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Chapter Twenty -- Chess at Whites

Posted on Wednesday, 22 August 2007

Promptly at half past one in the afternoon, Bingley and Darcy arrived at the Gardiner's door to be ushered into the front parlor by the servant. There they were to accompany Mr. Gardiner to the gentlemen's club at the Earl's invitation and, Darcy hoped, both the Miss Bennets were to join them.

When the door opened to the mistress of the house entering, Darcy did not know what to think. Initial greetings were made before she sat on the settee, giving the men leave to do likewise. Both gentlemen grew discouraged that the outing may not include the young ladies.

Mrs. Gardiner asked, "I understand you are to escort my husband to Earl Matlock's club for the afternoon?"

Darcy nodded. "The two of them had realized their shared love of chess, and my uncle also issued an invitation to myself to join them if I was available." He paused before adding, "Being as it is an open house, any family members of those invited are also allowed to attend the luncheon and take part in a tour if they are so inclined. You would be more than welcomed should you choose to attend."

"So Mr. Gardiner informed me when the Earl offered his kind invitation, but I had several duties of the house that could not be rescheduled without inconvenience."

Without specifying her reasons, he felt it beneath him to inquire, merely sighing, thinking that one or both the Miss Bennets would be required to attend Mrs. Gardiner with her household duties, making Elizabeth unavailable to join him for the anticipated game of chess.

Oh well, another time, perhaps.

He stated, "I, too, had several business appointments. My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, had to get back to his duties at headquarters else he would have joined us as well. I sent a note informing my uncle of the plan to join him after the luncheon."

Just as he had reconciled himself to this unavoidable happenstance of the absence of the Miss Bennets, footsteps were heard in the hallway, no doubt, Darcy thought, those of Mr. Gardiner at last ready to depart. He was not wrong in his assessment as the gentleman entered in a somewhat hurried manner, obviously having only just returned home.

"Good day to you, sir," Bingley said as he and Darcy rose. Both bowed.

Mr. Gardiner did likewise as he said, "And to you, sirs. I see you are both in good health."

"Yes, sir, quite," avowed Darcy, adding after a pause, "Are we to White's then?"

"Yes, but I ask your forgiveness for my tardiness, and beg you allow me to catch my breath before I am off again, this time on pleasure bent."

He put his hat and gloves down and the servant helped him remove his coat before leaving the three gentlemen with the mistress. Mr. Gardiner offered them a glass of sherry, which both declined, and said, "A favored client had need of my presence at my warehouse for a time this morning and stayed longer than either of us had originally intended to inspect and then take possession of a certain item."

When Mr. Gardiner said no more of it but gave Darcy a knowing stare, he guessed the enigmatic item to be the custom outfitted carriage and the client a member of the royal family. At Darcy's nod, Mr. Gardiner added, "I hope this was not too much of an inconvenience to you and your uncle, Lord Matlock, who awaits us."

Having not at all been put out by such a change of plan, Darcy stating, "Not in the slightest, Mr. Gardiner as we have only just arrived. My uncle was informed ahead of time of my not being available until after the luncheon hour. I am sure he would understand your need to attend to your business affairs"

In truth, Darcy thought no such thing. Rather, that had the Earl known the reason for Mr. Gardiner's delay, he would complain about being made to wait for so trivial an excuse as anything to do with trade, but Darcy was too much of a gentleman to say such to the kindly Mr. Gardiner.

Sipping his sherry, he asked, "My dear, are not our nieces ready?"

"Then they are to join us, Mr. Gardiner?" Bingley smiled widely as his hopes were fulfilled.

"Lizzy expressed an interest in witnessing true master players in action, so I relented of her accompanying me. She asked if Jane could join us as she understood that more than one gentleman was also to accompany me."

Mrs. Gardiner noted the brightened faces of the two young men and answered her husband. "Our nieces led me to believe that they would be all put together by your return. Let me go hurry them along. Excuse me, gentlemen." She curtseyed and removed from the room.

Now knowing that the Miss Bennets were to be in their company for this excursion, it was only years of experience at hiding his emotions with a mask of indifference that enabled Darcy from keeping a smile on his face as wide as Bingley's.

The ride to his uncle's club was comfortable due to Darcy arranging that his larger carriage be available to the group. Mr. Gardiner sat between his two nieces on one seat with the young men sharing the other side. Since the distance to White's on St James Street from Cheapside was of short duration, their conversation was one of brief pleasantries of what they planned during the holiday. It was discovered that Bingley was to venture to Scarbourgh with his family while Darcy remained in town on a prolonged visit with his relative.

When the carriage pulled to a stop in front of a stately house, the three gentlemen disembarked before handing down the ladies. The three newcomers admired the façade with Jane whispering, "It looks so elegant," to her uncle to which he could but nod in agreement. Bingley offered Jane his arm, escorting her up the stairs followed by Darcy and Mr. Gardiner with Elizabeth on his arm.

At their entrance, Jane whispered, "What is that smell?"

Elizabeth giggled, whispering back, "I think it is the combination of a century's use of furniture polish, cigars, and by the dotage of many of the servants and members, I would say the lingering aroma of musk that the elderly tend to exude."

"Lizzy!"

But before Jane could further admonish her sister, Mr. Gardiner leaned over to whisper to Elizabeth, "I thank you for the opportunity to view this building from the inside. I doubt without your connections I would have ever been allowed in, being a man of trade."

To this statement Bingley had to nod for without his friendship to Darcy and his ilk, Bingley doubted even he would have ever chanced to step inside the most exclusive club on the east end of London, no matter what Caroline espoused. It was one thing to become rich, quite another to be born into it as were Darcy and his cousins. The most Bingley could hope for after he obtained an estate would perhaps be admittance into Boodles where country squires are welcomed and the Cambridge Club to visit with old college friends.

Mr. Gardiner continued his thought with, "It is quite grand, is it not, the way the rich live?"

Each of his nieces merely nodded at viewing the classical lines of the architecture that made the entire house as stately as a manor. All in the group glanced at the handsome proportions of the rooms, the sumptuous comfort of the upholstery in all the furnishings, superior in a weighty grandeur without having the warmth of colors so in vogue in fashionable houses. Both Jane and Elizabeth took note of the rather spartan appearance of the rooms in comparison to the usual clutter of a home.

Jane remarked, "It reminds me of father's bookroom."

To this Elizabeth nodded agreement, citing, "Where men could go to enjoy their favorite pastimes rather than be always in company of those of the female persuasion."

Elizabeth then whispered a tease to her uncle, "Just the kind of place for a man who has tired of effeminate addendums such as paintings and vases?"

Mr. Gardiner could find neither to set his eye, quipping, "very austere but comfortable enough."

Soon they were being led by an elderly servant up the stairs to join the rest of the group taking a tour of the facilities. They moved pass offices to the morning rooms, a coffee room and the dining room where luncheon had been set up and several members were still at table without plans to remove from the area even with the tour gawking at them.

The upper level or principal floor housed a drawing room, a card room where laughter and loud noise was emanating to have their guide usher them pass the door. The library and writing rooms were next, the former being the room where several ohs and ahs were voiced, and the girl next to and an elderly man whispered, "Oh, Grandfather, look at all the books! Do you suppose all these men have read all of them?"

A loud snore was heard from the corner grouping of chairs whereby the girl's mother snorted, "I think that the pages of very few of these books have ever seen the light of day in a long while, my dear." Those near enough to hear this remark chuckled in agreement.

"Still," Elizabeth leaned near her uncle to add, "I would not mind spending a length of time perusing these shelves."

Darcy smiled at hearing this only to have their guide avow, "Only members of high standing are allowed into the library."

Oblivious at the guide's overt shun, Bingley quipped, "Then you would love the library at Pemberley, Miss Bennet. It puts this one to shame for all the volumes it houses."

Elizabeth glanced over to Darcy to see him acknowledge his friend's ascertains with a nod. "It has been an accumulation of several generations." She was impressed.

Their guide stopped them at the landing of the upper floor, citing, "Above is the billiard's room and the smoking room-"

Here a woman interrupted with, "Well, we certainly do not need to view those rooms!" There were giggles and nods by many whereby the guide motioned for the group to follow him to the remaining rooms on the present floor.

As they passed each room the members inside glanced up, most of whom seemed not altogether sanguine to their club being on display for outsiders even if some were potential members. The rustling of newspapers showed their opinion of the tour.

After taking part in the tour, Jane and Bingley followed directly behind Darcy escorting Elizabeth to one of several rooms where tables were set up for chess, and where many games were in progress amid the aroma of cigar smoke and whisky. The stately silence was one rivaling that of a public library.

Moving past one of the tables where two younger gentlemen were ensconced in a game, Elizabeth quickly saw how it would conclude as did Darcy whose eyes challenged her to interfere. Smiling, she too could not resist the temptation to give aide, nodding slightly.

But how can it be accomplished?

Jane and Bingley stopped short to keep from colliding into the other two, Jane wondering what was afoot. "Lizzy?"

"Excuse me, sir," began Elizabeth, initiating a conversation with one of the men at the table, using her best imitation of Lydia's brash, breathy voice to have Jane purse her lips at hearing her. "This is the game called chess. Am I correct?"

Both men seemed flattered at the attention of such a lovely young woman, and hoped she was the daughter or niece of a potential new member visiting the club this day. Each wished to charm her into a positive view to relate to her father, brother, or uncle with the dark haired man answering in a patronizing voice, "Why yes, Miss. Are you at all familiar with the game?"

Keeping her voice light and effusive, Elizabeth answered, "Both my father and my uncle play, and they have allowed me to watch them." Then she added quickly, "May I ask a favor of you, sir?"

"What is it, Miss?" The man was all anticipation.

"Would you allow me to move one of your men?"

Her fluttering lashes almost did the poor man in as he stammered through his words in answer to her request. "Ah...why...I..."

His partner chided him with, "Oh, for heaven's sake, Morris, what difference could it possibly make? You are done for anyway."

Shrugging, Mr. Morris nodded the outcome of the game, and motioned to Elizabeth, giving her permission to touch whichever of the men on the board she wished.

Acting shyly, she smiled at him before picking up the man's only remaining knight. "I like these horse pieces," she said only to see the man roll his eyes before she continued, "and if I move him properly he would end up...here!" She firmly placed the knight near enough to his opponent's queen that she would fall with his next turn if she were not moved.

Both men looked at the board as if they had never seen it before. "How did she do that?"

Morris smirked. "I can see that you have some maneuvering to do yet, Billingsford."

When the foursome tried to rejoin the tour, Morris attempted to keep them in the room. "Oh, but Miss, do you not wish to move another of my men?"

Elizabeth smiled, and continued her imitation of her flirty, younger sister, saying, "No, sir, that is the only one I wished to move." She curtseyed. "Good day to you, gentlemen," she called over her shoulder as the tour continued out of the room.

When they were a sufficient distance from the tables, Jane admonished her with, "Lizzy! Why did you..."

Elizabeth smiled very smugly and finished her sister's sentence, "...pretend to be as silly as a certain young lady we all know? Because I wanted to help the poor man accomplish a win where none was apparent."

"If father ever found out what you did..."

"And who is going to tell him, pray? You, dear sister, or our two escorts?"

Gazing up at each, it was clear by the shaking of heads and the promise on their faces that they would never reveal the occurrence.

"You see, dear Jane, I am quite safe from scandal. Come, let us find Uncle Gardiner. He should be about somewhere." Glancing at Darcy, he acknowledged that he owed her a future forfeit.

They found their two uncles in one of the private rooms nearby, each passive while deep in thought over their next moves. They all greeted her uncle with Bingley offering to go for refreshments, asking that Jane accompany him.

Meanwhile Elizabeth and Darcy viewed the board of the current game, mentally moving the pieces around the board to the inevitable conclusion. Their standing as silent sentinels seemed to unnerve both gentlemen who gazed up at the couple.

"What is it, niece? Do you see a move in the offing?"

The Earl scoffed, hidden by clearing his throat.

"Well, Uncle," began Elizabeth. "If you moved your bishop thusly..." She took hold of piece and moved him near the length of the board to rest along side the Earl's knight.

