Mamma nodded so vigorously Elizabeth thought she might lose one of her hairpins.
“Oh, indeed, sir! Such a noble sentiment, is it not, Lizzy? I always say that a good family is the foundation of a good character.”
Papa said, in his droll way, “Yes, my dear. Though it is remarkable how often the foundation goes unnoticed in favour of more decorative elements.”
Mr. Darcy nodded in agreement, and Elizabeth relaxed a little. Perhaps Mamma was not going to frighten him away.
“Lizzy, it is wonderful how Mr. Darcy values family, is it not?”
Her heart gave a tiny leap when Mr. Darcy turned his gaze back to her. “I believe Miss Bennet shares similar values,” he said, and his voice, though steady, was deep and warm. “She appears to have a great affection for you both.”
Elizabeth’s usual wit failed her. Mamma, however, was always ready to accept praise.
“Oh, Mr. Darcy, you do flatter us! Lizzy is a devoted daughter, and always looking after her sisters, you know.” She was about to launch into some story that was sure to embarrass Elizabeth, but she was saved by Mr. Riggs’s appearance at the door.
Papa and Mamma stepped out to the hall for a moment to speak to the butler who was relaying a question from one of the workers. Elizabeth presumed it must be about the drawing room, for otherwise Mr. Riggs would have asked for her.
“I must beg your pardon, Mr. Darcy. My parents . . .”
“Love their daughters and are fond of one another. That is the real treasure, Miss Bennet.” His expression was more wistful now than amused. “My sister and I lost our parents long ago. Itis lovely to see the affection between yours.” He shook himself a bit. “Forgive me, I did not mean to become mawkish.”
It made her a bit sad for Mr. Darcy and his sister. “I could do without the effusive compliments from my mother, but I do not know what I would do without them—you are quite right.”
“I often am, you know,” he said, teasing her.
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at him. “Let me point out that I witnessed your performance in town today.”
The bark of laughter that escaped him at her quip surprised Elizabeth. She had not taken him for a man who overflowed with mirth.
“Indeed,” he said, as her parents returned to the room, Papa looking shrewdly between the two of them. “Not today.”
Chapter Eight
It had been a productive month, but it was November now, and Papa could no longer remain away from home. He had overseen most of the harvest before they had left, but there was other estate business to which he was required to tend before the end of the year. Once he had salvaged all of Mr. Ellis’s books and worked out spring plans with both Elizabeth and the steward, it was time for him to return south and begin plans for revitalizing Longbourn’s profits.
Elizabeth was sorry to see her father go, but his absencewouldallow her more time to make a few deliveries for Christmas House without the fear of detection. She handed him a small bundle of letters for her sisters. She and Jane had been exchanging letters each week—Jane knew as much about their new neighbour as she did about Hollydale—but these would be her first letters to the other girls.
“Thatcher and Freedman will remain your personal footmen,” he informed Elizabeth and her mother. “Please do not attemptto leave the house without them, even if you only wish to take a stroll through the gardens.”
Mamma agreed at once, pleased to have her own footman. Elizabeth met her father’s gaze, and he shook his head slowly. “Not even around the estate, Lizzy. You are an heiress now. Do not make me fear for your safety. Promise me you will abide by this restriction.”
Well. That would make remaining anonymous a touch more difficult. She sighed. “Very well.”
“Thank you.” He reached for another slice of toast. “I will send Jane back with Litchfield.”
Litchfield was the burly footman who had been hired to watch over the Bennet girls who remained at Longbourn, along with Uncle and Aunt Phillips who had temporarily moved in. “After minding her younger sisters for a month, Jane deserves a trip herself. I do not believe Kitty and Lydia will be of much help and there is no pianoforte for Mary, so I shall keep them with me. We shall all return with the Gardiners just before Christmas.”
Even after growing familiar with this new version of her father, Elizabeth was still surprised to hear he would be sending Jane north and watching the other girls himself. Though she had written to Jane about the difference, she knew her sisters would still be amazed.
“I am vexed that my sister Phillips will not be able to join us,” Mamma said with a sigh. “Of all the years for Mr. Phillips to visit his mother!”
“There will be time for them to visit, my dear,” Papa assured Mamma as the hired carriage rolled up, his trunks securely fastened on the back. “Enjoy your wallpaper and window hangings. I doubt you will even miss me.” He took her in his arms and placed a quick kiss on her nose.
“Oh, Thomas,” Mamma remonstrated, lightly slapping his chest with one hand. “You know that is not true. But we will keepbusy here until you all return.” Her eyes sparkled, and Elizabeth was again reminded that Jane, the beauty of the family, took after their mother. “You shall hardly recognise the place by then.”
He murmured something like “I hardly recognisemyself.” He kissed her mother’s hand before stepping up into the coach, and then he was gone, Mamma waving her handkerchief as the carriage rolled away.
Elizabeth watched the carriage roll down the drive, sad to see her father go but knowing that the seven weeks until Christmas would fly away, swallowed up by the work she still had to do for both the estate and Christmas House. The changes to the drawing room and old study were nearly complete, but there were numerous other preparations to make for the holiday festivities. Rooms to air and inspect, linens to both launder and replace, cleaning to be done. She had met all the tenants of the estate with her father, but she was finding one or more of them were always in need of some assistance. And in addition to all of that, there would be endless decisions to make about decorations, entertainments, and, of course, the food for their family party. Mamma would happily help with the planning for that.
