Hi. Thank you for your support and special mention to these reviewers:
Jansfamily4, Lisa, ChrisM0519, Motherof8, RHALiz, Guest, AVK, Levenez, nanciellen, Water Flower 2009, Deanna27, PDS1, midnitewanderer, Guest, Maria Teresa C
I have posted a chapter two days ago, so please go back if you have not read it yet.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
By eight o'clock the following morning, Mr Darcy was waiting at the spot where he and Elizabeth had shared tea and cakes two days ago. He had been checking the time on his watch every minute for the past quarter-hour, and there was still no sign of her. Standing up to stretch his legs, he worried that Elizabeth had been detained at Longbourn. He spied some movement out of the corner of his eye and when he turned, there she was! Releasing a sigh of relief, he admired her beauty as she walked towards him, her smile brightening the bleak winter landscape around them.
"Good morning, Mr Darcy!" she called out to him.
He then strode to meet her and said upon reaching her, "It is indeed a good morning, now that you are here."
It was all he could do to keep himself from pulling Elizabeth into his arms and kissing her soundly. He contented himself with several kisses on her gloved hands, then offered her his arm. To his surprise, instead of heading towards the tree they had sat under last time, her steps went in a different direction. He looked questioningly at her, and she whispered, "I want to show you something".
After walking over half a mile, she halted and turned to face him. "This is it."
That he did not understand what she was trying to show him was evident on his face. She released her hold on him and moved forward, then twirled around with her arms outstretched. Darcy stood there watching her, mesmerised by her carefree spirit.
When she stopped, she beamed at him and spoke softly, "This is my secret place. I like coming here when I want to be on my own."
Darcy looked around and took in his surroundings. Trees. That was what he could see. Bare trees. And the dry ground, littered with withered leaves of different shades of brown. Nothing extraordinary.
Observing his lack of enthusiasm, Elizabeth pulled him down to sit under a tree with a thick trunk and low-lying branches.
"I know it does not appear very interesting in the cold season. But you see," and here she started gesturing with her hands, "from here and all the way around, it somewhat forms an oval enclosure. And if you look between those trees over there, you notice the ground slopes downwards to a meadow."
She fixed her eyes on him, and spoke very softly, "Now close your eyes."
After a few moments, she continued, "Just listen."
She paused again, then slowly she directed, "Imagine it is April. Listen to the sounds of nature. The birds, insects and other creatures. The wind rustling the leaves. Everywhere around you, the grass is green and the trees are full of leaves. Red squirrels occasionally scurry about and quickly disappear. You can feel the warmth of sunshine on your face. Then… from the edge of this enclosure and all the way down, there is a sea of bluebells."
Darcy allowed himself to envisage the scene she described, while listening to her sweet, soothing voice.
"Does it not present an enchanting sight?" she murmured.
"Yes… yes, it does," he replied.
"Now you may open your eyes."
When he did, he saw that Elizabeth was smiling at him. He returned her smile and shifted closer until their shoulders were touching. He then took his gloves off and set them aside, and she did the same.
"Does anyone else know about this?" he asked, their hands now clasped together.
"Any walker can stumble upon this place. But I have not shared it with anyone else," she replied.
He kissed her hands then continued holding them. "It must be beautiful here in the springtime."
"Yes, it is," she said. "But I am sure there many more delightful views in the Derbyshire countryside."
"I suppose every county has its own charm," he answered.
"Will you tell me about your home, sir?"
The gentleman was surprised that she used the word 'home' instead of 'estate' or its name, Pemberley.
"What do you wish to know?"
"What do you like about it? What was it like growing up there? Do you have any favourite areas?"
Had it been any other woman, he reckoned that they would be more interested in knowing about the size of the house, the number of rooms, the furnishings, the expanse of the grounds and the earnings of the estate. He then proceeded to speak to her warmly about his favourite haunts, and stories about his family and childhood.
"It sounds like a wonderful place," she remarked sincerely.
"I hope you will be able to see Pemberley one day, and that you will like it," he replied, a hint of wistfulness in his voice.
"I daresay that there is no one who would not approve, sir."
"But your good opinion is rarely bestowed, which makes it more worth the earning," he said.
"I do not believe I am so harsh, Mr Darcy. I hope that I can give credit where it is due. The reports I have heard, including those from Mr Bingley and his relations, as well as from my uncle and aunt, portray you as an excellent master of Pemberley. It must be a challenging task, managing such a great estate," she declared.
"It can be, but having people to help me makes the load easier," he looked at her meaningfully, and squeezed her hands.
"I – I ought to head back, sir. They will be expecting me to be home for breakfast," she sighed.
Darcy helped her up, disappointed to part with her.
"Your hands are cold. Here," he said as he passed her gloves to her.
After she had put them on, Darcy drew closer and placed a tentative hand on her waist. Instinctively, she stepped forward and touched the lapels of his coat. His hand slowly moved to her lower back, and she lay her head gently on his chest.
