Darcy entered his club intending to stay only briefly. His solicitor had requested they put their meeting back an hour. Having no wish to return home and then journey out again, the club had been the closest place he could think to wait. He settled in a chair at a small table, pulling the newspaper towards him, idly reading over the articles. He was interrupted by a chair being pulled up to the other side of the table. Darcy looked up as Linley sat down. Linley was of an age with Darcy and was the owner of an estate some ten miles from Pemberley. He was, as his wont, dressed fashionably and had fair hair where Darcy's was dark.

"Darcy, I had no idea you were in town. Were you not visiting with Bingley on his new estate?"

"Linley, it is good to see you. You are well I hope?"

Linley nodded settling himself into the chair, waving for the server to come over with drinks. "Bingley is well? He's not given it up already, has he?"

"No, he has found the life to suit him quite well. The estate is called Netherfield in Hertfordshire. It is a decent size for Bingley to start on."

"Then what brings you to town?"

"A family matter, I hope to have things resolved swiftly and return to Netherfield. I might ask the same of you. Last we spoke you had no interest in leaving Figgletree."

"I did not, but my brother asked for me to come. He is looking to get engaged and he wished for me to meet the lady."

"Then if there are no objections to the lady, I wish him well."

"She seems to be pleasant enough. They will likely deal well together."

"I hope to stay no longer than a week to ten days, but should you wish to escape the whirlwind of society, you would be welcome at Darcy House."

"I thank you and may take you up on that offer. It has been quite a busy time."

"The knocker is not up, but I shall tell Hawes to expect you."

A loud shout of "Darcy!" interrupted their conversation. Darcy and Linley turned towards the direction of the voice. A man, younger than both gentlemen, dressed stylishly in a deep red coat, stalked across the room, his face and demeanour showing his anger. He drew to a halt by the table, glowering down at the two men, Darcy in particular. "So, you are him then?" the demand was snarled.

"I do not believe we have been introduced, sir," Darcy responded stiffly.

"Introduced?!" Outrage painted across the gentleman's face, his voice raising as he continued. "You are something else, Darcy, I tell you."

Darcy shot a questioning look over at his friend and neighbour silently asking if he knew the man.

"You're suing me and yet you claim to not know me?!"

"Ah," Darcy said softly. "Scrivenshaw, I presume."

"Presume!" Scrivenshaw sneered. "Am I supposed to believe this charade?"

"As for suing," Darcy continued, ignoring Scrivenshaw's comment. "I have not yet instructed for any suit to be filed. I have, however, instructed my solicitor to retrieve property that belongs to the Darcy family."

"You'll get nothing," Scrivenshaw sneered. "What right have you to anything belonging to me?"

"I shall not discuss this with you here," Darcy replied, his calm belying the anger rising in him. "This is neither the time nor place for such conversations. My solicitors shall continue to contact yours."

"You'll get nothing!" Scrivenshaw repeated in a furious hiss before abruptly turning and stalking out of the room.

"Your family matter?" Linley asked with faint amusement.

"My cousin. That was the first time we have met."

"An auspicious meeting indeed then. Did you say Scrivenshaw?"

"Yes. The late Mr Scrivenshaw was married to my father's eldest sister. She has come under my protection after his death as the estate is considered insolvent. I am hoping to retrieve those properties and articles of jewellery that were part of her dowry and by legal rights belong to the Darcys, before the creditors come calling," Darcy explained briefly.

"I presume that you have not been out much in society since you arrived in town then."

"No, I have been here but two days, and other than meetings with my Aunt's solicitor and my own, I had intended to keep to Darcy House, barring one or two outings with my sister."

"Then I shall tell you that is largely known that Scrivenshaw is in over his head. I had not the pleasure of knowing him nor of your connection to him, but there are a number of influential people demanding he pays what he owes. If he was planning on using his mother's property to satisfy those debts, he shall in all probability cause you a great deal of trouble over it."

"That is rather unfortunate news, I had hoped that with the right pressure applied, the matter might be resolved without the gossips getting hold of it."

