As the week of Christmas approached, Elizabeth decided she would bring her family to Fitzwilliam House to meet the Matlocks.
She had spent the morning with Cook planning a dinner and explaining to Mr. Harley about the greenery she required to decorate the home. "We must have holly and ivy and a yule log. I trust you to choose the best specimens."
Mr. Harley was pleased to be useful to his new mistress. Since fresh snow had fallen that very morning, he wished to treat the children to an outing.
"I know just the place where I might find the perfect greenery. 'Tis not far inside the park and the children would so enjoy a day in the snow."
Elizabeth was delighted at this suggestion. "I am certain Jane would appreciate the offer. Shall I accompany you? Nanny would enjoy the afternoon alone."
Mr. Harley could not contain his excitement at the idea of Mrs. Fitzwilliam coming along on the impromptu outing.
"There is a small sled in the mews for the children. It is not so cold now as it was this morning. Allow me half an hour to prepare and we shall be on our way."
The butler rushed off in high spirits and Elizabeth returned to the kitchens to have a basket of warm refreshment made ready for their jaunt.
When they were finally on the street, Elizabeth was happy to walk through the winter beauty of the city. It was quite a change from the countryside of Hertfordshire. Walking the short distance to her sister's townhome awakened the part of her that loved to ramble.
Bingley House bustled with activity as they were admitted and young Richard ran for the nursery before Jane could call for Nanny. "He is happy to see his Rose today. Do you think she might stay the night with us after our trip to the park?"
Jane was amenable to the offer. "You could take mother and father too, you know."
"I would be happy to ease your burden where they are concerned. Tell them Cook is making something special just for them and I will send the carriage around before dinner."
Elizabeth made the offer most sincerely. She was feeling generous due to the festive air of the day.
Soon Rose and young Richard were snuggled tight into the small sled Mr. Harley had brought. He took the basket Elizabeth had got from Cook and hung it with authority on his own arm. "You must only walk along with us. I will pull the sled along and see that the children are amused."
The pair, the lady and her butler, fell into step and the children giggled as they discovered the joys of riding a sled over the snow-covered streets. They had been too young in Hertfordshire the last winter to recall such an adventure.
They passed Darcy House and Matlock House as they went and Mr. Harley asked whether Elizabeth might like to stop.
"I would not intrude upon their day with the children along. They shall all dine with us next week. Cook has said our menu shall be fit for royalty."
Mr. Harley handed Elizabeth the basket as they approached the gate that surrounded the park. "This is an entrance known only to servants. Saves us walking through the park."
He pointed to a wooden door further down the walk from the front gate. Elizabeth was delighted to be included in the secret. Once inside the park, the foursome followed a footpath overgrown with trees. Their bare limbs sparkled with snow.
A stall ahead featured all manner of greenery studded with red winter berries. There was a fire crackling merrily from inside a ring of stones on the ground and Elizabeth was reminded of the winter solstice celebrations her father's tenant families would have this time of year.
The scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine filled her nose and Elizabeth turned to see another stall with a small table across from the first.
The laughter of children echoed to them and Mr. Harley explained the games the servant children would play as they ran through the forest on their errands for either masters or parents. "Children will play a bit of tag as they come and go. It allows them to rid themselves of the fidgets."
Elizabeth admired the reason for the game as she glanced at Rose and her son. They were nearly out of the sled because of their own fidgets. "I will take them off the path to play in the trees while you choose the greenery, Mr. Harley."
A young girl spoke up from behind Elizabeth. "I can take them for ye, mum. And only a sixpence for me trouble."
Elizabeth smiled at the girl but Mr. Harley objected. "I shall take the children myself as I ran these woods as a boy. Be off girl.”
Mr. Harley was not unkind but his manner and tone of voice brooked no argument. The girl simply smiled and turned away to seek another means of employment.
“She did not seem untrustworthy, Mr. Harley. Perhaps we both shall take the children to play and choose our greenery on the way home," Elizabeth offered.
Mr. Harley looked down and shuffled his feet. Rose and Richard reached their arms toward him and he knelt. "Mrs. Fitzwilliam, you stay and choose your decorations. Mr. Griffin will load them all and have them sent to Fitzwilliam House."
Elizabeth saw the tense set of his jaw. The man had never seemed upset to her as he did now. ”Mr. Harley, I..."
He stood but held tight to Rose and Richard’s gloved hands. "I would not see a young master as important as this one trusted to strangers, no matter how trustworthy they seem."
Mr. Harley did not need to admit the truth Elizabeth suspected. He knew the boy was Richard's and had taken on the role of protector.
Her voice trembled as she blinked away the tears that threatened. "Your service, and your silence, is more dear than you know, Mr. Harley."
"It is my duty to your husband and to you. I will guard him as his father would have all my days."
He turned and walked away with the children. Elizabeth cleared her throat and turned away to purchase a mug of mulled wine to ward off the chill and settle her emotions.
After an hour at the table, Elizabeth smiled as Mr. Harley returned with the children. Their cheeks were splotches of crimson and two sets of bright eyes fixed on her as she rose to greet them.
“Come children! There is chocolate to drink and biscuits. Cook was most generous with her basket."
Mr. Harley helped Elizabeth to set out the winter feast and she gave him a mug of the wine she'd had earlier. "Your payment, sir, for releasing their fidgets."
He laughed and took the mug. "I believe my fidgets have gone as well. A nice sit by the fire will do us good, but our little ones will be lucky to stay awake until we are home."
The children were tired and Nanny would have an easy time of putting them down for a nap. Elizabeth looked to Mr. Harley and graced him with an easy smile. "I must say, I spent the hour in thought of how comforting it is that you share my secret. I do hate keeping the news from the rest of the servants. "
Mr. Harley's face colored and he finished what was left of his mug. "There are suspicions, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. Servants would not be servants without them. But I do not believe the whispers will come to anything. Still, though it certainly is not my place, I would advise his parentage be made known before long."
His words shattered her earlier happiness though Elizabeth knew he was only speaking the truth. A secret as noteworthy as the boy who was the next Earl of Matlock would never keep for long in the downstairs portion of the townhomes lining Grosvenor.
"You do not speak out of turn, Mr. Harley. I suppose I hoped for more time with him before our lives change completely."
Mr. Harley stood and helped Rose dust the crumbs from her coat. "There will be very little change, I would think. He is living in the home his father held before his passing. It is only to be expected Mr. Darcy would influence the Matlocks to do what is right."
Elizabeth helped Richard into the sled next to Rose and cleared the table. Mr. Harley’s words gave her hope that when young Richard was revealed to his paternal grandparents there would be only minor changes in how their days were spent.
Mr. Harley took the rope and Elizabeth fell into step beside him as the snow began to fall again.The soft, white blanket that covered the street as they went brought some peace to her heart.