Papa knocked on Darcy's door. Darcy trudged into the corridor. Instead of rested, a bath and clean clothes had aged him at least ten years.
"Shall we?" Papa asked.
Darcy nodded and followed him to the stairs.
"He told you to accompany me?" Lady Catherine whispered as they trailed behind.
"Papa said I should assist you with the governesses."
"I can do that well enough. Miss Mallory is accustomed to answering to me and Miss Wexley will need to become accustomed to me soon enough. You do not have it in you right now to have a firm hand with them, do you?" She stopped and gazed at Elizabeth with that soul-baring look that sent even Admiral Bennet scurrying for cover.
Elizabeth blinked hard and swallowed, but had to turn away. Not that standing her ground would have done a great deal of good, Lady Catherine had already seen through her.
"Go, be with them. The boys do not often err so gravely. You have seen him in every role but this one. He will make you proud."
Elizabeth bit her lip and nodded. Lady Ellen had been able to understand her so clearly. How she had missed the ease and safety of a woman who truly understood and accepted her. She sniffled and squeezed her eyes shut.
Lady Catherine slid her arm over Elizabeth's shoulders and drew her close. "You will make a fine mother to his boys. They love you already, nearly as much as he does."
"Thank you." The words barely slipped through her tight throat.
Lady Catherine kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "Go to him. I shall manage quite well." She squared her shoulders and marched into the parlor, slapping her fan in her palm.
Elizabeth hurried down the hall, her slippers nearly silent on the marble. She stopped near the study door, close enough to hear the stern voices within.
"He is a good father."
She jumped and turned.
Fitzwilliam stood so close their shoulders nearly touched. "Are you ready to be mother to those two scamps?"
"They are not so different from my brothers."
"Sister is not mother."
"No, but my brothers have been without a mother for some time now. I have some inkling of what two young boys need."
Fitzwilliam smiled the famed smile that Jane waxed on about. It was compelling, but nothing to Darcy's.
Stern male voices boomed through the door.
She gulped. "They are very angry."
"As well they should be. Every one of them is old enough to have known better. Their folly endangered their lives and their fathers'. It is not hard to imagine this ending quite tragically."
Piper shuffled up behind Fitzwilliam. "It were just plain folly what they done. Don't you go holding their fathers back from giving them what they need. None of us can have this be happening again."
"I know you are right."
"Then get yourself in there and stand with them! Them boys need to see you strong, too." Piper opened the door and pushed her in.
She stumbled and caught herself on the bookcase near the door. Papa's commanding voice rang through the room. Her heart raced and her stomach tightened. He was not directing it to her, but still, she hated that tone.
"What have you been told regarding my office?" Papa demanded.
Francis mumbled something unintelligible while Philip shuffled his feet.
Darcy glared at his sons. "Are you permitted in my study?"
"No, sir." George's voice was barely audible.
"So did you have any reason to believe it appropriate to enter the Admiral's?"
"No, sir."
Papa loomed over the twins. "Did your governess give you permission to be out of the nursery?"
"No, sir."
"Have you ever been permitted to go off without seeking their permission?"
"No, sir."
"Then was there any reason for you to believe that what you did was a right or proper thing?"
"No, sir."
Darcy glanced her way and his eyes widened. He cocked his head.
She nodded toward the door, eyebrows lifting.
He beckoned her with a nod.
"Then can you give me some reason, any reason, to understand your actions as anything other than willful disobedience? Did Wickham threaten you? Did he use any devious means to convince you to follow him?"
"No, sir."
"Shall I understand that to mean you could have made a different and better choice, but did not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then what is to be done with four young men who have chosen to be disobedient despite the means to do otherwise?"
Philip squared his shoulders and stepped forward. "We should be punished, sir. I should be, sir. I…I knew better but did not insist. I…I should have refused to go and helped David do the same. I should have kept him safe and I did not. For that I should be held accountable."
