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“Catherine, all of this is irrelevant. As it happens, Darcy has already spoken with me and his plans for marriage do not include Anne.” He spoke quickly before she could begin arguing again; “I am sympathetic with your disapointment but I expect you to temper your displeasure and not embarrass the family. Our nephew has made it clear that, while he desires our blessing out of respect for his mother, he is well aware that he is his own master and does not require our permission.”

Lord Henry studied his sister for a minute.

Her hands were fisted in her skirts and he was struck by how old they looked.

He sighed; it was hard to believe so many years had passed.

Their youngest sister had been dead for nearly twenty years and her son was preparing to marry. Suddenly he felt incredibly ancient.

Pushing himself away from the desk, Henry offered his arm to help her up. “Come, Cathy. Let us join the others for tea.” He missed the venomous look that his sister directed at him even as she obeyed.

Miss de Bourgh had a very different sort of morning than her mother, although it touched upon similar matters.

After enjoying her solitary breakfast and allowing her maid to dress her, Anne had settled in the small sitting room that formed part of her suite.

She was deep in a highly unsuitable novel when a knock came at the hall door and it took several moments until she recollected herself and hid the book beneath a pillow before nodding at Mrs. Jenkinson.

Anne was relieved to see her companion admit Lady Eleanor and Lucy instead of her mother.

The Countess spoke first. “Anne, dear. We were concerned when you did not come down for breakfast. How are you feeling, niece?”

Miss de Bourgh had never been called ‘dear’ in her life and did not feel entirely comfortable with her aunt’s easy affection. “I’m well. I… I didn’t mean to trouble you,” she answered softly.

Lady Eleanor looked her niece over carefully while Lucy chattily ascertained that the tray sent up had been to her cousin’s liking.

The Countess’ goals for this visit were twofold.

First, she wished to determine if Anne would benefit from an examination by the Fitzwilliam family’s doctor.

Her experienced eye, informed by the raising of six children to adulthood, told her that, although the girl was no longer in a state of near-collapse, she still did not look particularly healthy.

Deciding that her niece was in no immediate danger, Lady Eleanor turned her mind to the other matter she wished to address.

After speaking quietly to Mrs. Jenkinson and suggesting that Anne’s companion might wish some time to herself while Lady Matlock discussed family matters with her niece, the Countess turned back to the two young ladies.

Eleanor could not imagine a more dissimilar pair than the two ladies before her.

Though in essentials they were of similar height and coloring, her youngest daughter was lithe and full of good-natured vitality, in striking contrast to Anne’s pasty features and generally indolent attitude.

What was odd was that, while Miss de Bourgh might seem to have everything a young lady might wish—heiress of a fine estate and large fortune, significant connections, and a mother determined to arrange a great match for her—she was decidedly melancholy.

In contrast was Lucy; only twenty-six but already a widow, just out of mourning but still missing her gallant young husband, Colonel John Wallace, who had died in India a hero.

His bravery in battle was cold comfort to his widow, yet Lucy was determined to embrace life, while her cousin seemed to have little interest in anyone or anything around her.

A pause in the conversation brought the Countess back to the present. “Anne, your uncle asked me to speak with you while he met with your mother.”

Lady Catherine’s daughter visibly shrank back in her chair and her aunt sighed at the effect of her directness. “I’m sorry if my frankness causes you distress, Anne.”

The young lady shrugged but did not meet her aunt’s eyes. “What do you wish to know?”

Lady Matlock smiled encouragingly. “You are aware, of course, of your mother’s desire for you and your Cousin Darcy to marry.”

Anne nodded briefly but did not speak, fearing what was to come next.

Eleanor continued, “Darcy spoke to us last night. He said that he had spoken to you at Easter and that the two of you agreed you did not wish for the match.”

Miss de Bourgh suddenly felt as if she could breathe again. “He did?” She was genuinely amazed that her cousin had not only confronted her mother at Easter but also appeared to be continuing his disobedience.

Guessing her feelings, Lucy reached out to touch the other young lady’s arm. “Darcy is as stubborn as he is honorable. He shall not be bullied into the match if he knows neither of you wish it.”

