It soon became evident that Bennet's warning to fortify themselves had been a wise one. Darcy and Lizzy realized within minutes of the arrival of other family members in the breakfast room that they would have to be very careful or they would inadvertently betray their secret without ever saying a word.

The main problem was that every time Darcy looked at Lizzy, a warm glow bubbled up inside him and burst out over his face in the form of a delighted smile. From her delighted expression, he guessed that Lizzy was similarly affected.

Bennet, of course, saw it all and enjoyed it immensely. His pleasure in the situation came not just from watching the two, but also because he knew his Lizzy would be in good hands going forward. Once they were married, there would be little Lady Catherine could do to harm her. Even if she tried, Darcy and all the rest of his family would be ready to protect Lizzy.

Fortunately for the couple, Mrs. Bennet was occupied with the impending arrival of the Damasks and Madeline Gardiner's other relatives, along with the expected return of Sir Barnaby Linton. Even though the new arrivals would be staying in other homes, she knew they would be frequent visitors to Longbourn, and she wanted to be sure to display her abilities as a hostess to best effect. She spent breakfast talking about having a full formal dinner party on Friday evening after everyone had arrived. Mrs. de Bourgh and Jane were consulted on their ideas, and Lizzy, Kitty and Lydia were dragged into the conversation as well.

Sir Phillip sat near Darcy and Bennet, well away from the fuss and uproar. Unlike Mrs. Bennet, he did notice something was up. As the gentlemen excused themselves to attend to a game of chess while Bennet did some estate work in the study, he pulled Darcy aside.

"What is up with you today?" he asked. "Your expression is almost, well, the best word I can find is effervescent."

Darcy gave him a big grin but since they were still in earshot of the ladies in the breakfast room he just gestured with his head in that direction while remaining silent. Sir Phillip took the hint and nodded even as Bennet broke into what was definitely a snicker behind them.

Entering the study silently, Darcy and Sir Phillip made their moves on the miniature board before heading to the chairs in front of the fireplace and the large board set up there. Bennet had settled into his chair behind the desk as they played on old Mr. Darcy's behalf. Now, he stopped them before they could sit.

"Mr. Darcy, before you begin your game, I wonder if you would do me a favor in consideration of your new role as my future son-in-law?"

Sir Phillip guffawed, slapping one leg in amusement. "I knew there was something big in the air," he said. "So, Miss Elizabeth accepted your offer."

"She did," Darcy confirmed. "Just this morning. We are waiting to inform Mrs. Bennet until after Miss Mary arrives on Thursday."

"Oh, you two will never keep the secret that long with the way you are looking at each other," Sir Phillip said, still laughing.

Darcy looked at his companion closely for a moment. He raised one eyebrow questioningly and asked seriously, "When did you become Richard?"

Bennet began to laugh again as Sir Phillip answered, "He is not here, so I must be his proxy."

Darcy rolled his eyes, just as he would have at a comment like that from his cousin. He turned to Bennet.

"Was there some task you actually wished me to do, sir? Or was that just a way to let the cat out of the bag?"

"Oh, no," Bennet said. "My request may have served that purpose, but I actually do need a favor."

"How may I assist?" Darcy asked.

"One of my tenant families, the Clarkes, who live on the farthest point on the estate from this house, sent word of a problem on their farm that needs immediate attention. With all the recent excitement, I really do not feel able to walk all the way out there and my steward is busy working on another issue. Would you be willing to ride out and act as my proxy to examine the situation and suggest some solutions? I know you have the necessary experience to handle the job well."

"Of course. If you will give me directions, I will change into riding clothes, have Wickham's horse saddled and head on over."

"I would like to join you, if I may," Sir Phillip offered. "Unlike you, I have no practical experience, but this sounds like a way to gain some, assuming Mr. Bennet has a horse I might borrow for the ride."

"I do not keep one for myself, but you can use one of those I have on hand for the stable boys when they carry messages for me. I will send to the stable to have the horses saddled while you two change clothes."

Bennet proceeded to give detailed directions to the Clarke farm, along with a little history about the tenant that he thought Darcy might find useful. Before too long, the younger men were on their way.

It turned out to be an interesting assignment as well as an enjoyable ride. Darcy appreciated the opportunity for the exercise. He also appreciated seeing more of the estate and getting to know the place where his future wife had grown up. He knew Lizzy often accompanied her father when he handled estate business, so it gave him a little more insight into the influences on her childhood.

