Reynolds. May he be invited to your party?" queried Kitty.
Elizabeth shook her head and suggested they go inside and move the conversation upstairs to allow Kitty to empty her trunks. She asked the coachman to bring the trunks and valises up to the bedchambers, and the housekeeper to ready the room across the hall from the master suite. The two hampers of food were to be given to the kitchen maid. Mrs. Muldoon promised that a meal would be set up in the upstairs sitting room for the three women, along with a tea service, and that Elizabeth's lady's maid, Judith would come up to help with the unpacking.
It did not take long to hang the gowns in the armoires in their bedchambers – all three of them unpacking, shaking out wrinkles, and hanging them up. They had shooed the lady's maid away; preferring to do it themselves and enjoy each other's company. By the time they were finished, a meal had been set up for them and they sat down for a casual picnic of various meats, cheeses, breads, and fruits.
Suddenly there was a loud commotion in the entryway. Feet pounded up the staircase and Darcy burst into the sitting room. Grabbing Elizabeth out of her chair and swinging her around in his arms, he showed them all just precisely how much he had missed his wife. "It seemed far longer than a week that you have been away from me, my darling! Hello Kitty. Welcome to Pemberley. I am glad that Georgiana was here to greet you upon your arrival. Am I not allowed to supwith you ladies?" At that very moment, his valet appeared with another chair, followed by the kitchen maid with a place setting and cutlery.
"You know how much I love picnics, Darling. Would you rather we adjourn to the dining room for a more formal meal?"
"Absolutely not! However, I beg of you all – please let us not discuss anything important tonight. I am greatly fatigued and wish only to eat my fill and retire early. We can discuss everything about the family and the gala over breakfast. Do you all agree?" Grinning knowingly at each other, they proceeded to demolish the platters of food, hugged everyone good night, and went to their own chambers.
Everyone was awake surprisingly early and anxious to meet in the dining room to discuss what they had learned. Kitty was bouncing up and down in her chair – obviously more than anxious to plan a rendezvous with Dennis Reynolds. Staring intently at her younger sister, Elizabeth persisted in gathering information about the holiday plans. She contributed the news that her family would be coming for the entire visit, with the exception of the Gardiners, who would be in London for Christmas but would join them at Pemberley soon after and stay through New Year's day. Her mother had not yet spoken to the Phillips, so that was still uncertain. Elizabeth had also not talked with her friend Charlotte. "But Jane," she reported, "said that Mrs. Hurst would be visiting her husband's family and would try to come for a few days after the holiday. She also told me that Caroline Bingley was 'deciding' whether or not to attend, but is sure that she will." Georgiana said she had invited a number of single friends to celebrate New Year's Eve with them, but had not tallied up the numbers as yet.
"So progress is being made," spoke Darcy. "That is fine. I spoke with my aunt, who said she will indeed be in London for the season, but will make the great sacrifice and skip the large Christmas festivities provided by Parliament to be here on Christmas morning. She said she was not sure how long she would stay. Lady Catherine also informed me that Mr. Collins will be busy with services that day but will attempt to get here in time for the Christmas supper. His wife, the nanny, and the children would be traveling with Mr. Collins. Elizabeth sighed.
"I suspected she would be compelled to do so. My cousin is a selfish, thoughtless man."
"It is my guess that he will not make that choice again, sister, dear. All those hours in a carriage with two feckless children will make him regret his decision!" Jane grinned at the thought.
"Kitty, I have met with Mr. Reynolds again and extended an invitation to him, which he gladly accepted. However, he, too, has services in the morning, and has to make several calls to families in need before he can join us. He will be here in time for supper and can stay a few days, but will have to return to the parsonage sooner than he would like. He will, however, return to celebrate the New Year with us. I assume that is acceptable to you?"
"Oh thank you so much, Mr. Darcy! But tell me, is it allowed for me to see him while I am here now?
Georgiana informed her brother that she wanted to throw a small party with food and dancing to introduce Mr. Reynolds to her friends and for the family to meet her new beau. "Is that all right with you?"
"That will be fine, but Elizabeth said that Jane wishes to be here for that party. Kitty, will you survive if we wait till next weekend to hold this affair? I will send a messenger to both Jane and Charles to let them know when it will take place. I am certain Jane will be in attendance, but Charles may be required to stay at Derbyshire to oversee the renovations."
"You have been so kind and understanding Mr. Darcy. I will be forever in your debt for making this possible for me!"
Darcy winked at his wife and said, "All I ask of you is that you lighten the burden of this holiday for Elizabeth. Sister dear, give me the details of the party when you have them so that I may inform the Bingleys and Kitty can send an invitation to the parson." The two girls excused themselves from the table and rushed off to make plans and write notes.
"Oh Fitz, they are so excited! And I cannot believe that we are alone at last…"
"If that is an invitation, my darling, I do believe I can spare an hour before I attend to business." Leaping from her chair she pulled him toward the stairs, giggling and acting in a most unladylike manner. "Elizabeth, do control yourself," he chided, as he followed her eagerly up to their bedchamber.
