Sitting behind the family desk in his study in this last month of the year, Darcy was engrossed in perusing the pages of a business contract in order to make a decision on a venture his steward had recommended. Suddenly all thoughts were forgot except those pertaining to his wife. Hurriedly pushing back his chair, he made for the door in uncommon haste and strode purposefully through the hallways towards their bed chambers above stairs mindless of the surprised stares of several of his servants at seeing his alacrity.
Although they had been married for still of short duration, Darcy was always able to sense Elizabeth's unease. Her shy Lizzy would emerge at those times to instill in him such a sense of his protectiveness as had begun their married life. He was now certain that her mood infused itself into the entire house, which seemed to change whenever the mistress was upset.
To say that the house itself was affected sounded like a ridiculous notion. Darcy knew that there was a distinct alteration in the way the entire staff performed their duties whenever the master was out of sorts, but when the mistress of Pemberley was ill at ease it seemed the house itself sighed.
I suppose I was so accustom to such a somberness from the time of Mother's death, and then years later when Father joined her with his passing, that the mood of Pemberley had been more a permanent state until Elizabeth arrived to expel the prevailing sorrow.
He smiled remembering how the staff returned her generous smiles, playful attitudes, and caring nature that the very house seemed to open itself up to her presence. It was as if heavy draperies were drawn back from the windows to let in the radiance of the sun.
And so it had been since the time Elizabeth had entered the door as his wife until nearly a year later when an event so cataclysmic occurred to plunge the house back into a sadness so deep, Darcy wondered if they would ever be happy once more.
He heard her crying though the doors to their chambers were firmly shut. So in tune with his young wife, he knew this time of year would be especially difficult for her. Entering his own chambers, he crossed the room to the adjoining door, his intent to continue on into the small alcove wherein served as a nursery. Spying Elizabeth prone across the massive four poster bed, she seemed deceptively frail, petite in stature and appearing vulnerable in her misery.
Darcy's heart nearly broke hearing her sobs. Without words, he gently lay opposite her. His hand caressed her tear stained cheek as he gazed into shy Lizzy's eyes. Though he could almost guess, he waited for her to speak on what had caused her such despondency.
Bye and bye she finally pointed to the passage in the open Bible that had caused her pain, silently bidding Darcy read the words aloud.
"...at the command of King Herod, all children abiding in Bethlehem two year and under were to be hunted down and killed to ensure that Jesus not survive..."
She sighed, "My heart went out to all those mothers who, through no fault of their own, had their sons murdered by the man to keep himself the Jewish king. How could such an act be allowed by a merciful God?"
Darcy chose his words carefully. "It was an act that fulfilled one of Daniel's prophecies from the Old Testament, which stated the one who came to power had neither regard for God nor any of His tenets."
"Nor did the man care of the heartache he would impose upon those women whose sons were slain. They were innocents, cut down for no just purpose."
At first Darcy did not know what he could say to give some relief to his young wife who had given him such a gift of love. He offered, "If Herod's soldiers had found Jesus, then there would have been no Messiah to save us all. These innocents were all that stood between that fate and our salvation. Can we not view them as performing a heroic act to save the Son of God?"
Elizabeth sniffed back a sob, her still tear filled eyes looking wonderingly at her husband. "What do you mean?"
"Richard is never one to expound the exploits of soldiers during battle, but he is quick to credit those of his regiment who perform acts of valor. Are not these children equal in the eyes of the Almighty, sacrificing their lives to ensure the safe escape of Joseph and Mary and their baby Jesus into Egypt until Herod's death? When viewed in that light, could we not honor them as surely as we would a soldier who gives his life for those of his comrades in battle? Are not these children of whom you read of part of God's greater plan, to give us all a Savior in Jesus?"
"They gave their lives so that He might live?"
"Is that not what Jesus espouses us to likewise do, to give up our lives for our friends?"
"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has prepared for those who love Him?"*
"We cannot know all that The Almighty has planned for us nor how it is to come about, but we must have faith that His plan is right and just."
Darcy's words seemed to give her comfort. "I suppose when seen in that context, one could understand the way it came to pass so long ago. These innocents went before us, just as Jesus died on the cross, and rose to return to the Father. He went back to heaven to make a place for us all."
"These small ones were but a few who sacrificed for God before His Son could make the ultimate sacrifice of Himself for our sins. Many more died after these sweet souls to give Our Lord the time needed to fulfill the Father's promise of the redemption of man."
Darcy hand once more caressed Elizabeth's cheek, consoling, "They are with Him in Paradise."
"Just as is our sweet babe," Elizabeth whispered, tears flowing from her eyes again.
"Yes," Whispered Darcy, his own heart full of sorrow from the death of their firstborn, a sweet little girl, born too early, too weak to sustain herself. She lived only a few hours before smiling at her mother as she took her last breath.
Our little Angela.
"She has joined the chorus of tiny souls taken back into the arms of Our Lord, forever to be with Him-"
"And with her grandparents who are holding her as they would have done had they all lived to see each other on this earth."
Nodding, he pulled Elizabeth to him in a gentle embrace, allowing them both to grieve for the child never to grow old. It had not been long enough, would never be long enough not to miss what a wonder their little girl could have been had she lived. Darcy caressed the tiny head of the healthy boy, cradled gently in Elizabeth's arms. His son and heir had been sent to fill their hearts with joy, but never to replace the little one who had come before.
We will always remember you, our little angel.
Elizabeth cradled her baby, shy Lizzy receding once more. "They were heroes."
"Yes," Darcy acknowledged, thinking of the ones who stood between the Christ child and the swords of Herod's men, tiny ones who unknowingly had kept Him safe through their deaths.
"Yes, they were heroes."
Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas this year and every year to come.
*1Corinthians 2:9
The End