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E lizabeth descended the great stairs quietly. Her newly appointed lady’s maid had taken her time brushing out her hair, which Elizabeth found strangely soothing.

Why had Aunt Gardiner grasped her arm warningly when she heard the earl and countess discussing a marriage between her and their son?

Elizabeth had wanted to make her displeasure known at once; but her aunt’s warning touch had prevented her, and it had not been long before they had retired upstairs to refresh themselves from their journey.

As she crossed the hall, she heard Aunt Gardiner’s voice, and hesitated.

“Please do not think me forward, my lady. I believe it might be better if Lady Elizabeth might become acquainted with you all and her cousin before anyone mentions marriage. She has recently had a most unpleasant proposal from a cousin of her adopted family, so I believe she might be better coming to …”

The footman standing by the door cleared his throat disapprovingly that Elizabeth was listening, and moved to the doorway to announce her. “Lady Elizabeth Osborne, my lady.”

Elizabeth knew she blushed. Hopefully, both Aunt Gardiner and her newly discovered aunts might think it was embarrassment at being known by her new name, rather than that she had overheard anything.

The ladies of the house were alone in the drawing room when she entered, and Aunt Cecilia patted the seat on the sofa beside her.

“Come and sit with me, Elizabeth. I want to know all about how your life has been as you grew up. We have missed so much.”

Elizabeth crossed the room. “Did you know in general where I was, and why?”

The Consall Hall ladies all looked at Aunt Gardiner, who smiled at her.

“The family has been aware of the difficulty with His Grace believing you might not be safe while Mr. Darcy senior was alive, and have been understanding of the grief that led to his belief. However, I have, perhaps wrongly, kept your grandmother informed occasionally of your well-being, although not of where you resided.”

Elizabeth nodded. “And is it now to be known?”

“No.” Her aunt shook her head. “It has been agreed that you will prepare for your come-out ball in town by obtaining a full wardrobe here, with the assistance of your mother’s family.

Your father has agreed that your return to society can begin to be known in town, that you will be presented in the spring, and your ball will be held at Osborne House.

As your father has no close female relatives to be hostess for the occasion, Lady Cecilia will fill that role, and the dowager Lady Cheddleton will also be there.

But your connection with Miss Elizabeth Bennet will not be made public, and I am afraid that you cannot tell your sister who, or where, you are at present. ”

Thoughts of the Netherfield ball the next day filled Elizabeth’s mind. “I wish I could have returned for the Netherfield ball,” she sighed. “I dearly love to dance, but a large ball held in my honour is rather too intimidating to anticipate with pleasure.”

“You will hear all about the Netherfield ball from your sister, my dear,” Aunt Gardiner spoke gently.

“And you know that your introduction to society will be accompanied by intense curiosity. You are the daughter of a duke, and as such, will attract the attention of every unmarried peer and gentleman, as well as the curious eyes of those ladies in competition in the marriage mart.”

“But Father will not wish to lose me so soon.”

“Of course. But he is certainly aware that you will need to marry within a year or two.”

Why did the intent gaze of a handsome, but stern-looking man intrude into her mind? Elizabeth pushed thoughts of Mr. Darcy away. She disliked him intensely, didn’t she? She wasn’t at all sure why he crept into her thoughts all the time, or into her dreams — and she flushed again.

Aunt Gardiner cleared her throat. “I believe you are more fatigued than you will admit, Lady Elizabeth. Perhaps you ought to rest before dinner.” Her eyes held a warning.

Elizabeth rose to her feet. “Excuse me, my ladies,” she curtsied. “I believe Aunt Gardiner is right. I pray that you forgive me.”

“Of course, Elizabeth.” Her grandmother was watching her. “Tomorrow, perhaps, we can walk in the gardens together, and you can call upon me in the dower house.”

I would like that, my lady.” Elizabeth smiled. She must learn to know this family. Her grandmother had suffered the loss of her daughter, and Elizabeth being so like her in appearance must be difficult.

“I will have none of this my lady business, Elizabeth. You will call me Grandmother.”

