“And willing to accept Anne’s very substantial dowry in return?” Darcy poured himself a brandy. Uncharacteristically, he did not offer one to Harwood—a direct cut.

“A man expects his wife to bring something to the marriage,” Harwood asserted.

Darcy thought of Elizabeth and her settlement of a thousand pounds. “What if all the lady has to offer is her ardor?”

“That is ridiculous, Mr. Darcy. I am well aware of Miss de Bourgh’s financial situation.”

Darcy had expected nothing less from the man who sat before him. He felt sorry for his cousin—sorry that Anne had once had so little self-confidence that she had become involved with such a cad—also sorry that he had not protected her. He did not know how just yet, but he would disentangle his cousin from this sham of a marriage proposal. “And if my cousin chooses to weather the rumors and refuses your kind offer?”

“Why would Miss de Bourgh consider such insanity? Once a woman loses her good name, she is not likely to find an honorable man.”

Darcy smiled before asking, “And you are an honorable man, Lieutenant?”

“I am, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy rose slowly to his feet. “It is late, Harwood. I will offer you a bed for the evening, and you may present yourself to my cousin in the morning.” He moved to the bell cord. “I assume that will be acceptable, sir.”

“That is most generous of you,Mr.Darcy,under the circumstances.”

Mr. Baldwin arrived immediately. “You rang, Mr. Darcy.”

“Yes, Mr. Baldwin. The lieutenant will join us for the evening. A room on this level seems appropriate.”

Baldwin knew Darcy always placed his most disagreeable guests on the second level of the house.“I will see to it personally, Mr. Darcy.”

“And send Lucas to me.” He nodded slightly. “We must see to the lieutenant’s mount.”

With a smug look of triumph, Harwood followed the butler from the room. Darcy returned to his desk.Within moments, Lucas was at his door. “You sent for me, sir?”

Darcy motioned the man forward.“For this evening, I need you to attend to Lieutenant Harwood’s horse. I wish the gentleman to believe that he is secure in what he hopes to achieve at Pemberley.”

The footman did not understand, but he agreed with what his employer told him.

“More important, Lucas, I need you to take a message to my cousin at Matlock. I am reluctant to send you out in this weather, but this is urgent. I will finish writing instructions to Colonel Fitzwilliam for you to deliver.The lieutenant informs me that this part of Derbyshire suffered the hardest with the storm. He claims Cheshire is already recovering, but as you are heading in the opposite direction, I am afraid the going may be quite rough. I need my cousin’s insights, but not at the risk of your life.Take no undue chances. I will provide you funds with which to take shelter, if necessary.”

“Matlock is usually a three-hour ride, sir. Even with the weather, I should succeed in no more than double that time. I will not fail you, Mr. Darcy.”

“I am most grateful, Lucas. Be ready to ride at first light.”

“As you wish, Mr. Darcy.”


Elizabeth followed her sister up the main staircase, exhausted by the day and by the chaos of late. She wanted to announce to Georgiana and to Lydia and to Jane and her parents, and even to Lady Catherine, that she carried Darcy’s child. She wanted to tell Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Jennings and Darcy’s cottagers—tell the world that she bore the heir to Pemberley and to accept their good wishes and to go back to the way it had been before the ice storm—before the phantom of Pemberley had become a reality.

She wondered what Lieutenant Harwood would do to the happiness she had observed on Miss de Bourgh’s face this evening. Elizabeth almost wished that Darcy’s aunt would refuse the apology he had demanded and that Lady Catherine would take her leave in the morning. It would be easier to handle Harwood and Anne without the benefit of Her Ladyship’s temper.

“I will see you in the morning, Lyddie.” Elizabeth found the day’s earlier excitement had quickly dissipated. She wondered if her sudden tiredness had anything to do with the baby. Darcy was correct; she needed to think of her child first. No more corsets and no more overexerting herself—and no more hiding her happiness.

Elizabeth had just reached for the bedchamber door handle when the sound of her sister’s scream sent an icy dagger through Elizabeth’s heart. Instantly, she was on the run. Seconds later, she burst through Lydia’s door. Screaming at the top of her lungs, her sister stood in the room’s center. Elizabeth caught Lydia around the waist and pulled her away from an unknown danger, dragging Lydia toward the dressing room.

