***NOTICE*** THIS IS THE SECOND CHAPTER I'VE POSTED THIS WEEK. CHAPTER 12 WAS POSTED THURSDAY, SO BE SURE TO READ THAT FIRST! :). I've been trying to make up lost time from being absent for a few weeks. We'll hear a little bit of Will's POV in this chapter, too...not sure how that's going to work with the overall flow. Let me know if you like it or not. Thank you so much for reading! Reviews are so, SO helpful, so please, if you're so inclined, feel free to post feedback and criticism...it all helps me write better. Thanks for your time... Happy reading!

Chapter 13

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

Out of the doubt that fills your mind

You finally find

You and I collide

- Collide, Howie Day

Late that night, I was still awake. I had spent the majority of the evening coming to terms with my newly realized feelings for Will. He had been holed up in his study working, surrounded by stacks of paperwork, since shortly after dinner. After spending a few solitary hours exploring the gardens and on the swing in the Wildwood, I had gone up to my room.

I picked up my phone to check the time. It was one in the morning. With an empty stomach and a full mind, sleep was unlikely to find me, so I switched on my phone's flashlight and made my way down to the kitchen. The house was seriously spooky at night, but the thought of turning on a light and drawing attention to myself made me cringe, too. When I finally reached the kitchen, I was surprised to find Richard, seated at the ancient plank table, eating a bowl of cereal.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Someone's up late," he returned.

I sat down across from him. "Yeah. I couldn't sleep."

"Well, welcome to the MIDRATS Club," he grinned.

I gave him a puzzled look.

"Military speak for 'midnight rations,'" he explained.

"Ah," I nodded, propping my elbow on the tabletop and resting my chin in my hand.

"Want some cereal?" he offered. "If so, help yourself. It's in the cupboard there, by the fridge. The bowls are on the shelf, just next to it."

I crossed the room and opened the cupboard he had indicated and poured myself a small bowl of bran flakes.

When I returned to the table, he made a face. "Bran flakes? Good Lord, you're so boring."

I glanced at his bowl of chocolate puffs. "The last thing I – or you, for that matter – need is a sugar high at one in the morning."

"Oh, come on! That's the best time for a sugar high!"

I rolled my eyes.

"So, what's keeping you up? Read a scary book?" he wagged his eyebrows.

"Mhm. It was terrifying. It was about an ex-Royal Air Force officer, who scared unsuspecting guests by lurking in the kitchen, eating chocolate puffs in the middle of the night," I deadpanned.

He leveled a wry glare at me. "Ha, ha, ha. You're so funny," he drawled.

I swallowed a mouthful of cereal. "I know, right?"

"Seriously though, what's on your mind?" he prodded.

After taking a few more bites of my cereal, I set my spoon down in my bowl and folded my arms on the table. "Too much."

Understanding flickered in his eyes. "I can sympathize with that well enough." After a moment of silence, he added, "I won't pry, but please know that if you ever need a listening ear, I'm happy to oblige."

I gave him a tired smile. "Thanks. Georgiana is really lucky, you know. She has two of the best guys I know looking out for her." I winked at him. "If only all of us girls could be so lucky."

He returned my smile. "Whether you realize it or not, you do as well, Lizzy. We're here for you, too. Know that."

"Thanks," I whispered.

Richard rose from the table, picking up both our bowls as he did so. "Well, I'm for bed."

"Me, too." I followed him to the sink and silently dried the dishes while he washed.

"Goodnight," he called over his shoulder as he turned to leave the room after we'd finished putting everything away.

"Night," I replied. I lingered in the kitchen a while longer, enjoying the quiet, cozy atmosphere for a few moments before I headed upstairs to bed.

OOOoooOOOoooOOO

Georgiana and I were the first ones in the dining room at breakfast the next morning.

"Where is everyone?" I asked as I spread butter and jam on my toast.

