Chapter Six
'Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Saviour of the world was born
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above,
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the virgin's Son.'
'Wha — ?' Mrs Gardiner sat upright. Her husband mumbled something and buried his head under the pillow.
'Papa, wake up!' chirped Neddy.
'Up!' said John, who did not know the words but substituted happy la la las instead.
'Merry Christmas, Mama,' said Meg with dignity. She spared a look at her father, then took a deep breath. 'Then to the watchful shepherds it was told — '
'Who heard th'angelic herald's voice —' bawled Amelia. Georgiana winced. It had seemed a good idea at the time —
'Merry Christmas,' Mrs Gardiner said, coming to the door and looking at her children. 'Why, Miss Darcy!'
'Merry Christmas,' Georgiana said shyly.
'How charming — was this your idea?'
She nodded. 'When I was a child . . . well, I have not been here at Christmas for a long time, but at our house in town, and whenever we are with my family . . .'
'Of course. Edward.' She turned to her husband. 'Edward, get up! The children came to wish us a merry Christmas — or perhaps merely to announce it.'
Georgiana did not dare laugh as Mrs Darcy's uncle mumbled under her breath, but he seemed cheerful enough by the time he got to the door. 'Merry Christmas, Miss Darcy — girls, Neddy. What a charming surprise.'
She bit her lip, thinking, a little sadly, that even this year she was almost too old, and it was probably the last time. She would never be a child at Christmas again.
'La!'
Mr Gardiner laughed, swinging his younger son up into his arms. 'And John, you little miscreant.'
'Appy Kissmas,' said John.
Amelia giggled. Meg said, 'Shall we sing to Cousin Lizzy and Mr Darcy now?'
Georgiana hesitated. 'Well — usually one only sings to guests.'
'Oh no,' Mr Gardiner said firmly, 'there are so few guests, I am sure it would be acceptable — indeed, it would be very unfair to exclude them from such a delightful awakening.' Georgiana didn't know whether he was serious or not; his look was perfectly sober, but there was something in his voice — she waited as the children kissed their parents, then Amelia tugged at her hand.
'I want to sing some more!'
'We shall just be getting dressed then . . .' murmured Mrs Gardiner.
Georgiana nodded, and allowed the four small Gardiners to pull at her skirts and hands. 'Where is their room?' Meg asked, eyes wide.
'Well, there are two . . .'
'Whatever for?' demanded Amelia. 'Mama and Papa use only one.'
'Shh!' said Meg. 'Rich people are different.'
'Indeed,' said Georgiana, taking a deep breath as she stood outside her brother's chambers. Amelia, fearless as ever, knocked loudly on the door. After a moment, she heard Fitzwilliam's distinctive tread, and he opened the door, looking alert and composed despite the fact that he was still in his dressing gown. To her quickly concealed astonishment, Elizabeth was there also, lying sprawled across Fitzwilliam's bed with her dark hair loose and tangled about her shoulders, resting her head against her hand.
'Christians, awake, salute the happy morn,' all five began, Georgiana's voice trembling a little. Her brother's expression instantly softened, a slow smile crossing his face. Elizabeth, who had appeared rather sleepy, instantly sat up, and as soon as they were done, clapped her hands enthusiastically, nearly leaping up to join her husband at the door.
'How wonderful! It has been years since I have seen it. Have you already been to my aunt and uncle?'
'Yes. We were . . . we were going to go to your room . . .' She twisted her fingers together, then determinedly separated them.
'Ah. Well, you will generally have more luck finding me here,' Elizabeth said, with a brief, lingering look at Fitzwilliam, who was kneeling down to face the children properly. He glanced over his shoulder at her, and their eyes held for a moment before he coloured and looked away, a curious half smile on his lips.
Georgiana blushed furiously.
'It was my idea to come to you too,' Meg said.
'And a very good one it was,' Elizabeth replied, smiling fondly.
'We spent hours and hours learnting it,' said Neddy. 'John didn't, though.'
'La la la!'
Everyone laughed. 'Very well, go downstairs,' said Fitzwilliam. 'We shall not be very long.'
'Merry Christmas, Mr Darcy!' Amelia piped up.
'Merry Christmas, Amelia,' he replied, very gravely, pushing a wayward strand of hair back into her long plait. 'Now, all of you run along, we shall not be more than a few minutes.'
