Hi all. Sorry for the long wait. Life has been kicking my butt lately. Thank you all who read.

The following morning as the Netherfield party finished breakfast, a servant entered.

"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Darcy. Lady Lucas has come to call with her son and daughter." the footman said.

"Show them to the front parlor and ask one of the maids to bring in refreshments." Elizabeth replied. "I shall be along directly."

The footman bowed and hurried out.

"It seems our departure has been delayed slightly. Hopefully we shall be away before any other callers arrive." she said finishing her tea.

As she rose, Mrs. Collins did as well.

"I shall assist you in keeping the visit short."

Elizabeth gave her friend her smile.

"If you need further reinforcements, just send word." Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked. "I believe there is some ginger cake left."

"We will keep that in mind." Elizabeth said as the two departed.

The two ladies moved down the hall and stopped outside the parlor. They could hear murmurings within but could not make out what was being said. Taking a deep breath they both stepped inside. The group awaiting them rose.

"Good morning, Lady Lucas, John." Elizabeth said. "And Maria, it is lovely to see you. We missed you at dinner last evening."

"I apologize, Lizzie. I was feeling out of sorts." Maria said quietly.

"No apologies needed. We all have such days. Please sit."

Everyone took seats.

"Maria was hoping to renew her acquaintance with Miss de Bourgh." Lady Lucas remarked. "I told her how sweet Miss Darcy was as well. I am sure they would be great friends if they were introduced."

"I believe the ladies are attending to a music lesson."

"I did not know Miss de Bourgh played." Maria commented. "I though Lady Catherine said she had not learned."

"She had not previously but Miss Darcy and her companion are assisting her to learn."

"I do not understand why she would wish to learn now." Lady Lucas confessed. "She is an heiress, she has no need of such accomplishments to attract a husband."

"Learning to play can be its own reward." Mrs. Collins said.

"That may be so but it is often put aside when a woman marries." Mr. Lucas stated. "How often have you played since you married, Charlotte?"

"The parsonage was not large enough for an instrument but I did play at Rosings a few times."

"I do not plan to give up playing." Elizabeth remarked.

"Mr. Darcy seems to enjoy music a great deal." Mrs. Collins observed. "He often stood near Elizabeth when she played at Rosings."

"Indeed he does. I may never be as great a player as Georgiana but I believe I can offer some entertainment for an evening."

A maid entered with refreshments. Elizabeth moved to pour the tea.

"It would be a shame for Maria to not see Miss de Bourgh." Lady Lucas chided. "She was looking forward to it."

Maria blushed a bit at her mother's comments.

"Polly, could you ask the other ladies to join us if they are not too busy."

"Of course, Mrs. Darcy." the maid said bobbing a curtsy and hurrying from the room.

Elizabeth turned her attention to the tea. Before long, Anne, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley entered.

Elizabeth introduced Maria to Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley.

"I hope we are not disturbing your practice." Maria said quietly.

"We can practice later." Anne replied. "Mr. Bingley has kindly given us use of his music room for the duration of our stay."

"How long are you planning to stay in Hertfordshire?" Lady Lucas asked. "I do not believe anyone mentioned the length of your visit."

"I am unsure at present. My aunt has many plans for our return but my uncle is currently away so we are quite at our leisure."

"Do you enjoy London, Miss de Bourgh?" Mr. Lucas asked.

"I do. I find it a refreshing change from Rosings."

"My husband said Rosings is a truly lovely estate. One of the finest he has ever seen." Lady Lucas commented. "Maria said the gardens are very beautiful, did you not Maria?"

Again Maria blushed, "I did not see as much of them as Lizzie, but what I did see was beautiful."

"Thank you. I am planning some changes for the formal gardens for next year. Currently it is mostly roses, but I wish to add a bit more color."

"I am sure it will be lovely."

"Speaking of gardens, I do not think Maria has ever seen the gardens here at Netherfield in bloom. The last time it was occupied she was very young." Lady Lucas remarked.

"It is a lovely day." Mr. Lucas said rising. "A turn about the gardens would be quite nice. What say you, ladies? I am sure Maria would be delighted to see the flowers."

Elizabeth and Charlotte shared a knowing look. They looked to the other ladies. While reluctant, they knew it would be rude to decline.

"I suppose a quick turn about the gardens would be refreshing." Anne agreed.

The ladies all rose save for Lady Lucas.

"We married ladies should stay and have a bit of a private chat." the older woman said. "You may stay as well Mrs. Annesley."

"Mrs. Annesley is Georgiana's companion. She must go where Georgiana goes." Elizabeth stated.

"Surely there is no harm for Miss Darcy to walk in Netherfield's gardens with John and the other girls."

"I am sure my husband would disagree."

"As would the colonel." Anne said quickly. "He is Georgiana's guardian as well. My cousins are very strict." She turned to Elizabeth. "I will have one of the maids inform them we have gone out and that you stayed in. I know he still worries for you."

