Darcy looked up at the sound of Richard clearing his throat followed by quiet giggles from Georgie and Mary. He and Elizabeth must have stood there longer than he had thought, for their sisters were seated again and Teddy and Mrs. Evans were gone. Elizabeth pulled out of the embrace and the two of them moved to their chairs. Richard found the plainest chair and sat as well.
"Father is headed back to the inn at Meryton to gather his belongings. He still hadn't quite recovered his voice when I bundled him back into his carriage next to the man your servants were guarding. I recognize that one. My brother sometimes uses him as a bodyguard when he goes gambling in the rougher parts of town. He must intimidate by his size, for he sure didn't put up much of a fight once Mrs. Evans told him off."
"How did you manage to arrive in such a timely manner?" asked Darcy.
"I was drawn out for a ride in the snow, much as your lovely lady must have been drawn for a walk in it." Elizabeth nodded at him and smiled. He continued, "When I got into Meryton I met up with one of the militia officers who told me the Earl of Matlock had stayed in the inn last night. Apparently he made a bit of a fuss at the state of the accommodations and the men drinking there heard him and had a right good laugh over it. When the man told me the earl had been seen driving this way just minutes before, I turned and headed here at a gallop. I heard him shouting from out in the drive and saw Mrs. Evans give the servant what for just as I entered. What all happened? He didn't hurt young Teddy, did he?"
"Teddy stepped in front the man to keep him from trying to grab me," explained Georgie eagerly. "He tried to punch Teddy but Will stopped him and then the footmen pulled him away and dragged him off."
"Teddy stood his ground and would have taken the punch to protect us," added Mary.
"Good lad, that!" said Richard approvingly. "I wish I had more men with spirit like his in my unit."
"I plan to look after Teddy," said Darcy. "I think he deserves better than a short life in the army."
Elizabeth returned them to the topic of the earl. "Your father burst in here claiming Will was mad to live in such a place. He insisted both Will and Georgie would return with him to London immediately."
"I refused his demands, of course," continued Darcy, "which is when he ordered his man to carry Georgie off to the carriage."
"I do not know what makes father and Aunt Catherine think they can give any order they wish and the world will obey them. I do not remember your mother being like that."
"No, she was not. The staff and tenants of Pemberley and the people of Lambton and Kympton still talk about what a kind and gentle woman she was and how she helped make life better for so many. I remember her the same way."
"I wonder if she was secretly adopted," said Richard. "If I ever start acting too much like my father I hope you will rein me in sharply."
Mrs. Evans entered then, bringing a tray with the tea service and some baked treats. "Something to calm everyone down after the excitement," she told them as she set it down on a table.
"We do need to leave this subject for now," said Darcy, "and I want to know what happened after Sir William Lucas fell face first into the mince pie."
The ladies laughed and Richard said, "Do tell. When did this happen?"
Elizabeth briefly retold the events leading up to the face full of mince and added, "He was so off balance he could not stand without aid. Papa and Mr. Turnwell had to help him and hold him upright. They had just gotten him standing when he shook his head like a wet dog trying to dry off and sent bits of pie flying all over. You can imagine what Mama had to say about that!" The company laughed and she continued, "To this day Sir William insists that it was the best mince pie he ever washed his face in. Although he is careful never to mention it around Mama."
"He must have been so embarrassed," said Georgie.
"At the time he was a little too drunk," answered Mary. "He probably was embarrassed later, but he laughs about it himself as a way of deflecting other people."
"What brought on this story, may I ask?" queried Richard.
"We were discussing Christmas and some of our traditions and experiences," answered Georgie, "and Elizabeth was telling us stories of a few Christmas parties at Longbourn. I am looking forward to spending Christmas with our new family this year. Without anyone falling into the pie," she added quickly.
"I am looking forward to it as well," Richard replied. "With Bingley now engaged I expect those of us at Netherfield will spend most of our time at Longbourn."
"I know Daniel and I will be going to London after the wedding," put in Mary, "but he told me if the weather is good we might be able to come spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the family."
"Oh I hope so," said Elizabeth. "We need both of you here to make our family gathering complete."
"Is Bingley still looking stunned from the teasing Bennet gave him last night?" Darcy asked his cousin.
"Not stunned so much as floating on air at her acceptance of his proposal. He is as aware as the rest of us that Miss Bennet is far too good for him."
"Mr. Bingley is a good man!" said Mary.
"Agreed," said Darcy, "but he is still learning to be a man and take charge of his life. He has some growing to do before he is worthy of your sweet and gentle sister."
"I wonder when they will choose to marry," said Elizabeth. "I know Jane would like a larger wedding than we have planned and I know Mama would love the opportunity to host a large wedding breakfast, especially if she can convince Mr. Bingley to let her do so at Netherfield."
"I do not wish to delay our wedding long enough for them to have the banns called and join us. That would push us back by a week. Although a triple wedding would give your mother bragging rights for years," said Darcy with a chuckle.
"I think it best that we continue as planned and let Jane and Mr. Bingley have a day of their own. Even our double wedding will give Mama much to brag on," answered Elizabeth.
"As you wish, my dear," answered Darcy with a fond smile prompting a laugh from all the others in the room.
