Page 59 of Master of Netherfield
“Have you given any more thought to what gifts to send?” he asked.
“I can purchase bonnets and ribbons for Kitty, Jane, and Lydia. Mary will most appreciate sheet music...”
“And for Miss Elizabeth?”
“I should like to give Elizabeth a book,” Georgiana explained.
“A book? I am not certain that Barnes carries many books,” William said.
“Is there something in the library she would like?” Georgiana asked. “She would treasure a book as though it were made of gold.”
William nodded, his thoughts turning to the many conversations with Miss Elizabeth on books, authors and meanings hidden in the words. His sister allowed him think in silence for a full five minutes before she said, “Perhaps the ‘Royal Shakespeare’?”
Her brother’s face was a full surprise. “Georgie, how can you know my thoughts so well?”
“Elizabeth has many passages of Romeo and Juliet memorized. She can recite the scene under Juliet’s window from heart.”
Darcy smirked. “I did not know Miss Elizabeth was such a romantic.”
“All girls are romantic, brother. Lizzy is also very intelligent and determined.”
William laughed and hugged his sister.
“Now what for Thomas, and for Mr and Mrs Bennet?”
“Thomas will like a wooden horse–as wild as his sisters are for horses, I imagine it will not be many seasons before he is astride a pony.”
William nodded and waited while Georgiana twisted her mouth in thought. Then she said, “I know Mr Bennet enjoys wine. Would Mr Barnes have wine?”
“I do not think he would have very good wine, but I know our cellar is full. I shall pull a crate and send him a dozen bottles.”
“And Mrs Bennet–I shall venture to the seamstress shop next door to Barnes for a shawl as well as something for Nanny Brice.”
William pulled out his purse, but Georgiana smiled and said, “I have my allowance brother. Perhaps you can pay for the shawl, but I shall purchase all other gifts with my pen money.”
When the brother and sister returned home, she spent an hour with Mrs Annesley wrapping and addressing each present while William met with the stable master to select a carriage and team to make the trip to Hertfordshire. There were several men at Pemberley who made the trip between the two houses during the past four years and with all of the gifts stored underneath the seats, no one would know the carriage held gifts.
“A coachman and footman will be enough for an empty carriage sir,” the stable master stated. “They will be to Hertfordshire and back before Christmas day.”
“Give each man a purse with two pounds for food and drink but send sober men.”
“They will be ready at first light.”
William returned to the house to first descend to the cellars with Adams and a footman to fill a crate with a dozen bottles of French wine. They stuffed the crate with straw to separate the bottles and then the footman carried the crate to the dining room where Georgiana and Mrs Annesley waited with the other presents.
Finally, William went into the library; still his favourite room at Pemberley but often ignored this fall. He found the old book that had been presented to his ancestor, Alfred Darcy, by King Charles after the restoration in the 1660s. The family’s story was that the book had been gifted to the king’s father, King Charles I, when he succeeded to the throne in 1625.
The signature of the king took up much of the title page and William smiled as he imaged Miss Elizabeth’s exclamations upon discovering the title page. He took the book to his sister, and she wrapped it reverently in brown paper and tied it up with red ribbon. William addressed the paper that Georgiana tied to the book, ‘For Miss Elizabeth from the Georgiana and Fitzwilliam Darcy’.
With the assistance of the footmen, they carried all of the presents to the kitchen and then out to the stable yard while servants stood in surprise. The wine, book, ribbons and sheet music along with the shawl were carefully placed underneath the seats and then the cushions returned to their normal place.
**++**
At tea the next afternoon, Mr Darcy and his sister were seated together on a sofa when Miss Darcy asked the butler to bring Mrs Reynolds to the parlour. Mrs Annesley observed Mr Darcy’s calm demeanour regarding the request, so she remained silent regarding Miss Darcy’s forwardness.
“Mrs Reynolds as requested, Miss Darcy,” the butler announced as the housekeeper entered the parlour.
“Remain Adams,” Mr Darcy said as both housekeeper and butler approached to stand before the brother and sister.
