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Darcy’s patience with the Marquess was waning.

He had come expecting inquiries with regards to his sister’s dowry that, while distasteful, would have been more welcome than the current interrogation.

After taking a moment to sip his wine and rein in his temper, he answered, “As I said, I am rarely in company with Ashbourne. Richard, however, shares in the guardianship of my sister, Georgiana.”

Before his son might respond, the Duke interceded; “Of course. I believe you mentioned that Sir Richard will be returning from Spain soon? Has he been there long?”

“Nearly three months. He has been assisting the British envoy while Spain negotiates with the Americans over a territorial dispute. The timing was particularly fortunate as he was recently married, and his new wife was eager to see some of the continent.”

“Ah, so congratulations are in order. Do we know the lady?”

The hint of a smile ghosted across Mr. Darcy’s face. “I would be very surprised if you did, sir; Mrs. Charlotte Collins, née Lucas, is the widow of my aunt’s clergyman and a childhood friend of my wife, born and raised in Hertfordshire.”

The other gentlemen shared a look before the Duke spoke, “Ah yes, Mrs. Darcy; I must admit that we were all quite surprised upon meeting her.”

Fitzwilliam remained determinedly silent. He would do a great deal to ensure his sister’s happiness, but that did not include allowing any man to disparage his wife, strawberry leaves or not.

Fortunately, Grafton appeared to sense this and elaborated; “I mean no criticism against Mrs. Darcy—indeed, she seems to be a most excellent lady.”

Less concerned with diplomacy, Lord Worcester spoke up; “It’s just that we were under the impression that you were intended for your cousin, Miss de Bourgh.”

Darcy was not at all pleased to discover that Lady Catherine’s fancy had been spread so far beyond his family party.

“You were misinformed, sir. My late aunt had hopes in that direction, but there was never any understanding between me and my cousin. I care for Anne as a relation, but the choice of wife has always been my own.”

By this point, Mr. Darcy was annoyed enough with the impertinent questioning that he was tempted to simply walk away from the meeting; there was no way to do so without causing offence, however, and so he stepped to look out the window for a moment to calm himself.

After a few moments of silence, he turned back and placed his glass of wine on the table.

Joining his hands behind his back, Mr. Darcy looked each gentleman in the eye.

“Duke, Lord Worcester, allow me to be frank. Although I hope that I will always give my relations the respect that they are due, I am my own man. My choice of a bride may not have been what Society expected for a man of my station, but I consider my personal happiness to be far too important to sacrifice for the cold comforts of a marriage based solely on wealth and connections.”

To Darcy’s surprise, the two Somerset gentlemen did not appear at all affronted.

Lord Worcester responded before the Duke had a chance to speak; “Mr. Darcy, I appreciate your candor. I’m well known in my family for my impertinence and lack of tact; my father will no doubt ask me to apologize at least half a dozen times before the afternoon is over… ”

“Indeed,” interjected the Duke with some exasperation.

“However,” continued the younger man with a smile to his father that was only mildly repentant, “my youngest and most unworldly brother is very taken with your sister. Please understand, sir, that I know very little about Miss Darcy and nothing that is not complimentary. Of you, however, I hear such different accounts as to puzzle me exceedingly.”

Not a little affronted, Darcy chose to remain silent.

Worcester continued in a slightly milder tone.

“Please, understand that even the younger children of a man such as my father receive a great deal of attention from those with deceptive intentions. As the eldest, I consider it my duty to look after all my siblings, and I fear that the experience has made me exceedingly cynical. Jonah has a gentle, trusting nature and I would do anything to keep him from being hurt, even if it means offending you.”

Although still nettled over having to defend his character, Mr. Darcy began to recognize that the Somersets’ determination to protect their son and brother ran rather startlingly parallel to his own sentiments toward his sister.

The entrance of a butler and two footmen to serve their luncheon gave him several minutes to consider the situation.

Perhaps not surprisingly, his thoughts turned to Elizabeth and by the time the servants had departed, he was more prepared to speak.

