It had been two weeks since Darcy had sent his pir- his ship out to find Mrs. Jones and bring her back to her waiting husband, irascible stepdaughters, and ailing son. If ever there was a family in need of a maternal head figure, it was this one.

Darcy was also growing impatient for Mrs. Jones to arrive. He had counted on waiting to marry his Elizabeth but a week! And now his planned time had doubled and his patience had been cut in half. He should've went to find Mrs. Jones himself. But suppose Elizabeth ran off again while he was away. No, the duty of finding and absconding with Mrs. Rachel Jones had to be hefted upon the capable shoulders of his ship's captain. He had other more serious matters to attend to.

Darcy frowned. An unusual calm had descended upon his house. He had figured it would be just the opposite tonight. For a ball was to be held at a neighboring estate tonight, and both daughters were being allowed to attend, along with their governess of course. Darcy had expected his house to reverberate with the arguments of the two sisters over clothes and jewelry, and with his Elizabeth's admonitions that the two girls should not fight so.

But there was nothing. Something was not right, Darcy was sure of it. Gathering all his courage, and reminding himself that he was indeed a self proclaimed pirate and therefore should not fear two mere slips of girls, he made his way from his study, up the stairs and towards the series of rooms he had allocated for the sisters to share.

He put an ear up against the door, listening for some sign of life. He heard nothing. Lightly, he tapped on the door before turning the handle and entering.

Three dark haired women stood staring each other down, hands on hips, eyes narrowed. Sparks flew.

Oh God, thought Darcy, surely even the devil himself would run in fear from this harrowing scene. But I will not! "Eli- Miss. Bennett," he corrected himself, remembering that they were in the company of two others. "Miss. Bennett, is there a problem here?"

"No problem Mr. Darcy, simply a clash of wills," answered Elizabeth, without taking her gaze away from young Rene. A clash of wills, Darcy realized, could indeed be a problem when the wills were as strong and stubborn as these three surely were.

"May I be of some assistance?" he offered.

Rene's eyes lit up and she threw herself toward Mr. Darcy. Grabbing his arm tightly with her slender fingers, she looked up at him pleadingly. "Oh Mr. Darcy! Yes please do help me. Father just sent a note from town saying that he would not be back tonight in time for the ball!"

"But," Darcy interrupted, "your father is not going to the ball, Miss. Jones."

"Exactly! He was to stay here and watch after Hinton, and now he can't! And Miss. Bennett and Elaina are insisting I stay here to watch our brother. But it isn't fair! Tell them it isn't fair Mr. Darcy, you must!"

Darcy looked toward his fiancé, "Miss. Bennett, I'm sure there's a reason for having the younger Miss. Jones stay here, I can see several of my own. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me with some of yours?" Rene gasped and let go of Darcy's arm as if it had suddenly turned red hot and burned her.

"You will not help me!" She dramatically exclaimed. Yet it was not silly dramatics, Darcy could see. There was no flippancy in her looks, no, just cold fury over her self created injustice.

Elizabeth spoke. "She is but sixteen sir, and has yet to come out. Yes, her father was willing to let her come to this small ball tonight, but due to circumstances, it has become clear that she is the only choice to watch her brother. I cannot stay, for the girls cannot go without some sort of chaperone, even if it is only Elaina going. And Elaina must go sir. I simply insist on it. She is the eldest daughter after all.

And has more propriety and grace than her sister, thought Darcy. He did not feel the youngest was ready for society yet. She did not show good judgment, and if she were Darcy's daughter, would not see the light of day until she did. It would be more of a danger to put the youngest most beautiful daughter amongst all the strapping Scottish lads. Yes, most dangerous. "I believe you are right Miss. Bennett. The younger Miss. Jones should shoulder the responsibility of looking after her brother," spoke Darcy. Turning to Rene he admonished, "I have seen you interact little with your brother, this should be good for both of you." With those words, he thought he had the whole situation under control.