Georgiana reached for a pastry on a tray in the middle of the table. "Will should be here any minute, and Richard still hasn't come back downstairs since you both returned from your run earlier. Jane and Charles should be down any time now, and Caroline usually sleeps in and has a breakfast tray sent up to her room later in the morning."

I was impressed by her knowledge of everyone's whereabouts and told her as much.

She shrugged and lifted her pastry to her mouth to take a bite. "Well, when you have a houseful and there's one guest, in particular, you strive to avoid being alone with, it's a useful bit of knowledge to have."

I nodded in understanding.

Georgiana's eyes widened. "If you're not busy this morning, would you like to go for a walk with me? There's a place I'd like to show you."

"Sounds like fun. When do you want to leave?"

"We can go now if you'd like," she offered.

"Sounds good to me," I agreed.

We quickly finished breakfast and then set out on our walk. We crossed the expansive lawn before stepping onto a trail that began at the edge of the forest. After about thirty minutes of hiking, I heard a dull roar and rushing water. Surprised by the unexpected sound, I stopped. "Waterfalls?"

"Yes," Georgiana nodded. "They're just up ahead."

We walked another quarter of a mile or so before we came upon a portion of what I supposed was the same stream that ran through the Wildwood. A horseshoe-shaped waterfall spilled down from a hilltop, over a series of rock shelves that formed tall steps. Though each step of the waterfall was only about eight feet high, the overall height of the falls looked to be close to fifty feet.

We stood silently for a time, admiring the beauty before us. It seemed that Pemberley offered up delightful secrets, every which way I turned.

"This is beautiful!" I reverently whispered, somehow afraid my voice would break the mystic spell of the falls.

"It's called the Giant's Staircase," Georgiana explained, sitting down next to a tree in the tall grass along the bank. "It's especially beautiful in autumn with the mist and colorful foliage. My Dad used to bring Will and me here for picnics. I have some wonderful memories of this place."

I joined her on the ground, stretching my legs out in front of me. "What was your father like?"

She picked a long piece of grass and twirled it between her fingers. "He was like Will in looks. I take after my mum." She bit her lip before continuing. "He was kind and loving, not unlike my brother in that regard, but Dad was more light-hearted than Will. I just wish I could have had him a little longer."

Georgiana looked down then, and her chin began to tremble. My heart went out to her. When I moved to hug her, she began to cry. After several moments, she regained her composure and returned my embrace with a tight squeeze before straightening again. "I'm sorry," she apologized, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

I gave her a sympathetic pat on the back. "It's alright. You don't have anything to be sorry for. You can cry on my shoulder any time," I smiled. "I have four sisters, remember?"

She smiled up at me, then. "Thank you," she said quietly, leaning over to give me another quick hug.

Sensing that it was time for a change of subject, I asked, "So, are there any more hidden gems like this at Pemberley?"

Georgiana leaned back against the tree trunk. "Many of them." She flashed me a grin. "You have all summer to see them, though, so there's no use in spoiling all your fun now," she winked. "Lambton is just three miles to the south of us. There's a road and a footpath that lead there, from Pemberley. It's a pretty little village with loads of shops."

"I might check that out one of these days," I nodded, thinking that it sounded like a nice way to spend a solitary afternoon. Thoughts of solitary afternoons led to thoughts of the reason why I'd had so many of them since my arrival at Pemberley. "Is it normal for Will to be so busy with work?" I asked.

Georgiana's shoulders sagged slightly as she stared at the falls. "Yes, it is. Though it's bothersome to always have him so preoccupied, his dedication to his work is one of the things that has enabled him to be as successful as he has been."

"To love the man is to love every part of him, I suppose," I said.

Georgiana tilted her head and turned toward me. "I don't know about that. After all, is it necessary to love a person's faults in order to truly love the person? I mean, what if they have a bad habit you don't like? What then?"

I shrugged. "Good point. I suppose the answer is that we ought to love people despite their faults."

"My brother has loved me unconditionally," Georgiana said quietly. "He deserves that kind of love in his life, too."

I felt the gravity of her words sink into my heart. Could I love Will like that – unconditionally? The question weighed heavily on my heart.

