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Picking Amelia up and taking Tommy by the hand, Lizzy headed toward the stairs with Rebecca following close behind, pausing only to call to Georgiana and Fitzwilliam, “We shall be in the ballroom, if you two care to join us!”

Miss Darcy stood as if to follow, but her brother held her back. “Georgiana, Elizabeth mentioned that you were upset after seeing Lady Alameda. I know it could not have been easy for you to hear about such things… especially about someone so closely related to us”

Nodding, Georgiana allowed her brother to guide her to a pair of chairs by the window. The siblings sat in silence for some minutes before she finally mustered the courage to ask the question foremost on her mind; “Do you wish me to marry Richard, Wills?”

“Good God, no!” exclaimed her brother with such feeling that the young lady actually giggled.

Fitzwilliam was glad to see her mood lighten but was determined to make his position on the matter clear.

In a more moderate tone, he added, “That is to say, if the two of you were to develop an attachment, then I could be convinced to give my blessing. However, although I’m quite certain Richard cares for you almost as much as I do, I’m equally certain that it is the fondness of a brother, not a suitor. ”

Georgiana’s expression showed her relief, but some of the disquiet remained.

“I only thought that… well, I’ve met so many gentlemen since we came to London, and I’ve tried to like them, truly I have…

but I haven’t met anyone with whom I feel truly comfortable.

I thought that perhaps I could at least make the family happy if I… ”

“No, Georgiana—there is absolutely no reason for you to make such a sacrifice—do not let the Earl’s words convince you otherwise. To be quite honest, I would do everything in my power to convince you against such a match.”

Will took his sister’s hand in his own. It wasn’t easy for him to speak on such matters as his baby sister’s affections for men but he did his best. “Georgie, while the family would certainly be happy to see you married to a duke, I want to see you happy, and it is my opinion that that will only happen if you feel a real affection for your husband, and he respects and loves you just as much in return. If knowing Elizabeth has taught me anything, it is that such a marriage is worth waiting for.”

“But the season is nearly over, and no one has even asked to court me! I don’t want you to be disappointed in me, but all I really want to do is go home to Pemberley…”

Will touched his sister’s shoulder. “You’re not alone—Elizabeth and I were just speaking of how much we long to return to the country this afternoon.”

“But Pemberley is your home—you can’t possibly want your old spinster sister living there forever!”

Darcy leaned back and raised her chin so that she had to look him in the eye. “Pemberley is your home for as long as you wish it to be. But Georgiana—I thought you knew that? Didn’t Elizabeth and I discuss this with you before the wedding?”

Miss Darcy managed to nod but began wringing her hands. “But everyone says that a lady should be engaged by the end of her first season or she is a failure!”

Fitzwilliam raised his eyebrows. “I was not engaged by the end of my first season. Or my second, or third, or sixth, for that matter.”

She giggled. “You aren’t a lady, Wills. It’s entirely different for gentlemen, as you are well aware.”

Darcy paused for a moment to consider the matter.

“Georgiana, much of the pressure on ladies to rush into marriage stems from a lack of funds; their families can’t support them through another Season and so they must make the best match they can or be sentenced to a life of dependency upon their relations.

We are fortunate in that we do not need to worry about such things.

If you wish to never marry but live at Pemberley all your life and practice your music, or cover screens and net purses for all I care, our circumstances allow you to do so.

And I would be very happy to keep my dearest sister with me,” he added gruffly.

Georgiana leaned head against her brother’s shoulder and murmured, “Thank you, Wills.”

The siblings were silent for a time but finally Darcy cleared his throat. “I hope that you will not hide yourself away entirely, however. I spent many years alone, and although I care for you and our relations dearly, it is nothing like the joy that comes with marrying the right person.”

Georgiana smiled a little at the soft look that came over her brother’s face but then dropped her eyes and sighed.

Only at his urging did she admit, “I’m so afraid of making a mistake…

I was so wrong about Mr. Wi ckham… and then seeing Lady Alameda…

I have a hard time trusting when I know that there is such evil in the world. ”

Darcy sighed and looked at his hands, wishing not for the first time that he had wrung his cousin’s neck that night at the ball.

“I cannot tell you that there are no such men in the world, for obviously there are. And sadly, some are clever enough to hide their true character for a time, particularly from those who are not suspicious by nature. However, I urge you to focus on all the happy marriages that you know, for I truly believe that they outnumber the unpleasant ones. And I promise you, young lady, I have every intention of investigating any suitor of yours to the extent that I shall know how often he threw porridge at his nurse when he was still on leading strings.”

This time Georgiana’s smile was as genuine as a sunrise. “Elizabeth warned me that you would do all you could to frighten my suitors away. But I cannot say that I’m sorry to hear it, Fitzwilliam.”

The siblings shared a look of complete understanding.

There seemed nothing more to say on the subject and they soon rose and made their way companionably to the ballroom. They arrived just in time to hear a happy shriek from Amelia as she and her cousin went sliding down the polished marble floor in their stocking feet.

Georgiana gladly joined them, happy to set aside her worries about marriage and husbands for the simpler pleasures of childhood.

Fitzwilliam remained by the door for a little longer, observing the amusement.

Not for the first time, he pondered the very great happiness that the former Miss Elizabeth Bennet had introduced to the Darcy family.

Then he caught a teasing glance from his wife and obediently toed off his own shoes and joined in the fun.