Between them, he and Sir Phillip assessed the problem and came up with a few reasonable solutions for Bennet to consider, along with making a short term fix then and there. The tenants appreciated the quick attention to their needs, knowing that Bennet was busy with family matters and guests. Darcy and Richard's rescue of the young ladies was already known, giving him the immediate approval of the Clarke family. When Darcy explained that Sir Phillip was a cousin by marriage both to him and to Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger man was readily accepted as well. The two returned to the main house a few hours later, well pleased with the work they had done.

After accepting their report and thanking the younger men for acting in his stead, Bennet told Darcy that two messengers had arrived shortly before their return. He must have seen the slight look of panic in Darcy's eyes.

Bennet quickly explained, "One was for me, from Mr. and Mrs. Hanson. They said they plan to arrive tomorrow unless I sent word back to let them know it would be inconvenient. It seems your cousin is so excited by the thought of finally being able to meet my daughters that she could wait no longer. Of course, I sent the messenger back to say we would be delighted to have them join us at any time and I wished them a safe journey on the morrow."

"That is excellent news," Darcy said.

Sir Phillip seconded the comment, adding, "I think you will like them both, sir. And with Martin here, we will not be so outnumbered by the ladies after Mr. Darcy heads off to Netherfield Park this evening."

"Ah, yes," Bennet said, "and after this morning that parting will be more painful than ever. Just as well, I suppose, if you want your secret to remain one from Mrs. Bennet. Hmm. I wonder if Mr. Bingley had that talk with his sister?"

"I am certain he has tried," Darcy responded. "Whether he was able to ease her mind or change her behavior must wait to be seen. She is known for hearing only what she wishes to hear."

"Ah, a little like my own wife, then," Bennet said offhandedly. "Although I have learned over the years that she hears more than she lets on. It just takes time for her to accept what you say. She will deny everything until she comes to the same conclusions on her own."

Darcy considered for a second. "Interesting. That view of matters makes much more sense than believing Miss Bingley incapable of listening or understanding what is said."

"You need to become accustomed to looking at matters from other points of view if you are to get on well with Lizzy in the long run. Although you will both want what is best for each other and your estate, her idea of what is best or her way of getting there may be very different from yours. I am not saying you always need to defer to her ideas, but it will serve you well to listen generously, trying to understand why she wants to do something in a certain way instead of just deciding her way is wrong because it does not meet your goals. You will end up happier if you can find ways to meet in the middle."

"I will try to remember that, sir," Darcy said, "although you may have to remind me again in a few years."

"It goes two ways. Perhaps I shall have to remind both of you."

Darcy nodded thoughtfully. Their companion did not find the subject as compelling, however.

"You said there were two messages," Sir Phillip said. "Who was the second one for?"

"Ah, yes!" Bennet said. "I had forgotten." He reached over to a folded and sealed page to one side of his desk. "It is for Mr. Darcy. I know the handwriting is Richard's."

"You may just call me Darcy, or even Will, if you like. Both of you," Darcy said.

"Thank you, Darcy. I will accept being called Bennet – by both of you as well."

"I am afraid that the title gets in the way of informality," Sir Phillip said as Darcy opened the message. "But I appreciate the offer of familiar address from you both."

Darcy chuckled as he scanned over the page. "Ah, as I had hoped, Richard was delighted and highly amused by my plan for Collins. If I had not sent two good men along with him, I would agree with Richard's hope that they get lost on the way. He also wonders if we have had any response from his father. Actually, I am surprised we have not yet either. It is not like my uncle to leave us waiting so long."

"It has not really been that long," Bennet reminded him. And you must remember there was a Sunday in those few days since we wrote to him. That slows the delivery of messages as well."

"Hmm, yes, I suppose you are correct. With as much as has happened, it seems longer ago than it truly is."

"I would hazard that we will have heard from him by the time a certain happy understanding is announced," Bennet said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I hope so. I am also concerned about Georgiana and want to know if I will be taking a quick ride to Derbyshire to collect her. Just like Anne, she needs some time to get to know the Bennet sisters by more than letters."

"You could stand leaving Lizzy long enough to make the round trip?" Bennet asked mischievously.

Darcy looked disgruntled at the thought. "Well, I truly hope it is not necessary, but to make my sister happy, I would."

"Good man," said Bennet.

"Speaking of making the ladies happy," Darcy added, "I did not notice them in the parlor as we passed. Do you have any idea where I might find my betrothed?" He savored the last word as he spoke it, providing some amusement for the other two.

