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Elizabeth immediately tucked her chin, as if her pudding required a great deal of attention. “Elizabeth? Are you laughing at me?”

She peeked up at him and he no longer had any doubt about it. “You are!

She covered her mouth with one hand and reached out to touch his hand with the other. “I apologize… it’s only that you sound so very miserable…”

When her husband only grunted in response and attempted to pull his hand away, she forced herself to sound more contrite. “I am sorry Will. Truly… I know you will miss her dreadfully.”

“It was just the two of us for so long…” he said finally, and his voice wa s so mournful that she felt tears forming.

“Oh Will…”

Although he knew it was not at all gentlemanly to be glad when his wife began to cry, a part of Fitzwilliam appreciated the evidence that she truly felt his pain. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus on what he had, rather than what he might be losing.

Standing, Mr. Darcy helped his wife from his chair and said softly, “Come, let us enjoy our last evening alone.”

The Fitzwilliams arrived with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley the next afternoon, and the day after that, carriages from near and far began rolling through Pemberley’s woods to deposit guests upon its front steps.

Some were seeing the estate for the first time, but others had not visited since Lady Anne had been mistress.

Needless to say, all were curious to inspect it under the new Mrs. Darcy’s authority.

Although the Darcys had arranged their invitations in the hope of assembling a pleasant company, there were still those among the guests who looked for opportunities to criticize.

Even they, however, were forced to admit that the household ran like a well-oiled clock and that the former Miss Elizabeth Bennet managed it with a light touch that had to be admired.

Guests were shown to their rooms to find their luggage already delivered and hot water produced with near-miraculous efficiency.

Even the most disappointed Derbyshire matrons were forced to admit that neither Pemberley nor Mr. Darcy appeared to be suffering.

Later, Fitzwilliam Darcy found himself unexpectedly content as he stood at the head of the table, observing his guests move around the large dining room to find their places.

Light glittered and gleamed from the polished silver and the ladies’ jewels, their perfumes like small eddies to the citrus-scented candles Elizabeth had ordered placed around the room.

For once, he had no qualms with being the center of attention and, when he stood to make a toast, there was a nostalgic cast to his countenance.

“Honored guests, friends and family; it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all into our home. I’ve been trying to recall when Pemberley last hosted such a happy gathering, and my best recollection is a time when Richard and I evaded our governesses and snuck down the back stairs so that we might peek into the ball room.

” Darcy paused for the chuckles to subside before continuing; “I know that my parents would be glad to see so many of those same faces here tonight, as well as so many new ones. Of course, it is very likely that none of you would be here, if not for my dear wife, who suggested such an event and weathered all of my protests.” Once laughter quieted, he raised his glass and all the company could see the affection with which he looked toward their hostess.

“To Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy, Mistress of Pemberley.”

Elizabeth could not help but blush as the compliment was repeated up and down the table, but it was the warm look from her husband that made her heart beat quicker.

The dinner was a great success by all accounts, and it gave Darcy no small pleasure to watch his wife at the far end of the table, mediating between the Duke of Grafton at her right and the Earl of Matlock at her left.

Both gentlemen appeared well-entertained and, if Darcy saw her occasionally share an amused look with His Grace (much as she often did with her father), he could not blame her.

At his own end of the table, it was rapidly clear that those gentlemen’s wives were well known to one another through their charity work and their conversation flowed smoothly, requiring very little contribution from their host.

Will took the opportunity to observe his sister’s transparent happiness as she talked to her equally besotted suitor, although Richard and Charlotte sat opposite the couple and made sure that they did not entirely neglect their company.

Although Georgiana’s happy situation was everything he could have wished for her, he could still feel the pain in his heart at the knowledge that she would soon be leaving his care.

A glance at Elizabeth brought him back to the present, however, and, though his lapse did not go unnoticed by the two intelligent women at his sides, they did not allow their amusement to show, instead taking care to include him in the conversation for the remainder of the evening.

The night came to a close not long after the company removed to the drawing room, for the guests were tired from their travels and eager for the next day’s activities; after some last conference with Mrs. Reynolds, the Darcys were pleased to follow.