Darcy then grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and walked her upstairs and handed her to and a ladies maid who helped her get into bed.
* *
The next morning after a good sleep and a good breakfast the three friends left Darcy House. First they stopped the magistrate’s office to sign some documents and Darcy identified most of the valuables as his property and the man told him he would deliver everything to Mrs. Hughes.
He said he would speak with Lady Catherine later and do the same but he also said the sisters had gone into detail of how they had stolen the things and made it clear that it had all been great fun to them.
Darcy’s own investigator was present and he and the magistrate agreed that Mrs. Hughes should keep a watchful eye on the valuables at Darcy House and try and determine if there are any more spies like Nellie. Before the coach left for Longbourn Darcy watched as his uncle along with Lady Catherine, Mrs. Hughes and Anne came inside and minutes later all the valuables were settled on.
The magistrate next told Elizabeth that there was no need to mention her name in the papers and she was forever grateful. After that Darcy and the others said their goodbyes and the coach left to return to Hertfordshire.
The day was colder and miserable but it did not rain until the coach was just outside of Meryton. Elizabeth had soon found sleep and stayed that way for most of the trip and the others took naps as well.
The family greeted the others as the coach pulled up and her sisters and her mother hugged Elizabeth and her friends.
The travelers had talked about what they would say upon arrival and so all stories agreed and Darcy and Georgiana promised to see Elizabeth the next day if the rain stopped.
They did not stay at Longbourn but a few minutes but Mr. Darcy told Mr. Bennet that there had never been a time when his cousin was in danger and it was all just a big mistake because the real reason for her coming to town was to announce her engagement to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy said she had taken a room nearby and she and my cousin agreed to meet there before returning to join the others at his parents house.
“Then we are all pleased that she was not kidnapped. For a while I feared that Lizzy might be in danger.”
“But there is other good news and that is my Aunt Catherine is in agreement that her daughter should be installed as the owner of Rosings. My uncle had the papers signed and witnessed and already plans are being made for Lady Catherine to move to Dowager House.”
“That is good news, indeed,” said Mrs. Bennet.
“Furthermore, my aunt admitted that she had been involved in hiring George Wickham and she apologized to everyone involved, including Miss Elizabeth. I must confess that my aunt was my biggest concern as far as being an obstacle to my relationship with your daughter, but now that road block has been removed and we will continue our courtship except we are even closer than before.”
“It is getting close to Christmas Mr. Darcy. Have you decided when you will return to town with Jane and Lizzy?”
“Mr. Bennet, we have all talked about it and plan to leave a week before Christmas. This year Christmas comes on Wednesday. Let me see, we will have Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley; Georgiana and Miss Mary and finally Miss Elizabeth and myself. Have I got it right?”
“Yes,” replied Mr Bennet, “but I will leave it to you and the others to put it all together. I suppose this leaves them ample time to do their shopping? Of course, Jane and Lizzy will stay with the Gardiners while Mary will be Miss Darcy’s guest at Darcy House. Mary is very excited, but when will you return?”
“We should return the day before Christmas Eve.”
“Then you need to leave this Wednesday and today is Saturday.”
“There is one more thing I want to say and that is I had the good fortune to visit Mrs. Gardiner and her children at their home in Cheapside and we also talked about your daughters visiting in town before Christmas. Both my sister and I enjoyed meeting your family in town and we are looking forward to meeting Mr. Gardiner as well for he was working late that day that we visited. I suppose we will see all of you over the holidays?”
“That is our wish, Mr. Darcy. There is also to be a dance on New Year’s Eve and I hope you and Mr. Bingley will attend?”
“We will be delighted to attend.”
* *
As was previously planned, Darcy and Elizabeth did not see each other the next day and both finally caught up on their sleep. They had planned to meet and go for a walk that second morning but it had started raining hard the night before and that next morning as well.
On Tuesday the friends from Netherfield came to Longbourn to visit. The rain had stopped late the previous day and now it had turned cold and blustery but it helped dry the roads as the trip to town was a day away. The party went into Meryton together where Mr. Darcy and his sister and Jane and Bingley met with the locals and exchanged greetings while Georgiana visited with the sisters.
By now most of the good people of Meryton knew of the courtships of the two Bennet sisters and their gentlemen and most expected to learn soon of an engagement. Elizabeth stayed as close to Darcy as she could and held his arm close as they walked in Meryton that day. Though it was cold, the day was sunny with a bright blue sky and only an occasional breeze but no bonnets were in danger.
The next day the trip to town found the six friends seated close but that was a good thing for it was cold. Jane and Elizabeth both shared a small trunk and the others also packed very little in anticipation that the coach would still need more room on the return trip for the packages that would be purchased.
They first arrived at the Gardiner house where Jane and Elizabeth would stay and after a brief pause to introduce Mr. Bingley, the coach went to Bingley’s home before continuing to Darcy House. Mrs. Hughes and the servants came outside to greet Darcy and his sister and Mary Bennet and servants took all the trunks to the respective rooms. Georgiana assisted Mary and after showing Mary her room she returned downstairs short minutes later.