"I WILL NOT STAY HOME!!! I WILL ATTEND THE BALL AND NONE OF YOU CAN STOP ME!!!" The cold and determined look in Rene's eyes was enough stop any words anyone had meant to contribute dead on their tongues. Elaina knew that look. She knew that frustrating and frustrated tone of voice. Her sister would not give in. With a sigh and a sinking heart, she opened her mouth to speak.

"I will stay. I've never had a love for balls or parties anyhow. And Rene obviously is delirious to go. I've no problem staying with Hinton. It will please me to spend time with him."

Rene said nothing, but strode into her room with a triumphant smile, stopping in her doorway to finally speak, "I must dress for the ball." She never even turned to face the others in the room, just silently shut the door behind her.

"Elaina," said an exasperated Elizabeth, "You will not do this. You may not like balls, but this will be good for you. You cannot sit behind your paper and pen all your life. You can't live life through books and your own imagination."

Darcy was quite confused and worried about Elizabeth's speech. What did she mean? What ailed his friend's poor daughter? He looked at her. She looked healthy enough. But he knew quite well that not all illnesses showed outwardly. Some were of the mind… some of the heart.

"Darcy," complained Elizabeth, "surely you can command Rene to stay home tonight. Elaina must go. There was a pleading in her eyes as well as her voice, and Darcy knew he could deny her nothing. But what could he do about this matter? One girl was willing to stay home, the other was dying to go. Did it really matter all that much? He said as much aloud.

"Truly Elizabeth," said Elaina, "I do not care. Someone needs to stay with Hinton, and it is better if it is someone who will not be despairing over her ill fate the entire time. I am fine with this arrangement." She smiled a weak smile that never reached her eyes and told Elizabeth to prepare for the ball, shooing both her and the master of the house from her sitting room.

"Elizabeth," questioned Darcy once they were outside in the hallway, "why is it so important for the young girl to attend the ball this evening? She will have several chances once Roger and his wife take the children to London next year."

Elizabeth frowned at his words and turned to walk towards the staircase that led to the next floor and her room. Inviting her to follow by talking to him over his shoulder. "Do you remember when I came to your study the day after our shopping venture?"

"Yes," answered Darcy as he came up beside her, matching his steps to hers. "Is this about the young man you told me about? Did you actually contact him?"

She stopped her steps and turned up to him with a dazzling smile. "Yes Mr. Darcy, I did. And he is to arrive tonight… and to attend the ball." He smiled at her obvious delight in the matter. "Although… I'd hoped that Mrs. Jones would be here by now. A governess cannot very well employ a copyist." Her brows knit together at this unexpected complication.

"A copyist? I thought you said the lad was a great author."

"Well, he wrote me, and it turns out that his career has not taken off like everyone thought it would. He has been working as a copyist for money, and then writing his novels on the side. I do not know what I shall do about him."

"Besides play a bit of match making with him I suppose."

She blushed. "Yes… besides that. But Mr. Darcy, there really is not match making to do here. She already loves him. I'm just putting them in the same place at the same time. There is nothing wrong in that is there?" Darcy did not answer, only laughed. They had reached her bedroom door and Darcy dropped a tiny, warm kiss on her forehead.

"Do not worry Elizabeth, we shall figure something out for your little scheme." He started to leave, but turned on his heal to face her once more. "Elizabeth," he asked, his brow furrowing, "what if the young man is not in a position to be part of any matchmaking scheme? What if he is already married, or engaged?"

"He is not. I made sure," she answered matter of factly.

"Elizabeth! Surely you did not just right out ask the man!"

"No sir I did not! And I'm offended you have so little belief in my intelligence. I told him that I was looking for an unattached individual who would be able to uproot his life to start anew in a different country. I said that I had been told that he was a delightful young man who had fallen on hard times, and that I should write to ask for his services. He wrote back that he had no obligations whatsoever and that he would be on his way when I received his letter."

