After Darcy finished his meal, he excused himself, saying he would return shortly.
He was as good as his word and soon appeared, pulling a large, cushioned chair on three wheels.
“Miss Bennet, I thought perhaps you would be more comfortable in this Bath chair than being lifted and carried from place to place.”
“Surely, this is too much trouble for you, sir,” she replied.
He chuckled. “I assure you, I am well able to move this contraption quite easily. I procured this for my aunt when she was recuperating in October. When I was unable to be here, the footmen assisted her. She said it was most agreeable.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Then I shall accept your kind offer for today, and hope that I am able to walk from chair to chair tomorrow.”
“Darcy, you appear to have everything in hand,” said Miss de Bourgh, standing. “As I am no longer needed, I shall take my other guests with me to the parlour I prefer in the morning and early afternoon. Come, Mrs. Collins and Miss Lucas. Let us allow Miss Bennet and my cousin to put their minds to making Rosings beautiful for the season. I so look forward to seeing what the two of them have planned for our enjoyment.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Mr. Darcy and I shall do our best to please you, Miss de Bourgh.”
“Is there anything I could do to help you, Lizzy?” asked Charlotte.
“Perhaps you and Maria could provide some ornaments for the tree. I plan to decorate with apples, ribbons, sweetmeats, and toys. It would be wonderful if you could make some paper or silk flowers to add more colour. You could also wrap small packages of raisins and nuts.”
“A tree?” Miss de Bourgh smiled. “I have wanted a Christmas tree for several years, but Mama felt that a custom begun by our German-born queen would not endure among the aristocracy.”
“The royal family has a Christmas tree every year,” said Darcy, “so I think we may safely assume that the idea will continue. After all, people in Germany and other countries have displayed decorated trees for over a century. It appears we are late to the party.”
“Then we shall present it to Mama as a grand surprise for her,” replied the lady, laughing.
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at her hostess. “And we could allow the children of the estate and the town of Hunsford to come see it. On Boxing Day at Longbourn, my sister and I gave our tenants’ children all the decorations from the tree as presents. I encouraged my younger sisters to continue the tradition in my absence.”
“We do the same at Pemberley,” said Darcy. “Georgiana plans a celebration for them, as well as the children of Lambton, and they all come for an hour or two to have refreshments while she and I hand out the gifts. For some, ’tis all they receive for Christmas.”
He turned to look at his cousin. “Anne, could you procure some small toys?”
“Most certainly,” she answered. “I shall have the fruits, nuts, ribbons, and paper gathered and brought to the parlour, as well.”
“Excellent idea, Miss de Bourgh,” said Charlotte. “Maria and I will begin our work at once. We have much to do.”
Maria clapped her hands. “What fun! A Christmas party for the children! Elizabeth, you must play some lively music at the piano. I would be most pleased to turn your pages for you.”
“If you wish it, my dear,” she answered with a bright smile, and then turned to her hostess. “Miss de Bourgh, would you please have red ribbon, scissors, and apples sent to me in the main hallway?”
“Of course, my dear. What is greenery without festive ribbon and fruit? I believe we have pears, too.”
And with that, the ladies quit the room, laughing and talking of their plans.
Elizabeth glanced up at her companion. “Now, Mr. Darcy, you must take me to the front entryway, for we shall begin there.”
She began to lift herself from her chair, but the gentleman stepped in front of her.
“You cannot put any weight on your foot, Miss Bennet. Please allow me to assist you.”
“Very well,” she answered. “What must I do?”
He knelt on one knee before her to remove the ice and folded the blanket over her lap, sliding one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
“Hold on to me as you did outside.”
Her heart seemed to lodge in her throat as she breathed his scent, but she did as he requested, and he soon had her in the Bath chair with her ice and cloths back in place on her foot and the blanket over her legs.
“Are you quite comfortable?” he asked, straightening up.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied, fighting the flush creeping up her neck, trying to forget how safe and easy she felt in his arms, “though my foot is becoming quite cold.”
“Perhaps if I put your sock back on for you, it would help to keep your foot warm. I would do my best not to hurt you.”
“I trust you, Mr. Darcy. I know that you would not willingly cause me pain. Your idea is a sound one.”
He retrieved her sock and once more took a knee in front of her, removing the ice again before gently taking her injured foot in his hands. He slowly worked the sock over her toes, pushing the blanket up a bit.
“You must tell me if you feel discomfort.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly as her breathing quickened.
I love him too much, and ’tis unlikely he will ever be mine. The ache in my heart is much greater than any pain he is causing me.
He paused, holding her foot in his warm hands with a look of consternation.
“Miss Bennet, are you well? Should I stop?”
She shook her head, struggling to slow her heartbeat and not think about how his brown curls caught the light.
As it is impossible to forget him, I shall hide these days in my heart; I will always remember him like this.
She took a deep breath. “I am fine. Please continue.”
The gentleman carefully inched the garment over her foot, stopping when his hands reached the bottom of her trousers. He then replaced the ice pack, adjusted the blanket, and stood to his feet.
Darcy hesitated, a look of uncertainty on his handsome face. “May I ask you a question? I warn you that it might be construed as impertinent.”
She turned her gaze up to his. “I cannot imagine your being so. What do you wish to know, sir?”
“Mr. Jones accused you of breaking a promise to him, and you said you had broken no promises. Would you mind telling me what you promised him?”