Mary was very pleased with everything she saw and told her new friends.
Darcy had earlier noticed that Mary had a new look and later Georgiana complimented her on the way her hair was styled but she also had a new dress and different glasses and told Georgiana that Kitty had taken to remaking her style and Georgiana told her she liked her new style. Of course Mrs. Gardiner was the first to notice these things. The next time they all would be together would be the next evening at Darcy House where Darcy would host the others for dinner.
The next day Mary had her first lesson on the pianoforte. She was nervous to take her lesson but Georgiana assured her that all would go well.
Georgiana introduced Mary to the man but he did not start the lesson right away and talked with Mary instead until she was calmed. Soon Mary was relaxed and gone was her nervous laughter. He next asked her to play a piece that he had put before her and he asked her to try to play it softly and she did.
As Mary played, Georgiana was also in the room and pretended not to listen as she held a book in her hand but she was surprised at the calming influence the man had on her friend. Mary seemed to take to the man that day but the big surprise was after the lesson they spoke of many things and seemed to get on very well. Mr. Watkins was excited in the progress Mary was making and bragged on her success and it was clear to Georgiana that he was sincere.
CHAPTER 14
The man came for three days and gave Mary lessons twice a day and in between the lessons they talked as if they had been friends a long time.
The dinner on the second day was a good time for everyone and Darcy also invited his cousin and Lord and Lady Matlock and the Gardiners. All enjoyed the dinner and the pleasant company. After the dinner the men went into the study as the women talked about the shopping they would do the next day. When they asked about how Mary’s pianoforte lessons were progressing, Georgiana spoke for her friend and said she was doing very well.
“You look happy tonight,” Madeline Gardiner said.
“I am very we
ll pleased, Aunt. Mr. Watkins has helped me a lot. He not only teaches piano but he wants to be a writer and he graduated from Cambridge four years ago. I think we have many things in common.”
“Are you attracted to him?” asked Jane.
“I would like to see more of him, Jane, but that is not likely but he did say he has an aunt who still lives near Meryton in Ballston.”
“That is only seven miles from Meryton,” replied Elizabeth
That evening after everyone else had left Darcy House, Georgiana and Mary spoke about her lessons and Georgiana told Mary that the man seemed to enjoy Mary’s company and appeared happy to meet her. Mary went to bed that night feeling better about herself than ever before and was eager to tell her older sisters about meeting a good man but she said nothing at the present because he said he would visit her at Longbourn early in the new year.
After the shopping was done and Darcy and Bingley’s business was concluded, the friends returned to Longbourn and later stopped at Netherfield. The next day was Christmas Eve and Bingley had the servants decorating his house in red ribbons and bows and with greenery from the evergreens and the cook made pies and pastries for all the staff to enjoy. Darcy and his sister and Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam would eat Christmas dinner at Longbourn, but Darcy was not sure if his cousin would come after learning of his engagement to Anne. Bingley generously gave all the staff at Netherfield time off and the cook and other servants who lived there were told to eat in the dining rooms and to make themselves home except the upper levels that contained the bedrooms were off limits. They were told to act as if they were the owners and the cook was given a free hand to make whatever she wished for all the servants who remained at Netherfield and several bottles of wine were set aside for the servants for their dinner.
Both Darcy and Bingley had bought small gifts in town to give to the sisters and they would be given that morning at Longbourn.
That night Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived and joined the others at the church. He said that his father and mother had been invited to spend Christmas at Rosings and his father wanted to discuss details of how to properly manage such an estate and wanted those discussions private.
At the church that night Elizabeth and Jane sat with Darcy and Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam sat between those men. Just as the service started Mr. Watkins appeared and hurriedly took a seat beside Mary. Elizabeth’s eyes grew moist as she saw the looks that passed between her middle sister and the man who had befriended her. That night was a special night and by the time the candlelight service was over, it was snowing hard and visibility was poor when Mary introduced Mr. Watkins to the others.
“Then you are Thomas Watkins,” said Mr. Bennet. “Your late father and I were friends before the family moved to Oxford when he was sixteen and I was fifteen.”
“I did not know that you and my father were friends. Mr. Bennet, I stopped by because your daughter said her family always attended the candlelight service at the church and since I was on my way to my aunt’s home in Ballston, I thought to stop at the church and see her. I would like to come by and see Miss Mary before the new year if that is acceptable to you and your daughter?”
“Yes, you can help her with the pianoforte. She played so well earlier today. Now be careful Mr. Watkins, the road should be fine because it is just a little over an inch at the present, but that will change soon. I wish you God speed and Merry Christmas to you sir and we look forward to seeing you soon at Longbourn.”
Next the entire party returned to Longbourn and warmed by the fire as Mr. Gardiner opened his foodstuffs including candies of many flavors and nuts and the best imported French wines and cheeses as well as cognac and brandy and pastries that he had purchased earlier that morning.
