A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews! Despite the good advice he has received from Elizabeth and all of you, I can't promise that Richard will do the right thing or have the right feelings at any given moment. He is human, flawed, and rather confused about his own heart right now. I can promise however that he will learn some lessons and do some emotional growing throughout the next few chapters. Is it giving too much away to also promise him a HEA?

Chapter 20: October 1815

"The doctor tells me you can try walking today Richard. That is wonderful," Elizabeth said with a bright smile as she came into his room, shortly after the doctor had left.

"Yes. I shall be glad to be able to move without the indignity of two footmen practically carrying me," he said, smiling too. "The only reason I shall be sorry is because it will make my departure more eminent."

"Surely not for another month yet… You must get quite strong first. After all, you will have to face Lady Catherine de Bourgh," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"I am determined to act on your advice Elizabeth. I shall try to find out what would make Anne happiest." He looked at her hopefully and was rewarded with an approving smile.

She turned and retrieved something from the hall. "Shall we?" she asked, holding out a sturdy cane and her free hand. His face brightened still more, and he took both the cane and the hand and rose unsteadily to his feet.

Together they made their way slowly and cautiously to the parlor where Kitty and Georgiana let out exclamations of delight as they saw the Colonel on his feet again. Georgina ran to fetch him a foot stool and Kitty took his cane as he released it to grab the arm of the chair.

"Oh, I am so glad!" Georgiana exclaimed. Then a cloud passed over her face as she said, "You will not have to return to the army as soon as you are well?"

"I think not," he said. "But one never knows." He looked at Kitty involuntarily and saw that her eyes were thoughtfully fixed on him.

"How brave soldiers are. And their families too," she said softly, and Richard recognized it for what it was, a revelation, not a compliment.

Darcy came in at that moment. He had been out until all hours lately, but the spring wheat had been safely harvested as of yesterday and he could breathe more freely for a time.

"What a pleasant gathering," he remarked as Lizzy came forward with outstretched hands. He kissed her cheek and drew her down onto the couch beside him.

"Cousin Richard walked here himself," Georgiana told her brother.

"My congratulations Richard. I told you Elizabeth would have you up in no time."

Richard smiled, "It has hardly been no time. The summer is quite over."

"I cannot argue that point," said Darcy, stretching his tired legs out to the fire.

"You must be so tired dear," Lizzy said, stroking his shoulder gently.

"A little. But this delightful society is recompense enough," he replied. Then turning to his sister with an inquiring smile, "Will you play for me Georgiana?"

"Of course. I always play for you." She went willingly to the instrument and began playing. It was a soft air, one that Lizzy had used to play at Rosings Park, over two years before. Both Fitzwilliam and Richard were reminded of the occasion. Darcy pressed his wife's hand and she gave him a bright smile.

If they had been alone, Darcy would have kissed her, Richard realized, growing angry at himself because a dull pain accompanied the thought.

Kitty, sitting quietly nearby, looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam curiously. She had been observing him for weeks now and was quite sure that there was no affection or Georgiana beyond that of a near relation in the Colonel's manner.

Her observations had led her to quite a different conclusion. It seemed like something from a novel to Kitty's romantic mind, but she could not help but think that Colonel Fitzwilliam was very fond of Lizzy. There was often a wistful expression in his eyes when he looked at her, and when he appeared to be buried in his own thoughts his eyes seemed to rest on her sister's face almost unconsciously, although he sometimes did the same to her.

Yet, Kitty was also quite sure that Lizzy did not return the feeling in the slightest. She was everything friendly and considerate to the Colonel, nothing more.

Kitty looked at her sister now as she tilted her head up to look at Darcy and he said something to make her smile and laugh a little. Lizzy was still very in love with Mr. Darcy. There could be no doubt of that.

Elizabeth rolled over in bed. Fitzwilliam was still asleep, his face buried in his pillow, his curly hair tousled. She stroked his hand softly and he opened one eye sleepily and looked at her.

"It's late. I fear we have overslept," she said.

He groaned a little and put his face in the pillow again.

Lizzy smiled. "They will expect us for breakfast."

"Hang breakfast," he muttered. "I want to stay here." He threw an arm over her, preventing her from leaving either.

