Page 14 of Mr. Darcy's Christmas Letters
Carstairs struggled not to smile, and Elizabeth congratulated herself. Mr. Hill was not half so stoic as Mr. Carstairs. “Your room has been prepared, and Mrs. Bingley has asked that you await her there.”
“Poor Jane,” Elizabeth said. “Battle lines drawn already. Have you heard anything from the Langstons?” she asked. Mr. Carstairs had been a fixture at Netherfield since she and Jane had been little girls, visiting the Langstons to play with Julia and Sophia.
“Miss Langston is lately married, just like Miss Bennet. Miss Sophia continues to enjoy the season.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I shall have to write to her. She has become a terrible correspondent this past year, no doubt caught up in the joys of town.”
They heard a high-pitched exclamation from the family wing.
Carstairs glanced upstairs at the sound. “If you do not mind my saying, Miss Bennet, it is good that you are here.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Jane is firm when she knows herself to be in the right. You have no cause for distress on that point. But if it comes to it, I shall thwart Miss Bingley so that Jane will not have to.”
“As I said, Miss Bennet,” the butler replied, “your presence is fortuitous.”
Elizabeth nodded at him and then at Rebecca Kerr, who led the way to her chambers.
They heard Miss Bingley before they saw her, her demands echoing down the hall. Kerr stood to the side, her eyes darting about in search of a safe place to land.
“What do you mean I cannot enter? This has always been my room.”
“For the entire two months of your stay a year ago?” Elizabeth inquired cheerfully.
Miss Bingley’s head swung in Elizabeth’s direction. “What areyoudoing here?”
“Settling into my rooms, it seems,” Elizabeth replied, gliding past.
“These were my chambers first,” Miss Bingley insisted, attempting to enter. The footman who was carrying Elizabeth’s trunk brushed past Mr. Bingley’s sister, pausing in the doorway as he waited for instructions.
“Move, you big oaf!” Miss Bingley sputtered. “How dare you! Get out of my way or I will have you sent off! What is your name?”
Roberts straightened and turned in one motion, requiring Miss Bingley to duck so as not to be struck by the trunk he carried on his shoulder.
“My name is Roberts, madam,” the man said with a little nod of the head in place of a bow. “I was footman here last year, when you were mistress.”
Miss Bingley’s cheeks reddened at the reminder that she was the mistress no longer. “I insist that you put that trunk down this instant!” Miss Bingley exclaimed. “These aremyrooms!”
“Sorry, Miss Bingley.Mrs. Bingley says that Miss Bennet’s trunk is to be taken here, to Miss Bennet’s rooms.”
The red in Miss Bingley’s cheeks spread to the rest of her face.
“Do you mind?” Elizabeth inquired as sweetly as possible after Roberts placed her trunk on the floor and Kerr scurried past Miss Bingley and into the room to open it. “I would prefer some privacy.”
“Do not bother unpacking, Miss Eliza, for my brother will insist that I be given my due.”
“I do not doubt that in the slightest, Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said lightly, “and it is Miss Bennet now. I shall see you at dinner, if our brother and sister can be persuaded to come downstairs for it.”
The sight of Miss Bingley’s horrified expression as Roberts closed the door behind him had Elizabeth laughing as she had not done in months. Kerr finally had to laugh with her.
“That was marvellous,” Elizabeth declared, feeling refreshed. She wandered to one of the windows, which overlooked the woods. Just beyond, she knew, was a glade and the large pond that many of the neighbourhood children had played in as children. No wonder Miss Bingley liked these rooms. The views were lovely. Had she looked out these windows and dreamed of becoming mistress to her own estate one day?
“This is a very pretty one,” Kerr said, and Elizabeth moved away from the windows to attend the maid.
Kerr was holding out a gown Elizabeth had yet to wear. It was made of a fine silk Aunt and Uncle Gardiner had gifted her, and it had been the one evening dress she had taken with her on their trip north. She had planned to wear it to their dinner at Pemberley, but the engagement had been abandoned when they had been required to rush home.
It was a simple but elegant gown, the silk a blue that shimmered almost green in the light and made her think of the sea. The waist was a little lower than the current fashion, but Elizabeth thought it suited her very well.
Every time she looked at it now, it reminded her of lost love.
