Pride & Prejudice 12/23/03

Author’s Notes: Dear readers, I wished to give you a Christmas gift, and came up with this last night. I wish you all joy and peace this holiday season. Merry Christmas.

A Christmas Dream

Posted on Tuesday, 23 December 2003

Looking forward to their first holiday as a married couple, William and Elizabeth were just finishing the decorations on the tree in the great parlor at Pemberley. Strings of cranberries entwined amongst the pine branches with the contrast of red and green offset to perfection. The candleholders were set in the branches for the manservant to light in the evening, and William had placed the star upon the topmost spire just as he had done for many years. He remembered long ago when his father had lifted him to place the star, and smiled at Elizabeth. He sighed wishing one day to have that same task as his father. He stood beside Elizabeth, and hugged her gently as she viewed the tree. He saw her face was rosy in the firelight, and her eye shone with a brightness of the season. Her smile was so dazzling it took his breath away.

“Its perfect,” she said as he stared at her.

“Yes,” he whispered in reply. “Yes, it is.”

Unaware of his reflective mood, Elizabeth was caught up in all the planning of the festivities that would occur in a short amount of time, and she turned to face him as his arms encircled her.

“And all the gifts are readied for us to bring to the tenants on Christmas morn?”

“Yes.”

“And Georgiana will arrive in time with your Aunt and Uncle to accompany us as was her wish?”

“Yes, they are due to arrive within a day unless something unforeseen delays them.”

“And the servants? Are you sure we have not forgotten anyone?”

“Mrs. Reynolds assured me the list was complete, my love. It is all done.”

“The food preparations and flower arrangements?’

“uh huh,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

“All the bedrooms ready for our guests?”

“Yes, my dear, with a special gift upon each bed for them to discover as though from Father Christmas.” His lips grazed her ear.

“And are you certain your relations are comfortable attending the service in Lambton? Are you sure they will approve?”

“Yes, Elizabeth.” His fingers caressed her neck, pulling her face close to his. “They have often attended the service at Lambton whenever they have stayed at Pemberley.” He gently pulled out one of her hairpins, and watched a curl cascade down her back.

“I just wish for everything to go well, William. I want them to think you have made a wise choice in your wife, one who is responsible and capable, and-“

He kissed her full on the lips. She began anew. “Oh, and I forgot if the-” He kissed her again longer this time, not giving her chance for breath. When his mouth finally released hers, she stared into his eyes speechless, having forgotten what she was saying.

He whispered, “it is done. Everything is accomplished.”

“Truly? We have not forgotten anything?”

“Not a thing, Lizzy. The master and the mistress of Pemberley may now retire in peace.” She smiled and he pulled her toward the hallway and stairs. They ascended in silence with Elizabeth mentally reviewing her list of tasks while fingering her garnet cross out of habit. She looked up at William when he stopped abruptly at her chamber doors. He kissed her most ardently and then stepped back from her arms. He smiled. She looked into his eyes expectantly.

“There was one other task for the master to accomplish.” He opened the doors to her room bathed in the soft light from hundreds of candles glowing. Her mouth formed an ‘0’ as she slowly entered the room to see the rose petals scattered on the floor and bed. He followed her in and closed the doors behind them.

“Wake up! Wake up! It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas!” They awoke when a large shape bounded on the bed in the form of a curly haired tot of three years “Mother! Father! It’s Christmas!”

“Wake Up! It’s Christmas!”

Elizabeth kept her eyes closed, wanting to see him again, know his name, and see his face again.

William repeated, “Wake up, Elizabeth! It’s Christmas!” He turned her face to his and kissed her until her eyes opened fully. He saw her confusion and became concerned.

“I…was having the most wonderful dream,” Elizabeth replied, caressing his unshaven cheek. He snuggled closer to her to listen. “We had completed all the decorations at our first Christmas here, with ourselves finishing the tree-“

“As we have done each year hence, my love,” he whispered, kissing her temple.

“And when we retired you had lit my room with hundreds of candles.” He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “…and strewn rose petals about-“

“Very hard to find those at this time of year,” he interrupted, caressing her cheek. When she hesitated, he gazed at her expectantly.

“And then there was the boy, dark curly hair, jumping on our bed, calling us mother and father.”

She stared at him through misty eyes, and he kissed her tenderly, his hand moving down to caress her abdomen large with their first child.

“A boy?” William’s eyes glowed brightly and he smiled. She nodded. “That was a wonderful dream, Elizabeth, one I hope will soon become reality after all these years of hoping.”

She smiled and nestled in her husband’s embrace. They were both thankful for the Lord who had given them a child to pin their dreams.

They both thought of another boy child given by God to the world to ensure all our hopes.

Merry Christmas everyone!