She laughed. "You sound like a spoiled child."

He did not answer, only looked at her with that disarming expression of his.

"You would force me to stay against my will?"

"I let you do pretty much as you like Lizzy. For once you can listen to me and stay here a little longer," he said, only half teasing.

"Oh, very well. Since I appear to have no choice."

She snuggled down again and he wrapped both arms around her and drew her close. He kissed her softly.

Kitty had gone down to breakfast only to discover that Georgiana had a headache and would take breakfast in her room, and that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy had not yet presented themselves.

She hesitated, but the good smell of the food encouraged her to sit down and partake of some fresh rolls and a pot of hot chocolate.

A clicking sound caused her to look up and she saw Colonel Fitzwilliam standing in the doorway, leaning heavily on his cane.

Richard was hesitant only a moment. "Good morning Miss Kitty," he said politely. "I am afraid I have interrupted your solitary breakfast. May I join you or would you prefer solitude?"

Kitty did not want to deprive him of his breakfast or appear unsociable, so she said shyly. "Please do not leave on my account Colonel. I am sure Lizzy and Mr. Darcy will be down directly."

He bowed as best he could and took a seat across the table from her. A few moments passed in companionable silence, as both partook of the dishes laid out before them.

"How do you like Derbyshire, now that you have been here for some time?" Richard asked.

"Very much. Besides here, I have only lived in Meryton and London however, so I think I have not much to compare it with."

"Perhaps Darcy and Elizabeth will go to some seaside town for the summer one year and you can have a look at the ocean."

"I have heard such rapturous accounts of it, but I am sure it must be even more beautiful than words can describe."

He smiled, and Kitty realized how pleasant his face was when he did so.

"You have often seen the sea, have you not?" she asked.

"Yes, and sailed on it perhaps more than I care to."

"Georgiana said you had been to Asia and the East Indies."

"She was right."

"I hope you will not have to go so far again. I think it must be dreadful for your family, not knowing if you're safe for months on end."

"My family will not care much. Or rather, my father will care a little, the others not at all."

Kitty heard the bitterness in his voice and said hastily, "We care very much." She blushed as he looked at her, feeling she had been too forward. "That is… The Darcys all are very fond of you..."

"Thank you," he said, sounding a trifle amused.

She blushed again, and he realized she had caught his tone and hastened to make amends and change the subject. "You are very kind. Do you prefer London or the country?"

"Both at different times," she answered.

"So do I," he said, surprised.

"London in the winter, the country in the summer," they said together, then paused in confusion.

Richard recovered first and was able to turn his full attention to his plate within a few moments. Kitty did likewise, and they remained in silence until Richard had finished. He stood up too fast, forgetting his cane and had to clutch the table to steady himself. The stick clattered to the floor.

Kitty jumped up at his hasty movement and, seeing the cane, ran to retrieve it. She handed it back to him without looking at his face, knowing that he would be embarrassed by the episode. As he laid hold of it, their hands touched briefly. Kitty withdrew hers quickly and stood, staring at the floor. She wished that she could say something amusing to lighten the situation, as Lizzy would have, but she could think of nothing.

Richard mumbled his excuses and limped out of the room.

In his own chamber, Richard tried to think clearly.

He had always considered himself as somewhat immune to falling in love. The quality had enabled him, in the past, to carry on many an innocent flirtation, his limited fortune preventing any strong attachments on either side. There was also the secret feeling for Elizabeth, which made other women fail to measure up. But this was different.

He must not and would not allow himself to be temporarily attracted to Kitty Bennet. He knew his duty to Anne, he knew his duty to Darcy and Elizabeth, and to Kitty herself, in whom hopes must not be raised only to be dashed. But he found that his very determination not to show any interest in her was making him feel just the opposite. She was a very lovely girl and what was more she was undoubtedly fond of him. Her touch had felt so different from Elizabeth's. There had been a spark on both sides, not only one. He closed his eyes. Why did his heart have to be so complicated?

Kitty had escaped into the garden to cool her flaming cheeks. Why did his proximity affect her so? He cared nothing for her. He loved Elizabeth, albeit with an unrequited love. She had even heard that he meant to propose to his cousin Anne de Bourgh. No, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam had too many demands on his affections to ever think of her.