Mistletoe and Mischief Page 2

  “Do not concern yourself about Mr. Wickham ever distressing me again,” said Georgiana. “The only way he shall have power over me again is if I allow him, which I shall never do.”

  “I am happy to hear you say that, Georgiana,” replied Darcy, gazing on her with all the affection of his heart. “It shows you have grown and matured and are now equal to the slings and arrows the world may throw at you. Wickham, however, will not bother again, for I have called in his debts. The place where he is going will be difficult, if not impossible, to return from.”

  Georgiana nodded and turned back to scan the crowd of revelers before turning a sly eye on Darcy. “Miss Bingley was waiting under that kissing bough for you, William.”

  Taking a sip of his punch, Darcy said: “Then she will wait for a very long time. Just because a woman is passing under the kissing bough does not mean a man is obliged to kiss her.”

  With a laugh, Georgiana exclaimed: “But think of the disappointment you are causing her, William! I dare say your indifference will crush her.”

  “My indifference has never crushed her before,” replied Darcy. “I doubt it will do so now. And if I did kiss her, I have no doubt it would provoke her to purchase her trousseau.”

  Georgiana laughed even more. “It is nothing less than the truth, I suspect.” She paused, and then, with the greatest audacity, she said: “If you were to marry another woman, Miss Bingley would give up her endless scheming.”

  “Perhaps she would,” replied Darcy. “But I can well fend her off.”

  At that moment, Miss Elizabeth walked by them, and Darcy’s eyes followed her as she went, his sister forgotten. A moment later Miss Elizabeth became the latest lady to be caught under the kissing bough by one of the officers.

  “Miss Elizabeth is popular with those looking for a kiss. In fact, I dare say she has been kissed at least three or four times already.”

  “Perhaps she has,” replied Darcy, feeling a hint of jealousy well up within his heart.

  “Then it would be best for you to take a chance and claim her lips yourself, Brother. The kissing bough’s berries are running out, and you would not wish her to fall in love with someone else this evening.”

  With a smile, Georgiana turned and walked away, joining a group of young ladies that included Miss Kitty Bennet and Miss Maria Lucas. Darcy was surprised, for he had not thought his nascent admiration for Miss Elizabeth had been noticeable. As another young lady was ensnared under the kissing bough, Darcy idly watched Miss Elizabeth, wondering what her lips would feel like under his. There was only one way to find out, but he was not certain whether he could muster the courage to pursue it.

  It was not a revelation, for the conversation had been too oblique for that. Yet the words Mr. Darcy had exchanged with his sister had painted an image of Mr. Wickham which was at odds with how he had presented himself to the company. When coupled with the sweetness of Mr. Darcy’s sister, which seemed so contrary to Mr. Wickham’s words concerning her character, it left Elizabeth confused.

  She decided it was best to leave the matter alone in the end, for it was none of her concern. The effect of what she had overheard, however, left her with a warmer feeling for Mr. Darcy than she had possessed before.

  For some time afterward, Elizabeth wandered the room, speaking with several others, generally enjoying what was a wonderful party in her favorite season of the year. The revelers played various games, and laughter was a constant companion. Even her youngest sisters were made happy when several of the officers decided there must be dancing and commandeered Mary to play some music for their entertainment.

  It was Miss Darcy, however, who once again set Elizabeth’s perception of the evening on its head. It happened as they were standing to the side, watching the dancers as they skipped and hopped their way through the dances.

  “Excuse me if I speak out of turn, Miss Elizabeth,” said Miss Darcy, “but it seems to me that you are not friendly with certain members of our party.”

  Elizabeth shot a glance at Miss Bingley, who was sitting with her sister and looking about as if some foul smell had wafted under her nose.

  “There are certain members of your party who do not invite friendship,” replied Elizabeth, staunchly avoiding any glance at Mr. Darcy.

  It seemed Miss Darcy caught part of her meaning, for she glanced at Mr. Bingley’s sisters before she raised her hand to hide her giggle. “Yes, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst consider themselves very important. But their behavior should offend you too much, for they are much this way wherever they go.”

