Twelfth Night at Longbourn by Maria Grace

Author:Maria Grace [Grace, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780615938981
Publisher: White Soup Press
Published: 2013-12-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The next morning, Kitty helped Aunt ready the children for church. There would be no more merry times like these for her at Longbourn. How could she return to that dismal place? Would Pemberley be as welcoming as this?

Four children were challenging to manage. Aunt would surely appreciate help. Perhaps she should ask for permission to stay here with the Gardiners.

The church was so much larger than Meryton’s little stone chapel, but the same people filled it: ragged old women who smelled like the mumpers; young ladies with very large hats; dandies who glared at restless little boys just breeched; doting mob-capped mothers who ignored them.

The vicar shuffled papers and adjusted his glasses. “And so, we may understand the underlying message of Christmastide is one of reconciliation; that man might be reconciled to God. In the same way, during this season, let us seek to make reconciliations one with another.”

Aunt looked over the heads of her children and caught Kitty’s gaze. Kitty pressed her lips together and nodded. It was time to be reconciled to her sister. Lydia was making the best of her situation, and it was surely worse than Kitty’s. If Lydia could do it, then so could Catherine.

Her cousins chattered and skipped all the way home.

“Will there be a Christmas pudding, mama?” Silas tugged his mother’s hand.

“Do you not remember stirring them up four Sundays ago?”

“Oh yes, I put the charms in. Oh! Oh!” He clapped. “Will it be on fire when it is brought in?”

“You must wait and see, dear.”

Silas ran ahead, shouting to Margaret and Thomas of flaming puddings.

“How many will we be at dinner tonight?” Alice asked.

“The six of us, of course, and Kitty makes seven. Mr. and Miss Bingley—”

“Oh! Mr. Bingley is so handsome.” Alice batted her eyes. “Will he wear the purple coat he wore at Lizzy and Jane’s wedding?”

“I do not know what he will wear. But I do know he is far too old to be interested in so young a girl. Need I be concerned that you will be able to behave properly?”

Alice’s shoulders sagged. “I will make you proud, Mama.”

“I am sure you will.” Aunt patted her back. “The Richards will be attending as well.”

“They are both coming?” Alice bobbed up on her toes.

“Yes, a note came from them last night.” Aunt turned to Kitty. “Mr. Richards is your uncle’s clerk at the warehouse. He and his sister are alone this year. Both their parents recently passed—”

“And Papa cannot stand the thought of anyone suffering a small Christmas feast.” Alice giggled.

“He is a kind and generous man.” Kitty smiled. “Mama is a great lover of company. We usually host a large Christmas feast, too.”

“I believe it a Gardiner family tradition, but sometimes it can be a bit excessive.”

“Last year four and twenty came to dinner, and we had no place for them all.” Alice giggled.

“Happily everyone was quite good natured with our makeshift arrangements. Though I think your friend Miss Darcy would have been shocked.” Aunt winked. “Alice, do be a good girl and run ahead with Silas.

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