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It was rare enough for Edward to side with his younger brother that even Matlock looked at him oddly.

Unfortunately, the silence prompted Ashbourne to rattle on.

“In fact, perhaps it would be best if I look after Anne’s assets for now.

I’m just saying, you are so busy with parliament and the Matlock estates, and Darcy here, well, he has Pemberley as well as his own business concerns.

Besides, Derbyshire is days away and I’m often in Essex when not in London and both are near enough to Kent. ..”

Richard snorted. “Why this sudden interest in Rosings, Brother? I cannot even recall the last time you visited.”

The viscount shot him a venomous look before turning back to the Earl with an overly innocent expression.

“Like everyone else, I had assumed Darcy would marry Anne and take on Rosings. After recent events,” he did not keep the contempt from his voice, “it is entirely appropriate that we Fitzwilliams step in to see that Aunt Catherine’s estate and assets are properly managed. ”

“For the family’s benefit, of course,” chimed in Richard, starting to catch on.

“Of course,” responded Lord Ashbourne with every appearance of earnestness.

Darcy stirred, but before he could speak, the Earl held up his hand for silence. In a level voice, he announced, “Rosings Park does not belong to Matlock.”

“But Aunt Catherine…”

“My sister may have been born a Fitzwilliam, but she died a de Bourgh. I have Catherine’s will here, but by law, Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s final testament trumps that of his wife. ”

“But Anne is the heiress of Rosings Park!” exclaimed Ashbourne.

The Earl’s lips tightened. “Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s wishes were very clear. If Anne does not marry and produce a male heir, then the bulk of the estate is left to his youngest brother.”

The viscount sprang up from his chair and threw his arms out. “And who the devil is that?!? The man could be dead, or in America, or in service for all we know!!!”

Darcy directed a narrow stare at his cousin. “The Reverend Jonathan de Bourgh held the living at Lambton until his death, and I would ask you to speak of him with respect.”

“Oh, and what the bloody hell is it to you, Darcy?!? You had your chance at Rosings… and it isn’t like you need the money—you’re already richer than bloody Croesus!!!”

Richard was already standing and it was only a few short steps for him to be face to face with his elder brother.

“And that is what this is all about, isn’t it, Eddie?

You want to be put in charge of Anne’s finances so that you can bleed her estate dry, just as you have done with Chafford Park and Ravenswood? ”

Ashbourne glared at his brother. “Stuff a sock in it, Richie .”

“Let me think… Ascot and the Derby were months ago and I doubt that any of those pheasants you were trying to shoot last week would be so foolish as to take your marker… so, visit any gambling hells lately, my dear brother? Your self-importance always did trump your ability at cards…”

Before Ashbourne could let loose his fists, the Earl spoke loudly enough to be heard over them both. “Oh for heaven’s sake, sit down and be silent, the lot of you! Mr. Jonathan Gardiner is the heir of Rosings Park and that is the end of it.”

Edward stared at his father with a dismay that verged on desperation. “But surely we won’t let this go without a fight, Papa?!? Who is this Gardiner fellow anyway?!? Do we know anything about him? With a good solicitor, I’m sure we can break the will…”

Darcy rose to his full height and lanced his least favorite relation with a look full of disgust. “Mr. Jonathan Gardiner is my wife’s cousin; his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner, whom you have had the opportunity to meet on several occasions this past year.

” Not caring to hear any more, the Master of Pemberley stalked out of the room and went directly to the stables, saddling his own horse and then disappearing for several hours.

When he and his exhausted horse finally found their way home, his wife was waiting for him in the yard. “Richard came by to tell me that you had gone for a ride.”

Darcy hung his head for a moment. “I apologize; I should have sent word to you. But I was… Ashbourne…” Will actually grunted with frustration, finding it impossible to speak about the viscount without a great deal of cursing.

Lizzy merely smiled and drew him toward the rose garden so that they might converse unheard. “Yes, your cousin gave me a rather colorful account of your afternoon.”

“I doubt he needed to exaggerate—Edward is…” This time Darcy threw his hands up in the air.

“Yes, well… the viscount departed not long after you did. Apparently his efforts to work on the Earl in private did not meet with any success.”