Both gentlemen opened their mouths to protest, but Darcy interrupted with, "And then, you, Uncle, must move your castle to here..." He took possession of the Earl's last remaining castle to dispatch Mr. Gardiner's bishop.

Mr. Gardiner was already making his protests of, "Wait," when Elizabeth quickly moved his knight to slay the castle followed closely by Darcy charging in with one of the Earl's pawns to do away with Mr. Gardiner's knight. Each had picked up their next sacrificial lambs when both the elder gentlemen found their voices at the same instance.

"Stop this nonsense at once, Lizzy!"

"Darcy, unhand my bishop!"

The amused couple paused as the two official players grabbed their respective chess pieces from out of the hands of the usurpers, neither man finding any humor in what the two young people had attempted.

So incensed was the Earl, he sputtered out, "Sit down at..." he pointed as far from himself as possible, "that unoccupied table in the corner and...go play your own game!"

"Uncle, you are giving me permission to play a game with Miss Bennet?" Darcy was making a valiant attempt to hide his smirk.

Still irate at his own game being manhandled, the Earl bellowed, "Bloody hell, yes, Fitzwilliam! Have you not ears?"

"Of course, sir, I will do as you ask at once."

The last thing he heard his ruffled uncle say was, "Now, Mr. Gardiner, can you remember where the pieces were situated before we were so rudely interrupted?" He let out a loud ‘humph' to show he was finally calming his umbrage.

Turning, Darcy steered a willing Elizabeth by the elbow over to the corner table where a board had been set up. Pulling out the chair for her to sit, they both smiled as they began.

The amused young couple silently began a game that took all of ten minutes to accomplish, their pieces slamming down on the board to the annoyance of several other players at various tables. Even the three elderly servants assigned to the room, not known for revealing any response to unusual actions of the club's members, managed to react. One cleared his throat while another's eyes glanced toward the corner table. The third tottering old fellow who had, most likely, been employed at the club removal to their present building fifty years prior, arched his right eyebrow a quarter inch. All of their slightest twitches were tantamount to mutiny on the part of the staff.

"Another?" asked Darcy as Elizabeth sighed in resignation of her defeat and at losing her so new forfeit to the man.

Undaunted, she said, "Yes, please and this time I will be the victor." Her answer was accompanied with eyes brightened from the excitement of the game.

"We shall see," was all Darcy would recommend as they turned their eyes to the board to begin setting the pieces back to their starting positions while the most feeble of the servants came over to ask if they required, "Coffee, tea, padded board?"

Narrowing his eyes as the realization that their noisy game had caused a mild disruption for the other players in the room, Darcy also noted that the servant's statement proved the acerbic humor behind his ancient blue eyes.

Darcy smiled. "No, Bethel, we do not require anything more at the moment, but will try to act with more decorum."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest, but the elderly servant had already bowed and shuffled away from them. Darcy turned to face her and offered, "When next we move our men, I suggest we do so with more finesse to alleviate our disturbing the other players."

Amused, "Yes, I agree," Elizabeth said with an amused smile toward those other elderly men glaring at them from across the room, no doubt from not only the noise but due to the gender of one of the players.

The second game progressed at a less frantic pace, taking a lengthier fifteen minutes to conclude, again with Darcy as the victor. He tried to encourage her by saying, "It took you longer that time, which means you are learning to anticipate my own strategies. In time you will be a worthy opponent. Do you wish to play again?"

Smiling at his supportive complement that reminded her of her own father and uncle, she nodded. They were just beginning their third game when Bingley and Jane returned with cups of punch, Bingley obviously eager to relate some news he thought of great import.

Moving another piece, Darcy asked, "What is it, Bingley?"

"There is a betting pool."

Elizabeth interrupted, "A what?"

Darcy explained, "Every gentleman's club has gambling of one kind or the other on card games such as whist, keno, horse races, even dog races. In addition, there is another form of betting that can be devised by anyone and the object of a bet can vary wildly. Any member who wishes to can participate in the activity." Turning back to his friend, he asked, "What is of interest in the current betting pool, Bingley?"

"That a certain young lady cannot duplicate her one move win at chess again this day."

Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged looks. Her mouth pursed to stop the smirk from appearing from her innocent attempt to aid the gentleman named Morris. Neither she or Darcy had thought it of any consequence until Bingley continued, "With Morris's ascertains of the young lady's ability to win from a single move, the odds are growing quite large, and-"

At this Darcy asked, "Bingley, did you place a bet?"

The poor man's face turned red down to the roots of his hair at having his friend know him so well. With indignation, he categorically denied the accusation. "What a cruel barb, Darcy. I most certainly did not! He then had the audacity to look rather sheepishly as he admitted, "Though I was sorely tempted to for knowing the identity of the particular young lady."

Jane was disconcerted by the whole of their conversation taking place in such proximity to their uncle, unsure if he had overheard. Wringing her hands, she whimpered, "Oh, Lizzy! Will not father now find out what you have done? Will this not bring shame upon our family?"

Bingley tried to assuage her of any wrong doing on Elizabeth's part by her simple move of a chessman, but he did warn, "Billingsford and Morris are having the rooms searched out as we speak. It shan't be long before Miss Elizabeth is discovered."

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with feigned consternation as she whispered an amused, "Oh, dear, whatever shall we do?"

Darcy sighed. This was not what he had in mind when he thought of White's as a fitting setting for one of their forfeits. "Perhaps it would be best if we take the Miss Bennets back to Gracechurch Street."

Bingley nodded, saying, "I will go call for the carriage."

With that his friend left the two sisters in Darcy's care.

Elizabeth asked Jane, "What excuse can we give to Uncle, Jane? Shall one of us fall prey to a sudden headache?"

When neither objected, Darcy nodded to the plan and excused himself to inform their uncles of the reason for their sudden departure.

Jane offered, "I admit the truth of that statement is not far a field, Lizzy. If the future had been known to me this morning, I doubt you could have talked me into accompanying you."

With eyes sparkling as such admonishment from so mild a creature as Jane, Elizabeth admitted, "I would always wish you included in my excursions, dear sister, for your goodness is always needed to censure my wicked tongue to better regulation."

Jane laughed. "Oh, Lizzy, what am I to do with you?"

Elizabeth hugged her sister in genuine affection. "I fear you have the unamiable task of keeping me out of as much mischief as you are able, Jane." At this Jane shook her head.

Arms entwined, they approached the table where the two elderly gentlemen were understandably disquieted with this sudden onset of infirmity.

"Are you ill, niece?" Mr. Gardiner's genuine concern touched Jane's heart, and she felt remorse at lying to him. "No, Uncle, I am well, truly."

Elizabeth quickly forwarded, "I think Jane has merely had more excitement than she anticipated, Uncle, and wishes to return to the quiet solitude of home to rest."

Jane's gazed open mouth at her sister's statement. How Elizabeth could turn a phrase that, though not a falsehood, failed to elaborate the truth of the occurrence. Its meaning, however, was not lost on Darcy who snickered once before masking it with a cough.

The Earl and Mr. Gardiner exchanged knowing looks that all had not been revealed, but hesitated to have the whole of the story discussed in a public room should it be untoward. Looking from the young ladies and then at his nephew, the Earl agreed with the plan, stating, "Fitzwilliam, you have leave to take the Miss Bennets home, but I expect you at supper this evening with my niece."

"Yes, Uncle," affirmed Darcy with a bow. "Georgiana and I will arrive at half past seven, as per my Aunt's instructions."

Sitting down once more, the Earl dismissed them all from his presence with, "Good day to you ladies, Fitzwilliam."

Mr. Gardiner gave each of his nieces a hug. "I shall see you this evening when I return home." He then allowed them to be escorted from the premises by Mr. Darcy.

Sitting once more before the unfinished first game, he acknowledged, "You know there is more to this than they are admitting."

"Precisely," the Earl conceded this with a nod, finally moving one of his men to have Mr. Gardiner grimace and rub his chin while thinking of all the potential moves he could take next. "That is why I intend to ask my nephew to join me in my study before we dine."

"As will I with one or both of my nieces when I return home."

"We will get to the bottom of this...whatever it is. Mark my word."

Mr. Gardiner nodded to this course of action and settled once more into his cushioned chair for another couple of hours of distraction from an enjoyed pastime with pleasant company.

In the meantime, Darcy conducted the two Miss Bennets down the hallway and away from those rooms designated for the playing of chess, hoping not to run into either of the men whom Elizabeth had ‘helped' with their game to thus instigate the betting pool wager. Wondering which door would be the nearest to where Bingley had brought the carriage, Darcy rounded a corner, collided with the most elder servant at White's and who had been one of three assigned to the room in which sat both uncles. Nearly toppling over the already ancient fellow, Darcy grasped the man's arms to keep him from falling.

"I beg you pardon, Bethel. Have I injure you-"

His raspy voice whispered, "This way, sir, to Mr. Bingley's carriage." His trembling, boney finger pointed to the door down the hallway, the light streaming from the small window in its center seemed a sign pointing the way.

Smiling broadly at the old man's intuitiveness and spry mind as to what was going on about the club, Darcy squeezed his arms in thanks, which only made Bethel wince before Darcy released him. Ushering the ladies down the hallway and the door, there stood the waiting carriage where Bingley nervously awaited them.

"Did you have any trouble to speak of?"

Without waiting for an answer, Bingley handed the ladies into the coach before joining them.

Darcy followed and signaled for the driver to start, only then saying, "No, due to the diligence of a certain elderly servant we were able to remove ourselves unscathed." He paused before adding, "Remind me to send a note to Bethel including an extra tip for services rendered."

Bingley, glad to be away from what could have been an awkward situation, nodded. They all exchanged silent stares. Then, as one they all began to laugh at their escape. Even Jane could see the humor now with them out of danger of a scandal. They talked merrily of their soon departure to Hertfordshire for Christmas until the carriage deposited them at their aunt's home at Gracechurch Street where Bingley and Darcy took their leave.

After dinner that evening at the Matlock House, the Earl was beside himself when regaling Lady Matlock of what happened at White's that afternoon. He had gotten nothing of use from Darcy before dinner, only that after Miss Bennet took ill he thought it prudent to take both Miss Bennets back to their uncle's, and most likely had not even heard of the betting pool.

"From what little I understood of the encounter, when I later found out how it had all come about..." His voice trailed off as the facts were almost more than His Grace could bear. "The very idea of a woman being allowed to cause such a bet was bad enough, but to have it be one whom I had inadvertently invited!"

Lady Matlock sipped her after dinner sherry in silence. She did not knowing whether to laugh or be offended by furor to her husband's stogy old club that the pert Miss Elizabeth Bennet had caused.

Perhaps it had not been her doing, but rather I should look to our nephew for much of the blame.

Had Richard been in attendance, Lady Matlock had little doubt at whom to cast disapproval, but until now she had never known Darcy to be party to any outlandish behavior.

Most of the time he acted as staid as his own uncle, wishing to avoid any public displays that drew attention to himself.

"I find hard to believe that Fitzwilliam would be involved, much less to have instigated the scene." The Earl grumbled again.

This led his wife say in Miss Bennet's defense, "Oh Henry, from what you were told, all she did was move a chessman with the player's permission, a move, I might add which changed the entire outcome of the game. And as you have already pointed out, it was the men who got carried away with the betting nonsense."

"She should not have been there in the first place!"

"Then your club should hence forth forbid having open houses where ladies are allowed in."

Lady Matlock paused to note the still sour expression on her husband's face to know that something else was bothering her usually serene spouse. "Really, Henry, are you so prejudicial to actually believe that all women lack wit enough to play the game of chess?"

The Earl opened his mouth to say as much when he happened to glance at his wife's inscrutable expression. Her arms folded across her chest seemed to suggest what she was feeling at the moment. Being many years married to this woman, he knew the challenge he was under to speak at his own peril, and so chose the better part of valor by wisely sipping his brandy without voicing further displeasure.

Lady Matlock finally dropped her frosty gaze from him to her glass. They remained silent for a long while afterwards.

