When Elizabeth awoke, the unfamiliar surroundings caused her confusion until her memories of the previous day flooded back to her. She called for Samantha, the maid that was attending her, and she quickly completed her morning ablutions. Samantha praised the Darcys with glowing words as she tended to Elizabeth. She had been attending to Miss Darcy's needs for the past three years. The Darcys were kind and generous, never expecting servants to give up their half days or do more than their duties. Normally Samantha accompanied Miss Darcy on her travels, but her employers graciously permitted her to remain in town this time, since her brother — a footman at Darcy House — had been unwell. Elizabeth thought this spoke well of Miss Darcy, for she assumed most ladies would not be so understanding of a servant's desire to care for their ailing sibling.
When Elizabeth entered the dining room for breakfast, she saw servants setting the table, but her uncle and her betrothed were nowhere to be seen. She inquired about the two men's whereabouts and was informed they were in Mr. Darcy's study. Knowing the subject of their conversation, she decided it was best to give them some privacy. She was entranced by the sight of the sideboard, overflowing with an array of breakfast delights from the inviting warmth of freshly-baked goods to the inviting sizzle of meats. She filled a plate with food and settled down onto a chair, her stomach grumbling as the aroma of the food filled the air. She devoured the flavourful breakfast with eagerness.
She waited for a while before she inquired of the footman how long her uncle and Mr. Darcy had been sequestered in the study. The footman, who she realised was the same one who had been supposed to chaperone her and Mr. Darcy the previous evening, told her it had been about half an hour. He smiled sympathetically at her, having guessed the subject of discussion between the two gentlemen. She thanked the servant and returned her concentration to her meal.
The time that passed before Mr. Darcy and Mr. Phillips joined Elizabeth for breakfast was likely only a few minutes, but it felt as if it was much longer. Mr. Phillips was quite unlike Elizabeth's father, for he went to her immediately and gave his congratulations while Mr. Bennet would have toyed with Elizabeth. She was conscious that Darcy would need to acquire her father's approval soon, but, for the present, Mr. Phillips could provide his blessing on the engagement.
Conversation only centred on the betrothal and upcoming wedding for a short time. Mr. Phillips asked after the health of Mr. Witting and was told there was no change. The valet had been given a great deal of sleeping draught so his body might heal. As the effects of the doses wore off, he would awaken and was able to take a few sips of broth and more medicine before slipping back into sleep.
Elizabeth was pleased to discover that Dinah would arrive at Melbridge House at some point during the day, provided she was not already there. Darcy was to go thither also, and asked his companions if they should like to join him. They agreed, wishing to learn what the physician had to say. If Mr. Witting was awake, they might get to speak to him as well. Elizabeth was curious to meet the man who had inspired such devotion in her betrothed.
It was not more than two hours later that they arrived at Melbridge House. When they did, they found Dinah already present. She looked decidedly uncomfortable, seated on a settee in a sitting room taking tea with Colonel Fitzwilliam and a distinguished-looking gentleman who looked to be about ten years the colonel's elder. Darcy performed the introductions, making Elizabeth and her uncle known to Viscount Barlow, Colonel Fitzwilliam's elder brother.
Dinah found it difficult to suppress her appreciation until everyone had been introduced and her turn to speak arrived. "Oh, Miss Elizabeth! Mr. Phillips! Mr. Darcy! How much I owe you! How good you are to care so for him!" and other such exclamations were given. She was most profuse in her thanks for saving and caring for Mr. Witting and catching the scoundrels who harmed him. However, she was not lax in her thanks for being allowed to come and visit him. The viscount and the colonel could only respond with smiles to the young maid's expressions, as they had been thanked similarly earlier. The three new arrivals accepted her gratitude but urged her to say no more about it. She owed them nothing. It was the duty any Christian — nay, any human — to assist in such circumstances.
A little while later, a footman came to tell everyone that Mr. Witting was awake and had agreed to allow visitors. There was no need for discussion; it was accepted that Dinah should be the first to visit him. The maid rose hesitantly and followed the footman to Mr Witting's sick room.
During her absence, Elizabeth attempted to become more familiar with her soon to be cousins-in-law. Lord Barlow was a quiet sort, even more so than Darcy. His face did not set in a scowl, however. He held himself with such authority, as if he was born to be a prince rather than a viscount. She supposed that was the way one developed to be when they had been brought up from infancy to manage an earldom. He put forward a few questions about Elizabeth and her uncle, surely determining her suitability as a wife to his cousin. His face was inscrutable. Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled reassuringly and Mr. Darcy — who was seated next to her — occasionally brushed his hand over hers to convey his support.
