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Mr. Darcy suffered some guilt for leaving his sister alone at such an important time in her life, but was reassured that the Fitzwilliams would bring her north in a month when they came for the Pemberley hunt ball.

When Will expressed his concern that Elizabeth might not be capable of organizing such an event given her condition, he received such a stern look as he had never seen before on his wife’s face and quickly learned to choose his battles more wisely.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Reynolds began receiving such a volume and variety of correspondence from London as to provide her with no little amusement.

Mr. Darcy provided detailed instructions with regard to the nursery and birthing room, while Mrs. Darcy’s correspondence dwelled solely on the ball and all those details associated with hosting a large house party.

When the couple finally arrived at Pemberley (the journey having been extended an extra day to assuage Mr. Darcy’s caution), the housekeeper was treated to the amusing sight of the master hovering while the mistress rolled her eyes with (mostly) good-natured exasperation.

That very evening, Elizabeth’s maid made her way to the housekeeper’s parlor and the pair shared a glass of sherry.

Though they had not known one another for long, both were privy to many of the family’s most personal secrets and were too loyal to the Darcys to speak about them to even the other staff.

Even so, Tilly managed one careful sip before Mrs. Reynolds caught her eye, whereupon both women slid into such giggles as left them gasping from pain in their sides.

Had not the closed door ensured their privacy, their laughter might have led some of the lower servants to worry that they were fit for Bedlam.

To the joy of all, the nursery was easily aired and furnished with an array of artifacts from past Darcys, including a cradle said to have been carved by Mr. Gowan Darcy himself.

Preparations for the hunt and its accompanying ball caused a bit more disquiet among the staff, as only the eldest among them could recall Pemberley last playing host to such an event.

However, their pride produced such a desire to see the estate displayed to best effect that even the most persnickety guest could not help but be impressed.

While Elizabeth was considering activities and menus and Darcy was reading every book he could locate on the nascent field of obstetrics and child rearing, Sir Richard Fitzwilliam was meeting the ship carrying his Spanish horses at the dock, accompanied by the Marquess of Worcester, with whom he was developing a surprisingly steady friendship.

Upon seeing the man who had accompanied his new stock during their travels, Richard exclaimed; “Ah, Lieutenant Wright! Capital—how are you, lad? How was the passage?”

The young officer appeared very tired, but shook his former commander’s hand vigorously.

“Well enough, sir; well enough. Got a bit rough yesterday, but they all seem to have come through it. The mares could probably use a day or two of rest, but those two yearlings you liked so much are so full of piss and vinegar that they’re fair bouncing off the walls. ”

Fitzwilliam clapped his hands with pleasure. “Excellent! They can spend a few days at the stables at Derwent House before we take a nice, easy trip up to Hertfordshire.”

“Hertfordshire, sir?”

“Hmmm… yes, Hertfordshire. I think I mentioned that my wife’s son is he ir to an estate? Well, the current master has invited us to use the stables there.”

“Sounds like a fine arrangement, sir.”

Richard grinned. “And Mr. Bennet also has a cottage that is occupied by only the young man currently working as his steward. I forget the name, but he sounds agreeable enough and is willing to take on a roommate. Are you still game to stay on and look after this lot? Begin their training and so forth? The stables at Longbourn need some work, as well—there are twenty stalls but Bennet hasn’t used more than a few of them in decades.

Luckily, there’s also some excellent pasture that I’ve arranged to rent. ”

Wright needed very little convincing to agree.

He was a soft-spoken young man whose boyhood on a small estate in Essex had done little to prepare him for the horrors of war.

Fitzwilliam had done his best to keep an eye on Wright, but after five years of seeing the evils man could inflict on his fellow man and, perhaps worse, on the innocent animals in his charge, it had been a great relief when the doctors declared his most recent injury too severe for him to remain in active service.

At present, Aaron Wright’s only wish was for peace and quiet; Richard’s proposition could not have come at a more propitious time.

In the end, the establishment of the Fitzwilliam horses at Longbourn was accomplished with remarkable ease.

Mr. Bennet could find little to mock in such a gentle soul as Mr. Wright, and Mrs. Bennet lost interest when she was informed that the Lieutenant had permanently retired his red coat and had no prospect of an inheritance.