"Why did you not involve me more in this little scheme of yours? I'm the pirate here, I have more experience in getting my way."

"Your pirating career is quite new my Dread Pirate Darcy, and though you've started with quite a bang, I'm afraid you're still quite the amateur." She smiled up at him playfully, while he dropped one final kiss, this time upon her nose.

He turned to walk away, but swung back to her, a question in his eyes. "Miss. Bennett, may I have the honor of dancing the first dance with you tonight?"

Smiling prettily before closing her door behind her, she answered, "Yes Mr. Darcy, of course you may."

A very handsome young man stood all alone against the back wall. He held in his hand a glass of wine and kept on his face an amused expression.

Rene found the very handsome man very handsome indeed. He was tall and tan with a foreign air about him with his dark eyes and hair. Was he Italian? Perhaps Spanish. Not full blood though. No, that was obvious. But quite frankly, she did not care. She turned her mind instead to matters of greater import: financial status. Though she was but sixteen, she knew the importance of a man with money and status. He was dressed plainly, that was true, but cleanly and in colors that suited him.

Rene made her way through the crowd toward the stranger at the back of the room. She had to reach him before the dance ended and Elizabeth and Mr.
Darcy finished Dancing. It was the only dance Elizabeth would dance all night, deciding it was best to stay by her young ward. She had only agreed to the one dance because of Rene's promise to stay put. Rene only kept her promises, however, if it suited her. She snuck a glance over her shoulder and spied the couple smiling at each other: Elizabeth shyly and Mr. Darcy quite brazenly. Rolling her eyes, Rene turned her attention back to the very handsome man. She was but a few feet from him now.

She knew it was not proper to introduce herself. She needed an introduction from someone she knew who knew him. "Hello," she said, fluttering her fan in front of her face.

"Hello…" spoke the man awkwardly. Then, because he had never been in such a situation before, "And you are?"

She laughed a tiny, flirtatious laugh. "I am Rene Jones. And you?"

The man's eyes opened wide for a moment, and his jaw went slack, forming a slight O. He shut his mouth quickly and controlled the width of his eyes. "Miss. Jones," he said, showing he had no intention of breaking decorum and addressing her as simply Rene. She frowned at this, but he continued. "I am Mr. Richards." His voice was gruff, disapproving.

"Mr. Richards… I noticed you standing alone. Do you know anyone here?"

"Actually, Miss. Jones, I am here to meet someone. A Miss. Bennett. Do you know her by any chance?" he inquired. But before she could answer, a man's voice spoke from over her shoulder. Recognizing the deep tone, Rene groaned and rolled her eyes heavenward.

The voice from right behind her said, "Miss. Jones, you seem to have strayed from the table we left you beside. Pray tell me young miss, did you lose your way?"

Rene turned around and looked up into the very angry eyes of Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's arm rested within the crook of his, and her eyes held as much disappointment as did Darcy's. "Miss. Bennett, you shall be glad I lost my way. I've run into someone who claims that he is here specifically to meet you. Miss. Bennett, Mr. Darcy, this is Mr. Richards. Mr. Richards, may I introduce Mr. Darcy and his fiancé, Miss. Bennett. My family and I are staying with Mr. Darcy at his estate. It's but half a mile from this one," she haughtily stated. Then added, as a mischievous afterthought, "Miss. Bennett is also residing there, as my and my siblings' governess."

Elizabeth took control of the conversation away from the young girl. "It is so good to finally meet you Mr. Richards. I was excited to get your letter. I had intended to interview you tonight, to explain to you my plans… but, it seems that plans have changed. You see, I had fully believed I would be married by now, and in a better situation to employ you," she said this with a laugh and a smile, turning to her fiancé as he prepared to speak.

