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“It’s all right, Georgiana. Your brother has had the very great pleasure of seeing my cousin for himself.” She turned back to the gentlemen and spoke with heavy emphasis, “Mr. Collins.”

Darcy pretended to look for someone hiding behind a settee. “Here?”

As Georgiana gaped at the sight of her brother making such a joke, Elizabeth smiled broadly, pleased to see him display his wit openly. “Thankfully not, although I’m certain that he would be on the first mail coach from Kent if he heard that you were inquiring after him.”

Fitzwilliam pretended to cringe in horror and moved closer to Elizabeth, motioning for her to sit and joining her on the settee.

Attempting to keep her mind off his proximity, Elizabeth spoke quickly; “Actually, I’ve just received a letter from my sister.”

“And is your family well?”

She smiled. “Exceptionally well. It seems that Mr. Bingley has been calling at Longbourn with great regularity. ”

“I’m very glad to hear it.” The two shared a warm look of understanding.

“Have you not heard from your friend?”

“I…”

Whatever Mr. Darcy was about to say was cut off by a loud crash from the next room.

The pair leapt to their feet and followed Darcy to a different door than that which opened to the hall.

Seeing little more than darkness beyond, Lizzy stepped back into the music room to retrieve a small lamp.

Holding the light aloft in the darkened room, Elizabeth could now recognize Mrs. Darcy’s rose sitting room, although its condition was vastly different from the last time she had been there.

Apparently, some leak from above had weakened the plaster and now most of the ceiling had fallen in a gray, dusty mess all over the furniture and floor.

“Bloody hell,” Darcy breathed. Suddenly realizing that he had spoken aloud, Will glanced back and colored slightly at the sight of Elizabeth and his sister.

“Please pardon my profanity… it’s just that I thought we had this leaky pipe fixed last fall but it appears to have weakened the plaster again.

Georgiana—will you call for Mrs. Reynolds, please? ”

Miss Darcy disappeared at once and Fitzwilliam gingerly made his way across the room to another door that was well camouflaged in the woodwork and wallpaper.

Elizabeth followed him with the light and they carefully climbed up a narrow staircase that hugged tight to the wall of the house.

When they reached a small landing, Will opened a simple door to the left and she followed, taking note that the stairs continued spiraling upwards.

Stepping into what appeared to be an unused lady’s dressing room, Elizabeth lit another lamp with the one she held in her hand as Darcy examined some dampness on the floor and wall. After thanking her when she handed the second light to him, Fitzwilliam spoke absently.

“My grandfather installed a system of cisterns on the roof to collect rain water which is then piped down to basins in the primary apartments, supplemented as necessary from water pumped up from a well. He was a great believer in regular bathing and it was much more convenient than having the servants running up and down the stairs from the kitchen each time water was needed. Unfortunately, one of the pipes developed a crack last winter. I thought that it had been repaired but it appears as if the entire section shall have to be replaced.”

While Fitzwilliam looked through a disguised door into the large closet set up for a lady’s maid, Elizabeth opened a larger door to the left and stepped through.

Holding the lamp high, she caught her breath at the sight.

It was certainly the largest bedchamber she had ever seen, but its size was made comfortable by the presence of large windows along two walls and a pleasant sitting area formed around the fireplace on a third .

Elizabeth had just noticed the cabbage rose wallpaper (so similar to the sitting room below) when she felt Darcy come to stand just behind her.

“This was my mother’s room.” He spoke quietly but his deep voice vibrated with feeling.

Elizabeth turned to meet his eyes and shivered at the intensity in them. “’Tis a beautiful apartment.” She moved slightly and her shoulder brushed against his chest. Suddenly she was keenly aware of his proximity.

Blinking, Fitzwilliam spoke breathlessly, “Papa had most of her things packed up or given away after she died. I barely recognize it.” Unconsciously, he shifted forward ever so slightly so that her upper arm pressed against his chest. The color in her cheeks told him as much about her feelings as the fact that she did not move away.

All thoughts of leaky pipes disappeared from his mind.

“Elizabeth…” he whispered as his hand came to rest at her waist.

Looking deep into his eyes, Lizzy felt the heat of passion flash through her body, from her scalp to her toes. “Will…” she breathed and her hand rose to touch his cheek. He turned his head slightly and kissed her palm.

He gently pulled her closer as his eyes flickered between her mouth and her eyes. Elizabeth was just about to go up on tiptoes to meet his lips when a most unfortunate thing happened.

“Mr. Darcy? Are you there, sir?” The sound of Mrs. Reynolds’ voice brought both back to reality in an instant and they jumped apart like a pair of frightened rabbits.

Fitzwilliam gulped a breath and closed his eyes tightly for a moment, desperately trying to pull his wits together. With an apologetic look to Elizabeth, he stepped back into the dressing room and called to his housekeeper, voice rough with emotion barely under control.

“Yes, Mrs. Reynolds. We were just checking for water damage in my mother’s rooms.” He cleared his voice slightly. “It looks like the same pipe is leaking in the same spot. Have you sent for Mr. Jenson?”

The older woman reached the top of the stairs and looked around, seeing everything. “I will do so immediately, sir, although he may not be here until later tomorrow. I heard that he was working at Haddon Hall this past week when their own man fell ill.”

Darcy gestured to the ceiling of the closet which also showed signs of water damage. “As long as he comes tomorrow. I’m afraid that most of the plasterwork shall have to be redone, as well.”

Mrs. Reynolds nodded and after a last look around, she moved to the stairs, followed by her master and his guest. With her back turned, she commented, “It’s lucky then that we did not bother much with redecorating the mistress’ chambers when the dressing room was re-plastered last September.

‘Tis a clean slate for some nice girl to make her own.”

Fitzwilliam very nearly missed the next step .

Darcy and Elizabeth were still flushed when they entered the music room behind Mrs. Reynolds to find the Gardiners with Georgiana. After discussing what needed to be done immediately so as to minimize further damage, the housekeeper excused herself and headed toward the door.

Just before she departed, however, Mrs. Reynolds called over her shoulder, “If you ask me, that ceiling falling is a sign from God; Pemberley is in want of a new mistress!” And with that pronouncement, the venerable housekeeper sailed out of the room, leaving behind several people stifling their laughter and one couple blushing deeply.