Anne was beginning to feel light-headed. “But Mama said that…” She trailed off; her mother had said a great many things.

Eleanor caught a hint of the girl’s confusion.

“Anne, Darcy is his own master; your mother has no power over him except the respect due his late mother’s sister and honestly, even that seems to be wearing thin at the moment.

” She considered her niece for a moment.

“Anne, we would like to know what your wishes are. What do you want?”

Anne de Bourgh finally raised her eyes and studied her aunt for some moments.

She knew very little of this woman except for a distant memory of a gay young lady who had made her feel welcome at Matlock when she was a child but whom her mother had always disliked emphatically.

Glancing toward Lucy, she decided to take a chance.

“I… I… do not think I want to marry at all.” To her surprise, both of the ladies nodded supportively, as if such a wish was not at all unexpected.

Lucy asked quietly, “Your health?”

Startled, Anne nodded. “Mama has tried to instruct me on managing a household but I just can’t... I haven’t the energy…” She trailed off, mortified at being so open.

Lady Eleanor immediately put her concerns to rest with a warm smile. “Anne, what if you were to come to London with us? We could arrange for you to be seen by a doctor who has more… experience with your particular ailments. Perhaps even a specialist. Would you like that?”

“My mother would never allow it,” breathed Miss de Bourgh, overwhelmed by the idea.

The Countess chose her words carefully. “Anne, you are my niece and, though we do not know each other well, you are family and I believe in family looking after each other.” She took a breath before continuing, “Catherine is very… decided… in her opinions but you should remember that you are a woman full-grown. Nearly thirty, in fact, which makes you legally independent of your mother. I was not privy to the details of Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s will but surely he did not leave you entirely dependent upon your mother? ”

Sir Lewis’ daughter was disconcerted. “Mama… Mama has always said that I am the heiress of Rosings Park… but I don’t know… she has always taken care of everything... ”

Eleanor looked seriously at her niece. “Anne, I don’t mean to come between you and your mother but it is important for a woman to know the facts of her own situation.

” Seeing that the girl was completely flummoxed by the concept, the Countess smiled slightly.

“I suggest that we speak with your uncle. He will know which solicitors handled your father’s estate and can discover the details of your inheritance. ”

Lucy recognized the look of panic in her cousin’s eyes. “Papa shall explain it so that you understand. And if he doesn’t, then Darcy will. Fitzwilliam helped me with all the legal matters when my John died.”

Suddenly Mrs. Wallace realized what she had just intimated and looked at her cousin in alarm. “Not that I am suggesting your mother is about to die or anything like that!”

Anne managed a small smile that held more warmth than either of the other women had seen her express before.

Before any more could be said, however, a light tapping at the door announced Mrs. Jenkinson’s return.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but I wanted to check if Miss Anne wished to take her tea here or would be joining the family downstairs. ”

Checking their watches, Lucy and her mother exclaimed over the time and soon Anne was being bustled downstairs in a flurry of skirts and female camaraderie that was entirely novel to her.

As they entered the drawing room just behind the Earl and Lady Catherine, however, Eleanor was sorry to see her niece shrink visibly.

Catherine remained stunned into silence by the argument with her brother until the sight of Darcy standing by the window appeared to revive her.

Leaving Anne in Lucy’s care, the Countess moved to smoothly guide her sister-in-law’s attention to the tea and cakes, quickly distracting her with questions about Rosings’ cook and her abilities with pastry.

Giving his wife an appreciative wink, the Earl moved to the window, hoping to exchange a few private words with his nephew. Eleanor had just begun to hope that tea might be conducted without any major perturbations when the door opened again and two of her sons-in-law entered, trailed by Richard.

Lord Percy Hyde, Baron Pelham of Stanmer in Sussex, was in fundamentals a good man and his marriage to Lady Margaret Fitzwilliam (Maggie to her family and closest friends) was generally a happy one.

Unfortunately, it was a running family joke that he had no sense of discretion whatsoever and was forever announcing whatever secrets anyone had made the mistake of revealing to him.