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Both ladies were silent for a time but eventually Elizabeth stirred. “For now, perhaps you would like to rest and try to eat something? And maybe a hot bath would ease some of the pain? I’ll send word just as soon as the doctor arrives.”

Lady Alameda accepted gratefully and followed Mrs. Darcy out of the room.

As they slowly climbed the stairs, Lizzy told her, “My little cousins are staying with us while my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner are in Kent, so I have put you in an apartment on the fourth floor, away from the family rooms. It should be very quiet there, and you will not be disturbed.”

When they finally reached the correct door, Elizabeth knocked softly and then opened it to find Mrs. Hudson in the sitting room watching over a sleeping boy. The older woman took one look at Alameda and stepped forward to take the lady in her arms. “Oh my poor, dear girl.”

Once Elizabeth made certain that the little family had everything they needed, she left them to console one another.

She took the stairs slowly, still attempting to wrap her mind around all she had heard.

Reaching the final step, she looked up to find both Holmes and Mrs. Wilkins waiting for her with serious expressions.

Lizzy smiled slightly—the two senior servants were intelligent and honorable…

and aware of absolutely everything that went on in Derwent House.

They were also intensely protective of the Darcy family, and her best chance of keeping Lady Alameda and Reggie’s arrival a secret from Lord Ashbourne, insane or not, would be to take these two into her confidence.

Focusing on the issue at had, she nodded to the pair. “Please, come with me to my study.”

Once Holmes shut the door behind them, Elizabeth motioned for both to be seated as she took her place behind the desk.

Gathering her thoughts, she considered how much to reveal, particularly as she had not yet discussed the situation with her husband.

She had no doubt that Darcy would wish to help Lady Alameda and her son; he might not have liked the lady in the past, but Elizabeth was well aware of his opinion of his cousin.

“Mrs. Wilkins, Mr. Holmes. We are in a difficult situation and, although I will discuss it with Mr. Darcy when he returns home this evening, there are a few… precautions we should take immediately; I would appreciate your help and advice. My caller this afternoon, Lady Alameda Fitzwilliam, is, of course, married to Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Lord Ashbourne.

” Both servants’ expressions hardened at the mention of the Earl’s son.

Elizabeth continued, “Lady Alameda has come here because her husband has hurt her, as well as her son. She has asked us for sanctuary.”

Mrs. Wilkins covered her mouth with her fist but could not suppress a whisper, “Oh, that poor little mite... and his poor mother...” Holmes said nothing but a martial spark had kindled in his eyes.

“They left Essex before dawn and it isn’t certain when her husband will discover that they’ve left.

Though he may guess she came to London, I highly doubt that Derwent House is the first place he would think to look.

” She sighed, not liking the idea of a raging Lord Ashbourne in her home.

“I’ll discuss what is to be done with Mr. Darcy when he returns from his appointments, but for now, I would appreciate your help in keeping our guests’ presence as quiet as possible. ”

Both servants were already nodding, and Elizabeth was warmed by their loyalty. At that moment, there was a knock at the door and a footman delivered the message that the Darcys’ physician had arrived.

“Excellent. Please bring him here.” When the door was closed again, Elizabeth turned to Mrs. Wilkins. “I’ll speak to Dr. Tolmach and then take him up myself.”

The older woman nodded and stood. “I’ll take care of any gossip. Only a few saw them, so there oughtn’t be many knowing who they are anyway. If you agree, I’ll have a word with Mrs. Hudson. I talked to her about what her mistress and the boy might like to eat and she showed good sense.”

Holmes added, “I’ll set some extra men to watch the house. It’s easy enough to say that there’s been rumor of housebreakers in the area. What do you want us to do if Lord Ashbourne comes to the door?”

Elizabeth decided to err on the side of caution. “Until Mr. Darcy arrives home, stop him at the door. Say that we are not at home and there are no guests in the house. Do whatever is necessary short of shooting him if he tries to force his way in—we all have good reason to know he can be violent.”

Once the details had been sorted out, the two servants left to see to their duties just as the footman showed in the Darcys’ physician.

A kind, intelligent man in his forties, Dr. Seamus Tolmach still spoke with the faint Scottish burr of his homeland, even after twenty years in London.

