“I was quite blind to what he offered, and I regret the time we wasted coming to an understanding.” She turned his palm over and kissed it.

“Do you really believe this is what Georgiana wishes?”

Elizabeth kissed his cheek. “Your sister has spoken of no one else for months. Have you not seen it? Have you not heard it? At Christmas, Georgiana bought Edward a gold-tipped walking stick with his initials engraved on the handle—quite a personal and expensive gift for a man she sees only every couple of months. Besides, would you wish someone less respectable for Georgiana?”

“I would wish her a Season in London as my parents planned.”

Elizabeth sat up straight, where she might meet his eyes. “I love Georgiana, but a Season would be a daunting experience for her. She is too unassuming, and despite her handsome appearance and her generous dowry, can you honestly believe that Georgiana could find a more suitable match in disposition? Edward would protect her and love her. It that not what you wish for our sister?”

“He is nearly fourteen years her senior,” he objected.

“You are eight years older than I.”

He sighed in exasperation. “What shall I tell them?”

Elizabeth knew Darcy would put Georgiana’s happiness above his own misgivings. “I suggest a compromise of sorts. Accept an understanding between our sister and Edward, but deny them an official announcement until her next birthday, at the end of the summer. In the meantime, we expose Georgiana to other young people in the neighborhood to see if any other young men pique her interest. If not, then you will know her constancy and can accept their union with a glad heart.”

“How did you become so wise?”

“Remember…I married that honorable man. I have learned empathy and compassion from him.” She settled back into his embrace.

Darcy closed his eyes and thought of the exquisite happiness he held and how he had come so close to losing her.“And you have taught me about loving completely. Compared with you, I am a mere novice.”


Darcy’s voice brought Elizabeth from her musings. “There is no way to hide Mr. Wickham’s attacks on this house, for too many people have knowledge of it.Yet, Sir Phillip has graciously allowed the Darcy family to put its own twist on the events. As the baronet said, it would serve no purpose to ruin the good names of everyone involved. So, for the record, Mr. Wickham invaded my home with the purpose of ridding himself of his wife.There is truth in the tale. Besides finding the letter I wrote to Mr. Laurie regarding Harwood and Wickham, we discovered a journal of sorts in the antechamber, which was kept by the one known as Peter Whittington.” Darcy still could not reconcile how one man could actually be four. “It chronicles his attack on Lucinda Dodd, Gregor MacIves’s fight with Lieutenant Harwood, and James Withey’s discovery by young Lawson. It also describes in some detail George Wickham’s contempt for Mrs. Wickham’s spending habits, his growing gambling debts, their lack of financial soundness, and his plan to free himself of his wife and blame it on Pemberley. It appears that Mr.Wickham used the letter to imitate my handwriting—planned to use the forgery somehow to better his scheme.”

“We have not discussed Mr. Wickham’s treachery with my sister,” Elizabeth barely whispered. “It will break Lyddie’s heart when she knows the truth.”

Darcy squeezed her hand, telling Elizabeth they would see this through together. “I have written to Mr. Bennet,” he continued the tale. “I have told him the truth, but have asked him to conceal it from the rest of the family. He will propose a trip to Pemberley under the guise of celebrating Elizabeth’s upcoming confinement. When the Bennets arrive, we will explain the events to everyone. Mrs. Wickham will benefit from her mother’s ministrations, and it will allow the news to trickle into Meryton and not be bemoaned loudly by Mrs. Bennet’s nervous nature. As Mr.Wickham has a less-than-stellar reputation among Meryton’s residents, few in Hertfordshire will find our explanation lacking. In fact, many will expect some such perfidy. I have no fear of the locals learning of the whole truth by their usual methods of Mr. and Mrs. Collins and the Lucases. Lady Catherine will repeat what I tell her because Anne’s reputation is intrinsically entangled in Wickham’s story.”

“How do we explain Harwood?” Worth asked. “Can we leave Miss de Bourgh’s ruination out of the story?”

Darcy recognized the man’s concern: Worth would make Anne his wife, and a man protects his family. “It will be quite an exaggeration, but we shall say that both Lawson and Lucinda discovered Wickham disguised in the Pemberley livery, and he killed them so that he would not be found out. Unfortunately, with Harwood, a complete prevarication will be necessary. We have stated that, as a friend of my cousin, Harwood saw Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson to Pemberley when he realized that the storm delayed Mr. Worth. Like the others, Harwood discovered Wickham in the house, and he lost his life defending our home against an unknown intruder.”