Bennet replied, "With Mrs. Bennet's sudden plan for a dinner party on Friday, the ladies have gone to Meryton for some shopping and gossip. You have pleased your betrothed with the loan of your carriage to ease crowding on the expedition. After all, the de Bourgh vehicle was really only meant for two and mine alone would have been a tight fit for them all once the purchases began to pile up."

Darcy shrugged. "I am pleased to be of service. What is mine will soon be hers, after all. It is not as if I had a need for the carriage at the moment."

"I thought you would see it that way." Bennet smirked as he continued, "That is why I gave permission on your behalf when Lizzy came in to ask where she might find you. They left only an hour or so ago, so it may be some time before we see them again."

"Ah, well," said Darcy, playing up his disappointment, "I suppose there is always that game of chess Sir Phillip and I were going to play earlier."

"It is a dreadful fate," Bennet said, "but I think you two can manage."

Sir Phillip moved the table with the board between them and checked that it was set up correctly. "You won the last game," he said. "That makes the first move yours this time."

~o~

Bennet's prediction about the former Viscount Rand came true shortly before the ladies returned from Meryton. However, instead of sending a messenger, Darcy's uncle showed up at Longbourn's front door with Georgiana at his side.

After winning two games against Sir Phillip and proving the younger man was not Richard's proxy when it came to chess, Darcy had wandered out into the corridor intending to go upstairs and pack the rest of his belongings for the transfer to Netherfield Park. He neared the entry just as Mrs. Hill opened the door to greet the unexpected visitors.

"Viscount Rand! Do come in, my lord," she said, knowing the gentleman was always welcome.

"Good day, Mrs. Hill. I hope you will be able to spare me a room, or perhaps put me in with my nephew. I was not expected. However, I think my niece was. Georgiana, this is the Bennet's housekeeper, Mrs. Hill."

Before Georgiana could do more than nod politely, Darcy had rushed to the entry and swept her up in a hug. She squeaked in surprise at the sudden attack, then realized who was holding her.

"Will!" she happily cried out his name.

Darcy hugged her tightly for a moment. Then, still keeping his left arm wrapped around his sister, he released her with the right and offered that hand to his uncle.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you here and safe, Uncle Peter," he said as they clasped hands. His uncle's grip said more in return than words could have.

Smiling, Darcy turned to Mrs. Hill, who had been waiting quietly in the background. "Mrs. Hill, I will take them back to the study. Mr. Bennet will be as glad as I am at their arrival."

"Yes, sir. Will it cause any confusion if I have Viscount Rand's luggage brought up to the room you have been using?"

"It will be no problem at all. I was nearly packed anyway. I just have a few small items to put away before we can bring my luggage down. Of course, with my carriage currently in use, we cannot load it now anyway."

Mrs. Hill nodded and turned away even as Georgiana protested while clinging to him more tightly "But Will, we only just arrived. Are you going away somewhere?"

He gave her another quick and comforting squeeze before he stepped away, gently untangling himself from her grasp. "I am not going far away, sister. Longbourn is a lovely estate, but it can only hold so many people and more guests will soon be arriving in addition to you two. Starting tonight, I will be staying at a nearby estate that Bingley has leased for the next few months. I will only be three miles away." He grinned at her as he added, "Of course, once you take your place here as an honorary Bennet sister, you will soon forget all about me and it will not matter how near or far I stay."

"Oh, Will, I never could forget you," she said seriously.

"Georgiana, dear, I am only teasing you," he said on seeing her distress. "Have I been so serious and stodgy these last few years that you do not know what teasing sounds like from me?"

"You were pretty stodgy, Will," his uncle said. "I sometimes thought that if it were not for Richard, you never would have learned to laugh at all."

"Richard has been a big help to me," Darcy agreed, nodding. "For instance, he was able to immediately identify a certain young woman for whom I had been searching just from the description of her favorite necklace." While he continued to smile, the look he gave his uncle was a challenging one all the same.

Peter Fitzwilliam turned away slightly so he was not quite meeting his nephew's searching eyes. "Yes, well, about that…" he began, but stopped as Georgiana excitedly interrupted.

"Have you found Miss Rose, Will? Have you spoken to her yet?"

"Yes, Georgiana, I have spoken to her. Several times, in fact," Darcy said, and his smile lit up the room. "It turns out I only heard part of her name, which is why I had such a hard time finding her. My lady of mystery is, in reality, Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet."

