The next morning Elizabeth rose early, and dressed in the same borrowed gown from the evening before; made her way down to the breakfast room. Peering around the door, she was expecting to see Darcy sitting with the newspaper but was surprised to see only Charles in the room. He rose politely to his feet as she entered the room and drew a chair out at the table.
"Good Morning, Charles. Is Darcy not downstairs yet?" Elizabeth asked as she opened a napkin over her lap.
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth I haven't seen him. I thought that you were going to call me Charlie from now on?"
"I was trying to annoy your sister. She delights in tormenting me, and that is my little payback. Unless you would prefer that I don't address you as such at all? I didn't even think of asking whether it made you feel uncomfortable…" Elizabeth turned concerned eyes to Charles and he pondered the question for a moment.
"Do you know, I don't think that anyone has ever called me 'Charlie' before, it might take a little getting used to, but I think that I might grow accustomed to it? Do you think that Jane would like it? I believe she refers to you as 'Lizzie' and uses 'Kitty' for your sister…"
"Maybe we should try it out for a little while, just amongst friends. I'm testing out Darcy by calling him 'William', 'Fitzwilliam' is such a mouthful and I would rather not take my mother's lead, she persists in referring to my father as 'Mr. Bennet' and it always sounds so formal." Elizabeth reached for a piece of toast and noticed that a pot of plum jam held pride of place in the centre of the table. She spread a large portion over her toast and murmured her appreciation. The staff had been on lookout for her arrival and as soon as word had reached the kitchens that she had entered the breakfast room, fresh hot chocolate had been prepared and was being carefully brought in by Nancy.
"Hot chocolate, Miss?" Nancy offered the steaming pot to Elizabeth who sniffed in appreciation. As the warm brown liquid was carefully poured into her cup, Elizabeth drank in the fragrance with delight.
"Ah, Charlie…hot chocolate. I'd be willing to share, if you would like some?" Charles made a funny grimace and refused the offer.
"Thank you, but no. How you ladies can drink that first thing in the morning is beyond me. I much prefer tea in the morning and then coffee in the afternoon. I believe that Darcy is the other way around, he likes a strong coffee to wake him up. Speaking of Darcy, here he is now…" Darcy strolled into the breakfast room, still looking a little rumpled from sleep. He muttered a greeting to Charles and buried his head behind the newspaper as Nancy hurried over to pour his first cup of coffee.
"Is he always like this?" Elizabeth murmured to Charles as Darcy continued to read the newspaper without even acknowledging her presence.
"I'm afraid so, it usually takes two cups to make him human." They chuckled a little, and turned back to their breakfast.
"Darcy, have you noticed anything different this morning?" Charles finally asked his friend, when after two cups of coffee Darcy still hadn't emerged from behind the newspaper.
"Look Charles, I've had a terribly restless night and face a very confusing day ahead. I'm not in the mood for your endless wittering, I need to stay focused for when Elizabeth comes downstairs." Darcy had spent most of the night rehearsing another proposal and as such was feeling sore headed from lack of sleep.
"Ummm, Darcy? You might want to start paying attention, Elizabeth has been up for hours…" Charles rapped his knuckles on the table to force Darcy to place the newspaper down. Darcy did so very slowly and looked over to where Elizabeth was looking very amused.
"Elizabeth, I am so sorry. Please forgive me! I haven't been a very gracious host have I?" He rose to his feet and bent over her hand to place a gentle kiss on the back of it. Charles cleared his throat slightly and made some excuse about having his valet polish his boots and left the two alone together in the breakfast room. As soon as he left, Timothy and Henry took positions either side of the breakfast room doors and quietly closed them almost shut.
"William, please don't worry about it. I can see that you have a particular ritual in the mornings and I don't want to cause you any unnecessary disruption…" Elizabeth stared into his warm brown eyes, which were almost the same colour as the hot chocolate still siting warm in her cup. Darcy retained his grip on her hand and took a seat beside her at the table.
