“Elizabeth, may I present Sir Jonathan Padget and Mr. Horvak. Gentlemen, my wife, Mrs. Darcy.” Both men bowed their greetings. “Sir Jonathan and Horvak are stranded also,” Darcy explained as he possessively placed Elizabeth on his arm.

Smiling politely, she said, “I am pleased for the acquaintance, Sir Jonathan. Mr. Horvak.” Both men possessed a strong aristocratic look. Besides his clothes’ fine cut, Sir Jonathan had chiseled, square jawed features. Horvak, tawny-haired and with roguish good looks, maintained a powerful ease, like that which Elizabeth recognized in her own husband.Wealthy and titled men had many of the same qualities.

“Please join us, Mrs. Darcy.” Horvak held her chair.

“Your husband was just explaining his difficult negotiations with Mr. Parnell.” Sir Jonathan gestured with an ale glass in his hand. “It is not surprising. Both Horvak and I have tangled with Parnell previously. A man wishing to ship out of Newcastle or Middlesbrough has to go through William Parnell.”

“Parnell is as tenacious as they come,” Mr. Horvak reported. “But one cannot totally blame the man. Brought himself to prominence with hard work and diligence.”

“Does Mr. Parnell have a family?” Elizabeth asked in curiosity. When Darcy had related conversations with the man, Elizabeth had wondered what had made Parnell so negative in his responses.

Horvak shrugged his shoulders. “I couldn’t say for certain, Mrs. Darcy. Parnell spends countless hours at his office or down by the docks. The man neglects his wife if he’s taken wedding vows; that would be a fact.”

“It’s also a fact that Parnell is one of the area’s richest men. If he’s married, Parnell’s wife wants for nothing but his company.”



“And you shall leave me stranded in Derbyshire without family with less than a week before Christmastide?” Lady Catherine argued with her brother.

The Earl expelled a sigh of exasperation; he had tried repeatedly to reason with his sister. “Catherine, the eventual heir to this title is about to be born, and I plan to be with my son when his child comes into this world. Rowland has sent word that it is only a matter of days before Amelia delivers her first child. The Countess insists that we travel to William’s Wood. You could always journey with us. I am certain that Rowland would welcome you and Anne.”

“But not Mr. and Mrs. Collins,” she declared. “I have promised the Collinses return transportation to Kent. Collins visits a cousin in Warrington. In fact, I have asked the Collinses to join me here. I am ever attentive to my duties.”

The Earl’s jaw set. “You invited your clergyman’s family to my home?” His voice increased in volume. “Catherine, sometimes you forget yourself. I had thought that you simply arranged their journey as you commonly do,” he said through gritted teeth. “Dear Sister, you may rule Rosings Park in lieu of Lewis De Bourgh, but Matley Manor is under my domain. I invite the guests!”

Lady Catherine’s eyebrow rose in disbelief. “You’d deny the Collinses? This was my childhood home, Martin,” she asserted.

“The house will be closed while the Countess and I are in Lincolnshire. I had planned to release the staff on Christmas Day anyway. You may choose to accompany me and Her Ladyship to William’s Wood, or you may return to Kent.” He slammed his fist on a nearby table’s edge, sending china and silver to the floor.

“Well, I never!” Lady Catherine sputtered.

The Earl shoved to his feet. “Never what, Catherine?” he accused. “Never considered anyone else’s opinions? Never showed true compassion? Never offered your genuine condolences? Never expressed love? There are so many things that you’ve never done, that I’m at a loss as to which one you mean!” He strode from the room without looking back.



“We had planned to wait for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy’s return,” Charles Bingley announced to those gathered in Pemberley’s small dining room, “but I cannot keep a secret.” Bingley lovingly reached for his wife’s hand. “In June, Mrs. Bingley and I will welcome a new addition to our family.”