A/N: The happiest of Mondays to you all! And if it has not been so happy, I hope this latest installment makes it just a wee bit better. Shout out to all my stateside readers in the PNW, Texas, and Florida - my prayers have been with you this past week. Much of my own family is spread out all over Florida, and I am relieved to tell you that they are all safe, if a little worse for wear.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Having satisfactorily completed all those matters of business he intended to address prior to commencing celebrations of the festive season, Mr. Darcy stepped from his study into the busy hall of his London townhouse. The hall was a din of activity, teeming with footmen and an assortment of other servants as they adorned the banisters and doorways with elegant arrangements of greenery in preparation for the family's Christmas celebrations the following day. Catching sight of one arrangement in particular, Mr. Darcy tsked quietly under his breath. Observing Mrs. Wallace, the Darcys' long-time housekeeper, he walked over to join her where she was standing at the foot of the grand staircase overseeing the work underway in the great hall.
Clearing his throat audibly to catch the harried woman's attention, he inquired, "Mrs. Wallace, did we not decide against the use of mistletoe in the greenery displays this year?" Though his tone was respectful rather than severe, the question seemed to trouble the woman.
"We did, master," Mrs. Wallace turned to him, her brow wrinkled in confusion, "However, I was under the impression you had amended your instructions."
"Whatever made you think that, Mrs. Wallace?" Mr. Darcy asked, a suspicion forming in his mind as to the source of his housekeeper's information.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam—" she began before a chuckle from her master stopped her short.
"Just as I suspected," he smirked, "My cousin seems to be attempting to have some fun at my expense, Mrs. Wallace — and yours too, I might add. However at home he might make himself at Darcy House, I would ask that in the future you run any of Colonel Fitzwilliam's requests that do not pertain to the immediate procurement of food by me prior to carrying them out — to do otherwise might result in a situation that would not be beneficial to either of us."
"How so, sir?"
"You do recall who is joining us for dinner tomorrow evening, do you not?" he raised an eyebrow playfully, waiting for realization to dawn on the older woman who he had quite adored since his own childhood.
"Of course, Master Darcy. The Bingleys and … oh!"
"Quite so," he laughed at the housekeeper's look of wide-eyed horror, "I should not like to find out how Miss Bingley would act given such an opportunity."
"Not for the world, Mr. Darcy!" she cried, before rushing off to enlist the nearest footman to remove the little bunches of white berries from those arrangements that had already been hung. "And do check the other rooms as well, John!" she cried after him as he scurried off to do her bidding.
Mr. Darcy watched in mild amusement as his staff hurried about in near panic — word obviously spreading as to the reason behind the last minute change. His smile vanished, however, and a shudder overtook him at the thought of what might have been had his cousin's prank been successful. He sighed as his mind briefly wandered to how differently he might have felt were another young lady — one whose eyes brimmed with intelligence and whose smile he coveted with all his being — to have been one of their party. The thought was quickly dismissed, however, to be replaced with a firm resolution to keep a watchful eye on Richard the following evening. He might not be able to have the woman he desired, but he certainly had no intention of falling prey to Caroline Bingley.
~P&P~
"Louisa!" Miss Bingley burst into her sister's chambers at the Hursts' townhouse.
"How might I assist you, Caroline," Mrs. Hurst replied to her sister's outburst with an air of indifference that spoke to the frequency of such histrionics on the part of her younger sister. Indeed, the lady appeared little inclined to interrupt her toilette despite Miss Bingley's sudden entrance into her private chambers.
Caroline threw herself on a nearby chaise lounge in an overly dramatic fashion, failing in her attempt to garner her sister's attention as that lady was interested in little other than her own reflection and catching her maid's attention as she solicited the servant's assistance in arranging her hair. The lack of further comment on her apparent distress did little to dissuade Miss Bingley from pursuing her point.