The impact of her sister nearly knocking her to the floor stopped Lydia’s screams but not her anger. She fought Elizabeth to return to the bedchamber—to right the wrong. Catching Elizabeth’s arm, Lydia whipped her older sister from her, driving Elizabeth face first into an interior wall and sending her stumbling backward. That was when her foot caught in the fringed edge of a Persian-inspired carpet. Elizabeth crashed to the floor with a breath-stealing thud.


Craving his wife’s company, Darcy left his study behind, dreading telling Elizabeth about the perfidy Harwood had brought into their home. If he ever rid himself of his current guests, he would, he swore, bar Pemberley’s doors to any but his immediate family. In the future, he would pay others to offer charity to anyone coming uninvited to Pemberley.

His foot touched the first step leading to the private quarters just as the initial scream rang out clearly from the chamber suites. Immediately, he bolted up the stairs, followed closely by Murray and Lucas. Taking the steps two and three at a time, he heard the second round of screams begin as he gained the main hallway. Thankfully, the screams were not Elizabeth’s or Georgiana’s. Who is screaming? Why? Turning to the left, Darcy saw the open door and lunged toward the sound of a tussle. He burst through the passage to see Elizabeth’s arms flailing in the air as she crashed to the floor. Before he could reach her, she went limp.

“Damn!” he cursed as he shoved Lydia Wickham out of the way, trying to reach his wife. “If you have hurt her,” he began a threat, but a gasp of air took him to his knees beside Elizabeth. “Lizzy,” he cooed as he cradled her in his arms. “Elizabeth, please.” Her eyes opened slowly, but when she smiled at him, Darcy clutched her to him. “Thank God,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead and brushed the hair from her face. “Let me take you to your room.”

“Lydia,” she choked out.

Darcy shot a quick glance at Murray, who motioned that he had found nothing amiss in the room. “I will have you settled, and then I will see what troubles Mrs. Wickham.” He lifted her from the floor and turned toward the open door. “Murray,” he ordered, “ask Mrs. Reynolds to come to Mrs. Darcy’s rooms.”

“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth buried her face in his chest. “Fitzwilliam, this is not necessary.”

Darcy paused in the doorway, shifting her in his arms to maneuver her through the opening. He saw them all—summoned by Mrs.Wickham’s screams—all his guests and family, but he made the declaration just the same. “Elizabeth, it is necessary. You carry our child, and I will take no more chances with your life.”

“Elizabeth!” Georgiana exhaled her name as she touched her sister’s arm.

“Come sit with me, Georgiana,” Elizabeth declared as Darcy carried her to her room.The others trailed along behind him as if he were Hamelin’s piper and they the village children.

Striding into her familiar chamber, Darcy lowered Elizabeth gently to the bed. “Rest, my Love, while I see to the latest crisis.”

“Do not be long,” she whispered as she caressed his cheek.

“Stay with her, Georgiana, until I return. Your sister is not to rise from that bed, no matter how much she protests.” Darcy would brook no argument. Elizabeth’s eyebrow rose in amusement.

“Yes, Fitzwilliam.” Georgiana caught Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed it tenderly.

He shot his wife a warning glare for good measure and then plunged into the crowd gathered outside Elizabeth’s room.

“Mrs. Darcy is with child?”Anne touched his arm as she walked quickly to keep up with his long strides.

Darcy stopped suddenly outside Lydia Wickham’s room. “She is.” He glanced down at his cousin. “And I will have my wife protected at all costs.”

“Might we see her?” Anne whispered.

Darcy took in the others clustered around. Thankfully, his aunt had chosen not to join them, or perhaps the noise had not disturbed her rest. He suspected the first. “Tomorrow…please allow Mrs. Darcy her rest this evening, and then I am sure my wife will happily receive your good wishes.” Motioning Worth and the viscount to follow him, Darcy reentered Lydia’s still-open doorway.


“Elizabeth?” Georgiana whispered conspiratorially as Darcy drew the others away from his wife’s door.“Is it true? Are you with child?”

Elizabeth giggled. “Yes, Georgiana. Is it not magnificent news?” Her smile could no longer be contained.

“How long have you known? When will the babe arrive? Do you wish for a son or a daughter? Will I be allowed to hold the child?”

Elizabeth laughed aloud. “Slow down, Georgiana. We have plenty of time—the babe will not come tonight…in early summer. Our child will grace this house in early June.”

Mrs. Reynolds rushed into the room after a single knock on the door. “What seems to be the trouble, Mistress?” She displaced Georgiana on the bed’s edge and placed her hand on Elizabeth’s forehead to check for a fever.