OOOoooOOOoooOOO

I spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon with Will in his study, while he worked. I could tell by the pinch of his eyebrows and the stress lines at the corners of his eyes, how heavily the burden of work weighed on him. The tension rolling off him was almost palpable. I sat, quietly reading, trying to make myself as small as possible on the sofa while he worked, wanting to be there for him, but also not wanting to interrupt his concentration.

At about three o'clock, Charles poked his head into the room. "Will, mind if I borrow Lizzy for a bit? We need a sixth player for a game of cards."

I hopped up, grateful for the interruption. "I'm in." Turning to Will I asked, "Are you coming?"

He exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair. "I wish I could. I just have to finish going over these contracts and then I'll be down," he said, tapping one of the many thick manila folders spread out across the desk in front of him.

I leaned down and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "See ya in a bit, then," I whispered in his ear before I followed Charles to the sunny terrace.

Will never did join us. In fact, he didn't appear again until supper. He seemed on edge and stared at his plate in a distracted manner while he ate and didn't speak to anyone.

I threw Richard a questioning glance across the table.

He shrugged and mouthed the words, "No idea."

After dinner, Will immediately headed toward his study again. When I went to follow him, Richard placed a gentle hand on my shoulder to stop me. "I'll find out what's going on. Why don't you go get some rest? You've had a long couple of days. Meet me in the kitchen around one again, alright?"

I nodded wordlessly and went up to my room to try to catch a few hours of sleep.

Richard was already in the kitchen, rummaging through the freezer when I arrived later that night. He walked over to the table and handed me a container of mint chocolate chip ice cream and a spoon.

I eyed the pint-sized carton in my hand. "Oh dear, is this really a pint-worthy discussion?"

"My darling," he began, meeting my eyes with raised brows as he sat down across from me at the table, "this is a quart-worthy discussion, but pints are all we've got."

An uneasy feeling hit my stomach and I swallowed hard. "That's not good."

He scoffed. "No. No, it's not." He opened his ice cream container and dug his spoon in. "Will received a disturbing email from a previous employee this afternoon. Have you heard of George Wickham?"

I nodded in reply and scooped up a spoonful of ice cream.

"I'll be blunt. In the message, Wickham wished Will every happiness in his relationship while cryptically threatening to do everything in his power to use you as leverage against him. Understandably, Will is beside himself with worry." Richard reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of white paper and handed it to me.

I unfolded it and began to read.

Will,

Congratulations on your new relationship. The two of you looked very happy together on the cover of The Mirror. Be mindful, however, that happiness is fleeting. I know that from first-hand experience; after all, I, too, knew happiness before you all but destroyed my career and cheated me out of my pursuit of a woman under your employ whom I loved. Then, you had the gall to threaten me with prosecution.

To borrow an idiom from your girlfriend's vernacular, "three strikes, and you're out," Will. The aforementioned transgressions you've committed against me served as your three strikes. You don't deserve the happiness you've found, and the time you're enjoying now is borrowed…

I look forward to meeting Elizabeth.

- George Wickham

"Oh!" I exclaimed in disgust, dropping the paper as if it was poisonous.

Richard nodded. "Will is worried. He's been on the phone with the police and his attorneys all afternoon and evening. George has, in my opinion, always been a bit mentally unstable, which makes him even more dangerous."

I stared dazedly at the tabletop, unsure how to react.

He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of mine. "Are you alright?"

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Wh-why didn't Will tell me this, himself?"

Richard pressed his mouth into a sympathetic line. "He would have, eventually." When I gave him a doubtful look, he continued, "He wants to have the situation under control and plans in place to make you feel safe before he tells you that there's even a problem, to begin with."

"I appreciate you telling me this." Suddenly feeling very, very cold, I shuddered.

Richard's hand tightened around mine. "I saw how much Will's actions, however well-intended, were bothering you at dinner and felt that you deserved to know what was going on sooner, rather than later."