"I cannot believe Charles was unwilling to advance my allowance, Louisa! I have nothing to wear to dinner with the Darcys this evening. Our brother simply does not understand that a lady must show herself to best advantage. I feel certain that with some some little encouragement and further proof of my worthiness to take on the role of Mistress of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy is very likely to come to the point at last in this coming season. He will, after all, require a sponsor for dear Georgiana when she makes her debut. Who better than a his own wife?"
Wisely refraining from offering her thoughts on her younger sister's expectations regarding the coming season and their host for the evening, Mrs. Hurst responded, "It is unlikely you could have had anything made in time without considerable expense anyway, Caroline."
Despite having been momentarily distracted from the wretchedness of her present predicament by her hopes concerning Mr. Darcy, Miss Bingley was able return to her former desolation with remarkable haste. "It is an expense our brother can well afford, Louisa. That is simply no excuse," came Miss Bingley's vehement response.
"Why not choose something from among my dresses, Caroline. I have several new ones that might suit you," Louisa offered with a sigh, quickly tiring of her sister's complaints.
"Truly, Louisa?!" Caroline all but leapt to her feet as she moved toward her sister's wardrobe, "You are kindness itself!" Her attention was so focused on perusing the garments in question that she missed the slight roll of Mrs. Hurst's eyes she might have caught in that lady's reflection if she had cared to pay her sister any attention.
"Do you think there will be mistletoe hung among the greenery at Darcy House, sister?" Caroline called from across the room.
"It hardly matters, my dear. A chaste kiss to the hand or cheek under the mistletoe does not constitute a compromise."
Caroline thought it best not to divulge to even her sister that a chaste kiss to the hand or cheek was hardly what she had in mind for the Master of Pemberley. Finding something to her liking, she held it up for her sister's approval, "This one, do you think?"
"Yes, I daresay that one will be most becoming," Mrs. Hurst approved with barely a glance in her sister's direction, "But you must hurry and get ready, Caroline. It is nearly time for us to depart."
"My word! Why did you not say, Louisa?!" Caroline sputtered upon glancing at the clock. Gathering the dress in her arms, she very nearly ran from the room in her haste, yelling for her maid before she had even reached her bedchamber. Her brother had been far less forgiving of her inclination for being fashionably late in recent weeks. Unfortunately, it was generally Mr. Hurst's staff who suffered for the gentleman's newly acquired sensibility.
~P&P~
Christmas Dinner at Darcy House was tasteful and elegant. Miss Darcy presided over the table as hostess with quiet grace, but hers was yet a nominal role. Mrs. Wallace, who managed such things given Miss Darcy's youth and the absence of a mistress to take over such household duties, had held to the pattern of simplicity established by her former mistress. Some of the guests may have thought the affair lacking in the richness and abundance due the Darcy name, but at least one of them felt it prudent to withhold such observations and instead redouble her efforts to demonstrate her own superior abilities as hostess at the earliest opportunity.
Mr. Darcy could not help but note his friend's enduring melancholy and was only thankful that Bingley's tempered enthusiasm made him an excellent dinner partner to his sister, by whom he was seated. The two shared a subdued, but friendly conversation. Contrary to Miss Bingley's assertions otherwise, Mr. Bingley and Georgiana Darcy felt only a friendly affection for one another, nothing beyond. Mr. Darcy himself held no hopes in that direction, being of little inclination to consider his sister's marriage to anyone at present. Mr. Darcy studiously avoided Miss Bingley's frequent glances in his direction while the lady herself inwardly cursed her misfortune at being seated by Colonel Fitzwilliam rather than his infinitely more desirable cousin.
Conversation flowed more easily with each successive course and refilling of wine glasses, and by the end of the meal, the majority of the party found themselves inclined to be in good favor with the collective company.
