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Chapter 31. New Beginnings.

Posted on 2010-12-09

August 1818

Mr. Bingley welcomed the Gardiner party into his childhood home on Waverley Street with a wide smile and sincere greetings, though even those did not adequately express the joy he felt upon seeing his future wife step across the threshold. He had not seen Jane since the engagement party two days prior and the warmth that spread through him when their eyes met reaffirmed his certainty that opening up his parents' house had been the right decision.

Unfortunately, his younger sister's shrill voice forced him back to more practical considerations. "Charles! Whatever are you…"

"Caroline." He cut her off with a sharp look. "Please show my guests to the drawing room. Unless you were leaving?"

Miss Bingley's resulting expression was most unattractive, but she did lead the way toward the appropriate door.

Charles offered his arm to Jane but remained standing in the hall so that they might have a moment of privacy. "I am sorry; she arrived unexpectedly less than an hour ago and has been acting like some sort of pretentious Queen of the Manor."

Jane smiled softly. "In a way, she has been. As your sister, she was Mistress of Netherfield, but now I will be taking her place, both there and here. Such a change would not be easy for anyone."

"You are an angel; she does not deserve such compassion." Charles kissed her hand.

There is no telling how long the couple might have remained in the hall, gazing into each others' eyes, had not the appearance of two elderly servants put an end to the moment.

"Ah… excellent. Jane, allow me to present Mr. and Mrs. Barton, our butler and house keeper for as long as I can remember. Barton, Mrs. Barton, this is Miss Jane Bennet, my fiancé."

Both servants smiled unconsciously at the very great pride with which young Master Charles (for such he would always be to them) made the introduction. Any fears they might have had over their future mistress were quickly laid to rest; Miss Bennet's kindness and amiability were soon apparent.

After a few minutes discussing what the Bartons had done to maintain the house while it had been closed up, Mr. Bingley ushered them into the drawing room. Miss Bingley's disgusted look made it clear that she did not consider the front drawing room a proper place to introduce servants (even the most senior ones), but Charles' natural amiability ensured that everyone except his sister was perfectly comfortable. Mrs. Barton began reporting on the progress of hiring a staff to Miss Bennet and soon came to appreciate Mrs. Gardiner's practical suggestions.

Barton disappeared soon after the introductions, having heard a knock at the door. When he returned, Charles was surprised to see him leading Mr. Darcy. After greetings were exchanged, Bingley directed Mrs. Barton to begin the tour. It required all his attention to keep Caroline from commandeering the visit, so he did not notice when his friend held back and spoke quietly with his future father-in-law.

"Mr. Bennet, I wonder if I might have a few minutes to discuss something privately with your daughter. Something has come up and I would prefer to hear her thoughts on the matter before I make a decision…"

Jane's father had found himself looking forward to seeing his eldest daughter's future home and was disinclined to have his afternoon soured by any news of Mr. Wickham (for such was what he assumed was on Mr. Darcy's mind). As a result, he waved off any further explanation and departed with the rest of the party.

Elizabeth had been concerned by Mr. Darcy's request, assuming (like her father) that something was wrong. However, when the gentleman remained where he was standing, staring at her with an increasingly embarrassed expression, she quirked an eyebrow and spoke in a teasing tone;

"Well, Mr. Darcy? You have me quite alone, now. What is this very serious matter that you need to discuss with me?" She had moved to stand before him and very nearly laughed out loud when the usually inscrutable gentleman blushed.

"I…" Honestly, Darcy hadn't the faintest idea of what to say. To be sure, he had come here today with every intention of speaking with her, but it seemed far too embarrassing to admit that there was no specific problem… only the desperate need to see her face.

Bingley had informed the Darcys of his plans that morning over breakfast, soon before he departed. William had closeted himself in his study, theoretically working but really just moving papers aimlessly around his desk and alternately daydreaming about Elizabeth and worrying over the outcome of Wickham's trial. One moment, he was certain he had been too tenderhearted in arguing for leniency and the next, he fretted that his father was turning in his grave because William had not protected his favorite godson.

After luncheon, during which Georgiana had bubbled about her shopping expedition the previous day with the Miss Bennets and Mrs. Gardiner, Will had found himself watching the clock. Finally, ten minutes before he knew that Elizabeth and her family would be arriving at Waverley Street, he could stand it no longer. Darcy had collected his coat and hat and walked briskly toward his friend's once and future home.

However, now that Elizabeth was standing before him, William couldn't quite admit that that he was here because he had missed her.

Fortunately, she read him perfectly. Sliding her hands gently up the lapels of his jacket, she spoke softly, "I missed you, too."

The next instant, Elizabeth found herself in a passionate embrace from which she had no desire to extricate herself.

Their kisses grew hot and eager, as though they had been parted for months instead of only days. Before she lost all brain function, Lizzy managed to pull back and ask breathlessly, "Did you really have something you wished to discuss with me, or was that just an excuse for my father?"

"I want to discuss everything with you. I, who always prided myself on my self-reliance, find myself desperate to share every little event, every thought with you. I am sorry; I should not have misled your father…"

Elizabeth stopped him by pressing a finger against his lips. "Please don't apologize. I have been daydreaming of how to steal a few minutes alone with you since we arrived in London."

Darcy's eyes, already dark with passion, seemed to flare with a fire that he had spent his life keeping carefully banked. Elizabeth nearly shrieked when she felt his hands reach beneath her and lift her up to sit on the lid of the square piano she had been leaning against, as if she were as light as a feather. Seeing her shock, he opened his mouth to say something. Whether it was to be an apology will never be known, for her finger, still pressed against his lips, moved beyond those barriers and brushed against his teeth.

Lizzy's eyes widened when her lover first closed his mouth around her finger, but his hands kept her from removing it, even when she felt his tongue touch its tip. When he sucked gently, the sensation triggered such a heat deep inside her that she could do nothing but let her head fall back and moan.

That sound did something to William that not even the greatest poet could describe in words. He drew his mouth along the full length of her finger before releasing it and turning his attentions back to her lips. With one hand at the nape of her neck and the other starting at her waist and working its way down, it seemed only natural for her to part her legs so that he could stand between them, their cores pressed together.

Such was their passion that when their lips met this time, the mouths of both were half open. When he felt his tongue enter that orifice, Darcy's entire world shrank to the woman in his arms.

Miss Bingley had detached herself from the rest of the party after it became apparent that her brother was not going to let her take control. Even the normally docile Jane was not willing to pay proper attention to Caroline's directives on what should be changed and what must be kept as it was. Noting that Mr. Darcy was missing from the group, Charles' sister had changed her focus and retraced her steps.

Contrary to all the facts, Caroline still entertained hopes that the gentleman from Derbyshire would come to his senses and detach himself from the detestable Eliza. Her obsession was so far advanced that she could easily conceive of him suddenly proclaiming that Caroline and only Caroline had the manners, beauty, and accomplishments to reign as Mrs. Darcy, Mistress of Pemberley. He would jilt the ridiculous Bennet girl and grovel at Miss Bingley's feet, begging for her forgiveness and her hand in marriage.

Certainly breaking an engagement would cause a small scandal, but the Darcy name was powerful enough that there would be no lasting effects; the gossip would only make her more of a sensation when she was presented to Society as his wife, Mrs. Caroline Darcy. She had been practicing her signature for years. Such balls and parties she would host! Such gowns and jewelry that would make the other ladies green with jealousy!

Mr. Darcy had always presented himself as the epitome of cool, polite detachment, so it had never even occurred to Caroline that the gentleman upon whom she had pinned all her social and matrimonial ambitions might harbor such strong emotions… such… passions.

Faced with the sight of Eliza Bennet and Mr. Darcy locked in an ardent embrace, Miss Bingley was too shocked to speak. For some minutes, she watched the oblivious couple with a sort of fascinated revulsion. It was only broken when Darcy moved from their enthusiastic kiss to nibble at her earlobe, pressing his nether regions against her and whispering, "My dearest Lizzy… Every moment away from you is torture…"

"Disgusting!" Miss Bingley's shrill tone was enough to break through to the couple and alert them to the presence of a third party. Two pairs of surprised eyes turned in time to see Charles' sister fleeing from the room, leaving behind only traces of her heavy perfume.

Blinking a few times, William tried to refocus his passion-fogged mind. This enterprise was not aided when Elizabeth raised her hands to check her hair, unconsciously causing her bodice to pucker and provide him with a superior glimpse down the front at her pert breasts.

"Oh dear. What do you think she will do?" asked Lizzy, her recent experience with Lydia making her feel rather guilty that she was not adhering to her own professed standards of ladylike behavior.

"Perhaps we shall be lucky and she will go directly to your father." When Elizabeth looked up at him, clearly stunned, William allowed himself to break into a wide, rakish grin. "Surely he would insist that we marry this very day!"

Lizzy couldn't help but giggle even as she shook her head in mock dismay as he helped her down from her perch atop the piano. "Or perhaps Miss Bingley shall tell her brother," she suggested mischievously.

Instantly William stopped laughing. "Oh Lord, after the lecture I gave him at Netherfield on proper, gentlemanlike behavior… he would never let me live it down."

Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow even as she went about repairing her hair. "As much as I enjoy your current, mussed look, Mr. Darcy, you might wish to see to your cravat before any one else comes to find us."

The pair had only just finished setting themselves to rights and was about to go in search of the others when Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet appeared. Trying to hide her discomposure, Elizabeth raised her eyebrows and inquired, "Has the tour finished already?"

With the blindness of a doting father, Mr. Bennet managed to miss his daughter's heightened colour, having reassured himself that Mr. Darcy was standing a proper distance away when he entered. Mr. Gardiner, however, gave the younger man a sharp look and William took the moment to situate himself behind a high-backed chair that blocked their view of him from the waist down. Before turning his full attention to the conversation, Will said a quick prayer that his passions would cool enough by the time the ladies returned so that he might move without shocking them with the bulge in his breeches.

Luckily, the topic was one that easily prompted passions other than desire.