  As Elizabeth watched Miss Bingley, she saw the woman’s eyes fall on Mr. Darcy, and with a quick word to her sister, Miss Bingley once again rose. Though Elizabeth saw nothing untoward in her actions, Miss Darcy understood her purpose.

  “I wish Miss Bingley would give up this doomed pursuit,” said she with a sigh.

  Curious, Elizabeth watched Miss Bingley as she made her way across the room, stopping a few times as if to speak with others, though Elizabeth thought no more than two words escaped her lips. Then Miss Bingley with an obvious deliberation of manner placed herself under the kissing bough, looking at Mr. Darcy, who stood only a few feet away.

  “Oh, no, not again!” exclaimed Miss Darcy with a giggle.

  Much like last time, Mr. Darcy did not react to Miss Bingley’s attempt at provocation, but Mr. Lucas was quick to step into the breach. Though Elizabeth and Miss Darcy were far enough away that they could not overhear the words that passed between the pair, Elizabeth noted that Miss Bingley seemed waspish and Mr. Lucas insouciant. He claimed his kiss, and Miss Bingley swept back across the room to sit beside her sister in clear discontent.

  “It would be amusing if it were not so very pathetic,” said Miss Darcy with a shake of her head.

  “But she is determined,” replied Elizabeth. “I have not known Miss Bingley or your brother for long, but it was evident from almost our first meeting that Miss Bingley wishes to be your brother’s wife. It was also immediately clear he does not return the sentiment.”

  “He never has. William endures Miss Bingley because he wishes to keep her brother’s friendship.” Miss Darcy paused and turned to Elizabeth, who wondered if she intended to say something momentous. “William has never paid attention to any young woman. That is why I was so surprised when he mentioned you several times in his letters to me.”

  Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at that admission. “Your brother spoke of me in his letters?”

  “More than once,” said Miss Darcy. “And given the way he watches you wherever you are in the room, I must own to surprise that you are not already engaged.”

  Before Elizabeth could muster a response, Miss Darcy departed under the guise of gaining a better vantage of the dancing. Her words, however, stayed with Elizabeth, putting her off balance.

  As Darcy watched the antics of those under the kissing bough throughout the course of the evening, his sister’s words kept returning to him. And the more he thought about it, the more he wondered why he did not just follow Georgiana’s suggestion. Miss Elizabeth was a comely young woman who intrigued him like no other lady he had ever met, and even if most members of her family were not the sort one would desire to have as relations, there was nothing to say against her.

  “I see you are still set on standing about, Darcy,” said Bingley after Darcy had pondered the issue for some time. “Are you not enjoying yourself?”

  “Quite the contrary, Bingley,” said Darcy with an absence of mind. “I am glad you persuaded me, for it has been an enjoyable evening.”

  “You see, Darcy?” said Bingley with an insufferable look of smugness, “I knew you would come to appreciate my neighbors if you allowed yourself to see them for the good people they are. What about dancing? Miss Elizabeth is still without a partner—surely you will not claim the same nonsense as you did before about her being slighted by other men.”

  Darcy’s eyes had hardly left the woman all evening, and he knew very well no
one had slighted her. She seemed at ease with almost everyone in the room.

  “No, I would never suggest such a thing,” replied Darcy. “But you know I do not appreciate dancing.”

  “Then you should look to the kissing bough,” said Bingley, “for I believe there are only a few berries left. It is the perfect chance to steal a kiss with no further obligation.”

  Bingley smiled and turned away, leaving Darcy to watch Miss Elizabeth once more. As he did so, Darcy decided there was nothing he wished for more than to discover what it would be like to kiss Miss Elizabeth Bennet. All he needed was an opportunity.

  As the evening continued, Elizabeth attempted to watch Mr. Darcy in as unobtrusive a manner as possible. It was difficult to do so, however, for she soon discovered that Georgiana was correct—Mr. Darcy watched Elizabeth as often as Georgiana had said.