“Gentlemen, perhaps if you were to acquaint me with those faults of which I have been accused, I might better defend myself.”

The Duke eyed his guest. “To be honest, I’ve heard of no vices particular to you, and indeed, the Darcys have always been respectable.

It is your close connection to the Fitzwilliams and de Bourghs that concern us.

” Grafton paused a moment to study his son before adding, “You should also be aware that our family has a close relationship with the Duke of Rutford and his family. Andrew especially looked upon the late Lady Alice as almost a younger sister.”

With this explanation, much of Darcy’s ire eased as the reasons for their concerns became quite clear to him.

Now he had only to determine how much of his own concerns to reveal.

After savoring a bite of lamb, he set down his silver with great deliberation and touched the napkin to his mouth before settling back.

“I have the greatest respect for the Annesleys. Indeed, Mrs. Jane Annesley (Rutford’s second or third cousin, I believe) is my sister’s companion. We were all deeply saddened to hear of Lady Alice’s passing; please accept my condolences.”

The Somerset gentlemen exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the connection. Darcy, however, did not wait for a reply; “My other association with the Annesleys is somewhat irregular and unknown beyond my immediate family, so I will ask for your word as gentlemen to keep my confidence.”

Such a beginning could only excite curiosity and Darcy’s audience readily agreed, where upon he told them an abbreviated version of how he and Elizabeth had rescued Lady Alice’s maid from Lord Corning just that past spring.

“I assure you, sirs, that I feel nothing but disgust for the current Earl of Corning. Tilly is now serving my own wife and I can arrange for you to interview her if you desire further confirmation.”

Lord Andrew did not delay in his response.

“Indeed, that isn’t necessary, Mr. Darcy, I assure you.

I had heard nothing of this particular incident, though it is entirely in keeping with what I know of that man’s vicious character.

Although Lady Alice would never admit it to me, I suspected that he abused her on a regular basis.

My wife and I were considering how we might take her away from him when we received word of her death.

” He paused before admitting in a gruff voice, “I cannot express how guilty I feel for not acting sooner.”

“Son,” responded the Duke, gripping the younger man’s arm.

“Don’t berate yourself; any such responsibility rests just as heavily upon my own shoulders, though we both know that Guy Westinghouse is the true villain.

However, rather than wallow in regret, we must harness these emotions to help drive through new laws that will give women the legal right to escape such cruelty, rather than live as the very chattels of their husbands. ”

Therein followed some discussion of legislation being advanced by Grafton and the probability of its passage by parliament.

Although Mr. Darcy found the conversation stimulating and agreed with much of what the gentlemen espoused, he did not wish to leave the previous subject unfinished.

After waiting for an appropriate pause, he began with a gravity that immediately caught the attention of his hosts.

“I can empathize very well with your personal feelings on the issue, sirs, as I recently had a lady and her young son come to my own home for sanctuary. My regret is particularly keen as I had never suspected the abuse, although I’ve known of my cousin’s immoral behavior since we were children.”

The Duke was clearly shocked by this revelation even as Lord Andrew demanded, “You are speaking of Ashbourne? Good heavens—I had no idea! How is the woman—Lady Alameda, is it not? And his own son?”

Mr. Darcy agreed soberly and summarized the sad tale, leaving out only the exact nature of his cousin’s illness and Matlock’s attempt to disown his grandson.

Once the Somersets’ questions had been answered and their sympathy accepted, Darcy turned to the other concern Worcester had mentioned.

“As you are obviously aware, my late mother’s elder sister married Sir Lewis de Bourgh.

Indeed, that gentleman and his two sons died in the same epidemic as my mother while the de Bourghs were visiting our estate in Derbyshire.

” He forced away the melancholy that always threatened to overwhelm him when he thought of that time.

“I was but a child and cannot remember meeting Sir Lewis more than once or twice.

“Lady Catherine was not an easy woman to know, but I have done my best to maintain the relationship with her and her daughter out of respect for my own dear mother.” He paused for the other gentlemen to acknowledge the rightness of this before continuing.