"I assume that you have already told Lizzy about it, Mr. Darcy, but my Brother Bennet and I are eager to hear of the outcome of Mr. Wickham's trial yesterday," said Mr. Gardiner.

William breathed deeply and placed his hands on the back of the chair so that he would not clench them into fists. After a moment to steady himself, he replied tersely;

"Lieutenant Wickham was found guilty of both a variety of discipline offenses as well as criminal conduct. He has been moved to Newgate Prison and shall be transported to the penal colonies in Australia on the next available ship; certainly within the week."

"So he is not to be hanged? What of his blackmail victims?" demanded Mr. Gardiner, with great seriousness but not unkindly.

"If Wickham ever sets foot in Britain again, he will be executed immediately without possibility for appeal. The order is written such that there is no possible leeway. All of his victims will be notified of this and their papers returned to them."

There was a moment of silence while the four people considered what he had said. Finally Mr. Gardiner nodded. "Very well; that seems fair enough. We thank you for looking after our family's interests in this matter."

William dared a quick glance in Elizabeth's direction and cleared his throat. "With all due respect, sir; your family shall soon be my own. Besides, it was unpardonable of me not to have made Wickham's crimes public long ago, regardless of his connection to my own family."

Edward shook his head at the younger man. "I believe that you take too much upon yourself, Mr. Darcy. Regardless, we thank you." He turned expectantly toward Mr. Bennet.

Elizabeth's father roused himself. "Yes, yes… Thank you Mr. Darcy; we are most grateful."

Seeing that her father's discomfort in being obliged to her fiancé was close to causing him to fall back into his usual, sardonic humor, Elizabeth spoke up. "What of Lydia's letters?"

Still uncomfortable, Darcy turned to her. "The are still locked up with the others in my study. I can bring them to you, or burn them myself, if you wish."

Before a decision could be made, Bingley's butler appeared at the door. "Miss Elizabeth, sirs; Miss Bennet desired you to know that they have completed looking over the servants' quarters and shall be touring the family rooms on the second floor, if you wish to join them."

Smiling at what for Jane amounted to a summons to share her joy in viewing her new home for the first time, Elizabeth nodded and the gentlemen followed her cue, rising and trailing behind Barton.

The Bingley home was a relatively large, red brick house situated on the middle of a leafy block. Bay windows on either side of the front door extended up to third floor, flooding the west-facing rooms with afternoon light. The rooms at the back of the house looked out over a small but pleasant garden. Though the house had been uninhabited for several years, Mrs. Barton had checked faithfully for moths and a large calico had patrolled the rooms, keeping the mice at bay. When the sheets were removed, Miss Bennet found most of the furniture quite to her taste.

"Truly, Jane; we can replace it all if you like. Don't worry about the expense--I want you to feel that it is your house… your home," pressed Charles.

The future Mrs. Bingley smiled sweetly. "It is not necessary--the furniture is lovely and I do not need to change it for the sake of change."

"Perhaps some of the upholstery could be updated… and some of the drapery is a bit faded as well," noted Mrs. Gardiner gently. Mrs. Barton nodded approvingly and Elizabeth suggested that yellow wall coverings would help lighten the room and compliment the dark blue glazed tile surrounding the fireplace. Jane was quickly drawn in to the planning.

To the amusement of the other three gentlemen, this sequence was repeated several times as the group moved through the various rooms of the house. As Jane and Charles became more and more excited over their new home, Miss Bingley became increasingly stony. She seemed to use her last energy to prevent them from touring her girlhood bedchamber and sitting room (although Elizabeth caught a glimpse of pink ruffles just before the door closed).

By the end of the tour, the visitors had seen the house from attics to cellars. Mrs. Barton served tea in the drawing room and was convinced to sit with them so that Jane might continue to question her about the house and its contents. Though she was truly happy for her sister, Elizabeth found herself wishing for some time to talk with Darcy about their own future.

With a quiet word to the gentleman, she waited for a lull in the general conversation before excusing them to take a stroll around the square. None of the others were inclined to accompany them and in no time at all, Darcy found himself walking down Waverley Street in perfect contentment with the loveliest of ladies on his arm.

As they walked, William pointed out various points of interest and explained some of the architectural history of the buildings. Elizabeth entertained him with witty comments about the people they saw and carriages that passed by on the street.

After several minutes, they returned to the subject of Mr. Wickham.

William sighed. "It was his greed that truly finished him. In addition to the letters, he kept a notebook detailing who he had blackmailed when, what threats he had utilized, and how much they had paid. Even his commission in the militia was gotten from some poor man who had no money to keep Wickham quiet."

"And his victims? What shall happen to them?"

William sighed again. "George always had a poor memory for names, so I have hope that without his notebook and papers, he shall not be able to reproduce enough details that would ruin any of them. The money is all gone. Would you believe that he took in over a thousand pounds last year alone? His accounting is as precise as my own ledgers detailing Pemberley's incomes and expenditures, yet he has barely a farthing to his name now, for he gambled it all away over and over."

Darcy fell quiet and Elizabeth allowed them to walk in silence, understanding his need to sort out his feelings. Finally, William looked up from the path and gave her a tight smile, pressing her hand where it rested on his arm.

"It is hard to believe that in a few days he shall be gone… that I shall likely never see him again. It makes me realize that, whatever terrible things he had done, I still held some small hope that he would finally see the light." William fell silent again.

Elizabeth spoke after some consideration. "You have lost so many who were a part of your youth. It must be very difficult to purposely cut out one of the few who share your memories. As a man, Wickham may be immoral in thought and deed, but he was your childhood friend and those bonds are not easily broken, however good the reason."

William looked at the lady walking beside him, startled in spite of himself at the depth of her insight. Not even his sister or Richard understood him so well. Warmth chased away the darkness. "I shall tell you the remembrances that matter, and for the rest… well, we shall make our own family, and our own memories."

Elizabeth's bright smile chased away the last of his doubts.

They reached a corner and were forced to maneuver around a paperboy chanting about the latest scandal in order to entice passers by to trade their coin for a broadsheet. His words reminded Lizzy of Wickham's malevolent activities.

"What will happen to the blackmail letters? Shall they be burnt, like Lydia's?"

Darcy shook his head. "Not immediately. One of the benefits of a military trial was that it could be kept private, unlike in a public court. Even so, I feel obligated to return the letters to his victims themselves so that they no longer have to live in fear. I shall visit those who live in London and nearby. For the others, I have not decided. The post is certainly not secure enough, even if I sent it with a message carried by my own man." He paused for a moment. "However, it is probably for the best. I shall arrange it with my solicitors. They are quite accustomed to handling the transfer of such delicate matters, I expect."

Elizabeth squeezed his arm and let her head drop against his shoulder for an instant. "You are a very good man, do you know that?"

Before William could defer, her expression changed and she looked up at him, eyes narrowed. "Fitzwilliam Darcy, you are planning to reimburse all those people for what Wickham stole, aren't you?!?"

Before he could answer, they heard Elizabeth's name called from across the square and turned to discover she was being hailed by a gentleman and two ladies.

"Lizzy! How are you?!? We were so sorry to miss the Gardeners' party, but you know how it is--no rest for the weary!"

Elizabeth happily shook the gentleman's hand and exchanged kisses with the two ladies before realizing that the tall gentleman beside her had grown very silent.

"Oh, you must allow me to introduce my friends. Peter, Abigail, Lilly; this is my fiancé, Mr. Darcy. William, these are my dear friends, Mr. Davenport and his wife Abigail, and his sister Miss Davenport."

When William executed a very correct bow and muttered, "Davenport," and the other gentleman mirrored his actions, Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow.

"You already know each other." It was a statement rather than a question.

Seeing that Darcy was either unwilling or unable to meet his gaze, Peter Davenport shrugged slightly and exchanged a look with his wife that was part amusement, part sadness. "Darcy and I were at school together. I am afraid that we… lost touch after that."

What Peter's very civil explanation did not say was that Darcy, like so many other members of Society, had broken the connection when his father, the Barron Tipton, had disowned him. Not only had Peter Davenport had the indecency to fall in love with his sister's governess, but he had refused his father's command to take the girl as his mistress and marry the heiress that his parent had chosen for him.

After directing an admonishing glance toward her fiancé, Elizabeth turned the conversation to recent happenings. Listening, Darcy learned that the Davenports were running a school in Bloomsbury. His eyes widened slightly when he realized that it was none other than the Bedford School for ladies, an establishment which was rapidly gaining prominence in some circles because of its focus on intellect and morals rather than the useless nothings so often considered necessary accomplishments for a lady. Darcy knew several gentlemen whom he respected greatly that contributed to a scholarship fund so that families without the money for tuition might send their daughters to be educated.

Surreptitiously, William studied the former Miss Abigail Best, now Mrs. Davenport. With great embarrassment, he realized that he had never met her, but rather developed an opinion based solely on the lewd speculations of the men at his club over what sort of woman might lure Barron Tipton's son to such infamous behavior and whether she would stay with Davenport once she discovered that his inheritance was not forthcoming.

Instead of the dazzling seductress that Darcy was lead to expect, he was embarrassed to see a pretty (though not beautiful), young lady with intelligence and manners that clearly showed her to be gently bred. William was suddenly struck by the disconcerting realization that, had Mr. Bennet died before his daughters married, Elizabeth would have been precariously close to searching for a similar position.

What would he have done, William pondered, had Elizabeth been hired as Georgiana's governess? He could easily imagine falling in love with her in such a scenario. Would he have been strong enough to recognize that love for the gift it was and marry her, ignoring his family and Society's strictures? He could only imagine the Earl's response, not to mention Lady Catherine's.

After some moments, Darcy recalled himself to the present. The ladies were chatting amiably but he quickly noticed that Peter was eyeing him with a certain curiosity. Squaring his shoulders, Will spoke softly, "Davenport, I owe you an apology. I should have stood by you. My only excuse is that it was a difficult time for me as well, and I was keenly aware of my responsibility to my own sister for whom I had only recently become responsible."

