Author's note

Correction in the last chapter: the invitation is for Monday, as the next day was Sunday.

…..

Chapter 33

Sunday came and went, the last Sunday before Christmas. The service made the parishioners reflect on the year past. It was not short, but not long either; just like a service should be. The two parties, Netherfield and Longbourn saw each other for a short time allowing only courtesy conversation after the service. Darcy and Elizabeth thought they were very subtle in their search for the other's eyes. Both were affected as they looked into the other's eyes. Bingley and Jane, although conversed for a minute also, both observed the other couple. They laughed at their silent communication.

'It is a wonderful morning, is it not, Miss Elizabeth?' Darcy added her name and said it like a caress. Elizabeth, shy all of a sudden, swallowed, looked down and in the end just nodded. She inwardly chastised herself for not being able to answer a simple question. Darcy was surprised to see this side of Elizabeth. Is this because of me? Do I affect her so? He… liked that thought. He liked it very well.

Bingley and now Darcy greeted the familiar faces as well. Darcy searched for Mrs. and Mr. Phillips, but did not see the couple. He hoped it was nothing serious.

At breakfast Monday morning, Darcy asked Georgiana to join him on a visit he was planning to make on the day and to bring one of the sweetmeat boxes she had bought as a small token of a gift. The atmosphere of the breakfast was vastly different than when Bingley's sisters were present. Both Darcy and Bingley agreed that a good breakfast in good company was the best way to start their day. Darcy and Bingley went for a ride afterwards around the estate talking about what Bingley had learnt and planned with the steward. Darcy was impressed how Bingley finally understood that things did not just happen on their own on an estate. He chuckled to himself how he started to use the language of farmers. He restrained from correcting him when he used a term in the wrong context. He would learn, he thought. Darcy was generous with his praise. Not just because Bingley was his friend, but because he deserved it.

Georgiana, not having her companion around on this trip (they gave Mrs. Annesley leave to visit with her family for Christmas, even gave her a carriage to use), read for a while and then entertained herself with trying the pianoforte in the parlour. It was in need of tuning. She was very proud of herself. It was always done for her by her masters. She had seen it enough. She took her tuning fork which she always had with her, and one by one she adjusted the keys on the keyboard. She had tuned the instrument perfectly. By the time her brother and host returned, she was playing a lovely sonata. She smiled to herself at her secret achievement.

Brother and sister paid their formal morning call, which in actuality was in the afternoon. Darcy ever the pedantic, murmured his disagreement about calling it such. Why call it a morning call if it is in the afternoon?1 They arrived at the Phillips's at about two o'clock. Mr. Phillips was about to go back to his office after a light luncheon but delayed to visit with the Darcys. Mrs. Phillips had tears in her eyes as she regarded Darcy. They warmly greeted each other. For Darcy, it felt like coming home. He was eager to introduce his sister.

'Mrs. and Mr. Phillips, I hope you are both well. You seem well. It is just that we went to church yesterday and you were not there.'

'Mrs. Phillips did not feel up for it yesterday, that is all. We are fine. It is good to see you, sir.'

'In that case, may I introduce to you my sister? Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana, this is Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. Mrs. Phillips is sister to Mrs. Bennet.

'Welcome to our humble abode.' Mr. Phillips bowed.

'Yes, we are like two peas in a pod. It is the utmost pleasure to meet you, Miss Darcy. What a little beauty you are!' Mrs. Phillips enthused. 'Mr. Darcy, you cannot imagine how happy I am to see you again. When did you arrive?'

'Thank you, Mrs. Phillips. I am glad to be back. We arrived Saturday afternoon.'

'And you have come to visit us so soon! Have you visited… elsewhere?'

'I joined Mr. Bingley in visiting at Longbourn for a short while on the same day, in the afternoon.'

'Oh, it is good to hear that. And you saw everybody at church yesterday. Oh, how I wish now that we had gone… Did you find… everybody well?' Darcy chuckled at Mrs. Phillips trying to find out about him and Miss Elizabeth. She crimsoned when she realized he found her out.

'My dear, let Mr. Darcy breathe. Why do you not get us some tea?'

'Oh, my, my manners! I get to it right away. Miss Darcy, wait until you taste the cake. It is a new recipe I have read in the Gazette. I have tweaked it a little bit.' She winked at her.

'I hope your journey was comfortable?' Mr. Phillips continued while his wife attended to the refreshments.

'Comfortable is the word, Sir. That is the best one can have it. It was still heaven to sleep in my own bed. Derbyshire is quite the distance. If one organizes things well and has fresh horses waiting for them, then it can be done in three full days, to London.'

'And you, Miss Darcy? How did you weather the journey?'

'Hmm, I like travelling with my brother.' She said quietly.

'Really? And why is that?' She looked at her brother who nodded to her in encouragement. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

'He cannot escape me, from the carriage. I enjoy spending time with him. We talk, we play cards, we read to each other. It is a good time. I also like to watch the scenery. We watch it together.' She also almost said out loud that the only thing she regretted was that she was too big now to sit in his lap. She recalled those treasured times when they looked at things outside and called their names; they made a competition of it without a winner. She sat in his lap and they pointed at things. She smiled inwardly at the sweet memory.

'Do you hear this, Mr. Darcy? You must cherish this lovely young lady. It is not often one hears such endorsement.' Darcy patted his sister's hand. Mr. Phillips was touched by Miss Darcy's attachment to her brother. He would share that with his wife later.

