“Three French hens! How could you forget that?” Noella dramatically wailed, collecting her hard sugar cane and taking a bite just as the carriage rocked ominously, causing them to collectively gasp and grab onto the nearest body.
The occupants had no time to process the aberrant break from the normal rhythm of bobs and sways when the loud crack of splitting wood was immediately followed by the strident sound of twisting, scraping metal. Mr. Anders, the coachman, shouted a warning to Mr. Darcy and barked an order to the horses just as the carriage abruptly lurched to the right. An audible crunch shuddered through the walls and ceiling of the carriage, mixing with the loud snap of a leather strap on the roof and the crash of a dozen packages as they tumbled onto the solid ground. The carriage came to a sudden stop, careening dangerously off-balance as it continued to shake from the stress.
“Be still!” Darcy bellowed, his voice rising above the shrieks. Relative silence fell as a blanket, harsh breathing and muted whines low enough to hear the coachman and footman warily leap to the ground. Darcy scanned the white faces of his family before cautiously shifting his weight and unlatching the window shade. “Mr. Anders? Watson?”
“Here, sir. Hold fast and don’t move. The rear felloe shattered and the wheel is bent beyond repair. We need to brace before I trust ye to move. Those rocks there, Watson. The bloody thing is sittin’ on the axle. Can’t fathom how it happened…” And his voice lowered into mutters of disgust at what the proud coachman would perceive as a failing on his part.
Eventually, he was sufficiently satisfied with the carriage’s stability for the family to disembark. It was a procedure, with Darcy personally lifting his wife and children to the ground and sending them well away from the precariously perched carriage. Darcy took one look at the damage and knew they were stranded.
Lizzy and the children gathered the scattered packages, amazed that most appeared to be intact. Darcy surveyed the surrounds, immediately recognizing where they were. “Mr. Anders, unhitch the horses and ride to Pemberley. Bring back the other coach. Watson, I request you stay here with the carriage and horses on the off chance thieves are about on Christmas Eve. Elizabeth, we cannot stay out here in the dark and cold. It will take near two hours for Mr. Anders to return from Pemberley.” He pulled her gently against his side, brushing a light kiss over her temple and whispering softly, “I know you are distressed, love, and I am sorry for the delay. But we will be home with Thomas before he falls asleep for the night.”
She smiled through the tears that threatened to spill, bravely shoving the emotion aside. “‘Accidents happen. That is why they are called accidents,’ as I always say to the children. He is safe and warm, but we are not. Do you have a plan?”
“We seek shelter until Mr. Anders returns. A bit of a walk will do us good.”
“There isn’t much here, William.” She nodded toward a cluster of faintly lit buildings off to the east a good quarter-mile. “Is that a village?”
“Of a sort,” he answered. “This is Haversmith’s land and that is Hogslow.”
“Hog’s Low? You’re joking? That hardly sounds reassuring.”
Alexander laughed. “It isn’t as it sounds, Mother. Mr. Spane works this parcel, does he not, Father?” Darcy nodded, the prideful expression at his fifteen-year-old heir knowing the residents this far south of their lands evident even in the gloom. “That is his cottage there. The village isn’t much and there isn’t a pub, but it is clean and I am sure we can find warmth and shelter.”
“That building is well lit. See, Papa?” Audrey pointed to a large barn-shaped building set apart.
“Indeed. Perhaps they are having a Christmas celebration. Good eye, princess.” He bent to pick her up, holding securely to his chest. “I have Audrey. Nathaniel, Alexander can carry you.”
“No, Papa! I can walk!”
Lizzy chuckled. “Of course you can. But mama insists you hold Noella’s hand. No letting go. Boys, grab those baskets. If we are going to barge in on a party the least we can do is bring a gift.”
And thus the small company of marooned travelers walked into the shadowy farmland, thankful for the moonlight when it appeared in the cloudless sky. It was difficult to discern in the growing twilight, but as they neared the structure indicated by Audrey, it was obviously not a barn but a large assembly hall. It was also obviously the site of a gathering of merrymakers! The festive scene unfolded before their dazzled eyes, far removed from the more sedate and spiritual celebrations offered to the Pemberley tenants on a yearly basis.
Enormous three-foot logs split down the middle and crisscrossed in a stack burned within a stone ringed pit, the bonfire blazing in a clearing before the wide-open doors. The snap of fiery pitch, reek of rising smoke, and heat of hungry flames was evident from yards away, yet did not deter the bustling bodies moving in a flood of enthusiasm between the dirt expanse and inviting building. The flickering illumination of candles and fireplaces glowing from within promised additional warmth from the steadily chilling air.
Children dashed amongst the adults, laughing and chasing one another while blowing whistles, ringing bells, and banging drums. Folks of all ages circled the flames, dancing and singing in time with the rollicking music filling the air. The sound of lutes, guitars, fiddles, and assorted pipes brought an instant grin to Michael’s face, but they all unconsciously responded to the lively rhythm as they drew closer.
The scene of merrymaking outside the assembly hall was a preview to the play visible inside. From holly-draped wall to mistletoe-adorned corner, the Darcys absorbed wonders.
Six musicians were upon a wooden dais, some sitting and some standing, feet stomping and heads bobbing to the beat they created. The line of dancing couples only vaguely remained straight as frequent errors in the steps or exaggerated twirls led to unrestrained laughter. Other couples did not even bother with the line, dancing together in whatever free space was available. One old gentleman in well-worn breeches and shirtsleeves danced a jig all by himself, the circle of cheering observers clapping out the tempo.
Clusters gathered along the walls playing an assortment of games. A group of eight played blind-man’s bluff to the right with an animated charades tournament a few feet away. At a line of tables and chairs to the left sat people playing loo, whist, and gleek. Other coveys segregated into ages were talking, laughing, and flirting, especially those near the mistletoe.
It was a sea of humanity joyously commemorating the season.
One body separated from the overwhelming whole, noticing the new arrivals just as Michael spied an entertainment more intriguing than anything he had ever seen.
“Mr. Darcy! What a surprise! What brings you to my lands?”
“Mr. Haversmith,” Darcy greeted the rotund, flushed, and sweating man before him with a slight incline of his head. “I apologize for barging in uninvited. Our carriage broke an axle and we sought shelter until a replacement vehicle can arrive from Pemberley.”
Haversmith was already waving away Darcy’s explanation with a hearty welcome and shouted orders to bring mugs of ale and spiced cider to their honored guests. Elizabeth was greeted with profuse flattery and hand kissing—Darcy and Alexander hiding identical frowns of irritation—as they were herded toward a raised platform with a trio of white-linen covered tables. The Haversmith family, mostly male and liberally partaking of the wassail, tipsily received the newcomers, shuffling chairs and place settings amid raucous laughter and Christmas best wishes.
The baskets containing pies and Rivallain feast remains were taken amid generous thanks, but it was instantly apparent that food was not lacking. Long tables groaned under the weight of roasted turkey and pheasant, haunches of beef and mutton, mince pies, plum-puddings, wooden bowls of wassail, casks of malt-brewed ale, loaves of grain breads, rounds of cheeses, freshly roasted chestnuts and apples, cakes decorated with fruits and berries, and dozens of platters heaped with steaming vegetables.