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The Earl looked ready to contest this, if for no other reason than a bullheaded determination to disbelieve any doctor with the nerve to accuse his son of contracting such a low disease.

However, he swallowed his argument upon remembering that his own, elderly physician’s tongue was prone to wag when plied with port (an occurrence that had become increasingly common in recent years).

Above all, Lord Henry was desperate to ensure that no whisper of the situation get out, for he feared how the resulting scandal would blacken the Fitzwilliam name and destroy all he had attempted to build for generations to come.

Richard smiled mirthlessly when the Earl only grunted in response, fairly certain of what was going through his father’s mind.

Likewise, he found his respect for Darcy was rising yet again.

His cousin had long tolerated Lady Catherine and Lord Henry’s tendency to order their nephew about, although the Fitzwilliams had no such rights by either paternity or rank.

Since his marriage, however, Darcy had become much more forthright in refusing to give way when Matlock’s orders were given for no reason other than to make the Earl’s life easier, with no consideration to anyone but himself.

Determined to support his cousin, Richard spoke up. “If we leave within the hour, we could make Essex before nightfall, Papa.”

Lord Henry looked disgruntled, although it was uncertain whether this was because Darcy had not volunteered to take care of everything or because he wished to resume his argument about the doctor’s diagnosis.

Whatever he might have said, however, was forestalled by the arrival of the countess and Mrs. Darcy.

Barely acknowledging the others, Elizabeth went directly to her husband and slipped her hands around his arm. Will looked at her carefully but, although she was clearly weary, there was a steadiness about her that reassured him.

Meanwhile, Lady Eleanor had come only a few steps into the room.

It was Richard who offered her his arm and guided her to a chair even as the earl demanded, “Well?” Then, taking note of his wife’s pallor, he added gruffly, “So… it is true then?” The countess’s stricken countenance was quite enough of an answer.

“Well. Well.” After pausing for a moment to gather himself, Lord Henry summarized their plan to go into Essex and then announced that it was time for the Fitzwilliams to return to their own home.

In parting, Lady Eleanor clung to Mrs. Darcy’s hand for an instant and asked softly, “I will call again tomorrow, if you don’t mind?”

Elizabeth only had time to squeeze her hand and reassure her that she was welcome at any time before the Earl was calling for his wife’s presence in the carriage. The footman barely had time to fold up the step before his master was pounding on the roof and demanding that they be on their way.

When they were alone in the hall, Elizabeth turned to Darcy with questions in her eyes. “Come,” he said, unwilling to discuss the matter in the hallway, no matter how much he trusted their staff .

Once the door of the library was shut behind them, Will poured two glasses of wine and summarized the afternoon’s conference among the gentlemen.

Taking a sip, he added, “If the doctor is correct in his diagnosis (and I fear he is), I can only hope that my uncle does not continue in this willful disbelief.”

Elizabeth started. “You cannot think that the Earl’s fear of scandal would keep him from seeking a cure for his son? I know little of syphilis beyond what we heard yesterday, but the new mercury treatments that Dr. Tolmach mentioned seemed to hold some hope, at least.”

“I pray it is so.” Darcy sighed and stared into his wineglass for a time. “I once heard that, soon after being seated in the Lords himself, Matlock somehow used the rumor that a powerful peer had contracted the French disease in order to forward his own agenda.”

Seeing Elizabeth’s wide eyes, Fitzwilliam emended, “I don’t mean to say that my uncle started the rumor, only that he did not fail to take advantage of the opportunity it caused.

” Will sighed again. “I myself have heard him at his club, deriding some minister’s behavior as no better than one might expect for a family touched by the French disease, and the madness that they say accompanies it. ”

Knowing her husband’s tendency to brood over problems that he could not control, Elizabeth set aside both of their glasses and rested her head against his chest. In response, Will lifted her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

They sat thus for some time, until Elizabeth said softly, “I can only speak from my own, more recent acquaintance with Lord Henry, but I believe him to be a good man at heart. Certainly he can be a bit over-concerned with his own self-importance at times, but that is not unique among the circles in which he moves.”

