Disclaimer: I do not own Pride and Prejudice. Ramona-Theta

Thank you to everyone that added this story to their alerts and a special thanks to all Dom Masbolle, fictionalcandie, MAB, McPhantom, crystaltokyo9849, oooCharmedOneooo and Kika57 for their wonderful reviews.

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Chapter 3- Discovery

The staff of Pemberley were discrete; they knew when to appear when they were needed, but they also knew how to disappear into the background when they were not. But if there was one thing that Pemberley's staff excelled at it was their ability to keep their Master's secrets. If one of them had noticed Elizabeth's eyes watching them or how she always seemed to be at breakfast before anybody else then they never commented on it.

Many of the staff had one view or another about her connection to the Darcy family. Elizabeth's official role may have been that of Miss Darcy's companion and friend but many had a least a suspicion that Miss Bennet was in some way connected romantically with their Master. Mrs Reynolds, of course, was the only other person, but Elizabeth, who knew the full extent of his relationship to Miss Bennet, but she was the soul of discretion.

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Elizabeth walked briskly through the house until she reached the place she had been looking for. Knocking on the door she entered the office to see the housekeeper sat behind her desk working through the house accounts that would someday be her responsibility. Looking up Mrs Reynolds jumped to her feet and curtsied which Elizabeth mirrored.

"I believe you are wondering why I am here, are you not Mrs Reynolds?" Elizabeth asked, taking a seat by the desk.

"Indeed Miss," she replied.

"I wish to know more about the estate and finances. I was furthermore wondering whether I could have a list of all the staff including their positions here at Pemberley."

"Of course Miss, I shall it ready by tomorrow. I shall also get you the lists for the finances and staff at the Darcy London House."

"Thank you Mrs Reynolds I have been trying to remember which servant I am speaking too but all that happens is that I am politely corrected. I should feel so much easier if I could but remember all their names," Elizabeth sighed.

"I am sure the servants do not mind," Mrs Reynolds said.

"Indeed no, they are all very helpful," she paused. "May I ask you something Mrs Reynolds; you of course do not need to answer?"

"Miss?"

"Can I ask what your Christian name is? I know some of the servants but I would dearly like to know yours."

"But of course, the Mistress of Pemberley should know my first name. It is Grace, Miss, Grace Reynolds."

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The entrance of Georgiana into Mrs Reynolds' office had been a shock for both the housekeeper and Elizabeth.

"I am sorry to interrupt but I could hear laughter and was wondering what your joyful gayness was about," she said softly, her eyes filled with worry.

"Not at all Georgiana," Elizabeth answered, "Mrs Reynolds was just telling me stories about Mr Darcy's childhood."

"I would have told Miss Bennet stories about you Miss Darcy but you were such a well behaved child. Not that the Master wasn't," the housekeeper added quickly, "but he got into all types of boyish adventures you would have never even dreamed of."

"I apologise if it was wrong of me to ask about such things," Elizabeth stated.

"Do not worry yourself I love to hear about my brother before he became Master of this estate. Being nearly twelve years younger means I remember little of him as a boy. Please Mrs Reynolds tell me a story for I would dearly love to hear one."

"If you are sure, then of course I will. This particular story starts when the Master was but a boy of eight or maybe nine years. The Matlocks were staying and he and Colonel Fitzwilliam are relatively close in age. I disgress, about a week into the visit many of the staff were woken by several loud crashes from the kitchen. Thinking the worst we hurried there.

"Meanwhile old Mr and Mrs Darcy had been told of the situation, as they always wanted to know about the slightest thing, rushed to the scene accompanied by Lord and Lady Matlock only to find the Master and the Colonel completely covered in flour. Apparently they had been trying to make a cake as they were fed up of going to bed feeling hungry and had accidentally knocked over a few saucepans.

"Now the Colonel being the eldest by three years was willing to take all the blame, but the Master, even then, wouldn't let the blame just rest on his cousin's shoulders and so told his parents and aunt and uncle that it had been his idea, (whether it was or not I do not know). Therefore they served their punishment together."

"And what was that, Mrs Reynolds?" asked Georgiana, who was clearly shocked at the past behaviour of her guardians.

"I cannot rightly recall," she said.

"It was extra Latin lessons, and helping to clear the stables for the next week," replied a deep voice from the doorway, "we were told if we could make a mess we could learn how to tidy it up, and the extra Latin was just to make doubly sure we never did anything like that again."

"Brother!" Georgiana cried, and walking briskly up to him, flung her arms round his neck in a tight hug, "I am so glad you are back."

Elizabeth silently agreed.

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Thank you for reading. Again this is a filler chapter- the next chapter should be longer. Ramona-Theta