“I would’ve thought Lizzy and Mr. Darcy would have arrived by now,” Mr. Bennet observed. “I pray they haven’t suffered an accident or met other hazards along the road.”

Mrs. Bennet’s hand fluttered about her face. “Oh, do not pronounce such dire circumstances, Mr. Bennet. Have you no compassion on my poor nerves?”

Mr. Bennet’s smile betrayed his amusement. “I have a high respect for your nerves, as you well know, my dear. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”

“Nerves,” Lady Catherine grunted. “I’ve never understood how some women always fancy themselves beset with nerves.”

Mr. Bennet’s face lit with amusement. “I assure you, Your Ladyship, that Mrs. Bennet’s nerves are quite real. I have witnessed their effect on numerous occasions.”

“I am of the opinion that women who seek such attentions possess weak minds.”

“Mother!” Anne gasped and looked quickly to Mrs. Jenkinson for support. Swallowing hard, she ventured. “I’m certain Your Ladyship didn’t mean to insinuate that Mrs. Bennet suffers from a feebleness.”

Lady Catherine sipped her wine. “Of course not,” she said grudgingly. “Mrs. Bennet, obviously, does not seek Mr. Bennet’s attentions through devious stratagems.”

“I suppose that means, my dear, that your stratagems are right-handed by nature.” With his wine glass, he saluted his wife across the table before turning his attention to Charlotte Collins. “Sir William seems content with Maria’s match. Your sister’s young beau has a promising future in London.”

“Yes, Papa has written that he hopes to return to St. James when he and Mama travel to London to meet Mr. Richardson’s family.” Charlotte indicated Mr. Grange. “And Mrs. Bennet appears pleased with Mary’s match.”

“Yes, our Mary has snatched up a viable candidate. At least, Mrs. Bennet has said such on countless occasions, so I must believe it so. After all, Her Ladyship has deemed my wife to have no mental deficiencies.”

Charlotte chuckled lightly before saying softly, “Lady Catherine is perceptive in her evaluations.”

Mr. Bennet smiled knowingly. “Lizzy has assured me that nothing is beneath the great lady’s attention.”

Mrs. Collins tightened the line of her mouth. “Her Ladyship is all kindness. She has taken it upon herself to oversee my domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, offering advice on how everything ought to be regulated.”

Georgiana, who sat at the table’s head, could easily hear their conversation, and she recognized the extent of her aunt’s interference into the Collinses’ lives. It didn’t surprise her. As a child, she had admired her aunt’s steadfastness, especially after Sir Lewis’s passing. Few men could run an estate as efficiently as did Lady Catherine. Time, however, had taught Georgiana that Her Ladyship was not in commission for the peace of the area surrounding Rosings Park; instead, Lady Catherine was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins, and before him, Mr. Knight; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, her aunt sailed forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty. Lady Catherine bullied people into doing what she said, and although Georgiana understood her aunt, the girl couldn’t help but feel sorry for those of whom Her Ladyship took notice. She also felt compassion for the former Lady Catherine Fitzwilliam, who had been thrust by Sir Lewis’s death into a man’s world.

“Tell me of your Hertfordshire family, Mrs. Collins,” Georgiana ventured.



“Mr. Darcy!” Mr. Joseph looked up in surprise from where he draped a horse blanket over the stall’s slats to protect his family’s privacy.

Darcy remained some six feet removed from the enclosure. “Could I speak to you privately, Mr. Joseph?”

The man glanced behind him and then squeezed through the narrow opening between the fence’s slats. “How may I serve you, Mr. Darcy?” the man asked warily.

Darcy gestured to the barn’s main door. “Over there.” When they had secured privacy, Darcy cleared his throat. Uncomfortably, he began, “My wife has taken a liking to Mrs. Joseph.” He noted the man’s frown. “Therefore, my Elizabeth is greatly concerned for Mrs. Joseph’s health and well-being.”

“Please express our gratitude to Mrs. Darcy, but I’ll see to my wife’s safety.”

Darcy nodded. This would be embarrassing. “I would expect nothing less, Mr. Joseph. Yet, Mrs. Darcy has charged me with a specific task: My Elizabeth wishes us to share our chamber with you and Mrs. Joseph.”

As suspected, the man took the suggestion as criticism. “I may not be as rich as the Darcys of Pemberley,” Joseph hissed through gritted teeth. “But I can provide for my wife and child.”

Darcy understood Joseph’s anger. “I assure you, Sir, that I intend no offense.”

“What is it, Matthew?” Mrs. Joseph appeared at her husband’s side. She offered Darcy a brief curtsy. “Has something happened to Mrs. Darcy, Sir?”

She wore her cloak and gloves with a blanket draped about her shoulders. “Mrs. Darcy is well, Ma’am, but she worries for you and your child.”

Mrs. Joseph glanced at her husband’s sullen countenance. “It’s not the most comfortable accommodation, but Mr. Joseph will see to our beds.”

Darcy sighed deeply. “I have promised my wife that I would extend an invitation to you and Mr. Joseph to share our quarters.”

“And I’ve assured Mr. Darcy that we do not require his benevolence,” Mr. Joseph emphatically asserted.

The lady placed her hand gently on her husband’s arm. “Matthew, I’m certain Mr. Darcy is as uncomfortable at making his offer as you are at receiving it. May we hear him out before we respond?” Her husband grudgingly nodded. “Finish what you came to say, Mr. Darcy.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” He took a deep breath and proceeded with his invitation. “As I said previously, Mrs. Darcy voices her concern for your health, Mrs. Joseph. It is miserably cold outside, and without heat, this situation will only increase. Mrs. Darcy believes it best that we open our door to you.” He paused briefly to gauge their reactions. Mr. Joseph still saw Darcy’s commission as interference, but the lady puzzled over what Darcy said.

Throwing caution to the side, Darcy continued. “My wife and I have lost two children, and it is likely that Mrs. Darcy is being overly cautious,” he explained. “But your comfort and protection, Ma’am, is important to Elizabeth; therefore, it’s important to me.” He swallowed his qualms. “I shouldn’t share additional intimacies, but my Elizabeth has denied her own gestation until an hour ago when she spoke of what she would want for our child if we were in your situation.

“Mrs. Darcy has protected her heart from the pain of losing another child by not accepting our future happiness. Tonight, she has acknowledged our possibilities — our joined life. Through you and Mr. Joseph, Elizabeth has allowed the world to keep spinning. She has promised to keep you safe, Mrs. Joseph, and I have promised the same for her. I’m not offering royal accommodations.You’ll still lie upon a pallet, but it will be before a warm hearth. You’ll have some privacy. My offer must be superior to a straw bed and sharing this space with more than a dozen drivers, hostlers, and footmen.”

Darcy didn’t miss the shiver shooting through the woman’s body. “Matthew, it would be infinitely better than what we have here,” she said softly. “Can you see past your pride to accept Mr. Darcy’s kindness?”