Page 17 of One Good Sonnet

In tandem, the Bennet sisters formed snowballs and launched them at Mr. Darcy. He ducked, and everything hit Mr. Bingley, who had just entered the garden behind his friend.

“What is this?” Mr. Bingley said, and he shook snow from his greatcoat. “Darcy, is this your doing? What have you done to provoke these fair damsels?”

“He has attacked Lizzy!” Kitty cried. “Let us give no quarter.” They began launching snowballs again, and Mr. Darcy ran for cover. Mr. Bingley joined them, protecting Jane from the worst of the volley.

Elizabeth ran for cover, choosing to launch her attack from behind a thick tree. Kitty and Lydia proved to be difficult targets as they chased around the walled garden, throwing snow at whoever was closest.

After a time, the two youngest girls collapsed, exhausted. Still giggling, they waved their arms and legs in the snow to make angel shapes before they climbed shakily up.

“That was great fun!” Lydia cried. “And Mr. Bingley is, indeed, worthy of you, Jane.”

“A test of honor, was it?” Mr. Bingley asked.

“Yes, you defended the damsel in distress most valiantly, sir.” Kitty curtsied. “You are now worthy of the title Knight of the Bennet Garden.”

“I accept this honor with humility.” Mr. Bingley beamed. “Now, I am rather cold. Shall we retreat indoors for tea?”

The ladies agreed. Kitty and Lydia went on ahead while Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth and Bingley offered his to Jane. They were wet, but Elizabeth’s heart raced from the exertion. Mr. Darcy had once again proved himself to be more than meets the eye. Despite their lively conversations, she could not have imagined him capable of such frivolity until that moment.

Darcy had never been more entranced in his life. Coming upon the ladies in the garden after inquiring at the house had been an unexpected delight. They had been engaged in a lively snow fight, each side lobbing balls at the other. He had been unable to resist sending one in Miss Elizabeth’s direction.

She had responded with vigor, and it had been many years since Darcy had gone against an opponent with such deadly aim. More than one of her snowballs had hit its target—him.

As they strolled back to the house, Elizabeth complimented him on his sportsmanship.

“You held your own very well. I would have expected you to cry off as soon as things became…overwhelming.”

“Your sisters have wonderful aim, but they are nothing to you. I have seen only one person make as many hits with a snowball. My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, has deadly aim. He is in the army now.” Darcy missed his cousin. He was to be home in the spring for a time.

“I take it you have more snow in Derbyshire?”

“Winters in the north are long and cold. We have been unable to leave the house at Christmastide sometimes.” Darcy shrugged. “I did not mind as a child, or even as an adult. The snow makes the world silent and peaceful.”

“I prefer looking at the snow from inside the house,” Elizabeth confessed. “I am not averse to a sleigh ride or a lively game such as just occurred, but overall I prefer warmer weather.”

“You are rather fond of walking,” Darcy observed.

“Indeed, that is correct. Walking in the cold is not as pleasant as walking when it is warm.”

They entered Longbourn and found two maids waiting with Mr. and Mrs. Hill. They handed off their things and soon were before the large fire in the west drawing room.

“This is our preferred room in the winter,” Elizabeth explained. “The windows are full west, which makes it comfortable.”

“It must be dreadful in the summer,” Darcy observed.

“Yes, but we never sit in here during the summer afternoons,” Elizabeth continued. “There is another large parlor on the east side of the house that suits our purposes.”

Miss Bennet and Bingley sat on the other side of the room. Darcy watched them, happy that his friend had found his match. Their heads were bent together in an intimate way as they spoke softly.

Mrs. Bennet interrupted their interlude, bustling in just before the maid brought a tea tray.

“Now that your sisters have had their fun, they have gone off to refresh themselves,” Mrs. Bennet informed them. “I have some lovely lemon bread here, Mr. Bingley. Have you tried it? Cook’s recipe is excellent.”

Darcy was cheered to see the tray held warm chocolate as well as tea. He sighed as he took a sip, which made Miss Elizabeth giggle.

“Mr. Darcy likes chocolate,” she informed Jane, who had looked at her askance. “It seems I am forever misreading his character. I would have expected you to prefer black coffee.”

“I must disappoint you, for I cannot abide the smell of coffee. Tea and chocolate are staples at Pemberley.”