The next day the big moment had arrived: Mrs Darcy would receive her magnificent present. At a carefully arranged time, Mr Darcy had ridden out with her and their usual party to keep her away from Pemberley while Hugo brought in the ponies on a lead. He harnessed them to the new phaeton, again impressed by the stunning craftsmanship, taking the time to carefully adjust all the harness straps to the new carriage.

And then he took them out to test the combination of ponies and phaeton, driving them the exact route Mr Darcy was riding except in reverse, set to meet their party 'accidentally'. Except that he had Peter along to ride Barley back to the stables as Hugo gave Mrs Darcy her first driving lesson. Incredible how Mr Darcy was willing to let his wife have this moment to herself, most men would have wanted to share it and of course do the driving. Mr Darcy could drive himself reasonably well, being able to handle up to a pair of not-too-difficult horses, but this phaeton was to be Mrs Darcy's alone.

Of course Hugo completely forgot how he let his own fiancée lead her own life as well, somehow that didn't strike him as extraordinary since the people out there needed her and she had always taken care of herself and Ben.

And everything worked out fine, as they drove on the road past Witham they spotted a group of horsemen exit the forest and turn onto the road to cross a bridge. There weren't very many genteel folk riding on Mr Darcy's grounds besides its master and his guests and indeed, in the group of eight the elegant, though small, Barley, and Mr Manners' two grey riding horses were instantly recognisable. Mr Hurst, still riding Daisy, had lost a lot of weight and his seat had improved immensely, but he wasn't as fearless a rider as the rest, even Mrs Bingley had taken to riding astride and was clearly a practised horse woman.

As Peter drove the ponies towards the group, Hugo did his best to watch Mrs Darcy's face as she recognised the men in the beautiful little carriage. That way, if she should realise it was to be hers before Mr Darcy could tell her, which Hugo expected, he could tell Mr Darcy exactly how she had reacted.

Her reaction was even better than Mr Darcy expected. First she admired the ponies until they had passed her by, and then her eyes opened wide at the sight of the phaeton itself, oblivious to who was driving it. Peter had slowed down as soon as Hugo signalled him to do so, to let her feast her eyes on the combination and have the time to spot who were driving it.

'I'm so sorry, Peter, Mr Hugo! I was mesmerised by the sight of those sweet little ponies, and then the beautiful phaeton, I didn't even think to greet the driver. How rude of me!'

And they both got a very hearty smile, which slowly transformed into stunned pleasure as Mrs Darcy for a few moments betrayed her true age by saying something very girlish and undiplomatic.

'They're mine, aren't they? The phaeton and ponies? To make up for becoming fat and ugly. It's the most beautiful thing I ever saw, those ponies are so sweet and small and yet they're elegant like horses, not like ponies at all.'

Peter handed Hugo the reins and jumped off the seat, offering to take Mrs Darcy's reins. With her usual agility she let herself slide down her saddle, indeed handing her reins to Peter, but instead of hugging those ponies, she ran over to her husband and hugged as much of him as she could reach. He laughed, slid down his own saddle and with an arm through his rein lifted her bodily and kissed her rather improperly for company.

'Thank you so much, Fitzwilliam, how did you do it in such a short time? Mr Hugo's magic I understand, but the phaeton, it's so beautiful, how can anyone build that in a matter of weeks?'

They had approached, and Hugo was glad to see Mrs Darcy giving her attention to the horses first.

'Just look at those sweet little faces! They're so small and so pretty!'

As she kneeled before the two creatures and petted their noses and necks, they nuzzled her back, and she giggled like a girl.

'Finally something tickles me, my love, and just look at those tiny hooves!'

That had to be something very personal for Mr Darcy just melted, and Hugo was intensely glad to finally have felt for himself what it was like to love someone so deeply.

'I could stand here for hours gushing over those ponies, but our guests' horses will start to get restless. I'll study the carriage itself when we get home, I don't have to keep everyone waiting for that.'

