"Thank you, William, this luncheon looks lovely."

"It is my pleasure, Elizabeth."

"Were you tempted to get a private room? Would that be your normal habit?"

"It would have been before. Since my time in America, I think I have let a tiny bit of Bingley or Richard rub off on me. Now I prefer to see life happening. I like to leave the cocoon occasionally."

"And a very pretty butterfly you make."

"Do not dish out words like that if you cannot take them."

"I… well, I imagine I can survive the occasional compliment. I am a matron now, but we all still like to remember the beauty we once were, such as it was."

"May I ask an untoward question?"

"Have you ever paused before?"

"Not really."

"Do not get timid now, little butterfly."

"HA!. Well, here is my question. Where did the sensible Elizabeth Bennet go? She was here just a moment ago?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean all this talk of matronliness is a bit nonsensical. I would expect it from Lydia, but not you."

"Still not making any sense, Darcy."

"William"

"Pardon?"

"You have established the precedent… I quite enjoy being called William."

"… … All right. Calling you 'Darcy' is habit, I imagine."

"A habit of less than a month?"

"May as well be a decade for the effect it has on us."

"Yes, there is that."

"I have decided to trust you. I need new habits."

"I am not complaining. May I ask an odd question?"

"Do you always preface odd questions with odd questions asking permission to ask more odd questions?"

"You will not deter me with a circular query."

"I lost track. Ask your question."

"Why did you pick William instead of Fitzwilliam? You do not do things accidentally."

… …

"You noticed."

"I did."

"I… um… I just decided to be in for a penny in for a pound. Fitzwilliam always sounded… odd to me, and… well… this is embarrassing."

"I would not have it so."

"We have already canvassed the subject of reticence during embarrassment."

"Yes."

"Sometimes in the last years… well, sometimes I tried to picture… well… what would happen if I continued on to Pemberley. How would we… get… along. I always pictured a contentious relationship, but thought that eventually I might work my way up to using your given name once a year. It was always Fitzwilliam. I… I… well, I cannot say that name without remembering those years, and I thought I would rather remember your sister than my struggles."

"I am happy you did that. Two of the three most important women in my life use the name. It makes me happy."

"Do not get too comfortable."

"I shall not… I know the limits of our relationship, Elizabeth."

"Let us eat. Wine?"

"Thank you, yes."

"Elizabeth, may we return to your status as 'matron'?"

"If we must."

"There are two salient points I wish to make. First, contrary to my own stupid remarks, in Hertfordshire, you were at the time, and still are, by far the handsomest woman I have ever seen."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, William. I believe I was handsomer than you or my mother gave me credit for, but no more."

"Let me correct you, because it pains me that you let your pernicious mother poison your opinion of yourself. I could barely pay any attention to Jane when you were in the room, once I really looked at you."

"To be fair, when Jane, you and I were in the room, you could not even see Jane with Mr. Bingley hovering over here. I am surprised you could recognize her."

"Well, there is that."

"Nevertheless, I can take a compliment, so I thank you for that, William."

"Now my second point. You are more beautiful now than you have ever been… I know… I know… I know… you do not want words that sound like a suitor's, so in the words of the great philosopher, Emma Bennet – that is an assessment, not a compliment."

"I am 36 years old, William. I am…"

"You are beautiful, Elizabeth. If I do not tell you, who will? I am not flattering you or trying to ingratiate myself. I believe you know I have very little ability to fool you. I am just telling you what my eyes see."

"Your eyes may not be very accurate."

"I am your friend, Elizabeth… but I am a man. I have eyes, and they are trustworthy."

"Shall we eat, or do you have any more embarrassment to dish out?"

"You always used to do that? I am happy to see it return."

"Do what?"

"Tease your way out of uncomfortable situations. I wished I had taken lessons back then."

"You seem to have learned anyway."

"I speak as I find."

"Why say such things to me, William? What is your objective?"

"My objective is to be honest, Elizabeth. Honest with you and Emma at least. You wish to trust me. You cannot do that if I spend my days telling little lies, even by omission; or even letting little lies slip by. I have a large deficit of honesty to make up."

"I still do not see how a compliment advances that cause."

"Well… as long as we are being honest…"

"Please do."

"Sometimes I just cannot help myself."

"Oh!"

"Welcome to Portsmouth Mr. Lamb… Mrs. Bull. Your rooms are right this way. Your maid is in your room, Mrs. Bull."

… …

"You did not!"

"Did not what?"

"Aaaarrrggghhh! I am definitely limiting your access to Emma in future."

"You did want to be discreet?"

"Yes… but why am I not the lamb?"

"Elizabeth Bennet – a lamb? HAH!"

"You… you… you…"

"I had a dictionary left in your room, Mrs. Bull. I shall expect a suitable word at supper."

"What did you learn from your foray into fixing the world, William?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"And yet, I beat you to the question.'

"You need… well, I believe you need patience, and just the right amount of hubris."

"How so?"

"Changing the world is the work of generations. My grandfather planted some wonderful chestnut trees in front of our house. He never expected to see the full effect he had in his mind, but was satisfied it would eventually be there for his children and grandchildren. We have to be able to do that… look at our changes, and know we are making some difference, but we cannot expect to win some battles in our lifetime. You need enough hubris to think you can push the wheel a little bit in the right direction, but not enough to think you can move it all the way to the end."

