Darcy looked down upon Bingley, peering over his nose. “You used to be intimidated by my height.”
“Ha! Jane gives me confidence to faceeven that.”
When they entered the drawing room Darcy immediately looked around for Georgiana, as she had not come out to greet him when the group of gentlemen arrived.
Georgiana sat in the corner of the drawing room, kindly keeping poor Mr. Peake company. Mr. Peake sat with his leg elevated on a footrest with drinks and chocolates near him. He looked comfortable adjacent to the blazing fire, and he sat in what must be the most comfortable stuffed chair in the house, except the one that Mr. Bennet occupied. Elizabeth’s young cat sat on his lap allowing the gentleman to slowly scratch his ears. Darcy no longer pitied him.
Everyone spoke loudly and happily.
Darcy found the buzzing friendly instead of oppressing. He would faceanythingto stay in the same room Elizabeth smiled in. However rather than stickingcalf-liketo his love, Darcy had a duty he must attend to. While he thought Mr. Peake was safe for his sister to speak to, Darcy thought he should speak with him and Georgiana for a while to ensure there was nothing of concern in the man’s manner towards Georgiana.
Mr. Peake tilted forward as he spoke, his wrists wide and open. Georgiana sat on the edge of her chair, cupping a glass filled with the mulled wine whose scent mixed with the mistletoe and holly hung around the room. Cut evergreen branches decorated the mantelpiece and window sills.
“I — or Mr. Jones, our clerk — takes the cheque to our own bank.” Mr. Peake gestured animatedly. “That evening each bank sends a clerk to a tavern on Lombard Street to exchange the cheques received during the day and they settle any residual balances owed in cash. Quite an efficient system.”
“But how do they prevent mistakes?” Georgiana leaned forward with rounded, unblinking eyes and every pretense of eagerly listening to Mr. Peake describe the minutia of London banking. “You must tell me more — oh, Fitzwilliam, Mr. Peake is telling me how banks worked. I always wondered how you can pay a dressmaker who banks with Barings with a cheque drawn against our bank at Lloyds—”
“Good god, Peake. You entertain a lady with tales of banking.”
“I find it interesting!” Georgiana replied almost indignantly.
The man in question smiled and spread his hands wide. “She asks detailed questions.”
Darcy tilted his head and shook it. He sometimes did not understand Georgiana. “It is kind you indulge her. I am glad you have not found the enforced inactivity a cause for unhappiness.”
“Quite the opposite. My Christmas Day has been precisely what I wished it to be.”
“Yes.” Darcy nodded. “You monopolized female attention whilst we were gone. But alas for you, the other gentlemen are arrived, and your immobility will prevent you from pursuit of your favorite.”
Peake laughed uncomfortably. “I expect to be content.”
“A girl with you upon her mind would be drawn to you — I begin to speak like Bingley.” Darcy shook his head. “I am in an ebullient mood, like none I have known.”
“I already presented you my sincerest congratulations, but your good fortune is great. Miss Bennet is an extraordinary woman — I never have met her like.”
“Nor I, and I am the fortunate one who has captured her.”
“Capturing women?” As if called Elizabeth stepped up next to his shoulder. “You are not overattending your sister again?”
“I merely describe my heartbreak when she did not come outside to greetme.” Darcy winked at Georgiana.
“Iwas not enough?” Elizabeth replied brightly.
“Your presence was beyond ample to ensure my happiness. But yet my sister ought to have rushed to my side the first instant I arrived — in past times she would do so.”
Georgiana laughed. “Lizzy isquiteenough greeting for you — you didnotwish a substitution.”
Soon others joined their conversation, and everyone had a happy time. An hour later the mixing of the party led Darcy and Elizabeth to be alone together speaking in the hallway. Too many people were chattering around for him to kiss his Lizzy, despite the bright green mistletoe with its small white berries which hung from the roof above. However, he at last had her alone.
He pulled the box for the ring he had chosen as a Christmas giving and a symbol of his love. “Would you…” Darcy flicked the box open. “Would you wear this for me? I shall put a ring upon you when we marry, but I want you to wear something morespecificthan a wedding band. And I want you tonowwear my ring.”
“It is lovely.” She took the gold band from him and held it up to the pale light from the window. “A poesy ring? Aha! The marriage of true minds — from the sonnet?”
“We both admire Shakespeare greatly and…we are such a marriage.”
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediment.”
“Love is not love,” Darcy replied, “Which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove. O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark.”