Darcy dropped to a knee and looked Philip in the eye. "Why do you feel so strongly about David? He is responsible for his own choices, just as you are."
"He is my friend and he is younger than me. It is my duty to be a good example and see that I do not lead him into harm, because he will follow where I go."
Bennet knelt beside them. "Spoken like an officer and a gentleman. I am proud of you, son."
"Thank you, sir." Philip turned to Darcy. "I am so sorry for letting you down, sir."
"You have utterly redeemed yourself and are quite forgiven." Darcy extended his hand and shook Philip's firmly.
"Are you prepared to accept your punishment like a man?"
"Yes, Papa." Philip's voice quivered. His bravado has its limits.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. It was easy to imagine Darcy standing before his father saying the very same thing. Philip was fortunate he would have a man like Darcy to understand his intuitive, introspective nature.
Papa led him to the far corner of the room, behind a screen that permitted a modicum of privacy. Papa was nothing if not thorough, but he was also just and fair. While his discipline would not soon be forgotten, neither would it leave enduring scars.
David's chin quivered and he began to weep. Darcy took his hand and held it. David clung to his father's leg. He lifted David and cuddled the boy into his shoulder.
Elizabeth's eyes burned. Dear, dear man.
Papa and Philip returned, hand in hand. Philip's red eyes and tear-stained cheeks drew a sharp counterpoint to his squared chin and strong shoulders.
Darcy carried David to the back of the room, behind the screen. Fabric shuffled and boots scraped. Darcy's voice rumbled low to the floor, near David's height.
"Why are we here, David?"
Boyish sniffles and murmurs followed.
"Is that truly what you believe? No? Then tell me why?"
A soft cry and more mutters drifted from behind the screen.
"That is right. Now tell me, why must you be punished? I know you do not want it, but tell me why."
"Because…it…it will…make me remember… so I won't dare disobey."
"That is right. I love you and want you to grow up to be a good man. I must make sure you do not forget the danger you put your brother, your friends and your family in by breaking the rules."
Elizabeth bit her knuckle and blinked back the burning in her eyes as Darcy chastised the boy with careful firmness.
He carried David, who wept into his father's shoulder, toward them. He stopped beside Elizabeth and continued to comfort the boy while Papa dealt with a far less compliant Francis. When George's turn came, Darcy passed David into Elizabeth's waiting arms.
Calmer now, he nestled his face into her neck with only an occasion hiccup. George bore his chastisement with far greater dignity than Francis and returned to his place in line. Elizabeth set David on his feet beside his brother and the other watery-eyed repentant boys.
Papa paced in front of the boys. "Do not think this is over. You all shall have additional restrictions until the new year, at which time we shall review your conduct and determine if you have proven yourselves worthy of having your liberties restored."
George and Francis immediately protested, but a glance at the screened corner was enough to silence them.
Mrs. Reynolds tapped at the door. At Papa's signal, she admitted Lady Catherine and the two governesses
"I believe you all know what is expected of you now." Lady Catherine folded her arms and shot a stern look at the boys.
"Yes, madam," the governesses whispered as meekly as the boys.
"Then you are all dismissed. See we have no need for another interview like this one ever again." Papa jerked his head toward the door. They all filed out.
Philip stopped at the doorway and ran back to Darcy.
"Yes?"
"Sir…I…I just want you to know I meant what I said."
"Of course you did—as much as I."
Philip blinked up at him. Darcy dropped to his knee and pulled Philip to him in a warm embrace. Philip threw his arms around Darcy's neck while Darcy patted his back.
"There now, go and find Miss Wexley before she frets that you are gone." He gave Philip a gentle push toward the door.
Elizabeth followed and closed the door behind him. The men groaned and Papa fell into the nearest chairs. Lady Catherine rushed to Papa's side. His face was drawn and he pressed his arm close to his side. For all his brave face with the boys, he was worn and exhausted beyond words.
Elizabeth took a step toward him, but Lady Catherine was with him. He did not need her as well.
