Christmas at Pemberley

Georgiana smiled warmly. “That may be exactly what I need to stay my anxiety.”

Mr. Nathan cleared his throat from behind her. “Excuse me, Miss Darcy. A report from the gatehouse indicates visitors on the main entrance.”

Georgiana breathed a relief’s sigh. “It must be Fitzwilliam and Mrs. Darcy,” she whispered. She shot a quick glance to where Lady Catherine continued to play her fish. “I would prefer to inform my brother of the additions to his household before he and Elizabeth make their entrances. Excuse me, Anne.” She nodded her departure. “Come with me, Kitty. I may need your support.”

“But Elizabeth isn’t to know that I’m here,” Kitty reminded her.

“We’ll think of something.” Georgiana tugged Kitty along behind her as they made their way to the main foyer.

Darcy tapped lightly on the door to signal his and Mr. Joseph’s entrance. “Come in,” Elizabeth called from the semidarkness.

Darcy eased the door open and slid into the rearranged room. Nodding to Joseph, he silently made his way to where Elizabeth lay curled under the blanket. A single candle lit the space. He began to remove his jacket and boots.

Mr. Joseph made his way gingerly across the altered space. Mrs. Joseph rested on a mat before the hearth. Two folding screens separated the areas.

“Tell me when I can extinguish the candle,” Darcy said aloud.

Joseph didn’t answer, but Darcy could hear the man moving about so he assumed that Joseph had heard him. Darcy removed his cravat and waistcoat and draped them over a chair back. Then he waited for Mr. Joseph to finish his undressing. “You can put out the candle, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Joseph’s deep voice filled the room.

Obediently, Darcy blew out the flame and then removed his shirt. He slid under the blanket and took his wife in his arms. Darcy spooned Elizabeth’s body with his and silently kissed behind her ear. “I love you,” he whispered.

Automatically, Elizabeth rolled over to press herself to him. She lightly kissed his chest and breathed the words, “Thank you.”

Darcy kept his mouth close to her ear. “You owe me, Mrs. Darcy.” He purposely ran his tongue over her ear’s folds. “And when we escape this small crisis, I’ll have my price.”

“Which is?” She smiled against his chest.

Darcy sucked on Elizabeth’s ear lobe. “You know as well as I, Elizabeth.” Then he kissed her tenderly. Settling her comfortably in his arms, he turned to bury his face in her hair. Inhaling the scent of lavender, he said softly, “Good night, my love.”

Georgiana and Kitty raced along the passage and down the main staircase. “We’ll tell Elizabeth that your parents allowed you to return to Pemberley because you were lonely now that Miss Bennet is engaged.”

“Elizabeth will never believe I miss Mary’s company,” Kitty objected.

Georgiana tutted her disagreement. “We just need for our sister to believe us long enough for her to reach the drawing room to greet your family.”

They waited impatiently for the Darcys’ arrival, each girl fidgeting with her dress. Then Mr. Nathan opened the door, and instead of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, three winter-cloaked gentlemen strode through the opening. Both girls stood in awe of the men — all fine specimens of maleness. “Oh, my,” Kitty swallowed her words. She clawed at Georgiana’s arm.

But Georgiana stood frozen in place. The man in front held her mesmerized. A year — more than a year had passed since she had last seen him, but he remained as before. Solid. Raven haired. Smoky blue eyes. Eyes that appeared to look through her. See me. Georgiana willed herself not to say the words. He was not quite as tall as Fitzwilliam, and the man’s broad shoulders filled Georgiana’s gaze. “Edward!” she called and launched herself into his waiting arms. In his embrace, Georgiana inhaled him deeply. He smelled of cold and leather and sweat and the spicy cologne he always had worn. “Thank God, you’ve returned to us.”

Her cousin picked her up, clutching Georgiana to his chest, and swung her around in a circle. “My, goodness!” he laughed easily. “What happened to my little Georgie?”

“You’ve been away for a year, Edward,” she protested.

“So, I have.” He laughed again as he set her on her feet. “Where’s that rascally brother of yours?” He glanced toward the main stairs.

“Fitzwilliam and Mrs. Darcy are on their way from Northumberland,” she explained.

Edward frowned. “Well, Fitz will be delayed. We barely made it from Liverpool on horseback. Darcy won’t chance it in a carriage.” The colonel gestured to the men waiting behind him. “Do you have rooms available, Cousin? I don’t wish to attempt riding to Matlock.”

“Of course.” Georgiana nodded to Mr. Nathan, and the man ducked into a servant’s passageway to do her bidding.

Edward spotted Kitty waiting patiently. “And is this who I believe it to be?” he asked teasingly.

“You remember Mrs. Darcy’s sister Catherine from the wedding, do you not, Edward?”

The colonel bowed to Kitty. “Absolutely. I am pleased to find you at Pemberley, Miss Catherine.”

Kitty curtsied to the group. “I’m certain Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth shall be thrilled for your return, Colonel.”

Edward placed Georgiana’s hand on his arm. “Allow we to introduce my traveling companions, my dear. Miss Darcy. Miss Catherine. May I present Lieutenant Roman Southland? The lieutenant is my assistant.”

The officer bowed formally. “Miss Darcy, the colonel has spoken often of his cousin, but his words didn’t do you justice.” He kissed Georgiana’s outstretched hand. “Thank you for accepting our intrusion upon your hospitality.”

“Pemberley would never turn away the colonel’s associates,” Georgiana responded. “Edward is family.” She wanted to ask what her cousin had said of her and how often the colonel spoke of her, but instead, Georgiana smiled welcomingly at the man.

“And this gentleman,” the colonel indicated the man not wearing a uniform. “This is Mr. Beauford Manneville. Mr. Manneville is from South Carolina in the Americas, but he’s come to our ‘enemy’ shores to do business with our government and to renew his acquaintance with his distant cousin Lord Shelton.”

“Welcome to England, Mr. Manneville.” Georgiana curtsied and again extended her hand. “I’m sorry that your first experience on British shores brings you icy roads.”

The colonel laughed softly. “You don’t understand, Georgie. In South Carolina, snow rarely falls. Cold weather doesn’t tarry either. Is that not correct, Manneville?”

The man openly shivered. “I’ve never been so cold, Colonel, and you may leave your levity out of it, Sir.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam bowed stiffly. “As you wish, Manneville.” He turned to Georgiana with a touch of lightheartedness. “And from what did we pull you ladies?”

Georgiana suddenly remembered the others waiting in the drawing room for her return. “Oh, Edward,” she gushed. “I am doubly happy to see you, especially in Fitzwilliam’s absence. We’ve a houseful of guests, including Lady Catherine and Anne.”

“Darcy invited our aunt for Christmas?” he asked incredulously.

“No. Her Ladyship invited herself, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Collins. Lady Catherine visited the Earl, but His Lordship and the Countess have traveled east to welcome the arrival of Viscount Lindale’s first child.”

Edward beamed with the news. “Did you hear, Southland? I’m to be an uncle. My brother Rowland’s wife is in her confinement.”

The lieutenant removed his gloves and laid them nearby. “Then it is fortuitous that we didn’t seek Matlock. It appears your family is scattered between here and Lincolnshire, Sir.”

“They are. That they are.” He smiled genuinely at Georgiana. “Come, Gentlemen. I’ll introduce you to Lady