Peter tilted his head in a way that the other gentleman remembered well from their debates at university. "And I never properly expressed my own sympathies upon the death of your father, Darcy. I hold no grudge against you, in particular, Darce. I am well aware that you had more than enough on your plate to keep you busy. And, to be perfectly blunt, you were not one of those who actively worked to ruin my happiness and smear Abby's reputation. Unlike my father and brother."

Davenport nearly snarled this last, but a soft look from his wife had the storm clouds in his eyes dissolving. He smiled and turned back to Darcy. "In truth, we are perfectly content. Really, more than that--we are happy, and how many couples in society can say that honestly? You know me; I would never have been happy with out a mission in life. And our school surely gives me one."

Darcy smiled. He could well remember Peter's various causes in school and how he had poured all his energy into each an every one of them, whether it was more blankets for the servants or a driver too free with his whip. Suddenly another thought occurred to him and he sobered immediately.

"Davenport, there is something else I must speak to you about. Something about Wickham…" William was not entirely surprised to see a dark look fall across his friend's face, but he was shocked at the anger in both of the ladies' faces.

"What has he done now?!?" snapped Miss Davenport, and her former governess made only a half-hearted attempt to sooth her.

Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged a look and she came to rest her hand on his arm reassuringly. "I had not realized that you knew him. I met Mr. Wickham almost a year ago last fall. A regiment of militia were stationed in Meryton, and he had gained a commission as a lieutenant."

"An officer?!?" sputtered Peter. "I can't say that this news gives me any particular confidence in the honour or abilities of our military if they took one such as he."

Darcy nodded shortly but allowed Elizabeth to continue the story. "Yes, well, he caused rather a lot of mischief…" She shot a brief glance to William but decided that it was not necessary to relay all the misery that Wickham's lies had caused between them. "In the end, he convinced my youngest sister to come away with him. She thought it an elopement, but given how well you seem to understand him, I am sure that you can guess that he had other, far less honorable intentions. Luckily, they were intercepted before they had gone more than ten miles so there was no lasting damage, except to Mr. Wickham."

Elizabeth accepted their expressions of outrage and sympathy, then turned to Darcy and indicated that he should continue the story.

William summarized Wickham's court martial with much the same words he had used with Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet. In this case, however, there were some other assurances to make.

"I have all his papers, and there are several I should return to you, or I can burn them myself, if that is what you prefer," he said quietly, looking between Peter and his wife. He could easily see the strong love shared by the couple; they exchanged a long look that communicated without words, and Mrs. Davenport moved to her husband's side and unconsciously tucked her hand around his arm.

Suddenly Peter Davenport's face burst into a great grin and he laughed out loud. "I should like to have them back, actually. For all the trouble they have caused, they are still that first hints I had from Abby that my love was returned; that there might be hope and I would not live my life out in some miserably cold marriage of convenience."

He turned back to Darcy and Elizabeth and, seeing the same affection and trust between that couple that he himself treasured in his own marriage, he felt comfortable explaining; "I fell in love with Abby when I was home between terms, but I could not be certain if she was only being civil to me because she felt she had to in order to keep her position, or if she had been as deeply touched as I was.

"Then, when I was back at Cambridge, Lilly fell ill and could not write, so I directed my inquiries to Miss Best and she very kindly answered them." Peter's boyish grin earned an answering smile from the lady. "My parents and John were away, of course, so it seemed perfectly reasonable that I might write to her governess about my dear sister's health and educational advancement. How soon our purpose turned to knowing each other better, I will not say."

Mr. and Mrs. Davenport gazed happily at each other until Lilly huffed and rolled her eyes melodramatically. "And such sighs and dreamy silences was I forced to endure! I shall forever blame my poor understanding of Ancient Greece on you, Brother!"

Peter grinned again and gathered his younger sister in his free arm. Standing with his two most beloved women, it was clear that young Mr. Davenport was perfectly content, inheritance or not. "Somehow Wickham got his hands on a few of the letters. He threatened to go to my father if I would not pay him. When I refused to give him so much as a brass farthing, he followed through on his threat."

When Darcy and Elizabeth expressed their disgust over Wickham's schemes, Peter shrugged philosophically. "I was preparing to tell my father soon, anyway. I had already asked Abby to marry me, and even I was not naïve enough to think he would ever approve. In truth, it was rather like having a bandage ripped off; better done quickly, if you know what I mean.

"We tried to talk to him together, but he would not listen. When he ordered Abby out of the house and began casting aspersions on her character, I hired a coach and we drove straight through the night to Scotland."

"And then we were married." Abigail's normally serious mien parted for just a minute and showed her deep happiness and devotion to her husband.

Darcy smiled at her expression and unconsciously pressed Elizabeth's hand on his arm more tightly. "What of your family? Did you have any relatives that could help you?"

Mrs. Davenport shook her head sadly. "My parents and brother all died in an influenza epidemic. My uncle took me in, but they have a large family and little money. I was lucky to get a good education from our parish school and then my godmother helped me find a position as a governess." She glanced at the brother and sister beside her with a flicker of embarrassment. "I never dreamed that I would not spend my life in a succession of such positions."

Squeezing his wife's hand and knowing from her misty look that she would not wish to continue, Peter spoke up. "My dear sister, against my counsel, might I add… continued to write to her old governess in secret until she turned twenty-one and was no longer under our father's power."

"He wished me to marry Lord Westinghouse, and would have forced me to do so had I remained under his roof," said Miss Davenport quietly but with absolute conviction that she had acted correctly. "On my twenty-first birthday, I came to live with my brother and new sister. It was the best decision I have ever made."

Peter looked at his younger sister with great affection. "And we love you dearly and hope you will continue to make your home with us for as long as you desire, Lilliput."

Darcy was thinking quickly. Elizabeth was clearly happy in the Davenports' company, and he was rapidly realizing that they were just the sort of people he himself wished as friends, regardless of society's strictures. "Mrs. Davenport, I wonder if you and your husband and sister might do me the honor of dining at my home next Monday evening. The Gardiners and Mr. Bennet shall be there with Elizabeth and her sister, as well as a few of my own family. There is one other you know-- Viscount Hampden?"

Peter broke into a great smile even as his wife's eyes shone with pleasure over the invitation. "Trevor! I haven't seen him in months--not since his mother fell ill and he had to attend her in Bath. Is he back in London? Not bad news, I hope?"

Darcy quickly assimilated the implication that Michael Trevor had kept in touch with their old university friend, ostracized or not. Putting aside the guilt he felt for the moment, Will assured them that Lady Hampden's health had improved significantly, allowing her son to visit London in order to take care of business and socialize a little.

Catching sight of her own family emerging from the Bingley house and the Gardiners' carriage pulling out of the mews, Elizabeth realized that she would soon need to depart. The Davenports happily accepted Darcy's invitation and then accompanied her to exchange greetings with the Gardiners.

The group parted on a happy note, all looking forward to the gathering at Derwent House in a few days. Just before she climbed into the carriage, Elizabeth squeezed William's hand and spoke softly, "Thank you for inviting them. I met Abby and Lilly though the Gardiners; my aunt especially tries to assist the Bedford school in any way she can and Jane and I help when we are in London. The Davenports are happy, but I believe that they all lost a great deal of trust in humanity when so many of their former friends turned their backs. There are some who will not even nod to them on the street."

William nodded. "I am ashamed that I did not do more to help years ago. They are good people and I shall be glad to call them friends, if they can forgive me."

His fiancé's approving smile assured him that he had done the right thing and they parted, both thinking bright thoughts of a future together with such good friends.

Much later, Lizzy and Jane snuggled together in the latter's bed, sharing their impressions of the day.

Miss Bennet was pleased that the misunderstanding had been cleared between Mr. Darcy and the Davenports and was glad that such good people would be made welcome. Her thoughts turned to Wickham and she contemplated,

"Perhaps, once he is introduced to a society where none of his past actions are known, Mr. Wickham shall find it easier to tread a path of righteousness. I shall pray for him." Jane still had difficulty believing that any man's soul was beyond redemption.

Elizabeth bit her lip to keep from laughing at her sister's naiveté and forbore from pointing out that Wickham would be arriving on a prison ship, making it difficult if not impossible to hide his criminal status. "Believe that if it brings you peace, Jane. For myself, I shall pray that none of us ever have any occasion to visit Australia."

Seeing the confused look on her companion's face, she smiled sardonically. "Once introduced to a society where none of his past actions are known… I rather fear what tales Mr. Wickham shall spin around our characters; especially as he will have little fear of meeting anyone who might know the truth of his life up 'til now."

Nearly two centuries later, a paper was submitted to Mrs. Drinnon by one of her Year 10 students at the Sydney Grammar School in New South Wales, Australia:

Steve Wickham
10 September 2010
500 Word Writing Assignment

My Favorite Ancestor

My favorite ancestor is my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Mr. George Wickham. Mr. George Wickham was born in 1785 in England. He was the younger son of a lord whose sheep ranch covered most of northern England. Mr. George Wickham was very smart and won many prizes at Cambridge University. He was also very patriotic so when he finished school, he joined the army. My family has the sword that he used to fight Napoleon and keep the French army from invading England. My ancestor was very brave and received many medals from the King.

When Mr. George Wickham went home, he was very sad because his father had died while he was away at war. Even worse, his older brother had taken all his inheritance and married the lady he loved. Mr. George Wickham's brother had always been jealous of him because their father loved him better. Though he would have won, my ancestor did not fight his brother because it would have given the family a bad reputation.

Instead, Mr. George Wickham came to Australia. He was very excited because our country was a land of opportunity and there were no evil brothers to steal his money. Unfortunately, his boat was captured by pirates and he lost all his clothes and things. Then the pirate captain found out that Mr. George Wickham was educated, not like everyone else who could not even read or write. The pirate captain treated my ancestor very well after that and had him teach him his numbers and letters. When the boat arrived in Port Jackson, the pirate captain gave Mr. George Wickham a little money and some clothes.