Chapter Twenty-One -- Traveling to Hertfordshire

Posted on Thursday, 13 September 2007

When Darcy and Bingley arrived at the Gardiner's house for their expected visit, it was clear to both that the household was in the midst of organizing for travel. Mrs. Gardiner met them in the parlor, allowing that she required her nieces to help supervise the trunk packing, "before the children could be taken to the park after their lessons."

Darcy offered his and Bingley's services to entertain the children in the interim. Bingley agreed. "Without the added exuberance of the children underfoot, perhaps the task will be accomplished in a timelier manner."

Mrs. Gardiner did not wish to put either of the gentlemen out and said as much, but they would not hear of her dissension.

"If it be your desire, sirs, you may escort my two girls to join the boys in the stable just around the corner where Edmund is learning the task of grooming a horse." Here she clucked as she added, "His teacher is one of the young men in charge of several of the animals."

When informed of the change of plan, both Jenny and Ellie readily accepted the hands of the two distinguished gentlemen. Mrs. Gardiner offered, "I will send Jane and Lizzy to you when we are done to have you all then take the children on an outing in the park. We should be ready for our departure in the morning when you return."

The stable was not very far, and soon the group had ventured into the small open yard flanked by several stalls complete with livestock. Darcy sat on the bench with Ellie secure on his lap. Jenny sat beside them while they all watched Edmund, already busy with the currying brush. Soon she asked, "Mr. Darcy do you know how to play cat's cradle?"

They heard Bingley chuckled as his friend replied, "I think I can remember the basics."

The two of them were kept occupied maneuvering the string between their fingers until Ellie wished to try. While endeavoring to transfer the string onto her little fingers from those of herself and Darcy, Jenny managed to leave all three tangled in the snare. Giggles ensured at their lack of process.

Bingley replied, "Perhaps, Darcy, your memory of the basics has failed you."

"Or my fingers have grown too large compared the slender ones of these two."

Smiling, Bingley turned his focus to the horse brushing and remarked to the groom-in-training, "You are doing an excellent job on that horse, Edmund. His coat is shining." Teasing further, he added, "I hope the groom is giving you a six pence for doing his job."

"Father always says that to learn new things is worth the price of a teacher."

Jenny grew serious when she added, "Edmund does like the sound of coins jingling in his pocket, but he also thinks it only right not to accept any money since the groom is teaching him."

Bingley asked, "How so?"

Jenny said of her brother, "Edmund wants to learn as much as he can, from as many different people as will allow him."

He added, "I want to know as many people as possible, so when I begin to help my father in our business, I will know more of what people's needs are, that we can supply them."

"That way we will be able to help more people," finished Jenny.

"Father says we should learn something new everyday, to help us better our lives and those around us."

"That is very wise, Edmund," remarked Darcy, "Your father has taught you well."

"Well," Jenny announced proudly, "We are Gardiners, Mr. Darcy."

She spoke as if her statement explained the meaning of a great philosophical import, and to Darcy it did. He knew the same from his own upbringing. These children had been instilled with an ethic for integrity and honesty that he himself would wish for all children to know.

Playing now with the cat's cradle string, James added, "We are Gardiners," to which little Ellie, now cradled in Darcy's lap sucking her fingers, murmured, "Gardiners."

Darcy realized that all the children were proud of their heritage as people of trade, a fact in the changing times would bode well for them in the future.

Little Ellie then whispered in Darcy's ear and he smiled. "Yes, I think it is clear that Edmund is likewise fond of caring for the horse too."

Edmund blushed, admitting, "One day I wish for a horse of my own, but learning how to care for one will do in the meantime." He continued to brush the animal until the job met with the approval of the groom.

With a glance passing between the two gentlemen, both made the connection that these children were being raised to take pride in their accomplishments and from where they had come. Neither could find fault in that.

Growing tired of playing with the cat's cradle, James gave the string back to Jenny who began once more to weave it onto her fingers. James then took up the box beside his chair, smiling mischievously, waiting for her to have her fingers completely enmeshed before eagerly showing her his pet frog and a small garner snake.

"Eew! James, take them away!" She made a face which caused the rest of the children to laugh.

At that moment Jane and Elizabeth arrived with Jane smiling shyly as she neared Bingley. He smiled in return, bowing slightly as the color in his cheeks rose.

Elizabeth nonchalantly removed the offending pets from her cousin's lap to return them to their home in the box. "James, you should always ask first whether a person wishes to hold your pets before you deposit them in their lap."

An only slightly penitent, James replied, "Yes, Cousin Lizzy," the smirk clearly visible on his downcast face.

Edmund gave the currying brush to the groom, and nearing his siblings, laughed, "He only does it because he loves to see Jenny make her disgusted face."

"I know," Elizabeth responded. "Still, we are obliged to reprimand him all the same."

Turning to face Darcy, her unspoken stare asked why he, as their current caregiver, had failed to do that very thing.

Instead, Darcy's expression displayed a look telling her that the incident was of so little consequence it merited no reprimand. She shrugged as if in agreement. Darcy then stood to his full height, holding Ellie in his arms, and remarked, "If Edmund is finished, I think it is time we headed for the park."

The suggestion was made for a game of hide and seek, which the children enthusiastically agreed to. While Bingley hid his eyes and began to count, Jane and the children scampered about trying to conceal themselves behind various bushes and shrubbery, most of which had lost the greater part of foliage to make for an inadequate coverage. This gave the children ample time to think themselves safe while Elizabeth and Darcy pretended not to see. The ambled slowly by the duck pond, knowing they would not be not too far or near the other couple to act as chaperones.

"I would wager," Darcy began with a mischievous gleam in his eye, "that traveling back to Longbourn will be as amusing as the trip to London."

Elizabeth smiled back. "With four lively children in the carriage I would wager it should be even more enjoyable than that to Derbyshire."

"What plans have you in mind for them?"

"We will begin with a game whereby the children must guess an item Jane or I packed in their trunks, starting with a certain letter."

Darcy furthered with, "such as ‘h' for handkerchief, hat, and hair pins?"

"Elizabeth nodded. "Or perhaps they would insist on either of their parents making up a story. My uncle is a legend at manufacturing such fanciful tales to enthrall all of us."

Darcy smiled at the thought of such eager faces waiting to hear about dragons and a fairy princess to be rescued by the gallant knight. "And do you contribute to the telling?" He could not imagine her sitting still while the story unfolded without wishing to add to it.

She affirmed his thoughts when she acknowledged, "Oh yes, and even the children are given leave to advancing the plot wherever they wish it to turn."

At this Darcy chuckled, "I think the boys would have differing views than that of the girls."

Elizabeth giggled, "Sometimes with opinions so contrary it is left up to my aunt to settle their debates."

"Well," conceded Darcy, "since it will be only Georgiana and myself traveling to Pemberley, I doubt there will be such creativity involved. You seemed to have easily won this wager before the actual event."

Smiling, at his gracious concession, Elizabeth thanked him with a quick curtsey.

He pulled several sheaves of paper from his pocket, saying to her surprise, "I do, however, have an assignment which we could use as another wager if you are brave enough?"

Curious now, she nodded, wondering what else he had in mind. "Show me."

"It is actually something Georgiana suggested in the interim until next you meet." He handed her the sheet music of Haydn's Piano Concerto No. 3 in F. "She wondered if you could learn to play this piece as it is one of her favorites."

Examining the pages, Elizabeth's eyes widened as she began to decipher the music, especially the second page where there were several passages that she knew would give her difficulty. She frowned. "I hope, sir, that she does not require that I perform this to her level."

Darcy smiled. "Being the request came from my sister, I doubt such a prerequisite as perfection is involved. She merely thought you would enjoy it as much as she."

Glancing up, she saw his eyes close. When he opened them again, their steady gaze coupled with his smile that she detected but the hint of a smirk, allowed her to know that this wager had come as much by way of his request as that of his sister's. Elizabeth asked, "And are you to be the judge of whether I fulfill my part of the wager?"

"If you wish, although I think Georgiana should have some say in the judging since it was she who requested the piece."

Elizabeth swallowed and then nodded. Having made the acquaintance of Miss Darcy, she was sure of nothing less than a kindly assessment from that quarter.

Folding up the music, she opened her reticule to secure it inside, retrieving a certain item that she in turn handed to Darcy, explaining, "My uncle wished you, likewise, to have something as a remembrance of your visit to his warehouse. Perhaps you can learn to use them over the holiday?"

Darcy arched his brow, trying to decide what he was to do with the two slender wooden sticks. He held one in each hand as though ready to beat a drum.

"No, sir," Elizabeth giggled, "that is not their purpose. Allow me to demonstrate."

He handed her two sticks, which she placed in one hand. Using her thumb to balance them on her middle fingers, she deftly used the utensils to pick up the tiniest pebble, handing it to Darcy. "They are called chopsticks, and are used in place of forks all over the Orient." She demonstrated once more, and then said, "My uncle thought you would enjoy learning a custom from another culture. Now, you try."

She handed him the innocuous pieces of wood, and watched as he struggled to hold them properly. Try as he might, he could not make them work as she had, to pick up even a larger stone. Seeing her making an concerted effort not to laugh aloud as his ineptitude, he struggled with the sticks a few more times before giving up. "I can see I have some practicing to do before I become a true proficient." He placed the offending sticks inside his pocket.

Smirking, she stated, "I hope to see you use them with efficiency when next we meet, Mr. Darcy."

"As I will have the pleasure of hearing you perform the concerto, Miss Bennet," he said, his tone now clearly issuing the challenge.

Her eyes bright, she nodded at her acceptance.

They continued along the perimeter of the pond when he asked, "Is the Longbourn vicar still to give the Christmas sermon?"

"Yes, though elderly, Vicar Estwick is still spry enough to leave us with his opinions of what the season is truly about. He has the ability to enthrall even the neighborhood youth to keep them from playing with new tops in the pews or have some of the gentlemen in the congregation nodding off while he is preaching." She added, "Unlike some other curates."

Trying to imagine to whom she was referring, only one with such ineptitude came to mind, whom Darcy loathed to mention. Instead, he teased, "It sounds as though you think yourself up to the task of writing a better one."

Kicking a pebble with the toe of her boot, her shrug failed to hide her confidence. "I think my gender does not prevent me from putting words to paper in keeping with the time of year that might inspire some of the populace. There is such a wealth of sources to make sermon writing during this particular holiday an easy task. I dare say, even you, Mr. Darcy could compose a line or two to express the sentiments of the season."

Darcy smirked. "You dare me to write a sermon, Miss Bennet?"

"We each have a level of education that I cannot see it being too strenuous an assignment, sir." Her smile was clearly an unhidden returned smirk.

"And who is to judge such an endeavor, Miss Bennet, your cousin, Mr. Collins?"

Elizabeth giggled, offering, "Or perhaps your aunt, Lady Catherine DeBourgh, whom my cousin deems knowledgeable on a great many things?"

Darcy laughed. "I am sure she would feel herself capable to any task, but perhaps we should not have it be a family member who might show partiality on either side."

Or all on the one side, thought Elizabeth, knowing her cousin would never disagree with his illustrious benefactress. "Yes, someone impartial would better suit."

They each began to think on who would be a suitable judge.

"Jane or Bingley perhaps," suggested Darcy.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Jane, as you are well aware, cannot find fault in another human being. Likewise, Mr. Bingley is so amiable that he could not choose between us if his life depended on it. Likewise, your young sister would not do,for she is far too sweet to ever wish to hurt either of our feelings." Her playful nature continued with, "Perhaps Caroline might do."

"She, like my aunt and your cousin would align herself on my side without the benefit of actually reading either of our works. What of your mother or father?"

"I am afraid my mother has difficulty enough with gleaning the meaning of Mr. Collins' sentences. As to my father, he would be greatly amused at the idea of our writing sermons, but in reading our attempts, more than likely," she giggled, admitting, "he would find fault in both. What of Mr. Hurst? He appears a man of some intelligence."

"He is, and if he were more inclined not to hide his knowledge from his wife, I think he would be an excellent choice. However, since he has not given to revealing more of himself, I rather doubt his willingness to labor on our behalf. What of your sister, Mary?"