Hugo didn't have the impression the others minded at all, though Mr Hurst seemed a bit out of sorts. Maybe he preferred to use a carriage himself, he was trying hard to improve his health by exercising more but he was not a naturally active man.

As Mrs Darcy was about to return to her horse, Mr Darcy said, 'Peter will take Barley home, my love, you're about to have your first lesson with Mr Hugo.'

He said that with a smile, and though Hugo heard the humour in his voice he was a bit afraid to find Mrs Darcy loath to join him. But of course she climbed the seat eagerly and said with a laugh, 'I've heard of your reputation, Mr Hugo, but even if I'd believed any of it, I would never miss a chance to learn from the best. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.'

Since he knew she was joking he merely smiled, and she added, 'Besides, you couldn't possibly be worse of a taskmaster than Mr Fielding. You know, playing the piano seems easy, but it's both physically and mentally exhausting.'

Hugo remembered the constant repetition of one tiny bit of music just after the setting of Fowler's arm and nodded. Pushing the keys of a piano once was easy, but again and again for hours would demand quite a bit from one's fingers.

'I'm afraid my reputation is deserved, though, Mrs Darcy. If you were a fifteen-year-old boy fresh from the farm and convinced you knew everything about running a stables better than everyone else including me, you'd start to agree pretty quickly with the gossip. It's as if one has to break a hole in some recruits' self-admiration to let the knowledge in.'

As she let Hugo show her how to hold the reins, she nodded ruefully and observed, 'I'm afraid I was that farm boy when it came to taking piano playing seriously, Mr Hugo. But I'm ready to learn from you, I've seen you work with Liquor and I know you are very patient with those willing to listen.'

It was a true pleasure to teach Mrs Darcy, as Hugo had known all along since he watched her riding lessons regularly. She soaked up knowledge like a sponge, and showed him all the respect a teacher might expect. He showed her how to turn the little carriage, and then he let her sort out the reins herself, giving advice when needed and helping her out when something threatened to go awry.

When they approached the road to Pemberley she wasn't fed up with the driving at all, and she asked, 'Can you give me another half hour of your time, Mr Hugo?'

Since Peter was still practising to be head of his own stables, Hugo knew all the riding horses would be taken good care of, so he affirmed.

'Oh, thank you so much! Let me call Fitzwilliam.'

And she did just that, she didn't even need to raise her voice for Mr Darcy instantly noticed her eyes seeking him out in the group of riders and he drove his black gelding ride towards the carriage to hear what she had to say. The ponies did not mind at all, of course they had been among large horses for months.

'I'm stealing your stable master for an extra half hour, my love. Will I see you in our rooms when we change?'

'Or I could accompany you? I love to see you drive.'

'Of course, Peter can take our guests back to the house, and they're all grown ups besides. I'd love that, maybe you want to give it a try yourself?'

Mr Darcy looked at the small phaeton, there was no room for more than two, then at Hugo, who could easily follow on the black horse and was about to say so, when the gentleman spoke.

'I'd love to, but frankly it's been such a time since I drove any carriage I'd like to have Hugo along my own first time as well. I can wait.'

'Or you could take my place and I could ride your horse.'

Personally, Hugo thought Mrs Darcy could ride any horse by now, even her husband's hunters or one of Peter's father-in-law's youngsters. A short, significant look from Mr Darcy asked for Hugo's discrete opinion on this proposal, and he tried to nod unobtrusively.

'I'd love that, Elizabeth, shall we change seats on our way back?'

Hugo knew exactly where to take his employer and his wife, they could drive around the Pemberley grounds and go through Ripley. Somehow, he had the inclination to show them where Caitlin used to live, though it would be best not to take the pretty and brand-new phaeton through the black forest, since the path was usually very bad. Of course those poor little ponies would almost drown in the mud. But they could take the same road back, Hugo had exercised the team daily for two weeks, and by now they were in excellent shape.

Once Mrs Darcy was used to the general idea of driving she started to ask questions.

'This was an incredible surprise, Mr Hugo, I suppose you found these sweethearts? Like you got Fitzwilliam his thoroughbreds, and my Barley?'

