Chapter 28: Hard Decisions

-°-oOo-°-

"Indeed, as soon as Jane is in Pemberley, I'll ask you to come and we will do it…"

"Have you thought of the consequences?" asked Ann while looking at her cousin.

For once, it had been him who had brought her the weirdest news she had ever heard.

"Yes, and I see all the opportunities it will grant you, cousin. I know you've refused to consider marriage because you're certain that you'll die in childbed, but this is the solution you've been looking-for for years."

"I'm much better than ten years ago…"

"And still you refuse to marry because of your belief. We have now the means to give you a normal life with a husband and kids."

Fitzwilliam came to his cousin and took her hands in his.

"I know that you are unhappy about your choice. And I have seen how longingly you look at Janet and Geoffrey when you accept to come to visit us. I know you want to be a mother and I even know that you are seeing a man…"

Ann's surprise was short but genuine.

"You are not my only spy master, Miss de Bourgh. I have other sources and those sources did tell me that there is a man who's slipping in and out your apartments."

"And what else did your other sources tell you?"

"Nothing more and he just told me about 'him' because I was worried about you. I was considering forcing you to live with us to put an end to your loneliness. That's when he alluded that you weren't really lonely."

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, he taught me a few of his tricks and he had always been an awful meddler. I'll have to make a sweep through my guards to discover who works for him."

"Don't waste your time I know who works for him because they report to me."

"You mistrust me?"

"Not in the least but I need to have my own eyes on your compound. You could be a threat and I can't take the risk not to be informed of what's going on within your organization. I'm not spying on you, Ann, I'm spying on those who have sworn to serve me. And when William sits on the throne I want to be sure that I haven't handed him a time bomb."

"You and Geoff are extraordinary men, I'm glad you work for the general welfare, had you put all this energy into increasing your power and wealth you would be the most dangerous people in the world."

"Don't make the mistake to believe we aren't, Ann… And since we don't do the mistake to believe you aren't dangerous, we take insurances to stay in the loop."

"But you've decided to take the risk to upgrade me?"

"We need you Ann, you have, and on that point I'm in total agreement with d'Arcy, the clearest analytical mind we've ever encountered. And you're loyal to the family and to Great Britain. Two factors we want to preserve for as long as possible for William. He will live a very long life and reign for what will probably be the longest reign since the Jewish king prophets who lived centuries."

"But I'm not at the service of the Crown, Fitzwilliam. I'm privately funded."

"And we'll go on funding you through private means. Your organization has been gifted with five percent of the Company's Capital. The dividends that will give you should cover all of your costs and more. That's why you'll be at the head of it for as long as necessary. Centuries perhaps!"

Ann looked at her cousin.

He had matured. A lot, if the truth had to be told. He was still the perfectly honest and straightforward gentleman, but he had blossomed into a Statesman who was able to see other people's thoughts even before they had thought them through. There was no longer any doubt in his heart about his capacities or his skills. He was the Regent and he had given a new content to the word. He was the man who was looking after the Crown while the heir was groomed by him into a real ruler. And there was nobody left in England, Wales or Ireland who thought that Fitzwilliam Darcy was not the best man available for the job. There still were a few fools in Scotland but they would soon disappear and vanish into the fog of oblivion.

"Centuries are a long time."

"That's why you shouldn't have to walk along these years alone and without kids" said Fitzwilliam. "You'll have to be sure of your mate; you'll have him with you for a very long time. It's not the moment to choose unwisely."

"Fitzwilliam, I'm soon to be thirty-three years old. Unwise I did only my first five years! Since then I haven't made a decision that hadn't been overthought for at least hours. And so please, believe me that the man I accepted into my life was the best choice I still had while certain gentlemen were no longer available!"

Fitzwilliam who was by no means an idiot gave her once more the proof that he was one of the most sensible men of the creation.

"Ann, please reassure me that what I just heard doesn't mean that the man you've chosen is…" He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "Who I fear it is!"

"You mean George Darcy?"

Fitzwilliam looked at her with flint in his eyes. It took him a few seconds to find the strength to speak the name.

"I mean George Darcy!"

Ann shot him her most ironic smile.

"So, do I, Fitzwilliam, so do I!"

She saw her cousin literally swinging between anger, stupefaction and disbelief in less than a second. George and Fitzwilliam hadn't been friends after George's official release out of the French prison where he had spent a few months but they had found a modus vivendi where George would do his job as the leader of the anti-French party and Fitzwilliam, being the Regent who wouldn't take sides, trying not to look like systematically going against his half-brother.

