by Lady Waller
Table of Contents
Title page
Description
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Coming Soon
About the author
A Gift for Lizzy
A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella
By
Lady Waller
Copyright © 2017 by Lady Waller
All rights reserved.
Published by Lady Waller
No part of this book may be reproduced by any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying method without written permission of the author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the author.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
§
Christmas Eve has come to Pemberley, and Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy is in her fifth month of pregnancy with their first child. Fitzwilliam Darcy will grant his lovely wife any wish she desires, yet a request for him to host a houseful of Bennets quickly turns to disaster.
§
Chapter One
Pemberley in November
Fitzwilliam Darcy’s sprite of a sister twirled into his study, a look of mischief highlighting her gentle features. She wore a pale pink dress and her hair draped down her back in ringlets. In the upcoming Season, he’d introduce her to society in London properly, and he had no doubt the right suitor would bend his knee shortly after and beg for her hand. He did not wish to rush that day, as Georgiana had been a delightful companion to his wife, Elizabeth. Although she maintained her house in London, since his marriage, Georgiana had preferred to reside with them at Pemberley.
He glanced back down at the paper in which he wrote a list for his estate manager. If he was honest with himself, he’d miss Georgiana too.
“One year of marriage has passed, brother. How do you feel?” Georgiana referred to the first anniversary of his nuptials in November.
That day he’d become the happiest man in England. Or maybe second happiest, since his friend Bingley had also found a most suitable bride in Elizabeth’s sister, Jane. However, he would not let his sister know of his true joy in marriage for fear she’d tease him as his wife often did. “Should I feel any different now than from the first day?”
“I recently received a letter from Miss Bingley and she inferred marriage becomes stale almost immediately after the vows are spoken.” Her voice took on a serious tone.
His friend’s youngest sister had once hoped to make him her husband. For that reason, Miss Bingley seldom had happy thoughts for Elizabeth, so the sentiment she’d shared did not surprise him. Nor did he bother with thoughts of other marriages. “Allay your fears. Mrs. Darcy and I are far from stale.”
She made a loop around the room, her tall figure casting shadows against the wall. “Good. I wish to have a marriage like yours someday.”
He started back to his papers when she passed by him again, the swish of her skirts mingling with the crackle of the fireplace. As much as he enjoyed their time spent together, his mornings were scheduled for work. “Georgiana, do you have somewhere else to spend your time this morning? Riding? Pianoforte?”
Her eyes twinkled and now that he’d made the suggestion, he’d never get her to leave. She warmed her hands by the fire. “Letters to write?”
“There is always business to attend to. You shall see one day when you are married that your husband will need some quiet space to deal with business.”
She skipped around the room again and paused near the bookshelf. She ran a finger along the spines and hummed a tune he’d heard her playing earlier. Something other than Miss Bingley’s words was on her mind, and he had the distinct feeling she wouldn’t run along until he’d pried them out of her.
“Mrs. Reynolds has ordered raisins to make plum pudding this year.”
He set his quill down on his desk. “She has not made that dish since our father passed.”
“Christmas will be a momentous occasion with the baby almost here. We only have four weeks to prepare.”
He thought of his wife’s condition; the swell of her abdomen and the excitement that shone in her every movement when she spoke of their child. The first of many, he could only pray. Little lads and girls with his astute mannerisms and their mother’s wild hair and loving eyes. But their first was not to be born for another four months, making Georgiana’s statement exaggerated.
“The baby won’t be here until the spring. There’s no need to prepare for the baby’s first Christmas until the baby arrives,” he said, retrieving his quill and poised to write the next sentence. If he ignored her, perhaps she’d claim boredom and run along. Four weeks until Christmas was plenty of time for preparations.
“I know, yet this is still a special time of year for us. Last Christmas you and Elizabeth traveled after your wedding and this is the first Christmas you are here in Pemberley. All of us together as a family.” She emphasized the word family and stood in front of him again, her smile bright.
“Georgiana, please ask whatever it is you want to ask me so I may return to my affairs.”
Her smile dropped, and he could tell he’d spoiled her fun. “I wish to know what you plan to do special for Elizabeth this year for Christmas.”
Darcy never hesitated to bring Elizabeth a gift whenever he traveled to London or any town where some baubles were sold. Everything he passed reminded him of her. Christmas had been heavy on his mind. He tried to think of the things his father had gifted to his mother.
“I was thinking a nice bay mare.”
“A horse! She’s in her fifth month. What’s she to do with a horse?” Her cheerful tone flattened.
He leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him. “For after she has the baby.”
She shook her head back and forth several times. “Christmas is for something she can enjoy now.”
“Jewels for her hair?”
Her face twisted into a grimace, making her seem years younger than fifteen. “Boring.”
“Well, my dearest sister, obviously you have some idea on your mind. What would be the perfect gift for Mrs. Darcy?”
