“Then I must have preparations made for our unexpected guests,” said Jane. “Is Charlotte with Lady Catherine too?”

“No,” said Mr. Bennet.

“Charlotte very much wanted to accompany her husband, but she felt that it would be better if Mr. Collins went alone, as she did not like to crowd her ladyship in the coach,” said Mrs. Bennet.

Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled and she murmured under her breath, “Sensible Charlotte.”

“Indeed,” said Mr. Bennet, sharing a smile with Lizzy.

“I will tell the housekeeper to ready two rooms,” said Jane.

“Three rooms. Do not forget Mr. Collins’s brother,” said Mrs. Bennet, finishing her cake. “I told Mr. Collins that he must invite his brother to stay as well. He was delighted with the idea and promised to invite him as soon as he saw him. The poor young man is in lodgings close by the inn, and there is nothing more dreary than a Christmas spent in rented rooms.”

“Well,” said Bingley, clapping his hands together good-naturedly, “that is all to the good. I like a large party at Christmas.”

Mr. Bennet gave a dry laugh.

“What did I tell you, Jane? You and your husband are both so amiable that you are being taken advantage of already.”

“In this case, I do not mind my mother’s—”

“Interference?” put in Lizzy.

“Suggestions,” said Jane mildly. “I do not like to think of Lady Catherine being trapped by bad weather in an inn, nor do I like to think of Mr. Collins’s brother spending Christmas alone. We shall be a merry party, I am sure.” She turned to her mother. “Will you not come with me, Mama? I will show you and my sisters to your rooms. I am sure you will want to rest after your journey.”

“Not at all!” said Mrs. Bennet.

“Yes, my love, you will,” said Mr. Bennet firmly. He rose to his feet. “Jane, lead on, my dear.”

Jane led her family out of the room, and Bingley followed.

Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged looks as Mrs. Bennet left the room. Having spent some time away from her mother, Elizabeth had forgotten how tiring she could be.

“So, my aunt, it seems, is to join us. Then we are to have a family Christmas after all,” said Darcy.

“Yes,” said Lizzy. “Full of quarrels and tantrums no doubt! It is a far cry from the Christmas we were expecting at Pemberley. No, do not say it!”

“Say what?” enquired Darcy wickedly.

“That I have only myself to blame! That we could have stayed at Pemberley quietly.”

“But then we would not have seen little Charles, and you would not have been able to speak to your sister.”

“No, you are right. I do not regret it. We do not have to spend every minute of every day with them, after all. I love my family dearly but there are times when it is good to be away from them!” She glanced out of the window, attracted by a gleam of sunshine. “Look, the snow has stopped. Let us go outside. I am longing for a breath of air.”

They wrapped up warmly and were soon outdoors.

“Jane and Charles have a very pretty park here,” said Elizabeth.

She let her eyes wander over the spacious lawns with the sweeping driveway and the shrubbery beyond. Specimen trees were dotted here and there, casting patches of blue shadow across the whiteness. The clouds had rolled away and, up above them, the sky was a startling blue.

“If this continues, the snow will soon melt,” said Darcy.

“You sound pleased with the idea,” said Elizabeth teasingly as they strolled down the paths. “Do you mean to tell me you are not delighted with the idea of your aunt’s visit?”

“Other things have delighted me more!” he said, adding, “Such as seeing you so happy.”

He stopped and turned to face her. She was radiant. The sharp winter air had given her cheeks a healthy colour and brought a sparkle to her eyes, so that she was glowing with health.

“I love to be out of doors,” she said. “There is nothing like the feel of the wind on my cheek—unless it is the feel of your hand,” she said saucily.

He drew her to him and stroked her cheek, then, looking down into her eyes, he kissed her.

“We are very near the house,” she said. “Someone might see.”

“The drawing-room looks the other way. Besides, we are married,” he said.

“So we are,” she said, and he kissed her again.

*   *   *

“Do you think your aunt will really stay here for Christmas?” Elizabeth asked Darcy some time later.

The cold had driven them indoors and they had chosen to sit in the library.

“If she has a choice, no, but the weather appears to be worsening and it may be impossible for her to leave.”

“I only hope the weather does not mean that Jane has to cancel the ball. I know that she is looking forward to it.”