"How could you?" said he finally.

"Easily" answered she. "He always was handsome and since he's no longer in the business of eradicating the Darcys he's a rather interesting and smart man." Her smile took a little wicked side-loop. "And one can say what you want about experience he's given me a new perspective about what my body was capable of feeling." Her smile disappeared. "And at least he was family. He's perhaps a bastard and a rake but he's nevertheless your half-brother."

"He is after Rosings…" spat Fitzwilliam.

"Could be" agreed Ann. "And what if he is? My mother would, finally get what she wanted: an alliance between the Darcys and the de Bourghs."

"She would die on the spot if she learned about it…"

"I'm done lying to my mother, Fitzwilliam, she already knows. I told her before I accepted him in my bed. She wasn't happy about it but meanwhile she had accepted that I had my own life and that I was very ready to do things without her agreement. And it wasn't her agreement I was seeking, it was her survival. Better to be the one to bring her the news. Even if, in my opinion, they were good news."

"But, Ann, why he?"

"Because, Fitzwilliam he's a man who knows what he wants. He came to me one day and he didn't play any role. He just asked if I could, like he did, envision an alliance between us. And when he came to me he didn't hide that he wanted me." She smiled at the memories of that day. "He was the first man in my life who said those words to me. The first, Fitzwilliam…"

-°-oOo-°-

George had arrived with his new very up to date but rather unconventionally colored suit and had asked for an interview. Being family and despite her tremendous workload she had welcomed him. It was the first time in her life that she would see the infamous 'George Wickham' who was probably the only thing in the world able to make Fitzwilliam Darcy frown with distaste.

And when he entered she had been struck by the resemblance between George and Fitzwilliam. She frowned at the fact that till then nobody had ever spoken with her about that undeniable fact. There was no doubt for her perfectly attuned eye that those two were brothers.

And of the two George had the most engaging smile, the most seductive dimples and eyes that were totally amazing. He had smiled at her and all her silly little girl dreams had been back with a vengeance.

"Miss de Bourgh…" had he said and she immediately had interrupted him.

"Call me Ann… We are family after all."

"By marriage, if not by blood, you are right" had he agreed, and she had known at his choice of words why he was here facing her. And deep down she had been feverishly interested.

They looked at each other for quite a huge amount of time without saying a word just judging the other or guessing his thoughts.

Finally, it was George who spoke first.

"Don't take my next words as anything else than an honest observation, but I must say that you are a lot more beautiful than anybody has ever told. It's a shame I haven't been placed in your presence before…"

"Why? Would you have tried to seduce me?"

"Without a second hesitation and your dowry would only have been a part of my motivation…"

"You're no longer interested in money, Cousin George?"

"I'm on d'Arcy's pay roll; he pays me handsome wages, refunds most of my expenses and to seal the deal between us he has paid off all my creditors. Add to that my two Darcy estates in France that do earn me a few extra pounds and I can be considered as being on the sunny side of life at last. I won't say that money no longer interests me, but I'm no longer obsessed by it."

"And your obsession with Pemberley?"

"Could be replaced by a new one turning around Rosings…"

"I beg your pardon?"

He shot her his best smile and she felt her innards melt.

"Let's be candid, Cousin Ann, I came here because I'm interested in marrying you and, in time, your estate. I was prepared to plan for a paper marriage but that was before I have seen you. I'm quite sure we could find a better arrangement where you would find pleasure and satisfaction to crown it all."

"I'm not a very healthy woman, Cousin George."

"Bullshit, Cousin Ann, you were perhaps not healthy a few years ago but judging to your cheeks' healthy rosy hue you're now in much better health. And even if making love is a strenuous occupation, believe me when I say that it is much more strenuous for the man than for the woman. And in the hands of a knowledgeable lover there is no woman who doesn't have an orgasm. And having an orgasm gives you a tremendous amount of energy, believe me!"

"And you are the man of the situation?"

"Fitzwilliam was the serious brother, I was the wild one and I had my share of women. It wasn't always very fair for them, but they never regretted the time spent with me in bed."

"So, what is your proposition?"

"Marry me, link the de Bourgh and the Darcys once and for all in matrimony and let's see with my dear sister Jane in order to ensure that you don't die in childbed…"

The counter proposition was immediately in her mind.

"I have a counter proposition, Cousin George. Do make me a satisfied woman for a few years and let's see if with time you are able to not only seduce the woman but convince the heiress…"

-°-oOo-°-

Fitzwilliam was angry. Angry at Ann and angry at d'Arcy who has spared George's life once more.