“You could stop calling her Mrs. Darcy in front of me, for starters. Didn’t I hear you call her beloved the other day?”
His face warmed. He did call her that and other endearments in private. “Don’t eavesdrop on private conversations between a husband and wife. You might not like what you hear.”
Her giggle filled the room. She skipped to the other side and back. Since her time with Elizabeth, the girl had grown less timid and more outspoken. While it was a trait he admired in his wife, it often worried him that Georgiana would chase off potential suitors with her newfound opinions.
He tried again. “Do you have a suggestion for a gift?”
“I can’t do all the work for you, can I? But I think you can do better than a horse or jewels for her hair. Do something that connects to the baby.” The tall case clock in the hallway chimed. Georgiana shook out her skirts. “I’m going to check on our Elizabeth and see if she’ll read to me this morning. Have a lovely time with your affairs.”
His sister skipped out of the room, humming loudly as she descended down the hall. He pulled a sleeve of paper and started a list. He could give his wife almost anything she desired. He assumed her to be happy, bu
t what would make her happier? A dog? One of those fluffy ones his Aunt Catherine had nipping at her heels? No, the yipping would disturb him. He scratched it off the list. New gowns for after the delivery of their first born? No, she would complain at the cost of fabric. He balled the parchment in his fist and tossed it into the fire. He needed a walk to clear his head. Business affairs would have to wait.
Chapter Two
Two Against One
Elizabeth trailed through the gardens, her gait much slower now that the baby was half-ready to make an appearance. A light snow had fallen the night before, and white now covered everything as far as her eyes could see. The frosty air tickled her nostrils with each breath.
She placed her hand on her swollen abdomen, which grew heavier by the day. She and Fitzwilliam had made a list of names for a boy a few nights past. How her husband enjoyed making lists. Darcy men had strong names throughout his lineage and she didn’t mind whatever name they chose. However, if it were to be a girl, she’d want the first to be named for her sister, Jane. A good name to ensure a sweet and caring disposition. Her little Janey.
Georgiana’s distinctive humming preceded her into the garden. The girl flounced forward in a thick overcoat of bright blue. The color accentuated her pretty eyes, and matching ribbons dangled from her blonde hair. The cold morning air added a pink glow to her cheeks. They’d grown as close as sisters over the past year, and Elizabeth dreaded the day the youngest Darcy entered society to find a husband. Perhaps she could convince her husband to put it off one more year.
Although, she’d then have a baby to attend to and that might make the separation more bearable. Her sister-in-law deserved to find the same happiness she’d found in marriage.
“Good morning, my sister,” Georgiana said, her voice happy and sweet with a twist of mischief beneath.
Elizabeth grasped the young girl’s gloved hand and pulled her forward for a kiss on the cheek. “Good morning, dear. How goes our quest?”
They looped arms and walked away from anyone who could overhear them, their heads bent close. “I’ve laid the trap, just as you suggested. I never told him exactly what your gift should be, but let him know everything he’s already thought of is completely wrong.”
“You have mastered your task.” She pointed to the side of her head. “The goal is to let him think it’s his idea.”
Georgiana’s breaths puffed out. “Why not just ask him? He loves to shower you with whatever you desire.”
She dipped her head and toed at the snow. It was not a simple request. “It’s a lot to ask to receive one’s family when your husband is wary of how they might behave.”
“If he spends more time with them, then he’ll surely change his mind. After all, how bad could they be if you came from their fold?” Georgiana petted Elizabeth’s arm with short, soothing strokes. “What’s the next obstacle in our gift quest?”
“You have done your part. The next step will be mine to take. I shall simply feed him ideas until he comes to the right one, and then I’ll praise him for thinking of such an amazing gift.” The baby kicked inside as if to agree with her mother’s ideas. Or maybe to disagree and chastise her for coming up with a manipulative way to get the Bennets to Pemberley for Christmas. “Oof.”
“Are you well?” Georgiana’s expression twisted into concern.
“The future Darcy is giving me a few thumps. I’d let you feel, but with the gown and the coat I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed when nothing happens.”
Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “Can I try anyway?”
“Of course.” She pulled Georgiana’s hand to the side of her stomach where the little thumps occurred more regularly. “We must be patient.”
Georgiana’s nose wrinkled while she waited, then her mouth popped open in surprise. “I feel it. That is my future niece or nephew, and I already get to say hello.”
The babe put on a kicking show for her future aunt.
“Fantastic, isn’t it?” She pulled her sister-in-law toward the house, the chill of the morning sinking into her shoes. They laughed together until they heard a horse gallop up the drive.
“Letters,” Elizabeth said.
The one word catapulted Georgiana forward. Elizabeth had to unlink her arm from the girl as she moved quickly through to the front of the house. “Let’s see if anything has come for us.”