My ancestor married Miss Sally Hamilton in 1820. She was an American heiress whose father brought her to Australia to look for gold but died. My Great Aunt Mary McDermott says that her Grandmother Wickham told her that Mr. George Wickham and Miss Sally Hamilton were both pretending to be rich and didn't find out that they were both really poor until after the wedding. My mother says that is rubbish and they married for love and to have children, just like the preacher says.

My ancestor became a very important man in Sydney. Many people invested their money with him and he owned many saloons. My Great Aunt Mary McDermott says that they were brothels but my mother says that is rubbish and the girls were there to serve drinks not fool around. Mr. George Wickham built a big stone house in Cumberland and called it Pemberley.

Mr. George Wickham's older brother realized how evil he had been and begged him to return to England and save the family farm, but my ancestor loved Australia too much to leave. My ancestor died in 1831. He was set upon by a gang of criminals who thought he owed them money. They would not listen when he explained that it wasn't his fault, but his evil brother who had gambled away the money so my ancestor had nothing. His son was Mr. John Wickham, my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather.

Chapter 32. Family Mergers.

Posted on 2010-12-18

August 1818

"Darcy."

William started at the unexpected voice and turned from the window to see that Colonel Fitzwilliam had come to stand behind him.

"You had best go rescue Bingley before my brother gets his claws into him much further."

The gentlemen looked across the room to the corner where Charles was standing, wide-eyed, with a slightly inebriated and very garrulous Viscount Ashbourne, who appeared to be expounding on the best ways to encourage his prize pointer to cover a bitch.

Darcy gritted his teeth. "Has he no sense of decorum at all?" he muttered under his breath.

"Less and less, from what I can see," answered Richard in a similar tone.

Before either man could move, the Countess of Matlock (ever the consummate hostess) gently extracted her guest from her first-born, depositing the former with her two sons-in-law and directing a sharp look at the latter. Finding himself without an audience, Edward Fitzwilliam surreptitiously refilled his wine glass with something much stronger than Lady Eleanor would have offered in her drawing room before dinner.

Grimacing, Darcy spoke in an undertone that his cousin barely caught. "I should have insisted that they attend the dinner at Derwent House, instead of the Earl hosting a separate engagement party. Here, they will act like…"

Richard grinned. "Like we are at home? Ah, Wills… you were an only child for too long. Don't worry--Miss Elizabeth is accustomed to a large family, and the various squabbles that are bound to ensue when siblings and their spouses are gathered in one room."

Seeing that his companion's face showed no sign of being comforted, the Earl's younger son sighed. "Darcy, truly--be at ease. The Bennets have already met Mother, Ellen, and Lucy, and from what I heard, they got along famously. I expect Miss Elizabeth will quite like Maggie and Olivia… and now that I think on it, Pelham shall thoroughly amuse her."

Fitzwilliam referred to his sister's husband, Lord Percy Hyde, Baron Pelham. That gentleman was widely regarded as a jolly fellow, not terribly bright but always pleased to have company and make new acquaintances. It was not unknown for Lady Margaret to have guests arrive for dinner with no advance warning, her husband having proffered the invitation in a moment of garrulous sociability but forgetting to inform his wife.

Darcy grunted and turned back to the window. He had been nervous when Elizabeth and her family had come to dinner at his London home earlier in the week, but that had been primarily due to excitement. Georgiana had been anxious over acting as hostess and he had wanted everything to go perfectly. In hindsight, the siblings' distress was wholly unnecessary; the staff's practiced competence and the pleasant company's innate desire to be pleased had combined for a lovely evening.

Seated at the foot of the table, Miss Bennet, Mr. Bingley, and the Gardiners had chatted easily with Miss Darcy, keeping her too entertained to become nervous. At the other end, Colonel Fitzwilliam had formed an alliance with Mr. Bennet, the two gentlemen amusing them selves and the others by trading embarrassing stories of Darcy and Elizabeth's childhoods. The Davenports had proven just as intelligent and friendly as William had expected, easily engaging Sir James Darcy in a discussion of the societal benefits to educating the poor. Michael Trevor had seemed to be particularly intrigued by Miss Davenport, and her blushes indicated that the lady was not unaffected by his attentions.

Darcy had begun that evening apprehensive that something would go wrong and ended it with a warm glow of happiness that he sincerely hoped would be a constant state after he and Elizabeth were married. For had it not been Elizabeth who, upon sitting down to the piano forte and discovering that the day's excessive humidity had left the instrument badly out of tune, had turned the disaster into a great game, challenging the company to guess her tune based on the rhythm and tempo of the notes rather than the pitch? It had taken little further encouragement for the other ladies to join in and the drawing room had been filled with more laughter than William could ever remember as they had proceeded to miss even the most common lullabies, let alone current popular ballads.

Even Mr. Bennet had been thoroughly entertained and it had come as a shock to all when the great hall clock had tolled midnight. Darcy had found himself entirely sincere when he fare welled his guests with the wish to see them all again soon. Peter Davenport had departed after a firm handshake and Michael Trevor had slapped William on the back like a fielder to a bowler after a particularly fine inning.

William hoped for a similar outcome tonight, but could not stop feeling as though a kettle of agitated snakes had taken up residence in his stomach. Aside from Edward's drunken outbursts, Lady Almida's calculated cattiness, and Pelham's loose tongue, this would be the first time that the Earl would meet Elizabeth, and Will had not forgotten about the objections that his uncle had voiced earlier in the summer upon first learning of his engagement.

Before Richard could attempt another bit of reassurance, his cousin saw what he had been looking for on the street. Turning on his heel without a word, Darcy strode from the room in which his mother's family had gathered to greet his fiancé and her relations. Or at least, he hoped most were there to greet her.

William reached the front door of the Earl's London house only a step behind the butler and beat the footman to the carriage door by a stride. He cared not what anyone else thought of his eagerness once he was reassured by Elizabeth's bright smile.

Darcy absentmindedly acknowledged Mr. Bennet and the Gardiners and vaguely noticed Miss Bennet's soft smile, but it was Elizabeth who filled his eyes. Her thick hair was piled high upon her head with a few ringlets allowed to bounce freely. He had given her a set of hair combs with purple amethysts cunningly set to resemble violets and they sparkled among the intricate pile of curls and braids.

When Elizabeth placed her gloved hand into his, both released a small sigh, undetectable to any but themselves. They shared a look before Lizzy quirked an amused eyebrow. "You appear rather relieved to see me arrive. Is the society inside so savage?" For some reason, teasing William helped settle her own nerves.

"I am glad you are here," managed Darcy, his own nerves and the proximity of her family keeping him from saying all he wished.

Elizabeth considered and discarded several responses that were all rather too intimate for the situation before simply squeezing his hand and smiling. "And we are glad to be here."

With this subtle hint and her hand tucked safely around his arm, William turned back to the others and greeted them with slightly more attention before leading the group up the stairs and into the Earl of Matlock's town house.

As the servants collected their wraps, Elizabeth peaked around the foyer, gathering impressions of the extended family she would be joining in little more than a month. Though approximately the same size as Derwent House (and built in the same decade), the Fitzwilliam's house was more ornate in architecture and décor.

Nothing was in poor taste; it simply seemed more… strident… in the desire to impress the viewer with the importance and wealth of the owners. She stepped over to study a series of portraits--clearly past family patriarchs--and remembered what Darcy had once said; though they had been landed gentry for several centuries, the Fitzwilliams were still conscious of their recent (relative to families such as the Darcys) rise in stature. The first Earl had been a wealthy sheep farmer who had agreed to marry some long forgotten Royal's pregnant mistress in exchange for a title and land; not quite the same for animating family pride as an ancestor who had saved the King's life during the Crusades.

Elizabeth turned to ask her fiancé a question but promptly forgot it. William was standing beside the others but all of his attention was focused on her. The intensity in his eyes made her blush and look down, but he was before her in an instant.

"You are beautiful." Elizabeth was wearing the first of the gowns Madame Lavoisier had made for her and it showed the dressmaker's eye for style as well as skill with a needle. The creamy yellow silk glowed like candlelight and reminded William of the dress she had worn at the Netherfield Ball. He knew little of lady's fashion, but he was a man and thus needed no more than his eyes to recognize what the cut and drape of the fabric did for her figure.

His slightly breathless voice had lured her eyes back up. "Why thank you, kind sir. You are looking quite handsome yourself."

Before Will could respond, the butler appeared at his elbow and inquired, "Shall I show your guests to the drawing room, sir?"

"Must we?" Darcy's attention had been so focused on Elizabeth that he had not noticed that the others had shed their wraps and joined the couple. As a result, his dry response garnered not only the grin he had expected from her, but also an unexpected chorus of laughter and smiles from her relatives behind him. His embarrassed apology was quickly cut off by Mr. Bennet, who slapped him lightly on the shoulder.

"Ah, I knew I liked this fellow of yours, Lizzy! I am certain there must be a chessboard around here somewhere, Mr. Darcy; the rest of you may entertain yourselves in the drawing room. Is that cousin of yours here? He challenged me to a contest and I admit that I am quite looking forward to it, having never matched wits with a Colonel in his majesty's army."

Even Mrs. Gardiner's "Thomas, really!" was tinged with more amusement than disapproval. As a result, the entire party (even Mr. Darcy) was smiling when they were shown into the Earl of Matlock's drawing room.

Lady Almida Fitzwilliam had kept a careful watch on Mr. Darcy since her arrival. When that gentleman left the drawing room, she discretely moved to join a grouping of her sisters-in-law and two of their cousins, Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh.

Lady Almida had had a most trying week, and this day seemed to be capping it off perfectly. Her loathsome husband had made a drunken appearance in her sitting room that afternoon and, though her callers had departed soon after, their looks of pity had infuriated her even more than the Viscount's vulgar comments. Almida despised being pitied.

She was well aware that the story would soon be circulating and could only hope that she was not mentioned by name in the scandal sheets. Regardless, the disapproving looks she had already received from the Countess made it absolutely clear that the gossip had already been passed to her mother-in-law. Gritting her teeth, Lady Almida turned her attention to the other ladies. Yes, it had been a most unpleasant week, but at least she could look forward to seeing Darcy's little country miss set in her place.

