Hello my dears! Here again are the last chapters of the story - keep your fingers crossed that Amazon doesn't penalize me for it, as they're only going top be up for three days. Please remember, by 2 PM Wednesday, THE CHAPTERS WILL BE DELETED.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Georgiana Darcy was welcomed into the Gardiner home with bright smiles and a kiss on the cheek from Elizabeth.

"How delightful it is to see you, Miss Darcy. We missed your company yesterday," Elizabeth said to her friend as she led the way into the drawing room.

"Indeed," Jane concurred. "We were sorry you could not come, but certainly understand your obligation to family."

Elizabeth could tell it took an effort for Georgiana not to roll her eyes. "Was it that bad?" she asked as the three took seats.

Georgiana's cheeks colored and she looked down at her lap. Elizabeth laughed and said, "Do not distress yourself, my friend—I could tell by his countenance this morning that your cousin the viscount did not have an enjoyable evening."

"I should not like to speak ill of anyone in my family…" the younger girl began.

"Miss Darcy—Georgiana—" said Jane, "pray do not fear you cannot speak candidly before us."

"Agreed," seconded Elizabeth. "After all, you have heard us reveal some embarrassment as regards our own family and I can tell you it brought neither of us any pleasure. Jane and I merely wished to ensure that your cousin understood that the gentility which he had found in my sister and our uncle and aunt, and in myself, was regrettably not a trait shared by all our relations. So, whatever of your feelings, thoughts, and observations that may be expressed here, you can be sure will not pass through these walls. I have always said—have I not, Jane—that we must each of us have at least one person to whom we feel we can confide our absolute truest feelings, whether they be fair or censorious. Here you have two!"

Georgiana chuckled a little then sighed softly. "Philip and Fitzwilliam did warn me it was likely, but still… I could not possibly have imagined the terribly embarrassing row my aunts engaged in last night—and with a duke present, no less!"

Elizabeth exchanged a look with her sister. "There was a duke present at this family dinner?" she asked.

"Indeed. My aunt Lady Catherine and her daughter Anne called at Darcy House yesterday afternoon on their way to my uncle's at Bolton Street," Georgiana began. "My aunt wished to 'release' my brother from his engagement to Anne, though you may remember he has long insisted no engagement existed and it was only in my aunt's fancy that it did."

Elizabeth recalled the day she and Jane had visited Darcy House; it was only a few days past. Philip and Darcy had spoken of their aunt and her insistence that her daughter and nephew would marry.

She also recalled Darcy's adamant refusal that he had ever been engaged to his cousin.

"And the duke?" Jane queried.

"He is Anne's betrothed!" cried Georgiana. "The same age as my uncle, he is, and yet she has accepted him willingly! Oh, I cannot imagine accepting a man old enough to be my father. I do not think Anne is in love with him, but then what does a sheltered girl like myself know of love? I will grant that she did seem quite fond of His Grace…"

Georgiana paused, colored, and delicately cleared her throat before continuing. "My Aunt Catherine invited His Grace, The Duke of Lansbury to dinner that he could meet my uncle. My Aunt Frances wished to discuss my cousins' presentation at Court tomorrow and their debut ball on Friday. But all Aunt Catherine desired to talk of was Anne's becoming a duchess, claiming her daughter's marriage took precedence."

Elizabeth snorted softly. "And your Aunt Frances, she disagreed?"

Georgiana nodded. "Oh yes, most emphatically! The countess and Lady Catherine argued all through dinner over which events were more important in the family. Aunt Catherine believes marriage to a duke more important than a debut ball, and of course my Aunt Frances believes being introduced to Her Majesty the Queen and introduction to society of greater consequence. She pointed out that Anne has neither been presented nor had a proper debut, which only angered Aunt Catherine more. Oh, my friends, it was such a mortifying spectacle to witness."

