Bennet had been hoping against hope to read thosewords from Lizzy. He had been worried she would never want to see him or her mother again. He knew not what changed her mind. All he cared about was Lizzy and Mary were coming home.
We had begun to hear about changes both of you were making, but the best proof was seeing the changes in Catherine and Lydia, after just two months. When that is combined with what Uncle Edward related to us, there was no ignoring the fact it is time for us to be part of the family at Longbourn again.
It did not hurt that I realised Janey would not be happy if we did not reconcile, sooner rather than later. The truth is both Mary and I needed this time to be away. It was far too difficult to be reminded of Janey at every turn at home. It will not be easy, but it is my belief the time away has assisted greatly in the mourning process.
Papa, I never thought I would see the day you would think about, never mind actually sell your most precious books. But you have. As an aside, I will be seeing them on Christmas day. We will be at Pemberley, which I hear tell, has a magnificent library. According to Uncle Edward, Mr Darcy purchased your collection in its entirety. In honour of the personal sacrifice you have made, I will visit your ‘friends’ in their new home.
You may ask how it is we will be at his estate for that day…Elizabeth informed her father how it had come about…So you can see it was purely by chance Mary and I met Miss Darcy. She is nothing like her brother, but would not take no for an answer, so we will all be hosted at the Darcys’ estate on the 25th, subsequent to church.
If the library is even half of what has been described, I may get lost in there forever.
Uncle Edward asked me to tell you we will arrive home by the very latest, Friday, the twelfth day of January 1811. Until then Mary requests that her warmest regards are passed on to both of you, as are mine.
We are looking forward to coming home,
Elizabeth
Bennet felt a few tears of relief run down his cheeks. He had not been certain, but it seemed his not pushing Lizzy and Mary had born better results than he could ever have dreamed of. By the time his four daughters arrived home, it would not be quite three months since Jane’s loss.
As the days of his keeping his wife in the dark to increase his amusement were well past, Bennet went in search of Fanny. He smiled as he thought about how they had begun to share a bed once more, which they had not done since before Lydia had been born. He discovered his wife in the smaller parlour where she was working with Mrs Perkins. Bringing the latter lady into his household was one of the best decisions he had made.
“Please pardon the interruption,” Bennet requested respectfully, “but, Fanny dear, I believe I have one letter you will enjoy while the other may amuse you.” Bennet handed his wife the letter from Collins first.
Although Fanny’s colour heightened, she maintained her equanimity. “His patroness can do…”
“Nothing, Fanny. All of hersupposedpower resides in her head and that of her lacky’s. If, as he says he will not appear on his behalf, the judgment will be entered noting no opposition,” Bennet explained carefully, earning him a nod of approval from Mrs Perkins. “Now this one will bestow pleasure, of that I am sure.” He handed her the letter from Lizzy.
There was no mistaking how Fanny’s face lit up as soon as she identified who the writer was. The smile widened and tears of joy ran down her face as she read on. “All of my girls are coming home,” Fanny told her youngest daughters’ companion. Before she allowed her exuberance free reign, Fanny schooled her features and began to think of all she needed to plan and execute before their arrival, remainingwithin budget, of course.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Christmas morning, Elizabeth felt far more excitement than for any Christmas before. It was not for the day, or the prospect of forgiving her parents. If she were willing to admit it, it was that she would soon be seeing a certain tall, dark haired, muscular, and blue eyed man who she was learning was well read and intelligent in addition to being everything handsome.
Chapter 26
It was Christmas morning before church, and still no sign of Giana’s surprise gift! The morning was the latest his sister had ever presented him with one of her gifts, regardless of whether it be one of the rare times she had managed to keep the knowledge from him. Yet so far, there had been nothing. Could it be his sister’s surprise was that there wasnosurprise gift.
While all the residents of Pemberley, save little Joshua, were waiting to board the coaches, Darcy attempted a new tack. “Does your new pianoforte sound good?” Darcy hinted.
“It sounds very well, as I would expect from such an instrument,” Georgiana replied while trying to school her features. She was fully aware of what information her brother was trying to glean. She also knew it was eating him up as he loved to be in control which led him to be so good, under normal circumstances, at uncovering her surprises before the time. “You know, Wills, good thingscometo those who are patient.” She entered the Matlock coach with her aunt, uncle, eldest cousin, his wife, and Bingley.
Darcy was left to ride in the following conveyance with Richard and the Hursts for company. By the smirk on his cousin’s face, Darcy could see he knew what the surprise was, but interrogating Richard would be a waste of time. He hated being the only one not privy to a secret.
The service at the Kympton church was as uplifting as one would expect on this holy day. During the service, Darcy had pushed any thoughts of his sister’s getting one over on him from his mind. As soon as it was over, and he shookParker’s hand—the vicar who held the Lambton, Kympton, and Pemberley livings—his sister’s surprise, or lack thereof was forefront in his mind again.
When they arrived back at Pemberley, it did not pass his notice that when Giana led them into the largest drawing room, the walls between it, the music room, and the parlour were pushed open to make an extremely large room. Before he could ask, his sister smiled at him.
“We are expecting some friends,” Georgiana stated nonchalantly.
“I know Parker and Miss Parker will join us, but they are but two,” Darcy puzzled. “Why would we need the expanded drawing room for two more guests?”
“We will need the space,” Georgiana stated cryptically.
Before Darcy could question his sister’s meaning, Parker and his younger sister entered the room. Miss Diana Parker was two and twenty, and kept house for her brother, who to date, had not had his head turned by a lady.
“Welcome, Parker, Miss Parker.” Regardless of his distractions, Darcy was nothing if not a good host. “As they always are, your sermon was right to the point of the meaning of the day to celebrate the Son’s birth.”
“Thank you, Darcy, I always try to tailor my sermons to be meaningful to my parishioners.” Arthur Parker, who was the youngest of three brothers, replied modestly. His eldest brother, Tom, was trying to garner investments to develop the town of Sanditon into a holiday destination on the southern coast of the country. The middle brother, Sydney, had gone into trade with his father-in-law. Parker was between Darcy and Bingley in age, and had been a year behind the former at Cambridge. They were both somewhat reticent and studious men.
