Elizabeth did not laugh. Her eyes narrowed, and a fierce frown marred her countenance. Darcy held out the little white berry to her with a flourish and she took it, tucked it into a pocket inside her cloak, and then reached up to take his face in both her hands. She pulled him down to her with purpose, and Darcy was glad to oblige as she pressed her lips to his. He moaned and slid a hand to the back of her head as he resisted the urge to deepen the kiss.
Finally, he pulled away. When her eyelids fluttered open, he lightly touched his lips to hers one more time. There was no knowing when she would allow herself to be caught again.
“I should like to wed three weeks from Christmas, Elizabeth,” he said softly, as he began to circle the ice with her in a languid dance on the ice. He spun her slowly away, then pulled her back. “Say we may speak to Mr. Stanton after the Christmas service tomorrow,” he whispered in her ear.
“Yes,” Elizabeth whispered back.
It was the second-best “yes” he had ever had. Elizabeth embraced him, hard, then shoved her hands against his chest and skated away.
Dinner on Christmas Eve at Longbourn was much like any other dinner under Mrs. Bennet’s command but elevated to the sort of artistry Darcy usually ascribed to the galleries of London. A wassail-bowl, two different soups, fresh bread with butter, mince pies, a roasted pig, a joint of beef, pickled asparagus, parsnips, carrots, and leeks, and of course, the plum pudding, all of it no less than delectable.
It was a triumph, and Darcy leaned to one side to say as much to Mr. Gardiner, whom he had met that day as their party returned from the pond. He quite liked the Gardiners, and while he had been surprised that these were Elizabeth’s relatives in trade, her approving visage informed him he had hidden it well.
“My sister is certainly in her element when she has a great many people to feed,” Mr. Gardiner said with a chuckle and raised his glass slightly in salute. “We come to Longbourn for Christmas every year.”
On his other side, Georgiana was chatting with Miss Mary about music, an interest they shared.
“Capital as always, Mrs. Bennet,” Sir William Lucas said from halfway down the table. “Just capital.”
There was a large party gathered. In addition to the Gardiners, the Bingleys and the Hursts were here, as were several of the area’s leading families, including the Lucases, the Gouldings, and the Longs. A Mr. Robinson was seated next to Miss Kitty and appeared to be flirting with her, though whether his i interest was returned, Darcy could not say. The yule log burned hot and bright in the fireplace, the crackling loud enough that it occasionally broke through the conversation which had grown rather loud. The dining table had been thoughtfully positioned away from the hearth and at an angle that ensured more of the guests could view the flames without growing uncomfortably warm.
Elizabeth, seated directly across the table from him, was a glorious sight, basking in the warmth of her family and the glow of the fire. She conversed easily with everyone and had a ready smile for all.
Though he was not so open as his intended, Darcy had never felt so much like smiling in all his life. How different he was from the man who had first arrived in Hertfordshire two and a half months ago! For he would never have considered such an evening as this with anything but dread before, and now . . .
“Brother,” Georgiana said quietly next to him. “When shall we take Elizabeth home?”
His heart swelled with joy to hear her question. “As soon as we may, sweetling.”
Georgiana smiled only a bit more frequently than he did, but her eyes shone, and she nodded once before tucking into her meal.
After the plum pudding was demolished and the wine glasses had again been filled, Mr. Bennet stood at the head of the table. “I wish to make a toast,” he announced.
Darcy stole a glance at Elizabeth. She was watching her father, not him, and he revelled in the opportunity to observe the elegant line of her neck and how the line of her gown dipped just so, low enough to entice, not so low as to reveal. Afraid of being caught ogling her, he forced himself to turn his attention to Mr. Bennet.
The older man’s brows were low and pinched as Elizabeth’s father glared at him. Darcy lifted his shoulders ever so slightly. Elizabeth was stunning; he could hardly be called a man had he not noticed. Mr. Bennet grunted.
“We are here to celebrate the festive season,” he began, “but also some wonderful news for several of our families. First, I should like to offer congratulations to Miss Lucas on her impending nuptials just after Twelfth Night. It is a great relief to me to know that my cousin has managed to promise himself to a sensible woman who will one day, God willing, make a fine mistress of Longbourn.”
“Here, here!” Sir William cried.
There was some tension in the room as Mrs. Bennet frowned, but Miss Lucas spoke calmly. “I thank you, Mr. Bennet. May I say that I do not expect that honour to be mine for a great many years and that it shall be very difficult to follow in the footsteps of the current mistress.”
There was a low huff from somewhere near Miss Bingley, but everyone ignored her while Mrs. Bennet smiled and offered Miss Lucas a regal nod.
“And my two eldest daughters,” Mr. Bennet continued, “shall follow Miss Lucas into the married state not a week later. My Jane shall wed Mr. Bingley in the same ceremony where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy will recite their vows.”
“Only a week later?” Mrs. Bennet nearly shouted. “Oh, Mr. Bennet, it is not enough time!”
“It is enough time to call the banns, madam,” Mr. Bennet said cheerfully. “And I have been warned by one of the gentlemen that he will wait no longer!”
Everyone’s eyes were now trained on Bingley, and Darcy was quite happy for the misunderstanding.
Everyone’s eyes other than Elizabeth’s, of course. Her cheeks pinked, and she glanced up at him almost shyly.
Darcy tipped his glass in her direction and winked. Elizabeth attempted to wink back at him, but she was not very good at it.
Well. He would teach her that. Among other things.
Darcy leaned across the table as everyone drank from their glasses. “This may have been an accidental holiday,” he told Elizabeth, “but it is the one I will remember most fondly for the rest of my life.”
“Oh, no,” Elizabeth replied tipping her head to one side and smiling. “I believe we can do better.”
“Happy Christmas, my friends,” Mr. Bennet said, “Happy Christmas.”
The End