Mrs Bennet was enchanted with the fine lace cap thatJane had trimmed with the last of the seed pearls from Elizabeth’s sewing box and little rosettes, and all of the ladies exclaimed and gathered round to admire the stunning white wrap that Mrs Bingley would allowno oneto handle with ungloved fingers. Mrs Bingley embraced Jane warmly in thanks for the lovely gift that had obviously required a great deal of work, which had been carried out in secret right under her nose. Mr Bingley insisted that his slippers looked extremely comfortable and well made, and announced his intention to begin wearing them immediately; just as soon as his valet got him out of his confounded boots! Jane was touched when Mrs Bingley had quite obviously thought of her as well, presenting her with an embroidered handkerchief. Mrs Bingley had rendered an astonishingly well designed pattern of the folly at Netherfield, surrounded by flowers and greenery.
“To remind you of Netherfield, when you eventually return to your family.” Mrs Bingley accepted Jane’s thanks with her usual serenity, and then she returned to exchanging gifts with her family. Jane dispensed sweets from the confectioner’s shop to the unmarried Bennet sisters, Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, and the Gardiner children, who whooped and jumped about, playing with their new toys.
The rest of the evening was spent playing games with the children. Mr and Mrs Bingley, Mrs Bennet, and Mrs Gardiner played snapdragon, bullet pudding, and charades, while the Hursts and Mrs Phillips played cards at a nearby card table. Mr Phillips, Mr Bennet, and Mr Gardiner spoke of books, current events, and business. The Darcys, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Jane, Elizabeth, and the other young ladies danced reels at one end of the drawing room, Mrs Annesley generously playing lively tunes for them. So much wine and wassail punch had been drunk that dancing had become a dangerous sport, and after dancing with the Colonel, Elizabeth, slightly tipsy, crashed into a table that held a tray of mince pies.
“Well that table is fortunate. I usually reserve that sort of treatment for Fitzwilliam’s pride,” she joked as her betrothed helped steady both her and the tray.
“My pride will recover, but the pies may not, my dear.” Darcy gazed down at his intended, who burst into giggles and sat the next one out, but demanded that he dance with his sister next.
At ten o’clock, determined to give herself enough time to be asleep before midnight, Jane claimed a headache and bid the others goodnight, declining to walk with them to church.I do not know if that will help me or hurt me, but I am determined.Mrs Nicholls sent her up a sleeping draught, and a headache powder, that Jane felt could only help her come morning, given how much she, and everyone else, had drunk. She placed the small volume of Wordsworth, the embroidered handkerchief, and Lydia’s reed grass ring from Amwell beside her bed, saddened by the idea of leaving them behind, and was deeply asleep long before the others left and walked to church for the midnight service.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Jane wantedto cry when she woke in her bed at Netherfield the next morning, listening to Lydia and Georgiana singing Christmas carols loudly from the hallway. She dragged herself from her bed, blinked, and scowled at the bright light from the window.I want to hear Cassy and Fanny singing. How could the well magic let me down?
Perhaps it was not well magic at all, and it was only her whimsy and a terrible injury keeping her here.How hard did I hit my head?
She dressed quickly, and met the family downstairs. The Yule Log was still burning behind a screen in the drawing room, a hall boy having been assigned to watch it in the night. In the breakfast room there was a sideboard of muffins, preserves, black butter, boiled eggs, and ham. A coffee pot and tea pot were kept warm on small burners. A second sideboard held yetanothertray of mince pies–by Epiphany, no one will want to see another mince pie for a year–fruit, gingerbread, and more fruitcakes and plum cakes. She served herself and quietly consumed her small repast. The younger girls had thankfully already eaten and moved their noise into the drawing room. The older household guests, and their hosts, had all drunk a great deal more wassail and were quietly, though good-naturedly, breaking their fasts. Jane, like the rest, had little to say,though for different reasons. She was still deeply disappointed not to have woken up at home.
After breakfast, the family walked to church, and thankfully, Mr Abbot was merciful. The Christmas sermon lasted only forty-five minutes, accompanied by a quarter hour of singing, followed by the Eucharist. It was a lovely service, and Jane felt her resentment fall away as she listened. She could not be discontent in the bosom of the church, and she bowed her head and offered up a silent prayer.
Give me a thankful sense, Almighty Father, of the blessings in which I live, of the many comforts of my lot, that I may not deserve to lose them by discontent or indifference. Be gracious of my necessities, and guard me, and all I love, from evil. Give me grace to endeavour after a Christian spirit, to seek to attain that temper and forbearance of which Our Blessed Saviour has set us the highest example; and which, while it prepares me for the spiritual happiness of life to come, will secure to me the best enjoyment of what this world can give; Amen.
