Several of you have asked about character ages in this re-imagining. Darcy is in his early 30's, having married Anne around 20 and his eldest son is 10. Elizabeth is in her mid twenties, thus both are slightly older than in canon.

Chapter 3

The barely post-dawn sun warmed the morning room with a cheery golden glow. Fragrant coffee and scones teased weary appetites with a promise of breaking fast.

The reminders of home rang bittersweet for Elizabeth. Weeks on the road with slow wagons laden with furniture left her longing for a place to settle down. But after the promise of a permanent home at Longbourn was so brutally stolen, it was hard to dare hope Alston Hall would provide that sense of stability for which she longed. Maybe…she would have to wait and see. In the meantime, wisdom demanded she guard her heart.

"Father, you cannot be serious." Elizabeth set her teacup on the table. It rattled against the saucer with the distinct clink of fine china. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Of course, I am. When have you ever known me to joke about such a thing?" He crossed his arms, brows knitting tightly. "I do not see why it you should be making this out to be so very difficult. It is not as if we were talking about coordinating an armada."

She grumbled under her breath and shook her head. "Why do you still insist running a household is no different from running a ship or the entire Navy as you would call it?"

He lifted his hands with a flourish. "Your stepmother—."

"Papa, I miss her as much as you do and possibly even more." A lump ached in her throat. She gulped it back.

A quick glance at Papa revealed a suspicious glimmer in his eye, quickly blinked away.

She touched his hand. "You have no idea what she did to keep your household running according to your military standards."

He snorted. "How else would one run an admiral's household?"

She clenched her teeth to avoid rolling her eyes. "Her staff was impeccably trained. You have no idea what it took to get them that way. Servants cannot be drilled like seamen."

"I do not see why not."

The muscles along her shoulders twitched and knotted. "We most certainly cannot hire them already trained to your satisfaction. It will take months to train them once they are hired, and it will take weeks to hire them."

"That cannot be true. " He slapped the table. "I will simply—."

Boyish laughter and pounding footsteps filled the air. Bennet harrumphed and pushed himself from his seat. He stalked to the doorway.

Elizabeth followed close behind.

"Gentlemen!" he barked.

Francis and Philip skidded to a stop along the slick tile. They came to a halt in front of him. George and David stumbled as they tried not to run into the twins.

Bennet glared at them. "You will have respect for our host's home." He paced before the boys, hands clasped behind his back. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," all four boys intoned in unison, voices trembling slightly.

"Are you permitted to race through the halls of my house?"

"No, sir."

Again, Gregory and David answered along with the twins. Elizabeth pressed her lips together tightly. Now was certainly not the time to laugh.

"Then what made you believe you would be permitted to here?"

The boys shuffled their feet and mumbled something that sounded like "I don't know."

"I will accept no more of this from the two of you .You know better." He leaned forward just enough to tower over his sons.

He did not look at the Darcy boys, though they squirmed in his shadow.

"If you must run, take it outside," he pointed toward the door, "where there is an entire estate fit for the activity."

"Yes,sir."

"If this happens again, you will be confined to the nursery, under the constant supervision of your governess, for a week complete." He glanced up.

Miss Wexley and Miss Mallory pelted down the stairs. Miss Wexley's hair escaped its pins and snaked out from under her mobcap. Miss Mallory reached behind her back, struggling to tie her apron.

"Sir!" Miss Wexley came to an abrupt stop behind her charges. She shoved loose strands of hair behind her ears and tucked in loose hair pins. "I am sorry sir, they—."

He waved her down. "No need to explain." His eyes narrowed as he focused on the boys. "There will not be a repetition of this episode, will there gentlemen?"

"No, sir!" Francis and Philip saluted smartly.

George, then David, attempted to mimic the gesture. George nearly poked himself in the eye.

Elizabeth caught her giggle just before it escaped but at the cost of a well-bitten cheek.

"Return to the nursery and wait there until your governesses are ready to escort you downstairs."

"But, Papa! The scones smell so good." Francis looked toward the morning room door, licking his lips.

Bennet harrumphed. "Do you think your behavior should be rewarded with scones?"

Francis looked down and scuffed his toes against the marble floor. "No, sir."

"Nor do I. You will not starve to death in a few hours. Perhaps a few hunger pangs will give you pause the next time you are tempted to escape Miss Wexley." He nodded at the governess. "Or Miss Mallory."

Miss Welxey placed a hand on each of the boys' shoulders and urged them toward the stairs. "Thank you, sir." She curtsied.

Miss Mallory took her charges by the hand and led them upstairs.

Slow applause filled the hall. Bennet turned.