Feeling angry and hurt, I wrapped my arms around myself and shook my head. "It really bothers me that Will didn't come to that conclusion, himself."

He sighed. "He cares about you, Lizzy. That's why he's doing this."

I dropped my head back and studied the dark wooden beams that supported the ceiling. "At the moment, I really wonder."

"Look at me," Richard whispered.

I reluctantly lowered my eyes to meet his.

"He does care about you. I promise you that."

I felt tears sting my eyes and I quickly blinked them back. "Yeah? Well then maybe he should tell me so." I rose from the table and shook my head. "Look, I have to go. I didn't mean to take this out on you. Thanks for the ice cream, and for telling me about everything. I don't want to seem ungrateful."

"You don't seem ungrateful," he assured me. "I understand. Leave the ice cream; I'll take care of it."

"Thank you." I gave him a tight smile and headed back upstairs. I managed to hold in my tears until I reached my room.

OOOoooOOOoooOOO

Sleep evaded me for most of the night. Although I managed to catch a couple of hours of rest before dawn, I woke when the sky was just beginning to turn gray. I paced restlessly in my room, feeling the need for fresh air, solitude, and exercise, to sort out my black, tangled thoughts. I didn't dare go out onto the balcony because the other set of doors thereupon led to Will's room and encountering him before I'd had a chance to sort out my inner turmoil would have been detrimental to any hope of a calm, rational discussion with him.

If I had been back home, I would have driven out to the middle of nowhere and gone for a hike. Georgiana's words from the day before came back to me. She had said that the village of Lambton lay three miles to the south of Pemberley. Determined, I quickly dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans and a red blouse and pulled on my Chucks. I sent Jane a text, explaining my plans so that she wouldn't worry about me before I quickly transferred my ID and credit card to my phone case and tucked it securely in my back pocket.

The sunrise put on a spectacular show as I walked over the footpath that ran alongside the road from Pemberley. The clouds were colored a bright, pinkish-orange, and the morning sun, rising above the horizon of the still-dark moor, looked like a giant, red ball. I reached Lambton in less than an hour. The shops weren't open yet, but, according to the signs in the windows, many would be opening their doors in about an hour. In the meantime, I strolled around the quintessentially English village.

An ancient stone wall, covered with moss in many places, ran alongside the cobblestone-paved roads. The moor stretched as far as the eye could see until it met the shadowy peaks, visible in the distance. I sat down on a low, crumbling section of wall at the edge of town and watched the sun as it climbed higher in the sky. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to take a picture of the scenery and saw the "searching for service" notice at the top of the screen. Knowing that it would drain my battery, I turned my phone off after taking the photo. I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon sightseeing and visiting the various shops that the village had to offer.

I took advantage of the walk home to sort out my thoughts and even went so far as to put myself in Will's shoes. Would I have told a loved one that they may be in danger before I knew all the facts and had taken measures to protect them? I sighed heavily and kicked a rock to the side of the footpath. No, I had to admit, I probably wouldn't have. I'd want to have a complete understanding of the situation and know what I was up against and what could be done about it before discussing the matter. I'd want to have a solution ready, too.

I arrived at Pemberley by late afternoon, feeling relatively at peace about everything. I stepped into the cool entry hall and squared my shoulders, determined to clean up quickly and then confront Will.

I had just begun to climb the stairs when Mrs. Reynolds passed by. "Oh, Elizabeth," she called, "there you are."

"Hi, Mrs. Reynolds," I greeted.

"Hello, dear," she replied hurriedly. "Will asked that you meet him in his study as soon as you returned."

"Oh, okay. Thanks," I smiled.

After she had bustled away, I turned and headed for Will's study. When I reached the closed door, I tapped gently on it, before entering. He was seated at his desk, one hand cradling his forehead while he wrote furiously with the other.

"Hi," I began hesitantly.

Will looked up. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been?" he asked, his features and voice deathly calm.

Annoyed by his surly attitude, I shrugged. "I went for a walk, Will. I'm a big girl, I do it all the time."