Again Elizabeth could not stifle her giggles as she confessed, "I think, like my father, Mary would find much fault in our attempt to usurp the task of the vicar and would not be able to go so far as actually reading either work, lest she considered it sinful. And I would not even suggest my other two sisters. They do not have serious thoughts in their heads while the militia is quartered so near." Pausing to think who else might be a likely arbitrator, she asked, "Do you think the Earl would settle on the task?"

Darcy considered whether he thought his uncle would agree to judge their texts, but then shook his head. "He is of a mind that the gentler sex has yet to achieve more than what is the usual accomplishments of young ladies, and would not think that a serious work in their capacity."

Elizabeth arched her brow, remembering the distinguished gentleman sitting across her own uncle at Whites, and had never before deemed him prejudice against the weaker sex.

How could someone who has lived so long in the world be so short minded as to think women have not the wit to think great thoughts?

She sighed, speaking aloud her lament. "I fear that he will have a rude awakening ere long if he manages to survive much more in the world."

Darcy could not but nod. The world was swiftly changing directions, and for those who refused to change with the time, the world will not be kind.

"What of the Countess? She seems an enlightened kind of person."

"Yes, I would think she would be the model of impartiality, and would judge each written piece on its merits alone. I think we have found our adjudicator and will ask her if she is willing when next I visit them if," he added in jest, "you are still serious about our writing sermons?"

She nodded with the gleam of victory in her eye as their walk took them closer around to where the children were last seen with Bingley and Jane.

Darcy then asked, "You were in town but a short time. I am sure there were several outings that you had not the opportunity to carry out."

Elizabeth agreed. "We had only the time to accomplish but a few while in London. Jane and I wished to see the newest exhibits in the museum. Having gone so long ago, I am sure they have made many great discoveries since, especially as regards Roman and Egyptian antiquities as well as those artifacts brought back from India."

"Are you interested in the cultures of ancient Rome and the East?"

She nodded. "While still children, we studied some history of the ancient civilizations in my father's library, each expressing to him the desire to one day walk among the ruins of the past empires." Continuing with a deep sigh, Elizabeth added, "It was a very pleasant dream but one never likely to be realized." Glancing at the man beside her, she asked, "You must have traveled abroad in your early life, Mr. Darcy. Did you happen to see any ancient sights?"

"After graduating from Cambridge and before I was required to return home due to my father's increasing ill health, several schoolmates and I traveled as far as Rome where we walked amid the toppled columns of ancient buildings, the Pantheon and the Coliseum where gladiators fought wild beasts and themselves for the amusement of the masses."

"What were your thoughts at being in those monuments of the gods and the Roman emperors?"

"It was awe inspiring to realize what the builders had accomplished with so few accurate tools to guide their eye. I was especially impressed as it relates to the architecture. In Egypt and India I read that the builders had even less sophisticated implements and still managed to erect wonders such as the great pyramids that even to this day are still astonish the eye and mind."

"You make me envious to travel to the far corners of the known world, to see such sights, breathe in the same air as did those ancient peoples, climb all over those monuments to be as awed as yourself."

"Perhaps there will come a time when you will be able to travel wherever you wish."

Elizabeth smiled, shaking her head. "I very much doubt that, sir."

"One never knows what the future will bring, Miss Bennet."

"That is true, of course, Mr. Darcy, however, I-"

Before she could further her statement a very fashionable pair of young ladies chanced to walk their way, slowing their pace to each give Darcy a broad smile while ignoring Elizabeth entirely. As they continued on their way amidst giggles, Elizabeth noticed the increased tension in his arm beneath hers, and the color in his cheeks.

"Are you not acquainted with those two ladies, Mr. Darcy?"

"One does not require acquaintance in order to glean the intentions of certain young ladies."

"So," Elizabeth teased, "You are infamous, Mr. Darcy?"

Thinking he was renewing the previous subject when he asked, "You talked of museum exhibits before, Miss Bennet. It is of no consequence when the thing viewed is an inanimate object, quite another when that which is observed is alive or even...human."

She opened her mouth, but knew not what to say in response to such a statement. At hearing the children, she saw they were engaged by Jane and Mr. Bingley in their game of hide and seek. Glancing about, Elizabeth also noticed how very many ladies were strolling the park.

No doubt enjoying one of the last warm days before winter truly set in.

She smiled at the thought of another challenge she was sure to win if Mr. Darcy would condescend to participate. "Let us sit on the nearby bench, Mr. Darcy to allow us to observe those pedestrians so bent on walking by."

Frowning at the notion and wondering of her motives, nonetheless Darcy led the way to the bench along the well trodden path. Both sat down as he attempted to relax at being in so public a venue among the throng of people strolling leisurely in the park.

Her challenge was casually issued when she said as she brushed dust from her skirt, "I wager there are many young ladies in the park today similar to the two who just passed by who would engage you in conversation, should you manage to encourage them with a look or a gesture."

Darcy's mouth dropped open at the absurdity of her challenge. He quickly thought of any excuse, coming up with, "The children-"

"Are being well tended to by Mr. Bingley and Jane at present, and will not miss our company for a while yet."

Still quite uncomfortable with the idea of encouraging anyone to engage him in conversation sent waves of abhorrence through him. "You have no idea what you are asking, Miss Bennet. For a man in my position to trifle with the affections of...to give even the slightest encouragement to any of those who already have designs upon... it is simply not done."

"I do not mean for you to make love to any of them, Mr. Darcy." She continued to tease. "You must know that I will protect you from their overtures should their wicked designs become too powerful for you to overcome. I am of the mind that Miss Bingley is but a single confused individual and not part of a herd of mindless creatures ready to kidnap so eligible a bachelor." Her last words sealed his fate. "You may choose whatever forfeit you like should I lose."

Darcy's dilemma was grave indeed. With so comely an offer before him that he was sure to win, and with his manliness in question should he decline, it seemed there was no choice. "I accept. What would you have me do, Miss Bennet, for I am at a loss to know the proper conduct to attract such ladies since it is usually my intent to turn them away?"

"That is the easy part, Mr. Darcy. You have simply to gain their eye and smile."

"I fail to see how that would do the trick, Miss Bennet."

"Trust me, Mr. Darcy. If you truly feel yourself always on display as some poor creature in the zoo, then that will be sufficient to draw them your way."

Darcy gasped, "Even with you sitting beside me?"

"Yes, Mr. Darcy, they will come regardless of who accompanies you if you are sure of your ability to attract them."

He muttered, "That is what I fear."

This made Elizabeth smile, knowing of his intent to oblige her. Patting his arm, patronizing him, she repeated, "I will protect you, sir. You have my word."

He wondered if merely her words would be enough to offset the hoards of determined females inhabiting London at present. He preferred a blade and several pistols, wondering if even they would be sufficient protection.

I must be out of my senses to have agreed to this.

His nervousness showed when he tried to smile at the first two ladies passing their way who giggled, but continued on their way. Elizabeth shook her head.

That will not do.

Her elbow nudged into his ribs encouraged him to a greater effort. "Your smile must appear genuine, Mr. Darcy, if this is to work."

The next to come their way was a group of three young ladies, all fashionably dressed in the latest styles, and walking purposely to be seen by they gentlemen walking or riding in the park. Darcy touched the brim of his hat as he made eye contact with the group while Elizabeth pretended to ignore him. One of the girls gave him an appreciative nod in return and then whispered something to her companion who glanced to the bench and smiled hungrily at Darcy.

Oh, Lord, now what am I to do?

His fears were unfounded for the group continued along the path.

The third time he tried, however, was successful as two ladies approached him with a look of recognition upon their faces. "Mr. Darcy? Is that really you?" The lady turned to her companion, saying, "It is, Johanna. It is Mr. Darcy."

Both ladies curtseyed as Darcy rose and bowed, thinking of one phrase to come to his mind. "Ladies, how do you fair this fine afternoon?"

"We are very well, Mr. Darcy, and quite busy shopping for new gowns for the next ball about town." They eyed Elizabeth who had likewise risen from the bench, then glanced expectedly to Mr. Darcy to make the introductions.

When he balked due to the fact that he did not remember who the deuce they were or from where they had met, Elizabeth smiled and curtseyed to each, saying, "I beg your pardon. Where are my manners? I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire, and you are...?"

The two young ladies giggled, and smiling at the friendly country girl, the bolder of the two said, "My name is Jocelyn Danvers of Lincolnshire, and this is my sister, Johanna. Last season we met Mr. Darcy-"

"At Almacks," finished Darcy, finally making the connection from so long ago. He smiled to relieve his tension, his dimples charming the ladies no end. "I had not realized it had been such a duration since the ball."

Jocelyn admitted, "It was but one of many, Mr. Darcy, though I think it the best that year. Do you not agree?"

"I think," Elizabeth leaned toward the ladies in a conspiratory way, admitting, "that Mr. Darcy loves all the balls during the Season, and I have it on good authority that he loves to dance. Is that not so, sir?" She fluttered her eyelashes in perfect imitation of her youngest sister, Lydia.

The muscles in Darcy's jaw clenched as he continued to smile. "Quite," was his only comment.

His increasingly sour mood was obvious to only one person who found it difficult to keep her countenance before the two fawning ladies, one of whom gushed, "If that is true, Mr.Darcy, you must promise to attend the next ball during Christmas where you will have the ample opportunity. We will keep our dancecards open for you." This was followed by Jocelyn batting her eyelashes so much Darcy was sure she had some malady.

Thinking the poor man had suffered enough Elizabeth cleared her throat in preparation to speak. The two girls glanced her way, each in final judgment of her. Johanna sniffed, finding her lacking in appearance of the latest fashion to be telling, reasoning that she was not of the first social circles and therefore of little consequence.

Elizabeth spoke to Darcy. "Sir, have you forgotten our engagement with your uncle," she added for emphasis, "the Earl?"

"Yes!" Darcy jumped at the escape. "I beg your pardon, ladies, but we must be off...to my uncle's, the Earl. It was good to see you again." With one hand touching the brim of his hat, his other took Elizabeth's elbow firmly as he turned them quickly away from the pair.

Jocelyn waved her handkerchief at the departing couple, shouting, "You must come to other dances, Mr. Darcy!"

Darcy did not dare give a reply before hurriedly disappearing around the bend in the path. He could not even find words to express how particularly uncomfortable he found himself at that moment and so continued with a stride so fast Elizabeth was required to break into a run just to keep up.

When they were a safe distance away Elizabeth could hold her laughter inside no longer. "Oh, Mr. Darcy, you were wonderful."

Frowning, he turned to her, and glowered. "I was no such thing!" Using his handkerchief to wipe the sweat accumulating on his brow, he wondered if his valet would be able to remove the water stains from his inner jacket and waist coat. Removing his gloves, likewise soaked through from his palms, he wiped his hands with his already sodden kerchief.

His agitation was more than Elizabeth had anticipated, and she tried to soothe him with, "I admit you won the wager, sir. You deserve to have whatever forfeit-"

"I most certainly do!" He agreed in a voice louder than was necessary, his tone proved him bent more on revenge than graciousness as he stated, "And I know exactly what reward you have merited with this challenge, Miss Bennet." His smile was vicious as he declared, "As your forfeit, you will groom a horse." When Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest, he added, "you need not mount him, but you will be required to do the job of groomsman just as did Edmund."

As soon as the words fell from his mouth he regretted them. To have her experience an equal discomfort as he had just done seemed appropriate, but in good conscience he knew it was not the mark of a gentleman to call her to task in a like manner. True, she had goaded him into performing before strangers, irritating him to the point of wishing to retaliate in kind as that of a petulant child. Such a fit of pique he had not experienced since his youth. Her ability to move him to act in so unaccustomed a manner infuriated him no end.

Exasperating woman!

He could not believe that words continued to flow out of his mouth though they now lacked his previous conviction. "Will you accept?"

He fully expected her to decline with as much vehemence that he had professed in his refusal of her first forfeit of him. In truth, he would be glad for once of her annoying habit of refusing to bend to his will, and was in the process of thinking of an alternate forfeit while she stood before him in an uncommon silence.