Darcy grunted; she waited a moment but when he remained determinedly silent, Lizzy added softly, “Thank you for defending the Gardiners.”

At his look of surprise, she smiled and merely offered, “Richard.”

“Of course. But you should know that I did not do it for your approval alone; they are excellent people and their son shall make a fine master. Ashbourne cares nothing for the land or his dependents… or even for his heritage from what I can tell. All he wants is money to refill his pockets.”

This last was said with such disgust that Elizabeth could easily imagine why her husband had needed a long, bruising ride to regain control of his temper. She hugged his arm. “Well, Lord Ashbourne is gone and the Earl shall be taking Anne with him when he leaves tomorrow.”

Observing her husband’s look of surprise, she elaborated, “She does not wish to remain at Rosings alone, and I must say that I cannot blame her. They will go to London first to file whatever papers are necessary with the solicitors, and then on to Bath where Lady Eleanor and your Cousin Lucy are staying. From there, they shall all travel together to Matlock.”

“Perhaps we should offer to take her to Pemberley…”

“Actually, I did raise that possibility, but the Earl pointed out that this might not be the best time for Miss de Bourgh to revisit the house where her father and brothers died. Hopefully she will accompany the Fitzwilliams for Christmas, but for now, I believe that Lady Eleanor and Lucy will be very good for her. ”

Darcy shut his eyes tightly for a moment and his hands tightened into fists. “That all sounds very logical, but I feel as if I should do something … I do not regret Anne in any way, but Aunt Catherine and I parted on such poor terms… I wish there was some way I could make amends…”

Elizabeth stopped and reached up to cradle his face between her hands. “You would not be the loyal, honorable man that I love if you did not. We shall look after Anne as if she was our own sister. And as for your aunt, I believe you should read this.”

Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved the letter that Dawson had given her that morning and then stepped back to watch the emotions play across her husband’s face as he read .

Be not alarmed, Nephew, that this letter shall contain a repetition of those sentiments which were so disagreeable to you upon our last meeting.

I do not take well to surprises and, although I suppose you attempted to prepare me for the path you intended to take, I was exceedingly astonished by your announcement.

You should know that I liked Miss Elizabeth Bennet a great deal when she first came into Kent.

She is a clever girl, and there is a certain something in her air that makes one wish to know what she is thinking.

She is also lively and pretty, which a young lady ought to be if at all possible.

You have always been a very quiet boy, and I suppose it did not occur to me that you would want a little liveliness in your wife.

If her health had been better, Anne might have suited, but I suppose such wishes are pointless now.

The persons whom I met in Hertfordshire forced me to think on some past events in my life that I have worked hard to forget, and since then, those remembrances have led me to reconsider some of my opinions.

I still believe that you could have done far better in choosing a bride with regard to dowry and connections, but it has been pointed out to me that your fortune and income are already quite sufficient and that you have no particular interest in Society.

If you are satisfied with your choice, then I shall say no more on the subject.

I only ask that you do not forget about Anne, as so many of her other relations have done.

I have no intention of shedding this mortal coil any time soon, but I shall rely on your promise to look after my daughter when I am gone.

My poor Anne has not so many friends in this world and I dislike the thought of her being left alone immensely.

I shall expect to see you and your wife at Rosings Park next Easter.

Darcy shut his eyes tightly for several moments upon finishing the letter, but when he opened them, there was relief and even a little humor in them. In one motion he enveloped his wife in a tight hug. His voice muffled by her hair, he asked, “How on Earth did you come across this letter?”

“Lady Catherine’s maid insisted that I read it. Apparently her mistress began composing it almost a month before our wedding but kept finding faults with each draft. Dawson was adamant that your aunt would have wished us to read it and this was the last version she completed before she passed. ”

“Remind me to thank Dawson.” Suddenly Will realized that he was holding his wife against his dirty, damp coat. Stepping back, he smiled with a lighter air than she had seen him wear in days. “Come, let us go and change. I need a bath, and I believe that I still have some apologizing to do.”

Elizabeth laughed, more so when he took her by the hand and pulled her along to the house like a little boy determined to show a recalcitrant adult some new treasure.