“You may not, Mr. Darcy, but most of the people in this room do. Even good Protestants keep these deep-rooted heathenish superstitions. If you live in Derbyshire, you know one-third of Britain’s population died during the Black Plague while most Derbyshire villages escaped such devastation. If you ask the locals, the well dressing celebrations with the blessing of the villages’ waters werethe reason we were spared—just like the plagues of Egypt, we were passed over.The Tissington mosaic was of two women in a field of wheat and barley; they were dressed in green and brown. Look at what she has on; your wife looks like the emerald green valleys of Pemberley in the early spring and your sister in the brown earth hues; they epitomize the changes coming to Pemberley, Mr. Darcy, but they also show these people who profess loyalty to your family the land will always be there for them. Mr. Darcy, you chose well, Sir—very well, Sir.”
Darcy listened intently, never taking his eyes from Elizabeth. “Thank you, Mr. Howard; enjoy your evening.” He urgently wanted to be near her; he must tell her how much he appreciated her. Darcy came up behind his wife and caught her around the waist.“Have I told you this afternoon how very beautiful you look, Elizabeth?”
She smiled up at him tenderly, and her eyes sparkled with delight.“Do you not think the green is too bright? I wanted a more leafy forest green, but the dye did not take as well as I wanted.”
“Yes, it did, my dear. Mr. Howard says the people relate it to the green valleys of Pemberley in the spring.” He whispered in her ear.
Glee overtook her face. “Then it worked. Georgiana’s brown velvet is the rich land, and I am the life springing from it. It was a silly ploy—an idea sprung from a tale Hannah related last summer when I stayed at the Royal Crown about maids in the field being good luck—but I hoped it would create a mood.”
“And from where may I ask did you learn such devious manipulations, Mrs. Darcy?” His smile portrayed an interest he had never spoken.
“From the master, my Love—from you.” She smiled generously, and he tapped her chin with his index finger before moving on. He found Harrison still staring at the proceedings.
“Mr. Darcy, you are blessed with two very progressive thinking women in your household.”
“Some would not call progressive thinking in a woman ablessing,Mr. Harrison.”
“Then, they would be a foolish prats, Mr. Darcy. Look how well they orchestrated this evening. People are happy; they are praising your family as caring landowners: they praise you, Sir, for your attention to the land and your wife and sister to their attention to the people.This is a lesson I wish to replicate at Hines Park, Sir. It is amazing how something so simple may be so ingenious.”
“My Elizabeth changed me, Mr. Harrison. She gave Georgiana avoice,and now she weaves her magic over my ancestral home.You are right, Sir, I am blessed.”
Elizabeth approached, “Come, Fitzwilliam, we need to bid our guests farewell.You know everyone. It will help me learn them too if I hear you call the names. Mr. Harrison, would you consider helping Georgiana with the baskets to be given to each family?”
“Gladly, Mrs. Darcy.” He moved past her to find Georgiana in the hallway.
“What is in the basket, Elizabeth?” Darcy asked, curious as to what she thought the people needed.
“The basket is your sister’s idea, Fitzwilliam. It has some cold meat, bread, a few potatoes, corn, candy, and some tea. She even added a candle and a branch of consecrated mistletoe to proclaim in each dwelling a happy new year; and I should not forget a slice of our family’s Christmas plum cake to be shared on New Year’s for luck. Georgiana wanted everyone to have a good meal on New Year’s. She has a very generous nature, Fitzwilliam.”
As each family left to return to their lodgings, Darcy and Elizabeth spoke to them, wishing them a fulfilling New Year’s, and then Georgiana and Mr. Harrison gave them a gift of fresh food so all would have a fulfilling meal to start the new month and year.
“Elizabeth,” Darcy whispered in between families, “I was wrong; my mother was not perfection; you are, my Lizzy, you are.”
“Then I please you, Sir?” she teased and reached up to caress his cheek.
“Our matrimonial felicity, I may assure you, Mrs. Darcy, is guaranteed. By the way, the green accents your eyes.”
“Yellow is my preferred color, Sir, as well you know, but the green is a nice alternative.” She squeezed his hand before greeting the next family.
As they prepared to ascend the staircase that evening, they were both very satisfied with the day. “I will be happy to see all our guests tomorrow, Fitzwilliam. I miss Jane’s company desperately, but if I have my way, we will not see much of her or Mr. Bingley for the first few days. I know it is devious, but I gave them rooms secluded from the rest of the party. I want Jane and Mr. Bingley to find time for each other.”
“Who says they did not do so already, Elizabeth?”
“Fitzwilliam, they truly have more affable natures than do we. They tended Bingley’s sisters and Mr. Hurst, as well as my mother and sisters. Could you imagine our distress if we were at Netherfield?” Darcy rolled his eyes; the image of having so many unwelcome people about would easily have him more than a bit irritable. He thought he would probably resort to physically throwing them from his home. “If it is up to me, we will not see them for at least eight and forty hours.”
“My sister’s romantic nature is influencing you, Mrs. Darcy.” He laughed at her feigned innocence.
Elizabeth tried to put on a happy face, but she was wearier than she expected; her energies spent. She sagged against Darcy as they climbed the stairs. “Are you not well, Elizabeth?”The concern he could not hide.
“I am just a bit tired, my Love.” She pushed her hair back from her face and fanned herself. Something I ate has not set well, Sir; that is all.”
“I will not have you wearing your energies so thin, Elizabeth. You try to do too much.” He picked her up to carry her to their room.
Enjoying a renewal of his attentions to her health and well-being, she whispered,“I will cut back, Fitzwilliam; I promise. After NewYear’s, you, my Love, may control my schedule.”
“Elizabeth, I plan to hold you to that promise.Your fate will be mine.”
“My fate has been yours, Fitzwilliam, for so many months. I cannot remember a time when there was no Fitzwilliam Darcy in my life.” She kissed him passionately, and then she sank back against him.