'Indeed I did, Mrs Darcy, but I admit I needed some help this time, I know nothing of ponies. Mr Bingley's driver suggested scouring local markets for farm ponies turned out a bit more elegant than usual, and Peter offered to ask his father-in-law instead. Apparently he knows everyone around here involved with horses. And within a few weeks Mr Langley took us to a friend who had bought these two brothers on a horse fair and trained them to form a special carriage team because they were too elegant for the mines. To be fair, Mrs Darcy, they have some Shetland blood, when we first saw them they were as shaggy as sheepdogs. But we all thought you might like them all the more for being so unlike what one would expect a lady to drive.'

'That is just incredible, they look so elegant now, more like tiny horses than ponies. I cannot wait to see them shaggy, but I suppose I'd like to enjoy driving them all summer first. Thank you, Mr Hugo, you do so much for us without it being noticed. You let Bob be the best driver, you give Peter the chance to test himself, and Mrs Reynolds told me you urged her to take it easy instead of risking dying of pneumonia. I do think Bruce realises what you did for him, though it cannot have been easy at first.'

'Thank you, ma'am, it's nice to be appreciated but I've never had this need to be noticed and praised like some other people have. Though one generally doesn't find those working in a stables, somehow excessive ambition doesn't match well with horses.'

'You're a treasure, Mr Hugo, and I'm glad you and Miss Brennan found each other. She is just like that, I suppose sick people prefer having someone of a more unobtrusive character around as well.'

By now, they had circled around the black forest and they were going uphill, a good chance for Hugo to explain how to make ascending a slope and especially going downhill easier on the horses. Ripley was in the next valley, across the stream Caitlin had lived next to. Some houses in Ripley were fine, like the widow's cottage, and the farms outside the village could be called prosperous. But there were several rows of really bad houses on the outskirts of the village, something Mr Darcy tried to avoid on his estate. Of course Mrs Darcy noticed instantly.

'This is not one of Fitzwilliam's villages, is it? We've never been this way before. I remember my surprise seeing how well he kept his tenants' houses, my father's village had a few that weren't kept well, though not as bad as these. I suppose my father couldn't be bothered to force his tenants to do the work, as long as those cottages were wind- and watertight.'

'It's part of Mr Brewer's tasks to see to that, Mrs Darcy, your husband does not pay his lazy tenants a visit every year to force them to clear the roofs and the gutters.'

Hugo dared say things like that because Mrs Darcy had a sense of humour, and indeed she laughed heartily at the idea of her husband going from door to door to check on the state of the house.

'I do think his aunt does, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mrs Manners told me her mother makes certain that her tenants don't build outrageous chicken coops or other tomfoolery. But you are one of Fitzwilliam's tenants yourself, these days. Are you happy with the house? I know your fiancée is, she described it to me when I had my checkup.'

'We both are, ma'am. It's small and old, but very well kept, and very charming. I think I prefer old houses, I grew up in a chateau, a smallish fortified house on a hill top that dated from medieval times, the foundations may even be older still. And Caitlin used to live near this village, in a sod-covered hut she dug out in a river bank. She had no windows, no floor, no hearth, no decent door she could lock at night. She is thrilled to have a real house.'

'And you, Mr Hugo, she's thrilled to have you. Whenever she mentions you her eyes light up. Though I cannot imagine her living in a hut, she is so gifted and so decisive, one would say she would be welcomed everywhere.'

'She's Irish, ma'am, and for some that was enough to keep her at a distance. Except, of course, when they needed her.'

Even Mrs Darcy had no answer to that besides a shake of her head. She drove through the village streets quite adequately, following her husband on his tall black horse. The few people they passed looked up at the sight of a gentleman and a very precious carriage, but Hugo didn't recognise any of them. Caitlin undoubtedly would, but fortunately she would never have to come here again. When they had left the village, surprisingly through the ford besides which he had sat with Caitlin one time whilst the cob grazed, Mr Darcy turned around and asked, 'Do you still want to change places, my love? I can try some other time?'

