Christmas at Pemberley

the Atlantic where he tried to recover his sister.

Bingley heaved a deep sigh. “What can I do? Caroline is Mr. Buckley’s wife. I’ve seen the marriage license. The man married her aboard ship and then a second time when they landed in Baltimore. He claims he wanted to alleviate my anxiety, but I question the legality of their first joining. It wasn’t a reputable ship upon which they sailed to America.”

“Did not Miss Bingley realize her mistake when Manneville became Buckley?” Edward asked.

Bingley looked heartbroken. “Caroline had no choice: Buckley had thoroughly compromised her. Luckily, the man was not entirely without scruples. He does own a house in Charleston and a decent-sized estate south of there. But I don’t think my new brother is totally solvent. He was most anxious to finally receive Caroline’s dowry.”

“And you’ll comply?” Darcy shook his head in disbelief.

“I cannot deny Caroline her inheritance. My father’s will specifies that she’d receive it without my consent when she reaches the age of five and twenty. That’s in another two months; whether I wish to delay it or not, I have no alternative.” Bingley took a deep drink from his wine. It was too early for any others to imbibe, but Bingley had suffered much from his sister’s actions. “My new brother holds high ambitions. Maybe he and Caroline will do well together. I can only hope it will be so.”

Edward placed his teacup on the tray. “I wish I’d known Buckley had taken your sister’s carriage, and that she was with him. We looked for a single man, not a couple.”

“Bingley and I assumed that was part of Buckley’s motivation in convincing Miss Bingley to accompany him. He had no coach of his own nor did he know the best places from which to ship out. Miss Bingley served as a source of information and provided the perfect cover for the man’s escape.”

“It’s a shame, Bingley, that the man used your sister so poorly,” Edward remarked. “We were late in discovering Buckley’s real name and his familial connection to Hesse.”

A light tap on the door ended their conversation. Elizabeth appeared, and Darcy’s whole composure changed. “It’s time to leave, Mr. Darcy.”

“We’ll be there momentarily, my dear.”

She gave them a quick curtsy and departed.

“Mrs. Darcy glows,” Edward noted.

“She celebrates the third calling of your banns,” Darcy teased.

“I suspect it’s more than that.” Edward said smugly. “But either way, we shouldn’t tarry.”

“Miss Catherine,” Edward said as he touched Kitty’s elbow. He’d expected her to be one of the first down for the church services. Her relationship with Winkler was common knowledge, and a summer wedding was expected. “May we have a few moments together?” He nodded toward an empty drawing room.

“Of course.” She sounded suspicious. “Is there something faulty, Sir?” she asked when he closed the door behind them.

“Nothing is out of kilter,” he assured. “I wanted to speak to you privately because the others don’t know of the service you did me when I searched Buckley’s room.”

“It was truly nothing,” she began, but his scowl cut off the words.

“Neither the Prince Regent nor I consider it to be nothing. Because you forestalled Buckley’s return to his room, I managed to find Princess Charlotte’s letters. Now, the princess is free to accept Prince Leopold’s attentions. This pleases the Regent very much. He’s sent you a gift to show his approval.”

Kitty gasped, “A gift from the Prince. Surely, you must be mistaken!”

“No mistake, Miss Catherine.” He produced a small teardrop diamond on a gold chain. “Our Prince wished to send something grander, but I convinced our sovereign that you’d have trouble explaining anything larger to your family.”

“Oh, my!” She looked amazed. “It’s exquisite. I’ve never owned anything half as fine.”

“The Prince wasn’t satisfied with just the necklace,” Edward continued. “He’s dowered you with two thousand pounds in your name. I’ll deliver the papers when we have the opportunity to speak again privately.” He hooked the necklace about her neck. The teardrop fell between her breasts and was hidden from view.

“This is too much,” Kitty declared, but she fingered the diamond lovingly. “How might I thank the Prince?”

“I’ll see to it for you. Possibly, you might write a note of gratitude.”

“Most certainly.” Kitty stood in complete shock.

Edward smiled happily. “My tale of how Buckley manhandled you and how you persevered entertained His Highness most thoroughly. So, there’s one last thing.” Kitty’s eyes widened in disbelief. “His Royal Majesty cannot bestow a title on you, but he thought that once you and Mr. Winkler joined that he might concoct a reason to give your new husband a knighthood. Sir Thorne and Lady Winkler sounds quite delicious, does it not? You’ll have something even Mrs. Darcy doesn’t have. The Prince will make arrangements to bring you to St. James.”

Kitty’s mouth remained agape. “Just like Lady Lucas. I’ll be Lady Winkler. Mama will be so pleased, and Lydia will be eaten up with envy.” She impulsively hugged Edward. “Oh, how do I thank you?”

“As before, your silence is required,” he cautioned. “For that, you’ll reap the benefits.”

“Tell His Royal Highness that I can be as silent as a tomb.”

Mr. Winkler’s voice rang clear. “Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and our Saviour Christ saith None can enter into the kingdom of God except he be regenerate and born anew of Water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of His bounteous mercy He will grant to this Child that which by nature he cannot have that he may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ’s holy Church, and be made a living member of the same.”

He had taken the boy in his arms at the beginning of the service, and his son had immediately fallen asleep. It was his role in tending to their child, and Darcy never tired of it. When Elizabeth could not quiet the boy, Darcy would cradle him and whisper words of protection — a vow of love — and young Master Darcy would go silent.

Now, he and Elizabeth presented the boy to the community. His child secured Pemberley’s future, and he couldn’t contain his happiness. Looking over at his wife, Darcy observed the same completeness — not so much that she had delivered a male heir for the estate, but that God had found her “worthy,” after all. Darcy had no doubts that Pemberley would know such happiness again and again.

The ceremony had progressed to the point where the boy’s godparents would perform their duties. Requiring three godparents, Darcy had asked Edward, Bingley, and Georgiana to serve in his and Elizabeth’s stead. His cousin and sister were to marry and would see to the boy, as would Bingley and Elizabeth’s sister Jane. His son would never suffer. He would have the best of everything.

“Dearly beloved, ye have brought this Child here to be baptized; ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him from sin, to sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in His Gospel to grant all those things that ye have prayed for: which promise He, for his part, will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore after this promise made by Christ, this Infant must also faithfully, for his part, promise by you that are his sureties (until he come of age to take it upon himself) that he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God’s holy Word, and obediently keep His commandments. I demand therefore, Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous