Today's final Frolic and Play excerpt is brought to us by the talented Regina Jeffers! If you have not read Christmas at Pemberley, I highly recommend it!
While at Pemberely, Jane Bingley, Kitty and Mary Bennet, and Georgiana Darcy are out gathering greenery for Christmas decorations with Mr. Bingley, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Grange when mischievous Kitty get the idea to start launching snowballs at amiable Mr. Bingley. Soon war is declared. Enjoy!
Kitty mischievously scooped a
handful of snow into a tight ball. She hid her icy creation under her cloak’s
flap and waited for Mr. Bingley to step away from Jane. She had thought to hit
Mr. Grange, but neither Mary nor the gentleman possessed a sense of humor.
“Look,” Kitty whispered to Georgiana. “Let’s see if Mr. Bingley can protect
himself. You make one also, and we shall attack together.”
Georgiana smiled easily. Gathering
the evergreen branches and holly had gone well. “Do you suppose it would anger
Mr. Bingley?” Without waiting for an answer, Georgiana formed a ball from the
snowline sitting on the fence rail.
“Mr. Bingley?” Kitty chuckled. “As
amiable as my sister’s husband is? Not likely.”
Georgiana giggled. “Then let’s have
some enjoyment.”
Mr. Bingley bent to gather an
armful of branches, but as he turned his back, two snowy spheres found his
right shoulder. Plop! Splat!
Surprised, he turned to see Kitty
and Georgiana hugging each other tightly while stifling bursts of laughter.
“Ah!” he smiled largely. “So, that’s how it’s to be. A man labors to please a
woman’s whims, and then she turns on him,” he taunted. As Bingley spoke, he
dropped his stack of pine boughs on a horse blanket they had earlier spread on
the ground, and then he armed himself. Playfully tossing the icy ball into the
air, he teased, “You leave me no other choice, Sisters, but to defend myself.”
Jane Bingley stepped before her
sister. “Kitty was just playing, Charles.”
“Oh, no, my Wife,” he continued his
banter, “our sisters have declared war.”
Kitty peered around her eldest
sister. “No war, Mr. Bingley. Just men against women.”
Bingley’s hands flitted in large
circles above his head. “Oh, woe! We are beset upon! Come along, Grange; you’re
with me, as are you Father Bennet.”
“Charles!” Jane warned.
“No reasoning permitted, Mrs.
Bingley,” he mocked. “You’re now one of them.” To prove his point, Bingley
lobed his snowball in his wife’s direction.
Laughing, Jane made an attempt of
returning his attack, but her icy missile actually fell apart before it made
contact.
Totally enjoying the play, Kitty
and Georgiana hastily squeezed fist-sized snow sausages and flung them in the
direction of the three men. Mary’s efforts were less stellar, but even she
became caught up in the spontaneous fun.
“Sorry, Papa,” Kitty called as one
of her efforts slid down her father’s neck and into his cravat.
“Careful with my wife,” Bingley
cautioned the other men. “Remember she’s carrying my child.”
“Then my eldest shouldn’t put
herself in the way of my best pitch.” Mr. Bennet purposely barreled a loosely
packed snowball at Jane.
“Papa!” she protested, but returned
a strong lob, landing a solid hit in his chest’s middle.
Laughter filled the frosty morning
air. Soon, it was no longer men versus women. Each person fought everyone else,
and snow drenched cloaks and great coats. Just as Mr. Bingley caught his wife
and planned to dump her in a nearby snowdrift, a clearing of a deep voice
brought them all up short.
“Yes, Thomas?” Georgiana fought to
catch her breath.
“Pardon, Miss Darcy. Mr. Nathan
asked me to fetch you. Your aunt, Lady Catherine, is waiting for you in the
small drawing room.”
Georgiana gasped, “Lady Catherine?”
“Yes, Miss. She and Miss De
Bourgh.”
Georgiana swayed in place. “Oh,
Lord,” she murmured. “What could Her Ladyship mean with her visit?”
“Do you wish for me to accompany
you, Miss Darcy?” Mrs. Bingley came to stand beside her.
Georgiana shook off the idea. “No,
I should see my aunt alone.” She took off at a trot in the house’s direction.
Mrs. Bingley turned to her husband.
“Charles, you and Mr. Grange should oversee bringing the greenery to the house.
Papa, could you intercede with my mother until after Miss Darcy has the
opportunity to address Lady Catherine’s needs.”
“I’m on my way, Jane.” Mr. Bennet
followed Georgiana toward the side door.
“Kitty,” Jane continued. “I know
Miss Darcy needs to tend to Her Ladyship alone, but you might be available to
support her–even if she thinks she doesn’t need it.”
“Certainly.” Kitty rushed to catch
up with her father.
“Caroline’s at the house,” Bingley
assured his wife.
Jane glanced quickly to where Mary
assisted Mr. Grange. Assured of some privacy, she said, “That’s what I fear.
Lady Catherine knows nothing of Elizabeth’s problems in carrying to term. I
would prefer that she didn’t learn of Lizzy’s anguish from either my mother or
your sister. Neither would realize the pain such knowledge in Lady Catherine’s
hands would give Mrs. Darcy.”
“Then you should speak to
Caroline,” Bingley observed.
“It might be better coming from
you, Charles. Caroline has no true affection for Elizabeth. She would disregard
my pleas on Lizzy’s behalf.”
Bingley accepted the task
immediately, as his wife gave orders to the waiting footmen. He certainly
didn’t look forward to speaking to Caroline about such a private matter, but he
would for Darcy. Although as a man, Darcy didn’t display his feeling, but
Bingley knew his friend had suffered as much as Mrs. Darcy, but Darcy had felt
compelled to protect Elizabeth–to be strong for her. Bingley would do whatever
was necessary to divert Caroline’s spitefulness.
What a way to end such a good-natured snowball fight? Poor Georgiana has to deal with not only Lady Catherine but Caroline Bingley. Lucky her, right? ;)
I hope you enjoyed this excerpt and the other excerpts in the Frolic and Play series!
Merry Christmas!
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