Author's Note: Thank you so much for all of your reviews. This chapter is short and sweet. Then there will be an epilogue to pull it all together.

The story is unbeta'd so all the errors are my own. I appreciate your reviews, but please be kind.

Chapter 10

London, October 19, 1812

When Fitzwilliam was shown into Gardiner's study, he was unsurprised to see him in conference with Mr. Harding. Darcy chose a chair next to the fireplace and took up the newspaper that had been left on the table. It was still open to the page that heralded the wedding announcement of Lisle and Lady Huntingdon. The date set for their wedding nuptials was Friday, October 23.

After Mr. Harding concluded his business and exited the study, Gardiner with a smile of welcome, made his way over to where Fitzwilliam sat, and jovially said, "Well, it is good to see you, my boy. You look like you are vastly contented with your lot in life. And where is your lovely wife?"

Fitzwilliam did not even try to wipe the besotted smile off of his face. The words 'your wife' had such a pleasant ring to them. "She is in the drawing room chatting with your wife."

"Welcome to wedded bliss. How long will you stay in London before removing to Pemberley?"

Fitzwilliam gave him a shrug and said, "We would like to leave this Thursday. However, I wanted to discuss that with you. Is there any reason that we should remain here, any reason related to the Fitzwilliams?"

"No, Darcy. Things here are progressing nicely." He pointed to the newspaper held in Fitzwilliam's hand. "I see that you have seen the latest. Bramwell did not want the Viscount for a son-in-law, but in the end, he had no choice. I believe he brought a great deal of pressure to bear on the Fitzwilliams. My guess is that she is indeed with child, and with the rumors of their affair circulating throughout London, no one else would have her."

Fitzwilliam sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving that he had not been caught in that rat trap. "Did Mr. Harding have anything new that he had uncovered in his investigations?"

"Well, yes, he did. I had asked him to look into the lady's first marriage. He has discovered that, as we suspected, it was not a good one. Right after the wedding, the Earl of Huntingdon discovered that she had been involved with another man, a man we all know very well." He gave Fitzwilliam a hard stare, before continuing, "George Wickham."

Fitzwilliam felt the blood drain from his head as the shock overtook him, and then, it just as quickly returned in a rush of rage. Years ago, when he had been pursuing Cassandra, George had been aware of his feelings for the lady. On one occasion when Fitzwilliam had encountered him at Pemberley, George had congratulated him on such a fine conquest. Looking back, he remembered the insolent smirk on his face. They had probably been carrying on even then.

However, his rage receded just as fast as it had arisen. For, every step of the way, he had been spared the fate of marrying such an immoral lady. Once again, the joy and gratitude that he had been experiencing since his wedding washed over him.

He shook his head in disgust, and said, "I suppose that is why her husband took her off to Italy so precipitously."

"Indeed, he was furious. When she gave birth to a boy five months later, the Earl refused to acknowledge the child as his own. Sadly, the child died of measles before he was six months old."

The ticking of the clock was the only sound as the two men considered the tragedy that had occurred.

Then Gardiner asked, "I hope that you did not take it amiss that I brought your name into one of the articles in the papers. I thought that we needed to let people know that it was not just Lisle and the lady who had acted dishonorably, but the Fitzwilliams, too."

Fitzwilliam knew what article he was referring to. It had made allusions to the effort that the Earl, Countess, and the other Fitzwilliams had made to break up Darcy's engagement to Elizabeth and to shackle him with Lady Huntingdon. The paper had lauded his lucky escape and congratulated him on his happy marriage.

He answered resignedly, "Of course, I had rather not be a subject of such tittle-tattle. Yet, I concede that it was necessary. My relatives must be held accountable for their scheming. Surely, this will dissuade them from trying to embroil Georgiana, Elizabeth, or me in another such nefarious plot."

Fitzwilliam gave Gardiner a contemplative look before saying, "How much of Lisle's debt is still in the hands of moneylenders?"