The Viscountess had not visited her modista since that afternoon with Miss Bingley, but she fully expected the Miss Bennets and their lower class relations to enter the Earl's drawing room dressed in garb that was as expensive as it was tasteless. Almida was well aware that the Fitzwilliam ladies did not like her, but there was nothing that drew a group of females together faster than a poor pretender to their ranks.

Unfortunately for Lady Almida, she was to be thoroughly disappointed. Rather than the smirks and titters she had hoped for, Miss Elizabeth Bennet entered the room on Mr. Darcy's arm looking every inch the lady. While the gentlemen in the room admired how the gown enhanced her figure and the sparkle of her eyes was mirrored by the gems in her hair, the ladies saw the quality of the silk and the expertise with which it had been cut and draped. Not to mention the cost of the amethyst set that decorated her neck and hair.

Not even Jane--her classic, serene beauty set off perfectly by a periwinkle blue gown--could match her younger sister that night. Elizabeth's happiness was transparent and made her glow with a warmth that drew all eyes. The affection that she shared with Darcy was obvious and together, the pair made a striking couple.

When the Countess greeted Elizabeth Bennet with the warmth of a mother for a favorite daughter, Lady Almida felt sick to her stomach (although she would have died before admitting it). The nausea only worsened when their hostess laughingly insisted that Darcy's fiancé address her as Aunt Eleanor, a degree of informality that had never been offered to Almida, despite four years of marriage her eldest son.

Darcy need not have worried about the Earl's conduct toward Elizabeth and her family. Though Lord Henry had been unable to attend the engagement party on Gracechurch Street due to an obligation at the House of Lords (and, perhaps a bit of self-importance--should not Darcy's unknown bride call upon him, an Earl, first?), his wife's warm description of the event and its attendees had reassured him.

In addition, Lord Henry had escorted his own niece to a most surprising meeting at the de Bourghs' solicitors only that morning. Intellectually, his suspicion of Anne's new found cousins and Rosings' heir apparent had been somewhat reassured by the papers presented by Mrs. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy. However, it was the obvious intelligence and good breeding of lady herself, as well as her husband and their eldest son that quickly won his respect.

It was soon clear that the Gardiners had no desire to worm their way into Rosings; the possibility of Anne marrying and producing her own heir was mentioned repeatedly. Instead of inquiring as to the wealth that their son might be entitled to, all of the Gardiners' concern was directed toward how best to prepare the eleven-year-old, should the responsibility of Rosings fall to him.

Responsibility. Later, when Lord Henry described the meeting to his wife, that was the word to which he kept returning. Mrs. Gardiner and her husband were not the sort of truckling inferiors that the Earl had dreaded, and he had soon came to understand Darcy's great respect for the couple, trade or not.

Tommy Gardiner had proven to be a remarkably intelligent boy, serious about his education and keenly aware of his duty to his family as the eldest son. In truth, the lad had reminded the Earl of his nephew at that age, and it was soon clear that young Mr. Gardiner already looked up to Pemberley's master with something akin to hero-worship.

As a result, the Earl and his wife greeted the Gardiners to their home with all the courtesy of equals. It was only Mrs. Gardiner's sincere pleas that kept Lord Henry from announcing her superior connections to the rest of his family and their general acquaintance. However, like Darcy, he knew enough about the de Bourghs (past and present) that he quite understood her preference to keep the relationship quiet.

As Mr. Darcy introduced Miss Elizabeth and her family to the various Fitzwilliams, Lady Almida dutifully took her place at her husband's side and murmured the pleasantries that were expected. She was about to turn away when Miss Darcy's eager voice caught her attention.

"Oh Elizabeth--your dress is a dream! I don't remember it from Madame Claudette's. Did you return last week?"

To herself, Almida rolled her eyes. The girl would need to develop a great deal more polish and affectation if she were to survive in Society, much less succeed.

However, Elizabeth only smiled gently at the girl's excitement. "No; in fact, Jane and I decided to take a chance on a new dressmaker… Madame Lavoisier is a young Frenchwoman recently emigrated from Paris. Madame Claudette's designs were certainly very distinctive, but she was so very busy, as you well know." Lizzy spoke carefully because of Georgiana's obvious veneration for the modista, but as she did, she also caught the looks of disapprobation from several of the Earl's daughters. Clearly Madame Claudette was not universally worshipped.

Elizabeth also noted that Miss Darcy was completely unaware of her power as a client. After several more compliments on the Miss Bennets' gowns, she bubbled, "Would Madame Lavoisier have time to meet me? I have not yet ordered my gown for your wedding, and I so wish for it to be special…"

Elizabeth had barely assured Georgiana that the introduction would be made before Darcy appeared at her elbow and indicated that there were others to whom he wished to introduce her. As the happy couple moved away, Lady Almida remained still, a pleasant expression locked in place to cover the roiling emotional storm below.

The only positive aspect of the evening that the Viscountess could currently see was that her own husband was off in a corner and appeared to be on the receiving end of a furious set-down from the Earl. She was only marginally curious as to what he had done this time.

Meanwhile, the conversation continued to flow around her. Miss Jane Bennet found herself standing beside the Viscountess and did her best to include that lady in the conversation. "Though we have had little time for entertainments, I have enjoyed our stay in Town. Do you spend much of your time here?"

Lady Almida sniffed. "London is hideous at this time of year. Thankfully, I shall be leaving for the country tomorrow." The implication that her presence that evening was not of her choice was clear even to Jane.

Miss Bennet smiled bravely. "How happy you must be. Shall you be travelling to Derbyshire?" She knew that the Earl's estate was somewhere near Pemberley and assumed that the Viscount and his family lived in the north as well.

The Viscountess' curled lip made it immediately clear that her assumption was incorrect. "Certainly not. My family's estate is in Essex.

To Jane's great relief, she was not required to formulate a polite response. Lady Eleanor appeared at Miss Bennet's elbow and gently began the process of distributing her guests so that the couples would be in proper order to proceed into the dining room.

Lady Almida was amused to see her husband relegated to escorting his eldest sister to dinner, even as she herself was partnered by Lord Pelham. She had to admit that, whatever else she might think about her mother-in-law, the woman was a master at designing seating arrangements that minimized the potential of unpleasantness.

Darcy was less pleased by the arrangement, seated as he was at the opposite end of the table from Elizabeth. He knew it was necessary--as the honored guests, he was seated at the Countess' right, just as his fiancé was beside the Earl--but he vastly preferred their arrangement at Derwent House when Elizabeth had been at his side all night. However, he could see that his uncle was rapidly realizing what an exceptional woman she was--a triumph that made the separation somewhat more tolerable.

Set as he was between Miss Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner, a genuine smile soon decorated Lord Henry's face and they were not far into the first course before a deep chuckle emanated from the head of the table. While the Earl said something to her aunt, Elizabeth glanced down the table and met Darcy's eyes. She quirked an eyebrow, silently asking if there was something wrong, but he only shook his head slightly with a smile. An amused but pointed look reminded him to pay attention to the conversation at his own end of the table.

When Darcy obediently turned his head, he realized that the entire interaction had been observed by his aunt and Mr. Bennet, and was causing a great deal of amusement. Lady Eleanor patted his hand affectionately. "I am very pleased for you, nephew. I believe that you and Miss Elizabeth shall be very happy together."

William blushed slightly but thanked his aunt with a quiet sincerity, before asking Mr. Bennet about a book he had been reading. Lady Eleanor smiled with satisfaction and ran her eyes over the rest of her company before signaling the footmen to serve the next course.

At the other end of the table, conversation had turned to Christmas. Elizabeth attempted to draw Miss de Bourgh out but the other lady would only say that she was returning to Rosings and had no plans to travel during the winter.

The Earl was quite amused when Georgiana began bubbling over her expectations for Christmas at Pemberley that year. It was immediately obvious to her uncle that the normally quiet girl was embracing her future sister-in-law (and that lady's family) with great enthusiasm. Given what he had seen, he could not blame her and soon found himself telling stories of the grand Christmas balls that George and Anne Darcy had once held.

Lord Henry was struck by how much Georgiana was growing to look like his sister when Miss Darcy turned to Elizabeth, practically glowing over the possibility of bringing back Pemberley's traditional Christmas ball. For just an instant, Lord Henry caught the eye of his nephew's fiancé and the pair shared a moment of perfect understanding, both happy to see the shy girl blossoming.

Meanwhile, Lady Almida was growing increasingly unhappy. Denied the pleasure of seeing the Bennet chits arrive in garish costumes, she had held on to the hope that the Fitzwilliams would put Darcy's little country girl and her family in their place. Instead, Miss Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner were seated cozily beside the Earl, and he was treating them with far more interest and warmth than he had ever treated his daughter-in-law.

Elizabeth had just explained that the Gardiners would be visiting Derbyshire for the holidays when Almida's irritation finally reached a breaking point, causing her to lash out at Mrs. Gardiner, a target whom she judged to be the least of her immediate company.

"Oh, how nice. Shall this be the first time you travel beyond Cheapside?"

Miss de Bourgh might not be exceptionally bright, but even she recognized a slight when it was so blatant. The Gardiners (and particularly Mrs. Gardiner) had been exceptionally kind to her and Anne had enough of Lady Catherine in her that she responded immediately in a sharp tone that none present had ever heard her use before.

"My Cousin Madeleine spent much of her youth in Derbyshire, so the trip shall certainly not be strange to her. I myself look forward to repaying her hospitality when she and her family are able to visit Rosings."

It was perhaps the longest statement that Miss Anne de Bourgh had ever made to such a large audience, but the warm smile she received from her newfound cousin reassured her that her effort was appreciated.

Almida's growing headache made her impatient. Having had little interaction with Lady Catherine's daughter, she had come to the conclusion that the "illness" to which the family attributed Anne's absence in Society was actually a mental deficiency so extreme that the girl could not be allowed in company. Why else would an heiress avoid London?