“Not at all. When Thomas left for the parsonage late yesterday, he asked me not to make any momentous decisions before he returned. I told him that I would remain as I was then until he came back to Rosings.”
“And you did as you said you would do.”
“I did.”
Darcy was silent for a moment before he continued.
“Did I understand him to say he has offered for you?”
“Yes. Several months ago, he did.”
He raised a brow. “And you did not accept?”
“I did not, and I will not. We are not suited.”
“But you love him?”
Elizabeth nodded. “As a brother – a lifelong friend.”
His eyes darkened.
“Just as I love Anne.”
She felt as if her heart stopped altogether.
With an effort, she smiled, but she was unable to hide the quiver in her voice. “Probably so, though I think it may be easier to love Miss de Bourgh, as she does not try to compel you into matrimony.”
Darcy chuckled. “Quite the opposite. Anne would not marry me if I asked her.”
Is that what he wants? “Since we are being bold and open with one another, do you wish to marry Miss de Bourgh?”
He shook his head slightly, holding her eyes with his. “She and I are of like mind on the subject. Neither of us wishes to wed a person we view as a sibling. I will always care for her and protect her, but only as her brother.”
Darcy was quiet. He cleared his throat and glanced away. “Are you still held to your promise with Mr. Jones?” he asked softly.
Elizabeth looked at her hands folded in her lap. “I do not consider myself to be so. After all, I did exactly as he asked.”
Without another word, the gentleman bent and retrieved the handle of the chair, soon contriving to pull her from the room and into the hallway.
“I had the footmen bring in the greenery and leave it here, along with a ladder,” he said. “Where shall we begin?”
She looked around the room and pointed to a spot.
“Let us begin with doorways. After we finish all of those, we shall move to the mantles. Fetch the ribbon and scissors for me, please, and I shall tie the bows while you hang the branches.”
He nodded his agreement, handed her the ribbon, and moved the ladder into place.
“You, there,” he said, gesturing to a footman. “Miss Bennet, if you will point out the boughs you wish me to place, Smythe’s son will hand them to me.”
She agreed, and the work began.
~~oo~~
After several hours, Darcy tied the final ribbon to the pine and cedar boughs over the doorway leading to the large dining room.
“What shall we do next?” Darcy looked to Elizabeth for his answer.
“Shall we have tea before we begin to decorate the tree?”
“A grand idea,” he answered, smiling. “Do you agree that the ballroom would be the best place to host the Boxing Day celebration?”
“If you think your cousin would not mind. After all, there are very few furnishings in that room, so we have freedom to arrange everything to our satisfaction. There would be no danger of the children doing any damage to expensive furniture.”
“Anne is quite practical,” he answered, eyes merry, “and should my aunt be able to attend, she will have very little about which to complain. This evening, I plan to ask her to help us choose a room, guide her as to the feasibility of using the ballroom, and allow her to think it was her idea.”
Elizabeth laughed aloud. “I had no notion you were such a schemer, Mr. Darcy! I see I shall have to be on my toes when dealing with you.”
His expression grew serious. “You need have no fear, for I would never deceive you. I abhor disguise of any kind. I would not lie to my aunt, either. I merely let her appropriate my ideas as her own.”
“I am not afraid of anything to do with you, sir. I may tease you, but I think I understand you better than I did when we first met. You are, without a doubt, the most honourable man of my acquaintance.”
“I shall strive to deserve that compliment.”
She smiled. “So, the ballroom it is?”
He inclined his head.
As they were agreed, Darcy spoke to the footmen. “Move all the greenery, fruit, and ribbon to the ballroom, as well as the tree. Then fetch a large bucket and fill it with rocks and water to serve as a tree stand. You must cut the small branches from the bottom of the trunk before you place it in the bucket.”
After the matter was settled, he turned to Elizabeth. “My cousin and the ladies are likely still in the morning parlour. Do you wish to join them?”
At her nod, he picked up the handle to her Bath chair, easily pulling her chair towards the room.
~~oo~~
By the time they finished their tea, Darcy and Elizabeth were ready to return to the task at hand.
The ladies had already filled two large baskets with their handiwork, so the gentleman instructed the footmen to take the decorations to the ballroom.
“Do you wish to join us as we trim the tree?” asked Elizabeth, looking around the room.
Miss de Bourgh smiled complacently at her. “I fear we have not made nearly enough paper and silk flowers, and I just know the little girls will each want one. Do you not agree, Mrs. Collins?”
“Without a doubt, Miss de Bourgh. Maria has offered to take Mrs. Jenkinson’s place with Lady Catherine and allow her the enjoyment of helping us. She has been up there all morning, and she must be tired of reading by now.”
“How kind of you,” replied Miss de Bourgh, nodding at Maria. “I shall order fresh tea for Mrs. Jenkinson.”
“I am happy to be of assistance,” answered Maria, curtseying before she left the room.
“It seems we must shoulder the burden alone, Miss Bennet,” said Darcy, standing to walk to her side.
“’Tis no burden at all,” she answered, looking up into his face. “Only think what joy we shall give to the children and their families.”
“We are in one accord. ’Tis no burden at all,” he replied, reaching down to retrieve the handle of her chair.
She watched him as he pulled her from the room.
He is everything I want in a husband – strong, agreeable, commanding, gentle, intelligent, kind, and warm. He is the handsomest man of my acquaintance, and I could have been married to him already. I would now be basking in the glow of being Mrs. Darcy.
She sighed. How could I have misjudged him so completely? Will he ever forgive me?