After a full hour, two of the lamps sputter and go out. Eric's stomach is complaining that it's high time for lunch, though they haven't heard a bell, yet.

The three hunters gather around the harpsichord and Georgiana states with enthusiasm, 'So we'll have the bed over there, and those four quaint chairs?'

'And the low table with iron fittings, it's so unique! And one large Persian and a few of those smaller ones?'

'Do you think your brother will allow you to turn a room into a gypsy-wagon, Miss Darcy?'

Simon seems to highly doubt this.

'I don't know, but I'm certainly going to ask. I've never cared much for style, or furnishings, but I just love these, and I'm going to have as many of them in a room as I can fit in. We've more rooms than we'll ever use in this house, so what if Kitty and I turn one into an Arabian harem, or a gypsy-wagon?'

Simon shrugs, and offers, 'Can you carry the lamps, while Mr Fielding and I take the harpsichord?

Are you certain, Mr Fielding, that you don't want me to ring for Bob to help me carry? You have to be careful with your hands after all.'

That will be the day, that Eric refuses to do his own carrying!

'I'm good, Simon, it's not a very large or heavy instrument, if it turns out to be too heavy after all, we can always ask someone to help out.'

Simon insists on taking the lower position, carrying most of the weight, but he is not a large man himself, and slender, and halfway down the steep stairs it becomes clear he has some trouble supporting the small but sturdy instrument.

'I'm afraid I'll need help myself, Mr Fielding, it's just too heavy for me. Please have a few moments' patience while I support it on a step and ring for some help.'

At that very moment, a calm voice speaks up.

'Here, let me give you a hand, Simon, that is too heavy for one man. I was hoping for a share of the fun, but I'll settle for a part of the hard labour instead.'

It's Manners, and now Eric knows his secret, he thinks he can hear the love contained in those few sentences. He wants to be with Simon as much as Eric wants to be with Georgiana, he must feel excluded from the things that Simon does as much as the other way around.

Why didn't they invite him to join their search? He's a bit older than the three of them, actually the four of them, with Simon included, but everyone likes a treasure hunt.

'That is a lot of weight for such a small cabinet, though it is lovely. Did you forget to clear it out, ladies?'

Does Manners pretend to be ignorant, or is he pulling their leg?

Eric is certainly not going to fall for it, but Georgiana is willing to please her friend.

'It's a harpsichord, Mr Manners, to play your Bach on.'

'I was thinking of having yourself and Fielding here translate those pieces to piano, Miss Darcy. But I suppose you have other plans, Fielding?'

'To make a correct translation, one needs to speak both languages, wouldn't you say, Manners? So to translate your beautiful gift, Miss Darcy needs to learn to play the harpsichord as well as the piano. I'm very sure you'll love to hear it, I assure you your efforts lifting this instrument will not be wasted.

I'm glad you turned up, Manners, I was afraid Simon would be crushed because of my eagerness to teach Miss Darcy a new skill.'

'I will never allow Simon to be crushed, body or soul.

It was no accident I came by to investigate. I must have felt he was in danger. Oh, all right, I was a bit miffed to miss out on a fun project, whatever it was. Despite looking like a minister, I'm merely human, you know.'

That is meant for Simon.

Eric cannot see him in the narrow, dark stairwell, but Simon must be melting right now, Manners' broad arms supporting his own slender ones, the mellow voice professing his concern for him, and his need to protect him.

Are they gazing into each other's eyes right now?

No, they're not, for the harpsichord is lifted up once more, and it moves down steadily, someone taking most of the weight so it's very easy for Eric to keep up, he's merely guiding now instead of carrying it.

Once he is out of the stairwell and into the hall, he can see Simon is not doing any lifting at all. Manners is so strong, he is carrying the harpsichord by himself, Eric merely supporting the other end. And Simon does look a bit overcome, he watches the scene with undisguised admiration, and somehow Eric can even understand him.

Manners is a strange mixture of the assurance and dominance of his class, and something completely the opposite, a vulnerable quality.

'Hey, Eric, I asked you where you want it? Where were you? Miles away apparently.'

Of course he never thought of that, and he looks at Georgiana helplessly.

She throws him a ravishing smile, she's feeling his vulnerable quality right now, no doubt, and says, 'Definitely in the drawing-room. I'm sure Elizabeth will not want to miss out on this. Can you manage that, Mr Manners? You're pretty strong, aren't you?'

'Thank you, Miss, and I'm good, if Fielding thinks he'll manage. Can you help him with his side, Simon? The next stairs will be much broader, plenty of space for two skinny guys side by side. We don't want to risk his valuable hands so shortly before an important concert.

But I want to see the attic afterwards, I know you're dying to try that instrument, but won't it need to settle for an hour or so, anyway? Everyone set? Let's go.'

