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The Darcys are in London! Mrs. Darcy and Mr. Darcy are accompanying their twins for the season. Their son John Darcy is at the city as well, for he couldn't stand his brother Thomas talking about his married life.

When a friend of his sister asks for a favor, Mr. Darcy sees an opportunity to achieve one of his oldests objectives. It also didn't bother him that the favor involved discovering a dirty secret from the hateful Lorde Malcolm.

I

Miss Margaret Phillips had spent the last 48 hours in a strange mood. She had been had been sad. Mostly, she had been suspicious.

Her long date fiance had finally set a date for their wedding. She supposed she should simply be glad, but the circumstances did not allow it – Lord Malcolm showed no interest in getting married for the last 28 years of her life and now he was even trying to kiss her! He should be up to something.

She must discover why Lorde Malcolm needed to marry all of a sudden. She did not know what she would do with the information, but to know what sort of business he was involved in seemed essencial.

Obviously there was a problem. Although she was a good observant, there were just some things a (not so) young lady could do. She would not be able to go to his house or to follow him around London. And basically that meant she would discover nothing.

But she knew someone who could do that for her.

Mr. John Darcy knew things. All sorts of things.

When word spread around that the daughter of the clergyman was pregnant, he couldn't sleep for two days trying to figure out who the father was. And when he discovered the secret (as he usually did) he walked to the house of Mr. Owen to gently persuade him to propose to the Miss. By gently telling him about some information he knew about him.

Things like this happened to him all the time. He learned something about someone and eventually that information proved to be useful.

Of course it was easier to eavesdrop on something being quiet and sneaky. And eager to pursue information on others.

However, he liked to think his gift had so far been used for the good.

The only disadvantage of it was that occasionally he would learn something he would rather have died ignoring. Like when he discovered his ancient aunt was having an affair with a clergyman (not the one with the pregnant daughter).

At that moment, he would like to know what Miss Phillips was talking to his sister Honoria about. They would exchange a sentence and then look at him. It could be anything, he thought exasperated.

Miss Phillips was as dramatic as she was shy. He supposed it was the effect of reading so many books as he knew she did. Sentences like ''I will die if you don't come with me to this ball, Honoria'' or ''I will die if my mother makes me go with her and my sisters to London for the season again'' were commonly leaving her mouth. He tried his best to ignore her whenever she was around because he had this urge to tell her – and people in general – about the nonsense of her words.

''Well, he is your brother, just tell him he should ask me for a dance''.

''Fine! But you have to make sure, while you dance, he won't get back at me later. He hates dancing and he knows about my problem with the son of the state manager''.

''I will, I promise!''.

''Let's just go there then, he's been looking at us''.

The ladies walked towards Mr. Darcy as he stared at them. Margaret was trying hard to keep a smile on her face. She didn't quite enjoy the way Mr. John Darcy's mind worked, even though she needed his help. He eventually got what he wanted, she had observed, and he definitely would wish for something in exchange for the information she would ask for.

Also, once she heard him saying his brother Thomas she could be more dramatic than the romances she read.

''Hello, brother! How are you enjoying the evening? You know, I was talking to Margaret about the music. Don't you think it is very nice?''.

Mr. Darcy became more and more curious about the situation. In fact, Honoria and Margaret had in mind some plan that involved him. And it was a plan that involved him as a dance partner.

As much as his position as a gentleman did not allow him to ignore the hint his sister was throwing at him, it was by his gossiping nature that he found himself asking Miss Phillips if she already had a partner for the next dance.

As soon as they joined the other couples he noticed that she tried to put her thoughts out again and again, but she would soon close her mouth like a goldfish. She was kind of adorable, he decided. But that did not stop him from burning to discover her secret.