He pressed his mouth into a firm line and clenched his jaw. "I would appreciate it if you would refrain from walking or running alone for the remainder of your stay here," he said in the same, detached, emotionless manner.

I really hated it when he used that tone; the only other time I had heard him employ it was after I'd woken up in the hospital. It had made me uneasy then, and it was threatening to do the same, now. I tried my best not to roll my eyes and shifted my weight from one leg to the other. "What could possibly happen? I've walked and hiked alone in more remote areas than this, and besides, it's not like the wilds of Derbyshire hold any particular threat! And even if they did, I'm a responsible adult. I can take care of myself." Wanting to give him the chance to confide in me about the current situation, I opened the conversational door for him by saying, "Unless there's a valid reason you don't want me going out by myself, I'll continue to do so."

"A responsible adult?" Will scoffed. "You call not having the decency to answer my calls or texts to let me know where you were and that you were safe, an act of responsibility?" he snapped. His body visibly tensed as he rose from his seat and turned abruptly to face the bookshelves behind his desk. He ran a shaking hand through his hair and his shoulders began to rise and fall heavily.

I instinctively took several steps backward, before he spun around to face me, his face set in a mask of anger. I gulped.

He slammed both of his palms down so hard on the desktop that a pen and notebook jumped off the surface and a glass clock fell off the edge, shattering on the floor. "I won't compromise on this, Elizabeth! You will obey me!" Will's accent rendered his emotion-fueled words nearly unintelligible, but I still understood.

Anger took over then, superseding every other emotion. My jaw dropped, and my eyes flamed with indignation. I couldn't believe he still refused to tell me about George Wickham's threats. If he was going to make demands of me, the least he could do was have the decency to tell me why. I took a few determined steps forward until I stood directly in front of his desk and pointed a finger in his fuming face. "Don't you dare tell me to obey you or think for a single freaking moment that I'm going to back down and give in to your demands about anything! I'm not one of your employees or one of your legions of adoring fans who'll do what you say just because it came from your mouth. My phone was continuously searching for service in Lambton, so I turned it off to conserve the battery in case of an emergency like a responsible adult should. How dare you even say such a thing? I don't owe you a damn thing, and I refuse to jump when you say jump! Do. You. Understand?" I bit out through gritted teeth.

Will's eyes narrowed and immediately filled with something that looked like regret, but I didn't care. I was too angry, and his words and refusal to even speak rationally with me hurt too much. I had fought hard my whole life to maintain my independence and go my own way. I was not about to change that for anyone – not even for Will.

I had been willing to forgive, trust, and listen to his reasons and concerns. I had come to his study moments before with that express purpose, and all he had done was yell at me and demand my unquestioning obedience. Well, that sure as heck wasn't the way I operated! Didn't he think that I was worth the time and effort it would have taken to explain the situation and his concerns about it to me? Tears flooded my eyes and spilled down my cheeks.

"And as far as any trust I had in you, or respect I had for you is concerned...you just lost it. I need to go. I don't think I belong here," I managed to choke out. I stalked out of the study and slammed the door before I practically flew upstairs, to my room.

OOOoooOOOoooOOO

After eating dinner alone in my room, I headed outdoors to clear my mind and think things through. Again. I eventually found myself on the swing underneath the giant oak tree in the twilight of the Wildwood.

I had just about decided on a course of action and pulled my phone from my pocket to book a one-way ticket home when I heard a man's voice behind me. "I thought I might find you here."

Startled, I gasped, and my hand flew to my throat. I whipped my head around to see Richard standing behind me, his arms folded across his chest. "Geez, you scared me!"

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft.

I swallowed hard. "I was just saying goodbye to it," I answered, gesturing toward the beauty of the shadowy moor that stretched out in front of me.

With a heavy sigh, he grabbed hold of the ropes above where my hands gripped them and pulled the swing back before he released it to give it some momentum. He gave me a push and I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of the cool wind on my face as the swing soared out over the hillside. He pushed me one last time before he walked over to lean against the tree trunk, his thumbs hooked casually in the pockets of his jeans, his eyes staring out over the darkening moor.

