They all laughed at this and began to ascribe fairy-like traits to each of Pemberley’s residents.
“Mr. Barlow, too, must fall under this magical suspicion,” Darcy insisted after Mrs. Gardiner suggested that Georgiana’s fairy power would be healing those around her with her musical gifts. The young girl blushed at this, clearly pleased with the idea.
“It is true,” Elizabeth agreed, smiling at Darcy and losing a moment or two in her answer as he smiled back at her, his dark brown eyes lightening as he regarded her with eager expectation. It was gratifying to know that even though he clearly thought of her as a sister or a perpetual friend, he enjoyed their repartee almost as much as she did. “I had not yet seen him outside of these environs, so he could be a summer fairy as well.”
“What about our correspondence?” Mr. Barlow asked with a chuckle. “Surely that provides some proof that I exist outside of the summer months?”
“Yes, quite so,” Georgiana seconded. “Me as well. We must exchange several letters a month all year.”
“That is true. It seems as my most faithful correspondents are situated in this territory, I must concede that they do exist, at least in some form, all year. However,” she added, turning back to Darcy with a sly grin. “As I have never heard from you during the year, you are still suspected of being without corporeal form outside of the summer months.”
“Even though you see me now before you?” Darcy challenged.
Elizabeth could be forgiven for taking an extra moment to look him up and down as he had practically invited her to do so.
“I suppose, but that just leads me to rethink the nature of the magic. Could it be you exist only when I am here?”
“That is a reasonable supposition,” Darcy said. “To dispel it, I will have to include my own notes when my father and sister write to you to convince you that I, like them, exist in other times and places.”
“An ingenious solution,” Elizabeth answered, thankful her voice sounded normal while inside she was shrieking with delight. She did not think any of the gifts arrayed by the fire could outdo this one—the promise of a correspondence of sorts with her Darcy.
Although it must be said the gifts were lovely and very much appreciated on both sides. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Barlow each received a decanter of French brandy from Mr. Darcy. Sly looks were exchanged, but no one actually asked how he had obtained the contraband, given the restrictions on the import of French goods. Mr. Darcy gifted Mrs. Gardiner a bottle of her favourite perfume which likely came via the same unacknowledged shipment, as it was a French product as well.
“Credit must be given to your husband for sharing your preference,” Mr. Darcy told her.
“Then I offer my thanks to you both.”
“Open mine,” Lizzy urged Georgiana, handing her a small package wrapped in brown paper and tied with red ribbon and a sprig of holly.
“It is almost too beautiful to open.”
“And yet you must,” Elizabeth insisted.
Elizabeth had agonised over Georgiana’s gift for weeks as she perused the sparse offerings in Meryton. Then, on a trip to the bookshop in Lambton soon after her arrival, she found it.
“How lovely,” Georgiana exclaimed as she carefully removed the book from the paper. It was revealed to be a light red leather-bound journal with blank off-white pages.
“When I was your age, my aunt gave me a similar book so that I could write down things I might want to remember later and any silly thoughts that ran through my head. I am grateful she started the habit of writing in me.” Elizabeth shared a fond look with her aunt before turning back to her friend. “Of course, you can use it in any way you want. Since you are already such a gifted artist, perhaps you will sketch things in your pages.”
“Thank you, Lizzy. It is perfect. The very first thing I shall sketch is you!”
Next, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy opened the gifts they had gotten one another. Books for both of them. When he opened his, Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth in question.
“Given your daughter’s interest in the genre, I thought you’d like to familiarise yourself with the basic texts,” Elizabeth said by way of answer.
When the others asked what book she had gifted him, he held it up for all to see.
“The Mysteries of Udolpho,”Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed with a laugh.
“I look forward to discussing it with you,” Elizabeth told him with a prim nod.
“Will you read it, Father?” Georgiana asked, all eager anticipation.
“I suppose I must,” he sighed.
“I have no doubt you will enjoy it,” Darcy offered.
“You have read it?” Elizabeth asked with marked incredulity.