"Thank you, Anne."

Anne linked her arm with Georgiana, "Come along, Miss Lucas. Let us see the gardens."

Maria quickly followed Anne and Georgiana out of the room. Mrs. Annesley walked after them with Mr. Lucas trailing behind.

"Elizabeth, you truly should speak to your husband." Lady Lucas commented. "Miss Darcy is nearly a grown woman. He should not be so strict."

"Mother, it is not your place to say such things." Mrs. Collins remarked.

"I am merely offering advice."

"Georgiana is not officially out yet." Elizabeth replied. "As her guardian, he may be as strict as he wishes."

"I do hope he is not so restrictive with you, Lizzie. I know how much you value your independence."

"Mr. Darcy is a wonderful husband. I have no cause to repine."

"I am glad to hear it." Lady Lucas said with a nod. "Charlotte, John mentioned you have decided to take a cottage at Pemberley."

"Yes, as I said when I called, I believe it is what is best for me." Mrs. Collins replied.

"It will be quite expensive to set up your own household and so far away. I cannot imagine the cost to take your things to Derbyshire."

"Anne has offered me the de Bourgh carriage and a wagon to convey me and anything I wish to take to Derbyshire."

"Surely you will be lonely during your mourning period when you will not be able to go out. Perhaps you should consider John's recommendation until you are out of mourning."

"I do not plan to be in mourning long."

"You will be in mourning for a year."

"I do not plan to mourn a year for a man I was married to for less than four months." Mrs. Collins explained. "Ours was not a love match and he was not a kind husband."

"What will people say? You will embarrass our family."

"No one who knows our family need know I put aside my mourning clothes early. I will be in Derbyshire."

Lady Lucas looked between the two ladies.

"Surely Mr. Darcy and his family would be offended by you not properly honoring your husband."

"Mr. Darcy was quite offended to hear of Mr. Collins's reaction to the news of his engagement to Elizabeth." Mrs. Collins explained. "He was quite put out by Mr. Collins remarks upon his arrival here as well. I am sure he would not be offend in the least if I set aside my mourning clothes sooner."

"Mr. Darcy nor his family would think any less of Charlotte, Lady Lucas." Elizabeth assured.

"Well, I suppose, if none of our friends here in Meryton hear of it, it should be alright." Lady Lucas said resigned. "Will you be visiting again before you travel to Derbyshire?"

"I do not believe so." Mrs. Collins replied. "I wish to make the trip as short as possible so I think I will travel as far as I can each day. Save for breaks for the horses, I plan to be on the road as long as there is light to see by."

"Perhaps Maria should go with you. She could help you get settled and keep you company. John could collect her near the end of the summer. He could bring David along as well. I am sure they would all like to see Pemberley. David was quite impressed with Mr. Collins description of Rosings when he was home at Christmas."

"I think it best to get settled on my own. Maria has only been home a short time. I will write David once I am settled. Have you written him about Mr. Collins?"

"No. I saw no reason to interrupt his studies since there was no funeral from him to attend as Mr. Collins was to be interred elsewhere."

"I shall write him tonight then so he knows that I am no longer in Hunsford. I owe him a letter as I received his two days before I left Hunsford. Perhaps Maria and David could visit me next summer."

"That is a lovely idea." Elizabeth agreed. "By then you will have met the local families and have established yourself in the neighborhood."

"Yes, next summer would be perfect." Mrs. Collins stated with a smile.

Mrs. Collins asked about some of the local families and Lady Lucas was obliged to share news. Though most of what was shared Elizabeth and Mrs. Collins had already heard, it filled the time until the others returned.

"Back so soon?" Lady Lucas asked.

"I am afraid I am to blame. I have not built up my endurance as much as I had thought." Anne replied with a bit of a sigh. "I have only recently begun to take longer walks."

"Do not worry over it, Miss de Bourgh. It was a delightful stroll. Netherfield's gardens are lovely. I am happy to have seen them." Maria said. "I would not wish to keep you and Miss Darcy from your music lesson any longer. Thank you for the walk."

"You are quite welcome. We were happy to have such a pleasant conversation, are we not Georgiana?"

Georgiana nodded.

"We really should return to our lesson. Good day, Miss Lucas."

Anne and Georgiana offered their farewells, curtsied, and departed the room with Mrs. Annesley. The Lucas party departed moments later. Elizabeth and Mrs. Collins moved to the music room to ensure the other ladies were well following the visit. Upon being questioned, Anne assured them they were well.

"Miss Lucas quite enjoys flower arranging." Georgiana said. "Once Miss Annesley and I broached the topic it carried us through the walk with little interruption."

"My brother did not bother you at all?" Mrs. Collins asked.

