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His expression lost some of its fierceness. “I assumed you would say I was too harsh on her.”

She gave him a long look. “Fitzwilliam, you reproved her, explained clearly how she was expected to act, and informed her of the consequences if she did not in a manner that left her in no doubt that you would do just that. If she comes to me looking for sympathy, I shall tell her that I agree with you entirely.”

Just as Will’s expression had changed from relief to mild astonishment by the end of her little speech, Elizabeth’s became fiercer.

“Mr. Darcy, I have spent a lifetime wishing my own father would take the trouble to discipline his daughters and correct their behavior. And even if I did disagree, I hope you know that I would not undermine your authority with your sister by telling her so behind your back!”

She turned on her heel and was about to stalk out of the room, but in three long strides, her husband reached the door before her and held it shut.

“Elizabeth… forgive me—I didn’t think. This entire situation has me off balance, I fear.

Sometimes she seems so very young… they both do, to be honest.”

Elizabeth took a sharp breath and attempted to let go of her irritation. “I know, Will.” Having nothing better to say, she rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, only to find herself engulfed in a tight embrace.

They stood thus for some time until a tap at the door indicated the arrival of his secretary.

Stepping back, she fussed over his rumpled cravat for a moment.

“Perhaps you should talk to Richard this evening after dinner. He may have a more detached perspective on Georgiana, in addition to the experience of having seen several sisters married.”

Darcy kissed her forehead before turning back to his desk. “Yes; I must inform him about my uncle’s house, as well. Harvin will know which day we are to meet with Sir James and the solicitors to deal with the legalities of the trust,” he added.

Elizabeth moved to touch his arm. “Georgiana is a sensible girl, Will, and she has been given good principles. She has applied herself to learning the mistresses’ duties at Pemberley, and I shall make sure she does the same here in town, though the fundamentals are much the same.

” Observing that he appeared slightly reassured, she added in a lighter tone, “I can also take her over to the Fitzwilliams’ new townhouse today, if you like.

I’m certain that Charlotte would be happy to give us a tour and, if we are to believe their stories, the sight would certainly make Georgiana appreciate her good fortune. ”

When Mr. Harvin was finally admitted to his employer’s study, he was glad to see that the master appeared to be in reasonably good spirits and, after bidding good day to Mrs. Darcy, they got down to business.

By evening, Fitzwilliam rather wished that Georgiana’s dowry and settlement were all he had to worry about.

After dinner, he and Richard had parted from the ladies and settled in his study with some excellent port.

Upon hearing the news, his cousin had had no qualms at all with Sir James Darcy’s plan to bequeath his townhouse to the newlyweds .

“Well—that’s a fine idea, is it not? Bloomsbury is a nice neighborhood and they will appreciate having their own house in London.

I swear, that pair has more plans... there’s to be a quartet practicing on Tuesday evenings and a salon to discuss new composers on Thursday afternoons, and a dozen other events that I can’t recall at the moment.

You’ll hear all about it, soon enough, I’m sure.

It’s good that they will have their own house—I don’t know about Grafton, but I’m fairly certain you wouldn’t be happy if they were planning to do all of this entertaining under your roof.

” Richard chuckled when Darcy grimaced, for, though his cousin had become easier since marrying, he would never be a particularly social being.

“You don’t think it will be too much for them? Sir James assures me that the house is in good condition structurally, and he has an excellent housekeeper who will be happy to stay on, but I know nothing about this property in Oxfordshire that Lord Jonah has inherited from the Duke.”

“Oh, Worcester mentioned it to me—sounded like a pretty little estate. Nice manor house for entertaining in the country. Not a great deal of land, but enough to give them an income of four or five thousand a year if managed well.”

“But who has been managing it? Grafton? Worcester? Lord Jonah?”

Richard shrugged easily, craning his neck to watch a good-looking horse pass by outside the window and thus missing the extent of Darcy’s concern.

“Don’t know—there’s a steward, I suppose.

Anyways, I’m sure that everything will be shipshape by the time you’re done looking it over.

