A Very Darcy Christmas by Victoria Kincaid

Author:Victoria Kincaid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: pride and prejudice sequel, jane austen fan fiction, jaff, pride and prejudice variation, jane austen variation
Publisher: Victoria Kincaid

Chapter Eleven

Darcy regretted losing the opportunity to spend Christmas alone with his wife, but he was forced to admit that there was something cheery about a tableful of guests. The candles created a soft glow, gleaming off the china and silver. Boughs of evergreens and holly adorned the walls, and mistletoe hung over the doors. The fat Christmas candle sat squarely in the middle of the table. According to tradition, it must burn from now until Christmas night, or the family would have bad luck. Darcy did not believe in the superstition, but the candle’s golden light brought back fond memories of celebrating Christmas as a child.

Since Pemberley would be hosting others for dinner on Christmas Day, the family was having their Christmas feast that night. Cook had outdone herself with venison and turkey as well as potatoes, beans, and apples. For the sweets course, they would have plum pudding and march pane. Such a festive atmosphere would not exist without guests to feed and entertain.

“I do not hold with having a Christmas candle,” Aunt Catherine announced. “It is a papist tradition, you know.”

Of course, guests can be valued too highly.

Elizabeth frowned. “I do not believe so.”

The older woman nodded sagely. “I learned it from—”

“If it is papist tradition, it might be French!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, apparently oblivious to having interrupted a peer of the realm. She waved her handkerchief about. “Do you think French candles are quite safe?”

Darcy attempted his most soothing voice. “I assure you, madam, this candle was made in England.” His mother-in-law continued to view the item dubiously as if it might explode at any moment. Darcy was not amused.

“Wicky would love this,” Lydia pouted. “I do not see why he must remain at that dismal inn all alone.”

Darcy’s patience with the Wickhams had been exhausted. “You may join him there,” he told Lydia.

She slumped back into her chair without any sign she had heard him. “It is so unfair.” Then her eyes widened, and she sat up. “La! More venison!” Leaning across the table, she served herself meat from a platter on the other side.

Darcy noticed the impending disaster a second before it happened but could not prevent it. Lydia’s eager arm brushed the Christmas candle, knocking it completely out of its holder and onto the tablecloth.

And that was how Lydia set Pemberley on fire for a second time.

***

William looked quite weary, sitting before the fire in his study with a glass of port in one hand and a book in the other. Although he had changed out of his soot-stained clothing, a smudge of black still graced the hand that held the port. Rather than reading, however, he stared at the flames in the fireplace. Elizabeth wondered if he was recalling the blaze that had destroyed Pemberley’s dining table. Unlike the fire in Lydia’s bedchamber, the one in the dining room had taken some time to extinguish.

The tablecloth had caught the flame like a torch, and part of the table itself had been burned.

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