"Bennet?" Georgiana asked, bouncing in her excitement. "Truly, Will? Your mystery lady is one of the Bennet sisters?"

"Yes, Georgiana, truly. Thanks to Richard, I have met with her, we addressed our misunderstandings and are on very good terms with one another."

Georgiana turned to her uncle, "Is that not wonderful news, Uncle Peter?"

"It is," he answered her, then continued, "I am glad that Will and Lizzy have finally spoken and are now on friendly terms. Will, I am truly sorry I did not correct your misunderstanding regarding her name or point you to her. You have to understand that I was acting on Lizzy's express request. As the insulted party, I felt she had the higher claim. I hope you can forgive me."

Georgiana looked between the two in surprise as she realized her uncle had already known. Will offered his hand to his uncle again. Peter took it gratefully and they shook hands.

"She and I have discussed her reasons and her request to you and several other people who could have enlightened me. I admit I felt betrayed when Richard first told me and I realized you had known all along, but matters have worked out and I am in an understanding and forgiving mood today. Now, let us get to the study before we are caught in the entry when Mrs. Bennet returns with all the other ladies."

"I see you are already learning the ways of the house," Peter observed.

With a smirk, Darcy said, "I told you Richard has been a help to me." He began to lead Georgiana down the corridor. Peter just laughed as he followed his niece and nephew.

They found Bennet on his own in the study. The Master of Longbourn greeted his friend's unexpected arrival with great joy. They shook hands vigorously and both expressed how glad they were to see one another despite the serious situations. Then Peter turned to study the game in progress on the miniature chessboard while Darcy introduced his sister to her host.

"You are most welcome to Longbourn, Miss Darcy," Bennet said as she shyly offered him a curtsy. "Your brother's kind offer to loan you to us for a month or two has delighted my daughters, especially the two youngest. You must treat this as your home and feel free to ask for anything you need." Seeing her wrapping one hand nervously in her skirt, Bennet asked more softly, "Is there something you need?"

She suddenly seemed to realize what she was doing, and she let loose of the twist of fabric before smoothing out the side of her skirt. Still sounding a little fearful, she said, "Well, Mr. Bennet, sir, it has been a long trip and I have spent most of it being very nervous about meeting all these new people. I wonder if…perhaps…I mean, do you have a pianoforte, and might I play it? Playing always helps calm me and then I can feel less nervous when I meet your daughters."

Her gaze dropped down to her hands again and she seemed almost shocked that she had made the request. Bennet chuckled kindly.

"Why that is the simplest sort of request you can make. We do have a pianoforte, and of course you may use it. In fact, you should take your opportunity now, while all the other girls are out of the house, because if you wait any longer you will have to negotiate with them for it."

"I can take her to the music room while you and my uncle talk," Darcy offered.

"Show her to the music room," Bennet said, "but then come back to join us. We have things to discuss first that will concern you as well. My friend and I can have our private discussion after." He turned back to Georgiana, "Sir Phillip de Bourgh is out in the garden, and since we have the windows open, he may come in to see who is playing. I am not sure if you have ever met him before, but you need not be afraid of him. He knows you are expected, and you are distant relatives, after all."

"Thank you, Mr. Bennet," she said. She offered another quick curtsy and practically fled the room.

Darcy followed her into the hall and gestured to the music room door, a little concerned by her show of nerves, especially as he heard Bennet softly comment, "...like a frightened fawn…I hope my girls do not scare her to death."

As Georgiana quickly darted inside, he asked, "Are you afraid of Mr. Bennet?"

She settled onto the bench of the pianoforte with what sounded like a sigh of relief and nodded just a little.

"There is no need to be frightened," Darcy told her.

"I know. I just get so nervous at the thought of meeting new people. This is even scarier because I really want all the Bennet sisters to like me, especially Kitty and Lydia."

Darcy leaned against the door frame. "I can understand," he said. "I also struggle with meeting new people. Did you know that was a big part of the reason why our father sent George Wickham to school with me instead of providing him with some other benefit or training."

Georgiana's surprised expression said as much as the small shake of her head. Darcy continued.

"I want you to think about something. You have been writing to Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia for several months, have you not?"

"Nearly two years," she said, nodding.

"Good," he said, hiding his surprise at the duration of the correspondence. "Now, in that time you have shared details about your feelings and your day to day activities. I expect they have done the same, correct?"

She nodded again.

"You already consider them your friends, do you not? That is why it is so important for them to like you?"

