And how Eric is received by his beloved! She is at the piano, practising, but as soon as she spies him she stops and smiles almost shyly. She's as happy to see him as he is to see her, eyes shining, hands reaching out for him without her even being aware of it.

'You're still here,' she breathes, as if he would even think of leaving her, knowing fate will not separate them forever.

The whole room disappears for a moment as he takes her hands in his own, he is lost for words, it is really true, he is engaged to his talented angel, she loves him as much as he loves her.

'I will never leave you, Georgiana, nothing will drag me away from you ever again.'

Well, it's clear what she thinks of that rather bold statement, her girlish shyness is gone instantly, and the strong, competent woman she is starting to become emerges..

'Oh, Eric, that's just ludicrous. Of course you will go away sometimes, you're going to play so many concerts, and you're still going to Vienna, just not today.

I know I will have to share you with your audience, and I don't mind, for our times together will make up for your absences manifold.

But it's sweet of you to say it.'

Sweet is being able to use each other's first name in this room full of relatives and friends. Of course she is right, of course they will be separated sometimes, but he's not going to Vienna without her, no way. She has no clue how far that is, she's never been further away from London than Derbyshire.

To cross the cold and dangerous North Sea without her, it's unimaginable.

He really is convinced he'll never leave her, ambitions are fine, but love is ever so much better.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, is convinced no-one besides the future bride and groom themselves can be happier with this union than she is. She always had a high opinion of Mr Fielding, but getting to know him better has only elevated him in her esteem, besides having a love for music that Georgiana can only share with him, he is upright and very gentle.

As Fitzwilliam is meeting his future brother-in-law in the little confidence-room, Elizabeth hears from Georgiana how their eventual agreement came to be.

'It was Simon, he knocked on my door in the dead of night to tell me Eric was going to leave for Vienna the next day if I didn't work up the courage to tell him immediately. I protested, but Simon was quite serious and in the end I did as he advised and knocked on Eric's door.

I've never been so embarrassed, in my dressing-gown, and he in his.

Elizabeth, he was distraught, so very upset by everything, and dead tired. But his mood improved quickly when I told him our love was not in vain, that no-one was going to stop us from getting married.

Simon told me to cuddle him, and I did. We kissed, too. Then Simon left and we chatted some more, until Eric started to fade a little with fatigue, and we each went to our own beds. He was so sweet, Elizabeth, in his dressing-gown, with his hair all mussed up, but there was a fire in him, too. Do you really think we'll have wait until I'm eighteen to get married?'

'I don't know, Georgiana, I suppose we'll have to discuss that together, but I'm so happy for you, to have come to an agreement. Did Simon tell you how he knew Mr Fielding was planning to leave?'

That is a hard question for the poor girl, she knows, but is not free to tell.

'I cannot betray Simon's confidence, Elizabeth, I'm sorry. He went out of his way to prevent Eric from leaving me, I cannot repay him by breaking his trust. Please forgive me.'

'Never mind, you have the right to a secret or two. I was just curious, but of course you need to follow your conscience here.

I used to think Simon way too familiar with all of you, but since then I have come to realise that a family like this needs people like him if you want to have any measure of privacy, there is such scope for gossiping in a well-known house, his loyalty to this family is invaluable. And of course he is such a nice man, I wish he could be a lot happier than he is now.'

They talk about Mr Fielding and being engaged a little longer, until Fitzwilliam returns, looking positively soft.

'I couldn't do it,' he says with a smile, 'he was so nervous, almost afraid, I couldn't make things hard on him, it would have been pathetic, not funny. I felt so much for him, seeing him in the same state I was in for months, I'm afraid I've gone hopelessly soft.

Your father was truly concerned, and rightfully so, Elizabeth, he had a reason to interrogate me, I didn't. I've seen nothing but good from your admirer, Georgie, I'm certain you two will be very happy. He's off for breakfast now, he'll be here very soon.'

Georgiana gets all shy and flies to her piano, somehow practising always calms her down, and Fitzwilliam is obviously touched, he takes Elizabeth's hand and just relishes their closeness.

