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As always, conversation between the two couples was comfortable and far-reaching and Mr. Darcy found himself relaxing for the first time in days.

He did not realize that the Gardiners had already taken note of his preoccupation until he was settled in a comfortable chair by the fire in Mr. Gardiner’s study with a large glass of brandy.

“How are you holding up, son?”

Will was too startled to mask his surprise, and it took very little for Edward to draw him out.

Once it was all laid out and Darcy fell quiet, his host refilled their glasses in silence.

“Well, you have got a lot on your plate, that’s no lie.

” He took a sip of brandy and savored it for a moment.

“I’ll not tell you that you shouldn’t worry about Lizzy—that would be impossible for any good husband—but I can tell you that Maddy was much the same during her pregnancies, and the doctor and midwives I consulted all assured me it was quite normal.

She would appear to be perfectly well one moment and then fall sound asleep the next.

I suppose that such a change is especially noticeable when the lady is normally very active. ”

Darcy nodded but continued to stare silently into his brandy. Logically, he knew the other man was correct, but it did not relieve all his concerns. “I wish I could just take them both back to Pemberley,” he muttered, and then started when he realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud.

“Well then, why don’t you do just that?”

Fitzwilliam began repeating all of his own and Elizabeth’s obligations until Edward waved him off.

“Maddy is talking to Lizzy right now, and if I know my wife, she will impress on our niece that she need not, and in fact, should not maintain her usual schedule.” He eyed the younger gentleman but spoke his mind; “You must do the same.”

When Will looked slightly affronted, Gardiner’s expression grew even more serious.

“Mr. Darcy, you are not obliged to take my advice by any means, but I will give it to you just the same. You’re no longer a bachelor—if you wish to spend your days slaving away in your study over your estate business and investments, and then fill in any spare time solving other people’s problems instead of spending time with your family, then that is your choice.

However, I don’t believe that you are the sort of man who will find much satisfaction in such a life, and I fear it would make my niece very unhappy as well. ”

Darcy sprung to his feet and paced a lap around the room. “But what can I do? Who can I say ‘no’ to? They are all family!”

Gardner watched him steadily. “They are indeed, but sometimes even family must be told to shove off and stand on their own feet.” He sighed.

“I shall not comment on Lord Matlock’s request, except to remind you that you are not his son, even if his trust in your abilities is a very gratifying compliment. ”

While Darcy considered this, Mr. Gardiner continued, “As for Longbourn, please don’t give that matter another thought.

I shall be going there myself within the month and taking Sir Richard with me.

I don’t care how exalted his position is in the War Office; he and Bennet are Collin’s legal guardians and, as such, are responsible for looking after the boy’s interests until he is of age.

I wasn’t aware that you had arranged for the steward at Longbourn and, quite frankly, I am mortified that my brother has continued to allow you to pay the man’s salary.

” He grumbled a bit more before concluding, “You see to your wife and sister; I will take care of Longbourn.”

Mr. Gardiner’s expression was such a combination of fierceness and determination that Darcy actually laughed aloud in relief. “Thank you, sir. I didn’t mean to lay all this on you… but thank you, just the same.”

Gardiner waved him off. “You were trying to ease Lizzy’s mind—something of which I can easily approve. However, Bennet should not have taken advantage of your good nature just to maintain his own idle lifestyle… and it is my duty as Fanny’s brother to remind him of that.”

Darcy nodded, trusting the man implicitly.

After a moment’s thought, he offered, “I believe I will be telling my uncle something similar. To all intents and purposes, Ravenswood is now part of the properties associated with Matlock, and I don’t have time now to see to it as I did with Rosings Park when Lady Catherine and Anne lived there. ”

“Good man,” Gardiner nodded approvingly.

“Although now that I am becoming more familiar with the workings of Rosings on behalf of my own son, I must thank you for your efforts there over the years. Lady Catherine had some strange ideas on economy; I suspect few of the tenants would have remained if they could not rely on the relief you provided each Easter.”

