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“There is no questioning the amount of respect I have for Mrs. Hawkins. Formerly known as Mrs. Bennet. I will gladly take her as mother over you.” Theodore stood up, his fists pressing into the table as he faced the irate woman.

His gaze was as frigid as the coldest winter’s day.

“You are a disgrace to the title, Mother.”

Theodore could feel the warmth of Catherine’s hand on his arm. When he turned to her, she smiled reassuringly. Without a word she was showing him that he was not alone in his struggle.

“You are running out of time, Mother. You will be in the carriage in a few hours. I suggest you change into traveling clothes and supervise the packing of any items you want to bring. You may take anything you own. All items that belong to the family must stay at Matlock House. Any personal belongings that cannot be packed today will be sent to you separately.”

With one last screech, Lady Matlock angrily hurled her teacup towards her son, narrowly missing him. Her anger was evident as she stormed out of the room, her footsteps resonating with intensity. The crash of a door slamming closed soon followed.

Theodore turned and looked at the man who had been standing behind him throughout the entire encounter. “Barnes, could you follow her with the butler and make sure she neither steals anything nor starts breaking things? I would hate to lose a family heirloom if we can help it.”

“Of course, sir.” With a bow, he left, following the sounds of discord.

Catherine watched Theodore almost deflate.

It had been a lot to confront his mother about her transgressions and finally force her from his life.

She knew she needed to help him but finding a way to divert his attention from the events of the morning proved challenging.

Getting up, she looked at the food still on display.

Wasn’t the way to a man's heart through his stomach?

“So what should I try? I did not eat before I came over. It all looks delicious.”

Coming out of his daze, Theodore smiled at Catherine. “Mrs. Goodwin is amazing. Her baked goods are a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors that always leave me wanting more. Though to be fair, I have never found myself disliking anything she made.”

Catherine filled two plates with random bits of food, paying special attention to the baked goods.

Bringing them both to the table, she put one in front of him and one at her spot.

She ignored propriety for the moment and gave Theodore a hug.

He seemed to need it desperately. “I know you did not eat before I arrived. You need to eat.”

“Yes, my love.” Nestled in her arms, Theodore inhaled deeply before responding. “In the years to come, I foresee a peaceful and harmonious existence. You will instruct me for my own benefit, and I will unquestioningly comply.”

Pulling back, Catherine rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips as she looked at the man she loved. “Eat your scone, you silly man.”

“Yes, dear.”

Neither of them could remain serious and they both burst into raucous laughter. When she was finally able to catch her breath, Catherine noticed Lambert smiling where she sat against the wall. It seemed they were all happy about how things were proceeding.

The morning passed by slowly. Catherine remained with Theodore as they waited for Lady Matlock to leave.

He had told her she could go, that he would be well, but she pointed out that they were entering a partnership, and she would not leave him to take on his mother alone.

After they finished their meal, they relocated, settling into the downstairs sitting room.

Lambert stayed with them, as well as a footman, for propriety’s sake.

They used the time to engage in deep conversations and craft ambitious plans for their future together.

Theodore finally admitted to himself, and Catherine, that parliament just was not for him.

He could not abide the posturing and rubbing elbows with people to gain their votes.

Catherine freely supported his decision.

Tilting her head seemingly in thought, Catherine said, “You know, if you want to do good, you could create your own charity. It is not like you won’t have the means.”

“Like the one Elizabeth is working on?”

“Similar, but I was thinking something you would do well is starting something for wounded soldiers. The war in France is not yet over and the number of wounded men is ever increasing.”

Stretching his legs out in front of himself, Theodore pondered the possibilities.

There were many men out there who could do with a good dose of help.

It was what his brother was trying to wrangle from parliament, but it was possible that he could skip the middleman and help himself.

Turning back to Catherine he asked, “Yes, but wounded soldiers are not going to want to be simply cared for. How would that work?”

“Just like with the children, find a way to help them find jobs. If a man can no longer work in the fields due to having lost a limb, help him learn another way to support himself. Teach him to read and write, help him become a clerk. Or if it his mind that needs time to heal, have him work with horses or dogs, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

Standing, he began to pace as ideas began forming in his mind.

“You are right. It is not as if I won’t have enough land and property to set something up somewhere.

I can reach out to a few of my old contacts from the regulars and have them let me know of men in need.

This could work. It will take time and we might have to miss a season or two getting things set up, but I do not think we will mind.