Gardiner stood and walked back to his desk and sat down. Fitzwilliam followed to sit in the chair across from him. The older man shuffled through the papers on his desk until he found the one he was searching for. "The largest amount is five thousand pounds that he owes to Thomas Wills and Sons. He is probably a bit anxious about this loan. It comes due after the new year, and they can be quite relentless in pursuit of repayment."

Scratching his chin, Fitzwilliam said, "I would like to purchase that debt. Could you broker that for me?"

The older man furrowed his brow and asked with undisguised curiosity, "Why would you want to do that? The idea is to see them founder not shore them up."

Placatingly, Fitzwilliam answered, "I want some means to control him, and he needs to know that I can make his life difficult if necessary."

"Alright, I can handle the transaction for you. But you should know that you will probably never see that debt repaid. However, I can see how this could be a shrewd move on your part."

October 20, 1812

Lady Agatha Fitzwilliam, Georgiana Darcy, Elizabeth Darcy, and Madeline Gardiner settled into their seats at Gunter's to await their tea and confections. They were all exhausted after a whirlwind of last-minute shopping to purchase wool dresses, coats, gloves, and boots in preparation for Elizabeth's sojourn to the colder climes of Derbyshire.

Georgiana's face was aglow as she happily regaled them with an account of the exhibition on the expansion of gas lighting that she had been to the day before.

Elizabeth noted that the shop was certainly busy that day. The bell over the door kept up a constant ringing as patrons came and went in a steady stream. Lady Wallis and Lady Billings stepped up to their table to greet Lady Agatha and to be introduced to their party. The ladies kindly expressed their delight and wished Elizabeth joy in her new marriage. It was quite a cordial exchange.

As they were speaking, a slight hush fell over the other customers as two ladies entered the shop. They glanced over to behold Lady Matlock and Lady Holman surveying the room with equal parts hauteur and nervousness. Catching sight of Georgiana and Lady Agatha, they made their way over to their table.

As they drew near, Lady Wallis and Lady Billings cheerily farewelled the party sitting at the table but gave the two newcomers nothing more than a cold nod as they passed them on their way to the door.

Lady Matlock cast a mortified glance back at the two retreating ladies before addressing Georgiana. "My dear niece, whatever are you doing going about in society in such company? I thought that I had taught you better."

Georgiana looked humiliated to be scolded like that in public, but Aunt Agatha interposed. "Claudia, it appears that you are the one who has forgotten the civility that you were taught. I believe that all of these ladies have actually dined at the Matlock table, and at your express invitation. Therefore, the company that Georgiana finds herself in today is one that you yourself have endorsed. I have no idea what you are going on about."

Lady Holman pointed her finger at Elizabeth and said reproachfully, "Why, ever since the dinner at Matlock's, there has been nothing but trouble in our family. It must be due to her low upbringing. It is like we have all been cursed. None of our friends are home to us, and we have received only the coldest of greetings from our acquaintances. It must be her fault."

Lady Agatha laughed loud enough to garner the attention of the patrons at the closest table. Then she said in a very condescending voice that all could hear, "Lady Matlock, Lady Holman, you two are simply reaping what you have sown. We all know that your own family is the cause of your problems. It has been heralded in the papers these past two weeks. Do not dare try to place the blame on this dear, respectable lady. You would be best served to retreat to your family's estate until society has forgotten your disgrace. I am grateful that everyone knows that we have been estranged for these many years. I would not want my name to be too closely tied to yours."

Lady Matlock huffed indignantly with her face aflame, "Well, I never." And then she stormed back out the door with Lady Holman puffing to catch up.

Aunt Agatha laughed again. "How ridiculous. I may have to marry simply so that I can rid myself of the Fitzwilliam name."

pnpnp

Darcy House, October 21, 1812

Viscount Lisle strode into the study exuding his habitual insolent manner. "Darce, I received your summons, and here I am. I feel so privileged to be recognized by the great, high and mighty Fitzwilliam Darcy. What is this all about?"