The Viscountess' smile was exceedingly condescending as she patted Anne's arm in the manner one might treat a senile elderly relation. "No, Miss de Bourgh. Mr. Darcy is your cousin. This woman is merely an aunt by marriage of the girl he is to marry. In our circles, such a connection is really too distant to acknowledge… unless it is someone of importance, of course." Though her comment was directed at the slight woman beside her, Almida's enunciation ensured that her words were heard by everyone at the table.

When she turned back, Almida was pleased to see the tight looks on both Miss Elizabeth and her aunt's faces. Unfortunately, the Earl himself spoke up before she had had time to enjoy her petty victory.

"It is you who are misinformed, Daughter." His tone made his displeasure absolutely clear. "Anne and Madeleine's fathers were brothers; therefore, they are cousins by blood, not marriage."

Furious at the set down and still not understanding that Miss Bingley's knowledge had been incomplete, Almida continued, most unwisely. Having heard many licentious stories of Lord Maxwell de Bourgh and his sons' escapades, she made what seemed to be the most logical assumption. "Oh my, please forgive me, Lord Fitzwilliam. I had no idea that you were so liberal as to invite someone's natural child to share a family dinner, however far they have managed to rise above their origins."

The Earl was not the only one whose face flushed with anger, but he was the first to respond. His curt voice was cutting. "Again, you are misinformed. Mrs. Gardiner is the daughter of Mr. Jonathan de Bourgh and his wife, Rebecca."

Unfortunately for Lady Almida, the conversation had been noticed at the other end of the table. Her discomfort increased when Darcy spoke sternly, "Both of Mrs. Gardiner's parents are well remembered at Pemberley for the good work they did while Reverend Jonathan was the rector at the Lambton Church. The parish school that they founded is still running today and has been cited as a model for other such establishments across England."

As if that weren't enough, the Countess added, "And of course you must have heard of St. Elmo's Home for wounded soldiers and sailors; Mrs. Gardiner's father founded it when he was only a curate. We shall be meeting to organize a fundraiser next week. Perhaps you have time from your other charity works to join us, Lady Almida?"

Lady Eleanor's implication that her daughter-in-law did not contribute her time to charities as befitted her station was plain to all. Unable to stop herself, Almida glanced around the table, seeing disapproval, distaste, and pity. Worst was her own husband who did not bother to hide his vast amusement over her embarrassment.

It took all of Almida's will to reply in an appropriately subservient tone, "Thank you, Lady Eleanor. If you would be so kind as to give me the particulars, I shall do my best to attend." She barely noticed that it was none other than Mrs. Gardiner who spoke next, kindly turning the conversation to a more pleasant topic.

As soon as dinner was over, the Viscountess claimed a headache and said short but polite farewells to all. Her husband sneered at her, saying that he had other plans for the night and no time to see her home if she was too weak to meet her family obligations.

Lady Almida Fitzwilliam, Viscountess Ashbourne, mother of the future Earl of Matlock and Baron Asbury, kept her face absolutely expressionless until she was finally able to lock herself alone in her dressing room. There, she curled up in a corner with a pillow and wept long and hard over the unfairness of life.

Chapter 33. Ancestors and Descendents.

Posted on 2010-12-23

August 1818

After satisfying himself with a kiss on her hand and receiving an affectionate look in return, Darcy watched Elizabeth and her family depart his uncle's house in their carriage. With the exception of his cousin Edward and that man's unpleasant wife, Lady Almida, the evening had gone rather well.

Not quite ready to face the dissection that he was certain was occurring in the drawing room, Darcy took himself to the library for a few moments of solitude. He had not been standing by the fire for many minutes when the door opened and Colonel Fitzwilliam entered.

"I thought I would find you here."

Darcy smiled slightly and kicked the fender. "I needed a moment to collect myself before re-entering the fray."

"Ah, that sounds more like the Darcy I know. I'd begun to wonder after all your giddiness these past weeks." The sight of Darcy rolling his eyes made Richard laugh out loud, spilling a few drops of the brandy he was pouring.

Darcy nodded when his cousin gestured to see if he wished a glass, and the two settled into comfortable chairs before the fire. After some minutes of silence, Darcy spoke softly, thoughtfully. "I may not be giddy, but I am happy. It amazes me, really. I'll never be the sort that overflows with mirth, but there is such a warmth in my heart. It almost makes me feel guilty, for I had little cause to justify misery in my former life."

Richard smirked to himself, vastly amused by his cousin's recent habit of breaking his life into 'before Elizabeth' and 'after Elizabeth.'

Darcy continued. "I would never have thought it of myself, but I begin to understand those couples who run off to Gretna Green… I finally understand the impatience--a month 'til the wedding seems an interminable wait."

He turned his head at Richard's snort and looked blankly for a moment until his cousin's lewd interpretation came to him. Blushing, Darcy attempted to explain. "That is not what I meant, Richard." At his cousin's raised eyebrows, he was forced to admit, "Well, not all of what I meant. It is just that I cannot wait to start my life with her… To talk to her every morning at the breakfast table… To share a passage from a book I'm reading at just that moment. It all sounds very silly to you, I'm sure."

Richard paused for a moment, but decided to drop his teasing. "You have done very well, Wills. I quite expect you and Miss Elizabeth to have the happiest marriage of our acquaintance. And you must not feel any guilt over it; you may have been born into wealth and consequence, but as a man, you have had more than your share of tragedy in life. You have made a bold choice, choosing love over more material gains, and I truly hope that others in our circle shall take your example to heart." The two men raised their glasses in acknowledgement of their understanding and drank.

The Colonel could not remain serious for long. "And so, in order that we do not have half of Society dropping dead from apoplexy that you ignore so many of their strictures, you shall have to leave Gretna Green to the likes of George Wickham."

A gruff voice came from the door. "What are you leaving to George Wickham? That wastrel deserves nothing but a boot up his hindquarters." The Earl had entered the library.

Richard stood to pour his father a glass of brandy and topped off his own and Darcy's glasses. As he did so, he entertained his father with Darcy's fantasy of eloping and spun a tale of how Society might fall into ruin if the great, upstanding Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley should continue to break their hard-held rules. Lord Henry was well amused, but Darcy remained quiet during the story telling.

At last the Colonel's wit ran dry and he turned to his cousin. "You are very quiet, Darcy. Still considering the delights of breakfasts and books?" he teased.

Startled out of deep reflection, William replied with greater openness than he might have otherwise. "No, my thoughts were on another."

Richard was surprised. "What? Not daydreaming about the girl with the fine eyes, as the most quotable Miss Bingley is want to call her?"

"No, my mind was on someone quite different," said Darcy, still contemplative.

"Dare I ask who has won such attention?"

William was quiet for a moment before admitting, "George Wickham."

The Earl spoke for the first time in many minutes. "Bah. Don't waste your thoughts on that sponger."

Darcy looked at his uncle with surprise. "Then you know of his habits? I had thought that, like my father, you thought well of him."

Lord Henry gestured in disgust. "Oh, I've kept track of him. Unfortunately it is often too easy, as Edward has long enjoyed his company." That the Earl disapproved of his heir's profligacy but had been unable to reform his habits (particularly after the Viscount had married and taken control of Lady Almida's considerable fortune) was well known within the family circle. The two younger men remained silent while the Earl sighed and took a sip of brandy before continuing.

"And he did not pull the wool over your father's eyes quite as far as you think. It was more a case of continually wishing that the boy would finally straighten out and amount to something that kept Darcy forgiving his blunders and giving him another chance."

There were some moments of thoughtful silence as the men sipped their drinks. Finally William spoke, more tentatively than was his habit since becoming Master of Pemberley. "Uncle, may I ask you a question?"

The Earl looked up at his nephew's serious tone and nodded, though he was afraid he knew what would come next. He was partially right.

With Richard looking on curiously, Darcy thought of how best to phrase a suspicion that had long bothered him. After some minutes, he began. "When I started school, several of our new acquaintances assumed that George Wickham and I were brothers. Not just because we roomed together, had grown up together, and had a similar accent, but because they saw a physical resemblance that I had never noticed."

Richard was stunned, having never considered such thing, but was suddenly, uncomfortably aware of several similarities in feature. Darcy was more interested in the Earl's response, as the older man remained silent with little expression, staring into his glass and absently tracing the lip of the crystal with a finger.

"I have never had the courage to ask, but the more I thought about it…" Will paused for a sip of wine and gathered his courage. "It would not be unreasonable for a man of our station to arrange for his natural son be adopted by his steward, nor to make that boy his godson, to be given every attention, including a gentleman's education and the possibility of a preferment."

The Earl remained silent and for once Richard could not think of a single thing to say. Darcy spoke again. "Uncle, I know from observation that my father was not always faithful to my mother. Is George Wickham my brother?" He finished in a rush.

Suddenly concerned that the tension in his hand might cause his brandy snifter to shatter, Darcy consciously loosened his grip and placed the glass on the table.

After some moments, the Earl forced himself to speak. "You are close, but it is not quite what you think. He is not your half-brother, but your cousin."

Richard dropped his glass and it clattered on the rug, spilling some wine but luckily not breaking.

Feeling very old, Henry Fitzwilliam looked over at his second son. "And not what you are thinking, either, Richard. Surely you know that your mother would have my hide if I were ever to stray? Not that I have ever had the desire to do so." He mumbled the last.

He turned to his nephew. "I will admit that I listened to your conversation a bit before announcing myself, for which I apologize. But if you will allow me to speak in place of your father for a moment, take the advice of an old, happily married man. There is nothing so wonderful as to be married to your friend and companion, as well as lover. Society may say that we should choose our wives for money and connections, but it is not Society that you are sharing a house with, raising children with, living your life with."

Seeing the stunned look on the faces of both young men, the Earl couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, well. That's a discussion for another time. Pour us all another round, Richard. We'll need it if I am to tell you the tale of George Wickham." He ended with a sad, serious tone in his voice.