  Whereas before Elizabeth had always assumed he watched her with prejudicial eyes, she could now see that was not so. While there were times when she was not certain how he felt, she soon realized he did not watch her with contempt. No, there was something else at work.

  Could he truly be watching her with interest? The notion was not as repugnant as Elizabeth might have expected. No, instead her mind returned to the first time she had seen him and how she had thought him the handsomest man she had ever seen. Then, she had wondered if he were as interesting as he was handsome. Well, Mr. Darcy had never been uninteresting, even when she had considered him to be one of the proudest men of her acquaintance.

  The question was: did her new friend have the right of it? Though one might accuse Miss Darcy of bias for a beloved brother, further thought forced Elizabeth to confess that the young woman would have a greater understanding of Mr. Darcy’s character than Elizabeth could possess. Should Miss Darcy be correct about Mr. Darcy, then what was Elizabeth to do about it?

  In the end, she decided to test the supposition.

  Georgiana was delighted! After her last words to Miss Elizabeth, she noted her new friend’s distraction for the rest of the evening. Now, Miss Elizabeth watched William as assiduously as William watched her. Could Georgiana finally gain a sister? It was possible, though Georgiana knew a kiss would not prompt William to beg for Miss Elizabeth’s hand on bended knee. But it was a good start!

  “What do you find so amusing, Miss Darcy?” asked Miss Lydia a short time later.

  Though she had been a little wary of the youngest Bennet, Georgiana had warmed to her and now wished she possessed Miss Lydia’s confidence. There was nothing wrong with the girl except for an excess of exuberance. Georgiana thought she would enjoy having this girl for a sister.

  “Do you not see my brother watching your sister?” asked Georgiana, indicating each of them in turn.

  Miss Lydia fixed both William and Miss Elizabeth with a critical frown before shrugging. “It is much the same as usual. Mr. Darcy has often watched my sister. There is nothing out of the ordinary.”

  “For him to watch your sister as much as he does is itself out of the ordinary,” replied Georgiana.

  “Do you think he admires her?” asked Miss Lydia, turning to her with surprise.

  “I would be very surprised if he does not,” replied Georgiana.

  “But she is not handsome enough to tempt him!”

  “What do you mean?” asked Georgiana, puzzled by the other girl’s turn of phrase.

  “At the first assembly Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley attended in Hertfordshire, Mr. Bingley tried to induce your brother to dance with Lizzy, and your brother declared he would not do so, saying he would not give consequence to young ladies slighted by other men.”

  Though Georgiana thought it seemed to be the grossest of falsehoods, soon it became clear Miss Lydia was serious.

  “My brother said that?”

  “Within Lizzy’s hearing,” replied Miss Lydia. “How can you suggest he admires her, considering that?”

  Georgiana shook her head. “I have never known William to speak of a woman in such a manner, so it is difficult for me to know what to think of it. But I am curious—to what do you attribute my brother’s propensity to watch her?”

  “I cannot say,” said Miss Lydia with a shrug. “Lizzy says it is to find imperfections about her and laugh at them.”

  “That is ridiculous!” exclaimed Georgiana. “If my brother does not like a woman, he ignores her. Have you seen how he responds to Miss Bingley?”

  Miss Lydia giggled at her suggestion, pulling Georgiana along with her. “Now that you mention it, I can see your point. Then what do you suggest?”

  “It is my opinion that William likes your sister, his initial words notwithstanding. I think I have convinced him to do something about it.”

  Miss Lydia turned to look at Miss Elizabeth and William, eagerness in her delighted grin. “Then perhaps we shall see something amusing, for I would dearly love to laugh.”

  When Darcy saw Miss Elizabeth walking nearby, he suffered only a moment’s hesitation before he acted on his instinct, allowing his prior doubts and his usual manner of considering every decision to rest. Due to their proximity, he intercepted her the moment she walked beneath the kissing bough.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” said he, stopping her. “I believe it is my right to claim a kiss.”

