Page 60 of Master of Netherfield
“My brother informs me that we are to have family members come for Christmas. The Earl and Countess of Matlock, Viscount Lyndon, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Abigail will come in a fortnight but remain only one week, leaving two days after Christmas.”
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter Anne will also arrive and also depart two days following Christmas,” Mr Darcy added.
The housekeeper began to ask, “Shall I have the maids air the remaining bedrooms in the family wing...”
“My sister will assign all rooms for the guests in the guest wing. My only requirement is that none of them be housed in the family wing. Additionally, six footmen are to be on duty in the family wing all night, each night.”
The butler’s eyebrows threatened to disappear into his forehead while Mrs Reynolds merely looked very satisfied with the direction.
“I shall need to take on three more men sir,” Adams replied but Darcy only nodded.
“We expect to have morning foods from seven until ten in the small dining room, a small luncheon at one of the clock, tea at four and dinner at eight in the formal dining room each night they are in residence. Mrs Annesley will join us each night to aide my sister with our aunts and cousins.”
Mrs Annesley bowed her head at Mr Darcy’s instruction and wondered if her gowns were fine enough for such guests.
“And during their stay, if anyone orders a tray to be brought to their rooms, you are to serve only what foods have been directed by my sister for the menu that day.”
Now Mrs Reynolds’ face showed her surprise. “As you wish sir, but...”
“Lady Catherine’s delicate stomach is not my concern,” Darcy replied. “She forces herself upon my company and I have no intention of making her overly welcome.”
“Do we have goose for Christmas dinner?” Georgiana asked. “And can cook prepare a pudding?”
“Spotted dick,” Darcy added referring to a pudding made with a large amount of raisins. “The earl hates spotted dick, so I insist it be served every other night.”
It was extravagant to have the cook prepare the dessert so often but there were sufficient funds to serve goose and pudding with every meal if the master wished.
“During the earl’s visit, I will host one supper with gentlemen from parliament attending. My sister will not join us for supper on that night.”
“Very good sir,” Mrs Reynolds replied.
“And Adams,” Mr Darcy added, “the black sash will remain on my father’s chair until twelfth night.”
“Very good, sir.”
“And remove the chair from the mistress’s place,” Georgiana directed. “No one takes my mother’s place during this visit.”
**++**
Chapter 22.Christmas in Derbyshire
“Miss Darcy! Miss Darcy!” called the housekeeper as she entered the music room with a large package in her arms.
“Yes, Mrs Reynolds,” Georgiana asked, looking up from the pianoforte. “What do you have there?”
“It is a package come for you in the coach sent to Hertfordshire. The boys just returned, and they brought gifts. They report the master at Longbourn was preparing to dispatch his own carriage when the Darcy carriage arrived.” The housekeeper placed the large parcel, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string, on a table near Miss Darcy. The young woman rose from her seat to take the package, but she could not loosen the knots. To assist, Mrs Reynolds pulled a pair of shears from an apron pocket and snipped the strings quickly.
Inside the paper, Georgiana found a new gown of silver and grey with black trim–perfect for half-mourning at Christmas. There was a letter of course and Georgiana opened it while Mrs Reynolds and Mrs Annesley unfolded the gown and held it up.
“This is very fine needlework,” Mrs Reynolds commented. “Did this come from a seamstress in town?”
Smiling Georgiana explained excitedly, “This is a Christmas gift sewn by my friends in Hertfordshire. Elizabeth and her sisters made this for me from the latest magazine. Mr Gardiner provided the material and the Bennet sisters, and their mother sewed this gown for my Christmas.”
Mrs Annesley smiled. “The Bennet girls are excellent seamstresses.”
“There were other packages Miss Darcy,” Mrs Reynolds said. “I had the footmen place them in the dining room.”
“Where is my brother?” Georgiana demanded joyfully as she ran out of the room.