'This all reminds me so much of the day you accepted me, my dearest Elizabeth, that was the happiest day of my life. After so much pain and despair, to be thus rewarded.'

She wants to kiss him, but they still have visitors, though most are busy playing cards, or talking, her father is in the library and the Colonel is at his officer's club again. So she merely squeezes his large hand, and smiles affectionately.

'We've grown so comfortable together that I hardly ever remember the doubts I had over you. Having come to love you, but very aware of the abominable situation fate and myself had put me in, with my sister married to Wickham and having refused you in such a hateful manner.'

They are both silent, lost in the past, until Elizabeth speaks up once more, 'But look at us now, Fitzwilliam, we're a happy family! I'm so glad Georgiana decided to marry Mr Fielding, for now we'll have them both with us for at least a year. I suppose Mr Manners would have taken her away from us immediately.

Have you spoken to him? Does he know? Have you any idea how he is doing?'

'I have not seen him, yet, but our new brother says they talked and he's fine, even happy with it. I suppose we'll never find out what that was all about.'

But he is wrong, for just after Fielding himself has entered the room, and Darcy and Elizabeth have tried to be unobtrusive watching his first meeting with Georgie after their agreement, Manners comes in and asks to speak to both Darcy and Mrs Darcy in private for half an hour.

Of course they agree, and Darcy decides to use the little sitting-room again, it's so much more homely than his study.

Manners starts by shaking their hands and saying in a truly happy voice, 'My sincerest congratulations, Darcy, Mrs Darcy, on the engagement of your sister to a singularly talented man. I cannot think of a better partner for either of them.'

They must both show their wonderment openly, for Manners continues, 'I know, I have some explaining to do, and I will, right now. It's not easy, though my intentions towards Miss Darcy have always been honourable, the marriage I would have proposed to her would not have made her as happy as this one will.

Can we sit down for a moment?

I'm very nervous about this, though Simon says there is nothing to worry about.'

Simon? Manners nervous? What is going on?

'Darcy, Mrs Darcy, I have a confession to make. I am not, and never have been in love with Miss Darcy. I would have gladly married her, had she agreed to a marriage of convenience to me.

You see, I did not expect you to allow your sister to marry a man without name or property, Darcy, you have surprised me immensely with that. But had your sister been in love with Fielding and unable to marry him, I would have proposed she marry me and I would have offered him a place in my household. So they could be together.

And so I would have a wife and heirs, to make me seem like a respectable gentleman, which in fact I have never been, and never will be.

Now comes the hard part, which I think will cause you to throw me out of your house and lives, but since there is a really large favour I want to ask you, I will have to own up.

I know you have found out some time ago that Simon does not love like other men. He tells me you have not cast him out for what most people consider an abomination and a perversion, but rather have protected him against those who would ruin his life over it, by exposing him to the world.

Darcy, Mrs Darcy, I love Simon so much it hurts, and when I went to my knees to confess him my love, he admitted to having the same feelings for me.'

Proud, self-assured Manners now bows his head before the two of them, waiting for their adverse reaction no doubt, taking an incredible risk telling them this. Despite Darcy's dislike of this friend's boundless influence over his college clique, it does not please him to see such a man lower himself before them.

But he cannot just let this pass either. Manners would have proposed marriage to dear Georgie, knowing he didn't love her, could never love her? Encouraging her to cuckold him with his protégé? While cuckolding her with a man?

'Do you have any idea what you would have put Georgie through? That is almost unforgivable, Manners! I love my sister more than anyone except Elizabeth here, and you would have married her to avoid gossip and breed children? You would have let her pine away for lack of love? She probably would have fallen in love with you, since you are indeed an admirable fellow, her love never to be returned?'

That observation truly hurts Manners, he throws the two of them a pleading look, but doesn't have anything to say for himself.

Elizabeth seems to mostly feel sorry for Manners, but as she takes Darcy's hand and at the same time addresses their guest, Darcy can hear her judgement clearly.

