Page 37 of Winter of Passion (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

T he room — beautifully decorated for a celebration — was filled with people, voices, and laughter. The entire Bennet family were there, as well as the Gardiners and so many others.

Across the table, Elizabeth watched her husband talking to her father and her uncle Gardiner, recollecting a similar dinner party at Netherfield four years ago, when her life had begun to change as she took the first steps towards happiness. Towards Darcy’s arms.

Since her marriage to Darcy, Christmas had been celebrated at Pemberley for three years in a row. Elizabeth’s parents and sisters usually came to Derbyshire in November and remained till the beginning of February, then returned again for two months in the summer.

Mary and Kitty spent most of their time with Georgiana.

They were all out and attended several events during the Season.

Mary had recently become engaged to a young attorney, who was readily approved of by Mr and Mrs Bennet but was still struggling to gain the full confidence of the severe Mr Darcy.

During the first summer after her marriage, Elizabeth had opened a school for children — both boys and girls — near Pemberley.

The tenants’ children, as well as children from Lambton and several other villages around, were encouraged to attend and learn how to read and write, as well as several other skills to help them acquire a decent living in the future.

Surprisingly to many, the children were ensured a daily warm meal at the school, as well as transportation for those who required it.

In the second year following their wedding, Elizabeth and Darcy had built several cottages behind the school, so children who preferred to could remain there the entire week and only return home at the weekends or during the holidays.

Georgiana and Mary showed great interest in the school, and both taught classes, in addition to the employed teachers.

Mrs Peggy Finch also worked at the school, supervising the meals, the cleaning, the children’s accommodations, and anything else that was needed.

The young woman’s gratitude towards Darcy was expressed in her desire to assume any task and help in any possible way — so often that even Mrs Reynolds, Pemberley’s housekeeper, struggled to temper her.

Every time she saw Elizabeth — which was often daily — Peggy thanked her for saving her children’s lives. And indeed, the children seemed exceedingly happy at Pemberley.

Peter, Leah, and their younger brother Martin were all attending classes at the school and working diligently.

Leah was one of the best students, but Peter showed little interest in studying.

However, he tried his best, in order to please Mr Darcy, whose shadow he tried to be, following him around Pemberley and trying to mirror his actions.

Peter found great enjoyment in riding and taking care of the horses and soon became a trusted addition to the stables — his favourite place.

Darcy took the boy with him as often as possible but used those occasions to discuss with him what he had learnt at school.

For Darcy’s sake, Peter would do anything, even read literature and poetry, which the boy considered torture.

Two years ago, Elizabeth and Darcy’s son — Alexander Bennet Darcy — had been born.

Although he had been nurtured and fed by Elizabeth and spoilt by his parents and his aunties as well as by Mrs Reynolds, Alexander had become a favourite of Leah and Peter’s, and the two would spend hours just watching him.

When the young master turned one and began to walk, his companions were all three Finch children — Peter showing him brotherly care and protection. The first word young Alexander said was “Peeet,” causing Peter joy beyond words.

Alexander had other companions too. Jane and Charles had a son — George — several months older than him. The Bingleys had purchased an estate only thirty miles away from Pemberley, so the two families saw each other quite often.

Also living in Derbyshire and one of Alexander’s playmates was Elizabeth Rose Fitzwilliam, three-and-a-half years old, the daughter of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Laura.

Their marriage had come unexpectedly two months after the Darcys’, and a brief calculation showed that their sweet daughter had been conceived during their stay at Netherfield during that challenging fortnight.

Although for Elizabeth and Darcy that time was associated with happy memories that had marked the beginning of their engagement, the parties that Charles and Jane had hosted four years ago had caused consequences that had affected several families ever since, and not all of them were pleasant.

Mrs Hurst had reconciled with her husband, though they often had separate engagements and were only seen together on rare occasions.

Miss Bingley’s betrothment to Mr Morton had been broken by the gentleman a fortnight before the planned wedding.

Later that year, Mr Morton had married his cousin, Miss Cecilia Parsons.

After the shame of her broken engagement, Miss Bingley had married Colonel Rutley two years later and — surprisingly — she had followed Darcy’s suggestions and increased her income significantly. She had seen the Darcys only once since then, when they had all met at Bingley’s new estate.

Lord Langley was shot after a game of cards at which Mr Banfield was also present. The aggressor had not been discovered, but the young earl had been kept to his bed for almost a year and still had not fully recovered.

Wickham and Lydia also had a daughter. Wickham was never accepted anywhere near the Darcys, but Lydia had stayed at Pemberley with her daughter for almost three months.

Both Wickhams stayed with the Bingleys so often and for so long that Bingley had to suggest they leave.

