Among Darcy’s other friends were his cousins, the sons of an earl. Mrs. Bennet had nearly fainted when she heard the news. The elder one was a viscount and in Parliament and would be quite the catch, in the matron’s opinion. The younger was a colonel in the Regulars. Elizabeth thought he was the better natured of the two and she looked forward to regular visits from him in Derbyshire or London. However, he would need a wife of fortune, and the Bennet sisters had little to offer in the way of monetary wealth.
George Wickham also came, pleasing Elizabeth greatly. Fortunately for him, as a mere solicitor in a country town, he had not become the target of Mrs. Bennet’s machinations. Elizabeth could not find it in her heart to scold her mother. She had spent months missing all of her nerves and anxieties.
By bringing so many friends, Darcy had assured privacy with Elizabeth, even in drawing room conversation. If he had arrived with a smaller party, he would be a more interesting character to Mrs. Bennet and her other daughters. As it was, Darcy and Elizabeth managed to have many illuminating conversations in their weeks of courtship. They would sponsor Mary and Jane in the spring. Kitty complained of being the only sister at home, but Mrs. Bennet said she could not do without her, and that pleased the girl. Yet, Elizabeth was cognizant of the need to distinguish Kitty in some way. She did not want another sister feeling neglected by her. Kitty would come to Pemberley in the summer.
With all the upcoming plans to be surrounded by family, Elizabeth looked forward to her wedding holiday all the more. Darcy caught her eye. The time had come to leave.
A dozen embraces and handshakes later, the happy couple was alone in a carriage headed toward a cottage a few hours away. During their travel, they teased and read between kisses and caresses, all allowing them to learn more about one another, body and soul.
“I have a surprise for you, love,” Darcy said when they exited the carriage.
He produced a blindfold. After testing its effectiveness, he scooped Elizabeth into his arms, causing her to yelp in astonishment before laughing. After they entered the cottage, Darcy put Elizabeth down. Before he even lifted the blindfold, the familiar scent of holly and pine needles tickled her nose. Finally, he freed her eyes, and she saw a room decorated with red bows, and holly and evergreen boughs adorning the windows and doors. A yule log burned in the fireplace. Christmas sweets were with the tea things.
“You did this?” Elizabeth asked.
“You did not get to have the Christmas you wished for,” Darcy acknowledged. “I have promised to give you everything your heart desires that is within my power. I thought it fitting to start with this.”
Elizabeth embraced and kissed her husband. His generous heart was on full display, even if she were the only one to enjoy it. Pulling back, she looked into his eyes. As she stroked his cheek, she said, “From now on, all I need at each Christmas is you. The greatest gift I have ever received is your love.”
Darcy grinned and shook his head. “It is not very charitable of you to copy my own thoughts, love.” He pulled her close for a deep kiss. “You are all I will ever need. I will forever thank Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner for bringing you to Lambton.”
“Yes, we do owe them much!” Elizabeth laughed. “How did you find fresh holly?”
“They are painted glass beads,” Darcy said. “George suggested the shop in Lambton.”
“I like thinking that one of them helped make something for our wedding,” Elizabeth smiled. She looked up, and her eye caught on a hanging ball of greenery. “Is that mistletoe?”
“Indeed, Mrs. Darcy,” he said before kissing her then scooping her into his arms once more.
“Where are you taking me, husband?” Elizabeth asked as they ascended the stairs.
“There is more of the house to see,” he murmured in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “Let us start with the master chamber.”
In the coming days of their Christmas honeymoon cottage, Darcy and Elizabeth determined to always keep a Christmas room at Pemberley. It would serve as a reminder of their love for each other, and to always keep their hearts open.
The morning they left the cottage, Elizabeth sighed into Darcy’s shoulder in the carriage. “I will always be grateful for the way you saved Christmas. I could scarce believe my eyes when I saw you on the street. I thought my heart would burst. Even if you did not love me, I was so pleased you had conquered your pain.”
“My heart was galloping harder than any thoroughbred at a track,” Darcy laughed. “I was certain you did not care for me and that I did not deserve you. What great feat is it to save Christmas when you saved my life?”
The End
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 Facebook,Instagram, Pinterest, and her blog: http://rosefairbanks.com
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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)
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)