A little Jane for the Holidays: Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Calendar

The holidays are fast approaching and it seems like an ideal time to indulge in our favorite thing at Austen Variations, share our variations on Jane Austen’s works.

It’s Christmas Eve, and I hope, like me, you are all enjoying happy times with your families in this holiday season. I’ve really been hoping it would snow, though there’s no sign here in England…yet. But, if we can’t have the real thing, we can conjure some up in our imaginations, and I’d like to share a snowy scene from my new Christmas book.

In Mr Darcy’s Christmas Calendar, my modern heroine, Lizzy, has been transported to another world, a magical universe where all the characters of her favourite book, Pride and Prejudice, have come to life. In the following excerpt she opens a door of the advent calendar she bought at Jane Austen’s House, and another scene unfolds…

With trembling fingers, she opened the door, and the exact same number of tiny Christmas cards fell out, small enough for a dolls’ house, all with beautifully painted scenes of Georgian Christmases long ago. Lizzy knew the Victorians had first made the cards popular so they were not around in Jane Austen’s day, but each one gave a glimpse of a pretty Regency tableaux with landscapes and figures. There were illustrations of Christmas parties, games of blind man’s buff, and young men stealing kisses from unsuspecting girls who just happened to be standing under boughs of glistening mistletoe pearls. Other cards showed countryside inns, coaches and horses in the snow, filled to overflowing with passengers journeying home to loved ones, with the coachman cracking the whip and sounding the horn. There were robins and snowmen, horse-drawn sleighs and green holly, dancing girls and boys in best Christmas gowns and frock-coats kicking up the chalk on the ballroom floor. Some were scented with rosewater, others glittered with tinsel or spangles, there were embossed cards bearing red satin bows, and one even had a silver charm under the picture of a plum pudding. Every card was a delight, but Lizzy quickly found a favourite. A little larger than the rest, the card was like a tiny theatre with flaps either side, and decorated with pine trees powdered by snow and garlanded with lanterns, which glowed in the winter’s light. When they were pulled aside, there was a frozen lake and a skating party illustrated, with young men and women gliding over the ice, arm-in-arm. The house in the distance looked like Amberley Manor, and as Lizzy gazed at the painting trying to take it all in, the magic happened all over again. It was not such a surprise this time, and she admitted it was rather what she’d been hoping would happen all along.

She was standing at the side of the lake, wobbling uncertainly on a pair of ice skates she had no recollection of putting on, when Jane and Elizabeth came skating over. They looked as if they’d just stepped off a Christmas card themselves with their scarlet cloaks and bonnets trimmed with green ribbons, their fur muffs dangling on silk cords and with leather skating boots on their feet.

‘I’m so glad you’re feeling better!’ said Eliza. ‘We’d been told you might stay in bed, but I’m glad to see no trifling cold would keep you away.’

Lizzy smiled, but did not know how to answer. She couldn’t quite work out how or why she was there. It couldn’t possibly be that she was experiencing real time; surely this was yet another doorway into an alternate world she was not familiar with? Jane and Eliza seemed exactly the same, but it was difficult to comprehend just what was happening.

‘And I’m glad to see they made room for you in the sleigh,’ added Jane. ‘I hope it wasn’t too noisy with all our cousins. They are so excited to come skating. In London they rarely have a chance, though little Edward tells me he skated on the Thames once when it was frozen over.’

‘Your cousins are delightful,’ Lizzy added, truthfully. She had no memory of arriving in a horse-drawn sleigh though could see the splendid vehicle behind her, in blue and gold paint, draped with furs and blankets.

‘Come, all our friends are here, and there is one who particularly wishes to skate with you,’ said Elizabeth.

Lizzy looked questioningly at her friend who only smiled rather mysteriously. She stepped onto the ice, which had the lustre of a Venetian looking glass, sparkling with light from the sun hanging low in the sky like a scarlet ball. Taking a few tentative steps, and arm-in-arm with Jane and Eliza, the three girls made a charming picture, and were soon skimming over the surface, growing more confident with every stride.

Everyone she knew seemed to be there and enjoying themselves. The little Gardiners skated and tumbled more times than she could count, but were all very jolly for trying to stay on their feet. Kitty skated with one of the officers, Mr Denny, who’d arrived that morning, and Lydia looked very happy on the arm of Mr Wickham. Whether by design or accident, she kept falling into his arms, and every time he prevented her from doing real harm by drawing her closely, she gazed up at him with adoration, laughing as she allowed him to grasp her tightly.

‘We really should speak to our sister, Eliza, before she makes a real exhibition of herself,’ said Jane.

‘I tend to agree; with every partner Lydia’s been unable to stand up for more than two seconds together. Though Mr Wickham looks as if he truly enjoys her constant tripping over, I must say.’

‘She is behaving outrageously, and needs to be checked. Everyone is looking, and even Mr Darcy looks shocked,’ Jane added. ‘I’ve never seen him looking so disapproving.’

‘I don’t care for his good opinion even if Lydia is being so thoughtless as to behave improperly. Goodness, just look at his expression. She is the silliest girl, but I will not have him be so judgemental. What can he be saying to Mr Williams?’

‘Mr Williams is coming over,’ said Jane. ‘I have a feeling we are about to find out!’

‘Good afternoon, ladies.’

Lizzy’s mouth almost fell open. She’d watched Mr Williams skate over, bow deeply upon greeting them most cordially, and saw he was now smiling at them. She hardly recognised him without his usual scowl. His smile lit up his features, and added humour to his eyes.

‘I wondered if Miss Benson would care to take a turn with me?’

Before she had a chance to answer, he was at her side and proffering his arm. She glanced back at her friends who wore smiles of amusement, and without further hesitation Lizzy took his arm.

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! Have a wonderful holiday and see you next year!!! Jane Odiwe x