Staring at the seemingly adamant Mr. Darcy before her, Elizabeth knew she had taken his teasing him too far, and cast her eyes down to her feet, and much to his surprise, merely nodded her agreement to his foreit of her at winning the bet. After witnessing Edmund easily brushing the calm beast, she thought she would be able to manage the same for a short amount of time, and tried to put the best light on it.

Really, how difficult could it be?

She shuddered at being so near a large animal, but more from the fact that she had agreed to it in order to placate the gentleman before her whom she had offended. Had she known of his extreme trepidation to her scheme, she would never have suggested it, and wondered at his not refusing it outright rather than allowing her to talk him into it. Now, it seemed the only way to have them again be friends would be for her to accomplish whatever he decided, regardless of her own dread. That he had insisted on this particular forfeit gave her pause to wonder if vengeance was one of his true character traits, a misgiving that nagged at her consciousness.

Now that their jovial mood had disintegrated into one of awkwardness, Darcy suggested, "Perhaps it is best for us to find the children with your sister and my friend. They must be long wondering where we are."

"Yes," agreed Elizabeth without saying more as she now tentatively accepted his offered arm, feeling the tension in it, reminding her that his disconcertion still remained.

Hearing Bingley's voice in obvious search of the children, they turned their steps in that direction.

"Aha, Miss Bennet, you thought you could get by me to come home free." He tapped Jane on the shoulder to capture her. Seeing his friend approaching, Bingley called out, "Ollie, Ollie, oxen free!"

All the children came out of hiding with Ellie shouting, "Cousin Lizzy!"

She bounded out from behind a scrawny bush to rush towards Elizabeth and Darcy. Her cousin grabbed her up and swung her around to the glee of the small child, Elizabeth's mood improving with the simple joy that Ellie's presence brought. Too soon, her arms outstretched, leaving Elizabeth no choice but to transfer Ellie into the arms of the taller man who threw her above his head with ease, thrilling Ellie at being so high in the air.

Elizabeth gave him a startled look as if to warn him to be careful, but when Darcy's eyes found hers, she saw his smile complete with dimples, she knew she needn't fear. He barely allowed the child inches from his grasp, easily retrievable and quite secure. His smile allowed her to know that Ellie had, just as with her, helped him recover his easier demeanor. She returned a smile. They had weathered their disagreement and had regained some of their friendly air.

Darcy, his composure renewed to be cordial once more, held Ellie with one arm and offered Elizabeth the crook of the other. She nodded, together walking toward the main park grounds in complacent silence, each reflecting on how their actions had affected the other.

Bingley and Jane had gathered the rest of the children to them with James asking him, "Mr. Bingley, are you so old that you forgot how to play hide and seek?"

Jane gasped, "James! That is no way to speak to your elders."

Bingley chuckled at being considered elderly, squatted down to be on the child's eye level, admitting, "I do indeed remember how the game is played, master James, but thought it without merit to play so stringently by the rules, given the meagerness of hiding places afforded to you children during winter, so I elected to merge it with a sort of blind-man's bluff to give you all a fair chance to run home."

Jenny asked, "You pretended not to see us? That is silly."

Edmund countered, "He was only trying to make the game more evenly matched, like when I let you win at checkers."

Jenny scoffed at him allowing that she always won, "fair and square!"

Bingley stood up, saying, "The next time we play, it shall be in spring or even better, in summer when the foliage is full with more than adequate places behind which to hide. Does that sound a better game?"

All three older children bobbed their heads in agreement.

Darcy glanced at his pocket watch attached to his fob. "I think your mother has long been wishing for our return to the house. Let us make our way back."

Moans ensued as the children began obediently to follow Jane and Bingley from the park with Elizabeth and Darcy following with an obviously fatigued Ellie in his arms.

When they arrived at the house on Gracechurch Street, Mrs. Gardiner was waiting on the porch, glancing at her watch dangling from the chain attached to her waist,* and instructing the nursery maid to take the children in tow for their baths and their evening meal before bed time.

Elizabeth arched her brow and asked in a mischievous tone, "I hope all has been accomplished while we occupied the children, Aunt." Her meaning was, of course, that her Aunt had managed to shop for last minute items and wrap and secure them in trunks without the children's knowledge. Darcy noted the gleam in her eye and could guess the reason. Mrs. Gardiner nodded with a smile.

With the plan to leave early in the morning in order that we arrive at Longbourn before night fall, all was in readiness, so when Edmund offered an invitation for the gentlemen to dine with them, Mrs. Gardiner face displayed a look of surprise and hesitation that Darcy quickly caught.

He said, "As Mr. Bingley and I have our own plans for readying our departure for family gatherings, I must decline so kind an invitation, Edmund, but will agree to accept another time to dine."

Mrs. Gardiner's face showed relief in his gracious offer and nodded. "Another time is acceptable, Mr. Darcy." Turning to her offspring, she added, " And now, children, I require you in the house to prepare for supper."

The older children said their good-byes to the gentlemen and trudged up the stairs into the care of the nursery maid. Being preoccupied with what they had required the other to accomplished over the holidays, Elizabeth and Darcy mounted the stairs, Darcy still carrying Ellie in his arms, reluctant to let her go.

Edmund began to laugh at some unknown jest and it was then that, at his pointing to the ceiling above the threshold, they all spied a cluster of leaves and white berries extending for the roof.

Noticing the mistletoe above a door, Jenny exclaimed, "Mr. Darcy, you are required to kiss Cousin Lizzy. It is a tradition."

Even the nursery maid nodded, smiling at the blush upon both their faces.

Since Darcy was holding Ellie, he chose instead to plant a noisy kiss upon the little girl's cheek with Elizabeth doing likewise to the other side of Ellie's face. This filled Ellie with giggles at the tickling sensation of being kissed in tandem by the two adults.

Mrs. Gardiner chuckled at their ingenuity and reached for her youngest who refused to be parted from him, still in a state of euphoria at having been kissed under the mistletoe. "You have given my Ellie much to dream on this night, Mr. Darcy."

He smiled, now completely recovered from his earlier fit of pique. Seeing that the Gardiners carriage had been readied for the trip to Longbourn over Christmas, the intention to be traveling with their two nieces at the earliest hour of the morning, the two gentlemen began to take their leave.

Jenny asked Jane, "Are you and Cousin Lizzy to play word games with us or-"

James interrupted, "Are you to tell us a story, the kind where we may participate?"

Even Edmund nodded to this plan. Though more grown up than his siblings, he still enjoyed his cousins making up a story with them all able to voice suggestions.

Jane giggled, "Oh, yes, we cannot have a journey without Lizzy or Uncle telling an amended fairytale, can we?"

Elizabeth arched her brow as she glanced smugly toward Darcy who bowed his head in gracious defeat.

Clearly, I lost that wager long before I made the bet.

The children were happy with their triumph as their mother tried to herd them into the house with the help of the maid. "Come along, children. We have much to do before our departure in the morning."

Ellie would not be satisfied until she hugged Darcy once more. The sweetness of the child so like his sister when she was very young had his mind conjuring from its recesses the time when he had comforted Georgiana at their mother's passing. His eyes glistened at the memory of her in his arms. His vow made at sixteen to keep his sister safe remained to this day and now seemed extended to this little girl who had easily charmed him into caring deeply for her. He whispered, "safe journey, my sweet one."

Bingley took Jane's gloved hand and kissed it, promising to see them in Hertfordshire when he followed their return, to open Netherfield after his holiday in Scarborough with his family.

Joining her sister, Elizabeth smiled at both gentlemen.

"We both have much to accomplish before next we meet, Miss Bennet."

Elizabeth nodded, smiling in her mischievous way to have both her sister and Darcy's friend wonder at his meaning and her acquiesce> She replied, "We will await the renewal of your visits to Longbourn then after the holiday."

Darcy and Bingley bowed and took their leave, each climbing into the sleek black carriage bearing the Darcy coat of arms.

When they were out of earshot, he stated, "Bingley, you neglected to mention that you would also be bringing your immediate family back to Netherfield."

Bingley hung his head sheepishly. "Yes, though both my sisters had made it perfectly clear to me of their objection to the plan."

Darcy nodded. He could well imagine Miss Bingley reminding her brother that nothing could compare to the myriad of activities available in London even in the dead of winter, not hesitating to voice her opinion of the dearth of any suitable companionship in country by comparison.

"Still, Bingley, you are determined?"

"Yes, as head of my house but yet unmarried, I require Caroline to accompany me in order that she play hostess, should I be inclined to entertain my various neighbors. She refused unless her sister joined her."

"And Hurst agreed to this plan over his own wife's objections?"

Bingley nodded, smiling as he admitted, "Hurst said if he was not obliged to sit through another play or opera, it would do him no harm."

Darcy could not but smile at such a brother-in-law, filled with complexities to make him an interesting subject for Bingley to try to decipher.

His friend asked, "You are soon off to Pemberley then?"

"Georgiana and I plan to remain in town for a few days visiting my relations before we travel north."

"Tell the Earl I wish him and the Countess well."

"I shall, and, likewise, give my regards to your family."

Darcy's carriage stopped before the front steps of the Hurst townhouse. As Bingley alighted, the gentlemen amicably parted ways to be united with their respective families, knowing that after the holiday they would soon meet again.

*http://www.rubylane.com/shops/northwestantiquities/item/105

In the house on Gracechurch Street the next morning began early and with a bustle of confusion as the entire household made ready for the family to travel north to Longbourn. After breakfasting and allowing for sufficient time to their toilette, the children were bundled in their winter coats and hats. Gloves and scarves were attached and all members gathered outside. With four adults and the two older children taking up the other available seats, the two smallest ones alternated sitting on their parents' laps and those of their cousins. A maid situated herself on top with the trunks while the footman was required to stand on his perch at the rear of the carriage, grasping the handholds. When all was in readiness, Mr. Gardiner signaled the driver. As he flicked the reins the carriage pulled out onto the still near deserted avenue and their journey north had begun.

Normally the trip would take a bare four hours with a change of horses halfway. Mr. Gardiner reasoned that due to the time of year, the lanes between London and Hertfordshire would be much traveled and so the duration would probably take them half again as long. That was his reasoning for wishing as early a start as possible.

The advantage to this scheme was that the children, at least the two youngest would sleep for most of the journey while the older ones could bide their time with books or word puzzles. This would give the adults some time to converse on topics of interest before the children demanded more of their attention. Accustomed to travel with children, both Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were complacent with their thus far successful method of keeping their offspring occupied.

Just as Mr. Gardiner had anticipated, the roads were heavy with carriages, hackney coaches and barouches filled with families traveling to be united with relations. This proved to have the normally pleasant journey a lengthier one with their having to wait at the post stop for available horses.

At the coaching inn*, both his nieces and the children tumbled out of the carriage to stretch their legs before they continued on their way. Jane and her aunt entered into the crowded tea room adjacent to the stables, accompanied by the maid holding Ellie. They found an empty table to sit at where they ordered tea and biscuits. Mr. Gardiner took the boys with him to supervise the handling of the horses.

Elizabeth and Jenny opted to sit on a bench by the doorway, letting the brisk air chill their noses even while the morning sun warmed their faces.

After a bit, Jenny sighed in contentment. "I cannot wait until we arrive at Longbourn to see all my cousins."

"When they see how you have grown, Mama and Papa will make over how tall you and Edmund have become since last year." Elizabeth then teased, "Mama may even say that soon she will need to go about finding you husband."

Jenny's mouth dropped open at the notion before she realized that Elizabeth was teasing her, and so laughed along with her cousin. After thinking on the idea of marriage for a bit, she stated, "I think Mr. Bingley would make Jane a lovely husband. He is very sweet, much the same as her."

Elizabeth reflected on her observant cousin and agreed. "Mr. Bingley is very amiable, apt to make friends wherever he goes, and Jane is incapable of saying an unkind word of anyone. They are a pair."

"Do you think Aunt Fanny will have anything to say of it?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Oh, I think Mama will have a great deal to say on the matter, but we must allow nature to take its own course with them, and not try to meddle in affairs of the heart." Noting that Jenny still carried the book she that had claimed her interest while in the carriage, Elizabeth asked, "What have you been reading?"