In minutes they reach the drawing-room, where both Mr and Mrs Darcy look up from their books. Eric feels very embarrassed, lugging a dusty old instrument into their main room without asking permission first, but Manners looks the same as ever.

While they place the harpsichord where Georgiana points, no-one speaks, but as soon as they have set it down, Mr Darcy raises an eyebrow and comments dryly.

'We have staff, you know, Manners, Mr Fielding, who can do heavy lifting. Though I'm impressed by your team-work.'

Then he looks at his sister with a question in his face.

'It's a harpsichord, Fitzwilliam, Mr Fielding is going to teach me how to play the Bach Mr Manners gifted me for Christmas.'

Still the question, but Georgiana understands instantly.

'We got it from the attic. It was all the way in the back, hidden under ancient velvet curtains. Isn't it a pretty little thing? I said to put it in the drawing-room, for we'll spend quite some time on it and I thought you might want to remember what I look like during that time.'

She's positively cheeky to her brother, and rightfully so, for both he and Mrs Darcy merely look at her fondly, and Mrs Darcy observes, 'I'm glad, I really want to hear it. I have some vague memories of a harpsichord, from when I was a young girl, but they soon went out of fashion when the piano-forte took over.'

Now Manners has a comment to add.

'Great, I admit I gifted Miss Darcy those Bach-compositions in the hopes she'd translate them to piano with Mr Fielding, but this is a neat little instrument and I'll help you hope it's salvageable.

Can I please look at your attic now? I was so disappointed to miss out on your expedition.'

He truly does look disappointed, too.

'Mr Manners, please give me time to refill two of these lamps, and I'll be right back to keep an eye on them once more while the girls show you their treasures.'

Simon doesn't wait for a reply, he disappears silently, taking not just the two empty lamps, but the entire tray.

'Why don't you come too, Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam? Kitty and I have an idea to redecorate a room and we'd like your opinion. It'll be rather outrageous, I warn you.'

Elizabeth is thrilled to see Georgiana show some initiative, dumping a dusty old instrument in Fitzwilliam's drawing-room just like that, making plans to redecorate a room with stuff from the attic, good for her!

When Simon brings the lamps, ready and burning, they all follow Georgiana and Kitty upstairs.

Poor Mr Fielding seems to feel a little out of place suddenly, he didn't have any time to recover from his excursion, Georgiana practically forced him to pay attention to her by waiting for him in the hall when he returned.

And now she is directing her attention to Mr Manners and Fitzwilliam mostly, understandable of course, those two have not seen their spoils yet, and Fitzwilliam will have to consent to making over a room, and choose which one they're going to have at their disposal.

Of course Mr Fielding has no way of knowing that Georgiana truly pined for him when he was gone, she was a sad sight, playing their sonata over and over, spending the usual time with Kitty but with much less energy. Somehow Kitty seems to feel Mr Lascelles' absence much less. But maybe that is because Mr Lascelles and Kitty have come to an agreement, and Georgiana is still very shy towards Mr Fielding, making him as yet unaware their difference in class will not have to come between them.

Elizabeth decides to chat with him a little, to make him feel welcome once more.

'Mr Fielding, you've been missed, did you learn what you needed to know, yesterday?'

He looks at her very seriously, as if he has learned more than he cared for, maybe they told him more about the charity, he admits he has not been very aware of the world around him, maybe it shocked him to find out how many needy people there are in a city like London.

'I did, Mrs Darcy, I feel quite secure playing my own concerto tomorrow for my largest audience so far. I am very glad you will all be with me, though, strangely enough I've come to look upon this house as home already, and I was very glad to come back here, especially since I was obviously very welcome.'

Still that certain something doesn't go away, he is not at ease, something must have happened.

'I'm glad to hear that, Mr Fielding. You must be very tired with your journey, you look rather worn out. Don't be afraid you'll affront us if you need to catch up on some sleep or practise. You know we want you to feel free to live your own life.'

'I know, Mrs Darcy, I admire you so much to be able to help someone without claiming them. Your husband, too. And Mr Manners has been very kind, very familiar with me as well. I count myself very lucky to have fallen in with you.'

Then why doesn't he look happier? His future looks bright, Georgiana is obviously smitten with him, what's his problem? Does he still fear Fitzwilliam's opposition? It's not unthinkable, but it's nothing Elizabeth can help resolve, Georgiana needs to do that herself.

'Are you going to play your entire concerto tomorrow?'

Talking music always makes Mr Fielding happy.

'I am, I've received several encouraging reactions yesterday and I dare tackle the whole thing. There's new music making itself heard already, Mrs Darcy, my mind is filled nearly to the brim with it. In the new year I will write it down, though it's not exactly heartening to listen to.'