When I felt ready to talk, I allowed the swing to slow, eventually bringing it to a stop. I pivoted on the seat to face Richard and rested my spine against the thick rope.

He turned toward me as well, his eyes filled with concern.

I took a deep breath. "I don't understand him, Richard. I thought I did, but this…" my throat tightened, prohibiting further speech.

He raised an eyebrow. "I know it's difficult to see right now, but he was acting to protect you."

When I didn't reply, he continued, "Will has been solely responsible for many things and people, for most of his adult life, Lizzy. He can occasionally be a bit high-handed, but he's only doing what he believes is best. It's no excuse, but it does explain why he feels compelled to act the way he does from time to time."

I shook my head and shrugged. "You're right, it's not an excuse."

Richard turned his attention to the darkening sky, where stars were beginning to dot the purple expanse. After a few moments, he said, "You know, one of the most wonderful things about life is that we learn from our mistakes, and from what others can teach us. No matter how old we get or how much we think we know, there's always room for growth. This instance is no exception. Will learned a valuable lesson today, and he knows that he's made a mess of things. He's a good man, Lizzy, but like everyone else, he has a hell of a lot of faults. We all do. That's part of the human experience. If the results of today's events are any indication, however, I honestly believe that you'll be the making of my cousin."

I dropped my eyes to the ground beneath the swing where I traced circles in the dirt with the toe of my shoe. I nodded, biting my lip.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Richard bend to pick up a stick. He straightened again and proceeded to break the small piece of wood into tiny bits. "So, will you stay?"

I pursed my lips in contemplation, drawing circles with my fingertips on the smooth, wooden seat of the swing. "I need to think about it."

He nodded. "I understand. I'll support you in whatever you decide to do."

"Richard, you're awesome," I said, lifting the corner of my mouth in a tired smile.

He smirked. "Don't tell me that, it'll go straight to my head."

I laughed a little.

"Shall we head back to the house, then?" he asked.

I sighed heavily as I rose from the swing. "I suppose."

"Good. Now, sheep used to graze this moor in front of us, and when my aunt would see them in the Wildwood, she'd throw a fit and make Will and me chase them back down the hill…" Richard continued to talk, sharing humorous stories to cheer me up as we walked back to the house.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOo

***~ Will ~***

Infuriating woman! Will's mind shouted after Elizabeth had fled his study, slamming the door behind her. Didn't she understand the danger the world posed? True, he hadn't yet told her about this latest threat – he was still working out the details of how to keep her safe, and he didn't want to worry her unnecessarily – but what was she thinking of, walking off on her own across the moor in a strange place? This wasn't some flat Midwestern prairie! People got lost on the moor all the time!

Will fisted his hands in his hair and growled in frustration. Ever since he had met Elizabeth, she had put up one emotional roadblock after another. He had thought that he'd finally broken through them, only to run head-long into the mother of them all, and worse, it was one he himself had created by not being open with her. How much more could he possibly take? What was he willing to sacrifice for her?

Everything, a voice in his heart whispered. He'd sacrifice everything. He would willingly give her his whole world, and all of himself along with it, if he thought she'd accept either. Two months ago, he hadn't thought it possible to love another person so much. And yet, he found himself holding his deeper feelings back because he feared her rejection. Coward, he mentally berated himself.

Will sank down onto the sofa and dropped his head into his hands. The fiery little woman who held his heart was pure hell in Chuck Taylors. The pain in his heart practically brought him to his knees, and not for the first time since he had met Elizabeth. She had turned his world upside down and given him hope, only to dash it by pulling away from him time and time again. They had finally managed to build something incredible, and he very well may have just shattered it with a few thoughtless sentences. She had put her trust in him, and he had betrayed it.

Slow clapping interrupted Will's tortured thoughts as Richard entered the study through the library door. "Bravo, Will. Trying to drive her away, are you? If so, you're doing a damned good job of it," he drily observed, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the edge of the desk.