Darcy responded modestly, though he appreciated the acknowledgement. The gentlemen spent the remainder of their time discussing various details of Rosings and Longbourn until a maid came to tell them that tea and cakes were being served in the sitting room.

Mr. Gardiner paused with his hand on the door and turned to the younger man.

“I have one request, if you don’t mind, and that is that you share all of this with Lizzy, preferably in the next day or two.

Madeleine has been worried that our niece will feel that she is a failure if she cannot keep up with all her activities—her charity work and social obligations and so forth.

If you will tell her of your own decision to shed some of these duties, she is more likely to feel comfortable doing the same. ”

Darcy agreed instantly and the two gentlemen left to join the ladies.

Mr. Gardiner’s advice proved to be sound, and by the end of the week, both Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were feeling much less strained.

With only a little trepidation, Will had informed Lord Henry that he would not be able to see to Ravenswood; after some obligatory grumbling, his uncle admitted that he would not rest easily until he saw it for himself.

With surprisingly little fuss, it was decided that the Earl and Countess of Matlock themselves would accompany Lady Alameda and her son to Essex for some weeks at Easter while parliament was out.

Likewise, Elizabeth wrote to Longbourn, informing Mr. and Mrs. Bennet that the Darcys would not be able to stop in Hertfordshire when they next travelled north.

She did not hear back from her father, which was not unexpected, given that gentleman’s aversion to correspondence.

Instead, she received yet another thick epistle from her mother that, though filled with copious words, contained little Lizzy cared to read.

In truth, Mrs. Bennet was feeling increasingly ill-used, left as she was with only Kitty at home (and that daughter showing far less interest in her mother’s complaints than the matron felt she was due).

Certainly Jane sent letters with satisfying regularity, but they were all filled with news about young John Thomas Bingley, and Mrs. Bennet found that boasting about the boy was far less pleasurable when his presence was not accompanied by access to Netherfield.

To top it all off, those artful Lucases continued to parade the dreadful little Collins boy around, just to rub it in that Fanny had not produced an heir for Longbourn herself.

Mrs. Bennet’s primary release from this self-inflicted misery was in her letters, and, as Mrs. Darcy was the daughter who had not yet produced an heir for her husband’s estate, she was the unhappy recipient of the majority of Mrs. Bennet’s complaints, advice, and exhortations.

Elizabeth was in the process of skimming just such a letter when a pair of familiar arms wrapped around her waist. “Did you shut the door? My husband is known to be frightfully possessive and I would hate to see him run you through,” she teased.

Will pulled her back against him so she could feel just how pleased he was to see her. “I will run you through, minx.”

Lizzy took no little satisfaction in knowing that, even six months pregnant, she could still inspire lust in her husband. She relaxed back against him and sighed in contentment when he nuzzled her neck.

“Hmmm… was there anything in particular you needed when you invaded my boudoir uninvited, or was it only to interrupt my correspondence?” she murmured.

Wrapping his hands around the growing swell at her waist, Will smiled. “It’s nearly time to dress for the party.”

“Ah… and you are eager to see my new evening gown? Perhaps just a little?”

Darcy refrained from commenting that he was even more eager to see her out of her gown, saying only, “You have mentioned it several times and I will admit to some curiosity.” Slipping one hand into his pocket, he added, “Your modista did give me a hint, however…” and a string of sparkles cascaded over her shoulder.

“Oh Will… you shouldn’t have…”

He chuckled, always amused by the persistence of her frugal nature even with access to the Darcy coffers.

“It was just sitting around in the vault gathering dust… I thought it would be a shame not to bring it out into the light. And besides, we Darcys are known to be very proud of our family jewels, have you not heard? Do they not deserve to be displayed upon occasion?”

Elizabeth turned in his arms to face him and the glitter in her eye made him realize his unintentional double entendre. Feeling color rise in his cheeks, he focused on fixing the delicate concoction of diamonds and pearls around her neck. “Did your mother have any particular news?”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Much of the same, I fear. Fortunately, Kitty sent along a note as well and, though far less in volume, its content is much more interesting.”