'You have known Mr Fielding for less than a week, Mr Manners, and you made yourself agreeable to Georgiana long before that. Can you fail to understand that it would have been very cruel to marry her without loving her? She would have lived her life without ever having been truly loved. What were you thinking of, Mr Manners?

Even if Fitzwilliam hadn't allowed her to decide for herself whom to marry, she's just sixteen, she might have met some other suitable gentleman who did love her.'

Or she might have fallen in love with a mercenary.

Of course if Darcy truly had kept Georgie from marrying Fielding, he would have been at least partly to blame for her entering such a strange marriage.

And Manners is getting smaller and smaller, when even the forgiving Mrs Darcy seems to be against him.

'I suppose I didn't think, Mrs Darcy,' Manners now replies, beat. 'I'd never been in love myself, I never considered that she had a right to love her husband. I liked Miss Darcy a lot, she was smart, pretty and very good company, I could imagine living with her and raising children with her easily.

I didn't think about love at all until I met Simon one day at Netherfield. I admired him from a distance, who wouldn't, he's so beautiful, and in your livery he looked like the emperor of Hungary.

Then one day he found me looking for someone of the staff to help me mail a letter, and offered his services. I was lost, instantly.

I've never written so many letters, to family I hadn't see in years, just to have an excuse to see him again. For of course he wouldn't want anything to do with me, he probably had a string of girls following him around, he was so beautiful. And smart. Somehow I didn't think of him as a servant, of him being below me, I admired him so much.

He made me forget I was rich and respected, with him I felt like a little plain boy in dull clothes. Until he asked me whether I needed anything else besides having my letters mailed, while he unbuttoned his livery-jacket, and when I saw the challenge in his face, and his bare chest, I couldn't control myself anymore and kissed him, half-afraid to be knocked flat, but finding a warm reception instead.

Since then I've come to understand love a lot better. Will you please believe me I would never have deceived Miss Darcy into marrying me? I really would have told her how things would be between us.'

Getting up, attitude still totally beat, Manners gets up to leave.

'I'll go pack, I'll be out of your house and lives in half an hour. Simon said you'd understand, but I knew imperfection is not accepted in a gentleman. He is very smart and worldly-wise, but of course he doesn't know how severe our class is on its members, if my friends knew I loved a man they'd never look at me again, not one of them.'

This has gone far enough, but Elizabeth beats him to it, and her tone gives him a thrill. She has always had a thing against self-pity.

'Mr Manners!'

He should be jealous at his beloved using that voice on someone else, but Manners is a sad sight, and besides, he's no competition, he doesn't admire Elizabeth, at least not in that way.

Manners turns around, he looks like the plain boy he described, and he says as little. He should really have a little more trust in his friends, maybe not his college clique, but certainly in Elizabeth and Darcy. How would Simon not be able to predict their reaction, he's been with Darcy for years.

'Sit down, Mr Manners.'

If Darcy wasn't already sitting, he'd do it instantly. Instead, he gazes at Elizabeth in adulation, he just cannot resist that tone.

Neither can Manners, he sits back down in the chair he has just left, and Elizabeth takes his hand with her one Darcy isn't holding possessively. Manners doesn't object, he seems a bit dazed with Mrs Darcy's attitude.

'Excuse my tone, Mr Manners, I find I have little patience with self-pity. What were you going to do? Just disappear and leave Simon behind, his heart broken? Or persuade him we kicked you out so he'd elope with you? Pardon the term, Simon is no captive here, he can leave any time he chooses, though we'd regret losing him.

We were angry at you, yes, both of us. Because you sported with the feelings of someone we love a lot, a sixteen year old girl who has seen very little of the world. That was unworthy of you, Mr Manners, I'm sure you generally think things through.'

She is so good, his smartest, most eloquent beloved. Darcy feels a thrill of pride at her words, this is his wife sitting here, a true Darcy already. Let no-one harm her family, and let no-one put words in her mouth before she's spoken them.

