“Mr. Darcy is the last man in the world I could ever love!”
“Will you promise me that if you meet with him again you will try and begin a new acquaintance with him? Befriend him free of prejudice.”
“Me, prejudiced! He is the one who believes we are not worth his notice because we are so far below him.”
“I have heard enough, Lizzy. Shall I write my letter or not? For it depends on if you write one as well.”
“Very well,” Elizabeth said with remorse.
Jane smiled and set to work on her own letter as Elizabeth returned to the drawing room to write one as well.
*****
Two days later, Bingley was announced at Darcy House.
“Darcy, I am returning to Netherfield. I thought I might extend the invitation to you and Georgiana to go with me.”
Before Darcy could reply, Georgiana jumped up from her seat. “Oh, please! Let us go.”
“I cannot imagine why you are so excited,” Darcy said, clearly unexcited himself.
“I...I have corresponded with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I would like to meet her.”
“You have done what?”
Georgiana raised her chin. “I wrote a note to thank her for befriending you in Hertfordshire. You had so many stories to tell about her in your letters and since you have been home. You laugh more often now, too, and smile sometimes for no reason. You have been very unhappy since...the summer.”
“Darcy and Miss Elizabeth friends? No, all they do is argue!” Bingley cried.
“We debate. It is what civilised and intelligent people do.”
Georgiana met Bingley’s eye and raised her eyebrows. A slow smile crossed his face. Perhaps Bingley could not debate many matters, but he understood the social cues of people far better than her brother could. They both agreed that Darcy was besotted.
Knowing her brother could refuse her nothing, she pressed her point, and at length a returned trip was planned two days hence. Bingley directed the carriage to Longbourn. Luck had it that Jane and Elizabeth were out of doors when the carriage arrived, or perhaps it was due to the letters they both received indicating the expected arrival time of their guests.
Georgiana easily overheard Bingley speaking with Miss Bennet. “I had to come straight to you to wish you a happy Christmas.”
She smiled brilliantly in return.
Georgiana was eager herself to speak with Miss Elizabeth but waited for her brother to introduce them.
“I have so looked forward to meeting you, Miss Elizabeth,” she said.
“And I you. Your letter was most surprising.”
“I hope you do not mind. I know it is poor manners to write unacquainted, but I felt I owed you too much.”
Elizabeth blushed. “Oh, I am certain you far overestimate me and give me too much credit.”
Before she could speak, Darcy replied, “And I am equally certain she did not.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, and her eyes twinkled. “So you read her letter? Then you know all the terrible secrets of your youth that she passed on to me!”
Her brother’s colour drained from his face for a moment, and Georgiana was shocked, but he soon recovered.
“I recall that you dearly love a laugh and to plague and tease.”
“I must find some way to win our argument, and I am not above fighting unfairly.”
“You have won our debate, Miss Elizabeth. You debate amongst equals.”
Elizabeth looked at him for a long minute before beaming. Jane and Bingley were turning into the house, and Darcy offered an arm to each remaining lady.
It surprised all but three in attendance at Sir William Lucas’s Christmas dance when during a game involving a kissing bough, the music ceased just as Darcy and Elizabeth were underneath it. Of course, Georgiana had been invited to play. If her matchmaking schemes were guessed by her brother and Miss Elizabeth, they seemed far too pleased with the after-effects of their kiss to comment on it.
The following Christmas, no letters were required between the parties as they were all in residence at Netherfield. Some years they celebrated at Pemberley, and others at the new Bingley estate—less than thirty miles away—but they always celebrated together.
The End
Winter Walks
Darcy and Elizabeth walked hand in hand through the snowy lanes around Longbourn. Jane and Bingley walked a quarter of a mile behind them. There had been an early snow, and now the whole countryside looked magical. In the distance, one could hear sleigh bells and children laughing. It was a perfect time for an engagement period.
Sometimes they talked, and sometimes they enjoyed a companionable silence, their feelings too much to speak.
“Oh, look! What a lovely bird!” Elizabeth exclaimed and broke the silence. “Do you know it?”
Darcy broke his gaze from her lovely face. He loved watching her. All of her emotions were so clearly written on her face and in her eyes. He looked towards where she pointed.
