They all headed to the matlock estate, where the viscount was to be veiled and later buried.
He had been a young vibrant young men, and if he had any faults in life no member of his family was interested in remembering it now. Little Louisa was kept in the nursery, not really understanding what was happening around her.
The countess was devastated, she could barely gaze upon the body of her deceased child. The earl only left his room to attend the funeral, he looked twenty years older than when they had last seen him, and he needed the physical support of two footmen to keep him straight.
The only one mildly composed was the Viscount's wife Louise, she had been a french aristocrat and was no stranger to grief. She held her head high as her husband was lowered to the ground, only allowing herself a few tears in the privacy of her bedroom.
Mr Darcy took charge of things as his family grieved, he took charge of the estate for the weeks following his cousin's death and Elizabeth helped with the household and management of the servants.
Lady Catherine arrived late to the funeral, with her daughter in tow. No sooner was her nephew's body cold on the ground that she began to press her case that Richard should marry Anne. No one was willing to listen to her and she was very much displeased. She thought it was all Elizabeth's fault, though her reasoning for it made little sense to anyone with half their wits.
Elizabeth was sitting next to her husband in the earl's study after dinner, Richard was standing by the fireplace, a glass of brandy in his hand.
"How bad are things?" he asked darcy
"Worse than you have any right to worry over right now" was her husbands reply. His cousin nodded.
"I need to, father won't be able to handle it all himself"
Darcy sighed "James left his finances in shambles, it would take half the estate to cover it" he stated matter of factly
"So what you are saying is I should marry Anne after all" Richard said grimly, gulping down the rest of his glass
"There are other options you know"
"Like marrying someone I don't know at all"
"At least you should marry someone who could give you an heir" Darcy said, then grimaced "I'm sorry"
"Don't be, you're just being realistic, and I'm thankful for it" he shrugged then turned to Elizabeth with half a smile "I don't suppose you have any wealthy cousins who could be introduced to me do you lizzie?"
She shook her head "I have plenty of wealthy friends however, maybe Miss Lovelace or Lady Joanne?" she asked doubtfully.
"Well whoever it is I have little choice in the matter"
"Don't think like that Ricky" Darcy said "We have some time"
"I think the best course of action would be to head to London" Elizabeth reasoned "this task would be easier to accomplish from there"
No one could disagree with that, and the three of them made plans to remove themselves to Darcy house. Georgianna would remain with Lady Matlock to support her aunt and cousins, and Darcy would keep running the estate from afar, taking the time to prepare Richard for the daunting task.
London never seemed so grim than when they arrived there one monday morning. Elizabeth rubbed her stomach, feeling her child move inside herself and taking comfort from that. She felt her husband gently squeeze her hand and gave him a small smile.
They needed to find Richard a wife who was rich, and quickly, if they wanted to keep the matlock estate intact. Elizabeth wondered if it was worth it.
She had to order new clothes for her full and half morning, but she wasn't in any disposition to go to the shops so she enlisted the help of her aunt Gardner to do it for her. And to also procure some for Georgianna, and lady Matlock, in case they didn't have the presence of mind to do it themselves.
She was grateful to get into her own bed that evening, things had been far too melancholy in the past few weeks, at least London would prove to be a distraction for them. Her husband lay next to her and spooned her.
"I'm very glad I married you" he said, placing a kiss on the back of Elizabeth's head
"I'm very glad I allowed you to marry me" she said with some humour, then turned to face him. "I wish you would never go hunting again" she said more seriously.
"It was a rather strange accident" he reminded her
"But not uncommon" she replied
He sighed, placing a hand on her belly
"I will refrain from hunting for a year if it means finding a woman who actually makes Richard happy" he said, with a sad smile. Elizabeth covered his hand with hers.
"I'm sure that could be done" she replied and placed a kiss on his mouth.