Fitzwilliam invited him to sit in the chair in front of his desk, and then stated very simply, "I have decided to help you out of some of your more pressing difficulties."

Lisle looked astonished, then settled back into his bored posture. "Well, I had wanted you to take Cassandra off of my hands, but that is no longer possible. How else are you going to come to my aid?"

With a herculean effort, Fitzwilliam resisted the urge to reach across the desk and strangle his cousin. Instead, he held up a piece of paper but did not offer it to the other man. "This is a receipt for five thousand pounds that you owe to Thomas Wills and Sons. I have purchased that debt and am willing to hold it indefinitely provided that you meet my terms."

The Viscount eyed him dubiously. "Something tells me that I am not going to like the terms that you are going to attach to this offer."

Fitzwilliam shrugged and said, "Well, that is the rub, is it not? You have little choice in the matter. You either accept my terms or the debt collectors will be knocking on your door by the first of the year. I do not think that going back to the bank for another loan is going to work. You have already given much of your property that is not tied to the Earldom as collateral for your last several loans. Am I right?"

Lisle looked affronted and suspicious at the same time. "How did you come by that kind of information, Darce? That is private, between a gentleman and his banker."

He gave the Viscount a weary look and said dryly, "Lisle, you know that there are no secrets in this town. Now are you ready to listen to my terms?"

"Why not? I should at least listen to whatever you have condescended to offer me."

Fitzwilliam sat back and leveled his cousin with a glare. "I believe that your attitude should be a little more appreciative." He raised his eyebrows waiting for the correct response from his cousin.

"Fine. Proceed, thou noble cousin."

Realizing that Lisle was incapable of appreciating what was being offered to him, he went on. "No more gambling, betting, gaming. That is non-negotiable."

Lisle snorted, "That should not be a problem. I have no blunt and no one will take my vowels."

"Well, I expect this to be for the long term. You must abstain, whether you have pockets to let or not."

At Lisle's curt nod, Fitzwilliam went on. "You will apply yourself to improving your estates."

"Father and I are pariahs in town at the moment, we are already making plans to withdraw to the country. With all of the demands for improvements to the tenant farms, we will be very busy. Even I can see that we have to keep our farmers happy. So, yes, I will be working on improving the estates."

Fitzwilliam shrugged, "Well, those are the two hard ones. My other requirements are fairly simple."

Again, his cousin nodded, so he proceeded, "When your child is born next spring…"

Lisle let out a shocked gasp. "How did you know that she was with child?"

Fitzwilliam ignored his outburst and continued, "When your child is born next spring, you will make me her godfather. That is also non-negotiable."

Confusion and skepticism were warring for dominance on the Viscount's face. "Why? After what we tried to do to you, why would you want to be godfather to a child of mine? And what makes you think that it will be a girl?"

Fitzwilliam declined to answer any of his questions, but simply said, "It is non-negotiable."

Lisle just gave him a bemused smirk and shook his head at the ludicrous requirement, and answered, "Very well, but do you intend to fulfill all of the duties required of a godparent even if you are estranged from the rest of the family?"

"Yes, of course. I want you to bring her to stay at Pemberley regularly. Cassandra will never be granted entry, but if you are bringing my goddaughter to visit me, you will be allowed to stay for a few days. If you and your wife intend to leave her at your estate with only servants to care for her, you are to bring her to me. Is that understood?"

"Darce, I assume that the child will always be with Cassandra. Why would we leave the child to the care of servants?"

"Lisle, you will bring the child to stay with Elizabeth and me if there is any chance that she will be abandoned with no family in residence. Do you understand?"

He threw his hands up in surrender and said with a great deal of exasperation, "Fine, if we are both going to be away, we will bring the child to you."

"Good." Fitzwilliam gave his cousin an enigmatic smile and finished with one last requirement, "This is also non-negotiable. You must name her Annabel Marie."