"He walked with me at first." Anne stated. "But I have recently found a great interest in flower arranging so once the conversation was started he was left much on his own. He did eventually try to interrupt but I said I was feeling a bit fatigued so we returned to the house."

"I thought he might protest but I believe he saw my brother watching us from the window." Georgiana added.

"Well I am glad that you had a pleasant chat. I should find William and be off to Longbourn." Elizabeth remarked.

The other ladies bid her farewell and Elizabeth departed. Mr. Darcy met her in the hall and they were soon on their way to Longbourn.

Longbourn was quiet when they arrived. Elizabeth looked about curiously.

"Where is everyone, Mrs. Hill?" she asked.

"Mrs. Bennet is giving lessons to your younger sisters. Miss Bennet is assisting. Would you like me to inform them you have arrived?"

"I have to speak to my father first and I do not wish to disrupt their lessons."

"They will likely be done by half past the hour. That has been their normal schedule."

"I will visit when we are finished with Papa then."

Mrs. Hill nodded and curtsied. Elizabeth led Mr. Darcy to her father's bookroom. A quick knock gained them admittance. Mr. Bennet sat at his desk with a book in hand. Upon seeing his daughter and her husband, he set the book aside. He greeted them pleasantly and invited them to sit.

"I did not expect to see you two today. Have you come to take me up on my offer, Darcy?" he said once they were seated.

"Offer?" Elizabeth asked looking between the two men.

"Your father offered use his library to me while we are in the neighborhood."

"For books or hiding?"

"Whichever should be needed at the time." Mr. Bennet remarked with a smile. "There are nearly as many ladies currently at Netherfield as Longbourn and though there are more gentlemen, Bingley is quite lovesick and the colonel will likely have to return to his duties before your departure. A man must do something to keep his sanity. If the lending of a book or a pleasant game of chess assists with that, I am happy to help."

"As I said last night, I will be sure to avail myself should it be needed." Mr. Darcy replied. "Today we came to discuss something else."

"Charlotte shared some information before retiring last night that she thought should be shared with you." Elizabeth explained.

"Oh? What would that be?"

"She had a conversation with her brother after dinner..."

"She wished you to tell me about his scheming?"

"You have heard of it?" she asked surprised.

"You are not my first caller this morning, Lizzie." Mr. Bennet remarked. "Apparently John's plans were quite upsetting to his father. So much so that the gentleman called on me as soon as was considered proper."

"Sir William told you?"

"Indeed. He said Charlotte told him John had a scheme to gain Longbourn. When they returned to Lucas Lodge last evening, he demanded John tell him the whole of it."

"And Mr. Lucas did so?" Mr. Darcy asked.

"Quite proudly from what Sir William told me." Mr. Bennet replied. "He even tried to get his father to assist him in getting Charlotte to go along with the plan."

"And his father's reply?"

"He said Charlotte was quite set on her plans and he did not believe she could be dissuaded."

"She will not be." Elizabeth stated. "I can hardly believe he would think Charlotte would go along with such a plan."

"Nor I for she has never shown any sign of being duplicitous. Sir William worried that John might turn his attentions to one of your sisters when I name my heir."

"That was Charlotte's worry as well."

"I do not think your sisters are in danger from him but I will be watching." her father said. "To be honest he was one of the reasons I kept your dowries secret."

"What do you mean?"

"Your grandmother overheard Lady Lucas speaking to him one day. It was soon after Sir William was knighted. Mother passed them in Meryton. She told me Lady Lucas was telling John he should try to curry favor with you and your sisters as it was likely your grandmother's settlement would go you girls. While no one knew the exact amount of the settlement, most believed it to be a tidy sum even once it was divided." Mr. Bennet explained. "Mother told me what she overheard and expressed her concerns. I agreed to keep the exact amount of your dowries secret. Once she passed, I avoid the subject of her settlement. I think everyone began to believe it was far less than they had speculated. Now I think most have forgotten about it."

"And now you must contend with them speculating which daughter you will name as heir."

"Indeed. I am speculating over the subject myself." Mr. Bennet remarked. "I talked to your uncle about it when he came to tell me about Mr. Collins's passing. He would like a name to put in my will as soon as possible."

"He does hate things to be left undecided."

"Yes and I am sure he will make a pest of himself until it is decided." Looking to his son-in-law, "What say you, Darcy? Any advice from one estate owner to another?"

"Well logically it would go to the eldest child, but Bingley does plan to purchase an estate of his own."

"Likely in the North, I presume, as he does have some family there." Mr. Bennet remarked. "And Jane would be happy to be settled an easy distance to her sister."

"Quite likely." Mr. Darcy remarked. "So you could settle Longbourn on Jane's second son..."

"If there is a second son. Sons are not guaranteed."

"True. You could name the eldest unmarried daughter at the time of your passing as heir."