"Too late for that I'm afraid. There was some scandal or other years back involving the late elder Scrivenshaw and that matter has been dug up and is currently being bandied about."

"How bad is it?"

"Nothing very shocking. A young lady with a spoiled reputation. Her brother or cousin or relative of some sort called the elder Scrivenshaw out publicly. With him already married, there was little the family could do but try and hush it up. There was no babe which helped and had the brother or whomever held their tongue they likely would have succeeded. The tale goes that Scrivenshaw baited the chap. Knowing that any reaction would put the girl's reputation in danger, he said some unfortunate things about her person."

"I had been given the impression that he was not a good man."

Linden nodded. "I have heard the most outlandish figures about the supposed debt. Though I should say that those at ballrooms and card parties are not always particularly concerned with verifying the accuracy of the information that is exchanged in such places. I know that you will proceed with the course of action you are set upon, but I caution you that it is a sticky tangle indeed that you are involving yourself with, and it may not be worth the prize."

"I have no intention of allowing my aunt's property to be sold to cover the debts of such unscrupulous degenerates as Scrivenshaw or his father, but I shall heed your warning. I have no desire to be dragged into a public spectacle."

Linley snorted in amusement, his glance about the room causing Darcy to sigh. "Cheer up," Linley encouraged. "I would say you've got at least half a day before this little episode is bandied across the parlours. By tomorrow morning everyone shall know of it. I shall suffer most nobly under the flood of invitations I shall receive to be interrogated on the matter."

"You shall bare up under the strain I am sure," Darcy said sardonically.

"Oh yes, I expect so." Linley agreed. "Though if the Wainthropes get wind of it, I shall depend on your front door being of the sturdy kind to shelter behind."

Darcy nodded his agreement. Mrs Wainthrope had a daughter whom she had successfully married off not twelve months ago, much to the relief of those gentlemen she had pursued to find a match for her daughter. Darcy had found himself importuned more than once by the matron and discovered her conversation was nothing more than scurrilous gossip when it was not extolling the many virtues of the Miss Wainthrope. Overall he did not relish the thought of spending any time being hounded by that particular matron and would not at all blame is friend for his avoidance of the same.

Hawes announced the Earl of Matlock just barely before the man barrelled past the butler into Darcy's study.

Darcy nodded at Hawes in understanding and dismissal. The Earl dropped into a chair by the fireplace, not, Darcy noted, into the chairs on the other side of Darcy's desk. Giving into the inevitable, if only to move this meeting along, Darcy rose from his chair crossing the room to the sideboard where he poured a generous measure for his uncle. Handing the drink over he took the other chair and waited.

"I have just come from the club. Why is it that I have found out from the gossips that you are in town? Your aunt will demand you come for dinner. You had better make it tomorrow, give cook half a chance."

"I had no intention of making anyone aware of our presence in town," Darcy replied.

"Georgiana is with you?" Matlock confirmed with a glance.

"Yes."

"Well then, you shall have to explain that as well. Now what is this nonsense I heard about you challenging some young upstart? You have no wife or heir. You cannot be so stupid as to risk Pemberley upon some foolish nonsense."

"I have made no challenge to anyone," Darcy replied firmly.

"That is not what is being discussed about the club," Matlock rebutted. "It is not that Wickham again, is it? I told your father he was setting him up for disappointment. You are not indulging him, are you? Foolish notion. Cut him off and let him make his own way. He will forever be a leech if you give into sympathy."

"I have not seen Wickham for a year or more, nor do I know where he is currently. If the gossip you have heard is from a conversation I had in the club this morning, then it was Scrivenshaw who approached me. The conversation was heated on his part, but prior to that, I had not met nor made the acquaintance of the man."

"What the devil did he want then, and why accost you? You've been in some backwater somewhere with that Bingley fellow of yours have you not?"

"Yes." Darcy agreed. "Scrivenshaw is my cousin and as his father recently passed, his widow has sought my help in retrieving certain articles and property from the estate."

"You?" Matlock queried. He took a pull on his brandy and then waited with an expectant look on his face.