As they walked away, Georgiana heard Fitzwilliam's voice, and then Elizabeth's laughter, and she smiled contentedly. She was certain it would be a wonderful Christmas, the happiest in years.
It was. They went to the villages, distributing all the traditional gifts, and Georgiana joined the children for the last carols in the servants' hall. After they were shipped off to bed, she hesitated awkwardly, looking about herself. It was only a moment before Mrs Darcy hurried out, then stopped.
'Georgiana, why are you not eating with us?'
'I have never . . .' She blushed. 'I was not sure if I was — allowed.'
'Oh, nonsense. You are of age and you are out. Come along.' With a bright smile, she pulled her into the dining hall. 'My love, here she is!'
Fitzwilliam, looking especially content in his quiet way, rose and held out his hand to her. 'You must stay with us, Georgiana. You are a young lady now.'
She blushed, feeling how unworthy she was of his regard, but very pleased to have it all the same. She went and sat in the empty chair at his right hand. Everyone greeted her, and Mr Gardiner said,
'Miss Darcy, we were speaking of accomplishments. Or rather, my wife and niece, and your brother, were; I know when to hold my tongue.'
Georgiana smiled shyly.
'Mr Darcy , you do not truly think so ill of educated women?' said Mrs Gardiner. Georgiana's eyes widened. Outside of her family, she had never heard any lady speak so — so, so boldly — to her brother.
Fitzwilliam smiled. 'I fear you misunderstand me. If I may give an example, a lady who enjoys music for its own sake, who plays for her own pleasure and not for mere display — she is one whom I admire. And I confess, I do think ill of the education that is offered most ladies. I find that most women with truly well-educated minds possess them despite their educations, not because of them.'
'What, then, do you think a lady's education should consist of?' Mrs Gardiner inquired.
'Books, before all else,' he said promptly. 'And I do not speak of those melodramatic horrors that my cousins so enjoyed, though they have their place. It is all well and good to enjoy the advantages of hearing what others have to offer from their own knowledge and experience, but anything learnt from another person is filtered through his own prejudices and limitations. Men and women alike should be taught to think.'
Georgiana looked down at her venison. She was still glad that her brother had taken her out of that school, despite everything that had happened after. The other girls were so unpleasant, even those who simpered and flattered her to her face, and it wasn't as if she learnt anything of value. Even at her most despairing, she looked forward to lessons with her masters, and then discussions with her brother.
'We do not all have that luxury,' Mrs Darcy said suddenly. 'Marriage is the only honourable occupation for a well-bred lady. Is it any surprise that all of her powers are directed towards acquiring a husband?'
'Lizzy, you and I both know that is not so,' Mrs Gardiner interjected. 'Young ladies, even those without fortune, are not without choice or conscience.'
Mrs Darcy smiled. 'Yes, I know. Yet many are driven to desperation by circumstances beyond their control. I do not approve, but I cannot blame. So many women are judged only by their fortunes and beauty, or lack of them.'
'Such young ladies, certainly, are to be pitied,' said Fitzwilliam, 'even when they turn around and judge men as little more than so many hundreds or thousands a year, as — to use your word — acquisitions.' He had never spoken so before Georgiana, and there was a note in his voice that seemed very strange to her.
'It is one of the greatest failings of modern society, I think, that marriage is so often such a businesslike affair. Some affection is expected, but how often is it truly present?' Mrs Gardiner shook her head. 'It does, at least, increase one's sense of gratitude.'
'Indeed!' exclaimed Mrs Darcy. 'I believe we may all agree about that.' She looked across the table, meeting Fitzwilliam's gaze, and the vibrant laughter in her face softened briefly to a look that, to Georgiana's eyes, had less of vivacity and more of tenderness. Within moments, the conversation had gained its usual animation, but that brief moment remained more vividly in Georgiana's memory than any other. She admired Elizabeth's spirit and liveliness, of course, but somewhere, somehow, she had cherished the fear that such a bright, sparkling creature could not possibly be well suited to Fitzwilliam. Georgiana had known people like that, people whose company was always delightful, whose manners were charming, and whose affections, while passionate, were as transient and mobile as quicksilver. Fitzwilliam's feelings, though little displayed, were fervent, and above all of her many fears for herself, she had feared for him, feared the worst sort of unequal marriage. When she saw in Elizabeth a capacity for a gentler, deeper affection — an affection that could be trusted — she felt a tightness in her chest dissolve, leaving her spirits lighter than they had been for a very long time.