"It is a book of Mr. Cowper's poetry.** I do not understand all of it, but I like the way the writer has put the words together. Mr. Darcy suggested it for the journey. He said he thought I would enjoy it." When Elizabeth nodded, Jenny paused before continuing, "Do you like him, Cousin Lizzy?"

"Yes," Elizabeth admitted casually with a smile. "I like him well enough. For so short an acquaintance, I think we have become friends."

"Nothing more than friends," asked Jenny in the way young girls just beginning that journey into womanhood are apt to see the world as romantic and wondrous.

Elizabeth could not resist a tease. "I am destined to be only his friend else it would devastate the lady who has truly won his heart." Jenny's eyes grew large waiting in anticipation for her cousin to reveal some secret lover of the handsome gentleman. Elizabeth laughed. "You must know that Ellie plans to marry him when she has grown! She is quite taken with him as he is with her."

Jenny giggled at her cousin's jest. "I doubt he would wait so long to have her become his bride."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Confirmed bachelors sometimes wait nearly their whole life time before succumbing to state of matrimony. There are a great many such unions where the gentleman is far greater in age than his wife."

Jenny gazed wide-eyed at her soucin at such a notion, but before she could remark on it, the maid appeared beside them, asking, "Your mother wished to know if either of you would like to have a cup of tea as she thinks it might be a while yet before the horses are readied."

Jenny nodded and rose to accompany the maid back inside the lobby. Elizabeth declined, saying, "I will go see what is keeping my uncle. If either of the boys wish for a cup, I will return with them."

At that she rose and ventured down the wooden walkway toward the livery, which was bustling with activity of several young grooms tending to the large number of animals rented out for journeys such as theirs. Elizabeth took a deep breath to gain more strength of will, enabling her to walk past the various horses, their docile appearance giving her some peace of mind.

She found her uncle and young cousins at the far corner of several stalls surveying those animals available. The proprietor and her uncle were discussing which of the horses would soon be rested enough to continue their journey into Hertfordshire. Edmund was engrossed in the discussion but young James seemed bored and began to fidget. Seeing Elizabeth, she motioned him to come over. When he saw his young son leaving, and noticed Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner nodded for permission to have her tend him while he continued speaking to the owner.

Elizabeth took James' empty hand for his other clung tightly to his box, which Elizabeth could only imagine what it contained. Motioning him over to a nearby bench, she asked, "Your mother wishes to know if you would like to sit with her and your sisters at the table she has procured for our use. There is tea and biscuits to be had." She waggled her eyebrows much the way her uncle did to encourage laughter.

James merely sighed and shook his head. Placing the box on his lap, he opened it, removing his toad. She smiled at how petting the toad's slimy back seemed to calm the lad. Knowing that the box also housed his small snake, she warned, "You know what both our mothers will say to your bringing your pets into the house?"

"I can't leave them outside, Lizzy!"

"That is where you captured them, James. The outside is their home, where they will have to soon return for their own safety."

"I know, but I wish to keep them for a little while longer, and then I will release them," he promised.

"Do only reptiles strike your fancy, or have you the capacity to care for other living things as well?"

"Mr. Darcy asked that too," admitted James. "He wanted to know if I like any other animals."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I said that I like all kinds of animals, but usually girls make over all the kittens and," he added with the authority of a child much older than his years, "you must be wary of dogs before they get to know you. They are sometimes unfriendly." Elizabeth nodded as this sage advice while James put the toad in her lap. She dutifully petted its head while it sat in a languid mass, clearly not enjoying the cooler weather.

James continued, "Edmund is fond of horses and we have no other farm animals around our house such as pigs, chickens or geese, so that only leaves me to play with toads and snakes, but I like to care for them all the same."

"Perhaps when you are grown, you will tend to animals."

He glanced up at his cousin, amazed that her thinking was so similar to the tall gentleman whose acquaintance they had recently made. "Mr. Darcy said that too." Then James shook his head, lamenting, "Father wants me and Edmund to work with him in the warehouse when we are older. He has said it enough times that I know that is what he wants. Edmund says he cannot wait until he comes back from school and is old enough."

Elizabeth knew her aunt and uncle had decided that because they could now afford it, and since Edmund was ready to go away to school, they thought the experience would do him good. He seemed to be excited about it but for missing his family, which was understandable. Their father's dream of having his sons involved in his business likewise seemed to be a dream of Edmund. She was not so sure, however, if it was something James would desire.

Refusing to treat him as the small child he was, Elizabeth then asked him, "James, have you ever talked with your father about the things that you enjoy? I am sure Uncle wishes above all to have each of his children happy in whatever they choose to do with their lives."

"Do you think so, Lizzy? Working in the warehouse instead of being out of doors sounds terrible, but Edmund says he would love it more than anything. Would I disappoint Father if I told him my wish is not the same as Edmund's?"

"No, he is a very wise man, James, and very understanding. If animals are more important to you than working in the warehouse with your father and brother, then you should talk to him of it."

"That is just what Mr. Darcy said."

"You seemed to have discussed this topic at length with the gentleman."

James nodded. "He is very smart too," pausing before adding, "I miss not being able to talk to him."

"As do I," sighed Elizabeth.

"Lizzy," her uncle called from the stalls. "Tell Mrs. Gardiner that we will be on our way very soon now. Can you take Edmund and James along with you?"

"Yes, Uncle," obeyed Elizabeth, handing back to James his toad, making certain he secured his pet in the box. She then ushered the boys to their mother who was settling the bill.

Giving each of them a biscuit, Mrs. Gardiner gathered them all onto the wooden sidewalk to await the readiness of their carriage for the remainder of the way to Longbourn and family. "I hope you have a good tale for the children's amusement, Lizzy," she implored, smiling.

Elizabeth laughed. "I think I can come up with something to entertain, and," she added glancing at all the children in turn, "what say you all contribute to the story with something you wish to happen before it is completed-"

"With a happily ever after!" insisted all the children to Elizabeth's, "But of course!"

This brought cheers from them all, for the best stories are the ones where many have a hand in its creation. Soon they were all snug inside the carriage and it was on the road again.

*http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~awoodley/carriage/inns.html