"Yes, plans have not quite gone as expected Mr. Richards. It is to me that you will be seeking employment now. It seems I'm in dire need of a secretary's assistance, and the job is yours if it is one that you can perform suitably. I understand it is not the profession to which you are aspiring, but I do not feel there will be any problems with you working personally on the side," Darcy offered.

Mr. Richard's face broke into a sincere grin. He thoroughly liked these two. Though the man did not smile unless smiled upon by the woman on his arm, the woman was all warmth. "Yes! The job would be quite suitable indeed. If I may ask Mr. Darcy, when can I begin?"

"Tomorrow," spoke Darcy, "I find I will require your services first thing tomorrow. Bring your things with you. There is plenty of room at my estate. Matter of fact, you will have a whole wing of the house to yourself. Though," he added as a sort of statement to himself than to anyone else, "I am quickly running out of wings to allocate to people.

Elizabeth tried valiantly to contain her mirth at her fiancé's apparent consternation, and succeeded in only producing a sparkling smile. "Rene," she said to the young girl who was clearly trying to figure out whether she was upset that she had been excluded from the conversation, or thrilled that the handsome Mr. Richards would be in the same house as her. "I believe you've seen enough for tonight. I'm sure it's all been quite exciting, and I believe I am ready to return to the house."

"Miss. Bennett! We just got here! You cannot mean to make me leave!"

"I do indeed intend to make you leave Rene," she said before turning to Mr. Richards. "I am sorry we must take our leave of you, and I hope you have not been offended by any forward manners…" Rene gasped at Elizabeth's words.

"I—'' but she was cut off.

"No harm was done Miss. Bennett. It was lovely to meet you, and you Miss. Jones. Mr. Darcy," he bowed to the esteemed personage and then watched as they left the ballroom.

"Mr. Darcy…" Mr. Richardson asked of his new employer, looking up from the desk he was sitting at. "May I ask a question that you might find… personal in content?"

Darcy looked up, his usual glower in place. "You may, but I reserve the right not to answer it."

"Yes sir. Is all of Mr. Jones' family staying with you here?"

"Yes. All but the wife. She is yet to come," Darcy grumbled gloomily under his breath. "But she will be here shortly," he added with much determination. She'd better be, thought he, or I'll be forced to break my promise, and I do not break promises. Indeed, it was only the mantra breathed silently under his breath (I do not break promises) that kept him from sweeping up his bride to be and carrying her to the nearest preacher. He had let nothing stop him from sweeping her up before, and it took all his control not to do it now. It was funny; he had never lost control of his good sensibilities with anything but her.

"I think you should know sir," Mr. Richards said, interrupting Darcy's thoughts, "that I am acquainted with the family. In truth, I've never met Mr. And Mrs. Jones, or the little boy. And I had only before heard of the younger Miss. Jones until last night. But… I know the elder Miss. Jones quite well. We were friends. I knew, last night, that Miss. Jones was Elaina's sister for I'd heard the name many times before, and they look so much alike that it is remarkable. I thought, sir, that it would be wise for you to know that I was already acquainted with the lady, since you are my employer. I hope that you do not think I have deceived you in any way."

"Deceived? Of course not. How were you to know that your friend's family was staying with me. And really, what does it matter? Perhaps it will help to make you more comfortable here, help you to settle better."

"Yes sir, indeed sir."

"Mr. Richards…"

"Yes sir?"

"It is unnecessary to have more than one sir in any sentence. Indeed, I find that I do not require one. Darcy, will be sufficient. I like to keep on friendly terms with my employees."

The young man smiled brightly, instantly warming to his employer. "Please, you must call me Richards then… or Jon. I find I prefer it when people use my first name. I'm no one of great import anyhow."

"Jon, we are all of great import to at least one person in this world," said Darcy, dispensing advice as if her were indeed a great sage. Jon Richards smiled once more as he looked back down at his work.

"Elaina, he is perhaps the finest figure of a man I have ever laid eyes on, besides Mr. Darcy of course. But we cannot hope to attain such perfection as that. He looks like some foreign heathen prince with his dark hair and eyes and skin. Swarthy is the word for him. And he is to stay here! In this house! With us!"

