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Darcy could not help but chuckle over how neatly she had hemmed him in.

After several minutes of contemplation, he conceded defeat.

“I always believed that George Wickham’s story might not have turned out so poorly if my father had not been so lenient toward him.

And yet, I cannot think that Ashbourne was treated much differently than myself. ”

“Oh Will,” sighed Lizzy. “Given what we know now of Wickham’s origins, I cannot help but think that your father’s manner toward him must have been very confusing to a young boy.

Imagine losing your dear sister but having her son growing up on the very grounds of your estate, despising the boy’s father but also harboring guilt that you must hide the relationship under the guise of being his godfather.

It was quite an impossible situation for your father, though I can see why they thought it a reasonable solution, at first.”

After considering the matter, Darcy eventually responded, “That may indeed explain Wickham’s twisted character, but not Ashbourne’s.”

Elizabeth turned so that she could look him in the eye.

“Very well—I will concede that there are some characters who enter this world with a greater tendency toward evil than the rest. Is that what you need to hear me say? But Fitzwilliam—thoughts of this sort, before our babe has even moved, much less been born, are only borrowing trouble. What is it that you are really worried about?”

It took some minutes of contemplation before he finally confided, “I fear I shall love our child so much that I will not be able to see his or her faults.”

“Oh Will… a child raised without adequate instruction on proper behavior, spoiled as to their every whim, is certainly likely to run wild.” Seeing her husband grimace, she reconsidered her words.

“Silly man, I was referring to Lydia! You were given good principles and merely ran astray in their application for a time. My sister has been spoiled all her life, and I can only pray that this new schooling shall prove that her character is not warped beyond repair.”

Elizabeth turned to kiss his cheek. “Dearest, there is a vast difference between spoiling a child and loving them. You’ve already proven that you are capable of a proper balance with Georgiana.

You cannot argue that you have had a major contribution to her education, even before the death of her father, and has she not turned out well?

” She sighed. “Certainly I cannot claim such an accomplishment with my own younger sisters.”

This prompted Darcy to disagree but, rather than bicker over their respective families’ behavior (or misbehavior, as the case might be), in the end the couple agreed to disagree.

Now that they had returned to the country, Lizzy was happy to resume her walks.

Mr. Darcy had determined it too dangerous for her to ride “in her condition” (a phrase she had begun to despise), which she accepted, but when he tried to suggest that she restrict her rambles to the rose garden, she gave him such a withering look that even the Master of Pemberley chose to keep his powder dry for the present.

After a particularly trying morning during which she had been forced to dismiss two maids for fighting over a footman and then talking back to Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth was particularly glad to escape the house and head for the woods.

“Well, Lizzy Bennet… you always knew that being Mistress of Pemberley would not be about playing ‘Lady Bountiful’ all the time. They gave you no choice but to dismiss them,” she told herself sternly.

“Not everyone can be ruled with smiles and humor; some require threats and a stick.” She sighed.

“Mrs. Darcy?”

Suddenly realizing that she had been speaking aloud, Elizabeth turned to see the curate of Pemberley’s chapel coming along a path that intersected her own. “Mr. Tucker—it’s good to see you, sir.”

After greeting her, the cleric indicated that he was walking in the same direction. After a moment of quiet, he studied her out of the corner of his eye. “And how are you , these days, Mrs. Darcy?”

Elizabeth smiled ruefully, for news of her pregnancy seemed to have spread like wildfire throughout the county. “Perfectly well, Mr. Tucker, and my dear husband is doing everything he can to keep me so.”

The man nodded, but remained serious. “Forgive me, but I overheard you talking to yourself just now.”

Lizzy blushed slightly, but admitted, “Not at all—I fear that I was airing my grievances in a most imprudent manner, though I only meant to share them with the sparrows.”

“I often do the same when I’m trying to write a sermon,” he confided and the pair shared an understanding look.

After walking silently for a few minutes, Mr. Tucker offered, “You sounded rather upset; if there is anything you wish to talk about… in confidence, of course.”

