Darcy nursed his port, staring at the man across from him. Lucas Sotherby, the Earl of Wessex, had just finished dining with him and his family. Although he was still a little skeptical, Darcy did not have any evidence to support that this man was not who Georgiana said he was. Now that he had some alone time with the man, he would do more digging into the man's character.

"Busy season in London, Lord Wessex?"

"Please call me Sotherby. To answer your question, I guess. I am not accustomed to being in Town during the season so I have nothing for which to compare it."

"You do not attend the season each year?"

"I make an appearance now and then when I come to Town for business, but I spend most of my time at my estate in Wessex. I prefer the quiet and peace of the country. My neighbors in Wessex are all the company I require. Besides I am able to pursue my passion more fully in the country."

"And what is that passion?" Darcy asked.

"Breeding and training Thoroughbreds for the hunt."

"How long have you been in the business?"

"For my own amusement, since I was fourteen, but it is only recently that I..."

Elizabeth smiled as Georgiana twiddled her thumbs and softly tapped her right foot. The poor girl was anxious for Lord Wessex and her brother to be finished with their conversation. Elizabeth herself was beginning to wonder what was taking them so long.

"Georgiana dear, why don't you play something for me? I think a song might soothe the rambunctious one in my stomach."

"Oh, of course, anything for my future niece or nephew."

As Georgiana beautifully played the piece on her piano, Elizabeth's thoughts ventured to the man they had invited to dinner. Lucas Sotherby, the Earl of Wessex, was everything Georgiana had claimed him to be and more. Elizabeth was quite impressed. His quiet attention to Georgiana had caught Elizabeth's notice more than anything else. The man seemed to have a special smile just for Georgiana. And although Georgiana and the Earl had only known each other for two months, there was an ease to their conversation like they had been good friends for years. The man had a way of making Georgiana feel comfortable with herself and Elizabeth had personally never seen Georgiana be quite so loquacious.

A minute later, a door opened and the men walked in. Her husband took a seat next to her on the sofa and the Earl walked to stand by the piano.

"What did you two talk about for so long?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Horses."

"Horses?"

"Yes. It appears Sotherby is quite passionate about them."

"I believe there is something else he is quite passionate about," hinted Elizabeth eyeing the couple at the piano. "I have never seen Georgiana open up to the other sex before like she has done tonight. They are so natural together. Look how he leans and watches her play. Before Georgiana would have stumbled on her keys, but I have never heard her play more brilliantly than she has tonight."

"My dear, I believe you have stars in your eyes."

"Do you not see it? I admit I was skeptical at first, but their connection is undeniable. Yes, fifteen years is quite an age difference but the way they act one can hardly tell."

"I noticed the familiarity that they already have with one another and I admit that I have not seen that happen with my sister before, but...

"But what?"

"She is my sister. I have been her guardian for many years and I can not easily let her go."

"I know, my love, I know, but other than your brotherly objection did you discover any reason why the Earl would not make a good suitor?"

"No," Darcy admitted, begrudgingly. Elizabeth couldn't help but grin. Her husband looked like a little boy who had been put in time out by his nurse. "He is perfectly amiable. A man of good sense. He did mention something other than horses. He confessed that he would like to court my sister."

Elizabeth gushed, "Really?"

"Love, the couple in question is only across the room. You might lower your voice, but yes he did. He also said that he would like to take things slowly and would not consider marriage until she reached her majority. He seems as ill at ease about the age difference as we do."

"Have you given your blessing?"

"Not yet. Do you think I should?"

"I do. There is something about him. The way he makes Georgiana spark and come alive. Also, he reminds me of you a bit."

"Me?" Darcy asked incredulously.

"Yes, you," Elizabeth said, gently tapping him on the chest. "He possesses a quiet reserve and sound judgment like you do. I can see why Georgiana became attracted to him."

"Is he as handsome as I?" Darcy teased.

"He is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me." Elizabeth replied with a sly grin on her face. More seriously she asked, "But you will let them become better acquainted, will you not?"

"I am not blind. I see how Georgiana's eyes sparkle. No other man, not even her dear brother, has made them twinkle so. Yes, I will allow him to be her suitor."

Elizabeth took his hand in her own and gently squeezed it. "Very good, my love."

"But I shall wait until tomorrow to tell him. No reason why I should not prolong his torture," Darcy muttered under his breath.

"Fitzwilliam!" his wife admonished.

"Well, it's done. I have given Sotherby permission," announced Darcy as he began disrobing for bed.

Elizabeth set her book on the night stand and adjusted herself more comfortably against the pillows. The larger with child she got the harder it was to find a comfortable resting position. Not to mention how hot she got in the evening. She used to love to cuddle with Darcy in bed, but now she could not bear the extra heat of his body. She often found herself scooting out of bed in the middle of night to sleep in the sitting chair by the window. There were definite joys to pregnancy, but miseries too.

After divesting of his clothes and donning a night shirt, her husband crawled into bed. "Did you not hear what I said?" he asked.

"I did and I am glad. It was about time you did anyway. You told me you would tell him the next day not two weeks later at the end of his visit."

"What can I say?" Darcy asked, not looking the least bit sorry for his decision. "I wanted to make certain that he was the proper suitor for my little sister."

"I think we have no doubt that his intentions are pure," replied Elizabeth, turning over on her side in hopes that it would relieve the ache in her back.

It did not take long before Darcy's heavy arm wrapped itself around her waist. Moaning in aggravation at the unwanted weight and heat from Darcy's body, she roughly pushed his arm away.

"What? Are you mad that I waited so long?"

"No, I am mad because you are an oversized oaf that feels the need to crowd my side of the bed."

Darcy looked aghast. "I did not realize...I thought you liked it when I held you."

Elizabeth sighed, almost on the verge of tears. "I do...well, I used to, but now I am never comfortable Fitzwilliam. No matter what I do. My back hurts. My feet hurt. I must always need relieve myself. I am always hungry. Always tired. Always hot. In short, Darcy, carrying your child is miserable work. I just want this babe out of me so things can go back to normal. I feel like my body is not my own."

"Oh, love, I am sorry," Darcy replied, gently patting her shoulder fearing that if he hugged her that would upset her all over again. "Would it help if I rubbed your feet?"

In reply, Elizabeth pushed off the covers and wiggled her feet before him. Taking one of her feet in his lap, Darcy began to massage her feet gently. Elizabeth's frustrations slowly began to melt away. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.