Once Richard had done his father's bidding, the Earl sat for some minutes, sipping his brandy, staring into the fire, and wondering where to start.

"In the summer of 1784, the de Bourghs had a house party at Wolfram, the estate in Kent inherited by their eldest son. Eleanor and I had only been married a few years-- Edward was beginning to crawl and we'd just learned that she was expecting Ellen. Neither of us ever had much liking for old Lord Maxwell de Bourgh-- a lech of the first order, him--but my own father pressed us to attend and to take Anne. She had just turned twenty and my parents were eager to throw her in the way of such rich gentlemen as would be at such a party."

Darcy rolled his eyes in commiseration; it was odd to think of his mother being trotted out like the debutants that he had always desired to avoid.

Lord Henry chuckled at his nephew's expression. "In a way I suppose it was successful. Though your father had met her at some balls the previous season, that party at Wolfram was the first time that they really had a time to talk with each other at any length." He smiled in memory. "So, there was one match made, some good come out of the party."

He took another sip of the brandy before continuing. "Your father was there with your grandparents, though old Worthington Darcy wasn't in the best of health." The Earl smirked at the memory. "You never knew him, Will, but your grandfather was something of a hypochondriac. He was a good man--intelligent, serious, very gentlemanly… but he did worry about any little thing that might make him ill. Lady Edna was the force in that marriage--she practically ran the estate from the moment she arrived at Pemberley and, I suspect, long after her husband's death."

Will nodded with a smile. He had many fond memories of his grandmother. She had moved from the Dower's House back to Pemberley's main house after his mother's death and had provided some desperately needed affection to him and Georgiana in the years after.

Lord Henry brought his mind back to the original track of his story. "So Lady Edna was looking after your grandfather and your father was off enjoying himself, as was his habit... Which unfortunately left your Aunt Julia to her own devices."

Darcy's attention was caught. He knew very little about his father's younger sister except that she had married a French count and moved to the continent even before his birth. "Where was Uncle James?" He asked, intrigued by this new vision of his family.

"Oh, James Darcy was off at Oxford, buried in his studies, as you can imagine. He never had any patience for Society; always preferred a book to a dance. I remember your father joking that you took after your uncle more than him." Lord Henry was dismayed to see the look of sadness that flashed across his nephew's face.

"William, you must know that your father was proud of you. He was never much of a student himself, but he was smart enough to appreciate the value of a keen intellect."

Darcy looked somewhat reassured but his uncle tucked the knowledge away for some future conversation.

"To resume my tale. We were a large party and Lady Harriet was an excellent hostess, with an activity to match every interest. I'm afraid that Miss Darcy got a bit lost in the mix. Her parents thought she was with her brother and he thought she was with them. She was a sweet, innocent little thing--much like Georgiana, now that I think on it." The Earl shook his head at the memory.

"I am not certain what you know about the de Bourgh's two eldest sons. How my parents ever came to arrange for Catherine to marry Sir Lewis, I shall never know. He and his elder brother, George, were real pieces of work. Gambling, womanizing… and always a competition, be it a fast horse or a game of faro. Or, unfortunately, a lady's virtue."

Darcy drew his breath sharply, suspecting what was to come next.

The Earl nodded sadly at his nephew, seeing that he had guessed the next part of the story. "It was a week or two after the party broke up--the Darcys had stopped in London for a spell before heading up to Derbyshire for the winter--when Jonathan de Bourgh came to see them, quite unexpectedly. He was the youngest son and the best of the lot, to my mind."

Darcy smiled to himself at some hidden thought. "Reverend Jonathan."

"Yes," nodded the Earl. "Your father gave him the living at Lambton and his wife was a good friend to Anne."

Richard blinked, suddenly making the connection to Mrs. Gardiner.

Lord Henry finished his brandy in a gulp. "Jonathan de Bourgh was deeply upset. You see, he had overheard his elder brothers joking about how George had won their wager at the de Bourgh's house party by seducing Miss Darcy. Jonathan had confronted his brothers but the varlets just laughed at him. George de Bourgh was a married man and his poor wife had long since learned to live with his dalliances. Much like Catherine had to with Lewis, I suspect, though she has never said anything."

Darcy tucked that bit of information about his Aunt Catherine away for future consideration. For now, he was too interested in what had happened to the aunt he had never met.

"Jonathan explained all this to your father, grandfather, and of course, Lady Edna. The man had courage to come to them. He admitted that he had confronted Lord Maxwell but his father had only laughed at him. Told him that it was the father's duty to safeguard his daughter, and he, Lord Maxwell, was not to blame if Mr. Darcy had not done so."

Lord Henry turned to William. "I believe it was at that moment that George Darcy decided to offer Reverend Jonathan the pulpit at Lambton. The man had such a certainty of what was right, such an absolute sense of morality tempered with an appreciation of humanity. He came to the Darcys to apologize and see what he could do to help. He did not castigate Julia as a sinner as many would have. Instead, he recognized that she had been an innocent targeted by a practiced, determined seducer."

Lord Henry sighed. "Unfortunately, Julia was still in the man's thrall. I know of no other way to describe it. George de Bourgh had spun some tale about his wife having an affair and a divorce being in the works. Even though Julia did not see him for months after the party in Kent, she continued to believe that the snake would come to her as soon as the divorce was finalized and her babe would be accepted as his legitimate offspring."

Richard groaned and the Earl grunted in agreement. "As I said, he was a smooth, practiced seducer… and determined. Darcy later told me that he had heard the wager was for a mare in foal to a racehorse they both admired."

"Bloody Hell!" William couldn't help blurting. The story came too close to his own sister's experience at Ramsgate.

Lord Henry was nodding sadly. "I suppose the best that could be said of them is that they did not advertise it publically in the betting book at White's." All three men grimaced. "Julia Darcy was soon brought to admit the liaison, but it would be some months before she would admit to her lover's poor character."

The Earl sighed. "I am sorry to say so, William, but although your grandfather was an exceptionally kind man, he was… ineffectual. Even had he been in the best of health, he did not have the force of character to press the de Bourghs to make any sort of reparations. Lady Edna might have, but Lord Maxwell and his elder sons had no respect for women, least of all the mother of one whose weakness they had already exploited."

William spoke thoughtfully. "I never heard much about my Grandfather Darcy. Grandmother was such a force of nature that I suppose I assumed he was of similar disposition."

After some moments of contemplation, Lord Henry continued. "Well, the Darcys returned to Derbyshire. I remember Anne saying that some estate matter called them all home; I didn't know any of this until years later when George confided in me. Anne had hoped we might be invited to visit Pemberley, but after Christmas we received word that all the Darcys were spending some months at their estate on the Isle of Man. I forget the name…"

Will said softly. "Druidale. Near Derbyhaven."

"Yes, that's it. The islanders are supposed to be incredibly insular, but somehow the Darcys had their loyalty. Lady Edna chose wisely--not a whisper of Julia's condition ever got back to London Society."

William smiled, knowing the story. One of his ancestors had married a daughter of the Earl of Derby and she had brought Druidale into the family as her dowry. The Darcys had proven to be far more considerate landholders than the Stanleys and soon won the loyalty of the inhabitants through the establishment of a school and a certain liberality toward those who farmed the crofts. William even had a kilt, which he thought would amuse Elizabeth.

The Earl continued his story. "They put it out that the family gathering was due to old Mr. Darcy's poor health, and indeed, he did pass some months later. But not before his only daughter gave birth to a healthy boy, out of wedlock. Apparently Julia believed George de Bourgh would come to her almost to the end, and insisted on referring to the unborn babe as George in his honor."

Lord Henry sighed. "For better or worse, she was enlightened by the man himself. Some weeks before the babe was due, Julia was encouraged to go for a walk on the shore with her companion. By whatever evil twist of fates, George de Bourgh had come to the Isle of Man for a hunting party with a group of friends, and that very afternoon he was riding with some of them on that very beach."

"He came close enough that Julia recognized him and I am sure you can imagine what happened next. When faced with his former paramour, clearly with child and calling to him, George de Bourgh acted as though he had never seen her before in his life. Worse, he spent some minutes jeering at her to his friends, sneering at her as a common whore looking for a wealthy mark."

"Apparently Julia's companion had to practically carry her home, she was so distraught. She went into labor soon after--the midwife told Darcy it was almost certainly due to the shock. So, the babe came a few weeks early but was as healthy as you could please, although they heard that the father had left the island even before he had come into the world."

"Blackguard," muttered Richard, thoroughly disgusted.

"Yes," agreed his father. "I can't say that I was sorry to hear that he had been killed in a duel a few years ago. Given how he lived his life, I suppose I'm surprised it took that long."

"Anyway, apparently Miss Darcy was so upset that she could not even look upon the baby when he was born and became hysterical at just the sound of his cries. I suppose the Darcys were lucky to find a wet nurse nearby who was willing to take the boy into her own home. Unfortunately, that same blessing turned out to be a curse; a young woman with a pretty face and pleasing manner that hid a seething ambition and total lack of morals." The Earl nodded to Darcy. "You knew her as Coira Wickham."

"What?!!" blurted Darcy. Of anything, he had not expected that twist to the tale.

"Indeed," muttered Lord Henry sardonically. "I suppose Lady Edna thought herself to be tremendously clever. Their steward at Pemberley was ready to retire and had found a young man to train for his place. After consulting with his mentor, they discussed the situation with young John Wickham and he agreed to come to the Isle of Man and meet Coira and the baby.

"Wickham was a good man with a great love of farming but no great understanding of women, so I suppose it took Coira little effort to entrance him. And so, when Mr. Wickham returned to Pemberley, he brought with him his new bride, supposedly a young widow with a babe born some months after its own father's tragic death."

The Earl coughed and held his glass out to Richard. "Son, I'm going to need a bit more if I'm to get through the rest of this story." The younger man obeyed without a word.

Taking a few sips and clearing his throat, Lord Henry prepared to finish the story. "Lady Edna also arranged to have a second young man visit the family after the Wickhams had departed; a young French nobleman who had admired Julia the previous Season, and whom she had favoured until George de Bourgh wooed her away."