“No, my interests have never turned towards birds except for some knowledge of falconry.”
“I confess I do not know many breeds either. I did once read of a beautiful bird found in Africa. They named it a lovebird because it was very faithful and mated only with one bird.” She blushed a little as she realised she spoke of mating.
He caught her eye and spoke lowly. “Will you be my lovebird then, Elizabeth?”
It was so hard to keep her wits about her when he spoke like that and looked at her like that. How had she ever thought it was disapproval? “Of course,” she replied. Then gathering her senses some, added, “I am already, am I not?”
“Hmmm,” was his only reply.
“Or do you feel compelled to propose again? By all means, continue asking, for though I am a woman, I will prove to you my constancy.” There, that should be a fair amount of teasing on the subject.
He made no reply and instead squeezed her hand. They resumed walking in silence for some time, although it felt entirely different than before, until they came upon a snowman.
Some children must have made him up. They even wrapped a scarf around him and placed a hat on his head. For some reason, he reminded her of their old parson. He had always worn an old red scarf like the one on the snowman. She playfully leaned her head towards him as though he were speaking to her.
“What is that, Mr. Hughes? Oh, no, we are not married yet. Of course, you can perform the ceremony!”
Darcy approached her side. “You are so willing to put off our marriage that you want a snowman to perform it?”
At first she hoped he was teasing, but a look at his face showed his vulnerable expression. “No, it is that I am so eager for our marriage, and he is here, instead of waiting another two weeks.”
His face broke out in a grin, and he came closer to her side. “Well, I do have the special licence. We could marry today.”
The look in his eye convinced Elizabeth that he would love nothing more. It was tempting, but poor Mama...her thoughts ceased as he kissed her.
It was not their first, but they had not been able to indulge very often either. Just when she was losing herself entirely, he pulled back. Yes, very tempting to marry today indeed!
“Your nose is cold,” he chuckled.
“Then you should warm it again.”
“Lizzy,” he said lowly, and she thrilled when he kissed her again.
Finally, he broke the kiss, and when they were calmed, he pulled on her hand to walk back to Longbourn. Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “He looks more like Sir William Lucas to me.”
Elizabeth broke out into laughter. The sweet man always kept her guessing.
Later that evening, they sipped coffee before the fire and spoke more of their post-wedding plans. It was daunting, but together they found the strength to hold fast to their original wedding date. If nothing else, their honeymoon plans would have been altered, and Darcy House would have been unprepared for its mistress. Spending their wedding night at Longbourn o
r Netherfield was much more terrifying than two more weeks of Mrs. Bennet’s wedding plans. In the meantime, there would be winter walks.
The End
Sample of Mr. Darcy’s Miracle at Longbourn
Wassail Song
Longbourn
December 22, 1811
Dear Diary,
Everyone in the house is cross or gloomy. May I confess my favourite Christmas memory to you? When we were children, we girls would sing carols and go from door to door.
“Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green.”
You could probably hear us for a mile. Kitty and Lydia have never been discreet or moderate with their voices. Sigh.
And now, though I am nineteen years old, I will admit that, once more, I wish someone could bring love and joy to our door. If not for Christmas, then perhaps by the New Year. I wish some magic existed that could allow us to peek at the future or consider different paths before we make irrevocable choices, such as marriage or the giving of our hearts.
-Miss Mary Noelle Bennet
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Darcy House, London
December 23, 1811
“What has you two so depressed? It is two days until Christmas!” Richard Fitzwilliam asked and cradled his port in a hand.
Fitzwilliam Darcy glared at his cousin.
“Well, I cannot truly tell if Darcy is depressed. He never smiles. But Bingley, something must be wrong with you. Is it lady trouble?” Richard wagged his eyebrows hoping for a juicy tale. “So, tell me about your girl, Bingley,” Richard said waggling his eyebrows again.
Darcy’s best friend, Charles Bingley, sighed. “Miss Bennet is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld! I thought so upon first sight, and she has only grown in beauty every time I have seen her.”
Darcy watched as Bingley made some half-strangled moan and took a large gulp of port.
“Ah! That is it! I can tell by Darcy’s scowl,” Richard egged them on.
A dull ache filled Darcy’s heart. Yes, it certainly was lady trouble. For both him and Bingley. But it was done and over with and all for the best.
