Mrs. Williams smiled wryly. “That is where you are in error, Miss de Bourgh. I admire Mrs. Darcy. She is a survivor—the kind of woman who can adapt to any situation. Mrs. Darcy could follow the drum or host a grand ball for royalty. I understand her husband’s foresight in choosing the woman. Other choices would have weakened his position and his bloodline.”

“Then your censure is for me?” Anne’s cheeks colored.

Instead of giving her an answer, Mrs. Williams turned her back on Anne, ignoring the woman she had come to dislike.

Her actions brought a deeper flush of color to Anne’s cheeks. Uncertain how to handle such a strained personal relationship, she retreated, taking her plate to another of the settings, away from the offending woman.


Darcy called on Lieutenant Harwood, wishing to accompany the officer to the breakfast room—not allowing the man to surprise Anne. “Ah, Lieutenant, I see you are ready.”

“I tend to be an early riser, Mr. Darcy.”

“Then let us be about it.” Darcy led the way through the dimly lit hallways. As no one else resided in this part of Pemberley, no need existed to light lanterns on the tables. Hearing the noise of the morning room in the distance, Darcy reluctantly contemplated the scene he had constructed to inflict upon those in attendance. He had forbidden Elizabeth from coming downstairs this morning; she had reluctantly agreed, although she had provided her opinion on how he should handle the encounter. Luckily, Georgiana was in the music room. Since his reprimand regarding her late night sojourns, his sister had decided early morning seclusion was comparable to nocturnal solitude.

Leading the way, Darcy immediately noted that Mrs. Williams sat apart from the others. The woman had become quite withdrawn over the past few days—a fact which did not sit well with him. Mr. Worth chose items from the morning table, while Anne sat with Miss Donnel and Lord Stafford. Anne looked quite troubled, and for a moment, Darcy wondered if Worth had betrayed his trust. Then Anne’s eyes fell on Harwood, and she paled in horror. “Robert!” she exclaimed as she rose shakily to her feet.

The lieutenant bowed chivalrously in her direction. “Miss de Bourgh, I am pleased to have found you safe.”

Darcy jumped into the fray. “Ladies and Gentlemen, might I present Lieutenant Robert Harwood, an associate of my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Lieutenant, this isViscount Stafford, his cousin Miss Donnel, Mr. Worth, and…” Darcy turned to introduce Mrs. Williams, but the woman had slipped from the room.“It seems our other guest has taken her leave unexpectedly.You shall meet Mrs. Williams, as well as my wife and sister, a bit later.” Anne remained standing, although she swayed in place. “And, of course, you hold an acquaintance with my cousin.”

Anne demanded an explanation.“Why are you here?” Her eyes had not left Harwood’s face.

The man smiled—the grin of a cat that has caught the mouse. “I believe, Miss de Bourgh, we should discuss in private the reason for my sudden appearance at Pemberley.”

Again, Darcy took control of the conversation. “Anne, why do you not go and ask Lady Catherine to join us.We shall all meet in my study in, let us say, thirty minutes.”

Anne nodded weakly and skirted from the room.

“Please, Lieutenant, help yourself. Come join the viscount and me. I am sure Lord Stafford would be interested in the road conditions. He and Miss Donnel had set out to reach a seriously ill relative before being waylaid by the storm.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” Harwood moved off to fill a breakfast plate. Darcy motioned a footman to bring both coffee and tea, and then he took a seat beside Miss Donnel, leaving the one beside the viscount available for Harwood. Worth quietly seated himself on the other side of Miss Donnel.

When Harwood finally joined them, Adam Lawrence began. “Mr. Darcy seems to believe you are aware of an improvement in weather conditions. Might you enlighten us, sir? As our host has indicated, my cousin and I hoped to reach Cheshire before the demise of our relative, and Worth, here, has a law practice to which to return.”

Harwood stuffed his mouth with bacon and toast—a stalling tactic recognized by three of his table partners. “I came from Liverpool by horseback.The roads are passable but difficult. A carriage might still find it impossible. Derby—at least, this part—appears to have taken the brunt of the storm. It became more difficult the closer I came to Lambton.”

“And Pemberley was your destination?” Mr. Worth ground out in a poor attempt at civility.

Harwood should have looked embarrassed, but he boldly announced to the group, “I followed Miss de Bourgh when I realized she had left with her mother and her companion.” For a man who wished to save a lady’s reputation by an offer of marriage, Darcy noted how easily Harwood himself spread the gossip of Anne’s indiscretion. “As I entered Derby and noted the conditions, I remembered, quite unexpectedly, Miss de Bourgh’s association with Mr. Darcy. I took the chance the ladies came to him for protection.”

