The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

recommended a particularly promising pony." Lizzie and Jane exchanged glances, but clearly, Darcy had not said a word to his friend of his aunt's plans for Caroline Bingley!
After breakfast, the gentlemen set off for Lambton and Rushmore Farm. Lizzie and Jane were immediately drawn by Georgiana into the morning room, where the warmth generated by a crackling fire augmented the rather watery sunshine that struggled through the clouds.
Unaccustomed to the vagaries of the Northern weather, Jane shivered, and Georgiana, concerned, asked for a shawl to be brought for her. Lizzie, alerted by her husband, had dressed in warmer clothes and seemed comfortable enough but was solicitous of her sister, who did not have a particularly strong constitution.
Plans for the children's party were soon on the table. Mrs Reynolds needed to know details of their requirements, so she could instruct the cook, the maids, and the butler. Lizzie was feeling a little tired, when after a couple of hours, they had not got very far with ideas for the entertainment.
Georgiana wondered if there was something new they could do as everyone was tired of Punch and Judy, and not all the children could be trusted with fireworks. "Do they sing?" asked Elizabeth, suddenly. Both Jane and Georgiana said, "Sing?" looking quite confused.
"Yes," said Elizabeth, "after all, it is Christmas, and they could sing Christmas carols." "Oh Lizzie," cried Georgiana, "what a wonderful idea!"
"It's a lovely idea, Lizzie, but how would they learn them?" asked Jane.
"We shall have to get them together and train them," said Lizzie.
"Do you mean like a choir?"
"Exactly, a children's choir--the Pemberley Children's Choir," said Lizzie. Both Jane and Georgiana were delighted, and immediately, there was a sense of excitement. Mrs Reynolds, who came in to ask if they would like some tea, was requested to provide the names of staff with children who could be taught to sing Christmas carols. A little confused and uncertain at first, she soon got into the spirit of things and provided a dozen or so names. By the time the gentlemen returned, much had been accomplished. Neither could quite believe that a choir of Pemberley children could be trained to sing carols in less than ten days, but they were willing to help the ladies try. From then on, the music room and an adjoining sitting room became a hive of activity, with preparations for the Pemberley Children's Choir taking precedence over all else. Darcy was particularly pleased to see how well Georgiana worked together with Jane and Elizabeth.
The staff whose children were to be trained to sing were so delighted they couldn't do enough to help--many staying on after their work was done to help with costumes and decorations. A stage had to be built at one end of the large room that was always used for the party; Bingley supervised the carpenters, while Mr Darcy organised the transport for the children. They seemed to enjoy singing, but few of them, except for a very young lad with a high sweet voice, had ever been in a choir. Elizabeth played, and Georgiana sang along with them, while Jane plied them with tea and ginger bread, courtesy of the cook. It was hard work, and every so often, Elizabeth wondered what had possessed her to suggest a choir! Then, they would behave and sing like angels, and she knew it was all worthwhile. It was amidst all this activity that a message came from the inn at Lambton that the Gardiners had arrived, with Mary and Kitty, and would be driving up to Pemberley on the following day. The news, which Darcy whispered to Elizabeth in the midst of a rehearsal, immediately lifted her spirits, for there were going to be several more helpers and a few excellent to passable voices among them. That would make a considerable difference to their little choir.
    J
    When Elizabeth and Jane came down to breakfast the following morning, the clouds that had threatened sleet or snow all of the previous day had been blown away