A Darcy Christmas by Amanda Grange & Sharon Lathan & Carolyn Eberhart

Author:Amanda Grange & Sharon Lathan & Carolyn Eberhart [Grange, Amanda & Lathan, Sharon & Eberhart, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Romance, Historical, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯), England - Social Life and Customs - 19th Century, Christmas Stories; American, England, Bennet; Elizabeth (Fictitious Character), Christmas Stories, Christmas Stories; English, Darcy; Fitzwilliam (Fictitious Character), Short Stories, Regency
ISBN: 9781402243394
Google: P_1YoTsACDMC
Amazon: 1402243391
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2010-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

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Prologue

He set the painting onto the sofa, assuring it was well supported before stepping away. He gazed at the canvas, a smile spreading as he looked upon his family. His family. The family created by him and his wife, just as he had dreamt for so many lonely years. They stood on the portico of Pemberley flanked by their precious children on the steps. All of them were smiling at the artist. A sentimental man by nature, he silently examined the newest portrait of his family and lost himself in happy memories. Unsurprisingly, since it was Christmas Day, his reminiscences focused on holiday celebrations of the past. So lost was he in quiet contemplations that he did not hear his study door opening. But he did smell the lavender water habitually worn by his wife and extended his arm without averting his attention from the painting. She slipped under his arm, nestling against his side as naturally as a bird takes to its nest, her arms encompassing his waist.

“I plan to hang it there,” he nodded toward the wall above the settee. “As much as I love Gainsborough’s landscape, I would prefer to have you and our children watching over me as I work. Someday it can join the others in the Portrait Gallery, but not yet.”

She nodded in agreement. “I concur. We look wonderful here. It is an amazing portrait, arriving at a perfect time.”

“How true. It induced me to reflect on Christmases past. All of them have been wonderful since you came into my life.” He looked at his wife then, his blue eyes tender and inundated with love.

“All of them?” she repeated, teasing and meeting his eyes with the same intense emotion.

“Even those Christmases that were sad or difficult were special, my heart. My life is complete since we married and I would change nothing. This Christmas is the most recent in a long line of incredible memories.”

“It is not over yet!” she reminded him, both of them laughing as they returned their gazes to the painting.

Silently, in sweet harmony, they admired the canvas testimonial to what they, through God’s grace, had achieved in the long years of their marriage. They studied the painted images, each beloved beyond measure. The portraitist had easily identified the individual characteristics, capturing them brilliantly. Especially manifest was the love, unswerving commitment, and supreme happiness verily shining from their faces as proud parents to the next generation of Darcys. Memories of Christmases together flowed through both their minds, time seeming to halt as they reminisced.

She broke the quiet contemplation, tugging gently on his waist. “Come, love. Our family awaits and I have a special present for you.”

“I thought we were finished exchanging gifts this year.”

“It is something special I have held in reserve.”

“Secrets?”

“Of course! It is Christmas after all!”

With laughter and a final glance at the mute and fixed images, they exited the parlor to rejoin the boisterous reality.

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