"He saved her shawl!" Elizabeth said, thrusting the letter into Darcy's hands. "That is what Mary says. How, then, could poor Jane help but fall in love with the man?"

Darcy made a noise that might have been a snort, or a laugh, and shook his head.

"I do not wonder at their forming a swift attachment. For Jane was lonely, and he a new arrival in Meryton, and then -!" Elizabeth clicked her fingers as if to illustrate the collision of two favourable fates.

"Do you feel a little less anxious about the match now?" Darcy asked, regarding her carefully. "If Richard is on hand he will certainly work to ensure nothing untoward is taking place. Surely you wish to see your sister happy?"

"Of course I wish to see her happy!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "How could you accuse me of anything otherwise?"

He ducked his head, suitably chastened.

"I just…do not understand why she could not write of it to me herself." This last was muttered in little more than a whisper, prompting Darcy to rise from his seat and join his wife standing near the window. "We were so close, Jane and me. Now it is as if we are two strangers. Is this what must become of us?" She worried the letter, turning it over in her hands and, fearing for its destruction, Darcy reached for it, folding it neatly and setting it down on an end-table.

"Have you written to her?" he asked, gently.

"Well, no…"

"Then perhaps you must make the first move. It is not as if you have nothing to impart, yourself!"

The clock chimed and there was a knock at the door, which Darcy glanced up to meet. Here was Georgiana, punctual as ever.

"Come, Elizabeth, do not fret. It will all be easily got over between you and Jane. Write to her. Invite her here - invite them both, once they are married. We have space enough to comfortably house them." He did not say, to comfortably house as many of your family as care to come. Inviting Mr and Mrs Bennet and the remaining sisters would be a matter of course, but Darcy was not quite sure his nerves could handle such an invasion just at present.

"Georgiana!" He greeted his sister with all the warmth he could muster. "Welcome home."

She nodded but did not smile. In fact, she did not seem entirely delighted at the prospect of being home again at all.

"Was your journey pleasant? I do hope it has not tired you unduly -"

"I am capable of traversing a few miles in a carriage without collapsing, William," she said, with a level of scorn that made Darcy's breath catch.

Even Elizabeth noted the sharp tone, for her eyes whipped from her husband to his sister and back again.

"It is good to see you again," she said, her attempt to diffuse the evident tension. "Although I am sure you will be quick to point out my mistakes in managing the house!" She laughed. "Poor Anne did her best to help me, but I am an irredeemable case, I fear."

If Georgiana had snapped at her brother, he expected her to be equally unkind to her new sister-in-law, yet to his surprise, she softened, smiling tentatively in Elizabeth's direction.

"I am sure you succeed better than you imagine. I only hope I can compare as a companion to the friendship you have with Anne. I confess she is rather more patient and good-natured than I!"

"Nonsense!" Elizabeth dismissed the notion out of hand.

"Perhaps you will not notice," Georgiana said. "After all, you seem to have managed my brother fairly well. I am sure you will master us both before the month is out."

She smiled, and this time she seemed her old self again. Darcy wondered if she still bore a grudge at being forced out of her home in favour of Wickham, and was glad to have her here again so that he could begin to undo the damage the man still managed to inflict upon the relationship between brother and sister.

"Well, Georgiana, what would you like to do, now that you are home again?" Elizabeth asked, capitalising on their good-natured conversation. "Shall we leave you to settle in your room, or would you like tea?"

Georgiana shook her head vehemently at the suggestion of tea.

"Please, not another cup! I have drunk more than I can bear, and borne the detailed conversations of both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst so that I hardly know what to do with the blessed silence that surrounds me here." She shot a cautious glance at Darcy. "I know, I ought not to speak so of people who were kind enough to host me, but really!"

"One person in the house seems sad at your leaving," Darcy offered, seeing his opportunity and seizing it before Georgiana's mood shifted yet again. She tilted her head to one side, curious.

"Mr Bingley."

"Oh?" Her cheeks coloured.

"Indeed! He tells me he would have gone quite mad without your calming influence, and also raved about your abilities as a horsewoman." Darcy was proud to recount his friend's compliments and encouraged to see how pleased Georgiana was to hear herself thus spoken well of.

"He is very kind," she said, quietly, dropping her eyes as if she did not quite trust herself to continue to meet her brother's gaze.

"Well, we must have him to dine here, must not we?" Elizabeth asked, laying a hand on Darcy's arm. "I expect we must invite the sisters too, although…" her eyes flashed with fun. "Perhaps we can engineer an evening when they might be otherwise engaged?"

Darcy groaned, watching a scheming glance exchanged between the two ladies before him, but he could not help but approve of the plan. He would much rather have Bingley alone than have to endure the additional presence of his sisters if such a thing could be managed without causing offence.

"Yes," Georgiana said. "And then there is the assembly."

"Indeed!" Elizabeth threw her arms around Georgiana. "You see, I knew I would rejoice at your being home. Your brother is rather less excited for such an evening, but I am reliant on you, Georgiana, to assist me in keeping up to date with what is du jour in Derbyshire. I am sure it differs from Hertfordshire and dreadfully afraid that I shall appear foolish on my very first appearance locally!"

"Nonsense," Georgiana said, shyly. "But I will only help you if you will teach me to style my hair as you do."

"You have a bargain!" Elizabeth said, with a hearty wink. "Now, if you will not take tea, why not a walk? Travelling by carriage always left me utterly fidgety. I have already been introduced to your brother's own particular favourite spots in the grounds, but I am sure there are others. Come, do, and show me yours."

The two ladies hurried off and Darcy was relieved to see them so friendly. He was still unnerved by Georgiana's short temper but dismissed it almost immediately as a mere result of the upheaval of the day. He did not manage change well, why must he expect so much more of his sister?

"Will you join us?" Elizabeth called over her shoulder, and he straightened, striding after them.