It sounded as if he preferred to have his little wife safe and sound in a carriage with dependable ponies and someone to control them if necessary, but Mrs Darcy was fearless.

'No, I've had enough information for today, I need to let it sink in. You can have a go, and I'll take the horse.'

And she neatly stopped the ponies and handed the reins to Hugo, thanking him heartily before hopping off the seat and walking towards her husband. He dismounted and adjusted the stirrups, then admirably controlled himself until Mrs Darcy asked, 'Can you give me a leg up? He's much taller than Barley and I don't want to put him out by making a mess of mounting.'

For such a young woman Mrs Darcy was very sensible, and indeed she mounted without the slightest hesitation or trouble, keeping excellent contact with her reins and adjusting her seat to the strange saddle but very subtly not to disturb the sensitive black.

'I'm ready to go, you can concentrate on your new task, Fitzwilliam, I'll take the front so you can keep an eye on me without getting distracted,' she offered. As Mr Darcy entered the carriage, taking up a lot more space inside than his small wife, Hugo could see her riding a few circles as if in a riding paddock, trying the horse's reactions to her instructions. Hugo could see nothing amiss, and he handed the reins of the team to his employer, who accepted them in the right way and observed, 'Just correct me when I'm doing something wrong, Hugo, and please keep an eye on Elizabeth so I can concentrate on my driving. Do you want to go back the way we came? To spare the little ones the trek through the pines? Frankly, I'd like to see where your little lady lived for so long, I never realised there were people living in such tough circumstances a stone's throw from my estate. Unless it is painful to you?'

For some reason, Hugo wanted Mr Darcy to see what Caitlin's life had been like, how strong she was to have raised a child there.

'I don't mind, sir, in fact I'd like you and Mrs Darcy to see it. But you are right, we should return the way we came, those poor ponies would half drown in the mud in the black forest.'

'You still call it that? I do seem to remember Peter calling it that when we fetched poor Fowler that day when he broke his arm. The path wasn't that bad then and it hasn't rained much, but one cannot compare the cobs with these two pretties.'

Somehow, Hugo had come to love Caitlin even more in the weeks they had spent together, for seeing her hut again he was quite a bit upset with himself that he'd let her and Ben live in this dismal place for as much as a week, let alone two years. It was hard to remember how proud she had been towards him, resolutely keeping a certain distance between them.

After exploring the hut and the river bank, Mr and Mrs Darcy returned to Hugo, Mr Darcy shaking his head slowly.

'Why didn't you tell me sooner, Hugo? This is no place to live in a civilised society, I know there are very poor people even in England but a mother and child, without even a proper door or window.'

'She wouldn't have wanted me to, sir. I helped her as much as she let me, but she was very afraid of gentlemen, she would not have taken kindly to my interference. Though she did admit she had feelings for me from the start, in hindsight I suppose she would have forgiven me for telling you. I feel really bad seeing this, knowing Caitlin lived here for as long as I have been at Pemberley, with no-one to talk to or to share her burdens with. She left Ben by himself to go on nightly calls, it was so dangerous, but neither of us realised how dangerous until recently.

I suppose I didn't think, sir, and neither did she. We just accepted it the way it was.'

'It's not your fault, Mr Hugo,' Mrs Darcy observed quietly. 'I think Miss Brennan wasn't ready for society until recently, and you helped her overcome her fear and trauma. It's the people of Ripley who ought to be ashamed of themselves, she did so much good for them, they might have offered her a safe house in the village at the very least. I bet they're sorry now, since she has gone away. I'd say it serves them well.'

Mrs Darcy might be very smart and an excellent partner for Mr Darcy, sometimes she did betray her young age by being rather outspoken. Or maybe that was her character, and in a way it was very refreshing, Hugo liked her for it and he knew Caitlin did, too. And she certainly was fearless, for this time, she mounted her husband's large black gelding all by herself and before Mr Darcy had seated himself beside Hugo she was ready to go.