Mrs. Darcy’s immediate reaction was to keep her thoughts private from all but her husband. However, after thinking over the matter for a time, she realized that, in a situation such as this, the cleric might be able to act in a way that neither the Master nor the Mistress of Pemberley could.

Quickly summarizing the actions of the maids and the eventual outcome, Elizabeth explained, “I can’t regret dismissing them—had I not, both my and Mrs. Reynolds’ authority would have been compromised to a degree that the disrespect might have spread to others on the staff.

However, I am concerned for the girls’ families.

Mattie Wilder, in particular, is the eldest of four and with her father gone, her poor mother can barely make ends meet as it is; I don’t know what they will do now that they have lost Mattie’s pay.

Given the way things ended, I cannot very well call upon Mrs. Wilder myself with a charity basket, but perhaps you could check on them? ”

Mr. Tucker was glad to agree and even had an idea of one or two other jobs that the girls might apply for. “Without a letter from you, of course, they are unlikely to find another position in service, but I know that one of the mills is looking to hire young women with small hands.”

Elizabeth nodded unhappily, having heard stories about the unpleasant working conditions in such places.

Mr. Tucker read her expression correctly.

“It is likely that they will find themselves missing Pemberley soon enough, but that is their own fault, Mrs. Darcy. As my mentor often has to remind me, one cannot help everyone. And indeed, though their dismissal might seem a catastrophe in their current lives, it may in the end prove to put them on a better path, having learned the consequences of their actions.”

“Misfortunes help us learn what fortune is, then?” asked Elizabeth in a slightly lighter tone.

“Indeed,” agreed the cleric. He looked pensive for a time before adding, “And that may be just what I need to finish my sermon!”

“Well then, I’m glad to know that all that angst was not in vain,” answered Mrs. Darcy with a smile.

They turned to head toward the house and she thought to inquire, “Have you heard anything from your brother, Mr. Tucker? I know I shouldn’t expect any mail from Mary for some months, but I cannot help but hope to hear that they arrived in Africa safely, at least.”

Mr. Tucker shook his head, admitting, “No, I’ve heard nothing.

I find myself thinking about Avery a great deal these days; though I’m happy for him to be pursuing his dream, I still miss him intensely.

Far more than when we lived in different parts of England…

for him to be so very far away, and the travel so dangerous… ”

Elizabeth nodded her understanding. “I feel the same about Mary, though I cannot claim as close a relationship with my sister as you do with your twin. Perhaps it is because she has entered a world that is so completely outside my realm of experience. ”

“Well, you have my word that I will inform you as soon as I have any word of them,” promised the cleric.

By the time the lady had assured him that she would return the favor, the pair had reached the house, whereupon Mrs. Darcy turned and offered her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Tucker. You have raised my spirits far more than the solitude that I thought I desired.”

Blushing a little at such praise, the gentleman thanked her and quickly took his leave, already thinking about his next sermon.

When Elizabeth related the conversation to her husband that evening at dinner, she admitted, “I’ve appreciated Mr. Tucker’s sermons, but I realize now that I haven’t really talked with him very much before this.

Or rather, our previous conversations were all about the school or aid for the distressed in the area…

I’ve never discussed something personal with him.

I think that my understanding of his brother’s character may have left me rather shy of our Mr. Tucker’s opinions. ”

Darcy nodded. “He is a good man, very kind but not na?ve, and willing to face hard truths when necessary. I interviewed a number of candidates for the position and he was far and away the most promising.” He paused to sip his wine before admitting, “I was taken aback when we first met Mr. Avery Tucker. For a moment I was concerned that there might be a side of Mr. Owen Tucker I hadn’t seen before, and I fear that the sort of fire and brimstone style of preaching that he favors would not fit well, here at Pemberley. ”

Elizabeth smiled, amused at the image before answering, “No, indeed.” Changing the topic, she asked if he was looking forward to the arrival of Richard, Charlotte, and Georgiana the next day.

“Of course,” he replied, but did not appear as enthusiastic as she might have expected.

“Fitzwilliam?”

He clenched his jaw for a few moments but finally admitted, “Georgiana’s last letter was entirely about Lord Jonah, from the first sentence to the last.”