The Earl shook his head. "I never met Count Henri Pierre Du Pont, but George Darcy said he was a good man; quiet and serious, with a deep, honest affection for Julia. They explained the whole, sad story to him and he loved her enough to forgive her mistake and still wish to marry her. And so they were wed."

"It was a quiet wedding at the Pemberley chapel, just the immediate Darcy family-- Du Pont had no close relations in England-- and honestly, Mr. Darcy's health would not have withstood anything grander. The happy couple left for Paris directly and the old gentleman passed on not a month later. George Darcy said that they were happy together--apparently Julia adored Paris and the society there welcomed her with open arms. Unfortunately, those very connections put them in danger; they both died during the Revolution not ten years after their marriage.

"Now that I am a father myself, I can understand Lady Edna's desire to have her only grandchild close to home, hidden in plain sight, as it were. George Darcy had not yet married, and James was already proclaiming his desire to remain a lifelong bachelor, wedded only to the law."

Lord Henry turned to his nephew. "Your parents married less than a year later, and never was there a baby more happily welcomed than you, Fitzwilliam. There had been so much sadness in that house."

William spoke thoughtfully. "So that was why Father always looked after George Wickham."

The older gentleman nodded decisively. "Yes; his sister's only child, his godson. He did all he could to give young George every advantage, but it seemed that the boy had drawn in Coira's ambition and thirst for easy money with her milk."

The three men were silent for many minutes, thinking over the dark tale until Lord Henry spoke again. "William, if nothing else, I hope telling you this story helps you understand why your father was so strict with his own children. You bore the brunt of it as the eldest. Darcy spoke to me not long before he died; ironically he had just revised his will and wanted to discuss some of the changes with me."

The Earl nodded to his son. "One of which was to name you as Georgiana's co-guardian if he were to pass. As though he needed to apologize to me for choosing my younger son over Edward." He snorted, the brandy having loosened his tongue. "Can you imagine? Edward would have gambled away her dowry if he had to marry her when she was twelve."

Darcy and Richard were silently amazed, not having realized that the Earl was so keenly aware of his heir's failings. Lord Henry felt like laughing at their expressions but didn't have the energy. "Richard, you should know that your uncle said many flattering things about your honor and reliability."

The Colonel looked at his hands and felt himself colouring slightly. The sight of his thirty-year old son, a decorated veteran of the peninsular campaign, blushing like a schoolboy drew a full-fledged chuckle from the Earl. Thinking that he had another memory to relay, he turned to his nephew who was looking oddly thoughtful for such a depressing topic.

"William, he worried about you. He was proud of your success at university--he was certain that you would run the Darcy estates with far greater success than he had. It was just that toward the end, he fretted that he had impressed on you only cold, hard principles… the importance of absolute propriety, adherence to society's rules, maintaining the family's position and honor, and so forth… He worried that in the aftermath of his sister's disgrace, in his bitterness he taught you to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to expect that there was no one of sense or worth beyond your family circle."

Will thought of what he had been and of the lesson that Elizabeth had taught him; hard at first, but most advantageous in the end.

The Earl continued. "Darcy confessed to me that he could barely even remember those first few years after the epidemic at Pemberley."

Will offered softly. "Georgiana and I rarely saw him. In hindsight, I suppose I was too young to sup with him, but I remember feeling so guilty that there was no relief I could give him from all his duties… rebuilding the estate after so many deaths."

Richard rolled his eyes. "Darce… you were barely eleven and your own mother had just died." His cousin shrugged; he could still feel the twisting in his gut that he should somehow have shouldered more of the burden.

Lord Henry watched the emotions flickering across his nephew's face thoughtfully. "It is bred into you, that sense of duty. Logically you know that your place was in the schoolroom--eleven years old, the only son; you had to be prepared for your future position. But…" The older man looked William straight in the eye. "I know how you feel.

Darcy considered for some minutes. "Aunt Catherine said something last Easter that I didn't understand. She was angry that she had not been allowed to assume my mother's duties after her death."

"Lord, is that still stuck in her craw?!" The Earl took a swig of brandy before releasing a rough laugh.

"William, I don't know how much you understand about your father's breakdown after the fever. It wasn't simply grief over the death of his wife; he felt incredibly guilty that he had not been at Pemberley but sat it out at Matlock, safe and sound while so many died. Of course he could not have returned--it would have been suicide--but Eleanor and I nearly had to lock him in his room to prevent him from riding back to Pemberley.

"When the quarantine was lifted and he was able to return, he was confronted with my elder sister. Catherine was nearly driven insane by so much death around her. Her sister, husband and two sons were some of the earliest to pass and she was whipped into a frenzy." The Earl sighed.

"You must understand that Sir Lewis installed Catherine at Rosings when they married but himself spent little time there--too busy off gambling and wenching. Catherine is intelligent and knew as much as I did about running an estate. Though she never told me much, I pieced together that she more or less took over running Rosings, which was no easy job with a steward and servants long used to the absentee ownership style favored by the de Bourghs."

"Faced with the calamity at Pemberley, Catherine blamed your father. Said it was his poor management and dereliction of duty that allowed the spread of disease from commoner to gentry. Of course, it was all rubbish, but Darcy just bowed his head and took her haranguing, day after day. Finally, Lady Edna had enough; one evening at dinner, Catherine began explaining that she would marry George, thus combining the fortunes of Pemberley and Rosings and allowing her to take over the running of both estates."

"Good Lord!" said Richard, stunned. "So her plan to marry Anne to Wills grew out of having her own ambition stymied."

"Unfortunately, yes," admitted his father. To William, he said, "I suppose I should have been more firm with her, but Catherine has never been easy to control, particularly by a younger brother such as I. "

The Colonel couldn't help but chuckle. "Not to worry. Darcy now has Miss Elizabeth to protect him."

The Earl smiled briefly. "That is a confrontation I should like to see. Lady Edna would be pleased with your fiancé, William. Your grandmother was feeling her age, but she moved back to Pemberley House from the Dower House after the funerals, routing Catherine and sending her back to Kent. Apparently my sister's last grab for power was to insist that she should raise the two remaining Darcy children. She wanted to take you and Georgiana back to Rosings permanently."

Darcy was nodding thoughtfully. "I remember the arguing. Aunt Catherine had my governess and Georgie's nurse packing our things. I'd never seen Grandmother so angry when she discovered it. She actually had my father brought up from his study, which was unheard of. I shall never forget her words; 'Fitzwilliam Darcy is a Darcy, the heir of Pemberley, and he shall be raised at Pemberley.'"

Lord Henry was looking at him carefully. "I hadn't realized that Catherine got that far. What did your father do?"

William shrugged uncomfortably. "Our trunks were unpacked and Aunt Catherine left with Anne. She didn't return to Pemberley until my father's funeral."

Richard spoke with surprise. "I had no idea! And we visit Rosings every year!"

Will shrugged again. "I hadn't thought about it myself until I talked to Anne at Easter. She hasn't visited Pemberley since that summer."

The Earl stirred himself. "George Darcy asked us to take you on our visits to Kent. He felt it was important that you get to know your mother's family, but he could never again be comfortable with Catherine after her attack when he was most vulnerable. Will, you must understand that your father would never have allowed Catherine or anyone else to take you and Georgiana away from Pemberley permanently. He loved you both, though he may not have demonstrated it well during his mourning."

Richard caught a haunted look in his cousin's eye. "Wills? Surely you didn't think…" He trailed off. How did one ask if a man thought his father hadn't loved him?

The younger man sighed and forced himself to speak when he saw his relations looking at him with concern. "We saw very little of him. Grandmother dined with us, played with us, read to us. Wickham and I were sent to Eton within a year of Mother's death. My grandmother and I corresponded weekly until she passed when I was sixteen. By then Georgiana could write and we were exchanging letters." Darcy smiled. "I still have most of the letters and drawings she sent me, along with notes from her governess telling me of her progress."

"And your father?"

"He wrote me once a month, on the first of the month. I have those letters, too. They were primarily summaries of estate business. Actually I've kept up the tradition in a journal… making monthly reports for my heirs."

Richard spoke softly. "But nothing personal?" Though the notes he had exchanged with his own father over the years were usually short and to the point, he often felt that he had learned more about him, grown closer to him in their correspondence than during their years living in the same house.

Will shrugged again, feeling defensive of his father. "It made sense for us to correspond about the estate. He was preparing me to take over; when I returned for summers, I would ride out and talk to the steward, visit the tenants. I knew the planting schedules and breeding plans, how much wool we could expect and which mills offered the best prices, and so forth."

Lord Henry was nodding with approval. "I remember after your father's funeral, I was impressed by how easily you took over his affairs. I arrived expecting to find an overwhelmed schoolboy, but was faced with a young man fully capable of assuming his place immediately. Your father would be proud of you, William."

A faint blush was visible on Darcy's cheeks. "Thank you, sir, but I have always felt that I should apologize to you. You very kindly offered your assistance and I practically dismissed you out of hand."

The Earl chuckled out loud. "You have nothing to apologize for, young man. You knew what you were about; had you allowed me, Catherine, or anyone else to treat you like an ignorant boy, it would have been twice as hard for you to establish your authority, both at Pemberley and in Society. You are a Darcy, regardless of your Christian name, and the head of an ancient and honorable family. Your forefathers would be proud of you, William; certainly I am proud to call you nephew."

Not trusting himself to speak, Darcy dipped his head in appreciation for his uncle's words. The three men sat quietly for some minutes, each thinking of times past. It was not until the clock began to toll the midnight hour that the Colonel roused himself to stand.

"Well, sirs. This has been a most revealing evening, but this little soldier needs to get some sleep."

Darcy nodded in agreement and rose. When the three had moved into the hall, he turned back to his uncle, offering his hand and then giving the older man a quick hug, to his great surprise. "Thank you, Uncle Henry." Turning quickly, he collected his coat and left.