"What if we have all married?" Elizabeth put in. "He is in good health barring an accident, it is likely it will be many years before Papa passes. That is plenty of time for all my sisters to marry."

"Given their new connections that is possible." her husband stated.

"I know you wish us all to always have a home so perhaps you should leave Longbourn to the sister who marries a man without an estate or the ability to purchase one of their own." Elizabeth suggested.

"And if all your younger sisters marry such men?" her father replied.

"I doubt they all will marry men without homes of their own. Two perhaps but not all three."

"So if two marry such men?"

"The eldest of them will get Longbourn and the younger could take Grandmother's cottage."

"That is a good plan unless the man is unsuited to be a land owner." Mr. Darcy commented. "If the man has no experience or desire to manage an estate, it could suffer."

"True. I would hate to see either property be mismanaged."

"Experience can be gained but desire cannot." Mr. Bennet remarked.

"Then teach my sisters to manage the estate." Elizabeth stated. "You taught me. Teach them. If their husbands has no experience or desire then they can manage things."

"And if your sisters do not wish to learn? Crop rotation and sheep prices do not seem like topics that would be of interest to them."

"They need not learn everything. A good steward can manage things with oversight. But knowing more about how things are done and why would be good for them."

Mr. Bennet quietly considered the matter.

"You will need someone to speak to Mr. Bryant about why he must change his pastures yearly once I am gone."

"That man is thick as a post." Mr. Bennet grumbled. "Do you think your sisters could explain the reason as well as you."

"Have you heard Kitty and Lydia discuss gardening? Crops are not as different from flowers as you may think. They simply need a bigger space and do not look so well in a flower arrangement."

"I suppose that is true. If they wish to learn, I will teach them. Then if something happens they could manage Longbourn until they all marry. But that does not settle what I should tell your uncle."

"Perhaps you could simply name someone as overseer of Longbourn at present then change your will once the rest of your daughters marry." Mr. Darcy offered. "If one does not then they can manage Longbourn under the overseer's protection. Once they have all married the overseer can sign over Longbourn's care to whomever meets your qualifications."

"That is a wise suggestion. Someone who will assist to ensure the estate is run right and that Mrs. Bennet and any unmarried daughters are cared for. Assist the girls with the estate if I could not. Then once the girls all marry, they could transfer Longbourn to the worthiest of the younger girls' husbands or eldest second son of all the girls."

"You expect your overseer to choose the worthiest of their husbands?" Elizabeth asked.

"I am sure Darcy is up to the task, are you not son?"

"Me?" Mr. Darcy asked surprised. "I thought Mr. Gardiner or Mr. Philips. Why would you choose me?"

"Gardiner and Philips are good men but they are not land owners. They may not understand all that is needed in the character of an estate owner."

"Papa, it is unfair of you to lay it all on William." Elizabeth stated.

"He is the only son in law I have at present and the only other estate owner in the family."

"Perhaps a trust then."

"A trust?"

"Yes. William and my uncles will all have a say when the time comes about who should gain Longbourn, if you have not named an heir. If my sisters marry men who you think are worthy of an opinion on the matter, you may add them to the trust."

Mr. Bennet was quiet for a moment then nodded, "It is a sound plan."

"It is." Mr. Darcy agreed beaming at his wife. "Though we shall pray it is not needed."

"I suppose I shall visit your uncle and explain the matter with him. Do you wish to go along?"

A knock interrupted them. Mr. Bennet called for them to enter. The door opened fully with Lydia in the doorway.

"Lizzie, Mrs. Hill said you and Mr. Darcy were here. We are finished with our lessons if you all wish to take tea with us. Goodness, what happened to your hand?"

"What?" came Mrs. Bennet's voice from the hall.

Mrs. Bennet appeared beside her younger daughter. Elizabeth turned her hand over.

"Good morning Mama." Elizabeth said with forced cheerfulness. "How are you this morning?"

"Let me see your hand." her mother replied.

Elizabeth raise one hand and her mother scowled.

"The other one."

Hesitantly Elizabeth raise her other hand revealing the bruise.

"I knew it." Mrs. Bennet said. "Did I not tell you it would bruise?"

"It is not so bad..."

"Come along. Cook has some fresh sage."

"But I was going to go with Papa and William to see Uncle."

"About what?"

"Some business with Longbourn."

"No, no, no. Every time you speak to your uncle in regards to business you come home speaking Latin."

"Not every time."

"More times than not. You can take tea with us and I can tell you about your sisters' lessons. It is Lydia's turn to serve today. I am sure Mr. Darcy would be happy to collect you once their business is done, is that right Mr. Darcy?"

"Of course Mrs. Bennet." Mr. Darcy replied.

"Wonderful. Come along Lizzie." Mrs. Bennet said then hurried out.

Elizabeth gave a sigh and rose to follow.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As always I appreciate any reviews you choose to leave. I will endeavor to get the next chapter finished quicker.