"My darling girl, to see you sitting across the table before me is a very pleasant distraction indeed! The reason I slept poorly was because you were all I could think about. Whether you were comfortable, whether you liked the colours of the room, were you warm enough… but mainly because you were just a few rooms away."
"Oh William!" Elizabeth reached over with her free hand to gently caress the side of his face, smiling when he turned to rub his cheek against her palm. He captured that gentle hand and his gaze turned serious.
"Elizabeth, I told you last night that I wouldn't ask you again until I was certain that your head was clear. Tell me, is your head clear and heart wide open?"
"My dearest Mr. Darcy, my heart has always been open but my head can never be clear when you are all I seem to be thinking about." Darcy smiled softly at her whispered confession and then left his seat in preparation to drop to one knee… He muttered a curse when there was a knock on the door, and stood stiffly behind Elizabeth's chair.
"Enter!"
"Pardon me, Mr. Darcy. But the Gardiner's have arrived and have brought Miss Elizabeth's luggage. I was wondering whether the young lady wished to change into her own clothes?" Nancy tentatively posed the question as she stood in the now open doorway.
"Thank you, Nancy. Darcy, I would like to be in my own things, perhaps we can try this again a little later?" Elizabeth looked up slightly into his cross face and stroked the hand that was resting lightly on the back of her chair.
"It never seems to be the right time for us, does it?"
"It will be soon, I promise. Now you go and be the gracious host that I know that you are, and I will pop upstairs and freshen up. What time does Georgiana usually rise?" Darcy's face relaxed into a smile at her reassurance and helped Elizabeth to her feet.
"Georgiana has always been a late riser, preferring to take her breakfast in her room. Apart from when Charles pays me a visit, I've always breakfasted alone."
"Not anymore, I've always found the early morning to be my favourite time of day."
"I look forward to spending many more mornings with you, dearest Elizabeth." Darcy leant down to brush his lips across her forehead and gently propelled her out of the room. "Go and change, as you say, there will be time enough for us later." Elizabeth waved a goodbye and Darcy sighed a little at yet another lost chance, pasted a firm smile on his face and strode out into the hallway to greet his other guests.
"Edward, Lucy! More early risers I see. Tell me, have you had breakfast? No? Please come on into the breakfast room and I'll call for some fresh tea. Nancy, would you mind informing cook please?" Darcy gestured for Edward and Lucy to precede him back into the breakfast room and settled them in.
"So Darcy, did you get her to say yes yet?" Edward asked as soon as he sat down. Darcy gaped for a moment and then a startled burst of laughter brought tears of mirth to his eyes.
"Well, you get straight to the point don't you, Edward?"
"Did I tell you that I was a solicitor? There's no point in beating around the bush in my line of work. Now, have you proposed yet or haven't you?" Edward reached for a scone and dropped a large quantity of plum jam into the centre and took a huge bite. He raised an eyebrow in Darcy's direction and sighed heavily when Darcy revealed that he had been attempting another proposal just as they had arrived.
"Have you no romance in your soul, lad? You don't propose over tea and toast! It should be over a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates…or some such things. Our Lizzie loves a walk, so take her out amongst the wild flowers or on one of your favourite paths in the gardens… show some imagination, or else come September you will find yourself alone again." Edward offered Darcy the advice and looked over to make certain that he was paying attention.
"I see Edward, yes I think I have all of that. Now what do you say to getting started with preparations for the Fayre? I have asked all of the senior staff to assemble in the ballroom where I've had a few tables assembled. I think it would be an idea for them to tell the ladies exactly what entertainment was provided in my Mother's time. In the meantime, I thought that Charles and yourself might like to become better acquainted over some fishing tackle. I myself have some business to discuss with my steward but should be free to accompany you down to the lakes this afternoon. Does that meet with your approval Edward, Lucy?" Darcy rose from his seat and held out an arm to Lucy who accepted it with a smile.