When he was back at the Palace he went straight to his Aunt's apartment.

She was present and eating her new fruits and vegetable diet.

Seeing her nephew storming in her dining room with his bad-mood face she pointed toward her apple and orange salad plate.

"Take some fruit, Fitzwilliam. It helps to stay balanced."

"You knew about George?"

She sighed and put her fork on the side.

"I knew! And?"

"Why haven't you told us?"

"And to what end, Fitzwilliam? Would you have chosen to marry her as your brother has done with his first love? You must now have understood that, whatever she was saying in the past, she was in love with you and George is the closest 'you' that was available to her…"

Fitzwilliam looked at his Aunt with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"You can't be serious!"

"And why not, Fitzwilliam Darcy? It was my idea to get d'Arcy to marry Maureen. Jane would never have had the deviousness to suggest a second marriage. I had! And you've seen that the results were quite satisfying for everybody involved. But of course what Geoffrey d'Arcy had accepted in the blink of an eye would never have been conceivable for a certain gentleman of my acquaintance."

"I would have…" He hesitated, "done something to stop them…"

"What would you have done, Fitzwilliam? Killed him? Thrown him into prison? He had just been freed and he was crowned in glory for his actions against the French. You know as well as I that you are unable to do anything not ethical. And let's not forget that he is the English national hero just behind d'Arcy who, if I remember correctly, being dead, was no longer a potential candidate. He's as famous but more popular than you Fitzwilliam." She shook her head. "You couldn't have done anything, Fitzwilliam. And I suspect he knew it."

"I would have asked d'Arcy…"

"D'Arcy is his boss, Fitzwilliam. I don't know how George has done it but he has found a way to convince your brother that it was smarter to work with him than to disappear him as was, I'm sure of it, his former plan. This half-brother of you has a golden tongue, shoot him before he utters his first word, afterwards it's too late."

Fitzwilliam took a seat and vent out his anger on an innocent carrot.

"You must speak with her…"

"About what, Fitzwilliam. Nobody knows anything and George has never ever made even the slightest hint to his/her situation. For everybody but us, there is nothing between my daughter and your half-brother and I won't be the one to take the risk to let it be known. At least she has refused his marriage proposal. We still have the hope that she will, one day, throw him out!"

"I should have killed him twelve years ago" grumbled Fitzwilliam while standing up. "This man is nothing but trouble."

-°-oOo-°-

"So, he knows…" whispered George after having listened to Ann's report.

"Indeed he does," answered Ann. "And he didn't look very happy about it."

"No surprise there," said George. "Fitzwilliam and I we have a history that doesn't bode well for our common survival. Had he had even slightly less honor, I'd be dead."

"And, from my reports you would have deserved it…"

He turned around and looked at her face.

As usual when they were together, the room was brightly lit because, as she had said the first time: 'I want to see what we do, it could be the last time…'.

"I was a greedy fool in those times, I had no idea that I didn't need to ruin my relationship with my brother, I just wanted what he was getting, while being totally unaware that I was already receiving the best of what our father could give."

"Fitzwilliam loved you, you know? He confessed it to me one day when he was depressed in Rosings. He was shattered when he discovered that you were using his name to seduce those poor women."

"Don't become foolishly sentimental, dear, most of these poor women were very aware of what they were doing and were as great hypocrites as I was. They were looking for an advantage to get over their station by playing around with a gentleman." He saw her ironic smile. "I'm not saying that I'm a victim, I just say that most of my victims knew perfectly well why I was there and what they risked."

"Do you play around with me?"

George has never been an idiot and he had, for a very long time now, developed a sixth sense at how best to deal with women. He knew that Ann's question was loaded and had the potential to bring him great sorrow. But he had, when he began his relationship with her, decided that he would always be frank with her. Because he wanted her to trust him and because it would have been a very bad idea to believe that the best-informed woman in the world wouldn't, sooner or later, learn the truth.

"Only because you asked me to, dear. The second you ask me to stop, for whatever reason I'm done with it."

"Do you want to be done with it, George?"

This time he knew exactly what to say. He had known for a long time that that question would, one day, come.

"Not in the least. I'm quite satisfied with our arrangement. I'm even, as you know it, faithful to you. There is no other woman in my life for the time being."

"I don't have you under surveillance, George."

"I know but I know that you have the MPs under surveillance. I'm one of them and your men would with certainty find out if I was gallivanting…"

"I demanded nothing…" said Ann.