Mr Darcy's driving skills improved quickly, a few hints here and there were enough to remind him of what he had learned years ago, and before long he was able to spare the attention from his driving to make some conversation.

'I've written to Colonel Drummond about Daniel Smith, Hugo. I don't expect a reply before next week, the boy will have to think it over and his parents will have to consent even if he approves of the idea. If he decides to come here, will you consider driving over to meet him in Newcastle? Maybe take a belated honeymoon with Mrs Hugo? I know the sweetest place for you to stay a few days, right by the sea.'

That was quite the proposal! Drive all the way to Newcastle to fetch a mere stable boy? Was the child of royal blood by any chance, to deserve such preferential treatment? Some by-blow of Prince George's instead of Mr Smith's son by blood? There was some talk in the back of Mrs Darcy being in the confidence of the prince, and even important staff members would be expected to travel by coach, let alone the lowest ranked.

'I know, I know, it's highly unusual, but it's not just for the boy. Colonel Drummond has begged me to let him have you for a few days to look over his first breeding efforts with a combination of hunter and army horse. He has no insight in horses himself and his partners, Mr Smith and his employer, only know army horses, they don't value traits one seeks in a hunter. He has promised to treat you as a respected guest, including invitations to family dinners, visits to the theatre and the occasional hunt, should you like to participate. You could stay with him and his wife at the manor, but if you prefer to take your new missus you can stay in this little guest house I recommend whole-heartedly. You can take the thoroughbreds if you like, they'll be pleased to be back on the road, I suspect.'

Hugo was not going to take a priceless team to go scurrying across the country to look at some horses!

'I couldn't do that, sir, I'm not a gentleman. I like the idea of meeting Mr Smith if I am to have his son working for me, and of course I'd love to see these youngsters but the thoroughbreds are not a team to drive oneself with. I could take the gig, but it only seats two comfortably and I wouldn't like to leave Caitlin behind so soon after gaining her hand.'

Mr Darcy shot Hugo a short, measuring glance, then turned his eyes back to the road ahead and said, 'Leave that to me, it'll be a few weeks at least before Daniel Smith is ready to say goodbye to his family and Colonel Drummond's staff. So you're going to keep the gig, buy yourselves a horse to go with it?'

'A large pony more likely, sir, but yes, Caitlin agreed to keep it. It's so convenient and fast, she has had so many requests for house calls from outside Witham.'

'And Mr Oliver told me she is perfectly safe with that dog you took in. He was quite taken by her knowledge of plants, and asked me to consider sparing a certain marshland we were planning to develop towards productive woodland. Apparently it has quite a few rare plants growing there that we might need to keep us all healthy this winter. Well, it's not as if we have so few trees here that we need to plant the marginal lands, I guess we'd better keep this marsh just as it is.

Will you miss Liquor when Fowler is altogether cured? The pony you are planning to buy doesn't sound like much of a challenge.'

Hugo had spent some thoughts on that and he had concluded he would miss having a horse to train. It was as if some old hunger had been stirred from a deep sleep, and exercising his undeniable talent for schooling horses had turned out the perfect way to satisfy any drive of ambition or wish for excitement that might come between him and a calm family life in a country village. There would be more work in the planned pony than Mr Darcy might think since Caitlin would have to drive the horse herself at night and at speed, and Ben would be riding him, but him employer was right: that wasn't the kind of training or the kind of horse to satisfy that remnant Hugo still had of a weird longing to be better than others, even though he had lost his birthright to the Revolution.

'I will, sir. Fowler will need some assistance regaining his courage and learning to make the most of what I've taught Liquor, but that is not what gives me the excitement. It's teaching the horse that thrills me, not the man. Or woman. You have seen that very clearly.'

Again, Mr Darcy looked at him as if he wanted an answer to a question but without asking it first, but since he didn't speak up Hugo did not find out what it was during that trip.

