Darcy's Newlywed Christmas by Zoe Burton

Author:Zoe Burton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zoe Burton
Published: 2025-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The next day, Christmas Eve Day, Darcy and those of his guests who wished to went for a long ride early in the morning. He was happy that Mr. Gardiner had chosen to join the party, not allowing Lord Tansley’s slightly condescending attitude to alter his activities.

Following their ride, the gentlemen joined the ladies in the dining room to break their fasts. They arrived as couples, except for Georgiana and the colonel, and as was his habit, Darcy made Elizabeth her toast and filled a plate for her.

With so much company, the meal was not a silent one, and the men in his family teased Darcy about his devotion to his wife’s comfort. He bore it stoically and in silence.

When the meal was finally completed, they all retired to the drawing room, where Elizabeth had ordered a fire early in the day to be built up and well-maintained. They enjoyed a time of chatting, quiet pursuits, and, later, some tea. Then, it was time to begin decorating the house.

Darcy had always loved Christmas, and he knew his bride did, as well. There was something special, in his mind, about seeing the house filled with greenery and bright red and white berries. The Yule log was brought in and added to the fire in the drawing room fireplace. It was large enough to burn all the way through Boxing Day, something that had fascinated him as a youth. The years since his mother’s death had lacked much of the joy of the season, and he and Georgiana had not done much decorating for this season in the past. As a matter of fact, they had not celebrated Christmas at Pemberley since their father had joined their mother in eternal sleep five, almost six, years ago, instead spending the holiday in London. Watching Elizabeth, with his sister’s help, bring the house alive again was pure joy.

Eventually, all the decorations were in place and the family retired to their rooms to dress for dinner. Darcy met Elizabeth in their shared sitting room after bathing and dressing.

“Thank you for today,” he said as he pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I have not felt such joy in the season in years. You have breathed new life into this place.” He lowered his head to bestow a passionate kiss upon her lips. Too soon, they had to part, and he rested his forehead against hers while his heart attempted to resume a sedate pace.

“It brought me a great deal of happiness to see you enjoying it,” Elizabeth whispered to him. “I cannot imagine the grief that must have enveloped you both in the past. I am determined to replace that sadness with pleasure.”

“Indeed. You are well on your way to success, I daresay. Did my sister have anything to say about it? She appeared to be enjoying herself, as well.”

“She continually expressed delight. Mrs. Reynolds brought down a box of decorations used when your mother was mistress, and Georgiana was effusive in her excitement at seeing them.

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