They also exceeded their income and, for the sake of their niece, Elizabeth and Jane helped Lydia and sent her money every time she asked.

Elizabeth became a close friend of Lady Laura’s.

They had always shared similar opinions since they had first met at Netherfield.

Their discussions about marrying for love were often recollected with amusement when the two couples met, which was quite often; the Fitzwilliams spent several months a year at Lady Laura’s estate in Derbyshire.

Also, Lady Laura admitted to the Darcys that she had been reluctant to marry and that only the unexpected appearance of a child had induced her into a marriage, which had subsequently proved to be exceedingly happy and heartily approved of by Lord and Lady Matlock.

Lady Catherine did not approve of anything, nor did she forgive any of them.

She refused to meet her relatives until Anne fell deeply ill and was brought to London under the care of several physicians.

When she recovered, Anne refused to return to Rosings and — in a shocking turn of events — two months later she eloped with one of the young doctors who had helped her heal.

Anne’s elopement with the physician caused Lady Catherine to unleash a burst of fury towards her brother, Lord Matlock, and his wife, as well as the doctor’s family.

The scandal was known across all of London and appeared in the newspapers as salacious gossip.

There was not much Lady Catherine could do, though, as Anne was the only heir to Sir Lewis’s fortune, and the lady discovered she was at her daughter’s mercy.

With a smile on her face, Elizabeth watched Anne and her husband — Dr Talbot — sitting at the table near Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Laura and whispering to each other. Anne’s transformation in the six months following her marriage was truly astonishing.

Anne’s reconciliation with Darcy and Elizabeth was a supreme offence that had caused Lady Catherine to take to her bed — her only consolation being Mr Collins’s daily visit. Anne sent her mother the best doctors but did not return to Rosings.

Elizabeth’s reverie was interrupted as she realised the dinner was over.

So lost she had been in her thoughts, she had barely paid any attention to the conversation.

She felt her husband’s gaze from the other end of the table, and thrills travelled all along her skin.

Four years into their marriage, their love and passion were unchanged; in fact, they continued to grow every day.

She absently touched the ruby heart that she wore on her neck again.

She had worn the spectacular Darcy jewels on special occasions, such as her presentation at court — with the assistance of Lady Matlock — a ball at Almack’s, the theatre, and several formal parties hosted by Lady Matlock and other illustrious members of the ton.

She was aware of the importance of her position and always tried to honour it properly when she was in public.

But at home, with her husband, the ruby heart was what she loved the most.

The guests left the table, and Elizabeth saw Darcy approaching her.

He put his arm around her for a moment and brought her hand to his lips briefly.

Such tender gestures coming from the arrogant Mr Darcy had stunned their families at the beginning, but after all that time, everyone had become accustomed to them.

“What terrible weather!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed. “I have not seen such a terrible winter for a long time. So much snow, such wind, so cold!”

“I remember it was the same the year Mr Darcy and Lizzy married and left for London,” Kitty interjected.

“Indeed! We were all so worried for you when the storm began!” Mrs Bennet answered. “We did not know what would happen to you, and until we received news, we were so frightened.”

“We were fortunate to meet Peter that day,” Darcy said, still holding his wife.

“Upon my word, Mr Darcy, I would never contradict you, but I must say I disapprove of your strange partiality for winter! I suspect Lizzy has convinced you into it — she has always been the only one to continue to venture out of doors, regardless of the weather.”

“My dear Mrs Bennet, please do not hesitate to contradict me whenever you wish,” Darcy responded politely. “On this matter, however, Elizabeth and I are in perfect agreement. We are both exceedingly fond of winter.”

“Well, we have all noticed that,’” the colonel interjected. “You were the only ones who went for a sleigh ride today when it was snowing so badly and the wind was so cutting. I cannot understand that either.”

“I find it charming that Elizabeth and Mr Darcy share so many peculiar passions,” Lady Laura said. “But I do not approve of their partiality for bad weather either,” she jested.

“Since we are all agreed on this matter, should we have some music?” Darcy changed the subject. Georgiana and Mary moved to the pianoforte, and the guests chose seats, continuing whispered conversations as the music began.

Elizabeth and her husband remained standing, his arm around her shoulders, watching their guests.

As nobody was paying attention, Darcy touched the ruby heart on his wife’s throat, and she shivered under his touch.

Then he brought her hand to his lips for another brief kiss, and finally, they sat together listening to their sisters performing, eagerly waiting for the evening to end so they could be alone in the privacy of their apartments.

They did enjoy winter, but they also enjoyed every day in any season.

A heavy winter had marked the beginning of their happiness and the unleashing of their passion, but since then, every spring, summer, and autumn had helped their bond grow stronger.

They shared many similar passions for different things, but most of all, they shared a deep, strong, ardent love and passion for each other.