Elizabeth laughed. “No one knows about this. When I was visiting Netherfield last month, a gardener pointed this hidden clump out to me. Since the new tenants have left Netherfield, I decided no one would miss a small sprig of it. Even if it is not magical, it would bring a little hope to my family, which badly needs it.”
“I am sorry to hear it,” the girl said.
“Oh, it is nothing terrible! But my eldest sister has just been abandoned by the suitor we thought would marry her, and I was... well, not exactly being courted by a man, but the entire town knew I was his favorite, and I discovered only today that he was horribly deceitful. Not only to me, but to everyone, even though he seemed the most charming man in the world. That is why I am so out of sorts today and ready to climb a tree.” She had not meant to say all of that, especially not to a complete stranger, nor had she intended for her voice to shake when she spoke of that devil George Wickham.
“Oh!” the girl gasped, her eyes suddenly shiny. “I am so, so sorry. There is nothing so horrible as when you trust a man who says he loves you and then find out he is lying.”
Elizabeth pulled herself from her own distress long enough to notice that she had not in fact said that Wickham had loved her. Clearly this poor child was thinking of an experience of her own. What wicked man had broken her heart? Was that why she was so pale and wan?
At least Wickham had not fully invaded her own heart. No, her blow was much more to her pride. Vindictively she kicked at the base of the apple tree. “This to lying men! I hope he rots in his own midden.”
The stranger looked at her with wide eyes. “In a dunghill,” she said in a whisper, as if it were the first time in her life she had ever dared voice such a thought. “I hope someone breaks hisheart and takes everything he holds dear, so he can learn what it feels like.”
“Yes!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I have been trying to think of the perfect thing to say to him if he should ever cross my path again.” Not that it was likely, after he had been caught with Colonel Foster's new bride, damn him. He would never dare show his face in Meryton now. “Perhaps 'It is a shame that a handsome face and charming manner should be wasted on a man with no morals or honor.' But that is not quite insulting enough, is it?”
“No, he deserves worse, that horrid man! But what more can we do? What remedy does a woman have for a cad who has broken her faith? How can we ever believe someone who says they love us again?” Despair poured out in her words.
“I admit I will not give my trust to a man as freely in the future,” Elizabeth said slowly. “But I refuse to let him triumph over me or take away my ability to love.” She held up the sprig in her hand. “And that is where this comes in.”
Her brow wrinkled. “By trying to catch the interest of another man? But what if he is just as much of a deceiver?”
“No. By refusing to give up hope, even if I cannot imagine another man right now. Mr.... The cad would think himself a very fine fellow if he knew he had the power to make me give up on men, or even to make me hopeless and miserable. I will not give him that.”
“But how? I am hurt. How can I deny it?”
The poor girl! “You cannot deny your feelings. They are real and true. But youcandecide not to let a bounder ruin your life. You can remember that there is hope, even if you cannot feel it right now.” Elizabeth dropped the mistletoe into her basket. “Do you know why we bring greenery into our houses at Christmastime? The tradition is far older than Christianity. It is to remind us that even in the darkest, coldest time of theyear, there is still green. Spring will come someday, no matter how impossible that might seem when the plants are brown and dead. Even if it feels like your heart will never heal.” She took a deep breath. “Do not let any man take that away from you. There is a bit of greenery even in the deepest winter.”
The girl wrung her hands. “I came here to escape from Christmas. Everyone in Town kept talking about gaiety and parties, all the joy of the season. And there is no joy in my heart.”
How well she understood that! “I ran from my family today because I could not keep a smile on my face any longer. No doubt at Christmas I shall force myself to do so and pretend to a gaiety I do not possess, but I will also look at the evergreen boughs hung over the mantel and remind myself that spring will come. And I will think of even more horrible things to say to that selfish man who cares for nothing but himself. I will say in my mind, 'Good riddance to you! I do not care this much for a miserable excuse for a human being like you!’” She snapped her fingers.
“Yes, good riddance!” The smallest of smiles broke through her somber expression. “Good riddance!” Clearly she was relishing the words.
It felt good to encourage this shy child, so she said, “And while I am looking at that green bough, I will say ‘good riddance’ to your horrid man, too, and think of throwing him in a pig midden!”
The stranger said, “I will do the same for yours! Though we have no greenery, since I wanted no reminders of Christmas.” She sounded wistful.
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side. “If I cut you one small green bough, will you put in on your mantelpiece so we can share that moment?”
A reckless glint came into her eyes. “I will put up all the evergreens! For you are right, that they have a differentmeaning.” She hesitated. “And I think my brother would like it, too.”
Elizabeth held up her garden shears. “Then let us cut greenery and wish our evil men into a cesspool!”
Chapter 2
Darcyhandedoffhishorse to the groom he had brought with him from London. Using Netherfield servants would increase the likelihood someone in the neighborhood would discover his presence there, and that would not do. The last thing he wanted was callers, not when he was trying to provide Georgiana with a complete retreat from society.
It would have been better to go somewhere they were both unknown, but it had been hard to find a house elsewhere on short notice at Christmas. Georgiana had wanted desperately to get away from everyone. When Bingley had offered him the secluded cottage at Netherfield, it seemed heaven-sent.
Even if it had meant disposing of Wickham's presence in Meryton, just to be on the safe side, but that blackguard's proximity to the bewitching Miss Elizabeth Bennet had been nagging at him since he had first left Netherfield. Even if Darcycould never have her, he did not want her to fall victim to Wickham's schemes. Fortunately it had only been a matter of sending a solicitor to speak to Wickham's colonel with evidence of his past behavior. It had been a bonus when Colonel Forster sent for Wickham to answer the charges, and Wickham was found in flagrante with the new Mrs. Forster.
Darcy strode towards the cottage. How had Georgiana managed without him, all alone except for the maid and the cook? He had hated to leave her in such low spirits, even for half a day.
But as he opened the door, a sound came to meet him, one he had not heard in months, not since the disaster at Ramsgate and Georgiana's rapid decline afterwards. It was the sound of his sister laughing. Giggling, to be precise.
It could not be. When he had left this morning, she had been on the verge of tears, as usual. What miracle was this?
Then, as he stepped towards the drawing room, an all-too-familiar musical voice wafted past him. An unforgettable voice, one which haunted his dreams. But what wasshebe doing here?
