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The funeral for Lord Edward Fitzwilliam, Viscount Ashbourne, was a somber occasion, although not for the usual reasons.

Between his parents, there was a great sadness for the boy he had been and the man they had hoped he would become.

If the feelings of Ashbourne’s younger siblings and cousins were more mixed, they might be excused for having witnessed (and been subjected to) his casual cruelties for all of their lives without the filter of a parent’s love.

The only people who might have felt genuine remorse over the Viscount’s passing were the cardsharps and bookies who had lined their pockets from his losses over the years, but they were not invited to the funeral.

The newest Viscount Ashbourne stood beside his grandfather, back straight and dark eyes solemn beyond his six years.

With the resilience of youth, he was slowly learning that not all men were like his father.

But even so, he was a thoughtful, quiet child more likely to look to his Uncle Darcy for direction than his jolly Uncle Richard or even his gruff grandfather.

The Darcys remained at Matlock for a week after the interment.

Elizabeth sat with the Countess and Lady Alameda, receiving callers and providing such aid as she could.

Likewise, Mr. Darcy spent many hours in Lord Henry’s study, helping his uncle and the solicitors work through the practical matters of transferring titles and changing wills to reflect the Earl’s new heir.

“Well then, what is to be done about Ravenswood?” asked the Earl one evening, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

“It’s a pretty enough estate, I suppose, but land prices are high in Essex right now and there’s a nice bit of property coming up for sale in northern Cheshire, not twenty miles from here; good fields and far more convenient to keep an eye on.

I sent an express to Ashbourne’s steward but he has yet to reply; I fear one of us shall have to go there ourselves to sort it out.

I would send Pinchin to chivy the man along,” he added, referring to his own steward, “but the man’s wife is due to go into her confinement next week and I cannot ask him to leave, particularly as the poor woman nearly died giving birth to their first child. ”

Suddenly Henry recalled his nephew’s own worries concerning his pregnant wife and shut his mouth abruptly.

Darcy grimaced but managed to tamp down the fear before it liquefied his guts.

“Although you are, of course, in charge of managing Master Reggie’s inheritance until he comes of age, I would suggest that Lady Alameda be consulted with regard to Ravenswood.

It is, after all, the Warren family’s ancestral estate and I believe she is quite attached to it.

The boy is also inheriting the Baron Asbury title from his maternal grandfather, in addition to becoming Viscount Ashbourne and your heir,” he reminded his uncle in as tactful a tone as he could muster.

Matlock grunted and threw down his pen in frustration. “Oh bollocks, of course you are right. Forgive me—I wasn’t thinking.” From Matlock, this was tantamount to an admission of abject misery.

Darcy checked his watch. “It is quite late and we have accomplished a great deal already. Why don’t we quit for the day and join the ladies?” He stood and headed toward the door as he spoke, making it clear that his statement was not a question.

Lord Henry nodded tiredly. “Indeed. You go ahead—I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Darcy gave his uncle a long look but was too eager to check on Elizabeth to quibble.

As soon as the door shut behind his nephew, Henry dropped his head into his hands.

He had thought that he had prepared himself for his eldest son’s demise over the last few months, but now found himself bereft and guilt-ridden.

What had gone wrong, that Edward had fallen so far from the path his father had planned for him? What had he, Henry, done wrong?

The Earl was not a man prone to self-doubt but, even so, he spent some time gravely contemplating the life and death of his eldest son. A father, he thought to himself, should not have to bury his child… and an earl should not feel relieved when his heir dies before him.

Henry pounded his fist on the desk. That was the crux of the matter, was it not?

Even when Edward had been a boy, there had been a meanness about him.

He had done as his father directed, learnt the history of the family and the title, studied how to manage the estate and their various investments, but there had always been a tendency toward indifference.

Except when discussing his inheritance, thought Henry sadly.

His son had always shown great fervor when coming to beg for an advance on his allowance, or better yet, a loan to be repaid at some nebulous point in the future .