"I am not sur I am changing the world at all, except for my flock."

"But you are! How much censure did you receive in Derbyshire over your flock?"

"Some… gradually less as time went by. I imagine it was more difficult for my predecessors."

"Let me ask this? Did Georgiana know about them?"

"Maybe"

"Lady Matlock?"

"Definitely"

"Lady Clara?"

"Absolutely not!"

"So you see. You are not completely changing society as a whole; but you are changing pieces of it slowly. I can guarantee you the Aunt Matlock of my youth would not have put up with it."

"Why not? She seems very fair?"

"I suspect you and your predecessor made her that way… you did not find her that in the first place."

"I cannot dispute that. The most recent Mrs. Rush died a few years ago, so I cannot ask her."

"I wish I could talk to her."

"I am afraid, I am the best you can do, but I could find people who knew her if I ask around; and of course I knew her very well."

"I would like that."

"Shall we tuck in… those scones are a distant memory."

"Let us."

"Elizabeth! It is so so so so so good to see you."

"You as well, Madeline. Is all well?"

"All very well, thank you. Marsha, Margaret and Annabel have delivered. All healthy and happy."

"Excellent news. I will be sure to tell Emma. I believe we can begin regular correspondence now. You can see here that all my running and hiding was for naught."

"Are you well, Elizabeth? Are you safe? Content?"

"Yes, to all of those. I will tell you more later."

"How is Emma?"

"A fireball as always. How is Nathaniel? Does he still want to marry Emma?"

"He is five years old, Elizabeth. It is a bit early."

"That is not an answer."

"Ha-ha. Yes, he does, but he wants to be a pirate and a soldier and a sailor as well."

"And why can he not be all?"

"He has started his letters. Mr. Horse cannot wait to get his hands on the poor boy."

"Good for him. Mr. Horse is well?"

"Yes… very well. I think he died last week, but he still came to open the shop on time."

"Ha! William said the very same thing."

"Do not run off, William. Seeing two old friends hugging each other will not harm you."

"I know… I just wanted to give you some privacy."

"We will have plenty, once I put you to work."

"Your servant, ma'am.'

"You… you… you… I give up."

"Either introduce me or send me to work, Elizabeth."

"Naturally. Madeline Rush, may I present my particular friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy."

"It is nice to see you again, Mr. Darcy."

"A pleasure, Mrs. Rush. I apologize I have not brought my sister or aunt by your shop as I promised."

"I am just happy to see you standing next to Elizabeth, apparently with most of your man parts intact."

"So you know her temper?"

"You have no idea, sir."

"Maddie, well…"

"Is he the one, Elizabeth?"

… …

"He is."

"He seems a good enough man… now. He looked a bit petulant and angry last time I saw him."

"I am right here, ladies."

"He was, but you are correct. Emma approves of him."

"Good enough for me. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Darcy."

"Mrs. Rush, do you know Mrs. Reynolds?"

"I do."

"I have recently sent her instructions that she is to look in on you from time to time, and she is to be available to provide you and your ladies any service you need. I would hope you will take advantage of it."

"That is generous, Mr. Darcy."

"Not really… please, I would consider it an honor."

"Very well, there are a few things we could use."

"I have my most trusted carter coming to take your cloth to Kympton. Consider him at your disposal."

"Is he married?"

"Not yet."

"Oh you… you… you… Is he always like this, Elizabeth?"

"Yes, Maddie… I fear he is. Come along. Mr. Crow has arranged lodgings for us, and a maid for you."

"A maid… what was he thinking?"

"It is easiest to just go along."

"William, why do we have four wagons of cloth when I bought only two?"

"I may have won two in a card game while you were catching up with Mrs. Rush."

"Or you may be lying through your teeth."

"That is also possible."

"I might also mention that when I asked you to arrange wagons, I meant to hire them, not bring them from Pemberley."

"What is wrong with my wagons? They are as good as any? I shall not have you disparaging my wagons, Elizabeth. I am insulted."

"Do not be impertinent."

"Just give up, Elizabeth. In a bit of a reversal, I have inherited Emma's stubbornness."

"Ooohhh! I give up."

"Probably for the best."

"I do not suppose you thought about where we would put all the extra materials. We do not have that much space… never mind… and quit smirking."

"I would never suspend any pleasure of yours."

"Goodbye, Maddie. Will I see you next year?"

"We shall see. You know I must start looking for my successor just like you did. I might send her next year."

"Be well, my friend."

"Mama. Mr. Donkey. Welcome back."

"It is good to be home, Emma."

"It is good to see you, Miss Bee."

"I brought you some presents, Emma."

"Very nice. You will stay for supper, Mr. Donkey."

"I will, but I must take care of some correspondence straightaway, so I will return to Darcy house and come back in a few hours."

"Thank you for taking me, William. I appreciate it greatly."

"William?"

"Yes, Emma. William."

"Wonderful."

"Do not get too excited."

"I shall hold my exuberance in check, Mama. I shall see you later, Mr. Donkey."

"Good afternoon Elizabeth… Emma."

"Good afternoon, sir."