**Below is but one of William Cowper's poems:

*To a Young Lady
Sweet stream, that winds through yonder glade,
Apt emblem of a virtuous maid --
Silent and chaste she steals along,
Far from the world's gay busy throng:
With gentle yet prevailing force,
Intent upon her destined course;
Graceful and useful all she does,
Blessing and blest where'er she goes;
Pure-bosom'd as that watery glass,
And Heaven reflected in her face.

~~~William Cowper

Much later that same morning Darcy and Georgiana had come round to the Hurst townhouse to see Bingley and his family off for Scarborough. The air had turned cool that morning, their exhaling breath rising like smoke billowing from nearby chimneys. As the party gathered on the sidewalk watching the last of the packing of the carriage, Caroline again pouted of the dismal company that awaited them, beseeching, "Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, will you not reconsider joining us in a few days to add some sensible conversation to our party? It would make the journey less dismal and dreary."

Georgiana shrank before such a request, gazing at her brother, hoping he would remain firm in again declining the offer.

Darcy's forbearance was admirable, his civility was his usual politeness as he bowed to the lady, saying, "Would that it be possible, Madam, but our relatives have previously required our presence in town for the remainder of the week, and we cannot disappoint the Earl and the Countess."

Caroline sighed. "No, I suppose that would not do at all," much to her dismay. She added, "Though I do hope you will write to us as I will you to let you know how desolate we are so far away from all the excitement of the town."

"You may be assured of our correspondence to your brother." Darcy bowed again and stepped away from the carriage door and onto the sidewalk proper, his hand securely on his sister's arm as they waited for the Bingley party to ascend into the conveyance when the servants secured the last of the trunks.

Remembering the enjoyable time that was had when last journeying in a carriage, Bingley suggested a game they could engage in to pass the time in the carriage? "It could be a word association involving geography by letter whereby one person begins with a geographic name and the next person has to say of one that starts with its last letter. For instance I could begin with the word Lambton. Then the next person might suggest-"

Darcy was ready with the next encouraging response of "Northumberland."

Mr. Hurst joined in with, "Derbyshire."

This was followed tentatively by Georgiana with, "Exeter," and then after a pause, Louisa piped in, "Runcorn."

With Mr. Hurst and Darcy participating, and Georgiana and Louisa making the last suggested names, the next one required to give a reply was Caroline. All eyes fall upon her but she made no response. She was staring at her brother as if he had grown two heads. "Are you out of your senses to suggest such an inane pastime as though we were all children?" She smoothed the fabric of the pelisse, removing nonexistent lint and sniffed. "I have a circular of the latest fashion to bide my time." This news had Louisa's eyes brightening as Caroline concluded, "I will not participate in your silly game."

The rest took note of how chilled would be the atmosphere inside the carriage in company with Caroline for the ride to Scarborough as compared to the pleasurable journey taken from Hertfordshire not so long ago. As Bingley gave a disheartened sigh, he handed first Caroline and then Louisa into the carriage. Hurst followed, pulling himself through the door. Bingley turned and shook his friend's hand and bowed to Georgiana before proceeding up the steps to sit nearest the window. The footman secured the door and climbed onto the back. When the driver snapped the reins, the four horses sprung to life, jolting the heavy conveyance into motion, followed by the additional carriage filled with more trunks and servants for their extended stay in the north. Darcy and Georgiana waved good-bys, each relieved at not accompanying the Bingley party during their four day travel.

After the carriages had disappeared around the corner, Darcy turned to his sister and asked, "Shall we remove to our uncle's house, or do you think it too early for a visit?"

Grateful that she was away from the caustic wit of Caroline Bingley, Georgiana arched her eyebrow, Darcy noticed, much the same way as Elizabeth Bennet, and smiling at her brother, took his offered arm. "I think it is far too early to call upon our aunt and uncle, yet I do not wish to return to our house either."

"What do you suggest we do in the interim?"

Her eyes brightened to have Darcy shake his head, guessing what she had in mind. "I suppose shopping is not out of order during this time of year." He teased, "Have you actually forgotten someone for which you wish to bestow a gift?"

Georgiana smiled and leaned against her brother's shoulder as they ambled down the still uncrowded street, glancing at one or two of the displays in the shop windows. "No, I have not forgotten anyone, but I now wish to add Lizzy and Jane to my list by sending each some small token of our time together in London, nothing too extravagant, mind you, but something to remember me by."

Darcy laughed at her attempt at frugality, and teased back, "I should hope not, Georgie, though it pleases me you are glad of your newest acquaintances. They are very nice young ladies whom I have no objection to you getting to know better."

"Thank you for introducing them to me, Fitzwilliam. I like them very well. Their sisterly bond is quite affectionate, something I have long hoped to have for myself." She pinched his arm, adding in a teasing manner, "But that would require you, dear brother, finding a person of note to add to our family."

Darcy rolled his eyes. "Not you too, sister," he admonished. "Surely you do not wish to marry me off to the first available lady to come my way."

She laughed, saying, "No, not just any young lady, Fitzwilliam, but someone worthy of you."

He sighed. "I fear that after an exhaustive search, I find that there are instead far too many young ladies willing and eager to accept me for what I have rather than who I am."

Georgiana shook her head, determined that he not give up the search. "Oh, she is out there somewhere, Brother, and I am sure if you look for her with true determination, she will appear before you as though she had been right under your nose all the time."

Darcy's snort told her he had no faith in her belief that the woman of his dreams would suddenly materialize in front of him as though an apparition, and more, that he would recognize her as the one he could cherish with his whole heart. Therefore, endeavoring to change the subject, he asked, "and where are we to shop for these additional gifts you wish me to purchase?"

"I have in mind some writing paper, so perhaps a bookshop could supply me with the appropriate stationary items." Georgiana's smirk at this suggestion told both that she knew such an establishment was not contrary to where her brother would care to visit.

She was rewarded with his dimpled smile and his pace gaining momentum. Pulling her purposely down the sidewalk toward the nearest bookshop in the area amidst her giggles, he asked enthusiastically, "What are we waiting for?"

Chapter Twenty-two - Christmas at Longbourn

Posted on Saturday, 15 December 2007

By late afternoon the carriage finally made its way up the familiar lane and then into the drive of Longbourn estates. Though the journey had taken longer than was usual, the children were in good spirits due to the attentions by their older cousins in several word games and their father fashioning a story of his own imagination that involved dragons, a princess in peril, and a noble knight to the rescue.

Mrs. Gardiner chuckled at one point when her otherwise dignified husband raised the timbre of his baritone to emulate his notion of a woman's voice. All the children laughed out loud as they heard their father lamenting in a very high pitched range, "Oh woe is me! Where is my prince? Will he come to take me from this dungeon?"

They were all still giggling when the carriage halted.

Though the weather was beginning to turn colder, all the family and many staff, bundled in coats and scarves were outside as the coach pulled to a stop at the front door. The moment it ceased its movement the Bennet family crowded round the door to greet Uncle Gardiner and then their aunt.

Lydia hurried in her greetings, excitedly hugging her aunt while asking, "Ooh, what did you bring me?"

To this Mr. Gardiner chuckled and his wife smiled, "You have not changed a jot in the time since we last saw you, Lydia."

The girl objected, saying, "La! I must say that cannot be true for just the other day Kitty said I had grown taller than her, well passed Lizzy's height."

The others finished with quick hugs and kisses and began returning to the warmth of the house with Mrs. Bennet crying, "Oh Brother, you will be pleased to know we have no fixed engagements this evening. I do so hate being about when the weather turns cold."

Mr. Bennet remained beside the carriage with Mr. Gardiner to aide the children's egress, quipping, "Then you are fortunate that the Phillips' have invited us to dine with them no earlier than at week's end."

The two older children removed sharply from the carriage followed closely by James who made it a point to jump rather than using the steps, landing squarely beside his father and uncle. When he looked up to them, they both chuckled as Mr. Gardiner shepherded his three eldest into the house.

Turning to the carriage, Mr. Bennet had just enough time to catch the littlest Gardiner attempting to emulate her brother. "None of that, young lady," he admonished, grabbing her into his arms as she leapt out. "Your mother will have my head on a pike should you be injured before getting you through the door."

Ellie smiled, warmly hugging her Uncle Bennet's neck. He, in turn, squeezed her in a friendly greeting, himself smiling at again having a little girl to tend now that his own had all but grown. He proceeded into the house in time to hear Mrs. Bennet charging Kitty to, "ring the bell for tea."

The Gardiners could not but notice the transformation to the house, filled with greenery, and holly scents wafting through every room, glad that, like themselves, the Bennets celebrated Christmas in the earlier fashion regardless of what the government warnings to the contrary. Even the children took note of how wonderfully decorated were the mantles and walls. Ivy and rosemary and garlands of pine had been strewn everywhere to give the house a cheery scent.

"Are we to have a Yule log this year, Uncle Bennet," asked James, gazing up at his elderly uncle who smiled, his eyes twinkling with delight.

"Go into the parlor and see is if it has yet been placed in the hearth."

Young James turned quickly away, running through the house much to his Aunt Fanny's chagrin. "Oh, Mr. Bennet, must you give them license to scamper about? Have you no compassion on my poor nerves!"

He chuckled his warning, "I dare say your poor nerves will have their fill before the holiday is concluded."

Before she could say more, the Gardiners' young daughters asked their father to look up. Each stood below the bough of mistletoe hung by Kitty and Lydia. Ellie and Jenny were each promptly buzzed by their father. Mr. Gardiner then lifted both of the girls up to retrieve a white berry from the decorative holly. Their mother made sure that little Ellie didn't put the berry in her mouth as it was thought to be poisonous.

Just then James came rushing back, his face bright with anticipation at their burning the large ribbon bedecked log for the Twelfth Night celebration. "It's so big, Edmond, come and see!"

This was followed by both boys again running around Mrs. Bennet's skirts as Mrs. Gardiner took her sister's arm, asking, "Fanny, could you show the rest of the family to our rooms above stairs to settle in?"

The boys soon returned to find their sisters still standing beneath the mistletoe. The act necessitated James teasing them, "You have already been kissed by Father, and shan't expect anyone else to do the deed." This was met with laughter and additional teasing by Edmond that, "Tis true, no other man will ever kiss you two." James bobbed his head enthusiastically at his brother's taunt.

Kitty caused them to cease their torment by standing beneath the holly-bough herself, kneeling down to goad each of the little boys into claiming a kiss, one on either of her cheeks. Mortification reigned supreme upon their blushing young faces, but it served its purpose as, thereafter they left their beleaguered sisters alone.

Having received in the next morning's post a letter from Georgiana along with the gift of writing paper, it was clear to Elizabeth that she was meant to be a faithful correspondent with her new acquaintance. In that vein she felt it necessary to make the effort to begin the one forfeit she had, until now, delayed in attempting. Encouraged to begin her assignment, she listened almost as attentively as Mary to Vicar's sermon that Sunday before Christmas to glean some ideas of her own for her attempt at sermon writing about the season.

The next day Elizabeth endeavored further by diligently reviewing several of the passages from scripture pertaining to the momentous day of the coming of the Messiah to the point that Mary's curiosity was piqued enough to inquire on it. When Elizabeth informed her that she was striving to gain further knowledge of the event, Mary suggested other passages, some from the Old Testament she thought Elizabeth might glean some insight.

Of course, Mary could not, in good conscience, give her sister aid without the accompanying lecture on the benefits of a greater familiarity with the Holy Book. Elizabeth refrained from rolling her eyes, bolstered by the hope of not being rebuffed in the attempt to enlist Mary's further service, and spoke of her desire to attempt to write her reflections on the passages.

Mary paused, "Do you mean...you wish to write a sermon, Lizzy?"

"I suppose one could call it that."

Mary sniffed. "I think it would be vanity for a woman to think herself well versed enough to write sermons, Lizzy." When Elizabeth remained speechless at her words, Mary continued. "Surely if the Almighty had meant for a woman to such a task, He would have said so in the Bible."

Mary's admonishment gave rise to Elizabeth's own pique to such a narrow view of the Lord's directives who countered with, "It does not specify the men to do so either,"

Her sister was not to be gainsaid, quoting, "Jesus instructed his Disciples to ‘go out and teach all nations'," thinking that should be sufficient explanation for anyone to understand the Lord's meaning.

Neither would Elizabeth give way on this point, folding her arms across her chest to show her clear irritation. "Yes?"

Mary folded her arms in imitation of her sister. "It says nothing of Him directing His words to women, Lizzy."

"And it is your contention that only men came to listen to Him speak?"

Mary looked askance at the very notion, but squirmed at realizing the women of the community must have followed to also hear the Savior's words.

Elizabeth stated, "When He performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, did it not state a certain number of people, not counting the woman in attendance? Does that not imply that women were present on that day and most probably at other times when Jesus spoke?" Mary had to nod her agreement with her sister's logic as Elizabeth concluded, "I am sure that could not have been the only time that women came to hear Him speak."

Mary conceded, "There are few accounts in the Bible that mention women followers except for His mother and Martha and Mary and Mary-"

"Mary Magdalene," offered Elizabeth.

At the mention of that name, Mary sniffed. "We all know what was her sin."

"Are you referring to the sinful woman Jesus forgave?"

Mary replied indignantly, "I have not the understanding why He allowed her to continue in His company."

Elizabeth shook her head. "If the Lord can forgive a sinner, who are we to condemn her when He did not? And surely Mary Magdalene, with her loyalty, would have been considered one of His disciples."

"We are taught not to associate with women of ill repute, Lizzy. As such she could never be considered equal to one of His disciples."

"Mary, there is no passage in the Bible that ever names her as the same woman of such an infamy.*"

Mary countered fervently, "And yet it is common knowledge, Lizzy," adding with conviction, "Should we doubt what the vicar preaches? I think not!" Mary turned her steps to the parlor, adamant not to give way in her line of thinking that either the vicar or that of her mentor, Rev. Fordyce, could be in error in portraying this woman as someone akin to a disciple.

Elizabeth realized that the Bible depicted a culture much like her own, that of a patriarchal society where men ruled with an iron will, never to have women given any measure of power over their own lives and therefore unacknowledged as having the same prestige to that of a man.

I wonder if there will ever come a time when women are given the same respect as men?

Nevertheless, it was apparent that Mary's avowal of her own indoctrinated acceptance of the restrictions of women gave the impression that she would be of no assistance in Elizabeth's endeavors at sermon writing. Not one to be discouraged in the face of adversity, Elizabeth knew another lady whom she expected would be a fairer judge.

Lady Matlock would be impartial, surely.

Before Elizabeth could put her thoughts on paper her mother called from below stairs, declaring that they were soon departing to go to the Phillips' home.

Elizabeth sighed, calling back down, "Yes, Mama."

*Pope Gregory in 591 gave a sermon where he lumped together all the women in the New Testament named Mary (with the exception of the Mother of Jesus) as the same person. One was the sister of Lazarus and Martha, one Mary of Bethany, another was Mary Magdalene, and then there was the woman who Jesus cast out demons. Pope Gregory was a pious man who wished for the congregation to believe in the forgiveness of God through the act of reconciliation no matter the sin, and felt that this sinful woman could be an example for us, as sinners, to identify with and find hope that we will likewise be forgiven if we repent. There is no actual proof in the New Testament that Mary of Magdalene was any more than a follower of Jesus much the same as His other disciples, and it is only tradition that has given way to having her depicted as a woman of ill repute. Personally, I think she must have been more important to their group by the fact that she was privileged to be the first one to find the tomb empty and the first to speak to the risen Lord even over that of Peter or John whom Jesus favored.