"Rene, he is here to work, I forbid you to interrupt him."

"You would wouldn't you. And I suppose that if he looked your way, whispered in your ear, or offered you kisses, you would turn him away. You are immune to such frivolous things I suppose."

"You suppose wrong dear sister. I am merely careful of who I would allow to bestow such attentions upon me, as you should be."

"You are only young once dear sister, why not live it well?"

Elaina frowned but did not reply. She knew she would never win the battle with her stubborn sister. She had been too influenced by their mother. "What is his name Rene?" she asked her sister as a sort of peace offering, knowing that the younger girl would warm quickly to the subject of Mr. Darcy's new secretary.

"His name is Mr. Richards, and he used to be an author, or he's trying to be, or something like that. But he's fallen on hard times and has taken the position offered to him by Mr. Darcy."

"Mr. Richards?" If Rene had been paying any attention to her sister at all, she would have noticed that her olive skin had drained of all color.

"Yes. I believe it was Elizabeth's idea to hire him. I deduced from the very brief conversation that it was she who first contacted him."

"It was… Rene, did you happen to hear what his first name was?"

"No, he did not tell me his first name. He was trying to be proper. But I could tell he wanted to tell me. He was eyeing me up and down and obviously enjoying the site. I believe Elaina, that I might just have a beau before you do!"

Elaina did not answer her sister's callous remark, instead she dropped the book she had been reading and walked from the room without a word, Rene's confused gaze following her until the door shut.

Was it he? Was it the same Mr. Richards? Was it the man she knew better as Jon? It just could not be, but it was all there, the description, the career, and Elizabeth. The fact that Elizabeth was one of the only souls who knew about her insane and ongoing infatuation with the boy of her youth was the most damning evidence of all. It most assuredly could not be a coincidence.

She could kill her well-intentioned companion. She had not thought Elizabeth the kind to meddle so thoroughly in others' lives. Perhaps Mr. Darcy's controlling and pirate like side had rubbed off on the lady.

But then again… she felt like running up to Elizabeth and wrapping her arms around her in the biggest of hugs. It was confusing. She wanted nothing more than to sit and talk for hours on end with her old friend, as they used to do at their mentor's house, but at the same time, she was scared to death.

"Elaina," said a strange voice from far off. She had been staring at her hands, and now she lifted her gaze out across the stair railing she stood at. Nothing. No one. "Elaina," again. The voice came from down below. She turned the corner slightly and looked down the flight of stairs just below her. He was standing there smiling hesitantly up at her. When she smiled hesitantly and surprisingly back, his smile widened and consumed the whole of his face. Her's followed suit. She hurried down the steps, not too fast for she did not want him to think her too eager, and threw her arms around his neck, as he did to her.

"My dear friend, I did not think to ever see you again," she exclaimed, pulling away from him.

"Nothing and no one can keep me from you," he teased, a sparkle in his eye. That was the way with them. Other would have called it flirting. But truthfully, neither had a single concept of what flirting was, or how it was done. It was something that only came naturally when one was with the other, and they did not see it as flirting at all. Neither could give it a name either. It was simply the way they interacted.

"So, Mr. Richards, you are the all important secretary to the all important Mr. Darcy. How important you are," she laughed.

"Yes, but I've this strange feeling that he does not really need me. He gives me the strangest things to do. For instance, at the moment I am on an errand to retrieve a list the daily upstairs chores from the head maid. She is to relate them to me while I write them down."

"An important task indeed good sir."

"Indeed. Would you come with me on my errand? We have much to catch up on. That is… if you are not busy."

"I am never busy here Mr. Richards. I spend my days reading and writing and the most spinsterly of pastimes… crocheting." She threw her head back and laughed as he did too, and joined him in his foray into the most exciting world of upstairs chores.