#gardiners

Today at Pemberley, The 25th of December:

This Christmas, Pemberley’s cooks outdid themselves. The supper table was laid with a feast of pure opulence, its crowning dish a roast goose so large it had barely fit in the oven. 

The Darcys and The Gardiners were bursting at the seams well before the final course. However, when the Christmas pudding was brought to the table Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy was more excited than the Gardiner children.

“I obliged Mr. Darcy to stir a wish into the batter of this Christmas pudding,” She explained, largely for Miss Georgiana Darcy’s benefit.

The young lady responded, “I am delighted to hear it. It has been many years that my wish alone was in the Christmas Pudding. What magic should we look forward to this coming year, brother?”

“I thought I have everything I could want,” said Mr. Darcy. “So, I wished for another year of us all together and for all the wishes of my dear friends and relations to become reality.”

“That sounds like a fine year,” Mrs. Gardiner said, raising her glass as if Mr. Darcy’s words were a toast.

The Christmas pudding was doused in brandy and set on fire, receiving screams of delight from the children. While each member of the party was eating their serving of pudding, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy was seen to grab her husband’s hand under the cover of the dining table.

Jane:(writing a letter)

Dear Aunt,

Do not ask why, it is not my secret to share, but can you please change the destination of your trip to Derbyshire? Also it would be nice if you specifically visited Pemberley I think Lizzy should see the place for herself.

Thank you for your help and it would be great if you did not tell Lizzy about it. Just find an excuse, a business trip or something.

Thanks,

Jane

P.S. Do not ask about Wickham, again cannot tell you why.

And then they go to Pemberley and realise there is something going on with Darcy. And then, Bingley comes back and proposes to Jane and whenever they go for a walk they are plotting about it and when Darcy finally proposes and Lizzy tells Jane she just asks

How long have you loved him?

Lizzy: It came so gradually I hardly know. But I think I can date it from the moment I saw the beautiful grounds at Pemberley.

Today at Pemberley, The 31st of December:

Pemberley was in a state of controlled chaos all morning. The staff rushed about, ensuring that every bit of dirt and ash was scrubbed from the house. Old rags worn threadbare over the year were thrown out. Even the furniture was polished until one’s reflection could be seen in the woodgrain.

Mrs. Gardiner found Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy supervising a wing of the operation. As the housemaids rushed about, Mrs. Darcy answered their questions and directed them to different tasks. The doors to the outside were thrown open so often it was freezing.

Mrs. Gardiner approached her niece. “I meant to ask you last year, Lizzie, but why on Earth do you hold to this cleaning superstition? Your mother and father never did.”

Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy confessed, “I do not. But it is the one superstition that Pemberley’s housekeeper holds close to her heart. The house must have all the bad luck scrubbed out before the new year comes.” Mrs. Darcy glanced around as if looking for the woman in question. “You cannot give even the slightest hint of my apathy toward the superstition. For she will feel that she must defer to me and then be miserable the whole year long.”

Mrs. Gardiner seemed charmed by the confidence for which she had been sworn into secrecy. “You are a good lady and run a good, if cold, house.”

“Indeed,” Elizabeth agreed, “But soon we will be done. We will drink ourselves warm and sing Auld Lang Syne in as ill a key as we can manage.”

Today at Pemberley, The 24th of December:

Mrs. Gardiner volunteered to assist Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy with any Christmas Eve preparations. 

“Although,” Mrs. Gardiner observed, “There is considerably less to be done, as the boughs are up early. How long since you hung them?”

“Weeks,” Mrs. Darcy admitted, her voice colored with rebellious joy.

Mrs. Gardiner’s shocked exclamation did not disappoint her niece. “Weeks! Were you not concerned you would bring bad luck into the house?”

Mrs. Darcy set to wrapping the Yule log in hazel. “Oh, they say it is bad luck if you hang them early and bad luck if you hang them late. I can not believe any of it. Every Christmas I spend at Pemberley feels like the luckiest in the world.”

The Yule log was situated in the fireplace and set ablaze using the charcoal from last year’s log. The supper table was lit with bright light of Yule candles, plural for there were seven given to The Darcys from various vendors.

