He had known this visit would be difficult. Seeing Georgiana as Wickham’s wife, and seeing Wickham under any circumstances at all, could hardly have been otherwise. But this was a complication Darcy had not anticipated, though he now felt a fool for overlooking it.
As the day was clear, though cold, and the shops of Lambton clustered closely together, the carriage was to wait for them by Lambton church. Though the Darcys had attended services there each week, Elizabeth had not yet been given the tour of its various beauties and of the stories and mishaps that the others had stored up over the years, and it was decided that this must be accomplished before their shopping could begin. Feeling less inclined to talk than the others, Darcy walked by his wife’s side and said little. Though he might reasonably be accused of brooding, he could not seem to make himself do otherwise.
“I did not think how difficult this outing would be,” Elizabeth sighed.
Darcy’s brow furrowed. “Oh? Why should it be difficult?”
“How can I purchase supplies for your Christmas present? You are bound to see,” Elizabeth said. “I shall have to sneak away from the group when you are not looking,” she teased.
Darcy smiled at her, his heart lifting. Only a few words, and she had changed everything. He chuckled. “Ah, I see. Well, even if you do try to run away, I am sure I could find you. I grew up playing hide and seek in this village, you know. I’m afraid there is not a place you could hide that I would not discover you.”
She looked up at him with an intensity that bordered on longing. Or was that just his imagination playing tricks on him? He pressed her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm, as he had grown increasingly fond of doing since their disastrous riding lesson. He was beginning to see that fateful riding lesson as a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because it had brought him so near to her. A curse, because he could think of nothing else but being so close to her again. But this time, there must be no Lady Catherine to interrupt them…
He quickly tore his thoughts away from such distractions and cleared his throat. “You know you do not have to buy anything for me. You should spend your allowance on a new wardrobe for yourself.”
“No, certainly not, for I have ordered three new gowns already. I am hoping they will be finished by the Christmas festivities,” she said. “I would much rather spend it on little trinkets for you and the rest of the family. And the servants, of course. Mama always made sure to have something for them, even in the lean years.”
“An excellent practice,” Darcy agreed. “My mother always chose something for the servants. I have fallen into simply giving money, but I believe that from this year on, we shall do both.” And as the mistress of Pemberley, he thought but did not say, she would never need to consider lean years again.
As Elizabeth had been in earnest about wishing to keep her secrets, they parted ways. The gentlemen made their way to the tailor’s shop. Wickham stood for a new morning coat, which Darcy surmised would be billed to Pemberley. Darcy sighed and went to the window. Fitzwilliam gave him an understanding look, but said nothing. If this was the largest of Wickham’s bills he was presented from the visit, he would count it as prodigiously cheap.
Though most of Darcy’s Christmas gifts were already purchased, an afternoon in Lambton was never wasted. There was always some tenant who had hesitated to speak to him, but would now take the chance — some gossip which he had not yet heard, but ought to see to — some way for him to help his neighbours. When Darcy met with Elizabeth on a street corner some time later, he had purchased nothing since leaving the tailor, but he had promised to send a man to fix Widow Garth’s wall, offered the reverend of Lambton Church an additional tithe to purchase the new hymn books needed for the choir, and had firmly informed three farmers’ wives that Lady Catherine’s visit was strictly temporary and they were to disregard any instructions she issued about their homes and gardens.
Darcy smiled at his wife, flushed with the satisfaction of a job well done. “What did you find for me?” he asked, purposefully mischievous. He wanted to see what Elizabeth would say when faced with his more playful side.
She gave him a wry smile, then raised her chin in mock defiance. “You will have to find that out on Christmas morn, kind sir.” She shook her head. “But I did find some lovely sheet music for Georgiana. I was assured by the shopkeeper that it would be sufficiently challenging for her.”
Darcy was impressed that she already knew Georgiana so well. Then again, perhaps he should not have been surprised. Elizabeth was the most attentive woman he knew. “She will be very glad of it. I also bought her some new sheet music, although I had it ordered from a shop in London. She will appreciate having some music that came from one of the shops in Lambton, so close to her old home.” His tone grew sad, a mistake he had not meant to make.
“It is still her home, is it not? If not the place she now lives full time, I hope these few weeks will cement it as a place she will always be welcome.”
Darcy nodded. “I hope so as well.”
The others then joined them. All agreeing that their errands in Lambton were complete and the day was growing colder, they returned to the carriage and made for Pemberley.
Lady Catherine and Cousin Anne were waiting for them in the parlour when they arrived, not long before dark. His aunt waved them all into the room and began scolding them without delay. “Well, I hope you are happy. We’ve waited tea for you so long that I am certain it will be cold.”
“Oh, dear!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “That was kind of you, to be sure, but I am sure we had not the least idea of you waiting.” Briskly, she rang for the servants and ordered tea brought straight away. Then she turned to Lady Catherine, without giving her the opportunity to issue any further complaints.“While we are waiting, Aunt Catherine, I have something for you. I thought you might like this.” She took a miniature book out from her reticule and handed it to his aunt.
From the look on Lady Catherine’s face, she was stunned, though whether from Elizabeth having called her “aunt” or from the gift, Darcy could not say.
“Child, I expressly told you I did not need anything —” Lady Catherine began, but her words trailed off. She ran her bony fingers over the gilded title. “Sketches of Derbyshire.” His aunt’s head shot up. “What is this?”
“Oh, it’s just a little something. Think of it as a show of appreciation for all the lessons.” Elizabeth gave a winning smile. “I heard you talking about how much you enjoy the arts and thought you might like a book of sketches. They are quite good, do not you think? They are by a local artist.”
His aunt sniffed, no doubt trying to conceal her emotions. “Well, that was wholly unnecessary.”
“Gifts are unnecessary by nature,” Elizabeth argued merrily. “But the drawings are quite good, are they not?”
Lady Catherine sniffed and waved her hand. “Yes, they are. Almost as good as Anne. She would have been quite the proficient, if her health would have allowed her.”
With a nod of acknowledgement, Elizabeth went to Anne next. “Let me show you your ribbons, Cousin Anne. These are the grey ribbons you asked for.”
“Thank you,” Anne murmured. “They will be a perfect match, I am sure.”
Elizabeth grinned mischievously. “Indeed. I hope you shall not think me presumptuous, but I bought you these as well.” And with that, she brought out another set of ribbons in a delicate rosebud pink.
“They are very pretty,” Anne said in surprise, “but what —”
