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“Yes, yes. I shall remind everyone that this was your idea when Catherine throws a merry fit at the news.”

The next morning, the Earl sat down at the breakfast table and looked around at his family.

Darcy had arrived moments before, fresh from an early morning ride and Richard was twitting his cousin for not having taken him along.

Will only rolled his eyes and replied, “Your batman said that you were still abed, and I did not feel like waiting the extra hour it would have taken him to lever you out.”

Their good-natured bickering spread to the others at the table, and Lord Henry was struck by how much happier his sister’s son appeared than in years past. Making a decision, he finished his meal and then, taking advantage of a natural break in the conversation, spoke to his nephew.

“Darcy, I wish to speak with you when you are finished with breakfast. I’ll be in my study. ”

Darcy’s easy demeanor slipped away, yet it was no frightened boy who returned the Earl’s gaze, but a confident, serious young man, certain of himself and his decisions. “Of course, Uncle. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Lord Henry nodded and left the room, noting the silence that had followed the exchange. “ So, I have become the family tyrant—they support Darcy’s decision and are ready to defend him against me,” thought the Earl with some resigned amusement.

Matlock had just settled behind his desk when his nephew appeared at the door. After the simplest of greetings, Darcy seated himself in the chair facing the desk and crossed his legs, waiting.

After a minute of silence, Henry steepled his fingers and sighed. “Fitzwilliam. When your mother passed away, I swore to do everything I could for you and Georgiana, to treat you as though you were my own children.”

The younger man nodded gravely. “I appreciate that, sir.”

“I suppose that is one of the reasons why I was so taken aback by your announcement yesterday; I had assumed that you would come to me to discuss your options before proposing marriage, as I would expect a son to do.”

His nephew paused for only an instant and replied in an even voice but the Earl could see that the younger man had been taken completely by surprise.

“I meant no disrespect, sir. However, Miss Bennet is my choice and I do not need your permission, although I would very much like to have your blessing.”

In that moment, Henry Fitzwilliam felt as if the blinders had been ripped from his eyes.

Before him sat a young man who had managed his family’s estates and investments for nearly a decade.

What the Earl might have taken as diffidence was actually the quiet self-confidence of a gentleman fully aware of his own mind and his place in the world.

His nephew was indeed a Darcy and there would be no question of his illustrious family being brought under the Fitzwilliam banner, no matter how much the boy had loved his mother.

Lord Henry sighed again before throwing up his hands and slumping back in his chair.

“No, you are absolutely right—you do not require my permission. I suppose I still think of you as that quiet lad who stayed here for weeks with your father, waiting to hear who had died and who had survived the pox.”

Both were silent for a moment before the Earl roused himself.

“I apologize, Darcy. These last few years have been difficult, between parliament and running Matlock and the other properties… and worrying about Edward, and Richard off to war, and the girls getting married. I suppose I had planned out your life to suit my wishes rather than your own, and without consulting you.”

Henry peered over at his nephew. “You see, I had hoped that by marrying Anne, we could arrange a title for you and then you might follow me in the House of Lords.” The Earl could tell immediately from the look on his nephew’s face that such an idea was entirely foreign to him.

“Sir, I do not… that is, I had not…” Darcy stumbled, trying to phrase his distaste for such a proposition without offending his uncle.

Although deeply disappointed, Lord Henry could not help but chuckle at his nephew’s attempt to decline politely. “You had never even considered the idea, I can see.”

Darcy regrouped. “Uncle, you honor me but I fear that I could never accept. I…” He faltered again in trying to summarize why the thought of a public life in politics made him positively cringe.

Thankfully, his uncle waved him off. “You haven’t the personality for it, really.” He sighed and made a face. “Well, never mind. Tell me more about this young lady of yours. When shall we meet her?”

Darcy smiled and the Earl was struck by his look of heartfelt happiness.

“Miss Bennet has returned to her family’s estate in Hertfordshire; Georgiana and I shall travel there directly after the celebration for your birthday.

We wish to marry from her home parish and hope to set a date in late September. ”

Lord Henry nodded, already planning ahead.

“Very good; send me the particulars as soon as you can so that I can mark it on my calendar. Will she be going to London before the wedding, to shop for her trousseau and so forth? We will be in town in early August and your aunt will want to have her to tea, and if that goes at all well, perhaps a dinner or some such.”

Darcy allowed himself a small smile, relieved that his uncle might be so easily reconciled to his nephew’s choice of a bride. “We discussed such a trip but came to no resolution. Elizabeth wished to return home to Longbourn before making any definite plans.

The Earl, father to four girls, grunted. “I’m surprised that a shopping trip was not first on her agenda.”

Will only smiled. “Elizabeth is not like most women.”

After some further discussion, the gentleman prepared to return to the remainder of the family. Darcy paused for a moment before asking, “Have you considered Richard?”

The Earl knit his brows. “To marry Anne? I suppose it would be a beneficial match for him, but I cannot see Catherine ever agreeing. It still grates on her that she married a second son, for all the wealth old Lord Maxwell settled on Lewis de Bourgh. ”

Darcy could not quite suppress a chuckle.

“No, actually I meant for parliament. He recently told me of his desire to resign his commission within the next year or so and that he was considering a career in politics. It would have to be the Commons, of course, but from what I’ve read, their influence seems to be growing with every session. ”

Lord Henry paused in moving some papers around his desk and cocked his head. “That’s quite a brilliant idea… I can’t believe it never occurred to me—I suppose I’ve been so focused with my concerns over Edward…” He trailed off but caught his nephew looking at him sympathetically.

After a moment, Darcy cleared his throat. “I should also inform you that I spoke with Cousin Anne about marriage when I was at Rosings Park over Easter.”

That caught all of the Earl’s attention and the papers were entirely forgotten. “Without Catherine present? What did she say?”

“My cousin has no more desire to marry me than I her. Honestly Uncle, my impression is that Anne has no wish to ever marry. With her weak constitution, it seems easier to remain quiet than to oppose her mother.”

Lord Henry sighed. “I can imagine, poor girl. And Catherine has been obsessed with marrying Anne to you, or should I say joining Rosings Park to Pemberley, for nigh on twenty years. I suppose it is partly my fault; I have done little enough to curb her enthusiasm.”

Darcy was already shaking his head. “No more than I, sir. I only recently realized how selfish I’ve been to Anne as well as Lady Catherine.

By not making it absolutely clear that there was no possibility of an engagement between us, I gained some protection from the matchmakers but it gave my aunt false hope.

Had I faced her years ago, Anne might have led a less isolated life. ”

“You spoke to Catherine about this?” asked the Earl, startled.

“Yes; it was past time to set things straight.”

“And dare I inquire as to how she reacted?”

Darcy grimaced. “Not well, as you would expect. I did my best to explain my reasons, including my concerns for Anne’s health, but I’m not convinced that my aunt has come to terms with the decision.”

Lord Henry snorted. “Based on the last letter I received from her, she has erased everything you said from her memory. She and Anne shall be arriving this afternoon and she has every intention of announcing your betrothal.”

Darcy stared at his uncle with such horror that the older man could only roll his eyes. “Well, well. Let us join Eleanor and the rest of the family. We shall need all hands on deck to handle my sister without causing fireworks that can be heard all the way from London.”

Darcy stepped forward and offered his hand. “Thank you, Uncle.”