"I've already suggested to Mrs. Reynolds that she sit with the three of you this morning, just to introduce you to the staff." Darcy led the way out of the breakfast room and past the library, dining room and his study before pausing before a set of elaborately carved gilded doors. "Here is the ballroom," Darcy threw open the large doors in a flourish to reveal the opulent sight within. "I know, it's a little grandiose for my tastes, but was quite the thing in my Mother's days as Mistress of Pemberley." As they walked in, Lucy was taken aback at the sheer size and splendour of the room. Huge floor to ceiling mirrors covered each end of the room and there were alcoves evenly spaced along each of the long sides. Each alcove contained a small velvet settee and was surrounded by detailed carvings from Shakespeare and either side of the alcove held a magnificent four armed candelabra. Edward craned his neck to see all around and was trying to estimate exactly how large the room really was, it was difficult to work out as there were endless reflections being bounced back into the room from the mirrors.
Just to the right of the entry way a large table had been set up with several smaller round tables dotted around it. Mrs. Reynolds was laying out a tea service and looked up as they walked over.
"Lucy, I leave you in Mrs. Reynolds most capable hands. Mrs. Reynolds, I have asked that Nancy show Miss Elizabeth and Miss Georgiana to the ballroom as soon as they return downstairs. Hopefully Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst will keep themselves occupied this morning, they rarely seem venture forth until luncheon anyway. Ladies," Darcy handed Lucy over to Mrs. Reynolds and bowed over Lucy's hand before he and Edward left the ladies to discuss the Fayre.
Staff from all aspects of Pemberley began drifting into the ballroom closed followed by Georgiana and Elizabeth. People began milling around talking amongst themselves before Mrs. Reynolds drew everyone to order. She directed people to take a seat and then bade the ladies to take their places at the large rectangular table.
"Mrs. Reynolds, this is a little regimented don't you think?" Elizabeth felt as if she were taking part in some sort of trial, seated up at the table looking over a crowd of now silent staff.
"What did you have in mind, Miss?" Mrs. Reynolds was intrigued at how the young lady would break the ice, how the staff treated her in the future depended a lot on her actions over the new few minutes.
"Well, for one thing," Elizabeth stated, "these tables are far too apart! Can we have a few footmen bring them in a little closer?" Mrs. Reynolds nodded and gestured for a two strapping young footmen to come into the room. "Gentlemen, I'd like this large table moved back against the wall please. And these smaller tables moved closer together. If we could have some more cups sent in please, as well. I'd also like a plentiful supply of paper, ink and quills." Elizabeth issued her instructions and the men moved the furniture. Mrs. Reynolds sent Nancy to the kitchens for more tea and cups to be sent up. Elizabeth nodded in satisfaction and then addressed the staff.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like you all to rearrange yourselves to be seated in the areas of the household that you work in. Over here I would like the garden staff, and those responsible for arranging the household flowers." Elizabeth pointed to one of the tables and the staff moved over. "Then here, I would like the kitchen staff, including pastry chefs, wine steward and anyone else with a particular speciality in the kitchen." Elizabeth continued to rearrange the staff until they were all seated in the order she required. When the paper and ink arrived, she issued each table with instructions that they were to write any memories that they had of past Fayre's that had taken place at Pemberley. Lucy and Georgiana hid a smile at Elizabeth's commanding attitude and walked slowly amongst the tables looking over the ideas.
"I get the feeling that I am somehow surplus to requirements." Lucy murmured low to the younger girl.
"Me, too. Do you think that she really needs us right now? I would much rather be in my music room right now." Georgiana sighed a little unhappily at the thought of missing her practise sessions.
"Elizabeth dear, Georgiana has just had a rather marvellous idea that we should have music throughout the Fayre. We are just going off to look through some music sheets in Georgiana's music room." Lucy called over to where Elizabeth was discussing the merits of an archery contest versus a croquet match.
"Splendid idea Georgiana, we could make it into a musical competition. I do hope that you will be performing?" Elizabeth made another notation on her sheet and waved them out of the room. "Now where were we, No, Henry I don't think that a tug of war in the mud is such a good idea…"