by Sarah Darcy
‘My turn.’
Elizabeth opened her eyes. ‘Lydia.’
Kitty tried to snatch the spoon too. ‘It should be me next.’
‘Too late.’ Lydia pulled a face. ‘I have the spoon.’
‘That’s not fair.’ She stamped her foot with a loud huff. ‘Mama did you see that?’
‘Girls.’ She raised her hands. ‘Stop your bickering.’ She was getting just as impatient as Mrs Hill by the girls high jinks. ‘My poor nerves can’t take any more strife.’
∞∞∞
Elizabeth walked over to the window and gathered her thoughts. She looked out at the small grounds at Longbourn. A snow shower had sprinkled over the trees and lawns in the garden. The midday sun glistened across the crisp white snow, illuminating the winter garden with a magical Christmas shimmer.
A red robin perched on a branch near the window, its red chest plumped up against the winter chill. It pecked a bunch of shiny red berries before it flew off amidst the snowflakes. When would I fly the nest? Elizabeth mused. Would it be with Mr Wickham?
She knew she would not see him over Christmas. As an officer with his own regiment, he would be fighting the Napoleonic wars abroad. There was the possibility of a few days leave. But as his regiment was stationed in the north of England and more snow was forecast, it would be difficult for him to travel to the south of the country.
The last time she saw him was during a summer ball. Mr Bingley, a recent beau, of her elder sister Jane, had organised the occasion at Netherfield. It was also the first time Elizabeth saw Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
She was quite taken by the tall dark handsome gentleman, at first. But during the course of the evening, his proud superior manner soon cooled her affections towards him.
In contrast, Mr Wickham’s manner was much more agreeable. He took a keen interest in Elizabeth, despite Lydia’s interruptions to steal him away for a few dances.
After the ball they kept in touch with a number of hastily written correspondence. But alas, as the autumn leaves fell with the onset of winter, Mr Wickham’s long awaited letters also dwindled. But he was a soldier fighting an honourable war against Napoleon for their freedom.
Another bird perched on the branch and pecked at a cherry. Elizabeth took a closer look. The bird cocked its head and stared back at her. She gasped with surprise. Magical things happen at Christmas. Maybe love happens when you least expect it. The wish warmed her heart.
∞∞∞
‘Kitty have you made your wish?’ Her mother’s shriek startled Elizabeth. ‘We can’t keep Mrs Hill waiting any longer.’
‘My wish was much quicker than hers,’ Lydia teased.
‘Nearly.’ Kitty peeked at Lydia’s agitated face to prolong the suspense.
‘You can’t make a wish that long,’ she snapped. ‘You must be wishing for a whole regiment of officers.’
‘I beg your pardon,’ Mrs Bennett scolded. ‘I will not tolerate that kind of language in this household. One officer at a time.’
‘Sorry Mama,’ Kitty opened her eyes. ‘I’ve made my wish now!’
The moment Kitty released the spoon; Mrs Hill scoped the bowl into her arms and marched towards the door. The Christmas season maybe magical for some, but it was not for servants. It meant long hours past midnight, preparing elaborate Christmas fare to be dispensed at various dinners and small family gatherings.
Fortunately, Mr Bennet was very generous towards Mrs Hill and his small staff at Longbourn. On St Stephen’s day, the day after Christmas, they would all receive small boxes of food and the odd brandy or mulled wine.
The rest of the Bennet sisters would also call upon the tenant farmers and dispense similar Christmas boxes of good will to their families.
∞∞∞
‘What about Jane and Mary?’ Lydia pulled on her mother’s arm. ‘They haven’t made a wish?’
‘They’re in the library.’
‘I must get Jane at once.’ She rushed after Mrs Hill in the hallway. ‘Wait.’ The irate housekeeper quickly marched away. She wasn’t going to waste anymore of her precious time.
‘Did you see that Mama?’ Lydia protested through the open doorway. ‘Mrs Hill ignored me. Can you believe that?’
‘Lydia.’ Elizabeth let out a weary sigh. ‘She did not mean to slight you. She has more important matters to attend to.’
‘Elizabeth is right. You should not speak ill of the housekeeper.’ Mrs Bennet clasped a handkerchief to her chest. ‘She has looked after my dear nerves for many a year.’
‘Well I do think ill of her.’ Lydia rolled her eyes in defiance. ‘She must realise how important it is to make a wish for a future betrothal.’
‘Lydia don’t vexed Mama.’ Elizabeth sensed a row brewing. She had already upset Jane by noting the lack of correspondence from Mr Bingley. Then berated her for not wishing to stir the plum pudding.
Fortunately, Mary came to Jane’s rescue by taking her to the library. Once she sought peace and solitude between the pages of a good book - all thoughts of Mr Bingley and summer balls soon vanished from her mind.
Elizabeth stared at Kitty to try and resolve the rising temper of their youngest sister.
‘Come make haste.’ She took hold of Lydia’s hand. ‘Why don’t we kidnap Jane from the library and take her to the plum pudding itself?’
‘Indeed we must,’ the girls giggled as they bundled through the doorway.
‘Leave Jane alone,’ Elizabeth called out. ‘Take Mary instead?’
‘Mary is already betrothed,’ Lydia called back from the hall.
‘To whom?’ Mrs Bennet gasped, had her prays for a possible suitor been answered for plain Mary?
‘Haven’t you heard Mama?’ Lydia looked back at Kitty. ‘She’s already betrothed to?’