~P&P~
Despite Mr. Hurst's protests at forgoing an opportunity to sample the offerings of Mr. Darcy's liquor cabinet, his host was most unwilling to leave his sister alone with Mr. Bingley's sisters for any length of time. The gentlemen therefore followed the ladies to the drawing room where, much to Miss Bingley's chagrin, Colonel Fitzwilliam would insist upon singling her out to continue a conversation they had begun at dinner. It was all she could do to remain polite in the face of her disappointment at being monopolized by anyone other than Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy himself found his cousin's inclination for prolonged conversation with Bingley's sister curious, but he shrugged it off as a product of Richard's tendency to amuse himself with the foibles of others. As always, Miss Bingley provided ample fodder for a mind so disposed for amusement. Mr. Darcy occupied himself for some time with his sister's comfort and did his best to carry on a pleasant conversation with Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Hurst — Mr. Hurst having dozed off almost as soon as he was seated on the chaise lounge at one side of the room.
"… we must solicit my cousin's opinion on that matter, Miss Bingley," Mr. Darcy heard his cousin utter from across the room. Looking over his shoulder to where the colonel and Miss Bingley stood in close proximity to one of the drawing room windows, it struck him as rather singular that his cousin should have wandered so far from the rest of their party in the company of that lady. Mr. Darcy excused himself from his companions and rose to join his cousin across the room. As he approached the ill-matched pair, something in the window caught his eye. Schooling his expression to conceal his initial reaction, he slowed his approach, stopping a couple paces from his cousin and Miss Bingley.
"How might I be of service, Richard?" he addressed his cousin and graced his friend's sister with an acknowledging nod and smile.
Craning his neck as though trying to get a better look at something outside the window, Colonel Fitzwilliam entreated his cousin to come closer that he might see some unknown object of fascination.
"I would be more than happy to do so, Richard," Mr. Darcy smirked, "as soon as you have fulfilled your obligation to Miss Bingley."
The colonel dropped all pretense of looking out the window, whipping his head around and gaping at his cousin before a look of utter defeat took over his features.
"Whatever do you mean, Mr. Darcy?" Miss Bingley inquired, look back and forth between the cousins in confusion.
Mr. Darcy, his lips still curled in a smile, merely shifted his gaze upward to a little cluster of leaves and berries that hung neatly from a garland that was draped low in the window at which they stood. Miss Bingley gasped and began to sputter as the colonel reach up and plucked one of the white berries from the offending article. Colonel Fitzwilliam then quite graciously took the bewildered lady's hand in his and bowing over it, placed a light kiss upon her gloved fingers.
"Happy Christmas, madam," he murmured. The colonel then glanced over at the room's other occupants who were staring at the trio with unrestrained wonder and seeing his younger cousin with the tea pot paused mid-pour declared, "Ah! I see Georgiana is serving the tea. Shall we join them?" As the colonel passed his cousin in his hasty retreat, he leaned in and whispered, "Well played there, Darce."
Mr. Darcy chuckled quietly and then turned to offer the unwitting victim of their sparring his arm so that they might join the rest of their party for tea. As he escorted Miss Bingley across the room, he nodded to a nearby footman who moved quickly to dispose of the small cluster of mistletoe that had been the source of that evening's mischief.
~P&P~
"Well, Richard, I suppose I now understand the reason for your late arrival at dinner this evening."
"Mrs. Wallace was very adamant when I arrived for breakfast this morning that she would hear nothing about restoring the decorations I so generously bestowed the day prior to their rightful place. There was nothing for it but to take matters into my own hands," Richard said matter-of-factly, picking as some lint on his sleeve.
"I should have know something was afoot. I cannot say that I have ever known you to be late for a meal in your life," Mr. Darcy returned, eliciting a shrug from his cousin.
"Oh do not look so sullen, Richard. I daresay you escaped relatively unscathed from your own bit of treachery."
"Treachery? You are far too dramatic, Darce."
"How do you imagine Miss Bingley would have reacted had she discovered herself beneath the mistletoe with the Master of Pemberley rather than a colonel is His Majesty's army?" Colonel Fitzwilliam grimaced in response to his cousin's question.