"Yes, Brother," she said, still twisting her hands nervously in her lap.

"Well, I can tell you with confidence that Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia consider you their friend and they already like you. In fact, you would have to be very deliberately unfriendly and far more unpleasant than I think you are capable of in order to lose their friendship. Think on that as you calm yourself by stroking those keys." He pushed away from the door frame, turning to leave the room.

"Thank you, Brother," she said softly from behind him. He turned to smile at her, but she had her head down. As he watched, she began to play. Still smiling, he returned to the study.

"I hope playing for a time will help her settle," his uncle said as Darcy re-entered the room. "She has been a bundle of nerves the entire journey."

"I think it will help," Darcy replied. "Have you told her about Grandfather and James?"

"Yes. We discussed it at length on the way. She knows I want to keep it secret for just a little while longer, so she will not say anything even to her new friends."

"How long do you intend to wait?" Bennet asked.

"As long as I can. I do need to speak with Catherine before I allow the news to leak out into the Ton. Fortunately, my men kept it very quiet from the start."

"Are you certain it is safe to visit with her? I would not feel safe in her company after what she ordered done to Miss Elizabeth. In fact, after the last interview Richard and I had with her, I would not be surprised if she sent someone after us. Once she finds out what we have done to Wickham and Collins, it is almost a given."

"Ah, Collins. What have you done with the cringing clergyman?" Peter asked.

Darcy explained the steps he had taken. His uncle was highly amused.

"That is the kind of plan I would expect from Richard if he were a little more subtle in his methods. I am surprised and delighted you came up with it."

"I am rather pleased about it as well," Darcy told him.

"Richard did have a number of less subtle plans to offer, including hampering our navy by turning Collins over to a press gang. If he were not the heir to Longbourn I would have gone with one of those. I just could not have it look like I was deliberately doing away with an inconvenient heir. I still wonder when someone is going to ask about Wickham's horse."

"I hope no one does," Darcy said. "To the best of my knowledge he has no family living, and the horse did come from my father originally, so I may have the best claim to it."

Peter shook his head at his nephew's comment as Bennet said, "Those soldiers do a great deal of gambling in their abundant spare time. Trust me, if he is court-martialed and condemned, someone is certain to step forward and demand that horse as payment of some debt or other."

"Knowing Wickham, I suppose you are correct," Darcy agreed reluctantly.

"I was surprised to hear you have Sir Phillip as a visitor," Peter said to Bennet. "What do you think of him?"

"He is a pleasant young man and I like him. I can certainly tell he is a relative of Lewis de Bourgh. If I did not know better, I would guess Lewis was his father instead of just being a cousin."

"Yes, the older he gets, the more he resembles our old friend as we remember him from school."

"I have had to stop myself from calling him Lewis more than once. I was also impressed at how well-educated our young man is. He told me you offered to send him to Cambridge but he did not like to leave his mother and Anne at the mercy of Lady Catherine, so instead you arranged for a tutor."

"You know Lewis would have looked after him, even if the boy had not been his heir. I was just carrying on his legacy, and the young man is very deserving of the help. Lewis also would have put a stop to this behavior of Catherine's long before it reached such depths. Ordering the kidnapping of a young woman with the intent to ruin her? Keeping her own daughter a prisoner? Spying, plotting and doing harm to others without any regard for decency or even the family honor and position she claims to hold in high regard? It is too much."

"But what can you do? Even now, as the Earl of Matlock, you have no control over her financial interests and those are what have given her the power to act as she has. I know Lewis intended to assure the well-being of his wife and daughter, but giving your sister the life interest in Rosings Park and access to such a high percentage of the profits was probably the biggest mistake he ever made. The power that comes from running such an estate and access to that money made her the threat she now is."

"Agreed," Peter said, "but that was his choice and, of course, he did not expect to do so early."

"Why did he make that arrangement?" Darcy asked. "I thought her settlement included a generous jointure and everything she would need to live out her days comfortably and to protect Anne as well."

"Well, Will, I think in part it was as Bennet says. Lewis was trying to leave his wife and child with the best he could give them. His bequest was well within the law. And, even though he was married to her, I do not think he ever fully realized or accepted the extent of Catherine's vengeful nature. She played a part with him, although I suspect she also cared for him. At any rate, he would not have approved of how she has used his legacy and takes her amusements through the pain and misery of others."

"You said in part," Darcy asked, "what was the rest?"