Darcy's warm fingers closed around her upper arm. She looked into a face as weary and worn as Papa's. The events of the day lay hard upon him. He tugged her arm and led her into the corner behind the screen.
"But, Papa—"
"He will be glad for a bit of privacy too. Did you not see? She was practically in his lap." He pulled her to him.
"Did you drink the willow bark tea I prepared for you?"
"I did and it was utterly vile and entirely helpful. I thank you very much for it."
"Good, I am glad to see you are not stubborn. How do you feel?"
"Exhausted, and I am quite certain there is not a single hand span of me that does not ache."
Her eyebrows shot up and she cocked her head.
"Elizabeth! I cannot believe—"
"I said nothing! What are you going on about?"
"You speak quite loudly even without words."
She pressed her hand to his chest.
"So, did I pass muster?"
"Excuse me?"
"That is why you came here. You had to be certain of me, did you not?"
She drew a breath to protest. He kissed her silent.
"It is all right. I am please you would want to know. It is what I would wish for the mother of my children."
She hid her face in his neck.
"So?"
"I am very proud of you and I thank you for Philip."
"His is a—"
"Darcy, you have thirty seconds to finish kissing my daughter, then I expect you both out here, front and center!"
Darcy's eyes grew wide, but he kissed her thoroughly and appeared before the admiral with a mere second to spare.
Elizabeth managed to control her giggles only for a moment. One glance in her father's eyes dissolved her control. She flung herself upon her father and wrapped her arms around his neck, careful to avoid his injured arm and buried her face in his neck. "Oh, Papa."
He sighed and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Dear, girl. All is well now, truly."
Lady Catherine winked at her and smiled gently.
Papa cleared his throat. "Two things further and then I am for Bedfordshire."
Elizabeth released him and slipped back to Darcy who tucked her arm into his.
Papa sighed and reached for Lady Catherine's hand. "I expect you have settlement papers for me."
"I do, sir."
"Then tomorrow, in the afternoon, we may review them."
"At your earliest convenience, sir." Darcy squeezed her hand. "And the other?"
Papa sagged a bit and leaned against the desk. He pressed Lady Catherine's hand to his lips. All levity left his features, replaced by a sober mien. "I have a favor to ask of you, Darcy. One I would ask of no one else."
"What may I do for you?"
Lady Catherine edged closer, her shoulder touching Papa's.
"The boys—if anything happens to me before they are of age," he glanced at Lady Catherine, "I—we—want you to be their guardian. Piper will assist you, of course, but they need a gentleman to see them into their inheritance."
Darcy sucked in a sharp breath. "I hardly know what to say."
"I do not imagine a simple yes or no so very difficult to manage."
Darcy snickered. "Indeed. I would be honored, sir, though I trust such a contingency will be entirely unnecessary."
"I would prefer that myself." Papa chuckled, "But I shall rest easier this way nonetheless." He yawned deeply, wincing and pulling his arm in more tightly. "Right, now I am—"
Three sharp raps sounded from the door. The door creaked open and Fitzwilliam poked his head in. Papa pulled himself up very straight.
"Are you both available? Piper and I—"
"Where?"
"The main barn."
Darcy patted Elizabeth's arm and kissed the top of her head. "We shall return soon."
Papa squeezed Lady's Catherine's hand and tugged his jacket straight. He led Darcy out.
Elizabeth bit her lip. "You do not think—"
"What else would Fitzwilliam call them out for, now of all times? Nothing else could be so pressing."
"But neither of them is in any condition to take on—"
"I hardly think Fitzwilliam would be calling for them if he had any fight left in him at all."
Elizabeth looked at the door.
"They need to finish this."
"I know, but we only just got them back."
"They are in Fitzwilliam and Piper's care. We have nothing to be worried about. Come, let us put the boys to bed. I expect they will be returned by the time we are done." Lady Catherine looped her arm in Elizabeth's and, with a resigned smile, headed to the nursery.