” He turned back in time to catch his cousin’s startled expression and roared with laughter.

“Oh come now, Darce—I’m absolutely certain that you will insist on going over every field and every ledger before you let your precious little sister move in! ”

The ex-cavalryman slumped back into his chair with a contented grin.

“Well now, was there anything else? I am very pleased with this little chestnut filly I brought back from Spain—come riding with me tomorrow morning and I’ll let you put her through her paces.

Light on her feet and can turn on a pin, but steady as anything and can trot all day… ”

Before his cousin could get started on horses (a topic that, though usually of great interest to Darcy, was not now foremost on his mind), he inquired, “Have you been up to Longbourn recently? Are plans for the spring planting in place?”

Richard rolled his eyes but admitted that he had been to Meryton just the previous week to install his new trainer.

“The horses have settled in exceedingly well. It really is an excellent situation—just a few hours ride out from London for me to check on them, I mean. No need to stay overnight if Madame Bennet is on one of her rampages, and this new man I’ve hired seems to have moved into Wright’s place without any fuss. ”

Darcy noted the slur against his mother-in-law but held his tongue. “But what of the estate, Richard? Have you talked to the steward at all?”

The other man waved his hand as if diffusing a foul odor.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Darcy—all I care about is that the stables are fixed up, which they have been, and the pastures I’ve rented are in good shape, which they appear to be.

Here now, what is this all about? I’m sure Bennet and his steward have it all well in hand—he’s been master of the place for nearly thirty years, hasn’t he? ”

Rather than answer, Darcy turned to refill their glasses. “I received a note from your father today.”

“Oh, do tell! What orders does the Earl have for his minions this month?”

Darcy’s jaw tightened but he forced himself to speak neutrally. “Ashbourne’s steward has not been forthcoming about the state of Ravenswood. Uncle Henry wishes us to go into Essex and assess the estate for him.”

Richard roared with laughter. “By which he means you! Sorry, Darce—I trotted along to Rosings every Easter like a good little soldier, though we both know my input was mostly limited to insulting her Ladyship’s taste in horseflesh.”

“Richard, be serious; you know a great deal…”

“No, Darce—this one is all yours.” Chuckling, Richard stood and, after tossing back the last of his wine, began heading for the door.

“I have a wife and a son now, not to mention a profession that keeps me very well occupied. The Earl will not be using me as his errand boy any more, whether he knows it yet or not. Now then—I would prefer to see my aforementioned wife before she falls asleep, unless there was something else? Did you need advice on Bingley’s estate?

Or Rosings, perhaps? No? Come along then—our ladies await! ”

With another great roar of laughter, Richard led the way toward the music room from which some desultory notes on the pianoforte were issuing.

“Come now, Miss Georgiana Darcy! If that’s the best you can manage, then I shall have to report to your brother that all his money on masters and instruments has been entirely wasted! ”

Darcy waited until he could assume a more phlegmatic expression but when he appeared, Elizabeth could guess that he was unhappy.

He took a seat to the side of the room and, although the clapped for his sister’s performance at all the appropriate times, the music did not appear to be foremost in his mind.

After they retired for the night, Elizabeth did her best to discover his concerns, but Darcy merely explained that Richard had agreed the Bloomsbury house would do very well for Georgiana and Jonah, and that they (Sir James and Mr. Darcy) would be meeting with the solicitors on Monday to work out the legal details.

Lizzy suspected that there was more, but chose to delay any further interrogation for a time when her eyelids did not feel like lead weights.

In truth, Will felt as if he was being pulled in twelve different directions.

In addition to all his own business concerns, he had returned home from a meeting at his club that afternoon to discover Elizabeth asleep at her desk, ink from a half-finished note staining her cheek.

She was sleeping so soundly that she never even woke when he picked her up and carried her to their bed.

Darcy was not one to seek out advice on his personal concerns, even when it was most needed. It was probably fortunate, therefore, that he and his wife joined the Gardiners for dinner some nights later.