Darcy’s expression softened and he kissed her hair, not for the first time relieved that she no longer counted him as one of those arrogant, unfeeling aristocrats.

Even so, his tone was serious. “The Fitzwilliams have always been very concerned with their family’s position in Society.

My uncle’s manners may be better than Lady Catherine’s, but his sentiments on the subject are just as strong. ”

Lizzy leaned back a little so that she might look him full in the face. “Well, there is nothing we can do about it for now except look after Lady Alameda and her son. So, will you tell me now what is causing you to feel so guilty, or must I tease it out of you?”

Darcy could only smile at this new evidence of how well she knew him.

Often he might have refused to speak so that he might enjoy a bit of her witty banter, but tonight he had not the heart for it.

“I was being selfish,” he admitted. “Even as you were relating the events to my relations, I found myself wondering if we would still be able to leave for Derbyshire in a fortnight as planned.”

Elizabeth only laughed a little and kissed him.

“Then we are selfish together, my love, for I’ve had quite enough of London as well.

If it comes to that, we can invite Lady Alameda and her son to travel with us to Pemberley…

though I think it is more likely that Lady Eleanor will want to have her grandson and his mother at Matlock. ”

At Darcy’s surprised look, she explained, “It’s hard to believe anything good could come from such a miserable situation, but I believe this may actually improve the relationship between the Viscountess and her mother-in-law.

Lady Ashbourne is certainly altered, and I don’t know when I’ve seen a more touching scene than her interview with the Countess this afternoon.

There was no stiffness or artifice; your aunt treated Lady Alameda as warmly as a favorite daughter and our guest appeared genuinely grateful for it. ”

Even as Darcy expressed his pleasure at this intelligence, Lizzy’s mind had moved on and she began to extract herself from her husband’s arms. “Oh stars, I forgot to check on Georgiana.”

Fitzwilliam’s concern was immediately aroused. “What happened? Is she upset? Did it make her ill?”

Elizabeth turned back immediately to reassure him.

“No, Will, not ill, only a little distressed. She retired after we left Lady Alameda and I only wanted to check on her.” Lizzy sighed.

“Perhaps I was mistaken in suggesting that you include her in the conference—I know it was hard for her to hear such things about her cousin...”

“No—your instinct was correct. Though I might not like it, my sister is out and can only benefit by being treated as an adult. I will always want to keep her from knowing that such evil exists in the world, but I cannot always be with her and it has become very clear to me over the last year that a lady’s own understanding is often her best protection. ”

Elizabeth’s smile was tinged with sadness but she did not argue.

In the end, they decided to visit Georgiana together.

Darcy and Elizabeth found Mrs. Annesley alone in the sitting room that she shared with her charge.

The companion appeared relieved to see the couple and indicated that Miss Darcy could be found in the nursery, playing with the Gardiner children.

“She spoke very little, but I’m guessing this event has stirred up memories of her experience with Mr. Wickham, sir.

She worries that she will put her trust in the wrong man and, well…

knowing her as you do, I’m certain you understand.

” Darcy and Elizabeth thanked the woman and made their way to the nursery.

Despite the fact that the children’s own nurse and governess had accompanied them to Derwent House for the fortnight that their parents and eldest brother were visiting Rosings Park, no less than four maids had volunteered their free Sunday afternoon to look after the little ones, and it appeared that they were now working their magic on Georgiana as well.

Fitzwilliam especially was vastly relieved to find his sister calmly seated in a rocking chair with three children at her feet, reading to them from Aesop’s Fables, while the baby gurgled in her crib.

The Darcys’ entrance disrupted this happy scene, however, as the children were eager to tell their favorite cousin about all the exciting events in the nursery.

“Cousin Lizzy, may we not go to the park today?” asked Tommy, desperate to play with his new cricket bat.

Usually Elizabeth would have agreed happily to such a venture, but with the specter of Lord Ashbourne lurking about, she was not willing to take the risk.

“I fear that the weather is against us, Tommy. We shall have to content ourselves with exploring the house.” Suddenly her eyes sparkled mischievously.

“But I know the next best thing—come with me!”