Well, that must be it, then. If he hears sad music inside his mind all day, that must reflect on his mood. Tuning and exploring the harpsichord will help, it's virtually impossible to play higher feelings on a harpsichord, so generally speaking his mood should improve. Shouldn't it?

The trip to the attic takes another half hour, and when they return, Georgiana and Kitty have permission to restyle a room any way they like, and to take whatever they want from the attic, on condition that they have heavy things carried by strong servants, and take Simon along to care for any lamps they use.

'And have everything cleaned well, Georgie, it's been in that attic for decades, who knows how many mice have celebrated on it.'

'We will, Fitzwilliam, thank you so much!'

She falls on his neck and kisses him with all the love she feels for her brother.

'I suppose you'd better use the room next door to Kitty's, I dare not offer it to guests anymore because it's so old-fashioned. In an ugly way, that is not almost fashionable again.

And have all the furniture stored, or shall we donate it to charity? Apparently we have plenty of better-looking old furniture that will be back in fashion much sooner because it's ever so much older.'

Now Elizabeth wants to kiss him, but in a different way, he can be so funny these days, and he's taking real pains to be actively kind to Mr Fielding. Not just polite and honest, but nice, to make him feel at home, and wanted.

But where Mr Fielding seems very familiar with Mr Manners since their day together, calling each other by their last names only, he still treats Fitzwilliam with incredible respect. Well, until Georgiana speaks, that will probably not change.

After lunch, Jane and Bingley return, they have been checking out their own town-house, Jane couldn't wait to see it, and small wonder.

The Colonel is also back, he was visiting some club he is a member of, something to do with the army.

Elizabeth's mother and father, and Mary, are visiting with the Gardiners for the day, to give them all a rest from the four children, Elizabeth supposes. Or maybe her mother's nerves need a bit of rest from the constant use of the piano, though Mary usually plays all day, too.

While they all play cards at the table, Georgiana and Mr Fielding start on the harpsichord, and now Mr Fielding is happy again.

He tirelessly rummages in the interior of the little instrument while Georgiana strikes a key, until he is satisfied and they move on to another key. Once, he leaves the room, and comes back with a large leather case that seems to be his most precious possession besides his piano, for it contains everything he needs, his music sheets, and now he magics a spare string from a pocket.

Calling Georgiana over, he shows her how to change a broken string, and they look so incredibly cute, bent over that piano together.

Mr Manners is watching, too, and Elizabeth would swear he wears the exact same expression she is sporting herself, an almost tender fondness, as if he has not asked to be allowed to try to win Georgiana's affection.

Elizabeth would swear he knows it's already engaged elsewhere, so why would he want to woo her, and why doesn't he hate Mr Fielding but seems to be hard at work winning his affections, too?

Still inclined to trust the man, but why?, she tries to concentrate on her cards, but it's already too late, her distraction has made her play abominably and she loses hand after hand until she's out. Oh well, the instrument has been tuned anyway, and she decides to be impolite towards the card-players and sit close to where the action will undoubtedly start really soon.

Do Georgiana and Mr Fielding realise at all they look like a couple already? They're not even sitting close, they're not touching at all, but there is such a wordless intimacy between them, they're no longer teacher and pupil. Mr Fielding must be totally unaware of this, or he'd know Fitzwilliam would have taken measures if he objected. He must still think he's hiding his affection well.

Now he looks at Georgiana, and she gets up, undoubtedly to fetch the beautifully bound book from her room, at speed of course.

Meanwhile, he plays a few chords, and a memory from childhood forces itself upon Elizabeth, but it's so vague she still cannot place it. Better ask papa tomorrow, he may remember where she heard a harpsichord.

Soon, the book is on the tiny stand of the instrument, and Mr Fielding speaks what seem to be his first words for at least half an hour.

'Do you mind if I start? See if I remember?'

Of course that statement doesn't need a spoken reply, and he looks up a certain page and concentrates for a few seconds.

To launch into a complete piece of music, totally different from his piano-playing, but as virtuous. After maybe five minutes he stops, laughing.

'That is so confusing, I haven't played a harpsichord for years. I keep feeling for the pedals. We can almost learn together, Miss Darcy, I have so much to re-learn.'

'When did you learn, Mr Fielding?'

Georgiana asks the exact question Elizabeth wanted to herself.

'Mr Zumpe manufactured harpsichords before he started on piano's. I learned to play them from the start, for though he didn't manage to sell many of them in England anymore, they were still quite popular abroad. My Prague master taught me real virtuosity, but I've lost my edge for lack of practise. I guess we'll both get plenty of that, but I doubt it will last, as soon as we've a grip on these pieces we'll want to play them on the piano.

Now let me show you the differences.'

And they are both gone from the world once more. Elizabeth returns to the card-players, Fitzwilliam greeting her eagerly, he always does when they have been apart, even for a less than half an hour.