She was born under tremendous stress, with Lizzy experiencing the most traumatizing birth of her five children. Dr. Darcy’s superior skills were sorely tested to deliver a living baby. The combination of malpositioning that impeded her easy descent and a severe gush of blood that signified a premature detachment of the placenta led to the birth of a limp, weakly gasping infant requiring swift intervention. Darcy and Lizzy did not doubt for a second that if George had not been present their second daughter would have died either before her arrival or in those critical moments after. Perhaps Lizzy as well, as she bled profusely, was delirious from the pain, and could not help with the final stages of the delivery in any way. The physician’s professional deportment and staggering mastery in any crisis saved both of them, but it would be some months before they knew their daughter had not suffered brain damage along with the left-sided partial paralysis that was a permanent fixture.
Her name was chosen carefully to reflect their hope for her future and thankfulness in her survival. It also presaged her unique character. Audrey was a favorite name of Lizzy’s since reading Shakespeare’s
In time it became clear that she not only was mentally sound but incredibly bright. Her intelligence promised to rival Alexander’s. Audrey was already able to speak French and Latin quite well, could read above her level, and possessed a phenomenal memory. The muscle damage that disfigured her face by causing a droop to her left eyelid and mouth, and weakened her arm and leg so that grasping was difficult and walking a chore, was unable to mar her dainty beauty and saintly disposition. She truly was an angel—a miracle child with features delicate and fair. Her body was waiflike, hair like fine silver, eyes pellucid blue, and skin of snow. Her temperament matched her appearance. She was gentle, lovable, and soothing. Serenity surrounded her, the aura so strong that it touched all who encountered her.
She and Noella were polar opposites in every way. Noella was darkly beautiful with olive-tinged skin, lustrous ebony curls, eyes the color of fire-glazed raw umber, and bold features. She greatly resembled her mother, her temperament taking Lizzy’s stubbornness and wit to extremes. Michael and Noella combined were a definite challenge to parenting skills! Darcy was convinced that God in His wisdom and grace had granted them the steady Alexander and halcyonic Audrey to buffer the severity of the middle Darcys.
The baby, just four months of age, was probably their most “normal” child. The personality of Nathaniel Marcus Charles Darcy was still emerging, but he did not seem to live on one or the other edge of the spectrum as his siblings always had.
Darcy managed to read through all four of Irving’s Christmas related essays, but with several interruptions for questions, two more arguments between Michael and Noella, and a half dozen bursts of laughter.
“I want to learn to play the guitar,” Michael declared when the instrument was mentioned, jumping up to prance about the bed while pretending to strum. He sang the stanza of Herrick’s “Night Piece to Julia” as just read by his father, dramatically and comically serenading Noella and Audrey as if a lover. Audrey gave her brother a soft kiss of thanks but Noella punched him in the knee, stating firmly that she would sooner die a spinster than allow anyone like him to woo her. Laughter rang out, minor wrestling ensued, and order was difficult to restore.
Audrey interrupted only once, her euphonious voice commenting that having peacocks running free as they were in the story would be nice. “Pemberley is stately and magnificent. Peacocks are pretty, don’t you think, Papa?”
“I think that is a marvelous idea!” Lizzy agreed. “How does one obtain peacocks, William?”
“I know several gentlemen who have them on their estates. Purchasing a few would be an easy task. I am sure Mr. Holmes or Mr. Burr would know how to care for them. If it is peafowl you wish for, princess, we can find them.”
Irving’s mention of minstrels playing during the Christmas dinner was appealing to Alexander. “A harper or violinist playing softly in the background is a nice touch. How about hiring one for next year, Father? He could play hymns and carols.”
Darcy and Lizzy nodded, sharing an approving glance, but Michael enthusiastically burst in. “Oh! I can play my guitar! I will have all year to learn, yes, Papa? Or, better yet, we can hire the fiddler who plays at the Village pub! He plays a hardingfele and is amazing…”
“When have you had occasion to hear the fiddler at the pub? And know what type of viol he plays?”
Michael paled, eyes wide as he stared into his father’s stern face.
“This will be good,” Noella murmured, her eyes glittering.
“Be silent, miss. Michael?”
“Only once, Papa, I swear it. Mr. Drake is Howard and Milton’s cousin and they kept on about him, dared me, they did, to come listen! I only peeked through the window, I promise! Then Mr. Drake came out and talked about his instrument. It was carved and decorated with roses, and it was rounder than your violin, and—”
“While I am impressed by your sudden wealth of knowledge regarding stringed instruments, I believe you have failed to mention that you would have needed to leave the house after dark to hear Mr. Drake. Since this is incredibly difficult to accomplish given how well we secure the Manor and the abundance of servants guarding, I can only surmise you have a clever way to sneak out? Care to illuminate us, Michael Darcy?”
“William,” Lizzy lightly laid her hand on his arm, “perhaps we should discuss this on the morrow?”
Darcy frowned but nodded. He fixed his delinquent son with a harsh glare. “We
“Yes, sir,” Michael mumbled, knowing very well that the “discussion” would undoubtedly involve a lashing. Darcy administered corporal punishment rarely, but when he did it was memorable!
The reading resumed with Michael quite downcast. His self-pity increased under Noella’s snickers that he could not retaliate against without incurring fresh displeasure from his father. Of course Noella knew this, the subtle taunting continuing until Darcy reached the paragraph where the Christmas delicacy of peacock pie was detailed. This information made the tenderhearted Audrey—who was still dreaming of colorfully plumed peacocks strutting across Pemberley’s vast lawns—burst into tears. Everything stopped at this point with everyone offering comfort to the stricken girl. Only Darcy’s sworn oath never to harm one of their peacocks or ever serve a peafowl pie, along with dozens of kisses, finally calmed her and the reading recommenced. The mood-vacillating, Michael forgot his impending punishment in the midst of assuaging his beloved baby sister and gaiety ruled for the remainder of the story.
An interlude of play and treats broke up the Christmas storytelling. Warm spiced cider and gingerbread cookies were served. Nathaniel woke at the sound of rambunctious laughter and Lizzy permitted him to suck on each sibling’s finger dipped in cider. Michael and Noella jumped and tumbled on the firmly stuffed mattress. Nathaniel and Audrey were passed about for hugs and cuddles. Alexander retrieved his flute and entertained, even loosening up enough to pipe a couple of rollicking, non-Christmas tunes.
Eventually Darcy called them to order, reaching for the dog-eared Bible to read the original Christmas story. He opened to Matthew, removing the worn bookmark and handing it to Audrey for safekeeping.
“Mama’s bookmark has frayed on this edge, Papa.” Audrey lifted it for his inspection, her eyes sad and his disturbed.
“I suppose I need to store it in one of my memento boxes for safekeeping, but I hate to part with it.” He looked at his wife with a soft smile. “It is precious to me. The first gift I ever received from your mother, after her heart and love, that is.”
“Oh! Tell us the story again, Papa! Tell us about your birthday surprise with Uncle Charles and Aunt Jane and how Mama made you a cake with a candle! And how mama embroidered your names in the hearts! And how…”
“You’ve already told the entire story, Noella!” Lizzy said with a laugh. “We have told it and others dozens of times. Now it is time to read about Christ’s birth.”
Darcy agreed, turning his gaze from the loose stitches on his bookmark to the page of Scripture. However, before finding the beginning verses he was stayed by Alexander.
“Mother, Father, this year the Darcy children wish to bring you the Christmas story. We have prepared a theatrical entertainment for your enjoyment.”
“And we want you to see it first before we perform for Uncle George, Grandmama and Grandpapa, and the
