by Lily Bernard
Caroline and Peter Carter were very happy living together in the parsonage in Kympton. They doted on their children; a boy and a girl. When Peter’s parents came to Derbyshire, they were happy to pamper their grandchildren and lavish them with gifts. Even after his marriage, Mrs. Carter continued to order new clothes for her son from the best tailor in London. Caroline was often overheard telling their visitors, “I never thought I could be happy living in the country all year, but Mr. Carter swept me off my feet. After I met him, I knew there could never be anyone else for me.” Years later, everyone who had ever met Caroline before her marriage, was still shaking their heads in disbelief.
Jane and Charles Bingley remained at Birchwood Manor with their four children; two girls and two boys. They were frequent visitors to Pemberley and Kympton; the Darcy children and the Carter children were very close to their Bingley cousins. They all enjoyed the many times summers and holidays were celebrated at Pemberley and Birchwood Manor. Jane and Charles continued to be best friends with Elizabeth and Darcy; they often relied on each other when the challenges and rewards of life called for mutual support.
***
THE HARVEST BALL 1823
Elizabeth was sitting at her dressing table while Hannah pinned her final curls into place. Just as she was finishing, Darcy walked into her room. “I believe I am finished, Mrs. Darcy. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Thank you, Hannah. That will be all for now.” Her maid curtsied and left the room.
Elizabeth smiled as her husband stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. They looked at their reflections in the glass as Elizabeth covered his hands with her own. “It has already been ten happy years since our first Harvest Ball; so much has happened in that time.”
“We hosted our first Harvest Ball when you were almost ready to give birth to Ben; now our boy is almost 10 years old. I remember how badly you wanted to dance that night and I told you that you would have to wait until the following year. I had not wanted our baby to be born in the ballroom. Of course, Alex was born long before the Harvest Ball of 1815.” Elizabeth stood to face her husband.
“Yes, I remember that quite well.”
“At the rate Ben is growing, he will be taller than me in a few years.” Darcy took his wife’s hands. “Elizabeth, I am so happy with our life together and our wonderful children. Ben and Alex and then four years ago, our sweet little Frannie Jane. Our lives have been blessed in so many ways and I am so grateful and happy.”
“And do not forget that at our first Harvest Ball, Richard met Emily and Peter met Caroline. Georgiana’s life was also affected by our Harvest Ball a few years ago.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, matchmakers!” They both laughed.
“We have had a lot to celebrate at each of our Harvest Balls. Now Mr. Darcy, I have a question for you.”
“Madame, I am at your service.”
“Will you allow me to dance tonight?”
“Why should you not dance?” Darcy looked at his wife and saw the same twinkle in her eyes that he had seen three times before. “Really? You are… another baby?” Elizabeth smiled and nodded at her husband. “Oh, my love, this is the most wonderful news. Are you feeling well?”
“I am well, just the normal sickness in the morning. I saw Mr. Livingston, the new doctor, and he thinks the baby will arrive sometime in March. Another year that we have a good reason not to go to London for the Season!” They both smiled at that thought. “I am glad that Mr. Laurence is enjoying his retirement, but it will be a different experience having someone new helping me bring this baby into the world.”
“I am so delighted with your news. I never knew a person could feel so happy and fulfilled every minute of every day and it is all because I had the good sense to marry you.”
“Your good sense? Once again, you seem to be taking all the credit for our happy marriage. What about my good sense?”
“Madam, this topic merits merits discussion, but we must go downstairs to greet our guests. Perhaps we can discuss this matter later this evening.”
“That is a very good idea.”
As they were descending the stairs, “Oh, and Elizabeth, I prefer that you keep me company tonight and do not dance.”
“Yes, master, I shall be happy to obey your command,” Elizabeth teased her husband.
“You know I love you very much, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Mr. Darcy, your secret is safe with me.” Elizabeth and Darcy kissed briefly and then walked to the front door to greet their guests for another Harvest Ball.
Richard Charles Darcy arrived in March of 1824 and was the last child born to the Darcys. Elizabeth and Darcy spent every moment they could with their four beautiful children. Every day Elizabeth wore the gold locket Darcy had given her on their first anniversary. It held sketches of all her children and she only took it off when an occasion required more ornate jewelry. The family resided in Derbyshire for most of the year and all their children learned to ride at an early age. Frannie Jane and Alex were talented musicians like their Aunt Georgiana, while Ben and Richard loved to read about history and politics. Elizabeth and Darcy showed their children the small cave that had been a favorite hideout of their Papa and Uncle Richard but their children were clever enough to find their own places to hide. The Darcys continued to hold a Harvest Ball every September and often reminisced about the tumultuous events leading up to the first one. The Harvest Ball of 1813 was followed by many, many years of happiness and love and an ongoing discussion of whether it was Elizabeth or Darcy who had the most good sense to marry the other.
The End
Author’s Note
Thank you for your purchase of New Beginnings Book 2: The Harvest Ball! I am honored that you have chosen to spend some of your valuable time reading my book and I hope you enjoyed it. All the details about the Great Fog of 1813 and the Thames Frost Fair are historically accurate.
Support from buyers like you make it possible for independent authors like me to continue writing. Please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Just a few positive words can make a big difference. Thank you and happy reading!!
I would like to thank everyone in the JAFF community for their continuing support. My undying gratitude to my beta readers: Susan Sandberg, Anna Moskau and Patricia Alden. Their suggestions, support and love are invaluable to me. To Mr. McGurk – thank you for your continuous encouragement and always being there for me. I love you to the moon and back!
Also by Lily Bernard:
An Invisible Thread
New Beginnings Book 1: Wickham’s Revenge
Coming in September: Mr. Darcy’s Destiny
Work in Progress: Willoughby: A Sense and Sensibility Mystery
Author’s Bio:
Lily Bernard grew up in the desert southwest and now resides in the land of sunshine and palm trees. She fell in love with Jane Austen many years ago and discovered JAFF at a time in her life when a HEA was very important. Lily is a retired speech pathologist who loves to travel, cook, spend time with her family and friends, and read, especially anything related to Jane Austen.