“You are making the man into a glorified hero!” Stafford remarked.

“It was part of our agreement with the lieutenant’s wife. Mrs. Harwood will go to the West Indies if her husband’s name is not defamed by his involvement in this matter. Plus, it will save Anne’s reputation, making my aunt more willing to repeat our version of the truth.”

“Mr. Darcy has made arrangements to send Lydia to his cousin Wilhelmina outside Edinburgh to spend her time in mourning. It is very kind of Fitzwilliam to shield Lydia from the brouhaha surrounding her husband’s duplicity.” Elizabeth looked lovingly at Darcy. Despite being in company, she caressed his cheek.

Darcy continued,“I have sent for my friend Charles Bingley. He and Mrs. Bingley can accompany Mrs. Wickham north. I hate to ask them to travel in winter, but I will not hear of Elizabeth journeying so far in her condition.”

“As Mr. Bingley is one of the most amiable men I know, I doubt he will refuse your request, Fitzwilliam,” Georgiana offered.

“And my sister Jane can attend to Lydia upon the journey,” Elizabeth added. “If Lydia is far away from the gossipmongers, she can return to England a grieving widow of a man who did not deserve her. Maybe if we are fortunate, Lydia will become more aware of her obligations to her family.”

Darcy thought Elizabeth wished for the world. In reality, he hoped his wife’s youngest sister would choose to stay in Scotland and would find herself a man to keep her in line and out of his sight for a very long time. “I have to ask, Stafford, if we can count on Miss Donnel to keep our confidences?” Darcy hated to broach the subject, but as the lady prepared to leave Pemberley the next day, he needed to know. Miss Donnel had no vested interest in the situation. Neither did Stafford, for that matter, but he had proved himself a true friend.

Cathleen’s leaving still bothered Adam profoundly, although he fundamentally knew that she was not the woman for him.With the Darcys, he had observed perfection in a marriage, and he did not think he could settle for simply a physical attraction. He desired Cathleen, but they had little in common beyond that: She did not challenge him intellectually, nor did she demand that he be a better person. Cathleen accepted his foibles, and that was not what he required in a wife. He needed a woman more in Mrs. Darcy’s mode—a woman who would, through determination and her own independence, make their dreams come true. “Miss Donnel is very discreet. Not a word of this will escape her lips.” He turned to Worth. “I have asked Nigel to squire Cathleen to her uncle’s home and to oversee her welfare for the next couple of months—until she is settled.”

“We will leave tomorrow after Mrs. Jenkinson’s service. Mr. Darcy has graciously offered us the use of his small coach and a competent driver. I cannot neglect my practice any longer, and I have other legal matters I need to address.”They all assumed Worth meant his own fortune. Having it defined exactly would make his request of Lady Catherine for Anne’s hand more likely to be received positively by Her Ladyship.

Edward stood to end the conversation. “I, too, must return home and offer my parents an explanation of what has happened here. It might be best, Darcy, if I see Her Ladyship and Anne to Matlock while the Bennets are at Pemberley. It will give Lady Catherine time to perfect her story before she returns to Kent and the very nosy Mr. Collins.”

“Send word if Anne wishes to spend the spring at Pemberley, and I shall have one of my maids travel with her,” Darcy said.

“I am sure the earl can manage a carriage and a chaperone when my cousin is ready to return.” Edward straightened his jacket. “Would you care to spend a few days with us, Lord Stafford? I imagine my brother Charles would enjoy your company.”

Stafford laughed lightly. “And I can corroborate your story.”

“Exactly.” Edward bowed to the room. “Georgiana, might you join me in the music room. It has been too long since I have heard you play.” He reached out his hand to her.

Darcy winced when his sister placed her hand in his, but he said nothing, silently accepting what he could not change.

“I have matters to settle with Cathleen.” Stafford no longer concealed their relationship.

Elizabeth nodded her understanding.“It has been an honor to have Miss Donnel among us,Your Lordship.You will tell her so for me.”

“Cathleen will be pleased to hear it. Now, if you will excuse me, Mrs. Darcy.” He stood and offered a bow.“I will see you at supper.”