First I want to thank Eb Evans, Darcysfriend and Patricia for helping me along and making this story readable. I am sorry for the long time I didn't post but my muse took a long vacation, I really hope she is willing to stay in the vicinity in the future. Please check darcysfriend for her first story! I love it and I hope you too. Thank you all for reading and I hope you leave me a comment.

William Chapter 6

Matlock Townhouse in London

Lady Georgiana Fitzwilliam almost jumped out of her seat when her husband intruded into her thoughts by kissing her on her neck from behind. "Richard!" she reproached, and in response, he chuckled softly in the ears of his wife of sixteen years. "And what, my lovely wife, has you engaged so much in your thoughts that you did not hear me approach?"

Georgiana turned her head to give Richard a proper kiss on the lips, and whispered, "Fitzwilliam."

Richard, now Earl of Matlock, raised a brow. Moving to the front of her seat and crouching in front of her, he placed his hands on her thighs and gently asked, "What troubles you about him, my dear?"

Georgiana sighed and looked at Richard with a serious countenance and played with his fingers in her own. "I've been reminiscing about him, that's all," she began, "how he has changed over the years. It was when your brother died when he first changed and became an angry and bitter man. He was not like that at all before all that happened; he may have been reticent and shy, but never that furious and bitter. Not even when I made that foolish mistake with Wickham."

Georgiana leaned back as she let memories wash over her. "I remember how reclusive he became in the years after that, and then suddenly, he married Cecilia. I never would have thought him to marry for wealth and connections, but he did." Georgiana then paused as Richard took his place beside his wife on the sofa. He was reminiscing along with her.

"Well," he remarked, "I think we should be glad that he did not become like most men of the ton, gambling, engaged in profligacy and indulging in debauchery. Your brother only worked harder, I remember, making him wealthier than I ever thought possible – but, you know, that did not make him any more contented." Richard chuckled sadly. "I think in essence he was and is as he always was. His disposition is honourable and wise still … but he is so cold and miserable, except to the few of us in his family, as well as a few servants and tenants."

Georgiana agreed. "I have never understood that." After a pause, she said, "Richard … did you see how he reacted to that unknown party in Brighton? I thought it odd, although I did not think much on it immediately after our sojourn there. What was even stranger was, according to my maid, Fitzwilliam roamed Brighton's streets for two days, then left for London abruptly. Grayson and Anne were so disappointed; that was why they wanted us to leave Brighton too, shortening our stay. You know this much, don't you?" Georgiana asked.

Genuinely unsure of what she was referring to, Richard remarked, "Well, I was aware that it was Grayson and Anne who insisted that we return to London, and consequently our Sophie and Harry desired it as well. I just did not ponder much on the reason, to be honest. Dearest, you know William can be whimsical in his daily dealings, do you not? What is different here?"

"I am not certain," Georgiana responded. "All I know in hindsight is that he was extremely upset when he encountered that unknown party. Did you perchance see them?"

"No, I did not. Tell me what happened."

"I was not there when it happened, but Grayson told me his father was extremely distressed when a group of people entered the hall. Fitzwilliam's stare at the party was so intense and irate, so he took a look also. What he saw shocked him, he said – included in that party was a young man so closely resembling him that he could have been his brother, just a few years older."

"What!"exclaimed Richard. "How?"

Georgiana shook her head. "All I know is what Grayson told me. His father looked shaken but also fuming, it was almost fearful he said. Now the other party left directly after the confrontation, and Fitzwilliam himself left as soon as he could. What do you make of this, dearest?"

Richard took a moment to collect his thoughts before answering. "You know, dear, now that I'm thinking about it, I seem to remember something of that time of my brother's death. It was a hellish time, I know, but Darcy seemed to have a secret joy about him. He would stare into nothing and smile at nothing in particular when he thought himself unobserved." Richard shifted in his seat. "Over time, though, he became restless and agitated. I know your brother has always been very private and closed – but I did wonder about his attitude at that time. He had never behaved like that before! Unfortunately we were all so wrapped up in the aftermath of Harold's ill-advised duel, then his consequent death ... and then my own father falling ill and his resulting death months later. It was chaos ... I'm afraid I did not pay attention too much to Darcy's behaviour."

He paused. "Georgiana ... do you think he was in love, but it did not go the way he sought? I have never seen Darcy in love before, so I would not know what to base my observations on. Did you say that the young man in the Brighton party resembled Darcy? How old did Grayson think the boy was?"

"Grayson thought him about twenty years old ... how unthinkable it is to me. His conception would be around Harold's death, would it not?"

"Yes, you are right. He was in Hertfordshire around that time, with Bingley," Richard recalled.

At this, Georgiana turned irate. "Bingley! That man," she huffed. "His betrayal of their friendship was among the most damaging things Fitzwilliam had to endure in his life! The gall of him and his shrew of a sister to accuse Fitzwilliam of seducing her! How could Bingley believe that? He knew Fitzwilliam could hardly stand her, let alone take her innocence! Bah!" Georgiana had started pacing around the room in her agitation as she remembered the events of those days. "I have never seen Fitzwilliam so livid as when Bingley came in with the so-called 'evidence'! The meanness, the emptiness of good spirit – that woman is still not forgiven or forgotten by me! I still thank God that Fitzwilliam did not give in to them!"

Richard stood up to embrace his wife. "Well, Cecilia was not much better, you know. I still wonder why Darcy married her. True, her beauty, wealth and connections were unparalleled … but so was her cold regard for Darcy. Or his for her. There was no couple more ill suited than they."

Georgiana sighed. "Yes. All that Cecilia desired was to be the perfect hostess in the Ton. Do you know that she did not have been much more than four times at Pemberley? She came only to consummate her marriage and bear children, that was all. To leave her first child at Pemberley and leave at two months as if nothing happened, just to celebrate her re-found freedom, hurt Fitzwilliam badly. She was already talking of going back to London before she went into labour with Anne."

"Well," Richard rejoined, "I think we should be glad that Fitzwilliam has so much love for the children, or I think he would have lost his way entirely. Cecilia died giving birth to Anne – I would not wish that on my worst enemy, though."

Georgiana smiled sadly, and said, "The thought that Fitzwilliam had to raise them as a single father had you and I not married still fills me with dread. He was so unstable then. I am so glad he let us help. I could not love those children any more had they been my own. Fitzwilliam never abandoned them like Cecilia did. He has always loved them, and has tried to spend as much time with them as he could, although he knew that we would do a better job raising them, that was why he let us take them. I've always thought it a good decision, do you not?"

"Yes, dearest, I do," said Richard quietly. "Sometimes, though, I think your brother is just so very lonely, and I wonder who that boy in the Brighton party was. Could he have another son? Would that be the reason of his sudden change, I know one thing if he is his son he would not have given him up for nothing, so something grave must have happened there." At this pronouncement, Georgiana succumbed to tears and cried her heart out on the shoulders of her beloved husband. Grief for Fitzwilliam swelled in her like a mighty wave. Richard held her close and said soothingly, "Hush, love, we will find out what happened, we'll talk to Darcy. You will see. Everything will be well."

She was on her way to her sister Elizabeth when she saw him. He was about to enter her sister's home. As shocked as she was when she recognized him, fear for what may come was the emotion that most consumed her. Her stomach rolled, and she told her escorting footman she wanted to return to her home.

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