"When can I see you again?" he whispered, stroking her hair with his other hand, and placing tender kisses on the top of her head.
"Well, I do hope you will call at Longbourn later. Then we shall see you in church tomorrow before you join us for Christmas dinner," she answered.
"And the following day?"
"You know where to find me."
She gazed up at him and he brushed his lips against one cheek, then the other.
"Come, let me see you home before you freeze from the cold."
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
In the afternoon, a merry party set out to collect supplies they could use to adorn the Longbourn residence. Georgiana, Anne, Kitty and Lydia carried baskets that they could fill with holly, ivy, mistletoe, rosemary, hellebore and other greenery. Jane and Elizabeth, accompanied by their attentive suitors, trailed behind with the Gardiner children.
"What is the matter with them?" Elizabeth asked Darcy. She had noticed their relations glancing in their direction then turning away and giggling several times.
Darcy looked at the group who were chattering freely and replied,
"I do not see anything of concern. They appear to be having fun with their project and enjoying each other's company."
"Hmm, perhaps you are right," she answered, not entirely convinced.
"I am glad that my sister and cousin have become friends with your sisters. They act like they have known each other for a long time. The last time I have seen Georgiana this lively was before our parents passed away," Darcy added.
"Well, I am also happy that Lydia and Kitty found some sensible friends."
A few moments later, the youngest Gardiner child, Isabella, held Elizabeth's hand and asked if they could have a break from walking.
"Of course, poppet. Let me just tell the others."
The children sat down on a fallen log and compared their haul of interesting sticks and stones. The others in the party decided to walk ahead of them so they can return to Longbourn earlier and assemble the decorations, while Darcy and Elizabeth stayed with the younger ones.
"Are you taking that rock back? It would be heavy to carry," the younger twin, Robert, asked his sister.
"I like it. See, it looks like it has a face," Isabella replied, holding up the rock that was bigger than her fist.
"That is very curious indeed. I will help you with your basket if you wish," Darcy suggested.
The girl was very pleased to hear this and smiled at the tall man. The children continued with this amusement for some more minutes, deciding which articles to keep or discard.
On their way back, Elizabeth walked hand in hand with Emma, while holding the girl's basket for her. Isabella comfortably clung to Darcy as he carried her precious collection. Following close behind them were the twin brothers. As Elizabeth turned a corner, she momentarily stopped in her tracks then hurriedly turned around to continue on a different path.
"I – I am sorry. I think this way is quicker," she stammered.
Darcy noticed her shocked expression and wanted to know what had happened. After walking a short distance, he picked up a fallen pine cone from the ground and showed it to Isabella.
"I wonder if your cousins would like some pine cones to add to the decorations for Christmas. My sister and I used to make cone cows when we were younger."
"Cone cows? What are cone cows?" the girl asked.
"They are cows made from pine cones ," Darcy explained. "Would you like me to show you one?"
"Yes, please. I have never seen a cone cow before!" she replied with excitement in her voice.
"I would need some really, really nice pine cones though, and some small sticks of about this size," Darcy motioned with his fingers. Isabella immediately called to her siblings to help her find more pine cones and the required sticks telling them to "find the best ones because Mr Darcy will make some cone cows".
While the children were occupied with their task, Darcy took this time to talk to Elizabeth.
"Is there something troubling you?"
"I – I just saw something and… well… I did not want the children to see…" she haltingly replied.
"What did you see? Is it a scary creature?"
"No! Nothing of that sort!" she laughed. "It was Jane and Mr Bingley… kissing!" she whispered.
Expecting to see surprise in his reaction, Elizabeth was confused when he smirked instead.
"It was not the same as your kisses. They were locked in an embrace and kissing. Really kissing! With erm…" she said. "Why are you not alarmed?" she wondered when his smile widened.
"Is it wrong for a couple in love to display their affection to each other?" Darcy asked her.
"But… but… they were quite… they are not yet…"
"It might be best if you talk to your sister later," Darcy said mysteriously before walking away to gather the children so they could make it back before the sky turned dark.
Back at Longbourn, the young ladies were busy with making decorations and adorning various areas of the house with the embellished greenery. In the parlour, Darcy demonstrated to the children how to make a cone cow. It was quite easy, simply done by inserting sticks to serve as legs. With a little guidance from Darcy and Elizabeth, the children eagerly created their own and made a whole herd of cone cows, laughing when the toy animals could not stand properly. The twins even designed a fence to prevent them from escaping.
Elizabeth waited until bedtime to speak to Jane. She was unsure how to bring up the subject but she decided to proceed in order to ease her mind.
"How are things between you and Mr Bingley?" she started.
"As well as they could possibly be," Jane replied with a ready smile.
"Jane… I… I saw you and him this afternoon… during our walk… you were… embracing and kissing…" Elizabeth said.
"Did you? I did not realise. Did anyone else see us?" Jane asked.
"No. I do not think so. At the time, Emma was looking down as she counted her steps, and the others were behind us," Elizabeth answered.