Late in the evening, Mr. And Mrs. Darcy drank wine in the candles’ glow. They were alone, having stepped away from the parlor where Miss Georgiana Darcy played Christmas music for The Gardiner children to dance to.

After a long comfortable silence, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy said to her husband, “We are truly fortunate, my love.”

Mr. Darcy lightly clinked his glass to hers. “Hear, hear.”

Today at Pemberley, The 7th of January:

It was decided that the Gardiners should depart Pemberley on Wednesday. The news incited much protesting from the children despite promises that Christmas will come again in a twelvemonth.

In an attempt to console the Gardiner children, Mr. Darcy took them ice skating on the frozen river. Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy was surprised to find that Pemberley had a fine collection of iron blades made specifically for the activity, even in child sizes. She discovered that Mr. Darcy had a great fancy for the activity as a boy.

“You did not,” Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy declared upon first hearing the news.

Mr. Darcy stood his ground, “I did indeed. I do not see why it shocks you. It is good exercise which can be hard to come by in winter.”

“But you did not skate last year!”

“The ice did not freeze thick enough while the children were still here,” he reminded her.

Once the party made their way to the river, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner remained on solid ground while watching Mr. Darcy teach the children. Despite all entreaties to join them on the ice, Mrs. Darcy could not be moved.

Today at Pemberley, The 1st of January:

After staying up until the small hours of the morning, all of Pemberley slept in late. The first to rise was Mr. Darcy who rode out on horse back to pay visits to his tenets and neighbors. His father before him had made a local tradition of bringing New Year’s greetings and asking what expectations folks held for the coming year.

Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy stayed at home, looking with suspicion at her breakfast as she slowly sipped her mixture of coffee and chocolate. When her aunt joined her, she raised her eyebrow at Mrs. Darcy’s meal.

“Both? Is one insufficient to wake you?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.

Mrs. Darcy slumped down in her chair. “On such occasions as these, every rooster in England could caw simultaneously and it would not be sufficient to wake me.”

Mrs. Gardiner poured a cup of coffee for herself. “That explains why you do not join Mr. Darcy for his round of New Year visits.”

“Indeed, during the first year I was lady of Pemberley I went with him.” Mrs. Darcy nibbled a slice of bread, before deciding not to risk it. “Everyone, including myself, is happier to see me on the second.”

Today at Pemberley, The 8th of January:

The Gardiners departed Pemberley with many expressions of regret that they could not stay longer. Mr. Gardiner’s business needed him but Mrs. Gardiner was never happier than when she was in Derbyshire.

They were seen off by all three Darcys. Miss Georgiana Darcy was the subject of particularly disconsolate good-byes from the Gardiner children to whom she has become a well-loved favorite.

Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy promised her aunt, “I will write so frequently that you will soon find your parlor stacked to the ceiling with letters.”

“I would be very well informed in such a case,” Mrs. Gardiner said, “And I would welcome it.”

Today at Pemberley, The 5th of January:

Pemberley hosted a Twelfth Night ball with raucous abandon into the small hours of the morning. Though the Gardiner children were far too young to be out in society, they snuck down to the ball at several intervals and had to be chased back to bed. Eventually, housemaids were stationed at several key locations to capture escaping Gardiners.

Despite many calls for Miss Georgiana Darcy to exhibit her exceptional pianoforte skills, she was unable to do so. The young lady had thrown herself so earnestly into a game of Snapdragon that she burned every finger. Though, the fiery brandy injured her, Miss Georgiana declared her hard won raisins to be the sweetest of victories.

Mr. Darcy was an astoundingly gracious host with several of the neighbors commenting on the gentleman’s friendly and open demeanor. It has been reported that his general cheer for the occasion was caused by Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy’s dress. Indeed, the lady of Pemberley shone like a gem, draped in her Greek tunic and gold jewelry.

Supposedly, Mr. Darcy took his first look at his wife and declared Twelfth Night an exceptionally good holiday.

Previous days at Pemberley here