They reached Pemberley without any mishaps, Mrs Darcy really seemed to enjoy riding a different horse than usual, and the black never showed any sign of displeasure over her horsemanship, which was really outstanding. The ponies were certainly not exhausted, but any excess energy they might have had was drained, they would not need extra exercise that day.

Mrs Darcy now handed the black's reins to Bruce, who was to have a really tall shadow from tomorrow on since that was the day Patrick would start his work at Pemberley. Hugo had decided to let Bruce teach him the basics of riding as well as all the less pleasant chores, hoping the London stable boy would not mind his successor not being saddled with all the dirty work at first. Bruce had done nothing but slogging the first two months, but that had been his punishment for his misbehaviour in Mr Darcy's town house, not the usual way to start a new stable boy. Especially not one who had been treated like an adult by his mother because he had done a man's work from his sixteenth year on due to his father's sudden passing. And if Bruce didn't understand, Hugo wouldn't lose any sleep over it, nor would Patrick be likely to. He was tall and broad enough to stand poor Bruce on his head if he liked and he was a local boy. That seemed to give some status in the stables, whereas a house servant would be in higher regard if he were from a large town, preferably London.

'Aunt Gardiner will be thrilled to finally be able to see the whole park, Fitzwilliam!' Mrs Darcy called out eagerly. 'Do you think I'll be able to drive her around before they return to London? It doesn't seem all that difficult but what if the ponies startle? I've heard phaetons often have bad accidents. Do I have to drive with you or Mr Hugo until they've been startled? Or do we let someone frighten them to see whether I can handle them under any circumstance? That seems cruel.'

'And very dangerous as well as unnecessary, my dear. What if I come with you and take the lead? If something frightens them they'll look to the lead horse before they run off. We'll let you practise every day if Hugo can spare the time, and when he says you are ready I'll accompany you on horseback, first in the lead and then behind you.'

'Oh, excellent! I really want my aunt to have as much use of the phaeton as she can, it was her idea after all.'

'If she likes it enough, we can stay here for Christmas and have her and her family over instead of going to London.'

Suddenly, Mrs Darcy went all quiet and her face fell. Why did the mention of Christmas bother her? Most English people loved the holiday and Hugo had to admit, up north they usually had a thick cover of snow by then and the contrast of the cold, white faerie world outside with Mrs Reynolds' snug, warm, tastefully decorated domain inside the house did make Christmas something special. Especially when contrasted to the wet, dreary winter season where he'd lived in France, though generally the Catholic services had been much more festive and lavish than the frugal ones in the Clifton church.

Mr Darcy's voice had lowered to a gentility Hugo had never heard of him. He had the highest respect for his employer and knew the righteous gentleman was much more sensitive than he seemed, besides being obviously lost in love with his pert little wife. But now Mrs Darcy had suddenly lost her usual air of optimism and competence, a whole new Mr Darcy surfaced, and Hugo felt rather like an intruder in a very intimate moment.

'I'm sorry, my love, now I have spoiled your surprise. But you know by then it will all be over, and you'll be able to laugh about how nervous you were and compare babies with Jane. It's not even thirty miles, she and Bingley will certainly be able to come.'

Babies? Was Mrs Darcy afraid of childbirth? She didn't hesitate to climb on the back of her husband's fractious horse but she was afraid of having a baby? The very thought staggered Hugo, women had babies all the time, didn't they? Caitlin had delivered any number of them in her years as midwife, was it really that dangerous?

It still seemed as if Hugo wasn't really there, and he wasn't going to draw attention to himself by trying to leave.

'That's just it, my love. I'm sure Jane will be thrilled to have a baby but I've never cared for them, what if I cannot love ours or worse, reproach him for not being able to go out riding or rambling anymore?'

'You will not get stuck to the house, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. You know Mrs Norman was back in the saddle before their boy was three weeks old. Really. No-one will boss you around, Miss Brennan is too fond of her own independence to steal someone else's, and you can handle the servants yourself. And if you cannot, I will be there for you, all the time. I won't leave you alone with your needlework unless you want to, and then I'll show the baby all his illustrious forbears so you can work in peace. You know, maybe we should take Mrs Grenfell's advice and have your aunts and uncles' portraits taken and hung beside them.'