Another look was exchanged between the sisters, then Jane said, "With all due respect to your cousin Miss de Bourgh, and despite my disappointment in Lady Disley disapproving Philip's match with me, I find that I must agree with the countess. While certainly marriage to a duke is a great occasion, it is not right that Lady Catherine should choose this particular week to make the announcement, when it is the right of Lady Cecilia and Lady Olivia to take precedence. As has been said many times, their presentation and entrance to society are such important events in their lives, and—forgive me—but it seems to me that Lady Catherine seeks to put herself and her daughter forward over the daughters of an earl as though they are of greater rank, even if Miss de Bourgh is to become a duchess. Only then should she properly take precedence over her cousins."

"Believe it or not, Anne is of the same opinion," Georgiana said. "I do believe she was quite as much embarrassed as I was, as I chanced to overhear her telling His Grace that she would understand if he should wish to rescind his offer in light of the scene he had witnessed."

Elizabeth's eyebrows winged up. "Did you happen to hear the duke's reply?"

Georgiana's countenance brightened. "He laughed! He laughed and told her that though the behavior of my aunts was most indecorous, he was by no means put off from marrying her. In fact, he said he was rather fondly reminded of a couple of his Italian relatives who would behave much the same when they tried to show-up each other."

At this, Elizabeth grinned. "Well then, if Miss de Bourgh has truly accepted His Grace willingly and he is still willing to have her in spite of her unfortunate mother, then I daresay they will have a very happy marriage—especially if his estate is some distance from Kent!"

Georgiana tried vainly to hide her laugh behind her hand. "It is in Shropshire!"

When she had settled herself, she looked to Jane and asked in a somewhat tentative voice, "Speaking of meeting family, Jane, are you nervous at all about my cousin meeting your father today?"

Jane drew a breath. "A little," said she. "After all, it was not long ago that my aunt and uncle, and Lizzy, agreed with me that we did not much care for the unfairness of my father knowing before my mother the truth of Philip's identity. But I also agreed that it was right he should be introduced, as we are all but formally betrothed. I do hope that Father is not too hard on him for waiting nearly eight years to make his addresses—or that we must wait to announce our engagement out of respect for his sisters."

Elizabeth sat up straight and snapped her fingers. "That's it, Jane! I do think that is how you might win Lady Disley's approbation—you could remind her that while you and Lord Rowarth have every right to announce your betrothal whenever you wish, you have not done out of respect for this being the Season of his sisters' debut. You might even point out that you have kept your attachment a secret even from your own mother for knowing she would see to it the story was spread."

She jumped to her feet then and grinned. "Now, seeing as we both of us still have much work to be done on our gowns for the ball, why do we not go up to our room and get back to it? I am sure we can find some way for Georgiana to help us."

Jane smiled and stood as well. "Yes, there really is still much to be done. I do hope you will not be bored, Miss Darcy, to have us spending so much time on sewing."

Georgiana shook her head as she stood. "No indeed! I should like very much to see your gowns—in fact, I am commissioned by my cousin Philip to tell him something of yours, Jane, that he may endeavor to match you."

Jane smiled widely at this, and Elizabeth grinned as she linked her arm with Miss Darcy's to lead the way from the drawing room. "Silver, dear Georgiana. Tell your noble cousin that silver is the key."

In the girls' room, they were quick to show their young friend the progress they had made in cutting their fabric selections to fit the gowns they were altering. Georgiana praised the shiny silver lace Jane had picked and the deep green satin chosen by Elizabeth, saying that the colors would not only accentuate the gowns but also greatly flatter the features of their wearers. The sisters, in turn, asked about Georgiana's gown, and she spent some minutes describing the pale pink frock her brother had commissioned for the occasion.

"Speaking of my brother…"

When her voice trailed off, Elizabeth glanced up from the two sections of the open robe she was working to sew together. "What is the matter, Georgiana? I do hope Mr. Darcy is not ill—I did wonder why he sent a maid as your escort rather than accompanying you himself as he did before."