Prior to leaving for the party at the Phillips', the Bennet cousins played the game of hot cockles with the children with Edmond volunteering to be blindfolded and then trying to guess who touched him while his siblings and even some of his cousins scampered about the room to avoid Edmond's grasping for them. Laughter ensued until Mrs. Bennet declared that her nerves could no longer take such raucous behavior.

Sitting more sedately on cushions by the roaring fire, each child was given a small gift to have the room soon littered with tiny scraps of gold paper. Jane and Elizabeth exchanged a knowing glance at recognizing a few of the gifts as being ones chosen from the trip to Uncle Gardiner's warehouse. This gave way to thoughts of the two gentlemen who accompanied them during that excursion, and how much amusement they all had. When Elizabeth heard a sigh escape from Jane, she knew not to mention the trip as Jane had yet to receive any missive from Miss Bingley to let her know how they were fairing with their relations in Scarborough.

Soon, dear Jane, I am sure you will get word of how miserable Miss Bingley is being so far from London that she would even wish for the society of Hertfordshire.

Having already been fed much earlier, at last their nursery maid ushered them off to bed after hugs and kisses from their mother and father. This was the signal for the rest of the party to enter the carriages for the short trip into Meryton.

Upon late arriving at the Phillips', the family was given little time to mingle with the other guests before dinner was announced and they all entered into the dining room to sit down to Christmas Eve dinner. The meal was only the beginning of the many festivities the neighboring families were to partake of during the twelve days of Christmastide.

After dinner the party continued as the card tables were set up and with several of Colonel Forester's officers rounding out the foursomes that included Lydia and Mary King.

Also in attendance was Mr. Collins who had returned to Longbourn to finalize the marriage settlement upon Charlotte Lucas. He was at the moment playing whist rather dreadfully with Aunt Phillips as his partner. Elizabeth observed her aunt frequently lamenting a poor play with, "Hearts, Mr. Collins, hearts!" and for which he apologized profusely.

Shaking her head, still not understanding why Charlotte had agreed to accept such a dolt of a man, Elizabeth silently lamented how much she would miss her friend's witty companionship when Charlotte removed to Hunsford. Like Jane, Elizabeth wished for the renewal of the society of either gentleman she now considered her friends.

I wonder how their holidays are fairing in Scarborough and Pemberley?

Lydia's peals of loud laughter drew Elizabeth's attention to that table. Her younger sister, it seemed, was playing a little too well. It became apparent to Elizabeth, if not her father, that one of the officers was allowing Lydia to trump his cards just to see her bounce upon her chair who was oblivious that she was displaying her attributes rather inappropriately. Vowing to rein in her younger sister's spirits, Elizabeth had yet to think of another activity to distract Lydia when Uncle Gardiner surprised them all by asking Mary to play a jig that they might all dance.

Glancing at her uncle but not seeing him give any indication, Elizabeth nonetheless wondered if he had also made his own observation of the incident at the card table independent of her own, instigating his request for the alternate entertainment. Sensing her gaze, his pointed stare and waggling eyebrows seemed to give her a confirmation. Elizabeth smiled at his suggestion and moved to the pianoforte to shuffle through her aunt's available music.

While waiting for the servants to push back the chairs in the music room, she used the time to view the dancing partners forming themselves in a line for the reel. This reminded her of others who might have enjoyed the impromptu country dance. Kitty looked above her to note the mistletoe hanging conveniently over hers and her partner's heads. Lydia giggled and pointed it out to have young Lt. Sanderson blush and pecked Kitty's cheek chastely while Lydia's giggles increased in strength and gaiety. Elizabeth shook her head and saw her father roll his eyes and form the words ‘silly girls'. Glancing over to Jane, Elizabeth smiled at a thought.

I can well imagine that, had both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley passed beneath the mistletoe, it would have been Mr. Bingley's prerogative to claim a quick kiss from Jane to the delight of our younger sisters.

Though he had before obliged Ellie, Elizabeth could not believe Mr. Darcy entering into such frivolity of the season with a more eligible lady. It did leave her to wonder what circumstance would provoke him into action and the type of lady who the illustrious Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy would wish to bestow a kiss under the mistletoe.

Certainly not anyone of my acquaintance.

She was drawn from her reverie with Uncle Edward claiming a kiss from Aunt Madeline to have the entire family soon joining in the amusement of how she blushed.

When the servants had succeeded in shifting the furniture sufficiently to allow room to dance, Lydia stood up with one of Charlotte's brothers, lately returned home from school for the holiday while the eldest brother offered to stand up with Elizabeth. The merriment lasted well over a half hour, the whole of the dancers clapping at its conclusion, all heading for the punch to quench their thirst.

After Mary completed her duty and gave her seat over to Elizabeth for the next set, she further obliged her Aunt Phillips from another intrusion to read the book she had brought by allowing an introduction to the nephew of the curate of the Meryton church.

Noting that the young lady seemed reluctant to join the others in dancing, young Mr. Thaddeus Brown offered to sit with Mary in nearby chairs, and began a discussion regarding one of the finer points in Rev. Fordyce's latest published sermon. So impressed with Mary's knowledge of the man that he, too, admired, Mr. Brown asked if he might call upon her in the coming week while he remained in his uncle's house to continue their conversation. Mary flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and pride, leaving Elizabeth to scoff.

After how abominably one clergy man treated her, I wonder how Mary can abide another one anywhere near her?

The fact that Mr. Collins' return to Longbourn seemed not to have shifted Mary's equilibrium was a hopeful sign for Elizabeth had suspected some wistfulness on Mary's part prior to the news of his proposal to Charlotte that had stunned them all. Continuing to play quietly while observing the couple, Elizabeth wondered if anything would come of this new acquaintance.

At noting a smug exchange from both her mother and Aunt Phillips, Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the obvious match making machinations at work, but when she also saw an effortless friendship forming between the two young people as they continued their lively discussion, her mind was eased. Mary, it seemed, could distinguish between the measure of both men though their callings were the same. This Mr. Brown appeared sincere in his attentiveness to the usually recalcitrant Mary excepting for a constant droning on about Reverend Fordyce to her annoyed family. The self same droning seemed to engage this gentleman to her devotion to her mentor, a man whose view held both their interests. Elizabeth sighed.

Maybe there is hope even for Mary to find happiness.

With another "Oh, Mr. Collins!" from her Aunt Phillips, Elizabeth could not help reflect back on that engaged couple, silently renewing her lament of how much she would miss Charlotte after the wedding.

Oh, Charlotte, whatever have you done in accepting such a man?

Elizabeth wished to discuss her feelings with Jane or Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. How easily she had grown accustom to their all sharing opinions about various situations of which this would indeed be noteworthy. She sighed, realizing that she missed their society in a way she had not thought possible.

Perhaps when I write to Georgiana to send my attempt at sermon writing, she will return some news of the two gentlemen in question, especially as to when they are to return to the area.

Having listened at the Christmas day sermon to the Longbourn vicar tout that the Lord's birth was a great event heralded by many to announce that the Messiah had arrived to change the world, Elizabeth was left unsatisfied with her own attempt. In all her readings from both the New and Old Testaments, she envisioned a more secluded, unobtrusive occurrence that only a few persons were privileged to witness to that of the general population of the time.

A handful of shepherds, an innkeeper and perhaps his wife and a few others, three men of wealth and education following a star in the east, these were the ones who came to see the newborn Christ child.

After He had presented in the temple, nothing was heard of Him again until King Herod was surprised by the visit from the three travelers from afar. From them the old king knew that someone of great import was heralded to have been born, but he never found Him due to Joseph spiriting his family away into Egypt until the king's death.

His birth was unheralded by the rich and powerful, was never announced to the world as anything other than some inconsequential birth of yet another Jewish baby born to poor parents of little note.

It was not until Jesus was a youth of about ten or twelve when He spoke so eloquently that those closest to Him began to suspect the magnitude of His destiny, but was not until He had grown into manhood that what had been preordained in the earlier scriptures began to come to pass.

His parents must have known some of what would be His path.

Mary, Jesus' mother, knew more than most for she had been aware of Whom she was to be mother to at the time of the annunciation. Joseph, too, with his own doubts at first had been made aware by God in a dream of what his role was to be in the life of the Christ child. As companion to Mary, and more, as protector to her and the Son, Joseph would have a hand in teaching Jesus the ways of the Jewish life, this person whom Mary could rely on to provide for them, keeping them safe until the time was right for Jesus to move forth into the world.

All those years of simple existence, what that couple must have witnessed.

As the scripture from of old came to pass one by one with God's child interacting in the physical world as none of His angels could, to touch and smell and taste all that the Father had created for man to enjoy, even Jesus would be filled with praise.

How grateful we should all be to know of the Almighty's love for us to give us such simple wonders.

The Fathers's love was so great that gave us His Son to be with us for a time, to give His life that we might be forgiven, then to return to heaven to make a place for us to live with the Father.

How can anyone be unaffected by such a love?

Thus bolstered, each night during that week Elizabeth bent to the task, finishing before the twelfth day of Christmas. That morning she placed it in the post, addressed to Georgiana along with a letter of explanation to have her enclosure forwarded to Lady Matlock.

Elizabeth was glad she had completed her assignment as part of her forfeit though she had been hard pressed to find the time amid family gatherings and neighborhood balls and parties during the Christmas time. She knew she would have little time to herself the last night when the neighbors were invited to Longbourn for a celebration that included minstrel songs and the gift giving to each of the servants. The culmination of the merriment came with the disposing of the Yule log after some of the remnants were collected for the next year. Mrs. Bennet's punch had everyone in a mirthful spirit. Even the children's excitement did not sway her to complain of nerves as all were kept lively. The evenings amusements culminated with everyone being pleased.

It was not until after all had finally retired with she and Jane sharing a bed that the latter admitting, "I do wish for more company, Lizzy."

Elizabeth knew before asking, "And who might that be, Jane?"

"I am sure Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy would have much enjoyed taking part in the celebration."

At this Elizabeth laughed. "Do you truly think that Mr. Darcy would not rather have been sequestered in Papa's library than be forced into such frivolity as Kitty and Lydia provided?"

Smiling at Jane's hesitation, Elizabeth disobliged her elder sister of such a notion. "No matter how amiable the man was around our young cousins, I could sense his unease in the company of strangers, especially at the antics of Mama and our younger sisters."

Indeed, there are times when even I care not for much of their behavior!

"No," she furthered, "I cannot accept that the reserved Mr. Darcy would have enjoyed most of what had occurred at Longbourn at this Christmas celebration."

"Well, I am sure Mr. Bingley would have enjoyed himself," offered Jane with a sigh.

"To that I can not disagree, dear Jane. He seems the kind of gentlemen who would relish any chaos our household exudes, so long as he is able to stand at your side." At Jane's second sigh, Elizabeth giggled. "I am sure he is wishing himself anywhere other than with at least some of his family in Scarborough."

"No, Lizzy," admonished Jane good naturedly. "I am sure he is having a pleasant holiday with all his relations."

"Perhaps you are correct," conceded Elizabeth. "The spirit of the season might give everyone a better disposition, even Miss Bingley."

"Oh, Lizzy, do be kind. It is Christmas, after all."

Elizabeth smiled, hugging her sister. "Very well, I shall try if only to please you. Good night, Jane."

"Good night, dear Lizzy."

Mean while in London, comfortably settled upon high back leather chairs in the study at Matlock house, Richard and Darcy were sharing the earl's store of aged brandy late that same night after all the others had retired.

"This year's season of the birth of Our Lord started out with a pleasant Christmas day," said Richard, stretching his long legs to remove the cinches from too little exercise of which he was accustom.

Darcy agreed. "Had the rest of the holiday gone as well, I might have been tempted to start a tradition of remaining in town to be with family rather than traveling to Pemberley."

Richard glanced over at his cousin. "Indeed? That is saying much for a man who usually wants no part of town society. " Richard doubted that his cousin would ever give up the serenity of his beloved Pemberley for many boisterous evenings among those who would have designs on the prestigious bachelor as he tried to fend off every lady who came his way.

Darcy sipped the amber liquor, reflecting, "Of late, I have seen how much enjoyment can be derived when children are involved, something I had long forgotten about when Georgiana was still small."

"You were no where near grown yourself when she was as young as the Gardiner children." Richard wondered why these particular children seemed to overly affect his cousin, more so than any other young ones in his own family, speculating that their attraction that drew Darcy might lay in their elder cousin.

I can hardly blame him. Miss Elizabeth is very pleasant company and easy on the eyes.

They remained in silent meditation for a time when Richard finally asked, "You miss her?"

"Who?"

Scoffing, Richard said, "Why Miss Elizabeth Bennet, of course! She could light up the room by merely entering it, Darcy. Surely you can imagine what additional gaiety would ensue with her presence." He finished by sipping the large swallow of his brandy.

Darcy remained silent, nursing his drink, soundly refusing to accommodate his cousin. Richard would not relent. "You cannot tell me you do not miss her company, Darcy. I know you too well."

"We are merely friends, Richard, nothing more."

"Good friends from what I have witnessed."

"Why do you insist on implying more than what is true?"

Richard pointed out, "When even my father notices you taking an inordinate interest in any young lady, it is news, Darcy, and leaves one to infer that there must be more to it than you care to admit."

Finally exasperated, Darcy said, "I have always accepted that women in general quickly jump from acquaintance to marriage in the blink of an eye because it is in their nature to think in more romantic terms. But never did I suspect that the Fitzwilliam men likewise tended toward the art of matchmaking. Are your duties with the General so lax that you find time to indulge in such frivolous pursuits?"

"All I asked was if you were at all affected by her absence, Cousin?"

Darcy paused, knowing that Richard had merely asked for an honest reply to his innocent query, but Darcy also realized he would receive no quarter of teasing should Richard find his reply humorous. Finally, Darcy said, "I will admit to missing her company, Richard. She is vivacious and intelligent, but not one who I could think to have as more than a friend. Nothing can come of it, Richard."

Unsatisfied with this answer, thinking it sounded more like Lady Catherine pontificating than Darcy, Richard nonetheless seemed reluctant to insist on more information than Darcy intended to divulge, and merely nodded at his cousin's admission at allowing that he missed the lady.

Swallowing the last of his brandy, Richard rose to retire, leaving Darcy with one last parting thought. "Just think on this cousin. Can you remember a time when you so enjoyed a lady's company to the extent that you were encouraged to meet her several time for differ outings, and now that she is absent, freely admit to missing her?"

Darcy sat alone in his chair, sipping the last of his brandy as the door closed, stupefied that he could not formulate a suitable reply.

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