Unfortunately, while Mrs. Bennet felt no need to concern herself with the man and rarely visited the stable yard, she felt this new invasion of her domain by the Fitzwilliams keenly.

Although three of her daughters were married (two especially well) and the entail no longer represented a threat to her lifestyle, Mrs. Bennet could not look upon Charlotte’s healthy baby boy as anything less than a personal insult.

Even Lady Lucas’ usually indefatigable sympathy for her neighbor’s nervous complaints was wearing thin.

As a result, the Fitzwilliams departed Meryton with no little relief felt on almost all sides.

Mr. Bennet was surprised to find himself regretting this turn of events, as he had come to enjoy having Richard’s jovial wit and Charlotte’s sensible disposition around Longbourn.

After spending an afternoon in his book room contemplating the matter, he rose the next morning with new determination and Kitty was treated to the extraordinary sight of her parents strolling through the garden together.

Some weeks later, Elizabeth was amused enough at her sister’s astonishment over this turn of events that she read part of the letter aloud to her husband.

Although Darcy shared his wife’s pleasure in seeing Mr. Bennet make such an effort, his own recent contemplations on fatherhood made him even less sympathetic to his father-in-law’s rather paltry attempts than usual.

Deciding that his own matrimonial felicity would be best served through silence on that particular subject, however, Will turned the conversation to their upcoming house party. “Have you heard from the Fitzwilliams?”

Lizzy smiled with genuine pleasure. “Indeed—they expect to arrive tomorrow afternoon with Georgiana. Charlotte says that your sister was not at all happy to be leaving London.”

Darcy made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. “With the Somersets arriving next week, I predict that she shall not pine for long.”

Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, but for all that Pemberley certainly has a history of successful courtships, I believe she worries more about introducing Lord Jonah and his family to her uncle.”

This time Will did snort. “I can’t say that I blame her. My only hope is that between Aunt Eleanor, Richard, and ourselves, we can keep Matlock from… errr…”

Darcy trailed off, unable to find polite words to describe the Earl’s potential behavior toward the Duke of Grafton.

Understanding him completely, Elizabeth crossed the room so that she might lean on his chair and kiss his cheek, rubbing at the knots in his back.

“I’m certain that all will be well—His Grace has met Lord Matlock on any number of occasions, after all, and besides, any friend of my father’s must enjoy studying characters. ”

Darcy grimaced. “They’ve met in the Lords and over matters of government, yes, but we both know that His Grace has avoided socializing with the Fitzwilliams until now.”

“And you are well aware that Grafton and his wife are far more concerned for their son’s happiness than with avoiding the Earl of Matlock.”

“Or his son,” added Darcy grimly. “Which reminds me; I received a letter from Scotland this morning. Ashbourne’s health has worsened to such a degree that they do not expect him to survive the winter.”

Elizabeth tightened her arms around him. “I’m sorry.” When he began to protest, she shushed him. “Whatever your cousin’s faults, he is still your blood and you shall mourn his passing, if for no other reason than for the man he might have become.”

Will sighed and shut his eyes, leaning his head against hers. After a time, he admitted softly, “I’ve been wondering what our child might be like… what I would do if he turned out like Ashbourne or Wickham…”

“Or if she resembled Lydia or Caroline Bingley!” responded Elizabeth.

The pair exchanged a look of understanding and Lizzy moved to curl up in her husband’s lap, her head tucked under his chin. “I suppose that all parents must feel so, but no matter how many times and in how many ways my Aunt Gardiner tries to reassure me, I cannot help but worry.”

“ You can have no concerns; you shall be an excellent mother,” protested Darcy. “I have no such confidence in myself, however.”

“In your ability to be an excellent mother?” teased Lizzy.

Pleased to see a small smile soften his expression, she added, “You are the best man I have ever known, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and I am absolutely certain that you shall be an outstanding father. Had I any doubts, I never would have married you, after all,” she concluded with a smirk.

Seeing that he was preparing to argue, she added, “You would not be so foolish as to question my ability to sketch your character, now, would you, husband?”