Free The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins

the best performance, sat apart in the alcove at the back of the room. They did not need to say very much; there was such a close understanding between them, they could enjoy the felicity of their situation, without saying a word. Of the success of Elizabeth's first Christmas at Pemberley, they had no doubt at all.
    C HAPTER T HREE
    A seal upon thine heart
    T
    HE WEATHER CLOSED IN after Boxing Day and made travelling much more difficult. It was generally acknowledged that staying indoors was the best option, and several activities were organised to keep everyone
    entertained. Mary was quite content to spend hours in the library or the music room, oblivious of the weather outside or the people inside the house. The Gardiner children were generally well able to entertain themselves with a range of games, and Kitty was still sufficiently youthful to join in.
    Dr Grantley, who was working on a paper on early English church music, was grateful for the assistance that Georgiana could give him, and the two of them spent a great deal of time in the library and the music room, going through the extensive collection, which was the work of many generations of the Darcy family.
    Elizabeth spent some time with them and came away fascinated by the extent and variety of the resources available to them at Pemberley. She talked to Darcy about providing a scholarship, perhaps in memory of his mother, for students of music, who may wish to use the library. She was convinced that the treasures of the Pemberley collection could be shared with others who had no opportunity to appreciate them in this way. "It is such an excellent collection, much too valuable to be hidden away," she declared, adding that Dr Grantley had said that there were students of his at Oxford who could benefit from a visit to the library. Darcy promised to consider it and talk to Dr Grantley.
    He was, in fact, quite delighted that his wife, like his mother, had realised the richness and value of the Pemberley heritage. He experienced a twinge of guilt that he had ever doubted Elizabeth's suitability to be the Mistress of Pemberley. He thrust the thought out with the absolute certainty he now felt about her ability to fill the role with distinction and be an adornment to their family.
    J
    The following day, a party from Rushmore Farm came to call, in the middle of what could almost be called a blizzard, so blustery and cold was the weather. Though not the best day for entertaining, it did give Elizabeth and Jane an opportunity to meet James Fitzwilliam and Rosamund Camden, who had become engaged at Christmas. Recalling Darcy's droll tale of Lady Catherine's vain hope of marrying James off to Caroline Bingley, Jane and Lizzie could not help but wonder at her lack of judgement--for the gentleman was so unlikely to suit Miss Bingley as to make the whole idea ludicrous.
    James Fitzwilliam was a solid farmer if ever there was one. He was plain speaking and fairly ordinary in appearance, unthinkable then that a sophisticated and fashionable woman like Miss Bingley would be an appropriate partner for him, in spite of his lineage. Rosamund Camden, on the other hand, seemed a sensible young woman, with sufficient personal style to fill her role, whenever her husband succeeded to his title and estate. Mr and Mrs Gardiner agreed that the couple appeared well-suited and they had no doubt at all that James Fitzwilliam would not have been making a good marriage had he followed the wishes of his Aunt Catherine, instead of his own heart. Before the Camdens left, an invitation was issued to all at Pemberley to dine at Rushmore Farm the following day.
    After days of poor weather, when they had stayed mostly indoors, everyone and especially the children looked forward to the visit to Rushmore Farm, where Bingley promised them they could see the famous horses of the Rushmore Stud. Unfortunately, these plans were disrupted on the following day, when Jane became unwell and quite unable to leave her