Feeling relieved of the heavy bitterness she had felt all morning, Jane exchanged greetings in front of the church with the others. Suddenly, Mr and Mrs Hurst approached Mr and Mrs Bingley.
“Charles, Hurst and Rupert and I have accepted an invitation to spend the day at the home of Mr King,” Mr Bingley’s sister informed him. “He will send us home in his carriage tonight when we are ready.”
Mr Bingley’s confusion was apparent, but Mrs Bingley, not caring what had warmed Mrs Hurst to Mr King, who was openly in trade, wished the Hursts a lovely afternoon, and hurried the rest of her family and guests along.
Jane walked slowly back to Netherfield with the others. When they reached Netherfield, everyone went to change into more comfortable clothes. The walk to church and back in the melting snow from days before had left everyone six inches deep in mud, and, anticipating this, everyone in the family, from the Bennets, to the Gardiners, to the Phillipses, had brought and left behind their clothes for the day–and for the lavish dinner Mrs Bingley had planned for later–when they visited the night before. Mrs Bingley had rooms prepared upstairs for everyone to change in or rest between festivities, if it suited them. Mr Bingley’sand Mr Darcy’s carriages would return everyone to their homes late that evening.
Once back in the drawing room, the party instantly continued the same activities as the previous night. Mr Bingley was thrilled to show Jane that the house slippers she made for him were the perfect fit, and said they were more comfortable than any he had ever worn.
There was foodeverywhere.One could not enter a room without encountering trays of mince pies, pork pies, steak and kidney pies, chicken and mushroom pies, venison pies, as well as sweeter pies such as apple and pumpkin tart, apple dumplings and nuts, fruits, confections, and sweetmeats. Bowls of wassail were in every room, and the family spent the day around the pianoforte singing carols, playing with the children, and engaging in party games.
Jane enjoyed it all in good cheer, trying not to wish too often that she were at Godmersham. At length, Colonel Fitzwilliam collapsed onto the settee beside her after diligently evading a sprig of mistletoe.
“Heavens. One moment you are a decorated and distinguished officer, the next, you are dodging Lydia Bennet under the mistletoe like cannon fire. I do not believe she isentirelyredeemed of her fascination for a red coat.” He looked over his shoulder as he spoke.
Elizabeth joined them. “I daresay the mistletoe has never seen such evasive maneuvers.”
“Lizzy, I have fought the French, crossed mountains, survived winters in tents…but your youngest sister is one of the most formidable forces I have ever met.” Fitzwilliam laughed. “Besides your dear mother, of course.”
“Yes, we have all been afflicted by Lydia’s devoted resolve for some years, but it seems to have turned to a more productive direction recently.” Elizabeth turned to Darcy. “I do hope it lasts. We have not spoken again about which of my sisters should accompany yours, and to where, but we ought to decide soon.”
“Particularly since my family arrives tomorrow.” The colonel nodded his head. “That way you can allow my mother to render the invitation to visit her with Georgie.”
“What do you think?” Darcy asked Elizabeth.
“Mary is going to travel to Derbyshire in the summer with my auntand uncle and she will visit us then, so she has that to look forward to,” Elizabeth reasoned. “I think that Kitty will be the most desirous of pleasing your aunt and behaving in the manner expected of her. So perhaps Kitty could spend the time with Georgie in London when we marry, and then Lydia could travel north with her later. And in the meantime, perhaps Lydia could spend some time with Jane, as Mama wishes; though that timewouldhave to be spent in London, in which case, she would need a companion, at least temporarily. I would have to speak with Jane about it. I believe that after the last month, she deserves to enjoy a month in London without any of her sisters.”
“I beg your pardon, but Mr and Mrs Hurst will be with them in London, and Miss Lydia can hardly be more unpleasant than that lady,” Darcy pointed out sensibly.
“Well I must agree with you that she has indeed improved enough for me to be quite hopeful. And if she continues with her insistence on improving her education, I believe she will surprise us all, in the end.” Elizabeth peered into her empty glass of punch. “Oh dear, I believe I have run dry,” she giggled. Mrs Bingley called her from the other side of the room, and Elizabeth and Darcy rose to go to her.
After several hours of family frivolity, everyone retired upstairs to dress for yet another Christmas feast. They all met in the drawing room in their finery, awaiting the announcement by Mr Nicholls.
After two days of eating, drinking, and making merry, Mr and Mrs Bingley’s guests now talked and laughed through the night at a table of never ending courses, including turtle soup, turkey, boar’s head, more roast beef and venison, pheasant, capon,morepies and tarts, vegetables, sauces, and gravies of every sort imaginable. The guests were groaning, but murmured in pleasure when the Christmas pudding, topped with holly leaves, was brought out. Mr Bingley removed the holly and doused the pudding, then set it ablaze.