Aware that her words might show her to be a little too interested in Darcy's welfare, Elizabeth looked back to her work.

"Oh no, Fitzwilliam was very well when I left," Georgiana assured her. "He just had some engagement or other with my cousin Theodore that he said might well take him all day. Would… would you have liked to see him, Elizabeth?"

Warmth rose up her neck and into her cheeks as Elizabeth stuttered, "I-I certainly would not have minded his company. His conversation was very agreeable at dinner on Saturday."

"Could you, perhaps, imagine yourself being courted by him?"

"Why, Georgiana!" cried Jane softly. "Dare I ask if you inquire on Mr. Darcy's behalf?"

From under hooded eyes, Elizabeth watched Georgiana's countenance bloom with color. The younger girl fidgeted nervously as she said, "I-I should not like to make Elizabeth uncomfortable if she does not care for my brother, but neither would I like to see Fitzwilliam made unhappy by her rejection. I did tell him I would endeavor to discover if she liked him, as he has confessed his admiration for her, but now I have done it, I find myself rather mortified to be in the middle of the matter."

For a moment, Elizabeth was stilled by the force of the revelation that Darcy did, in fact, admire her. A smile slowly lifted the corners of her lips until she could no longer contain her joy. Setting her work aside, she moved to sit next to Georgiana on the settee.

"My dear friend, pray do not make yourself uneasy—though I know it must have been difficult for you to do this service for your brother's happiness, I am glad you have had the courage. I do admire Mr. Darcy and very much wish to know him better, but I did not know how to properly express it to him without appearing too forward. I also feared he would not or could not return my regard given your cousin Lord Rowarth has already made what his parents consider an imprudent match. I felt they would not accept a second member of their family courting a lady below their station and that he would bow to their authority."

"But Lizzy," said Georgiana with a shake of her head, surprising Elizabeth on using her nickname for the first time, "while Fitzwilliam certainly holds the opinions of Lord and Lady Disley in high regard, as does Lord Rowarth, he does not require their approval of his choice in the same manner as Philip does. At least, that is how I understand the matter."

"And how do you feel, Georgiana, about your brother's interest in the fortuneless daughter of a country squire? Do you not fear your brother's choice will negatively impact your own chances of a good match?" Elizabeth asked her.

Georgiana smiled widely. "Silly Lizzy, I do not care what society thinks, for I have never been among them and almost hope that I never have to be! I'm so very shy, you know, except with my family and with you and Jane, that I do not even know that I'd be able to talk to any gentleman I was introduced to. Besides, I have liked you from the first moment of knowing you! Fitzwilliam is so serious, and you are so lively that I think you will complement each other very well—and I have always wanted a sister that would not look down on me and see me as a burden."

Elizabeth reached for her hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "Your brother taking such prodigious good care of you could never be seen as a burden by anyone with even a modicum of good sense. And although it is his responsibility to bring you up in the absence of your parents, I cannot imagine he laments it. In the short time I have known you, I have seen enough of your character to know that you have a kind heart and a gentle soul. If, by chance, your brother and I should like each other well enough to marry, I would be just as pleased to have you for a sister as I am to have Lord Rowarth for a brother."

Georgiana threw her arms around Elizabeth's shoulders. Elizabeth laughed and returned the embrace, and for the rest of the day a smile was on her face as she thought about the fact that the handsome Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley admired her.

-...-

Darcy had not expected to be back later than Philip, who was to retrieve Georgiana from Gracechurch Street when he returned Mr. Gardiner there, but streetlamps were being lit as he and Theodore were stepping into Darcy House.

"Have you dined, sir?" Tolliver asked as he was taking Darcy's greatcoat.

"No," he replied. "Whatever Mrs. Fuller can put together without too much fuss will do for the colonel and me. Are my sister and Lord Rowarth retired for the evening?"