‘Pray child who?’ Mrs Bennet urged. ‘I cannot take any more suspense.’
‘A library full of books.’ The girls roared with laughter. ‘They are her constant companions.’
Elizabeth shook her head.
‘Away with you girls,’ Mrs Bennet berated. ‘I am in no mood for loud vexations of merriment, despite the Christmas season.’
Chapter 2
‘Poor Jane.’ Mrs Bennet sat in a chair and fanned herself by the open fire. ‘Lydia’s jest will only serve to prolong Jane’s heartache.’ Tears welled up in her eyes. ‘She should have been betrothed to Mr Bingley by now.’
‘Mama don’t vex yourself.’ Elizabeth sat down in an adjacent chair. ‘Tis’ only a few months since they last conversed at Netherfield.’
‘A few months you say?’ Mrs Bennet huffed. ‘That is a lifetime when a woman is in love.’ She dabbed her eyes with her hanky. ‘If Mr Bingley really cared for Jane,’ she sniffed. ‘She would have received an invitation to a dinner or a ball of some description by now.’
‘Maybe he has gone overseas on business?’ Elizabeth tried to find a glimmer of hope. ‘He may return and call upon Meryton in the spring.’
‘I doubt it Lizzy.’ She gazed through the open doorway to the hall. ‘Where is your father? He said he would only be away for an hour, when we left the chapel this morning.’ She shook her head. ‘He is never here when I need him.’
‘I recollect that he had some business to attend to in Meryton.’ Elizabeth glanced at the clock as it rang one chime. ‘He should be back half past the hour.’
‘Business indeed,’ Mrs Bennet muttered to herself. ‘One that entails the consumption of beer in the assembly rooms no doubt.’
‘Mama you looked tired.’ Elizabeth offered her arm. ‘Shall I take you upstairs to rest?’
‘No my mind is too busy with other thoughts.’ She dabbed her perspiring brow. ‘If Jane’s beauty and charm cannot behold a man of fortune,’ she demurred. ‘There is not much hope for the rest of you.’
‘One of us will eventually secure a gentleman of fortune,’ Elizabeth said wistfully. ‘Why is it always about advancement Mama? I would rather marry for love.’
‘For love?’ Mr
s Bennet snapped. ‘We can’t spend our lives waiting for love to knock on the door.’ She began to fan herself again. ‘Especially when the next knock might be Mr Collins.’
‘Mama put him out of your mind.’ Elizabeth held her hand to calm her. ‘You imagine things that may not happen.’
‘..He would gladly take Longbourn,’ she snarled. ‘Once your father was dead. It is too much to bear.’ She threw back her head in anguish. ‘We are all doomed.’
‘Jane you must come at once.’ Lydia stood over Jane as she tried to read her book in the library.
‘I am trying to read.’ She got up from her chair and sat in a window seat to pursue her reading.
‘Kitty.’ Lydia pushed her over to the door. ‘Block the door so she can’t escape.’
‘This is intolerable,’ Mary protested as she banged shut her book. ‘There are plenty of other rooms you can go to.’
‘Why don’t you leave then,’ Kitty retorted with her arms across the door.
‘Because this is a library and I enjoy reading books.’ Mary looked away with a glum face.
‘Lydia stop this,’ Jane quietly protested. ‘Look how miserable you’ve made Mary.’
‘She’s always got a miserable face.’
‘I will not tolerate such talk.’ Jane stood up and threw her book on the chair. ‘I will not stir a pudding to make a wish that will never come true.’
‘But if you don’t,’ Kitty urged. ‘Your wish won’t come true.’
‘Superstitious nonsense.’ Jane struggled to maintain her composure.
‘Mama said you must secure Mr Bingley,’ Lydia insisted. ‘For all our fortunes may depend on it.’
‘Stop talking about Mr Bingley.’
‘Why should she,’ Kitty intervened. ‘You’re always thinking about him.’
Mary glanced up at Jane. ‘I think it’s quite vulgar to think about men all the time..’
‘Not you as well.’ Her calm disposition began to crumble.
‘..For I believe women are much better without them.’
Jane marched over to the door. ‘Kitty stand aside.’ She said it with such fortitude she moved out of her way. ‘No more talk about Mr Bingley.’
‘If you don’t marry a wealthy gentleman,’ Lydia shouted. ‘We shall be evicted from Longbourn and die as old maids.’
‘This is intolerable.’ Jane ran from the library.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth found Jane by the staircase. ‘Has Lydia upset you?’
‘She has been abominable towards me.’
‘Lydia,’ Elizabeth called out to her. ‘You must apologise to Jane at once.’
She walked into the hallway followed by Kitty. ‘I shall not.’
‘You will,’ Elizabeth asserted.
‘Support me Kitty,’ Lydia nudged her ally. ‘Am I not right in my assertions?’
She duly nodded her alliance.
‘Girls,’ Mrs Bennet wailed in the background. ‘Stop your vexations.’ There was a loud knock on the door. ‘Who could that be on a Sunday?’ She stirred in her chair. ‘We have not sent out an invitation to anyone.’
Another loud knock came upon the door.
‘Is it Mr Collins?’ Mrs Bennet wailed. ‘That would be a very bad omen for the coming year,’ she shrieked into her handkerchief…(to continue access ebook on Amazon.com or Amazon.uk or your local Amazon site).
I hope you enjoyed reading your two bonus chapters. A short review or rating would be very welcome. Have a good day. Sarah.