Jane nodded and gave her sister a hesitant look.
"Lizzy… Mr Bingley and I are engaged," she revealed.
"Engaged? That is wonderful news, Jane! I am very happy for you!" Elizabeth hugged her sister affectionately, then sat beside her. "So that was why Mr Darcy was not surprised when I told him that I had seen you kissing!"
"You told him? Never mind… We… we did not…" Elizabeth saw Jane struggling with her words and squeezed her hand.
"Do not worry, Jane. Mr Darcy understands that you are Mr Bingley are in love and were expressing your affections," she reassured her.
"There is something else I need to tell you. But please do not be angry with me," Jane said with pleading eyes.
"You know I can never be angry with you, Jane. What is it? Just tell me," Elizabeth encouraged.
"Charles proposed to me on the day of Mary's wedding, after the wedding breakfast. That was why he called on papa very early the following morning. He sought his blessing and then went to London to arrange the marriage settlement documents," Jane confessed.
"You have been engaged for days? Why did you not tell me sooner? Does anyone else know?"
"Only papa knows. And Mr Darcy. Well, papa wants to delay telling mamma. You know how mamma will react. Papa wants to enjoy some peace after Mary's wedding and all the preparations for Christmas. I thought that you might feel pressured in your courtship with Mr Darcy if you and other people knew. Mamma and the others might expect you to accept him immediately. I do not want my engagement to affect your decision. It is also Mr Darcy's wish that if you were to accept him one day, it will be your choice. He said he does not want to rush you into giving him an answer. I am sorry I did not tell you sooner," Jane explained.
"I understand, Jane. But… what if… it takes me a long time? Mr Bingley will not want to wait for so long to marry you," Elizabeth asked.
Jane smiled and wrapped an arm around her sister's waist, pulling her closer.
"We shall see." Jane knew her sister very well and from what she could see, Elizabeth was likely to be already in love with her suitor. It might only be a matter of days before she finally realised and accepted this. Perhaps a subtle nudge would help move things along.
"I am so very pleased for you, Jane," Elizabeth spoke warmly as she lay her head on Jane's shoulder.
"I only wish I could see you as happy, Lizzy," Jane replied, gently stroking her sister's arm.
"How did you know, Jane? How did you know Mr Bingley is the one for you?" Elizabeth asked in a soft voice.
"We respect and care for each other. I can see my future with him. When I imagine what my life would be like years from now, I see him as my equal partner, and as a loving father to our children. I want to build a home with him. I am happy with him, and I want to make him happy as well. He has many admirable qualities. Amiable, kind-natured, attentive… he is everything I could want for in a husband," Jane said.
"Does that include being a good kisser too?" Elizabeth teased.
"Lizzy! One day, you will experience it too!" Jane retorted. "But let it be with the one you love, and it will be wonderful," she added.
"Jane, if papa is ready, he could announce your engagement during Christmas dinner tomorrow. I think hearing this fantastic news will make everyone very happy. It would be the best timing," Elizabeth suggested.
"Are you sure, Lizzy?"
"Yes, I am quite certain," Elizabeth smiled and hugged her sister tight before they went to bed.
For some time, Elizabeth lay awake as she considered her sister's words. Can she envision her future with Mr Darcy? Does she want to spend the rest of her life with him? Can they build a happy home together? She eventually fell asleep thinking about the intimate moments she had shared with Mr Darcy – his gentle touches, his warm embrace, his tender kisses…
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Christmas Day next chapter!
Thank you for the replies to the last question. The games sound very fun. And it is also fun imagining those characters playing the game/sport. Rugby, racing, Twister, Cards Against Humanity, e-sports, Truth or Dare, dancing, horseback riding etc.
Next question: How do you see each character in PnP? I mean, physical features, like their height, colour of hair, eyes, etc? JA is a legend, of course, but her style of writing did not detail some physical descriptions (of people, places etc). Not a criticism at all, as that was not the focus of her stories. Just curious to know how other readers envision what the characters look like, male or female, even minor ones. What is the order of height among the Bennet sisters? Who is blonde, brunette etc?
e.g. Lizzy was said to have fine, dark eyes and light, pleasing figure. But Caro describes her thus: Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy; and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character; there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive any thing extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether, there is a self-sufficiency without fashion which is intolerable. We know not to trust Caro's words though.
I tend to think of Lizzy as having green eyes, but that is not dark, is it? Maybe brown? And Darcy, I would say blue… no rhyme or reason lol.
I sometimes think the actors/actresses from the adaptations do not match physically, like some look older etc. Some will say their appearance aged more quickly in those days but still… anyway…
My phone still works but does not stay charged for very long. It will soon die unless I get a replacement battery. I cannot change some settings on my work laptop as it is not my own. I will sort something out.
I go back to work next week so I cannot say how often I can write and update. I expect things to be tough, having gone through 4 changes in leadership the past year. But I have every intention to finish my stories.
Thank you and till next chapter!