The chatter in the drawing room that evening centered, as always, around Elizabeth; and Darcy watched from a distance as she engaged Aunt Matlock, Mr. Onervan, and Sir Tyler in conversation. Now that he had grown to know her better, he could almost see the slightly artificial way she smiled whenever Mr. Onervan tried to touch her on the arm or the shoulder. She always shuffled away gracefully and politely, but Darcy could see the tension in her jaw and the slight discomfort in her eyes.

He liked to comfort himself that her smile had always looked genuine whenever it had been directed his way. But that comfort soothed him little as long as he had to wonder why exactly she continued to allow the other gentlemen such advances if they were clearly unpalatable to her. It was as baffling, perhaps, as her insistence in remaining engaged to Richard when that clearly was not what her heart preferred.

"I fear we must be boring you. Shall we have some music then, Lady Matlock?" Elizabeth's voice cut through Darcy's thoughts, her words louder than before, as if she were inviting the whole room rather than just the countess.

Darcy looked up. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Richard turning away from his brother to send a look Elizabeth's direction. She smiled briefly at Richard, as if assuring him of something. Richard nodded before looking askance once more.

What exactly were his cousin and his betrothed about?

"Some music would be delightful!" Aunt Matlock sounded outright enthralled. "Music is just the thing at times."

"I would be honored to entertain us all." Elizabeth stood quickly, extricating her hand from Mr. Onervan's at the same time, and marched over to the pianoforte. She shifted through the music sheets in an exaggerated manner before declaring, "Oh, I do think I might have left my new favorite in the library, and it had been placed so high on the shelf too. Mr. Culham, would you be a dear and assist me?"

Darcy started. It was true that Mr. Culham was the tallest amongst the other guests, but Darcy himself was just as tall.

"Miss Merivale," he found himself offering, "if you are in need of assistance reaching for something inconveniently stored - "

"Oh, you are too kind." She sent him a look that seemed to order him to stay. "I was only hoping that Mr. Culham might - "

"It would be my pleasure." The quiet gentleman farmer stepped towards Elizabeth. His speculative gaze made Darcy feel dinner turning over in his stomach. "If I may, Miss Merivale?"

Elizabeth gifted Mr. Culham a smile so sweet that it looked almost manufactured. "Thank you."

He escorted her promptly out the door and down the hall. Darcy managed to hold himself together just for another minute before sprinting after them.

The library was not far, a mere two doors down the hall, but seeing its door shut tightly made Darcy's throat tighten. He rushed forward, his fingers already closed around the door handle when Richard pulled him back abruptly.

"Darcy, wait," the colonel hissed.

"Have you no care for what happens to her?" Darcy growled. "Your future bride is trapped behind a closed door with a lecher of a man, and you - "

"Hush!" Richard gripped Darcy's arm so tight that it rivaled an iron clamp. "Let me hear them. We may be done with this entire ordeal yet."

"Ordeal? What do you - "

"Hush!"

Through the door, Elizabeth's footsteps clapped along the side of the shelves. Her voice soon followed. "I do now know what it might make you think of me, Mr. Culham, but I cannot say that I am entirely devoted to the colonel."

Darcy shot Richard a look, a look that Richard squelched with another warning glare.

"And what inducements do I have to make you mine then?" Mr. Culham's voice sounded rather far too near Elizabeth for Darcy's comfort. "I have no prosperous trade or title to my name."

"Surely, you have means of making more?" Elizabeth whimpered in a way that sounded rather unlike her. "A man of your cleverness cannot be content to merely keep to the land all your days."

Mr. Culham's barking laugh was almost manic. "No, most certainly not."

"If I jilt the colonel - and bring along my inheritance - would it be enough for us?"

The manic laugh repeated itself. "I can offer you much more than that, Miss Merivale, if you would but wish it."

"Truly?"

"I admire you for admiring my mind." His voice prowled even closer. "And you shall not be disappointed."

"Oh?" She sounded slightly breathless, as if she were nervous, and Richard had to restrain Darcy from barging in once more.

"She's in danger," he hissed at Richard.

"We can save her," Richard replied without so much as a glance Darcy's way. "Just wait, a little more."

"And how can you - "

Elizabeth spoke again, her voice sounding as if she were right next to the door now. "And, pray, tell, Mr. Culham, how do you plan to match my fortune?"

"I have no plans to match it, my dear, but every plan to surpass it." Mr. Culham laughed harshly. "Once the next shipment arrives in France, you shall be looking at the second richest man in England."

"Shipment? Of food?"

"What do you think can fetch a fair price these days, woman? Not honest farming, no - it is weapons of war that can make a man a true fortune."

"You sell weapons then?"

"To the highest bidder."

"To the king, you mean? Do they reward you handsomely for your patriotism?"

The manic laugh sounded right against the door. "No, my darling Miss Merivale, I've had enough brothers die on the battlefield to feel no loyalty to the Crown. The only man capable of purchasing enough to make us the wealthiest couple in England - is Bonaparte himself."

