A/N - ODC are still separated, but both are busy with personal worries. A couple more chapters will see them both in the same city again.

I realize there is more story than romance here, which is not everyone's cup of tea. There will be more intrigue and questions raised before things get figured out (toward the end of the story.)

Chapter 14

The two men settled into comfortable seats in Darcy's study, where Darcy proceeded to tell him all about the incident at the inn. Of the young widow, the birth, spending the extra days there and seeing the new mother and her newborn son back to her father's estate.

True to form Richard reacted with his smirk and a comment about Darcy saving the fair maiden. "Or not, as would be in this case." He waggled his eyebrows.

"Richard," Darcy growled.

"Oh ho! Is she pretty, then? Does she have fine eyes?" Seeing Darcy blush Richard barked out a laugh, "You always were an eyes man." Not mention other assets, he muttered under his breath.

Darcy desperately tried to cool the heat in his cheeks and made sure his expression gave nothing away. Richard sometimes resembled a dog digging for its bone if he smelled something he could tease Darcy over.

"Who is she, who are her people?"

"Are you turning into your father, Richard?"

His face crumpled into a grimace. "I am just curious," Richard muttered.

"She is the widow of a Royal Navy war hero, and quite courageous herself, if not a little foolhardy to travel from Plymouth all alone. Though I suppose she felt she had no choice." Darcy recalled her composure when telling him and Georgiana of her family's history. "She is intelligent and poised and she makes Georgiana laugh."

He paused, contemplating his cousin and how much exactly he should share. 'Well, why not just reveal it all.'

"Georgie called me out on my attitude."

"Did she, now?"

"It would seem my sister liked the man I was during our travels and not the proud, disagreeable one the Ton is familiar with."

Richard whistled. "Mayhap your travels with her did more than you originally surmised."

"Indeed. She expressed very clearly what kind of match she was seeking, or she would not marry at all. That a man is more than his wealth or status, rather it is his character which is of most import."

"Our Georgie?" Richard's eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped.

"Mmm, yes. You should have seen her. She reminded me of my mother." Darcy concluded in a quiet voice.

Richard was quiet, a glassy sheen filmed his eyes and he was clenching his jaw.

Striding over to the drinks table, Darcy poured his cousin a drink and walked over to hand it to him, all without saying a word.

Grabbing it, Richard swallowed it all in one gulp, then he cleared his throat and gave a little cough. "You have done an admirable job with her, Fitz."

"We did, but this… this is all her. She is even standing up to your mother very nicely.

"But she went shopping with mother."

"Georgie does like to shop. She always has." Both men nodded in agreement.

Richard leaned back in his chair to a more relaxed position.

"And you, Darcy?"

"What about me?"

"What are your plans?"

"To see Georgiana has the introduction to society she desires and not the one your parents desire for her. She has expressed to them how decided she is, but I am not convinced they will respect her wishes.

"Perhaps not. Mother has been waiting for Georgiana's time. She is practically giddy with the opportunity to dress a girl. Father will be twirling his mustache compiling lists of his cronies' sons.

"I will not stand for it. Georgiana wishes to marry for affection and to someone she respects, who will respect her in return."

Richard raised both hands up to halt him. "I completely agree, but Father will not be easily swayed from his castles in the sky. At some point either you or I can bash him over the head with his humidor. Perhaps then, someone else's wishes will sink in."

Darcy grimaced. "I told Georgiana I would back her completely, but I do not want our ideas for future felicity to end up being a battle of wills, which will turn into all out war."

"Father is not a bad man, he is just set in his ways and too used to manipulating people for his own gain. We will remind him his niece, and you, are not political pawns, but family. Family which he loves very much."

"Hmmm… I can also bring up his sister, if things get too difficult. That is a pail of worms I never unleashed on him."

"Have you heard from Lady Catherine lately?"

"She knows better than to reach out to me directly."

"What if she hears you are in town?"

"I would imagine Lady Catherine will be too scared to leave the estate. As it will be a declaration that she no longer wishes to live there. Leaving it available for immediate sale, should I wish to sell it, or to lease out."

"Darce, our aunt has selective memory."

"She is no aunt of mine." Hands tightening into fists, Darcy faced away from his cousin. "And what she chooses to remember is of no matter. The terms laid out in the marriage contract stand. They were Anne's wishes."

Chastised, Richard remained silent, waiting for his cousin's emotions to settle.

After a few minutes Darcy huffed. "I beg your pardon; it will never cease to be a sore subject."

"Understood. My comment was too flippant." Clapping his hands onto his knees, Richard stood. "Care to join me at Angelo's? You have been away from the sparring circle a while. You will probably need to brush up on your fencing skills."

"You will be surprised at my level of skill."

"Oh?"