After a quarter hour, Dinah emerged. Despite her tear-stained face, she had a smile on her lips. Once again, she thanked everyone present before retiring to the servants' quarters.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth went into Mr. Witting next. Elizabeth had been surprised when he asked her to accompany him, but she soon realised why he wished her to accompany him. When they stepped into the room together, the delight on Mr Witting's face was unmistakable. After Elizabeth was formally introduced to Mr Witting as Mr Darcy's betrothed, the man's cheeks stretched from a smile into a delighted grin.
"You need not look so smug, Witting," said Darcy. "I know you predicted as much."
"I said nothing," said the valet.
"You did not have to. I have known you too long not to be able to read your expressions."
"I never did master the blank-faced manner all excellent servants are supposed to have," Mr. Witting confided to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth liked the valet exceedingly well. She was glad to see him awake and speaking, but this did not last long. Soon a maid came and told them that it was time for the next dose of medicine for Mr. Witting. He contorted his face in a grimace and said he had already slept enough, and that she should just put the medicine on his arm without sedating him.
"You know that the doctor says you need to sleep a great deal in order to heal," said the maid.
Elizabeth and Darcy look their leave, the servants squabbling vehemently over the proper course of action.
"Will the magistrate come and interview Mr. Witting soon?" asked Elizabeth when they had returned to the sitting room.
"He is due this evening," said Lord Barlow. "Very likely Witting's testimony will be what decides the punishment the villains will have. He may only be a servant, but he is a servant to a man with great connections and power. We already know he was treated terribly, but not to what extent. Miss Bingley will, of course, be able to plead her belly for a time, but that shall only delay her fate."
"Have we any idea when she will have her lying in?" Mr. Phillips looked uneasily at Elizabeth as he spoke. It was not strictly proper to speak of such things in front of a young lady, but not much that had happened in recent days could be called proper.
"According to Mr. Wickham, they have been carrying on since before Mr. Bingley took Netherfield. That was part of what brought him to the area," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Since we know where he was in June, it could have been at the earliest July that they began their affair."
"Miss Bingley must have been quite certain by the time of the Netherfield ball to risk such a thing," said Elizabeth. She was filled with disgust at the thought that Mr. Wickham went directly from Miss Darcy to Miss Bingley. From what she knew from Lady Lucas, it was about halfway through a woman's delicate condition that they could feel the babe, and there was no way to be certain before that. Certainly one could suspect. Lady Lucas had been exceedingly ill with the youngest Lucas child before the quickening had come, but to risk so much as Miss Bingley did…
No one could say anything else, for Mr. Bingley was announced by the butler. That gentleman stepped cautiously into the room, his eyes darting around uncertainly as he wondered how he would be welcomed. He was therefore relieved when Darcy rose and stretched out a hand in greeting to him.
"I went to Darcy House first," said Mr. Bingley once the niceties were complete, "but I was told you were here. I ought to have known."
Mr. Bingley was invited to sit and take refreshment. He accepted, though the tension in his body was obvious to all who observed him. "I have learned," he said after a few moments, "of the fire at Pulvis Lodge. I am exceedingly sorry to find more and more villainy on the part of my sister and her associates. I will use my sister's dowry to assist the Kings and the owners in rebuilding and replacing what was lost, of course. I had thought — before learning of the fire — to give her dowry to Mr. Witting. However, I will settle twelve- thousand pounds upon him. I hope that shall be enough to make some small restitution for the suffering he has endured."
"That is exceedingly generous of you," said Mr. Darcy.
"I wish I could do more, but most of my funds are tied up in property. It would take time to find a buyer and it would also displace the workers. If you think more is needed, I can find a way to get more."
"I was not being sardonic, my friend," said Mr. Darcy. "That is very generous. I daresay an income of five or six hundred a year will serve Mr. Witting and his betrothed very well."
Mr. Bingley looked relieved. "I know it does not undo what has been done. I am exceedingly sorry…"
"You are not responsible for anyone's actions, but your own. It is good of you to make some restitution, but you are not to blame," said Mr. Darcy.
Their conversation was once again interrupted, but this time by the arrival of an express rider. The note was given to Mr. Darcy, who opened it and read it with a smile. "Your family shall be at Darcy House by dinner time, Miss Bennet, Mr. Phillips," he announced.
This news was met with mixed feelings by Elizabeth and Mr. Phillips. They were pleased to have their relations coming to town and for the betrothal between the couple to be announced. However, the Bennets differed greatly from the sort of guests they assumed Darcy House usually received. Elizabeth only hoped Darcy would not come to regret his choice of bride when his house was filled with her relations.