Will lifted his head and glared at his cousin.

Richard released a long breath. "Look, you care for her, right?"

Will's brows furrowed, and he shook his head. "Of course, I do, more than anything."

The corners of Richard's eyes narrowed infinitesimally. "And do you love her?"

"You know I do," he replied, in a hoarse voice.

"And have you told her that you love her?" he asked.

"She's not ready to hear it, Richard."

"Just like she wasn't ready to hear your perfectly rational reasons for preferring she not leave the grounds alone?"

"That's different," Will replied, rising from the sofa.

"Oh really, how so?" Richard asked, his tone incredulous.

Will stared at his cousin, visibly seething. Why was Richard so concerned with his and Elizabeth's personal affairs anyway? Couldn't he understand the trouble she could have gotten herself into? The harm that could have befallen her?

"Elizabeth is stronger than you give her credit for, Will. Keeping things from her will only drive a wedge between the two of you. Just tell her the truth."

"I always tell the truth," Will said slowly, enunciating each syllable.

Richard gestured toward his cousin with an open palm. "Alright, granted, you don't lie outright, but you hold things back, Will. You expect Elizabeth to give you honesty and trust – doesn't she deserve the same thing in return? If you keep this up, you're going to lose her. She's a smart woman. She'll understand if you speak with her about your concerns, but she won't kowtow to your demands," he finished matter-of-factly.

"Oh, well, that would serve you well, wouldn't it?" Will muttered. "How well you seem to know her," he bit out, his tone cutting. "I'm surprised you're even in here warning me about all this when, if she did decide that she'd had enough of me, it would only serve to benefit you. What I'm telling her is for her own good, but she's too stubborn to listen to reason!"

A grim look settled over Richard's features then, one that very few had been witness to, save for soldiers under his command who had made grievous errors in judgment. "You are a fool, Will Darcy. You've been brought up with every privilege and advantage imaginable and yet, with all that education and upbringing, you can't see the mire of pride that you continue to sink down into. I think your father should have made you enlist! It would have done you some good and wrung the brat from you!"

"And a hell of a lot of good it did you!" Will returned angrily, gesturing toward his cousin's left arm.

Richard's eyes dropped to that appendage and the red, angry-looking scar that ran from the underside of his wrist to his bicep. He nodded, his lips pressed together in a hard line as he made a conscious, visible effort to control his breathing and calm down before he spoke again. "You're wrong, Will," he calmly leveled his gaze at his infuriated younger cousin. "It did do me good. It cut me down a peg or two and made me appreciate life. It also taught me what it means to serve, sacrifice, and care about a cause greater than my own. I'd have given up more than my arm for that." His eyes narrowed in consideration. "But what are you willing to sacrifice? What are you willing to compromise on? Because, to make things work with that wonderful woman who just stormed out the door, you're going to have to do a hell of a lot of it." He exhaled sharply and paused to study Will, who had calmed considerably.

Pain had replaced the fury that had been displayed on the younger man's face a moment before.

"Look, Will, I'm telling you this because I care about you, and I care about her. Please, don't let your pride get in the way of what could be the most important thing in your life." Richard slowly turned to exit the way he had come.

"Richard—" Will began, his voice filled with regret.

Richard looked over his shoulder and met Will's eyes. "It's alright, Will. I knew what I was getting into when I opened my mouth. I love my family, that's why I said it. Even the best fall down sometimes, Cousin. And you're one of the best men I know. It's up to you to figure out how you're going to not only pick yourself up but her as well." He lowered his head and nodded as he tapped his fingers on the doorframe. "I'm here for you if you need me. You know that."

After Richard had closed the door, Will sank back down on the couch, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. The events of the day before raced through his mind, hitting him again, with barely diminished force. He had been about to leave his study to join the others the previous afternoon when Wickham's email had appeared in his inbox. The feeling of cold dread that the threatening message had elicited gripped his heart once more, along with excruciatingly detailed mental images of the horrible things he knew his erstwhile friend was capable of.