“Poor Bingley. Always getting hooked by the fortune hunters,” Richard continued. “Well, I suppose Darcy saved you again. Must have happened in…where had you just been? Hampshire—no, Hertfordshire.”
Again, Richard looked between Darcy and Bingley hoping to glean more information, but the men were resolutely silent. At the mention of the county in which Elizabeth Bennet resided, the dull ache in Darcy’s heart turned to piercing pain.
Blurb
‘Tis the season to believe in miracles!
Less than a month after Fitzwilliam Darcy left Hertfordshire, he regrets the decision. Still, stubborn as they come, he will abide by the choice even if his heart freezes over worse than a December chill.
At Longbourn, Elizabeth Bennet rejects the Christmas themes of unconditional love and forgiveness. In her mind, Mr. Darcy deserves neither and not only for insulting her upon first sight. Elizabeth is certain Darcy is behind her sister's heartache.
Fate has other plans, however, when it throws them together again and again and again. Christmas magic works on their hearts and minds as the calendar refuses to budge from December 23. What will it take to see Christmas Eve? How many lives need to change?
Mr. Darcy's Miracle at Longbourn is a heart-warming holiday read from Rose Fairbanks, author of Mr. Darcy's Bluestocking Bride. If you love A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, and Miracle on 34th Street, fill your mug with hot cocoa and buy your copy today!
Acknowledgments
To my author friends Leenie and Zoe that always were willing to hold my hand, nothing can take your place in my heart.
Thank you to the countless other people of the JAFF community who have inspired and encouraged me.
Last but not least, I could never have written, let alone published, without the love and support of my beloved husband and babies!
About the Author
Born in the wrong era, Rose Fairbanks has read nineteenth-century novels since childhood. Although she studied history, her transcript also contains every course in which she could discuss Jane Austen. Never having given up all-nighters for reading, Rose discovered her love for Historical Romance after reading Christi Caldwell’s Heart of a Duke Series.
After a financial downturn and her husband’s unemployment had threatened her ability to stay at home with their special needs child, Rose began writing the kinds of stories she had loved to read for so many years. Now, a best-selling author of Jane Austen-inspired stories, she also writes Regency Romance, Historical Fiction, Paranormal Romance, and Historical Fantasy.
Having completed a BA in history in 2008, she plans to finish her master’s studies someday. When not reading or writing, Rose runs after her two young children, ignores housework, and profusely thanks her husband for doing all the dishes and laundry. She is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and Romance Writers of America.
You can connect with Rose on Instagram, Pinterest, and her blog: http://rosefairbanks.com
To join her email list for information about new releases and any other news, you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bmJHjn
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Rose’s Reading Garden
Jane Austen Re-Imaginings Series
Christmas with Jane
When Love Blooms Series
Pride and Prejudice and Bluestockings Series
Loving Elizabeth Series
Also by Rose Fairbanks
Jane Austen Re-Imaginings Series
(Stand Alone Series)
Letters from the Heart
Undone Business
No Cause to Repine
Love Lasts Longest
Mr. Darcy’s Kindness
Mr. Darcy’s Compassion (Coming 2019)
When Love Blooms Series
Sufficient Encouragement
Renewed Hope
Extraordinary Devotion
Loving Elizabeth Series
Pledged
Reunited
Treasured
Pride and Prejudice and Bluestockings
Mr. Darcy’s Bluestocking Bride
Lady Darcy’s Bluestocking Club (Coming 2019)
Impertinent Daughters Series
The Gentleman’s Impertinent Daughter
Mr. Darcy’s Impertinent Daughter (Coming 2019)
Desire and Obligation Series
A Sense of Obligation
Domestic Felicity (Coming 2019)
Christmas with Jane
Once Upon a December
Mr. Darcy’s Miracle at Longbourn
How Darcy Saved Christmas
Men of Austen
The Secrets of Pemberley
The Secrets of Donwell Abbey (Emma Variation, Coming 2019)
Regency Romance
Flowers of Scotland (Marriage Maker Series)
The Maid of Inverness
Paranormal Regency Fairy Tale
Cinderella’s Phantom Prince and Beauty’s Mirror (with Jenni James)
Once Upon a December Page 6