Yuletide
Page 20
Finally, the guests left and the party retired upstairs, but not before an unexpected invitation was given and accepted.
As soon as she entered her room, Elizabeth removed her jewels and gown and fell across the bed in sheer exhaustion. Her husband soon joined her.
“Thank god that is over,” said Darcy as he collapsed onto the bed and draped one arm over his face.
“I cannot believe your cousins are going to Oakwood.” Oakwood was Sir Ludlow’s estate, five miles north of Pemberley.
“I cannot believe they were invited!”
“Do you suppose Sir Ludlow knows about his wife and Lord Lisle?”
“Of course he knows!”
“Then why?” she trailed off, perplexed.
“My dear, other people’s marriages are not our problem, thankfully, or our concern. Lisle has his heir and doesn’t seem to care what his wife does. Ludlow has two sons at Cambridge and seems equally unconcerned about his wife’s behavior. If that is how they choose to live, so be it.” He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. “As long as they are not here.”
“But Lady Lisle agreed to go! She was nearly ecstatic at the invitation.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I do not understand how she can happily watch her husband seduce another woman.”
“I do not think she intends to watch him. Oakwood borders the Watson estate. She will likely spend her time with the good captain.”
“That explains why he seemed so happy,” Elizabeth grumbled. “They aren’t even staying for Christmas!”
“Did you wish them to?”
“Not truly. But it does seem rude to accept a Christmas invitation, then not stay for Christmas.”
“I hate to say it, love, but they likely accepted because of our neighbors, not us.”
“Oh, of course you are right. I feel rather stupid for not thinking of it myself.” She sighed and rolled onto her side to face her husband. “That certainly explains why Lady Lisle had no interest whatsoever in talking to me. I had wondered why she bothered coming if she disliked me so. I had thought the earl forced them, or perhaps it was for appearances.”
“That may have played into it, but I do not think they would do anything they didn’t truly wish to do.”
He traced his fingers over Elizabeth’s arm slowly, his eyes drifting closed.
“The look on your face when Lord Lisle asked if you minded if they left tomorrow!” Elizabeth laughed. “I thought you would pack his trunks yourself!”
“I was tempted,” he grumbled.
“At least Richard has made progress with Miss Wheeler. She seems to be growing quite attached to him.”
“Mmhmm.”
“The more I know her, the more I like her.”
He grunted.
She smiled at how he had fallen asleep without even getting under the coverlet. She tugged his arm and pulled him until she had tucked him mostly under the covers, then pulled the blankets up over them both. She nestled into his side, her head on his chest, and kissed him sleepily.
“Goodnight, Fitzwilliam.”
“Goodnight, dearest. Lizzy?”
“Hmm?”
“Next year, let’s do Christmas with your family.”
* * *
ELIZABETH ADAMS is a book-loving, tango-dancing, Austen enthusiast. She loves old houses and thinks birthdays should be celebrated with trips—as should most occasions. She can often be found by a sunny window with a cup of hot tea and a book in her hand. She writes romantic comedy and comedic drama in both historical and modern settings. She is the author of The Houseguest, Unwilling, On Equal Ground, The 26th of November, and Meryton Vignettes: Tales of Pride and Prejudice, and the modern comedy Green Card. You can find more information, short stories, and outtakes at ElizabethAdamsWrites.wordpress.com.
Acknowledgments
Give us a thankful sense of the blessings in which we live, of the many comforts of our lot, that we may not deserve to lose them by discontent or indifference.
—Jane Austen
I am forever grateful for the talented authors who have joined me on this journey into the Wild West that is now modern-day publishing, and thankful for the peer groups, bloggers, and readers who have encouraged and supported indie projects.
In the spring of 2017, I had the good fortune to visit Chawton House, as well as the Cottage. The day left a lasting impression on me. I look forward to the day when I return. This collection of Christmas stories was an inspired idea after the publication of the anthology Rational Creatures, October 2018. In a mad flurry, the following have donated their time and creativity to produce this collection in hopes that all the proceeds might help in the continuation of good at the Great House, ensuring the work of women writers will continue to be discovered and treasured long into the future. Thank you authors Elizabeth Adams, J. Marie Croft, Amy D’Orazio, Lona Manning, Anngela Schroeder, Joana Starnes, and Caitlin Williams for writing Pride and Prejudice stories on-demand. Thank you, Debbie Brown, for proofing. Much gratitude to author Karen M Cox for graciously formatting this collection as well. The cover is my own DIY design and I beg your forgiveness for any errors. I hope you enjoyed this collection in the same affectionate spirit it was created. Your positive reviews at Amazon will surely encourage others to buy the collection. Thank you for supporting this effort and Chawton Great House.
CHRISTINA BOYD wears many hats as she is an editor under her own banner, The Quill Ink, a contributor to Austenprose, and a commercial ceramicist. A life member of Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen’s England was made possible by actor Henry Cavill when she won the Omaze experience to meet him in the spring of 2017 on the London Eye. True story. You can Google it.