The arrival of Mr. Watkins had been a pleasant surprise and when Mr. Bennet told Mary the man would return before the new year everyone was happy for Mary. The men joined Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner in the library and stayed up to near midnight talking about many things and drinking Mr. Darcy’s wine. All the Bennet sisters and Mrs. Bennet and her sister remained in the parlor and talked about their trip to town and the shopping they did and they spoke of the courtships and questioned Mary but she said nothing. She did not have to say a word because her smiles gave her away and all now spoke of the dance to be held a week later.
The next morning saw still more snow but it was generally very light. Even so the friends from Netherfield took a long time to make it to Longbourn for the Christmas dinner. Mrs. Bennet’s dinner included her Yorkshire Pudding with roast beef and the usual Christmas dinner food plus a smoked ham that Mr. Gardiner had imported and gave the Bennets every Christmas.
After the dinner the children joined the younger Bennet girls in attempting to build a snow man but the snow was too light and they soon started rolling around in the snow until the women brought them inside before they caught a cold.
Darcy and Elizabeth left to walk outside when they saw it was snowing again and Jane and Bingley soon followed.
“This is my most favorite Christmas, William, and I hope you feel the same.”
“I agree with every word. Mr. Wickham is gone and the way is clear for us to soon become engaged. Earlier he spoke with her father and asked for his consent and the man had tentatively approved of the engagement pending his speaking with his Lizzy. Darcy was caught off guard when the man told him he had been visited by Mr. Bingley earlier and had approved Bingley and Jane’s engagement pending his speaking with Jane.”
Later that Christmas night it began to snow again and the three men and Georgiana returned to Netherfield in a fierce snowstorm and there was over ten inches by daybreak when the snow finally stopped.
The days following Christmas were busy and Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner were very impressed with the three men staying at Netherfield. Mr. Bennet told the story of Wickham and how Darcy and Elizabeth handled the man but he did not discuss the reason Darcy came to town to look for his cousin. Colonel Fitzwilliam was a favourite of the two older men and they talked of military matters and current politics and Mr. Bennet paid off his debt to Darcy’s cousin for Mr. Bennet had bet a bottle of his best port that Mr. Bingley would be the first to ask for a courtship with Jane but Darcy had been first to ask.
Mr. Watkins did visit Friday and accepted an invitation to attend the New Years dance in Meryton on Saturday. Earlier that day of the dance Darcy went for a walk in the snow with Elizabeth but soon they came into the greenhouse.
“Elizabeth, my love, I have spoke with your father about our engagement and all that remains is your agreement to marry me. Please make me the happiest man in England and agree to be my wife. I have a ring that I would like to give you that belonged to my mother.”
With that she jumped into his arms and threw her arms around his neck.
“Of course I will marry you, William. Oh my! The ring is beautiful. I do not deserve it. I will be a good wife to you William and I am certain I could never love anybody the way I love you.”
“If you like, I will hold the ring for you until the dance when your father will announce our engagement and also your sister’s engagement to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Watkins and Miss Mary’s courtship.”
“My mother will be very pleased. You know she told Papa how she feels very close to you and your sister and Mr. Bingley. It seems that after all these years the Bennets will have two sons and perhaps three counting Mr. Watkins.”
* *
That night the two youngest Bennet daughters stayed at Longbourn with Georgiana whilst the others left to attend the dance. Almost immediately all eyes followed Darcy and Elizabeth and Bingley and Jane, but now everyone’s eyes turned to see Mary Bennet and they commented on the beauty of the three eldest Bennet daughters.
The dances were lively and Darcy and Bingley and Mr. Watkins continued to dance with all the ladies but just before midnight Mr. Bennet addressed those present and told his news that Jane and Elizabeth were engaged to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy and he also said t
hat Mary and Mr. Watkins were in a courtship.
There was much applause as Elizabeth and Jane showed their rings and smiled until their faces hurt.
That night in the library at Longbourn, after the others had returned to Netherfield and to Ballston, Mr. Bennet told Jane and Elizabeth how proud he was of both of them. As Fanny Bennet came to console him, for he had tears in his eyes, the girls joined their parents in a lovely prayer and then they left for bed.
“Well, Fanny, we have been very fortunate and now we will soon have two sons. I am certain we could not have asked for two better men for our girls.”
One had to wonder who was the happiest about the coming marriages but Thomas Bennet and Fanny sure seemed to be as they talked well past midnight.
“Yes, my love, and now we will have grandchildren and you can teach them when you visit in town and at Pemberley and here at Netherfield. Ever since the men arrived I can see that we have both changed and I find that I love you more than ever. ”
“I do love you Fanny. It was the same for us and for Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, and Jane and Mr. Bingley, love at first sight. Out of the blue clear sky, our lives are changed in an instant.”
The End
OUT OF THE BLUE CLEAR SKY: (A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION) Page 13
