Page 10 of Mr. Darcy's Christmas Letters
“What of you, Lizzy?” Mary asked. “Do not you wish for a home of your own?”
“I do,” Elizabeth replied. “But it must be with the right man.”And the right man for me has already come and gone.She closed her eyes against the throbbing in her head.
“I brought you some of Hill’s headache powders,” Mary told her. “You should take them.”
Elizabeth ought to have known that Mary would notice, for her sister could be quite observant when she wished. Mary held out a glass of water, and Elizabeth stirred the medicine in and drank it. “Thank you, Mary.”
“I am sorry you were so afflicted today of all days, but I suppose the idea of separating from Jane could not have been a happy one. At least she is only at Netherfield House.” Mary took the glass and set it on the table.
“True,” Elizabeth replied. “True.”
“What are you saying?” Kitty was aghast. “It is five miles away. Meryton is only one, but you still have to turn around and come back again!”
“It is only three, the way I walk,” Elizabeth said, waggling her eyebrows. Her sisters laughed.
“Still, it is not the same.” Kitty’s expression was drawn, mournful. “Longbourn feels so empty. And it will be worse when you go to Netherfield, Lizzy, for I know that once you are there, Jane will not want to send you home again.” She glanced at her other sister. “I mean no insult to you, Mary. It is only—there were five of us, and soon there will be only two.” She shook her head. “I used to think I should like to have grand adventures, but I find I am not half so brave without Lydia.”
“Changes like this are hard for everyone,” Mary assured Kitty. Elizabeth almost smiled, but she did not wish to offend Mary. Change was not difficult for Mary. She longed for peace as much as Papa, and if losing a few sisters to matrimony gained her more time for quiet reflection, no doubt it would be deemed a reasonable sacrifice.
“Think on this, Kitty,” Elizabeth said. “When you are a little older, Jane will likely take you to town during the season. You will have your sisters about you, those whowishto travel to London, at any rate.” She gave Mary a wink and was delighted when her pious sister actually rolled her eyes. “You will have both diversion and familiarity. You could not have expected as much had Jane not married Mr. Bingley.”
“That is true,” Kitty said. “Not this season, I suppose. That must be for Jane. But next year, perhaps?”
“I will tell Jane that you would like it, and that I am sure your manners will be everything pleasing,” Elizabeth assured her. Then she issued a warning. “You must demonstrate the truth of that so as not to call my judgment into question.”
“I will,” Kitty said, perking up. “I promise.”
“I should be pleased to go to town for music and books,” Mary said. “Perhaps Aunt and Uncle Gardiner might be willing to have me for a visit when Kitty goes.”
“I suspect you might have a visit earlier than that,” Elizabeth informed her.
“But I must save more money first. I plan to purchase as many books and as much sheet music as I can afford.”
“Very well,” Elizabeth said, making a note to save a little extra for Mary.
“Lizzy,” Kitty said shyly.
“Yes?”
“Do you think we could all sleep here tonight?”
Elizabeth glanced at Mary. Her middle sister would never ask such a thing for herself; the fact that Mary did not immediately cry off was enough to know her mind.
“Of course,” Elizabeth replied. “Though we will likely be very snug.” They would have a light dinner tonight, primarily the food left over from the breakfast, but that was still hours away. Her sisters left her to rest, and closing her eyes at last brought her some relief.
The knock came at his door several hours later, and Darcy sighed before opening it.
“Darcy!” Bingley cried. “I was told something about a lame horse?”
Darcy nodded. “I am so sorry, Bingley,” he said, embarrassed. “I may need to remain here a few days, until we can see whether she improves on her own,” he explained. “I will check on her in the morning and hope she is soon mended. But even if I must remain a little longer, I will take my meals here and make myself scarce. I do not wish to impose.”
Bingley slapped him on the back with a bit more force than Darcy expected. “It is never a problem to put you up, Darcy.” He leaned in. “But I will accept your offer as to the meals and am grateful you intend to host yourself.”
Darcy could not help but chuckle at that. “I will remain as unobtrusive as possible, Bingley. If the horse is not greatly improved in a few days, I will leave her here and head north without her. I can always pick her up on the way back from London at the end of the season.”
“Do you intend to participate this year, then?” Bingley appeared more surprised by this than he had been to find Darcy still in residence.
“Why would I not?”