The Earl sighed again and rubbed his face before slamming his hands down on his desk.

“Well old man, you have a second chance; a six year old boy who has no reason to love or even respect you. If you want to go to your grave believing that your forefathers’ legacy is in good hands, then you had best give young Master Reggie just as much consideration and time as any act of parliament. ”

Later that day, Matlock asked Lady Alameda to attend him in his study. It was nearly two hours later that she sought out Mr. and Mrs. Darcy in the library.

Elizabeth took one look at the other woman’s face and moved quickly to help her to a chair.

“What has happened, Lady Alameda? What is wrong?” Alameda Fitzwilliam was not an easy woman to know, but Lizzy had spent most of her life in a house filled with strong female personalities.

The Viscountess occasionally reverted to her haughty, Society persona, but Elizabeth was determined to persevere.

For now, she was simply pleased to see that the young widow had sought out the Darcys when she needed to talk.

Alameda rubbed her cold hands together and held them out toward the fire. “Nothing is wrong, precisely. It’s only that I’ve just had the most shocking conversation with Lord Matlock. Well, perhaps shocking is a bit much… astonishing, I suppose. Yes, astonishing sums it up quite nicely.”

The Darcys shared a look, Will having already told his wife about his conversation with the Earl earlier in the afternoon.

“Is everything well?” asked Elizabeth carefully.

She had come to feel a certain affection for her husband’s uncle since her marriage, but that did not make her unaware of just how overbearing and pompous the older gentleman could be at times.

When Alameda turned back toward her companions, there was a certain wonder in her expression.

“He wished to know my feelings towards Ravenswood. Whether I thought I would ever be comfortable going back there after what Ashbourne did, or if it should be sold.” She brushed a tear from her eye roughly, determined not to show just how much she appreciated having her opinion taken into consideration.

Seeing the Darcys’ curiosity, she added, “I wish to keep it, of course. I have many happy memories of my childhood there, as well as all of my family’s history.

A few unpleasant moments cannot wipe that away.

” She smiled. “Once Lord Henry accepted that, we discussed how best to give Reggie a chance to learn about both his Fitzwilliam and Warren heritage. Lord Henry and Lady Eleanor are to accompany us to Essex next year, and he will keep me informed as they sort out the mess Ashbourne made of the accounting books. And, when we all return to Derbyshire next summer, they have asked me to stay here at the main house. Reggie and I are to have an apartment of our own, but Lord Henry wishes us to move up from the dower house permanently so that he might have more opportunity to know his grandson better.”

Alameda laughed a little breathily after such a rambling speech and could not help but add, “He’s not going to take my son away from me, even though he has the legal right to raise his heir as he sees fit.”

Elizabeth moved to touch the other lady’s arm.

“Oh! I never even considered such a thing… it would take a heart of stone to separate the two of you after all you’ve been through, and for all his gruff exterior, I do believe Lord Henry is a good-hearted man.

” To lighten the mood, she teased, “And even if he had suggested it, I’ve no doubt that Lady Eleanor would put an end to such a plan as quick as a wink! ”

The two ladies began to giggle, much to the relief of Mr. Darcy.

The Earl proved to be as good as his word and, over the months and years that followed, the tenants of both great estates became accustomed to visits by the old master and his grandson.

The new Lord Ashbourne would never be called lively, but he showed a great love of the land from an early age and it was not long before all those dependent on Matlock and Ravenswood were satisfied that the estates’ future was in good hands.

The Darcys left Matlock some days later with fond farewells but also a barely concealed eagerness to return to their own home.

Certainly there was a great deal of work to be done around the estate, but they could also look forward to many cozy hours spent together in the library reading or playing chess.

Georgiana chose to remain at Matlock; after the new year she would return to London with Richard and Charlotte so that she might purchase her trousseau (and quietly spend time with Lord Jonah, though the family would still be in mourning).

Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy braced themselves to spend Christmas with her family at Holloway.