Peter looked away, clearly uncomfortable about the answer. After a short pause, he said, "I think that was Lewis taking his own amusements when he arranged matters that way. I am not certain that will was ever meant to stand. Just as Lewis did not expect to die when he did, he also did not expect his cousin Clarence, the heir presumptive, to die just before him. Those two were always poking, prodding and trying to get the better of one another. Clarence had played a massive prank on Lewis just about the time he revised his will after Anne's birth, and I think the provisions reflect that. Had Lewis lived long enough to know Clarence's wife was with child, he would have changed his will and arranged matters differently, giving Catherine less power over everyone's destiny."

Bennet nodded agreement. "We are none of us perfect, Darcy, and I think we have all made mistakes of that type when we do not have the relevant facts in an important matter."

"Are you poking and prodding at me, sir?" Darcy asked teasingly. "We all know what I have done when I acted without learning the facts."

The other two laughed and Peter said, "Oh, Will, I cannot tell you how much I enjoy seeing you in such good humor."

Darcy winked at Bennet, who knew the reason for his ebullient mood and had not yet revealed it. "What can I say, Uncle? Longbourn is a magical place."

"Certainly it seems to have a draw for bright young men," Bennet said. "We have Sir Barnaby on his way to marry Jane. Richard has already married his Charlotte. Darcy, here, has come chasing his Miss Rose" Darcy rolled his eyes at Bennet, who winked as he continued. "Mr. Bingley is visiting to court Mary, although Mrs. Bennet is not to know of that yet, and Sir Phillip has already formed an attraction to Kitty. We must just hope no one comes calling yet for Lydia or Miss Darcy."

"Definitely not!" exclaimed Darcy, chuckling as he did.

At the same time, his uncle said, "Sir Phillip and Kitty? Wait, did you say Mr. Bingley is courting Mary?"

"Yes and yes," said Bennet. "Mr. Bingley, of course, is a settled thing. He has already asked for the official courtship, but Mary sent word that she would like us to wait until her arrival on Thursday to tell her mother so that Fanny does not overwhelm her young man without Mary being there to deflect some of the attention. Sir Phillip and I have spoken about his attention to Kitty and her response to it. I have told him that if, by the time his visit is over, he wishes to ask for a courtship I will grant it, but only a courtship. They are both too young to marry right away, so betrothal or marriage must wait at least a year and if he does anything that forces the issue I will be most severe upon him. He assured me he would treat my daughter with respect."

"If Catherine hears word that a Bennet may one day become Mistress of Rosings Park she will definitely have an apoplexy," Peter said. "Can you imagine her fury?"

"I can," Bennet said. "I also thought it amusing that, although she would be called Lady de Bourgh instead of Lady Catherine, my daughter would still be Lady Catherine de Bourgh."

"A kinder, gentler version," said Darcy.

"Indeed," agreed Bennet.

"Well, then," Peter said, "now that I have safely delivered Georgiana to your care, I should plan on visiting Catherine tomorrow or the next day to see what I can do to neutralize her somewhat, as well as giving her the news of the deaths."

"Does it need to be in the next few days?" Bennet asked. "Mr. and Mrs. Hanson will be arriving tomorrow, and you will probably want to speak with your niece first. Mary and the Gardiners will be here Thursday and Mrs. Bennet will be hosting a large dinner party on Friday. Unless you think the secret is in imminent danger of getting to Lady Catherine, it might be wise to wait."

"Anne is coming here too? That is excellent news. I will wait to speak with her, at least. Where are Richard and his new wife staying? I would like to speak with him as well, even if it is just briefly."

"They are at Darcy House," Darcy said. "I gave them the run of the place."

"Thank you," Peter said, "and thank you Bennet for standing in for me in the role of his father at Richard's wedding."

"It was more a case of Mrs. Bennet standing in as his mother, I would say. To help her accept the sudden wedding and not be upset that it might take away from Jane, he told her she was the closest thing he currently had to a mother. We heard no objections from her after that." Bennet chuckled.

"I will have to thank her this evening. After all, he wasn't exactly lying about that."

The three of them heard a great commotion in the corridor. "It seems the ladies are back," Bennet said. "Let us all go and hear the news of their shopping success."

"Yes," said Darcy. "I also want to introduce Georgiana to them before they discover her on her own in the music room. Then we can all hear about the amusements of the day."

In full agreement, all three men rose from their seats. Although normally he would have let the older men precede him, this time Darcy slipped out first, hoping to find Georgiana and help ease her into the new phase of her friendship with the Bennet sisters.