"Oh dear, Fitzwilliam," Georgianna said upon joining her brother and cousin, "I do not think I shall ever be able to forget the expression on Miss Bingley's face as Richard reached up to pluck a berry from the mistletoe. I thought I should choke in my effort to keep from laughing. It is a wonder I managed to keep from spilling the tea all over poor Mr. Bingley!" She giggled at the remembrance, clasping her fingers lightly over her mouth to stifle the sound of her mirth. Far from containing it however, her comment and gesture instead had the unintended result of sending her cousin into a fit of laughter, and even Mr. Darcy could not keep himself from joining in their mirth.
"All the same," Mr. Darcy began once they had sufficiently vented their good humor, "I would thank you not to entertain yourself at my expense in such a manner in the future, Richard." He eyed his cousin pointedly. The colonel had the good grace to look ashamed, holding his hands up before him in concession.
Failing to stifle a yawn, Georgiana Darcy smiled adoringly at her relations.
"Are we such dull company, cousin?" Richard teased her.
"You, cousin? Never!" she giggled, "I do, however, fear I am unequal to prolonging this happy day. I will retire and leave you in my brother's most excellent company." She rose to leave them.
"Most excellent company?!" The colonel returned in mock astonishment and then turned to Mr. Darcy with a smirk, "How disappointed our dear Georgiana will be when she enters society and finds out how sorely used she has been to be sequestered here in your miserable company all these years."
"It is rather astonishing that our cousin should choose to spend so much of his time at Darcy House when he is in town given how unbearable the company is, is it not, Georgie?" Mr. Darcy addressed his sister.
"I merely put up with your company for Georgiana's sake, cousin," the colonel countered before Miss Darcy could reply.
"And Cook," Georgiana interjected.
"Ah, yes. And Cook," Richard nodded in hearty agreement.
Mr. Darcy rolled his eyes at his cousin and gave his sister a teasing look for her part in encouraging their cousin's antics.
"Well, I truly must leave you now," Georgiana declared, rising from where she was seated and moving to quit the room. As she reached the door, she turned back and looking at her brother, smiled, "It has been good to hear you laugh today, Fitzwilliam. It is a sound I have missed most dearly." She slipped out, quietly closing the door behind her before he could reply.
In the wake of her departure, the colonel turned back to Mr. Darcy and made to interrupt whatever thoughts of a more serious nature were clearly threatening to intrude upon his cousin's peace of mind,"I underestimated you this evening, cousin. I shall not make the same mistake again."
"Ah, you forget that I have been outmaneuvering the match-making mamas of the ton and their conniving daughters for nigh on a decade, Richard. I would venture to say that even Old Boney has nothing on their tactics for entrapment." Mr. Darcy replied, the upward turn of his lips hidden behind his glass as he took a sip of the fine brandy Mr. Hurst had been denied earlier in the evening.
"Perhaps I might persuade some of them to assist me in training my men when I report to Brighton this summer?"
"As long as you leave Miss Bingley out of it."
Richard merely chuckled in response. A comfortable silence fell between them as Mr. Darcy became lost in his own thoughts and the colonel watched him closely, noting with concern the sadness that took over his cousin's visage in unguarded moments. It had been an enjoyable evening. His cousin's smiles and laughter had indeed been a welcome change from the brooding of the past several weeks, but it was clear that even now, all was not well with Fitzwilliam Darcy.
As always, I love to hear your thoughts, speculations, and constructive criticism (which I do in fact note for consideration during the editing process). Click below to REVIEW or create a FREE account and FOLLOW this story for notifications when new chapters are posted. Enjoy the rest of your week!
According to my outline, we are next headed back to Hertfordshire where Mr. Collins will (reluctantly) depart and the officers (sans Wickham) will dine at Longbourn. It won't long after that before Jane and Lizzy head off to London with their aunt and uncle - and what fun shall commence then! ;)