“In reality, it was a coincidence. According to your wife’s sister, Wickham left her in Nottingham to wait for the public coach to Pemberley. I had no idea of Mrs. Wickham’s identity until she shared it during one of our conversations.”

“And what is your connection to this new case against George Wickham?” Darcy needed all the facts—needed to know how to ensure his family’s well-being.

“I would testify to the repetition of Mr. Wickham’s offense—to his proclivity for gambling debts—assuming they decided to bring charges.”

Darcy had to ask. “Do you have any idea of the extent of these debts?”

“Somewhere in the neighborhood of nine thousand pounds, I believe, sir.”

A sickening feeling flooded his stomach. Barely eighteen months earlier, Darcy had settled a large sum on Wickham to marry Lydia Bennet, plus he paid the man’s gambling debts in Hertfordshire and Brighton. He could not afford to bail his enemy out again, no matter what the emotional cost to his family. Enraged, he wondered, How could Wickham go through so much money in such a short time? If it would not affect the Bennets, and, ultimately, the Darcys, by association, he would lead the party to lock Wickham away.

“You are not thinking of paying Wickham’s accounts again, are you, Mr. Darcy? It would be throwing good money after bad.” Worth spoke the truth, although Darcy did not wish to hear it.

“I will not take money from my sister’s future to save Mr.Wickham. Plus, I will not rescue the man if what you say is true regarding his actions towards his wife.”

“I assure you that it is true, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy stood to end the conversation. “I thank you, Mr. Worth, for being so candid.You have given me much on which to think.”

“Let me know, Mr. Darcy, if I may be of service.” Worth made his obligatory bow to leave. “You and your family need to openly dissociate yourself from any dealings with Mr.Wickham.”

“Unfortunately, you may be correct, Mr. Worth.” Darcy led the way to the door.“However, how do I convince my wife to set aside her feelings for her sister and to allow the lady to flounder in the situation she has created?”


Despite Lady Catherine’s objections, Darcy insisted that Elizabeth sit opposite him at his evening table. He placed Lady Catherine on his right and Viscount Stafford on Elizabeth’s right. He kept Cathleen Donnel away from Georgiana, placing her between Lydia and Nigel Worth.

“It does appear that the storm is not going away anytime soon,” Worth observed. “We may be in your debt, Mr. Darcy, longer than we originally had intended.”

“I am sure that my nephew knows his duty,” Lady Catherine declared to the whole table. “As is our family’s nature, we take our responsibilities to the neighborhood seriously. My brother, the Earl of Matlock, is the most magnanimous of men.”

“I was unaware, Mr. Darcy, of your relationship to the earl,” Mrs. Williams raised her head to join the conversation. She seemed a bit disturbed by the news of Darcy’s connection, but she said,“My late husband and I had the honor of making the acquaintance of the Earl of Matlock at a celebration dinner hosted by the Naval Board at Whitehall.”

Lady Catherine puffed up with pride.“My brother is known for his strong support of our military efforts. In Parliament, he often urges more funding for our troops. His own son is a colonel in the army. Colonel Fitzwilliam shares guardianship of my niece with Darcy.”

Darcy would have preferred that these complete strangers would have no knowledge of his private affairs, but he realized, from years of trying to squelch his aunt, that it was an effort in futility.

Georgiana, seated on Elizabeth’s left, ventured a comment. “I do so wish that the colonel might call at Pemberley more often. It seems a long time since he was here.”

“It has been only a few weeks,” Elizabeth remarked. “He was here during the Festive season.”

“It seems longer.”

Georgiana’s participation did not go unnoticed by Darcy, who realized that six months earlier, it would never have happened.

“If Mr. Worth’s evaluation is true, Lord Stafford, you may not arrive at your relative’s bedside in time.That would be a great tragedy,” his sister observed.

Her words caught Adam Lawrence’s attention in more than one way. He and Cathleen had not discussed how they would explain their supposed trip to Cheshire to comfort a loved one. “It would indeed be a tragedy, Miss Darcy.”

Lady Catherine asked, “Whom did you intend to visit, Lord Stafford?”

Adam stammered,“A-a dis-a distant relative for me,Your Ladyship, but it is my cousin Miss Donnel’s uncle.You understand how extended families come together in times of adversity.”

“And your uncle, Miss Donnel—he has a title?” Lady Catherine demanded.