"Did you think I was a complete man of leisure, all this time? I may have even picked up a new trick or two in the north, which would surprise even you."

"Really? Why do we not head there right now and you can prove it to me?"

Darcy glanced over his desk, seeing the work which had piled up over the last week. Georgiana will not return for hours. "Challenge accepted. I can always pick this back up later today. By the by, did I forget to mention Wickham is dead?"

Seeing his cousin's shocked expression, Darcy laughed. He clapped Colonel Fitzwilliam on the back saying, "Come. I will tell you during our ride to Angelo's.

~ / ~

Lady Matlock and Georgiana spent hours choosing fabric, discussing designs and finalizing two dozen dresses for evening events, dinners, concerts, plays and one ball gown.

They went to Gunters afterward to sit and rest their feet. Enjoying the ices was simply a reward for their hard work.

"We shall have to see if we can get your name added to the list for your curtsey before the queen."

"I am not worried about that, if I do not, it is just as well."

"Georgie, the curtsey is a very important part of your coming out."

"For whom?"

"Pardon?"

"For whom? Who will ultimately care if I made my curtsey or not?"

"Georgiana, lower your voice." Lady Matlock hissed.

"Aunt," she spoke very quietly, "by the end of the day I do give my curtsey before the queen, I will still be me. I hope to find a good and kind man to love and who will love me in return. I do not care for all the social posturing, the prevarications, the backstabbing. I am a country girl and such is how I wish to raise my family, as well. I am very much like my brother in this matter."

"Georgiana, I am shocked. I knew you wanted a soft entrance, but is this why? I blame Fitzwilliam, for this lack of aspiration."

"No, Aunt, this is all me. During our travels I discovered I, and the people we met or came in contact with, are who we are no matter our background. We can find good people in poorly made clothing or vicious and manipulative people might be dressed in the finest ensembles available."

"Your marriage-"

"I will still be careful about whom I will meet and associate with, but the basis of my marital relationship will be affection and respect. My parents were fortunate enough to wed for affection and I deserve the same, as does Will."

"So, if he should happen to be the heir to an earldom?" The older lady leaned forward in anticipation.

"I will not hold that against him." She twinkled a smile at her aunt and both ladies erupted into soft giggles.

Lady Matlock grabbed her niece's hands and squeezed it. "You dear girl. How you remind me of your mother." She dabbed at her eye with her handkerchief. "Now, Lady Stapleton is giving a dinner party and when she heard you were in town and finally out she insisted we come to her dinner party. It will not be a small affair, but perhaps we will omit that detail when telling your brother…"

~ / ~

Later that evening Darcy's expression turned stormy as his party entered Lord and Lady's Stapleton's drawing room. The small affair was most definitely not small. It looked like there were over a dozen couples already arrived, among them were several young men and ladies.

A tightening pressure on his arm called him back to Georgiana beside him. "Brother, pray relax your face lest the company feel you are judge, jury and executioner."

"Were you aware this was not the intimate dinner I was led to believe?"

The slight pink washing her cheeks gave him the answer. He pressed his hand over her laying on his arm. "Georgiana, I have firmly backed your desires for a soft coming out. You will do me the honor of respecting my wishes in return. Manipulation and obfuscation is beneath you."

She could not meet his eyes. "I apologize, William. It will not happen again."

He patted her hand and only said, "Very good." Then he sighed, "I am still in mourning, I will not have my reputation become a topic of discussion amongst the gossips of London."

"Our aunt thinks we Darcys will be so in demand, the Ton will not dare spread negative talk." Now it was Georgiana's turn to sigh. "Apparently, we shall both be very much in demand."

Darcy made a sound which was very much like a grunt.

Lord and Lady Matlock came around their side, swanning into the drawing room before them. "Come, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana. There are people I wish to introduce you to."

This time, both siblings sighed in tandem, and then shared a rueful smile before following in the Matlock's wake.

"Lady Stapleton, thank you for including us in this evening's invitations. You recall my nephew, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy bowed, "My Lady."

"And this," Lady Matlock pulled Georgiana closer, "Is my niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana, this is Lady Stapleton. I shall be sure to introduce you to her son and daughter."

"My Lady," Georgiana responded, with her curtsey.

"Miss Darcy, it is a delight to meet you. My, how like your mother you appear. She was such a graceful lady and always had a kind word for everyone."

"Thank you, Your Ladyship. It is delightful to hear such gracious words about my mother."

"Mr. Darcy," That Lady continued, "you simply must meet my daughter, Lady Annabel. You were not in Town during her come out, of course, but this evening is the perfect opportunity. She shall exhibit on the pianoforte and I am convinced you shall be as charmed as the rest of society is."

"Madam," Darcy's bow was as brief as his verbal response.

Lord Matlock was eying his nephew. "Pray, excuse us Lady Stapleton. I wish to introduce Darcy to a couple of your guests."