"No, sir," said the butler. "They are in the drawing room. I shall speak to Mrs. Fuller about your dinner, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy thanked the man and turned for the drawing room, followed by an irritable and sullen Theodore. Georgiana sat in one of the armchairs by the fire reading a book, and Philip was at a writing desk, no doubt penning tomorrow's letter to Jane Bennet.

"Silver!" the viscount cried cheerfully as he set aside his pen.

Darcy paused in mid-stride. "I beg your pardon?"

Philip laughed, and Darcy noticed a grin on Georgiana's face. "Jane's gown for the ball, of course! Silver is the key, or so Georgie tells me—she'll not be more specific than that per Jane's orders. But as it so happens, I do have a silver brocade waistcoat amongst my formal wear."

"Then no doubt you shall look splendid," groused Theodore as he dropped heavily onto one of the sofas.

"Whatever is the matter with you?" Philip asked as Darcy crossed the room to take the chair opposite his sister.

"Our search for a certain worthless human has thus far been fruitless," Theodore complained. "Three days I've been at it, and I have nothing with which to ease Amelia's anxieties."

Darcy cast his eyes to Philip to find a mixture of sympathy and amusement in his elder cousin's expression. "Amelia, is she now?"

Theodore growled and Darcy held up a placating hand. "Philip, do not tease your brother tonight. He is already out of temper."

"I don't understand it!" Theodore cried as he surged to his feet. "Her father has assured me he's no longer at the property he was managing, Lionsgate, and we all of us know London to be his favorite place to hide—nowhere else could he be so well hidden. But surely that villainous pig can't hide forever!"

"Who are you talking about?"

All three men turned their gazes to Georgiana. "It's nothing to concern you, dearest," Darcy said.

Georgiana closed her book, marking her place with a finger, and tilted her head. "Fitzwilliam, I don't think you're being entirely truthful," she said. "Pray forgive the impertinence of my statement, brother, but I have learned to tell when you're trying to keep something from me that you think will upset me."

She sighed and looked toward the fire blazing in the hearth. "I know I came close to making a very foolish mistake last summer and that you were greatly disappointed in me—"

"Georgiana," Darcy began.

She continued without acknowledging him. "I also know that until I met my new friends, I was very timid and shy around strangers—I'm still shy, I think, but I've grown a little bolder in the last week and a half. More able to speak up for myself and say what's on my mind."

Georgiana looked to him at last, and while Darcy noted that some of the timidity she'd spoken of still remained, there was also a hint of the boldness as well. "I'm not a child anymore, Fitzwilliam. Young, immature, and yes, a little naïve. But I'm growing up, however much you wish I weren't. I beg you would start treating me like the young lady I'm supposed to be turning into and answer me honestly when I ask a question, even if you think it will distress me. I promise you, I can handle serious matters if you would but trust me with them."

"Bravo, Georgie," murmured Philip.

Darcy, for a moment, could only return her gaze, and then he smiled softly and nodded. "You are right," said he. "Although there are certain subjects which ought never to be discussed with young ladies, I would be failing in my duty as your guardian and your brother if I did not include you in important discussions, especially any that relates to the family."

He gestured for Theodore to sit down, then the two of them shared with her the substance of Lady Amelia Northam's unusual visit to Darcy House. Georgiana's expression changed from stunned at hearing that the duke's daughter had called on them so late to anger at the reason why.

"Oh, that wretched ingrate!" she seethed. "He managed to secure himself the prestigious position of steward of a duke's property, albeit fraudulently, and still that was not enough? I can hardly believe he is so bold as to resort to blackmail."

Her brother and cousins chuckled at her righteous indignation. "I daresay Wickham is bold enough to scrape the bottom of any barrel if he thinks it will earn him a fortune, Georgie," Theodore said.

"So, you've undertaken the task of searching him out for Lady Amelia?" Georgiana asked. "What will you do once you find him?"

"That is definitely not something I'd best speak of in depth, dear cousin," Theodore replied, a scowl descending over his features. "Suffice it to say, I will recover the fraudulent evidence, if any such even exists."