“An Irish baron, Lady Catherine.” Cathleen kept her eyes lowered; Adam had warned her of Darcy’s threat, and she played her part.

Lady Catherine’s disdain showed.“Irish?” She wrinkled her nose.

“We all must come from somewhere, Aunt,” Darcy said.

“I suppose,” she said and tsked, taking the time to cut the slice of ham on her plate.“It is kind of His Lordship to escort Miss Donnel to Cheshire, considering that you are not blood cousins.”

Adam found Lady Catherine’s attitude amusing. If he had not promised Fitzwilliam Darcy to maintain propriety for the rest of the party’s sake, Adam would have enjoyed putting the woman in her place by saying something scandalous. “Miss Donnel and I are close, nonetheless, Lady Catherine. I am just not close to her maternal uncle.”

“I must observe, Viscount Stafford, that you and your cousin make a striking pair.”

Adam could not resist. “So you think my cousin an appropriate match, Lady Catherine? I have never taken with the British practice of marrying one’s relatives—be they distant or not.” Adam purposely avoided looking at Darcy, knowing what his host might think of such a remark. He also avoided what he assumed played across Cathleen’s face. He had openly admitted that he held no desire to marry her.

“Nonsense, Your Lordship.” Lady Catherine swelled with self-righteousness. “A family must keep the blood lines pure. I had once entertained the idea of my nephew and my Anne making a match. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as my choice. However, it was not meant to be.”

“Mother, please!” Anne whispered loudly.

Darcy warned, “Aunt, we will not revisit this issue.”

“Of course, Darcy. I apologize.” The woman looked anything but apologetic.

Adam had taken some pleasure in subtly needling Darcy’s aunt, but he had no understanding of the animosity lurking behind the woman’s conversation. He knew nothing of how or why Darcy had chosen his wife, but it was obviously a sore point for Lady Catherine. Adam had taken an initial liking to Darcy’s wife, and he regretted that he might have inspired Lady Catherine to embarrass the woman.

“Well, as for me, I will follow in your nephew’s footsteps, ma’am, and choose a woman I can truly love. It is capital to witness such a perfect couple as we see in Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. Very few men would object to such a match.” With these words, Adam hoped that he had laid the groundwork for the Darcys’ forgiveness of him.

“Mrs. Darcy is a phenomenal woman.” Darcy raised his glass to Elizabeth in acknowledgment of the woman he loved.

“Thank you, my Husband.” Purposely, Elizabeth had not reacted to Lady Catherine’s insult. She had expected something of the sort from Darcy’s aunt. She would not sink to the woman’s baseness. Elizabeth recalled Darcy’s second proposal: As a child I was taught what was right, but was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately, as an only son, I was spoiled by my parents, who though good themselves, allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Luckily, her husband had changed his ways. Sadly, Lady Catherine would never see beyond the end of her aristocratic nose.

“Perhaps, Georgiana, you might entertain your brother’s guests after our meal.” Lady Catherine’s suggestion was a thinly veiled edict.

Georgiana flushed. “I…I could not, Aunt.”

“Nonsense, child. You most certainly will do your duty. Why spend so many hours practicing if no one ever is to hear you play? I am sure you possess more skill than Mrs. Darcy for she was never one to practice. I told her at Rosings several times that she will never play well unless she practices more.Yet even with her limited experience, Mrs. Darcy managed to entertain both the good colonel and your brother for an evening.”

Darcy came immediately to his wife’s defense. “No one admitted to the privilege of hearing Mrs. Darcy could think anything wanting.” Darcy provided a solution of his own to calm his sister. “Perhaps, Elizabeth, you might offer us the pleasure of hearing you sing, with Georgiana’s accompaniment, of course.”

Elizabeth smiled archly. “I would enjoy that, Fitzwilliam. Oh, please say you will indulge me, Georgiana!”

Georgiana knew this woman—knew that Elizabeth, like her brother, would walk through fire to protect her. “That would be most pleasant, Elizabeth.You have a beautiful voice.”

“Possibly my cousin will share a song also; she is quite talented,” Adam Lawrence observed, again ignoring Darcy’s possible censure.

Darcy asked smoothly,“Might you honor us with a song or two, Miss Donnel?”

Her initial expression was one of mild alarm, but the lady answered, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for asking. If it is your wish, I cannot refuse.You have opened your home to my cousin and me. It is the least I could do in return.”