"Yes, and I have agreed to offer what help I may." Darcy allowed.

The earl sat back, a frown creasing his brow as he thought. "What is the issue with returning the property? There was a will, was there not?"

"I do not know, nor do I think I shall matter. The property was part of my aunt's settlement from my grandfather. Scrivenshaw has no claim upon it, however, the estate is insolvent, and the creditors are drawing the net tighter. The property is of a good size and would offset some of the debt. I imagine the jewels, and such would not go so far but a drowning man will clutch at straws."

"Hmm, I cannot say I like this. Why are you getting involved? it can come to no good."

"Mrs Scrivenshaw has asked for my aid. The property and other articles belong to the Darcy family, she has no one else to defend her claim."

"And if this goes to the courts?" Matlock asked with asperity.

"I cannot see that it would. Scrivenshaw has no hope of winning and he cannot afford a lengthy and costly court battle."

"You would be better off avoiding this altogether." Matlock declared. "The property cannot be large, Pemberley does not need the income."

"I cannot, things have been set in motion and I shall see them through. I shall not let Scrivenshaw take what is not rightfully his. He is a man of little understanding and an abundance of vice."

"Where is this aunt of yours? You are not expecting us to take notice of her, are you?"

"She is here."

"Here? In Darcy House? Are you mad? You'll never be rid of her if you carry on like this." Matlock exclaimed.

"She has nowhere else to go and I have no need to be rid of her, as you say. She may choose to remain here if she wishes or if the estate can be successfully retrieved then may choose to reside there." Darcy explained stiffly.

Matlock put his now empty glass down on the table with a small thump, leaning forward in his chair he fixed his glare upon Darcy. "I am not happy about this. You are too soft-hearted by half. You are risking your reputation on the word of a woman you do not know. You should be concentrating on finding a wife and getting an heir on her. Georgiana will come out this year."

"She shall not," Darcy responded immediately.

"Of course, she will. Your aunt will see to it." Matlock waved Darcy off as he sat back in his chair. "She turns seventeen this year, you need to get her married and married well. Baron Scarsdale, he's looking for a wife, she will do there. He has got a good following, a sensible man. Fair but hard when needed."

"Georgiana is not coming out this year. She shall not come out until she is ready, and she will not be sold off to increase your standing in parliament." Darcy snapped angrily.

"You must do something, Darcy. You cannot keep her at Pemberley forever. Why should she not be of use when she marries? Her dowry is large enough to attract the better suitors. You should get something back from that outlay."

"Good god, this is my sister you are speaking of. I shall not continue this conversation with you."

"Then what of your own union? Shall you commit to marrying this year? Lord Ashworth's daughter is still single. She would do for you. Henry considered her for all that she is a plain thing. Her dowry is suitable, and her connections are top rate, and you need not keep company with her if you did not wish." Matlock offered, in what Darcy could only suppose was supposed to be a conciliatory manner.

Darcy stood returning to his desk thumping his tumbler down heavily on the top. "I do not believe that I have been introduced to the lady and have no wish to be. I am sorry that she would not give Henry the time of day but at least it shows discernment on her part. If you will excuse me, I do have work to be getting back to. I shall send a message around to my aunt informing her we are free for dinner two nights hence. If that is all?"

The earl pulled himself to his feet. "Intractable. It is a Darcy trait, I'm sure. I am only looking out for the good of this family. You need a wife. Why not pick a useful one."

"I shall thank you to remember that I am a grown man and am quite capable of finding my own wife."

"Then see that you do so." The earl replied smartly as he left the room, closing the door sharply behind him.

Darcy slumped into his chair and tried to twist the conversation into a flattering light where his uncle had been concerned about the health and happiness of Darcy and his sister rather than their potential value in his political machinations. Feeling a headache building at the mental gymnastics he was having to perform he stopped, rising to his feet once more and moving to seek out his sister. Perhaps she had some interesting anecdotes from her various trips about town that she could recall and thus distract him, and sooth his irritation with the earl.