She appeared with the housekeeper and magically transformed the parlour into a paradise of delightful smells. There was the fresh pot of tea (although it did not really smell, it added to the experience in view) and the aroma of cinnamon and vanilla from the cake and scones. She quietly prepared the cups for her guests and husband and told the guests to help themselves to the offering.

'Have you come because of the letters?' Mr. Phillips, ever the practical solicitor. He glanced toward Georgiana.

'She knows. I cannot keep anything from her.' He smiled at his sister. 'The letters were definitely an inducement, but, 'and he turned to Mrs. Phillips, 'I had realized before they arrived that for the time being my place was here… The letters changed my plans though as I had to go to Rosings in Kent to see my aunt first.' Mrs. Phillips was grinning from ear to ear.

'Oh, Mr. Darcy, we were not sure if we should impose on you, but Mr. Phillips said that he would have wanted to know if he had been in your situation.'

'Thank you, Sir. You assumed correctly. I am grateful for your good thinking. I would not have liked to show up here again not knowing that my aunt had done an unthinkable act in visiting the Bennets.'

'Mrs. Phillips, my brother told me how well you treated him when he was here. He asked me to select some delicacies for you. I hope you like some Turkish delight.' With that, she offered the lovely sweetmeat packaged in a delicate wooden box with yellow and white ribbons.

'Oh, my dear. You should not have.'

'Speak for yourself, woman. I favour Turkish delights very much. Thank you very much.' They all laughed.

'You are most welcome. It is just a small token.' Darcy still chuckled. 'Right, the letters. You wrote to me about Mr. Wickham. I was amazed that you figured him out so quickly. He is quite the master of manipulation.' Georgiana looked down. Her brother glanced at her in worry. Mr. Phillips read between the lines.

'Well, we did good on our words, Mr. Darcy. My sister and I have weight in the area, so we have not seen Mr. Wickham much. The genteel families have been more circumspect in their invitations.' Darcy smiled at his hostess.

'Yes, Mr. Wickham seemed like a smooth fellow. He upset my wife.'

'He said awful things. I did not want to believe anything bad about you. You are not a bad man.'

'No, he is not, my sweet. A few cross-questions made him keep to himself. I have not heard anything untoward since. Well, I did warn him.'

'Well done. I can think of but one thing that could be important. When he left the area at home, he left a substantial debt behind at the establishments of the area which I had to pay as I did not want the good folks to suffer. He had been ever such. He does not like to pay his way. I had to learn that at university. My father paid him to go. Even then he always spent more than he had.'

'That could be serious. We should look into it. Our merchants cannot afford unpaid purchases.'

'Oh, Mr. Phillips. He must have built up some debt in the last month. What shall we do?' Mrs. Phillips started to worry.

'My dear, we will take care of this with Mr. Darcy. Don't you worry.' The two men nodded to each other.

'All right, all right.'

'About my aunt. Was she really that bad?' Silence was the answer. The couple looked at each other as if wondering what to tell him.

'Mr. Darcy, I do not want to say derogatory remarks about your relations. Unfortunately, her visit was highly disturbing. Upsetting is the better word. I would say though that she received as she gave. As I wrote to you, Mr. Bennet ordered her off his property in the end. Lizzy, Elizabeth made light of it afterwards at dinner, alas in my opinion, she was rather affected. That is why I agreed to write to you.'

'I was deeply affected as well. I regret not being here. I should have been here.'

'You could not have predicted what she would do. We think she learnt some distorted tale from her parson, Mr. Collins.' Darcy nursed his knuckle at the memory.

'You are right, of course, but I cannot help but blame myself. As for Mr. Collins: he will not be a problem anymore.'

'Why, did you punch him in the face?' He laughed at his own joke but sobered at Darcy not following his example. 'You did?' His eyes widened.

'What happened?' Mrs. Phillips worried again.

'When I visited my aunt at Rosings, I also paid a visit to Mr. Collins, Mrs. Phillips. We had a conversation and now he understands that he was wrong.' He glanced at Mr. Phillips as he said that. A grin appeared on Mr. Phillips' face and he shook his head.

'Uh, good, good. That man. I did not like him. His hair was always greasy and could not hold his tongue. He went on and on about your aunt's chimney.' Darcy almost spat out his food. Georgiana went to the rescue:

'This cake is indeed very good, Mrs. Phillips.'

'Oh, I am glad you like it. What about you, Mr. Darcy, have you tried it?'

'I am already stuffed with two scones.'

'You and your scones.' She tattered indulgently.

'Mr. Phillips, could I make an appointment with you?' Mr. Phillips looked surprised. 'It is my aunt. If everything goes well, I will be here for a while, and I have a case for you that I need much help with.'

'I see. In that case, come by my office tomorrow around two o'clock. I will be free then.'

'Oh, Mr. Darcy, what an honour! Yes, Mr. Phillips, attend to him as soon as possible.' Darcy smiled at Mrs. Phillips. He had come to like her and her husband in short order. Mrs. Phillips had a special place in his heart now though.

'On the contrary, madam. I will be very grateful if Mr. Phillips takes my case.'

'You dear man.' She was definitely Mrs. Bennet's sister. Her handkerchief was flying in the air as she gestured widely.

1 Dinner in Regency times was moved further and further in the afternoon, to 5 p.m. or even later. As it was originally the midday (main) meal, anything before that was called 'in the morning' even if it was 3 p.m.