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“How do you feel?”

Elizabeth kept her eyes closed and held her tongue for a few moments, trying to dredge up every last remaining scrap of patience.

Traveling from Derbyshire to London in February was never very agreeable, but over the last few days she had discovered that being pregnant made the trip infinitely worse. “Quite dreadful, to be honest.”

“Should we stop?”

At least he had asked her opinion this time, rather than barking an order to the driver and acting as if she was a child with no sense.

Having a caring, worried husband who desperately wanted to make everything better was lovely in theory, but in practice…

Lizzy had already snapped at him once for doing no more than trying to help and she desperately wished to avoid seeing that hurt look on his face again.

“No, thank you, Will… it would only come back when we started moving again… I would truly prefer to push on and get there as quickly as possible.”

Darcy nodded shortly and said nothing more, although he continued to castigate himself silently for allowing his wife and unborn child to suffer such a perilous journey.

What had he been thinking? There was no reason to travel to London—surely any necessary business could be conducted by post!

What was the worth of being so very rich if he could not protect those he loved best?

Reading his silence, Elizabeth sighed. “Fitzwilliam—please, stop berating yourself. We both have people to see and things to do in London, and there is no telling when we will be able to make the journey down again.” She finally turned away from the cool window and leaned against his shoulder, feeling infinitely more comfortable when he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

She felt him kiss her hair even as he muttered, “I still say we should never have come.”

Lizzy only smiled and kept her eyes closed. “You just want to avoid the Somersets’ dinner party next week. It won’t work, you know. Even if I was unable to attend, Georgiana would have dragged you along to Grafton House.”

Darcy groaned, but a thread of humor found its way into his voice. “Perhaps you will need some days to recover… surely no one would question my absence if I am required to tend my wife?”

“For shame, Mr. Darcy—using your poor, sickly wife as an excuse to avoid a party celebrating your own sister’s engagement.

If you wish to stay home, you may certainly do so—go to bed if you like!

I, however, shall be attending—Madame Lavoisier has designed a new evening gown for me to wear.

It’s a pity, really; I was quite looking forward to seeing your reaction to it. ”

The rumble in her husband’s chest might have been a groan, a chuckle, or an expression of anticipation… or, most likely, a mixture of all three.

The couple’s remaining hours of travel passed in a similar manner of gentle teasing, quiet laughter, and discussion of their plans.

They finally arrived at Derwent House just as the sun was setting on the fourth day and were met in the foyer by Georgiana and Lord Jonah (who just happened to be visiting), as well as Richard and Charlotte.

All three couples had news they were eager to share, but Mr. Darcy waited only a few minutes before firmly announcing that Elizabeth needed to rest and herding her off to their chambers.

Tilly and Hawkins had anticipated their mistress and master’s needs.

Lizzy might have protested her husband’s insistence that they retire so early, but the moment she slid into the hot bath, she admitted he had been right.

She might have fallen asleep then and there if her maid had not come to help her prepare for bed.

As a result of this efficient care, Mr. Darcy returned from his own dressing room to discover his wife curled up on their bed, sound asleep.

After drawing the quilts more closely around her, he sent his valet to order a tray and then settled down at the writing desk to review the notes from his secretary and plan out his week.

The next morning, Georgiana was pleased to see that her brother and sister were already present when she arrived in the breakfast room. “Oh! Will, Lizzy—I’m so glad that you have come! Are you feeling better?”

Elizabeth grinned. “Indeed—ten hours of sleep has set me up for life, I believe.”

“Then may we go out tonight? There’s a new opera playing at the Theatre Royale and Jonah heard that it is supposed to be wonderfully original!”

Darcy looked slightly pained, having hoped for at least one evening of grace before being forced out into the social maelstrom of the London Season.

Seeing his hesitation, his sister wheedled, “Please, Will? It has been so dull here—we haven’t been able to do anything !”

This was probably not the wisest approach to take, as it reminded Mr. Darcy of why Richard and Charlotte could not take his sister out into Society.

“You’ve been permitted to receive Lord Jonah’s calls, which is more than most guardians would allow given that we have been in mourning for our cousin until very recently, and Richard is still mourning his brother! ”

“Yes, Fitzwilliam,” whispered Georgiana, instantly contrite.