  The woman followed his pointed finger to the bit of greenery hung from the ceiling. Darcy reached up and plucked a berry, showing it to her with a smile.

  “I believe I have the last berry, Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Is that somehow significant, Mr. Darcy?” teased the woman. “I know of no legend which suggests the last berry grants anything special to the man who takes it.”

  “It means I can kiss you,” said Darcy. “And to me, that makes all the difference.”

  So saying, Darcy leaned forward and captured her lips with his, marveling at their softness, which was beyond anything he had ever dreamed. The applause did not even bother him as much as he might have thought it would, too focused was he on the woman before him.

  When he separated from her, Darcy noted her closed eyes, taking great satisfaction in her flushed countenance and reddened lips. Then she opened her glorious eyes and peered at him with clear surprise. Even Miss Bingley’s shocked gasp and outraged growl could not tear Darcy’s gaze away from the wondrous creature before him.

  “It seems, Mr. Darcy,” said she, proving she was quick to recover, “that I am tempting in the right circumstances.”

  “Entirely tempting,” said Darcy before he leaned forward and captured her lips again. Perhaps it was not proper, for the kissing bough only guaranteed one kiss. But Darcy did not care. It was a stupid tradition anyway.

  The End

  A Christmas Gift

  by

  Lelia Eye

  This story came from a challenge Jann and I had undertaken some years ago. I can already see the differences in my writing from then and now, but I like to think of this as a sort of light and airy tale that is pleasant and warm, if rather basic.

  “Mr. Darcy, I should think you were perusing an accounting book rather than participating in one of winter’s finest amusements. Your countenance is so grim as to be almost fearful.”

  Darcy gently slid to a stop so he could pause and look behind him at the approaching Elizabeth Bennet. The Bennets were hosting a small ice-skating party on a large frozen pond on the grounds of Longbourn. The weather was cold enough that most of Hertfordshire’s populace could be found seeking warmth and comfort indoors, yet Mr. Bennet’s daughters were of sturdy constitutions, and they laughed as they skated around the pond despite the biting wind that nipped at their cheeks and noses with the persistence of an energetic young dog.

  Darcy took a moment to observe Miss Elizabeth’s expression as she stopped beside him. There was a slight crook in the corner of her mouth that indicated she meant her comment to be taken lightly, yet even had he not seen her face, he would have been well aware of the teasing nature of what she had said.

  Though Darcy had o
nly known Miss Elizabeth for a few months, he had spent much of that time observing her, inexplicably fascinated with her arch manner and carefree nature. The only reason he was not indulging in that particular pastime at present was that he found his mind to be consumed by less pleasant thoughts. He had been attempting for a few weeks to convince his friend Bingley it was in his best interest to leave Hertfordshire—and more particularly, Jane Bennet—behind, but it had all been to no avail. Still, Darcy had no desire to concede yet. He did not believe the young woman’s heart was truly involved when it came to his friend, and he knew Bingley well enough to realize that a marriage without mutual regard could never bring him happiness. As such, Darcy believed departing Hertfordshire was paramount.

  Realizing that Miss Elizabeth expected a reply from him, Darcy inclined his head and spoke. “I will readily admit that ice-skating is not my activity of choice.”

  With a gesture, she indicated that they should skate once more, and he offered an arm to her. Once she had accepted it, they glided forward, taking the circuit around the pond at a pace that matched the others around them. There was something almost soothing about the sound of skates scraping against the ice, yet Darcy found his dark mood calmed more readily by the gentle weight of Miss Elizabeth’s hand on his arm. Suddenly, his cheeks felt warm, and he knew it was not from his exertions.

  After a few moments, Miss Elizabeth observed: “Despite your distaste for the activity, you seem to be skilled on the ice nonetheless.”

  “I was raised in the hills of Derbyshire. I have certainly seen my fair share of frozen ponds. My sister is particularly fond of ice-skating.”

  Still holding his arm, Miss Elizabeth tilted her head and gave him a glance that appeared to be a mild mixture of surprise and puzzlement. “You . . . care for your sister.”