Posted on Saturday, 29 November 2003
Due to rapidly dropping temperatures and winds turned north the fine morning of sun turned to fog and rain then snow. The coachman thought it best to speak to Mr. Darcy, who was enjoying his wedding breakfast, not noticing the weather change. The coachman thought it wise that the trip to London be postponed.
Mr. Darcy frowned but valued the experience of his coachman. "Well, best need be. I will speak to Mr. Bingley' that we will be staying at Netherfield on our wedding night after all."
Before his wedding Darcy usually was the first one down for breakfast. But today his first full day of marriage Elizabeth and he were the last. Jane and Elizabeth exchanged "good mornings" with a blush upon their cheeks. The gentlemen just smiled theirs. Miss Bingley had managed to keep two chairs empty, one next to her and one across the table. To her disappointment Darcy guided Elizabeth to the chair next to her.
"Allow me to serve you, my dear?" he softly asked her. As he walked to the buffet Miss Bingley's voice shrieked out, "Pray, Miss Eliza, did you have a nice night's rest?"
Darcy grinned, murmuring to himself "we had the best of nights. Not too much rest tho'"
"And you Mr. Dar," here he heard his wife's sweet voice interrupting Caroline. "I must have, Miss Bingley. For I had the nicest dream. I dreamt I married Mr. Darcy. And now I am MRS. Darcy."
Darcy quickly joined in, "why, I had the same dream, Mrs. Darcy."
He pointedly looked at Miss Bingley as he sat across from her, down the table.
She flushed for a moment. Then looked at Georgiana. "Oh dear Georgiana how I long to be at Pemberley decorating for Christmas again. You and I had such a good time last year. And I have sooo many new thoughts for window hangings, wreaths and mantle pieces." Bingley and Jane stared at Caroline, mouths open. Mrs. Hurst smirked. Mr. Hurst didn't miss a bite. Georgiana paled, trembled and looked down at her plate after glancing at her brother. His beautiful dimpled smile had disappeared; his countenance returned to his former hauteur. Elizabeth looked stricken as Caroline turned and smugly looked at her.
"had they discussed this?" thought Elizabeth. "Georgiana and Caroline?? Surely not." She was so hurt. Had she heard right? She bit her lower lip to keep from crying.
Darcy's appetite lost, laid his knife and fork down upon his plate. He rose and walked around the table. Reaching Miss Bingley he said, "Dear Caroline, as you favor the color orange, so I'm sure you will enjoy this." Reaching for the decanter of orange juice he raised it and poured it over her head. Setting it down he gave his hand to Elizabeth. "Come my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. We must make haste to our home in London as the skies have cleared."
Darcy was very quiet as the carriage rumbled on to town. Elizabeth snuggled next to him, asked why. He answered "well my dear, I have been thinking of our Christmas gifts to others. Especially one for Miss Bingley." "Miss Bingley?! Are we giving her a gift dear Fitzwilliam?"
"Oh yes. Don't you think a box of oranges would be a perfect gift to send her?"
"Oh Mr. Darcy you are too cruel."
Laughing they snuggled even closer in each other's arms, happily anticipating their first Christmas together at Pemberley.