Many letters had come from Charlotte as of late. She was also with child and close to her confinement. Although most modern women no longer tucked themselves away a couple months before birth, Mr. Collins had heard from Lady Catherine de Bourgh that a proper mother would. Charlotte did not appear to be unhappy, so all Elizabeth could do was praise her for their logic.
Someday Charlotte and her family would visit, and their children would run through the halls of Pemberley together, the closest of friends just as they had been.
The doorman rushed forward when the ladies entered the main foyer. “Anything for us, Thomas?”
Georgiana did not wait for Thomas to sort through the stack. She grabbed them and shuffled, tossing everything addressed to Fitzwilliam back at him.
“One for me from Miss Bingley. Three for you, Elizabeth. Such luck.” She handed the letters to Elizabeth and the two decided to part ways and meet back for a midday snack of cakes and tea to share their news.
Happiness filled Elizabeth. She’d received a posted letter from Jane, one from Charlotte, and one from her father at Longbourn. She pulled the letters to her chest. How she missed her family. Which to read first?
Chapter Three
A Scheme Gone Awry
It was usual for Darcy to receive a visit from Elizabeth after her morning walk. He’d taken his own through the halls as to not disturb his wife and sister. From the window, he’d watched them walk in the garden, their heads bent close. They were clearly up to some scheme, and he surmised he’d have to wait until they were ready to include him. He settled back at his desk, ready to sort through the letters Thomas left at the edge of his desk when he noticed that almost an hour had gone by since Elizabeth had returned inside.
His focus already lost for the morning, he sought out the lady of his home. Although she had the choice of two large sitting rooms, she preferred the small library on the second floor. Whenever he wanted to see her charming face and bathe in the love in her eyes, he knew exactly where to find her.
He rounded the corner and down the hall and came into the library prepared to see her in a winged back chair with her feet propped on a stack of pillows. The room was empty and a maid straightened books and dusted the windowsill.
Darcy cleared his throat. “Have you seen Mrs. Darcy?”
The maid dipped in a quick curtsey. “She was in here earlier, sir. I believe she retired to her bedroom.”
A tickle of worry started at the base of his spine. Elizabeth rarely returned to bed until early evening. Was she not feeling well? His boots echoed across the floors as he clomped through the long halls to their shared room. He’d once heard most husbands preferred to separate their sleeping quarters from their wives once a child was secured, but he could hardly bear the thought of not having her near him every night.
He found Elizabeth in the bed on her side. She still wore her olive-colored day dress. Several letters were strewn in front of her. She sniffled when he sat down on the edge.
“Dearest, are you unwell? I’ll send to Lambton for a doctor right away.”
She clasped his hand and brought it to her chest. “The baby and I are fine.”
With his free hand he gestured to the letters. “Is there something in these missives that has disturbed you?”
A heavy sigh preceded her words. “Everyone is wonderful.”
“Then why the tears?” He pulled his hand away and with his thumb wiped dry a trail of tears. He’d slay metaphorical dragons to keep his bride happy. His heart twisted at the sight of her misery.
“Jane and Mr. Bingley are boarding a ship for America in two weeks’ time. They�
��re off to Boston for the new year.”
He stayed silent and waited for the bad news that had her curled into a ball of misery.
“Papa wrote to say that Mama is attending Lydia in the north with her first born child.” She closed her eyes. “And Mr. Collins has written to say that Charlotte has also given birth and will be busy with attending their son for some time to come. I shouldn’t expect another letter anytime soon.”
While he didn’t like to hear Mr. Collins would keep his wife from writing letters, he still didn’t see the need for tears. Elizabeth would write to Charlotte even if she didn’t receive a letter in return. “None of these things should bring despair.”
She opened her eyes, but kept her gaze focused across the room. “You are right. I have no reason to cry, but I can’t help but feel so removed from everyone I hold dear.”
Realization set in. Everyone was busy attending to their lives while she waited to deliver their child. He’d offered more than once to take her to London for the birth, but she had wanted to have their first at Pemberley. He brushed back a strand of her hair. “You have me and Georgiana, and the babe will be here sooner than we shall ever be ready for.”
She grabbed his hand and pulled it back to her chest. “You are always enough. I do not mean to infer otherwise.”
The thump of her heart beat a soft rhythm beneath his hand. “What would make you happy?”
“That is what makes me feel worse. I thought to manipulate you—although lovingly—into inviting my family to be with us for Christmas, but now that Jane is leaving and Mama is away as well, there’s no need for me to continue with my plan.”
No wonder his sister had pushed him on the topic of a Christmas gift. “Ah, and did you enlist my sister to help you with this plan?”
She sniffed. “Georgiana and I were to convince you to come up with the idea on your own.”
“Why didn’t you just outright ask me? Since we’ve been married, there’s hardly a time I’ve used the word no. Even when you asked for me to let Georgiana stay in London with the Bingleys last spring.”
