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T he coach drew up outside Longbourn, and was immediately surrounded by servants who began loading two trunks, now packed and waiting for her. Papa prepared to climb down. But first he leaned forward and kissed Elizabeth’s forehead.

“Take care, my dear. I hope this is not a final goodbye.”

Tears sprang to Elizabeth’s eyes. “You think it might be?”

He shook his head sadly. “I don’t know, Lizzy.

But your aunt’s message, and the fact she sent this carriage at dawn, rather than waiting for the ordinary one to come back from your uncle’s warehouse, makes me think His Grace might have decided it is time for you to stay in town and take up your rightful place in society — and be where he can keep you safe. ”

“But I am safe here! Has there ever been a single moment when anyone has suspected I am not Lizzy Bennet?”

Papa smiled ruefully. “No one here suspected a thing, Lizzy. Not even me, for the first fourteen years of your life. I thought you were indeed an orphan from your aunt’s distant family.

But once we were acquainted with who you are, you have changed.

” He held up his hand. “No, do not interrupt, we do not have long. You have changed. You are rather distant, and much less tolerant of the family’s worst excesses.

” He rubbed his hand over his forehead. “It is understandable, and I do not censure you for it. But I know the secret cannot be kept very much longer. You have been remarkable in not being tempted to say anything — under some considerable duress, I shouldn’t wonder.

But it’s time.” He took her hand and squeezed it, looking sad.

He climbed out of the carriage and composed his expression. “I shall write to you often, my dear, with all our news, and hope to hear either from you, or, if not, then your aunt will keep me informed.”

A tear traced its way down her cheek, and she brushed it away impatiently. “I must come in to wish the family farewell!” she exclaimed.

“No, we mustn’t make this call seem more than it is, and I hope we may be able to come to town to see you if that is the only way.

” Papa stepped back so Elizabeth had no chance to reply, and nodded at the coachman.

The maid climbed in, and the groom closed the door.

Elizabeth leaned out to watch her papa — and Longbourn — grow distant.

She blinked furiously. If he had meant that she might not be permitted to write to him, then her father, her other father, would soon discover that Elizabeth was not the quiet, tractable young lady he thought she was.

She settled back against the seat, and nodded at the maid. “Thank you for waiting at Longbourn so my father and I could talk in private until we got home.”

The maid seemed struck dumb with surprise at being addressed thus, and just dipped her head. “Would you like another blanket, Lady Elizabeth?”

“No, thank you.” Elizabeth leaned back and closed her eyes. She would much rather have been alone, but it was considered essential to have a maid inside when she travelled alone, and now she was bound up by the rules of society.

More than two hours. Perhaps only two hours and a quarter, if she didn’t retire when they changed the horses. Then she could greet her aunt and find out what was happening.

She hurried up the steps, the house almost as familiar to her as Longbourn.

Ever since she was a small child, she had spent many weeks here at a time, learning all manner of things that Mama had not felt necessary for her as a Bennet.

And on all those occasions, there had been regular visits from a serious gentleman, whom she had been led to believe was a friend of her uncle’s.

He had observed her, listened to her chatter at mealtimes, and made occasional comments as to her accomplishments.

It was not until one of those visits, when she was fourteen, that Papa had had been sent for from Longbourn, and the entire family and the serious gentleman had convened in the drawing room.

Elizabeth could still remember her shock and disbelief. The Duke of Lancaster! And she was his daughter. Lady Elizabeth Osborne, not Lizzy Bennet at all.

She’d sat in silence, listening as the family decided the next few years. She had to be grateful that when she and Papa had promised to keep the secret she had been allowed to return home. It had made it easier to come to terms with her new self, and what she knew her life would be like.

She greeted her aunt very properly, and followed her into the drawing room, where she could fling her arms round her unobserved. “Oh, Aunt! I’m so glad to be here, but anxious that Papa thinks this might be the time I have to stay for ever!”

Her aunt kissed her cheek briskly. “We don’t know that at all, Elizabeth, dear. Now compose yourself until the tea has arrived. I have asked for the large teapot.”

Elizabeth laughed weakly. “All problems can be solved here with the liberal consumption of tea! I have learned it well, you know.”

“I do know.” Her aunt changed the subject. “So, you were at least an hour later than I expected. Were you from home when the coach arrived?”

“Yes, I was staying at Netherfield, looking after Jane.” Elizabeth took a sip of tea. “She’s not well, and I wanted to stay with her until she could go home, probably tomorrow. But Papa came and made Mary stay there, and said I must leave Jane there without me.”

“Oh, dear. I imagine you gave your father some grief when he called for you, then,” her aunt laughed. “You must forgive him — he had little choice.”

Elizabeth nodded ruefully. “He even came to Netherfield in Father’s coach. It will have attracted attention, I think.”

“I’m sorry about that. But His Grace seemed quite insistent in his note that you be away from Longbourn as soon as possible.” She looked down. “It seemed he was more concerned with that than you were in London, so I consider he might not arrive very soon to explain why.”

“He wanted you to tell him when I arrived?”

Aunt Gardiner nodded. “Yes. The ‘ instant you arrived’, he wrote, and I’ve sent the note I had prepared. Pour me some more tea, Elizabeth, and you can tell me how Jane is.”

Elizabeth rose to her feet and picked up her aunt’s cup. “I miss you calling me Lizzy now,” she said inconsequentially. “It’s hard to get used to being Elizabeth all the time.”

“It’s inevitable, dear. Your life will become more formal, and it’s one way of beginning to prepare for such time.” Aunt Gardiner accepted her cup. “Now, tell me about Jane. How did she come to be ill at Netherfield?”

Elizabeth helped herself to another pastry and resumed her seat. “Well, I’ve told you about Mr. Bingley and his party, haven’t I?”

They both looked up at the knock on the door. “An express, madam.” The servant proffered the tray.

“Thank you.” Aunt Gardiner broke the seal and read swiftly, before looking up at Elizabeth.

“Your father says he’s happy you are safe here now, and proposes to call on Friday morning to discuss the reasons for calling you here and also your future.”

Elizabeth wasn’t pleased. “So I didn’t need to come here until Thursday!” She took a gulp of tea. “It can’t be that urgent.”

Her aunt shook her head reprovingly. “He says he is waiting until Friday so your uncle can make arrangements to be here, so I think there will be much to discuss. And he wanted you to be safely here as soon as possible.”

Elizabeth frowned at the letter still in her aunt’s hand. “I wish I knew why.”