“I would like that.” Elizabeth repeated the phrase, and regarded her curiously. “I am concerned that as I look so like your daughter, you might find it difficult for me to be in your company.”

Grandmother laughed. “You have seen how much your aunt resembles my dear Althea, so I have become inured to the pain. But I am delighted that she lives in you, my dear, and I will follow your life with joy.”

Elizabeth climbed the stairs with Aunt Gardiner. “Thank you for suggesting I rest before dinner. It will be helpful to have some time to think about the afternoon so far.”

Her life was racing in another direction, and things would never be the same again.

She had three weeks here before Father would join them, and a few weeks from then, she would return to town with him and begin to live the life of a duke’s daughter.

She must forget Mr. Darcy. She could not imagine her father ever permitting their association.

She stopped suddenly on the stairs. Association? She didn’t wish to associate with him! She disliked him intensely, didn’t she?

“I’m concerned for you, Elizabeth.” Aunt Gardiner strolled with her through the quiet gardens.

Elizabeth drew her coat closely around her.

So far north from Hertfordshire, the air was chill.

“I’m happy some of my new wardrobe is finished; it’s good to have a warm coat,” she said inconsequentially.

“And I’m glad you are well clad, too. But what have you to be concerned about?

I have been welcomed here, and I like all my new family very well — even my cousins are very amiable. ”

Her aunt gave her a sharp glance. “So why are you not sleeping? You mustn’t say that you are, I can see the signs.”

Elizabeth sighed. She could see in the mirror what her aunt was talking about — her complexion was paler, and the dark circles under her eyes told anyone observant of her that she was troubled.

“I ask again, Lizzy dear. Why?”

Elizabeth sighed. She wanted nothing more than to confide in her aunt, to share the real reason for her sadness. But tomorrow, her father would join them, and she could not risk the information reaching him. She must prevaricate.

“I will do my best not to show my weariness, Aunt. But you must know that I would miss Longbourn and everyone there. I even miss the noise Lydia makes!”

Her aunt took her hand. “But you know that you always said you missed the calmness of Gracechurch Street when you returned home from staying with us.”

Elizabeth sighed. “It was always worth it for Jane’s company.

I know things were never quite the same after I found out who I was, but she is still my most intimate friend.

” She blinked away her emotions. “And to have missed standing up with her at her wedding — and you not being there, either. What must she think of me?”

“Lizzy!” Her aunt using her diminutive name showed her concern.

“You know that I, of all people, will not believe that is the reason for your unhappiness. Of course you miss Jane and your Papa Bennet. Of course you are sad you had to miss the ball and Jane’s marriage.

But you acknowledged that and have allowed yourself to be sad for it.

There is another reason, and you are not allowing yourself to feel sad about it. ”

It was true. Elizabeth walked quietly beside her aunt, thinking. Why, when she disliked Mr. Darcy, was she still constantly thinking about him? She knew she could never see him, or associate with him — her father’s antagonism of the Darcys was too entrenched.

Perhaps it was her task to ease that; the bitterness could do his heart no good.

“So, do you feel you know why you’re sad?” Aunt Gardiner’s voice invited her to share.

Elizabeth shook her head. “It is nothing, Aunt. Really, nothing.”

She saw her aunt’s expression, and impulsively clutched at her arm. “Oh, Aunt! I would not hurt you for the world. But I really don’t think it would be right to mention anything at the moment, or you might be troubled as to whether you ought to share it.”

“If you have to keep it secret, that can be more troubling than the actual worry.” Her aunt’s voice still showed her concern. “And your aunt Cecilia is also concerned for you.”

“Please tell her I will be well.” Elizabeth drew a deep breath. “I will. I have confidence in the love of this family, and I will be well.”

This was her own trouble to bear. She could get over Mr. Darcy; of course she could. Her cousin Robert was attentive to her, and he was a kind and amiable young man, despite her wariness that her uncle and his wife thought to match them.

She smiled slowly. She could never feel that way for him. But she didn’t have to. She had at least one season in town to meet someone who could make her heart beat faster.

Someone like Mr. Darcy , her traitorous heart whispered.