“It is still a few days hence, and travelling a few miles to a private ball is not the same as travelling across the country,” said Darcy. “It will only take a bright evening to encourage people to leave their firesides, the more so because they will have been deprived of company, and I will sit beside you the entire evening.”

“Thank you, but I have no intention of sitting down all evening; I intend to dance. You look surprised.”

“Nothing you could ever say or do would surprise me! But are you sure it is wise?”

“Wise or not, I intend to do it. I am looking forward to it. I have not danced for months,” she said.

“Then I will make sure Mr. Collins keeps a dance free for you!”

Elizabeth laughed.

“I thank you, but I believe that, if Mr. Collins asks for my hand, I will confess to fatigue and sit the dance out. It was barely tolerable dancing with him at Netherfield. I do not believe I could endure the mortification a second time. Charlotte was very wise to stay at Lucas Lodge. I am sure she is far happier with her baby! A girl for Charlotte, a boy for Jane. I wonder which it will be for us?” she mused, resting her hand on her stomach. “Do you mind?” she asked him.

“No.”

“Not even a little bit? You do, after all, need an heir.”

“A girl will do as well as a boy; in our family it has never mattered. Besides, if we do not have a boy this time, we will have one next time.”

“If there is a next time.”

“Do you not want more children?” he asked, looking at her with interest.

“I will let you know, once I have had this one!” said Lizzy.

She had spoken mischievously, but her words had reminded him of his fears and his brow clouded.

“I wish there were another way or that I could take this from you,” he said seriously.

“What, have the baby for me? You would be the first man in history to do so!”

He smiled, but there was something troubled in his smile.

“If anything should happen to you…”

“Nothing will happen to me,” she said, stroking his hand.

“No, of course not. I just do not like to think of you in pain.”

“Then do not think of it. Think of the ball instead—though, if I cannot escape the attentions of Mr. Collins, you will no doubt have to think of me in pain, and, even worse, see it, for he is sure to step on my toes!”

“That, at least, I can prevent,” said Darcy. “If he claims your hand I will rescue you, I promise you.”

“Will you ride up on a white charger?”

“I brought one with me from Pemberley especially,” he remarked.

Lizzy laughed.

“I am very glad we came,” she said, leaning back against him and smiling contentedly. “It has done me good to see Jane again. In particular, it has done me good to be able to talk to her as it has set my mind at rest on a few things which were worrying me.”

They continued to talk, but as they did so, Darcy continued to be troubled. Elizabeth had had her sister to talk to, but he had talked of his fears to no one. He knew that she would soon be facing an ordeal that neither his wealth nor his position in the world could help her with. Worse, it brought back dark memories of the night of his sister’s birth, when, as a ten-year-old boy, he had wandered, desolate, through the halls of Pemberley, whilst anxious voices had echoed down the corridors.

So troubled was he by these memories that he was glad when Elizabeth exclaimed, “I believe your aunt is here!” and looking out of the window, he saw Lady Catherine’s coach.

The coach rolled to a halt. Footmen jumped down from the roof and opened the door, and Lady Catherine stepped out. Behind her followed Mr. Collins.

Lady Catherine’s commanding voice could be heard through the window, even though it was closed: “… terrible roads… small park… intolerable drive…”

Interspersed were Mr. Collins’s exclamations, “So noble… so good… so condescending…”

And so the odd couple proceeded from the coach to the front door.

“Poor Jane!” said Elizabeth. “We had better go and help her make her unexpected guests welcome.”

“I would rather stay here with you,” said Darcy.

“Do not tempt me! But I cannot leave my sister to face your aunt alone. If I do not miss my guess, Lady Catherine will be criticising everything and everyone roundly.”

And so it proved. As Lizzy and Darcy left the library and crossed the hall, Lady Catherine’s voice could be heard saying, “And so you are settled in Nottinghamshire, Mrs. Bingley. A very inconvenient country. It has the worst weather in England, I believe.”

As Lizzy and Darcy entered the drawing-room, the scene was revealed. Jane stood by the fireplace, with her husband beside her, endeavouring to welcome Lady Catherine. Lady Catherine, however, would not let them speak. Mr. Collins was bobbing up and down behind her ladyship, endeavouring to agree with everything she said, whilst at the same time ingratiating himself with Jane and Bingley and smiling pompously at Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.