Richard shoved his way in right then, with Darcy at his heels. Richard pulled Mr. Culham away from Elizabeth, who looked vastly relieved by their presence. Darcy dashed towards her just as Richard hauled Mr. Culham halfway across the room and declared, in no uncertain terms, "In the name of the law and by the power of the Crown, I arrest you, Mr. Jasper Culham, for treason."

"Horrible, these things are. I don't think I can ever quite forget such a scene unfolding at your estate, Lady Matlock." Mr. Onervan muttered loudly in front of his carriage the next day. The house party, its true purpose achieved, had been quickly dispelled this morning. And while Sir Tyler and Lady Halbright had been quick to depart, Mr. Onervan seemed intent to stretch out his presence at an earl's house for as long as he could.

"I'm sure we can count on your discretion," Lady Matlock responded with so much equanimity in the face of her guest's utter rudeness that Elizabeth almost asked the countess right then and there how to master such an ability. "I assume, of course, that you would be willing to grace us with your presence for a dinner party come the next London season?"

"Of course, of course." The merchant bowed so deeply that his coat edges almost brushed the ground. "I am the soul of discretion."

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head at the obvious theater. Lady Matlock acknowledged the promise demurely before bidding her last guest goodbye. Once the carriage was a healthy distance away, the countess turned.

Elizabeth curtsied as their eyes met. Lady Matlock approached with a smile. "I hope you are not too worse for wear today, Miss Elizabeth."

Elizabeth smiled, happy to be able to go by her own name once. "I am well, if a bit tired. It is fortunate for me that the colonel dealt with almost all the aftermath."

"As he should." The countess sighed. "I must admit having my son deal with his missions right under my nose, this time in my very presence, has given me a rather different perspective."

"Do you regret it, Lady Matlock?"

The countess seemed to pause in thought before replying, "I cannot say I do, although I am quite happy to no longer have to engage in subterfuge for everyone's sake. And if what Richard told me this morning was any indication, he himself is rather glad that this charade has concluded - if not for his sake, at least for your sister's."

Elizabeth held her breath, uncertain how to respond.

Lady Matlock smiled. "I appreciate your sister, Miss Elizabeth, and I would not begrudge a family connection if the two young people seek it. Others might consider the alliance unequal, but I know better than to expect my second son to be content with a London debutante who has never seen anything beyond the walls of drawing rooms and ballrooms, or who think a promenade down Rotten Row to constitute exercise."

Elizabeth could not help her chuckle. "I am sure my sister would much appreciate your kindness, my lady."

"Well, we shall see, shan't we?" Lady Matlock turned her eyes to where Richard and Jane walked in the clearing just beyond the gardens and before the edge of the nearby woods. The couple's heads were inclined towards each other as they conversed. Jane walked serenely, but Elizabeth could tell even from this distance that her sister appeared shy and enthralled. "Perhaps we may yet meet again after today, Miss Elizabeth."

"Thank you, my lady, for all your kindness these past days." Elizabeth shared the countess's smile. "I would not dare make such a presumption, but I appreciate the sentiment, truly."

"Hm." Lady Matlock hummed before her eyes seemed to notice something behind Elizabeth. "I believe I have some affairs to put in order. Do rest while you can, Miss Elizabeth."

"Thank you." She curtsied.

The countess nodded and walked away, just as the sound of distinctly male footsteps sounded behind her. Elizabeth swallowed.

"Miss Elizabeth."

"Mr. Darcy." She turned around, pausing for a moment before meeting his eyes. His expression was not as angry as she had feared it would look, but there was an uncertainty to it that had not been present when he had been comforting her after last night's confrontation at the library. Was he appalled at her now that he knew her to be little better than a stage actress?

"Miss Elizabeth - "

"Elizabeth, please - call me Elizabeth." She tried to smile, though not quite successfully. Her fingers, which had reached out for his on an impulse, hovered between them before she folded them back against her waist. She swallowed again. "That is - that is my name, after all."

He nodded soberly. "And mine is Darcy."

She chanced a slightly larger smile, a smile she was glad to see reciprocated on his face.

"I never meant to deceive you, about anything," she whispered. "I - my name is actually Elizabeth, and my sister's is Jane."

"The lady's maid."

"Yes - who'd somehow caught your cousin's eye."

Again, he nodded wordlessly.

"The charade of being betrothed was made necessary both to protect me from the suspects and to fulfill your mother's promise to Baron Dunvarr," she continued to explain. "I protested it at first, but our superiors deemed it best."

"Your superiors - whom you and your sister and Richard answer to."

Elizabeth sighed long and slow before she nodded. "Yes, though I am not doing very well explaining it all, am I?"

"Perhaps not."

"Forgive me. I am rarely so scatterbrained."

He gave her an understanding smile. "Perhaps it is best that we reestablish our acquaintance altogether."

"I see."

"If you would not mind, Elizabeth, may we take a turn around the gardens? I believe I would like to understand everything a little better."

"Regarding the case, sir?"

"Partly, but mostly regarding you."

A surge of gratefulness made her sniff. "I don't know if there is much to tell, Darcy."

"Perhaps I can be the judge of that. Shall we?"

He offered his arm, the gesture formal and yet familiar at the same time. And Elizabeth took it.

A/N: I hope this was a good turn of events!