The remainder of the previous afternoon and evening had been spent on the phone with the police, security firms, and his attorney. The threat needed to be addressed but also kept as quiet as possible to avoid any additional publicity. The threatening nature of the letter itself was enough to have Wickham arrested, and for that, Will was grateful. Additional security had been hired to patrol the outlying grounds of the estate as well, just in case. When Jane had told him at breakfast that Elizabeth had gone to Lambton on her own, he had been worried and terrified beyond what his rational mind knew was a reasonable level of concern. He'd even driven into town and searched the roads and shops, but he had been unable to find her.

Will clenched his jaw and pressed the edge of his fisted hand to his mouth. He now realized that despite his fears, and the fact that his only thought had been to protect her, he had been wrong, terribly wrong not to tell Elizabeth of the situation and explain his concerns to her. He should have approached the subject another way rather than just demanding her compliance.

He leaned back and rubbed his hands over his tired face. Was it pride, as Richard had said, that caused him to act as he did? Will shook his head. He was so used to making sure everything and everyone else was taken care of, that he hadn't even thought to ask Elizabeth for her input about a situation that directly involved her. His cousin had been right.

The truth hit him like a punch to the gut. He had preached to Elizabeth about the folly of being too overprotective of Jane, and here he was, doing the very same thing. Only his transgression was on a much grander scale. His sister. His family. His estate. His corporations. His employees. Managing details and people was what he did, and how he functioned, however, he was beginning to learn, rather painfully, that his propensity to do so carried consequences. Managing his companies was one thing but managing the actions and lives of those he loved, was quite an inexcusable other.

He exhaled heavily as he stood to pace the floor of his study. He had betrayed Elizabeth's trust at the first real test of it by not communicating with her. Will scoffed. He, who had proclaimed during a discussion with her one night, not so long ago, that he hated the angst and lack of communication displayed in books and movies. He distractedly ran a hand through his hair.

The woman he loved had finally given him her hard-won trust, and he had wiped his feet, thick with mud from the mire of his pride, on it.

A glint of light on the floor caught his eye and his gaze dropped to the rug. The glass clock that had fallen from his desk when he'd slammed his fists down on its surface, lay broken in several large pieces. He picked up the chunks of glass and placed them on the desk as he sat down. He rummaged through the desk drawers until he found a tube of superglue and set to work repairing the damage. The clock didn't hold any sentimental value, but something in him drove him to try to salvage the timepiece as if doing so could repair his shattered time with Elizabeth.

When he'd finished, he sat back and studied his handiwork. Although the fractures could still be seen, it seemed to be holding together well enough. As the sun sank lower in the sky, the golden rays shone through the west-facing window of his study, striking the surface of the clock. The fracture lines in the glass refracted the light in such a way that it cast rainbows across the walls, ceiling, and the surface of his desk. He thought it interesting that the mended pieces had the ability to produce something so beautiful. He couldn't help but hope that, if he were able to fix things with Elizabeth, the results would produce something just as wonderful.

Will glanced at the clockface. It was already time for dinner.

Hoping to see Elizabeth and apologize – beg her forgiveness even, if need be – he headed for the dining room. When he arrived, everyone was gathered at the table but her. Will threw a questioning glance at Richard as he took his seat.

His cousin shook his head and leaned in to whisper, "She decided to eat in her room."

Will's features settled into a grim but resigned expression, and he nodded once in reply. "Thank you."

"I can talk to her if you'd like. Perhaps you'd better wait until tomorrow morning to speak with her, Will; let both of you cool down a bit."

Will glanced up and gave him a grateful nod, the ghost of a smile touching his lips.

Richard patted him on the shoulder and turned his attention to Georgiana.

Will pushed his food around on his plate with his fork. He'd talk to Elizabeth first thing in the morning after their tempers had had a chance to cool. He knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't even listen to him right now, and he honestly couldn't blame her.