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Darcy knew from managing his sister’s interests that, although Georgiana had 30,000 pounds in name, in truth he was in full control of her inheritance and would continue to be so until he turned it over to her husband.

After Ramsgate, he had had his solicitor tie her inheritance up with so many strings that she could not touch it without the agreement of her guardians or the man Darcy approved to marry her.

After hearing Lady Catherine’s astonishing commiseration with Mrs. Bennet’s nerves, his thoughts wandered into previously unexplored realms. What would it be like, he wondered, to be so completely dependent on another?

Meanwhile, Colonel Fitzwilliam was growing increasingly irritated with his cousin.

They coordinated these annual visits so that neither would have to bear the uninterrupted focus of Lady Catherine’s conversation for any length of time.

However, after skipping two meals, Darcy was making no effort to take his turn engaging their aunt.

By dessert, Richard had had enough of deflecting his aunt from noticing Darcy’s inattention.

Anne was silent as always—even when she was in good health she could not be relied on to speak more than monosyllables.

Somewhere in the dim recesses of Darcy’s mind, he registered an expectant silence at the table and was dismayed to see his aunt looking at him imperiously, obviously expecting a response.

Observing that his cousin had no idea what their aunt was demanding of him, Richard allowed the silence to hang for just a moment longer until he was assured that Darcy felt the embarrassment before stepping in.

“Thank you for the kind offer, Aunt Catherine, but I must return to London tomorrow—my duties to the army require it, you understand. However, if my cousin wishes to accept your invitation and extend his visit, I can easily find an alternate means of transportation.”

Thankful for his cousin’s rescue, Darcy spoke at once. “I appreciate your hospitality, Aunt, but I have business in town that cannot be delayed. We must leave tomorrow morning, as planned.”

Lady Catherine spent the remainder of the meal expounding her displeasure at their departure while simultaneously admonishing the two young men to be mindful of their responsibilities, entirely unaware of the contradiction inherent in her words.

When the meal finally concluded, the participants dispersed to different parts of the house.

After sending her ever-submissive daughter to her apartment for a nap, Lady Catherine took herself to her study to review the housekeeping accounts.

Darcy climbed the stairs and sequestered himself in his own rooms, desperate for a bit of quiet to calm his emotions before facing the occupants of the parsonage.

Colonel Fitzwilliam went to ground in the library and treated himself to a well-earned whiskey.

An hour later, the two cousins met in the front hall and, with few words, departed for their visit.

Although both gentlemen were too deep in thought to notice, they walked toward Hunsford with measured, resolute steps in near synchrony.

As they neared the lane that separated Rosings from the parsonage, Darcy stopped abruptly.

The Colonel had taken several steps before he noticed and turned to his cousin, raising his eyebrows in question.

“Richard… I should have spoken to you earlier. I had something of a… disagreement… with Miss Bennet.”

“Yes, well, that is not unexpected, is it? She’s made it quite clear that your behavior in Hertfordshire didn’t impress her and your stupid manner here in Kent hasn’t improved her opinion a whit.”

After snapping his jaw shut—it would not do to present the appearance of a gaping trout to his cousin—Darcy forced his mind back to the point he needed to convey. “Whatever my behavior and manners have been, Miss Bennet’s opinion has been poisoned by another source— George Wickham.”

Fitzwilliam’s irritation with his cousin was instantly set aside in favor of boiling temper.

“Wickham! Has he finally crawled out of whatever foul hole he hid away in last year? We must do something immediately—that cretin mustn’t be allowed to prey on any more innocent young ladies!

I’m as protective of Georgiana’s reputation as you but enough time has passed that we can have him punished without endangering her! ”

A wave of guilt swept over Darcy— Richard’s reaction was that of a true gentleman.

He would not have departed Hertfordshire without warning the populace that they harbored a viper in their midst. After a moment, he forced the guilt into a corner of his mind with all the other emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

“I agree, cousin. But for now I need your help with Miss Bennet. Wickham has told her his favorite sob story— that my father educated George for a position in the church, but upon Father’s death I refused his godson an inheritance because of jealousy over my parent’s affection.”

