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After they had performed their courtesies, Jonah eagerly addressed the older gentleman; “Mr. Darcy, we’ve never met—I fear I’m not much for Society—but I believe you might know one of my elder brothers?

Granville? Perhaps from the fencing club?

We were dining together just the other night and he mentioned how much he admired your skill with a blade. ”

Despite his wife’s assistance and his own attempts to practice, Fitzwilliam Darcy remained uncomfortable conversing with strangers, and most particularly those who might represent suitors of his baby sister.

However, this young man reminded him distinctly of Charles Bingley in his open countenance and friendly manners.

In addition, the topics contained in Jonah’s first conversational gambit could hardly have been better chosen to draw his host out.

In short, Elizabeth had the very great pleasure of seeing her husband smile at the previously unknown gentleman.

“Well, as my wife and sister will gladly inform you, I’m not much for Society myself. I would not say that I’m well-acquainted with your brother, but we do share a fencing master and have matched blades on several occasions. Do you fence yourself, sir?”

“I learnt as a boy, but I’m afraid that I’ve not stuck with it.

I tend more toward riding for my exercise.

My father often jokes that my elder brothers quite beat any interest out of me by using me as their sparring partner during our youth.

Honestly though, my interests turned to music at a young age and little can tempt me away from my instruments.

” Jonah shared a shy smile with Miss Darcy.

“Brother—I found a new composition by Mr. Haydn at Romano’s this afternoon. Lord Jonah and I have been working our way through it.”

Darcy could not help but be pleased with the looks of guileless pleasure that bloomed on both young faces before him.

Before the conversation might continue, however, a knock on the door preceded the appearance of Mrs. Wilkins.

When she applied to Mrs. Darcy as to when dinner should be served, Jonah checked his watch and, seeing that the time was already past six, unhappily announced that he needed to depart.

Before doing so, he expressed his desire to call on the Darcys again and a time and date was quickly arranged.

After Lord Jonah had been shown to the door, Georgiana chattered happily to her brother for a few minutes and then floated off to her rooms. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy retreated to their own suite to rest for a time before dinner and were soon happily ensconced on the sofa before the fire, with Elizabeth’s head resting upon her husband’s shoulder and his arms wrapped around her waist.

Tilting her head to look up at his handsome face, Elizabeth noted, “That is a very thoughtful expression you have, my love. I hope you aren’t going to tell me that you have heard ill tidings of our recent guest. He seemed a respectable, intelligent gentleman and, I must say, I’ve never seen Georgiana be so easy with a man, even those of significantly longer acquaintance. ”

Will sighed and then kissed the top of his wife’s head.

“No indeed; the Somersets are highly respectable and what little I can recall hearing of Lord Jonah has been all to his credit. If you think his interest merits it, I will have some discrete inquiries made, but my only real concern is how his family might react. He is one of the Duke of Grafton’s younger sons, and the Fitzwilliams have a history of desiring the connection but being rebuffed. ”

“Oh dear… I’d hate to see a family quarrel dampen such a promising acquaintance. Do you know if it is a recent dispute, or one of those that has been handed down from generation to generation to the point that the original subject of the feud has been forgotten in the mists of time?”

Darcy smiled and kissed her brow again. “In fact, I believe it originally had to do with a woman named Elizabeth, about a century ago.”

He waited until his own Elizabeth looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow in curiosity.

“She was the only daughter of a Baron, favorite niece of the Duke of Grafton, beautiful and intelligent but also well-accustomed to being the apple of both her father’s and uncle’s eyes,” he explained.

“The Earl of Matlock’s eldest son attempted to court her, but she chose a friend of her brother’s, a lowly vicar with little expectation of advancement.

“At the time, the Fitzwilliams were still regarded as nouveau riche and they took great offence at what they perceived as a slight. In truth, I like to think that the Somersets’ consideration was more for the young lady’s affection than the suitor’s consequence.

My grandmother Darcy knew her well, you see, and told me a very different account from the one I heard from the Fitzwilliams.”

Lizzy smiled, easily imagining how the same facts could be woven into two divergent stories.

Fitzwilliam sighed resignedly and returned to his original point. “Well, nothing may come of it, but I will admit that I’ve never seen Georgiana so happy in the company of a new acquaintance.”