That lady nodded her head, only a pinch of her lips portraying her displeasure at Darcy's less than voluble reaction to the honor of meeting her perfect daughter.

The two men walked away. Lord Matlock maneuvered the younger to an empty before he hissed in his ear. "Darcy, what are you about."

A raised brow aimed at his uncle, only made the older man's face turn red.

"Darcy. You must remarry and sire an heir. You cannot alienate all of the Ton with your cold and distant behavior."

"I believe, My Lord, I made my position clear to you regarding my full year of mourning. I am here as Georgiana's escort and to keep an eye on her, and any potential beaux. Not to mention your and Lady Matlock's conduct in regards to those possible marriage partners."

Lord Matlock sputtered and stammered, but was not in enough control of himself to emit a response. Finally, he blurted out, "We shall speak of this later," and stalked away leaving Darcy standing alone.

"Indeed, we shall." The words were spoken quietly, but in an icy tone.

~ / ~

Much later that night, Darcy entered the master bedroom and only just managed not to slam the door. He nearly choked himself attempting to remove his blasted cravat before his valet, Rogers rushed over to complete the task instead.

Seeing his master's agitation Rogers offered to pour a drink for Darcy before removing the remainder of his clothing.

"No, not just now." Darcy's thoughts returned to the evening and the source of his displeasure, while his valet continued readying him for bed.

Nothing has changed. Not one single aspect of Society has changed in the several years he was away from Town. The daggers the ladies threw at each other, while squabbling to earn his attention. The ribald remarks between the gentleman about the very ladies they were attempting to woo to entice them into becoming their wives. There is no care or affection, there is certainly no respect. It is all about fortune and connections. Gah! It sickens me.

Darcy scrubbed a hand down his face. At one point, a widow went so far as to place her hand on my posterior while propositioning me.

Anne, for all I could never think of her as a wife in that way, still brought kind companionship to Pemberley. It was in her own quiet way, but she never would have uttered words to tear down another lady, no matter the provocation.

Is searching for a lady with those qualities and the physical attributes to attract me akin to searching for the holy grail? Or perhaps Atlantis, or Noah's ark; mythical ideas we mortals are never to lay eyes on.

Darcy accepted a drink the second time Rogers offered it. Dismissing his valet, he went to stare outside his window with the drink in hand. Swallowing it down in 2 large gulps, Darcy placed the empty glass on the windowsill, and leaned his head against the glass. Letting his shoulders fall, Darcy sighed. Remaining in that position for a minute more, he then moved over to the bed and fell into it. Praying for sleep to come quickly, fearful it would not. (doubting it would)

~ / ~

Longbourn

Both the christening and churching ceremonies concluded quickly and the family headed back to Longbourn.

Before going too far away from the church Elizabeth called to her father. "Papa, I wish to visit mama and introduce her to Alex. Do you mind if I follow a little after you?"

"No, Lizzy. you go. I am sure your mama will be happy to see you." His confused response caused the sisters to all share a look.

"Jane, I will not be long. This is the first opportunity I have had to be here with Alex and the day is so fine."

"You go on, Lizzy. We will see you when you return to the house."

Separating from her family, Elizabeth retraced her steps to the church and followed the path around the side of the building to the cemetery. She continued until the Bennet plot and found her mother's grave. It blended now with the other graves surrounding it. A stone marker had been set since the last time she had been there. Before her visit to London when she met and married Gregory.

Staring down at the grave, Elizabeth subconsciously tightened her hold on her infant son.

"Mama, I am returned home. I wish to introduce to you my darling boy. You would have adored him, mama. My husband was a good man. He loved me, I know. I esteemed him a great deal. He was a strong and confident man, but for all that he had such kindness in him. How you would have gushed over seeing him in full uniform. Such a striking pose he made in his full regalia." Tears were trickling down her cheeks. "I wish he could have met his son, for him to know I gave him this blessing." Elizabeth struggled to hold back a sob, "I am sorry, Mama, sorry I did not fight harder to keep Lydia home, sorry our neighbors were so spiteful to you because of her folly. You did not deserve such treatment. I hope, wherever you are, seeing Alex now brings you a little joy."

Alex started to fuss and Elizabeth swayed side to side in a twisting motion, to settle him.

"Like you are sailing in the ocean my darling boy. You like the movement just as much as your papa did." She kissed his little head and breathed in his baby scent.

"I will take care of you, my son. This I promise to you and to Gregory. I will watch over you and you will grow up to be just like your papa. Kind and strong." Kissing his head again, she stood straight and with final farewell to her mother she left the graveyard and returned to Longbourn.

There was much to still discuss and arrange before their journey tomorrow. Whatever it took, Elizabeth was going to see Jane in the carriage with her.