Richard snorted and Darcy continued, “Her words made me aware of how far he has wormed his way back into polite society. I… I have told her… the entire story.”

“You told her about Georgiana?” Richard was startled.

Even at his most furious he would not have revealed Georgiana’s near elopement to anyone and until this moment he would have sworn that his cousin would do the same.

Indeed, it had been Darcy who kept Richard from challenging Wickham to a duel before the vermin had gone to ground in London, leaving poor Georgiana a miserable, sobbing wreck.

In his mind, Richard had known his cousin to be correct—any hint of retribution (not to mention a duel) would have brought them unwanted attention and most likely a blemish to their charge’s reputation.

However, the memory still had his hand reaching unconsciously for the sword that hung at his side in battle.

Darcy shut his eyes tightly for a moment before responding in a level tone. “Yes. There was no other way to convince her and I would not leave her unprotected.”

The Colonel was looking at him oddly. “You trust Miss Bennet that much?”

“Yes,” answered his cousin succinctly. “I suggested that she refer to you for confirmation,” he added hollowly as he began walking toward the parsonage again.

Fitzwilliam matched his step automatically, still reeling over the trust his cousin had placed in this impertinent country miss.

“Of course I’ll confirm everything you’ve said.

But Darce… I’m certain that she believed you—she’s known you much longer, after all.

I can only claim a casual acquaintance of these past few weeks, most of which has been in the co mpany of our exceedingly intrusive aunt. ”

When the other man did no more than grunt in response, Richard continued, “Really, Darce. Wickham might have charmed her into believing him for a brief time but when confronted with the facts by a respectable gentleman such as yourself, I’m certain that an intelligent woman such as Miss Bennet would know who to believe.

Why just yesterday we were speaking of how honorably you care for your friends. ”

That was enough to stop Darcy dead in his tracks. “What?!”

The Colonel knit his brows in consternation over his cousin’s odd behavior.

“I met her walking near the grove yesterday while making my annual tour of the park. It was nothing improper, I assure you. She asked if I knew the Bingleys and we discussed what good care you take of your friends.” Richard attempted to lighten the mood; “I even attempted to raise her opinion of you by telling her of how you had lately saved young Charles from the misery of a most imprudent marriage!”

Observing Darcy’s complexion turn pale, the Colonel was thoroughly confused.

“Really Wills. She’s not the sort who will repeat it as gossip—I made it clear that I wasn’t even sure that it was Bingley, just that he was the type to get into a scrape of that sort.

You removed him before he could be accused of jilting the foolish chit, didn’t you? ”

Will leaned against a tree solid enough to keep him upright, despite suddenly weakened knees. “Is that truly how I sounded?” he muttered softly.

The Colonel was uncertain if Darcy was speaking to himself or required an answer, so he followed the cardinal rule of any good soldier and kept his mouth shut. After a few minutes, his silence was rewarded.

“Richard, the lady in question was Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s most beloved, elder sister,” said Darcy through gritted teeth.

“Oh Lord,” breathed his cousin, immediately contrite.

“Bloody hell, Darce. I’m sorry—she said something about how you enjoyed the power of arranging things as you liked and I only wanted to make her understand that you take your responsibilities toward your friends very seriously.

It was the first example that came to mind. ”

This thought was followed by others. “Ah. She said she had the headache but it must’ve been from being upset, not the sun as she claimed.

That explains why she didn’t come to dinner last night.

” He turned to Darcy with pity on his face.

“You must’ve met her this morning on her walk.

My God, man. I am sorry—she must’ve been furious, and I would wager that once sparked, Miss Bennet’s temper is even sharper than her wit. ”

Darcy worked for a moment to regain control of his emotions before forcing himself back on the path to the parsonage. “Don’t worry about it, Richard. I made a poor enough impression on Miss Elizabeth that she was well-prepared to believe me guilty of most anything.”

The Colonel was disturbed to hear the bone-deep melancholy in his cousin’s voice but was unable to come up with anything suitable to say before they reached the steps of the parsonage. If nothing else, Darcy’s problems were enough to make him forget his own for a time.