Mr. Darcy smiled broadly, nodding. "I may have to begin taking notes around you. I believe my scamps saluted you as well." He chuckled.

Bennet's eyebrows rose. "I do not mean to usurp your authority with your sons, sir." He dipped his head slightly.

"No, not at all. I would have said the same thing had I encountered them first." Mr. Darcy gestured toward the morning room. "You were a step ahead of me, this morning."

Bennet returned to the table. "I was often told that in the navy. Found it was rather useful for keeping alive those days."

"I can well imagine." Darcy nodded at Elizabeth. "Good morning, Miss Bennet."

"Good morning, Mr. Darcy." She sat down.

"Mr. Darcy," Bennet leaned back and crossed his ankles. "Perhaps you can settle a small dispute my daughter and I were having."

Elizabeth huffed a deep breath. She rolled her eyes and picked up her teacup, staring into it. How could bringing a stranger into their discussion be useful? What could Mr. Darcy know about Papa's exacting standards and what he expected from his household?

"I am pleased to offer what assistance I may, but I do not know if I am qualified—."

Elizabeth drew a deep breath.

"You are most qualified." Bennet smiled.

Elizabeth fought to swallow back her words.

"You see, not to be ungrateful, but I do not wish to impose upon your generous hospitality any longer than absolutely necessary. My daughter," he glanced at her, "believes it will take weeks to hire a staff, and even longer to train them. She estimates six weeks to two months to have the house prepared to even a minimal level of livability. I cannot see it taking over a week to hire and just a few days beyond that to ready the house. But I shall agree to abide by your insight. What say you?"

Elizabeth sipped her tea, then returned the cup to the table. "If you are prepared to string hammocks from the rafters in the attic, I suppose we could forego this discussion and move in immediately. Perhaps Mr. Piper has spares among his kit." She smiled a fleeting, tight smile. "However, short of that, I maintain my original estimate."

Darcy looked from father to daughter. "You will forgive me, Miss Bennet. I do not wish to contradict you in any way." He dipped his head toward her.

She held her breath. He was about to say something astoundingly stupid, that much was obvious. A gracious guest must not react to even the most outlandish of statements, or so her stepmother had schooled her. Though it might kill her, she would honor the beloved woman's memory.

"I must agree with your father. Hiring a staff is not so complicated a task as you make it out to be."

There. He had done it. At least he did not attempt to be condescending as well. For that she could be grateful. "I see, then, you gentlemen surely know what you are about. I will be happy to stay out of your way and submit to your greater expertise in this matter. Pray excuse me." She rose, curtsied and strode briskly from the room.

The warmth in the room disappeared, replaced by a sharp chill. Darcy glanced at the tightly closed window. "Forgive me, sir; I fear I have upset her." Darcy followed her with his gaze.

"Do not put too much stock in her outburst, sir." Bennet brushed the thought aside and clucked his tongue. "Lizzy is my daughter through and through. Since my wife's death, she has been captain of my household. Like any good captain, she does not take well to anyone coming in and suggesting he may know something she does not about the ship. She is a good girl and will get over it soon enough."

Darcy's eyes lingered on the doorway. "Still, it seems ungentlemanly to upset a lady, especially one who is a guest in my home." Especially one so intriguing whom he would like to know better.

"There is nothing ungentlemanly about telling the poor girl the truth. The sooner she learns we are right, the quicker she can regain her equanimity and be about the business of getting the household up and running." Bennet stroked his chin. "She will rally; do not fear."

"Forgive me for asking, but is it not unusual that your elder daughter is not taking on the role of mistress of your estate?"

Bennet frowned and crossed his arms over his waist. He leaned his chair back and rocked on its back legs.

Darcy lifted a brow. Surely the Admiral's sons would not be permitted such liberties with the furniture.

"Jane and Philip were very ill with the same scourge that took my wife and youngest daughter, Mary. The doctors held little hope for their recovery." Bennet swallowed hard. "I am blessed to still have them with me. But they have not yet recovered their strength. Lizzy asserts herself, perhaps a little more strongly than she should, to insure that her sister feels no need to take on those tasks that might tax her too much." He stared at the worn toes of his boots. "They are both good girls. Jane is all serenity, a glass sea and a balmy breeze. But Lizzy is the one you want at the helm in a storm, even if she brings a few her way with her." He laughed softly.

Darcy took a scone from the platter. He bit into it, crumbs falling neatly onto his plate. "You brought your housekeeper with you?"

"Her, Piper, the governess and two grooms."

"If it is all right with you, I shall have a chat with Mrs. Reynolds, my housekeeper. I am certain she will be happy to work with your housekeeper. Between them and your most capable daughter, your house may be staffed even more quickly than you or I expect."