"I know but I'm no longer interested in increasing my tally with women. I no longer need to prove to myself and the world that nothing can resist me. And it would be petty and give me the impression that I'm cheating on you."

"We are not married, there can be no cheating."

"Yes, it can and you know it as well as I. I've made my proposal and I'm waiting for your answer. The real circumstances are rather exotic, I confess but the fact stays, I asked, and you granted me a delay to prove myself. I would be an idiot to risk your wrath and rejection by womanizing like in old times. Until you make your decision, I'm yours only."

He felt the question hiding behind the silence and he decided that this moment was worth any other.

"I'm not into love, dear, in the normal way you could have encountered it, had you had a normal mother and a normal health. I do hatred quite well, but love is not a specialty of the house. I do esteem and respect, though. And you are a person I esteem and respect a lot. I even admire you for your intelligence and intuition. But I don't love you in the d'Arcy-Jane way of loving. I don't even love you in the Darcy-Lizzie way."

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course, d'Arcy's love has replaced everything else and he has abandoned everything without regret. Fitzwilliam wouldn't have. Had he had to choose between Pemberley and Lizzie he would have chosen Pemberley. Lizzie is important to him, very important, but being a Darcy is the most important thing in Fitzwilliam's life. Geoffrey's life turns around Jane and without her he would die. Those are the differences and you knew them as well as I."

"So, you esteem, respect and admire me…" It wasn't a question and he made no effort to give an answer. Finally, there was a smile blossoming on her lips and it enhanced her beauty tenfold. "Let's say it is a good beginning for a successful relationship."

-°-oOo-°-

"I know that you know" George said immediately after having accepted Fitzwilliam's offer to sit down.

"She told you?"

"We are quite intimate, you remember? And what's even more satisfying, she trusts me!"

"Nobody in his right mind trusts you!"

"Then you are in deep shit, brother of mine, because your chief of intelligence is clearly not in her right mind."

"It's not fun!"

"Yes, it is, brother mine. I'm with another girl which should have been yours and you didn't want."

Fitzwilliam couldn't help but clench its fists. It took him all his will not to jump his half-brother.

"Hit me if it helps, Fitzwilliam but once more it is the truth. You were so fixed on refusing her mother's wishes that you never ever looked at the daughter's feelings."

"She never said anything…"

"Say what? Confess to you that you were her hero and that she worshiped you? Force you to marry her by playing on your sense of responsibility? That's not her, Fitzwilliam, that's not her at all. She was so sure that she would die giving birth to your first born, that she found herself cornered. Burden you with guilt while knowing that you've never overcome your mother's death? She knew exactly what you would have become if she died because of you. And she feared what you would do to your child if once more a woman you loved died because of what you would consider your inability to restrain yourself." George shook his head. "No, Fitzwilliam she could not tell you, it would have thrown both of you in a pit nobody deserves."

He couldn't help but snicker.

"I still don't understand why you didn't fall in love with Jane Bennet, brother mine. She would have been the Bennet I would have chosen and with her Ann would have had a chance to finally get you as the d'Arcy marriage to Maureen has shown with evidence. But then d'Arcy would probably have killed you if you had fixed your choice on Jane and it would have been a real pleasure for me to help him. But sorry for everybody involved, that's not what happened. Another Fitzwilliam mistake!"

"Why are you here, George?"

"I am here to try and stop you to meddle in Ann's life. She no longer needs you, Fitz. I won't say that she's over you but at least she's no longer suffering each time she sees Elizabeth or one of your children. She's ready to move on…"

"With you?"

"If she wants it so, why not? Because you don't like me, Fitzwilliam? You're already responsible for her first years of unhappiness, will you just go on trashing her like you did in the past?"

"I'm responsible for nothing in relation with Ann" protested Fitzwilliam.

"Would you have married her if you had known?"

"Probably" confessed Fitzwilliam. "If I had known that she loved me I would have stood at her side."

George snickered once more.

"Always the old dependable Fitzwilliam Darcy! Ready to sacrifice his own happiness to placate other people's hopes. But that's not how it works, Fitzwilliam. You can't go on deciding what's good for the people surrounding you just because you feel obliged to do it. Their opinion has the same worth as yours and that's exactly why Ann never told you. She knew what would happen and since she loved you, she chose to grant you a happiness she knew she would never get." He shrugged. "Which is in in own twisted manner very Fitzwilliamish, wouldn't you agree?" He sat forward and looked Fitzwilliam in the eyes. "I'm here, Fitzwilliam to ask you to stop deciding what's good for Ann. I'm perhaps not what's best for her but I'm much better than her living in despair and loneliness…"

"You don't love her…"

"Neither did you and despite that you would have married her, you just confessed."