Elizabeth decided it was time to step in. “Perhaps we could attend a performance tomorrow or Monday? I had hoped we could have a quiet evening with just family tonight; once we take our cards around today, there is sure to be an avalanche of invitations.”

Looking slightly less wilted, Georgiana agreed quietly. After studying his sister for a few more moments, Darcy turned his attention back to his wife. “Holmes mentioned that my new cards have been delivered from the printer—they should be in my study.”

Lizzy smiled. “Excellent—I’ll come and get them before we leave.

” Mr. and Mrs. Darcy had already agreed upon the people whom they wished to notify of their presence in town, although even the most abstemious distribution of cards seemed to have little effect on the volume of eager callers to Derwent House when word got out that the Darcys’ knocker was up. “Georgiana—shall we leave at eleven?”

Miss Darcy’s expression showed her surprise. “Oh! But I had hoped Jonah might call. We had talked about going walking in the park…” She trailed off as her brother’s expression became stern again.

“Georgiana, you know the rules as well as I. You shall accompany Elizabeth in the carriage and leave your own cards as well as mine and hers.” Observing her disappointment, Darcy spoke grimly, “Doing your duty without being told, even when it is contrary to your personal wishes, is a part of being an adult, Georgiana. If you do not understand that, if you believe you have nothing to do all day but play and sing and go walking in the park with your beau, then you belong in the schoolroom and are certainly not ready to have a household of your own, much less a husband. I have not yet sent the announcement to the Times . Shall I inform Grafton that it will be another year before you are prepared to marry?”

“No, Fitzwilliam,” whispered Miss Darcy contritely. “I will be ready at eleven.”

“Good,” remarked her brother decidedly before turning back to Elizabeth. “Now, which is to be your morning in? Georgiana must make certain that she has not scheduled any walks or visits or shopping trips that might prevent her from attending that, as well.”

Although she would have preferred to be absent when her husband reprimanded his sister, Elizabeth answered immediately; “Tuesday, I believe, but first I must speak with Charlotte to see when they shall be moving into their own house...”

“Saturday!” announced Richard Fitzwilliam’s cheerful voice from the doorway, having arrived just in time to hear the last comment. “Come hail or high water, we shall sleep under our own roof on the Sabbath.”

“At least we are assured that there is a roof,” added Charlotte in a dry tone. “The walls, however, remain something of a question.”

“Ah, keep up your courage, dear girl… I’m assured by our august plasterer, Mr. Thatcher , that the work will be done by the end of this very day.” At his wife’s raised eyebrow, he emended, “Well, at least the main rooms should be done.” She rolled her eyes and they both laughed.

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy smiled, pleased to see their friends so content, while Charlotte prepared two cups of coffee and Richard filled plates for them both.

“Are you certain you wish to move in before all the work is completed?” asked Elizabeth.

“You know you are welcome to stay here for as long as you wish—we are very glad to have you.”

The former Miss Lucas smiled at her old friend fondly. “Thank you, Lizzy, but the new house is much closer to Whitehall for Richard, and I would like to be there to oversee the workers.”

Reading Charlotte’s genuine eagerness to be settled in her own home, Elizabeth relented. “Very well, though I hope you know that a little dust shall not keep me from visiting!”

They all laughed and the conversation turned to more commonplace topics as the group caught up with one another.

It was not long, however, before Richard admitted to having an early appointment at the War Office.

While the others dispersed to their rooms, Lizzy followed her husband into his study, ostensibly to retrieve his cards, but also to make sure that he did not spend the morning brooding over his sister.

Shutting the door behind her, Elizabeth observed Darcy for a few moments as he stood at his desk and shifted some papers around.

Eventually, he tapped them all back into a pile and squared the corners before facing her.

“I will not apologize. If Georgiana wishes to be married this summer, then she must demonstrate that she can conduct herself as an adult. I will not have her shaming either the Darcy or Somerset names.”

Lizzy’s eyebrows rose. “And I quite agree. Were you under the impression that I felt otherwise?”