Regina Jeffers - Christmas at Pemberley

“Mr. Bingley?” Kitty chuckled. “As amiable as my sister’s husband is? Not likely.”

Georgiana giggled. “Then let’s have some enjoyment.”

Mr. Bingley bent to gather an armful of branches, but as he turned his back, two snowy spheres found his right shoulder. Plop! Splat!

Surprised, he turned to see Kitty and Georgiana hugging each other tightly while stifling bursts of laughter. “Ah!” he smiled widely. “So, that’s how it’s to be. A man labors to please a woman’s whims, and then she turns on him,” he taunted. As Bingley spoke, he dropped his stack of pine boughs on a horse blanket they had earlier spread on the ground, and then he armed himself. Playfully tossing the icy ball into the air, he teased, “You leave me no other choice, Sisters, but to defend myself.”

Jane Bingley stepped between the girls and her husband. “Kitty was just playing, Charles.”

“Oh, no, my wife,” he continued his banter, “our sisters have declared war .”

Kitty peered around her eldest sister. “No war, Mr. Bingley. Just men against women.”

Bingley’s hands flitted in large circles above his head. “Oh, woe! We are beset! Come along, Grange; you’re with me, as are you, Father Bennet.”

“Charles!” Jane warned.

“No reasoning permitted, Mrs. Bingley,” he mocked. “You’re now one of them.” To prove his point, Bingley lobbed his snowball in his wife’s direction.

Laughing, Jane attempted to return his attack, but her icy missile actually fell apart before it made contact.

Totally enjoying the play, Kitty and Georgiana hastily squeezed fist-sized snow sausages and flung them in the direction of the three men. Mary’s efforts were less stellar, but even she became caught up in the spontaneous fun.

“Sorry, Papa,” Kitty called as one of her efforts slid down her father’s neck and into his cravat.

“Careful with my wife,” Bingley cautioned the other men. “Remember she’s carrying my child.”

“Then my eldest shouldn’t put herself in the way of my best pitch.” Mr. Bennet purposely barreled a loosely packed snowball at Jane.

“Papa!” she protested, but returned a strong lob, landing a solid hit in the middle of his chest.

Laughter filled the frosty morning air. Soon, it was no longer men versus women. Each person fought everyone else, and cloaks and greatcoats were soon drenched in snow. Just as Mr. Bingley caught his wife and planned to dump her in a nearby snowdrift, the clearing of a deep voice brought them all up short.

“Yes, Thomas?” Georgiana fought to catch her breath.

“Pardon, Miss Darcy. Mr. Nathan asked me to fetch you. Your aunt, Lady Catherine, is waiting for you in the small drawing room.”

Georgiana gasped, “Lady Catherine?”

“Yes, Miss. She and Miss De Bourgh.”

Georgiana swayed in place. “Oh, Lord,” she murmured. “What could Her Ladyship mean by her visit?”

“Do you wish me to accompany you, Miss Darcy?” Mrs. Bingley came to stand beside her.

Georgiana shook off the idea. “No, I should see my aunt alone.” She took off at a trot in the house’s direction.

Mrs. Bingley turned to her husband. “Charles, you and Mr. Grange should oversee bringing the greenery to the house. Papa, could you intercede with my mother until after Miss Darcy has the opportunity to address Lady Catherine’s needs.”

“I’m on my way, Jane.” Mr. Bennet followed Georgiana toward the side door.

“Kitty,” Jane continued. “I know Miss Darcy needs to tend to Her Ladyship alone, but you might be available to support her — even if she thinks she doesn’t need it.”

“Certainly.” Kitty rushed to catch up with her father.

“Caroline’s at the house,” Bingley assured his wife.

Jane glanced quickly to where Mary assisted Mr. Grange.Assured of some privacy, she said,“That’s what I fear. Lady Catherine knows nothing of Elizabeth’s problems in carrying to term. I would prefer that she didn’t learn of Lizzy’s anguish from either my mother or your sister. Neither would realize the pain that such knowledge in Lady Catherine’s hands would give Mrs. Darcy.”

“Then you should speak to Caroline,” Bingley observed.

“It might be better coming from you, Charles. Caroline has no true affection for Elizabeth. She would disregard my pleas on Lizzy’s behalf.”

Bingley accepted the task immediately, as his wife gave orders to the waiting footmen. He certainly didn’t look forward to speaking to Caroline about such a private matter, but he would for Darcy. Although, as a man, Darcy hadn’t displayed his feeling, Bingley knew that his friend had suffered as much as Mrs. Darcy, and that Darcy would feel compelled to protect Elizabeth — to be strong for his wife. Bingley would do whatever was necessary to divert Caroline’s spitefulness.

Georgiana tucked in several wisps of loose hair as she rushed to where Lady Catherine waited. A thousand errant thoughts rushed through her head. She couldn’t send Lady Catherine away, but what could she do about having both her aunt and Elizabeth’s family under the same roof? “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I wish you were here,” she groaned. Opening the room’s door, her fears jumped to the forefront: Mrs. Bennet jabbered away, and Lady Catherine didn’t look pleased.

“Why, Lady Catherine. Imagine my surprise when Mrs. Reynolds and I received word of your arrival.” Mrs. Bennet swept into the room. “I immediately made my way to greet you properly. You’re aware, I am certain, that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are away, but they are expected by this evening.” She sat without being given leave to do so. “I’m surprised that Miss Darcy didn’t mention your arrival, Your Ladyship. What a grand surprise it’ll be for Mr. Darcy! Oh! I’m ahead of myself. Certainly, Mr. Darcy must have invited you to Pemberley also.”

Lady Catherine bit her words. “My nephew… Mr. Darcy invited you to Pemberley?”

“Of course.You didn’t think me here uninvited?” Mrs. Bennet helped herself to tea. “Even with my Elizabeth as mistress of this great household, I’d wait for an invitation.” Mrs. Bennet thought of how long she had waited to be a part of Elizabeth’s life, but she certainly wouldn’t disclose that fact to a woman who had maligned her daughter. Plus, she recalled quite well Lady Catherine’s Longbourn visit. She had tried to make the best of an awkward situation, but Her Ladyship had been less than pleasant.

In fact, Mrs. Bennet had thought she’d outshone the great woman. Lady Catherine had arrived at an early hour — one too early in the morning for visitors. Her Ladyship had entered the sitting room with an air more than usually ungracious, had made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and had sat down without saying a word. Mrs. Bennet admitted to being flattered by having a guest of such high importance and had received Lady Catherine with the utmost politeness, but Her Ladyship had rudely questioned Elizabeth, had criticized Mrs. Bennet’s favorite sitting room, and had marked their lack of a proper garden. All she could do was to valiantly defend her home by reminding Lady Catherine that she possessed more than did Sir William Lucas, of whom Her Ladyship openly approved.

Now, the same formidable aristocrat sat before her, and Mrs. Bennet had an opportunity to rise once again above Lady Catherine’s censure. However, before Her Ladyship could respond, Miss Darcy rushed into the room. “Lady Catherine,” she gushed as she dropped a curtsy. “I was unaware you planned to join us at Pemberley. Had I known, I would’ve been here to receive you.” Georgiana fought the urge to wipe her sweaty palms on her day dress.