Fitzwilliam couldn't help but feel the hurt at the truth of those words.

"So, Fitzwilliam, let's be very clear: I will never force Ann to marry me. Should she decide to do it, it will be out of her free will not because I coerced her to do it. So, let us alone to deal with each other, we don't need you or her mother to know what's good for us."

Having said that George sat back, crossed his legs and smiled at Fitzwilliam.

"So, now that the personal matter is out of the way, your Grace, let's go to business. My friends and I do resent your new tax policies, your Grace. Once more you'll…"

-°-oOo-°-

"You wanted to see me, Fitzwilliam?"

The Regent wasn't surprise by his brother's unannounced appearance in his closet. He had always had his ways and since they had been 'upgraded' he was probably back to his best old stealthy self.

"Yes" nodded Fitzwilliam. "I need to speak about Ann and…" he hesitated… "George!"

Geoffrey smiled while taking a seat.

"Ah… George and his plans with Ann."

"Indeed, George and his plans with Ann and must I precise that I don't like them at all?"

"No, you mustn't, Fitzwilliam. I knew it wouldn't bring you any satisfaction. That's why that piece of information never passed my lips."

"How could you?"

"I've done nothing; it was them who thought it out and did it…"

"Why didn't you stop them?"

"Because I do believe he's good for Ann and she's even better for him…"

Fitzwilliam's frown made d'Arcy laugh aloud.

"Stop frowning thus or you wife won't be able to recognize you!" He stopped Fitzwilliam with a gesture and, for once, Fitzwilliam was too angry with the other affair to be angry at him. "Let me explain myself and you'll be able to understand –even if it will be difficult to accept the reality- why I believe it is the best thing for both of them and the family as a whole." He sighed and looked his brother in the eyes. "But first let us be frank with each other: why do you like me, Fitzwilliam?"

"I don't like you!" was the immediate response.

D'Arcy didn't react and just smiled at his brother.

There was a loaded silence and, finally, Fitzwilliam shook his head and let the hint of a smile stroke his lips.

"Because you are the most loyal rascal I ever encountered and because even if you are not what I would call a gentleman, I rather like your rogue ways of manipulating your way through life." He hesitated before adding: "And I'm certain that Jane wouldn't love you as she does if you weren't worth it!"

"Thanks for me and thanks for her" said d'Arcy with a hint of bow. "So, let's go a little further, how did you like me when we first met?"

"Not at all…"

And that's the truth, indeed.

"I'm shocked…" sniffed d'Arcy. "You just trampled my confidence, there, you know?"

"I'm sorry but you asked the truth, remember?"

D'Arcy nodded and took measures to be –at least outwardly- as calm as possible.

"Let's go on with being frank and let's speak of your relations with your brother George. Once upon a time you did love him, didn't you?"

"A long time ago, you're probably right" admitted Fitzwilliam. "But meantime a lot…"

"Happened, I know," completed d'Arcy. "But you must be able to remember how it was when your brother and you were friends and even without knowing it, behaving like brothers, am I wrong?"

Fitzwilliam studied his brother's face. Where was he going with his questions?

"I do and I do even more so since I regret the times where I could look up at him."

"I thought so" said d'Arcy with a knowing smile. "Now everything changed the day your brother decided that his illusion of being part of the family was only that: an illusion. Do we still agree?"

"We do" agreed Fitzwilliam. "And now that you speak of it, I'm quite sure to know the exact moment when George realized that he was only the steward's son. It was…"

"It doesn't matter, Fitzwilliam" interrupted d'Arcy. "I'd love to hear the story someday, but it will have to wait. I need you to concentrate on my argument. It's very important."

"Sorry" said Fitzwilliam. "It's just that it never occurred to me before."

"It's good that it occurred to you at last. Let's go back to our problem. You and George are always together until that incident when he understands that even if you treated him like a brother there was an enormous difference between the both of you: you being the heir and he being the steward's son." D'Arcy stopped for a few seconds to think about it. How difficult had it been for George to accept the truth? Probably as difficult as it had been for him to accept that he would never be loved by his father. He could very well feel with George and his own hatred for his father was soon there burning in his guts. "You would soon get everything and he would be left with scraps from your table…"

"I wouldn't hav…"

"You know it, Fitzwilliam and I don't doubt a second that, had you known his true parentage you would have stood at his side!" He stopped an incoming comment with an imperative gesture and went on. "I'm not implying that you would have abandoned Pemberley but I'm quite sure that you would have given him an estate of his own and made sure that he would never be in need. Am I not right?"