” Walking back to Catherine, Theodore reached down and grasped her hands, pulling her to him.

Holding her close he whispered, “Have I told you how brilliant you are?”

“Not that I recall.” Catherine smiled up at him, her eyes full of mischief.

“Well, you are. You are brilliant and brave and beautiful and probably several other things, but I have run out of b words for the moment.” Theodore grinned watching Catherine chuckle at his antics. “Have I told you that I love you?”

“I believe you have once or twice,” she breathed in reply.

“That’s good, because I love you beyond all reason.

” Closing the distance between them he claimed her lips with his own.

Theodore was lost to everything but the tiny sound that Catherine made the moment their lips touched.

Sadly, the kiss did not progress as far as either would have liked before a loud clearing of one’s throat was heard.

Pulling back slightly, Theodore looked down and spotted the slightly dazed look that remained on Catherine’s face and nearly leaned in to kiss her again.

Before he could follow through on his impulse, another throat clearing had Theodore looking over at Lambert who sat there with eyebrows raised.

The footman standing by the door merely grinned.

It probably was not the best time to proceed as he would wish.

Giving Catherine a kiss on her blushing cheek, he tugged her with him back to the settee.

Holding hands, they continued to talk of plans.

Once they were married at Pemberley, they would start an extended tour of his newly gained properties.

Eventually, it was decided that they would go to Matlock first and then move on to the properties in Scotland.

They would keep an eye out for a good location for the soldier’s charity project.

Eventually they lapsed into staring happily into one another’s eyes. Realizing where things would head if they stayed as they were, Theodore stood. Pulling her to her feet Theodore said, “Let me show you around.”

Theodore led her below stairs, introducing her to the staff with a smile, knowing they would soon address her as Lady Matlock.

Catherine was very careful to ask all their names in hopes of learning them all, which was something the current Lady Matlock had never done.

The care and concern for everyone that Catherine displayed went a long way towards winning the staff over.

To ensure their well-being, she went so far as to request a tour of their living quarters, inquiring about their comfort and whether they were properly maintained.

The staff, particularly the senior staff, were aware that she would be inspecting the house as the future mistress.

However, the fact that her foremost priority was their comfort left a profound impression.

The morning had passed pleasantly until the reality of their situation crept back in when it came time for Lady Matlock to leave.

In the end, there was less of a to do than either Theodore or Catherine had expected.

Lady Matlock marched out of the house, head held high, refusing to acknowledge either of them as she left.

She said not one word to her son, who she might never see again.

Having gambled and lost, her pride left her with no other choice.

After Lady Matlock had left the premises, Theodore walked Catherine back to her home. They started working on the plans for the wedding with Elizabeth and her other sisters. Needless to say, it was a very merry afternoon.

Deerhurst did not fare well. His father had never been fond of his oldest son and his latest behavior had proven too much for the older gentleman.

Though his father managed to bear enough weight on the courts to keep him from the gallows, he quickly disowned his son.

As a result of some intriguing legal maneuvers, he not only lost his viscount title but was also banished to Australia, vanishing into obscurity.

Life became a swirl of dress fittings, dinners, and morning calls.

Gossip had been rife for all of three days.

Deerhurst’s trial and eventual sentence allowed the rumor Lady Derby started to take hold.

She put it about that Deerhurst had been put off by Miss Catherine’s very wise refusal to have anything to do with him.

She implied that he then tried to ruin her reputation by spreading lies about her.

Between that and Catherine’s refusal to act ashamed, the talk soon stopped.

It did not hurt that she was soon to be a countess.

By the time the Earl Deerhurst approached Catherine and her family in public, the lingering scent of scandal had dissipated completely.

His kind apology for the horrible behavior of his son was not necessary but appreciated, nonetheless.

The Deerhurst, Darcy, and Fitzwilliam families would never be close, but they would not be enemies.

By the time they departed London, even Catherine, who had a keen sense of style, had grown weary of the endless fittings and pursuit of new dresses.

She had at least been able to enjoy the evenings she had spent in Theodore’s company.

It was a common sight to see her and Theodore attending events they both loved, always enjoying each other's presence.

Theodore did not go to a single boring dinner again.

In no time at all, they were all headed to Pemberley to coordinate the wedding. Young Timmy rode in one of the carriages with the other servants and they kindly let him sit by the window, allowing him to indulge in the mesmerizing view of the countryside passing by.