“I thought you were a close associate of the colonel?” Stafford asked in a seemingly innocent manner, although Darcy knew it was anything but innocent.

Harwood stammered, “I-I call the colonel my friend. Why do you ask, sir?”

“Oh, no reason.” Stafford returned to the kippers piled high on his plate. “These are delicious, Darcy.” He gestured with his fork. “I must find out from whom your cook purchases these. I would have them regularly.”

Harwood sat forward, trying to recapture the viscount’s attention. “No, sir. Really, I must insist. Do you question the legitimacy of my relationship with Colonel Fitzwilliam?”

Stafford now sported the cat-like smile.“It just seemed odd that you would unexpectedly remember that the de Bourghs are related to Darcy. First, the lady in question called you by your Christian name, indicating an intimate relationship exists between you. Secondly, the Fitzwilliam family is very proud of their connections. I had known the Earl of Matlock less than a day before his association with both Darcy and the de Bourghs was made known to me. Finally, the colonel serves with Darcy as Miss Darcy’s guardian, something of which I would imagine a friend would be well aware. It seems more likely to me that you expected Miss de Bourgh to seek Mr. Darcy’s protection and his advice, and, therefore you came to Pemberley expecting to find her here.”

“I assure,Your Lordship, that you are in error,” Harwood asserted.

Stafford laughed softly, self-mockingly setting the ploy. “I may be, sir. It would not be the first time, now would it?”

“Nor the last,”Worth added good-naturedly.

The viscount nodded in agreement. “Nor the last.” He turned to Cathleen. “How do you feel about a tour of the Darcys’ conservatory, my Dear? Worth, here, tells me our hostess has teased several interesting rose varieties from the ground.”

“That would be excellent, my Lord.” Cathleen placed her napkin on the table. “I wish to look in on Mrs. Darcy first; then, I will join you, Adam. Please excuse me, gentlemen.”

“I shall wait patiently in Mr. Darcy’s well-stocked library.” Stafford, too, begged their permission to leave and disappeared from the room.

“I have a great need to check on my wife, if you have no objections, Lieutenant. Mrs. Darcy took a tumble yesterday evening, and I am a doting husband, it seems.” Darcy shot a quick glance at Worth, reminding him not to say anything untoward to Harwood.

The lieutenant nodded and returned to his breakfast.

Worth followed Darcy to his feet. “There is something about which I wish to speak to His Lordship. I hate to leave you to your own devices, Harwood, but I am sure you will understand.” Worth picked up his pace so he might overtake Darcy in the main foyer. “Darcy,” he hissed as he came close.

“Yes, Mr.Worth,” Darcy turned expectantly to the man.

“I want to be part of the negotiations between Harwood and Anne.”

Darcy ignored the familiar use of his cousin’s name. “How would that expedite the matter?” Darcy drew Worth away from the servants’ ears.

“I am a man of the law, for God’s sake. I understand what is legal, and what is not in such situations.”Worth’s voice spoke of his need to keep Anne from danger, and Darcy appreciated the man’s sincerity. He had known the same anxiety when Lydia Bennet eloped with George Wickham and placed her whole family’s reputation in peril. “I have developed an affection for Miss de Bourgh, and if I can use my skills to safeguard her, I will. I am not the swashbuckling male that the lieutenant is. But let me prove to Miss de Bourgh that I am the superior choice.”

“You will not betray your affection for Anne before the lieutenant?” Darcy cautioned. “My aunt will be hard enough to contain without your passion creating other issues.”

Worth smiled slightly. “I will be in the room only as Miss de Bourgh’s man of business.”

“I like your deviousness, Mr.Worth.” Darcy clapped the man on the shoulder. “My study in twenty minutes.”

Worth leaned closer to ensure privacy. “Tell Miss de Bourgh that at no time is she to admit more than a friendly interest in the lieutenant. She is to repeatedly deny that she ever had an interest in the man romantically.”

“I understand,Worth.”

“I spent several hours after we parted yesterday evening trying to determine the best way to handle this. Tell Her Ladyship and Anne to follow my lead.”


Twenty minutes later, Darcy escorted an agitated Lady Catherine along the main staircase. She had taken to her room after their encounter the previous evening, agreeing to this meeting only at his insistence. He instructed his aunt on holding her tongue while in the lieutenant’s presence. “I have guaranteed Mr. Worth of your cooperation, Aunt,” he spoke quietly to her alone. “It could mean the difference between paying the man a substantial sum or sending him packing. Do you comprehend my meaning, Your Ladyship?”