Sure enough, she continues, her tone still firm enough to make Darcy want to kneel to her. It isn't as controversial as falling in love with a man, but it's still a rather marked flaw in a gentleman.

'And Mr Manners, please do not decide for us what we think about your loving a man instead of a woman. We are both sensible adults, if we're not qualified to form our own opinions and voice them, I don't know who is.

Simon knows us better than you do. Which is logical, since he has known Fitzwilliam for years, and me for months, whereas you have known us for mere weeks, all of them spent in a large company where one can rarely be oneself. I assure you, I do not usually have a maid spend an hour on my toilette twice each day.

I suggest you take a little more time to get to know us before you decide what we think, and maybe listen to the emperor of Hungary a bit more. And talk to Miss Darcy, explain your reasoning to her. I suspect she has heard about all this, and is expecting an apology from you.'

She is the very best! Maybe it's kinder for Manners to love a man, or he'd be in love with Elizabeth from this moment on, how could he not be?

And Manners does look stunned.

'Mrs Darcy! You're not disgusted? You were both just angry over my courting Miss Darcy?'

'I have but one sister, Manners, Elizabeth may have several to spare, but I'm quite cautious with mine. Though my family will have plenty to say about my allowing her to marry Mr Fielding.

You want to take Simon away from us? We'll miss him. But it's been hard to see him rather unhappy, and besides, he's his own man, I'm merely his employer.'

'Not to him, Darcy, he loves you very much and refused to be involved with me if I didn't have this conversation with you. But I cannot just take him with me, I cannot hire him as my valet without arousing suspicion, my current man is very capable, I have no reason to let him go.

And even if I could hire Simon, he'd be in the back of the house and I'd be in the front. There is no life together for us in this country. I'm thinking of going abroad, my valet has a family, he'd quit instantly. And travelling, Simon and I could be much more intimate, dining together, sharing a room, seeing sights. That is quite acceptable when a gentleman travels by himself.'

Darcy nods, he has travelled with Simon as if they were brothers, many times in his long years as bachelor.

'We'll be sorry to lose your company at Pemberley this summer, but of course we can understand the situation. Simon always preferred a valet's duties above being a housekeeper. I'll talk to him somewhere in the coming days. And I don't need to tell you the value of discretion, better not be caught in the servants' quarters again, or Bob may call you out.'

Mr Manners has the good grace to look guilty, and Darcy adds, 'You can stay here while you decide what to do, Manners. I'm sure my new brother-in-law likes your help building a career, but I can so imagine why you'd want to go abroad.'

'If we do go abroad, we'll do some scouting for him, find the best masters, and the best halls to perform in. I'm a bit disappointed my scheme didn't work out, though I realise only now it would have been very humiliating for your sister. I've never imagined how a gentle lady would see love, and I suppose your view on love resembles hers more than mine. But I truly thought she'd never be allowed to be with the man she loved.

I will apologise to her as soon as possible. I can still hardly believe you're not turning away from me, though Simon said you wouldn't.

Thank you so much, both of you.

Mrs Darcy, I always knew you were a catch, but now I'm more certain than ever, Darcy may hug himself to have won your affections. I will never be fooled by your tender age or your beautiful face again, you have a formidable mind and an even stronger will. I salute you.'

'Oh, Mr Manners, I'm very sorry, but I really have to hug you now. I know Simon and yourself are committing a great sin, but I cannot help liking and admiring both of you, how can you be bad people?'

And to be sure, Elizabeth gets up and embraces Manners, whom she just ordered to sit, but who obediently rises from his chair to receive this rather familiar token of affection. When she releases him, he sinks back into his chair, pretending to be overwhelmed, or maybe he is, for he has found acceptance where he didn't expect to find it.

Soon afterwards, they join their guests once more, tomorrow will be their last day together, except for Kitty, who has been invited to stay in London for a few weeks, and maybe Manners, if he chooses to stay, to be with Simon from bedtime until morning.

Darcy cannot find it in himself to disapprove of having two people commit a terrible sin under his roof. He cannot condemn two people for feeling love, can he?