Read Online Pemberley to Waterloo: Georgiana Darcy's Diary, Volume 2 by Anna Elliott - Free Book Online Page B
Book: Pemberley to Waterloo: Georgiana Darcy's Diary, Volume 2 by Anna Elliott
Read Free Book Online
Authors: Anna Elliott
Ads: Link
tonight, when I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself."
I did help Kitty with re-pinning the lace. And listened to her talk the whole time about who was to be at the ball, and how many dances she was going to grant each of the men she expected would ask her. Thomas and Jack came knocking at her door just as she was standing before the looking-glass on her dressing table and pinching her cheeks to make them red--and Kitty and I both promised to smuggle a sampling of all the cakes and pastries on the supper table to them up in the nursery. I can remember my brother doing that for me when I was too young to attend the Christmas ball.
And then we went downstairs.
Every time the seasons change at Pemberley, I think that whatever month it is must be my favourite time of year here. When the trees are all covered with the first green-gold new leaves of spring, and the daffodils are opening like tiny drops of sunshine. When summer comes, and all the roses in my mother's garden bloom. When autumn turns the sunlight into golden amber, and the woods are a riot of oranges and yellows and reds.
I love them all. But I think I love Pemberley House--just the house itself I mean--best of all at Christmas time. It looks so beautiful, with swags of greenery on all the mantles, holly sprays in vases, and the smell of paper-white narcissus in the air, and fires in every hearth.
Tonight the downstairs hallway had been decorated with wreaths and garlands of holly and ivy and evergreen, all twined with ribbons of red and gold silk. All the candles in the chandeliers had been lighted, and the musicians in the ballroom had already started to play when Kitty and I came down. The room was filling quickly with the guests who had already begun to arrive, handing their cloaks and hats and wraps to the servants, greeting Elizabeth and my brother, who were standing just inside the door.
And I scarcely saw or heard any of it, because Edward was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.
I did see Kitty dart away at once--and I felt another prick of worry, because I could see that she made straight for Lord Carmichael. He was looking very dashing in a gold brocade waistcoat, with an emerald-headed tie pin in his cravat--the complicated folds of which must have taken him an hour or more to arrange.
But then Edward took my hand, and I forgot all about Kitty--and about everything else.
He was wearing his army uniform for the formal occasion: red coat trimmed with gold braid. And just for a moment as our eyes met I felt overwhelmed by the realisation: that he truly is mine, and I'm his.
He was smiling as he took my hand. "Hello."
"Hello."
Edward's smile deepened as he drew me with him through to the back of the hall and into the parlour , which was empty of guests, since everyone was moving from the hall directly into the ballroom or the billiard room for some of the men. He didn't say anything, though, just stood smiling at me, his dark gaze moving over my face slowly, as though he were trying to memorise every feature. "What are you thinking of?" I finally asked. It was quiet, here, the sounds of music and the crowd outside muffled, and somehow it seemed right to keep my voice to barely above a whisper.
Edward laughed at that. "I was thinking that none of the practised lines seem to fit with you."
"Practised lines?" I repeated, puzzled.
"The ones you're supposed to say to girls at a ball. I must be in heaven, for you're surely an angel. Or, Who stole the stars for you and put them in your eyes? "
We were both laughing by that time. "Men actually practise saying things like that?"
Edward's shoulders moved, and he grinned. "It saves you from sweating over whether you'll trip over your own feet or tread on the hem of some girl's dress during a dance, at least." And then he sobered, interlinking his fingers again with mine. "You are beautiful, though."
He drew back, though, before his lips touched mine, and shook his head. "Wait. I didn't drag you
I did help Kitty with re-pinning the lace. And listened to her talk the whole time about who was to be at the ball, and how many dances she was going to grant each of the men she expected would ask her. Thomas and Jack came knocking at her door just as she was standing before the looking-glass on her dressing table and pinching her cheeks to make them red--and Kitty and I both promised to smuggle a sampling of all the cakes and pastries on the supper table to them up in the nursery. I can remember my brother doing that for me when I was too young to attend the Christmas ball.
And then we went downstairs.
Every time the seasons change at Pemberley, I think that whatever month it is must be my favourite time of year here. When the trees are all covered with the first green-gold new leaves of spring, and the daffodils are opening like tiny drops of sunshine. When summer comes, and all the roses in my mother's garden bloom. When autumn turns the sunlight into golden amber, and the woods are a riot of oranges and yellows and reds.
I love them all. But I think I love Pemberley House--just the house itself I mean--best of all at Christmas time. It looks so beautiful, with swags of greenery on all the mantles, holly sprays in vases, and the smell of paper-white narcissus in the air, and fires in every hearth.
Tonight the downstairs hallway had been decorated with wreaths and garlands of holly and ivy and evergreen, all twined with ribbons of red and gold silk. All the candles in the chandeliers had been lighted, and the musicians in the ballroom had already started to play when Kitty and I came down. The room was filling quickly with the guests who had already begun to arrive, handing their cloaks and hats and wraps to the servants, greeting Elizabeth and my brother, who were standing just inside the door.
And I scarcely saw or heard any of it, because Edward was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.
I did see Kitty dart away at once--and I felt another prick of worry, because I could see that she made straight for Lord Carmichael. He was looking very dashing in a gold brocade waistcoat, with an emerald-headed tie pin in his cravat--the complicated folds of which must have taken him an hour or more to arrange.
But then Edward took my hand, and I forgot all about Kitty--and about everything else.
He was wearing his army uniform for the formal occasion: red coat trimmed with gold braid. And just for a moment as our eyes met I felt overwhelmed by the realisation: that he truly is mine, and I'm his.
He was smiling as he took my hand. "Hello."
"Hello."
Edward's smile deepened as he drew me with him through to the back of the hall and into the parlour , which was empty of guests, since everyone was moving from the hall directly into the ballroom or the billiard room for some of the men. He didn't say anything, though, just stood smiling at me, his dark gaze moving over my face slowly, as though he were trying to memorise every feature. "What are you thinking of?" I finally asked. It was quiet, here, the sounds of music and the crowd outside muffled, and somehow it seemed right to keep my voice to barely above a whisper.
Edward laughed at that. "I was thinking that none of the practised lines seem to fit with you."
"Practised lines?" I repeated, puzzled.
"The ones you're supposed to say to girls at a ball. I must be in heaven, for you're surely an angel. Or, Who stole the stars for you and put them in your eyes? "
We were both laughing by that time. "Men actually practise saying things like that?"
Edward's shoulders moved, and he grinned. "It saves you from sweating over whether you'll trip over your own feet or tread on the hem of some girl's dress during a dance, at least." And then he sobered, interlinking his fingers again with mine. "You are beautiful, though."
He drew back, though, before his lips touched mine, and shook his head. "Wait. I didn't drag you
Similar Books