Elizabeth had once asked him about it and he had admitted that the accent seemed to soothe his patients.

“My dear Mrs. Darcy. Your man said it wasn’t an emergency, but I came as quickly as I could.”

Elizabeth smiled as she shook his hand. “Thank you, sir. Mr. Darcy and I are both perfectly well; we have guests that require your assistance. However, I thought it best if I speak to you about their situation before you attend them.”

The doctor’s eyebrows shot up but he remained silent.

Elizabeth chose her words carefully. “I want you to understand the circumstances before you commit yourself, as it has the potential to be… difficult.” Dr. Tolmach nodded and looked more curious than alarmed.

Elizabeth reminded herself that he had been an army doctor with the Scots Greys and was unlikely to run away from a battle.

“The wife of a socially prominent, titled gentleman has come to us with her young son and asked for sanctuary. Her husband has hurt her—beaten her—as well as her child. I believe that the boy’s arm may be broken, and he cannot be more than six years old.

” Elizabeth sighed. “I tell you this because, although her husband was in the country as recently as yesterday, she fears he may pursue her here to London. He has some connections and, although I have hope we can keep her safe and the situation quiet, it is possible that some gossip may arise…”

“And I would be right in the center of the maelstrom, with every Society maven and gossipy old peer trying to tease the scandalous details out of me.” Dr. Tolmach nodded his understanding but his eyes showed no hesitation.

“Mrs. Darcy, I appreciate your courtesy but it is completely unnecessary. I came to this profession with the intent of helping any person who needed my skill to the best of my ability.” He sighed.

“Sadly, the situation you describe is much more common than most of society will ever admit.”

“Thank you, sir. Your response is no less than I expected, but you understand, I had to be certain.” The two rose and shook hands in mutual reassurance before Elizabeth led the physician up to the Fitzwilliams’ suite.

After introducing the doctor to his new patients, Lizzy excused herself and retreated to her chambers. Once she had closed the door, she leaned back against it for some minutes, head spinning. Suddenly she felt a desperate need for her husband’s arms.

Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy had just reached the front steps of his home with relief.

It was one of those grey, foggy days in London that made him long for the clean air of the countryside.

He had chosen to walk home from his business meeting and, although it was only a matter of blocks, he already felt grimy from the soot hanging in the air.

While handing his coat and beaver to a maid, he greeted Mr. Holmes. It was unusual for there to be two footmen attending the front door, but Darcy thought little of it until he turned to see the butler’s face. “Holmes? What is it? What has happened?”

The older man responded solemnly. “Mrs. Darcy is perfectly well, sir. I believe she is upstairs in your suite. Hot water has been sent up so that you may wash before dinner.”

Darcy said nothing but merely continued to look Holmes in the eye.

“I believe that Mrs. Darcy desired to speak with you upon your return, sir.”

Catching the hint, Darcy thanked the butler tersely and took the stairs two at a time.

When her husband strode into their sitting room, Elizabeth dropped the books that she had been aimlessly straightening and stepped into his embrace without a word.

Even as Fitzwilliam gathered her to him, his mind was racing with terrible possibilities. “Elizabeth? What has happened?”

As much as she would have liked to remain there within the protection of his arms, Lizzy knew her husband needed to know the situation before the physician was finished, and so she forced herself to step back and lead him to the sofa.

“Lady Alameda arrived unexpectedly this afternoon, with her son and his nurse. She has asked us for sanctuary from the viscount. I called Dr. Tolmach and he is examining them now.”

“Ashbourne hurt them?” Darcy had not thought that his opinion of his cousin could grow any worse. That the gentleman would knowingly hurt a woman—his wife, no less! And his own child… it was beyond the pale.

“Lady Alameda has bruises on her face and, from the way she held herself, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has broken ribs.

Reggie was holding his arm at an odd angle—I suspect it is broken.

And… oh Will, the poor bo y cringed at the sound of my voice…

” All the anger and fear and stress finally caught up with Elizabeth and she dissolved into tears.

Darcy gathered his wife up in his arms and spoke to her soothingly, although his mind continued to race.