Mr Darcy's reference to Caitlin proved he knew Hugo was still there, trying not to breathe audibly, and that he didn't mind. And his last remark somehow pulled Mrs Darcy from her short indulgence in her own fears, she laughed heartily and replied, 'That is so like her to say such a thing! Imagine if she gets with child, she'll hate the prospect of getting fat even more than I do.'

Then she looked straight at Hugo and said dryly, 'I'm sorry you had to witness that, Mr Hugo. I have this unreasonable fear of losing my freedom once I have a child. I do trust your fiancée to help me survive the birthing, you know, I'm really glad you brought her to our attention in time. I suppose I'm spoiled, wanting to just be a girl a little longer, allowed to please only myself, without the responsibility for a child. But so many girls never got to play at all, not in the least Caitlin.'

So she wasn't afraid of childbirth at all. Well, everyone was afraid to bear the responsibility for others, until one got used to it.

'I don't mind, Mrs Darcy. I'm glad you trust Caitlin and I'm certain she will do well for you. I'm also very certain you will do well for your little baby, it's in the nature of young creatures to be easy to love, you'll see. And of course you will ride again, and drive those little ponies, imagine anyone trying to stop you.'

A broad smile broke on Mrs Darcy's face as she regained her usual good humour.

'Thank you so much, Mr Hugo, that is such a beautiful way of putting it. No matter how little confidence I have in my own ability to be a mother, I'm certain our baby will be the very best at being an adorable young creature and make me love him willy nilly. Does that mean there is hope even for Caroline Grenfell?'

'If you mean Miss Bingley as was, yes, if she ever gets with child I am certain it will change her for the better.'

'Remember Lydia, my love?' Mr Darcy added. 'Though I'm not that confident for Grenfell. Surprisingly I think Wickham will make an excellent father, if he gets to stay in England.'

Hugo remembered one of those names from a story Fanny had told him once in confidence, and he agreed with Mr Darcy's observation that Miss Bingley might not have married very wisely. Though no-one knew what exactly had happened between the master of the house and the steward's son, not even Mrs Reynolds, who had known Lieutenant Wickham from his early youth, Hugo didn't think it was very easy to lose Mr Darcy's respect as completely as the lieutenant had. And yet he had always made a favourable impression on Hugo when he was still a regular visitor to Pemberley, and of course his rise to the ranks of the British skirmishers hadn't done him any harm in a former army man's eyes. The Rifles were a corps based on ability, not rank, and to be promoted upon his very admission there proved Lieutenant Wickham had to be an honourable man now, whatever his mistakes of the past. Also, he had always been very kind to Miss Darcy, as child but also after she had lost her mother, everyone in the house knew that. Hugo could easily agree with Mr Darcy that he would probably make a good father, if indeed he ever got the chance, being a skirmisher in battle was important but also very, very dangerous.

Mrs Darcy insisted on helping to remove the little harnesses and stow them properly, and she certainly proved she could love other small creatures than babies by brushing and cuddling the sweet ponies. Though they were by no means newborns, they were terribly cute.

Mr Darcy did not leave but rather stood by and watched her all the time, his expression enough to make Hugo, again, feel like an interloper. Mrs Darcy might have a little more faith in her husband, Hugo couldn't help thinking, the love between them was so intense, he would never let her lack for anything he could give her, which was of course much more than most other men in the country.

As soon as the ponies were back in their little paddock and the phaeton was stowed away safely, in full view this time, Hugo was glad to leave them by themselves to admire it in all its stunning detail. He had other things to do, and he had been in the couple's way for too long already. The phaeton and ponies were a successful gift, and Hugo was glad he had been able to deliver on the horses even when they were totally out of his expertise. And Wednesday he would step out of his own world again by hopefully buying a pony purely on the basis of health, some speed and good character, without allowing himself to even look at breeding or appearance.