"But what if it's not fraudulent? What will you do then?"

Darcy looked to his cousin, whose brow creased even further. "Far be it for me to give any credence to one of Wickham's schemes, Theo, but what if the duke is still trading in slaves?"

Theodore sighed and drew a hand over his face. "I'll have no choice, will I, but to hand the evidence over to the courts. I'm sure it would break Am—Lady Amelia's heart and ruin any chance I have of securing her hand, but then my parents would never sanction my marrying the daughter of a disgraced duke even if she would still have me."

Philip snorted. "That's if the matter were even to go public. A man whose income is sixty thousand per annum probably has the means of making something like that go quietly away," said he. "However, I've made some subtle inquiries of my own on that score—that is, I've spoken to Father about him—and he believes The Duke of Mildenhall to be one of the few noblemen in England who, like himself, has no vice whatsoever. He's as honest and above reproach as a newborn babe."

"With some of the lot we've got running the country, that's saying something," Theodore mused. "And what of this Lansbury fellow little Anne is to marry? Is he as free of possible scandal?"

"Father's man is still looking into him," said Philip. "I expect to hear something at dinner tomorrow. Do you think you'll make this family gathering? Cessy, Livvy, and Mamma will be full of talk of the presentation—that is, if Lady Catherine allows them to get a word in over her ejaculations regarding Anne's engagement."

Theodore looked to Darcy and grinned. "Yes, Darcy told me how splendidly everything went last night. I'm almost sorry I missed it, but when a beautiful woman begs you to help her, a gentleman can't say no."

His statement was followed by laughter, and the rest of the evening was spent pursuing topics of a more pleasant nature than George Wickham and his nefarious schemes for getting rich or Lady Catherine's insatiable need to be first in everything.

Following supper, Darcy escorted a tired Georgiana to her room. He had bid her an affectionate good night before he remembered the other bit of information she'd been commissioned to discover during her day with the Bennet sisters.

"Sister," he called to her as she opened her door. "Did you… did you happen to…"

Oh, confound it! he thought. Why was he suddenly so hesitant to just say the words?

Georgiana caught on quickly and smiled. "Oh yes, I had near forgot! I had quite the conversation with my friends Jane and Elizabeth today. We spoke of the dinner at Bolton Street last night and Philip's meeting Mr. Bennet today—I was so pleased to hear it had gone well."

"And…?" Darcy prompted.

For a moment, he thought she would say nothing more, then Georgiana's face brightened, and she smiled. "Elizabeth does admire you, Fitzwilliam," said she. "But she is afraid that you will not wish to risk upsetting our aunt and uncle with a second imprudent match in the family, and she was so kind as to express her concern for my chances of a good match if you should be as brave in your choice as Philip."

Warmth and relief flooded his veins—he did have a chance of succeeding with Elizabeth! Taking up his sister's hands, Darcy pressed them affectionately between his own and smiled at her.

"And what, may I ask, was your reply?" he asked.

"I told Elizabeth that as I understood it, while you valued the opinions of the earl and countess, your choice of wife was ultimately your own," Georgiana replied. "I also said that I'd always hoped for a sister I could like, and that I had liked her from the first moment of our meeting. I think you will do very well together, Fitzwilliam."

She moved to embrace him then and said, "Just think—you did not even want to come to town for the Season, and look what doing so has brought you."

"Indeed, my dear sister," said Darcy as he returned the embrace. "I have seen you open up again, and I have, perhaps, a chance at future happiness. If only such felicity could be felt by the rest of our family, we might all be at peace."

A chuckle escaped from his sister as she stood back. "If only indeed. If anything should distress me, brother, it is the possibility of Aunt Frances and Aunt Catherine arguing over their daughters again. So unpleasant."

Darcy sighed and nodded, then gently pushed Georgiana toward her door. She said good night again, as did he, before he turned away and made for his own room. All the while, a smile was about his face as he thought of how delighted he was that Elizabeth Bennet admired him.