"Of course, I would have, he was my friend… Had I known, I would have been with him."

"I never doubted even for a second that you would have, brother! So, let's just slip back these years and forget everything he has done while trying to find his way through his disappointments and frustrations. Let's say you are still there, two boys, two friends, two buddies who trust each other. And let's imagine your father finds, at last, the courage to tell you the truth. And he has no solution to propose, what would you, with your current knowledge and experience –good and bad- decide for you both?"

Fitzwilliam frowned and made a face.

"I don't ask an answer immediately, Fitzwilliam, I just ask you to think about it. You're still friends and now you discover that you are also brothers. You're quite certain that since he is only a bastard, he won't be the heir of anything of importance belonging to your family. But it is still time, your father has, in everybody's opinion, still a lot of years to live, to build something that would ensure that your brother and friend will not be thrown out and forced to live like a pauper. Just think about it and try to find out what Fitzwilliam the young boy would have done!"

Fitzwilliam looked at him.

"You really believe that I'm able to forget everything he's done? Even the fact that he tried to elope with Georgiana?"

"He had his reasons and at that moment you were already estranged, and he had already shown you that he was not truthful. And don't forget that he had no idea that he was of the same blood than her. Just place yourself in the position where both of you are still friends and you know that he is your brother. Nothing bad has happened yet, he is still the boy that watched upon you and who showed you the tours and detours of your own Estate…"

Fitzwilliam's frown was back.

"How do you know?"

"Fitzwilliam, please, it's me!" smiled d'Arcy with the most d'Arcyesque smile possible. He got the result he wanted when Fitzwilliam shook his head in mock despair. "Remember that my knowledge is exhaustive, and my sources are and were quite efficient. So please stop being amazed at what I know about you and the rest of the family. For a long time, the Darcy's and other de Bourghs were my best and perhaps only subjects of interest."

Fitzwilliam nodded but d'Arcy could see that he was still reticent.

"Let's try another approach, Fitzwilliam. You've confessed that you do like me, and I will admit –please don't look surprised- that that feeling is reciprocated. I do love you and Charles as the young brothers I would have loved to have and guide in life. I do love Gérault too but with him it is on another level since we knew each other and were friends before he married Mary. So, you have overcome your first felt aversion for me to accept me and even like me. I'm very glad you did and I'm even proud to have been able to get such a response from as private and secretive a man as you. That's why I really believe you will be able to like your half-brother…"

"Never, he is a rascal and a villain…"

"So am I, Fitzwilliam and if you compare our tally you'll find out that I am the worse of both. Where he's a cheater, I'm a murderer and where he swindles and embezzles I kill and blackmail. Try to remember that, had the Revolution not killed my father and brother before I was home, I would have done it and they would have died very very slowly, believe me. So, you see there is always a chance to change and become better. Jane was my key to betterment; Ann could be his! Remember what I said about them. She will be good for him because she, by accepting his wooing, gives him a proof that the family, after all this time is accepting him. And nothing can be more concrete a proof than being invited into one's bed! Finally, something happened that gave George a real reason to feel as a part of the family".

"You also said that she would benefit. I don't see how."

"Because you don't put yourself in Ann's place. She's been for the last twenty years influenced in believing that no man will look at her and desire her. And here comes George Darcy, a man who is renowned for his many successes with women and who has a real fame as being the best lover –me not included but then I'm dead, let's not forget- of the Darcy family, and he shows her that he desires her…"

"Above all he desires Rosings" snorted Fitzwilliam.

"I don't think so, Fitzwilliam. He has already three estates and even if Rosings is important for the family, it is not the wealthiest estate that comes to mind. Of course, having Rosings won't spoil the trade but I really believe it is a side effect. I think it is Ann, the spy master and eminence grise which interests him. He had pretty girls aplenty, more than we will ever want, Fitzwilliam. But, luckily for both of us, till now he had never had the chance to be close to a woman who would clearly be an intellectual challenge for him. She fascinates him and he's a little scared of her. Feelings he has never touched before. It's the thrill of the situation that has caught him." He winked at Fitzwilliam. "And last, just think about one very exciting point: what do you believe will happen should he ever cheat on Ann?"

That thought brought even a smile on Fitzwilliam's lips.

-°-oOo-°-