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E lizabeth lay back against the pillows. “Thank you, Mr. Jones, and I’m sorry for the inquisition you will undoubtedly be subjected to when you get downstairs.”

The man packed away his things into his bag. “I have been expecting it, my lady.” He turned to Jane.

“Now, as you know, you must continue with the arnica to that bruising; it will help to improve the appearance.” He frowned a little. “It is not surprising that Lady Elizabeth’s jaw has stiffened overnight. The bone is undamaged, but the bruise is deep.”

He looked back at Elizabeth. “As I said, you will be better eating only soft food for a few days. An ordinary diet will not harm you, but it might be uncomfortable. Just eat what you wish, but I hope there will be a choice of softer foods.”

“I am sure there will be.” Elizabeth was pleased with the man’s understanding. “Thank you for saying I might go downstairs, and for being willing to tell my father I ought to stay here a few more days until the bruise is less prominent.”

He grinned as mischievously as she could.

“You have ever been an ideal nurse to your sisters, my lady. Now it is your turn to allow yourself to be waited on. And if you would have my words believed, do not try to do too much. Even a turn around the garden at speed might raise suspicions that you are fit to return to town.”

She laughed. “I thank you for your advice, Mr. Jones!”

Jane rose to her feet. “I will go down with Mr. Jones, Lizzy, and then come back to tell you what has been said and decided. I expect you to rest for these few minutes, and then you can go downstairs. There is quite a houseful of people.”

“And you say Father has taken Mr. Darcy into Papa’s book room?” Elizabeth tried not to sound too concerned.

“I expect the interview will have finished by now, and when I come back upstairs I can tell you if the atmosphere is too strained.”

“Thank you, Jane. You are the best of sisters.” Elizabeth turned to the apothecary.

“Thank you, Mr. Jones. I hope you are not too busy tomorrow. My father will undoubtedly insist you call daily, even though both you and I know it is not needed.”

It was nearly half an hour before Jane came back upstairs, and Elizabeth was standing by her door.

“Jane, I was about to come down anyway. You were so long, I thought everyone must have been spirited away!”

“Lizzy! How can you tell me you’ve been resting? Now sit down while I tell you everything that’s happened, and then you may come down.” She smiled. “Papa is having the fire built up well, and your favourite chair placed beside it.”

“But it’s not that cold today,” Elizabeth objected.

“You must allow everyone to fuss over you, you know. Or else you will have to hide up here.”

“I won’t break,” Elizabeth grumbled, but took her seat. If she didn’t, then Jane wouldn’t speak, she knew that.

“All right. Mr. Jones said you may go downstairs, but that it was a concession to your stubbornness, and you must be discouraged from doing too much.”

Elizabeth made a wordless noise of discontent, and Jane laughed.

“You know he had to be very firm to put your father off returning you to London. But the duke was understanding when Mr. Jones mentioned that you wanted the bruise to be much less apparent before you returned to town.”

“And is Mr. Darcy still there?” Elizabeth couldn’t wait for the tortuous explanations to come to the point.

“Yes, he is. The atmosphere is not so tense as it was before he went to speak to your father.”

Jane’s gaze was perceptive as Elizabeth relaxed, and she smiled slightly.

“He and your father — and Papa — seemed angry when Mr. Jones mentioned that you would find it uncomfortable to eat all but the softest foods for a few days. I think they’ve been talking of Mr. Wickham, because Mr. Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, has arrived. ”

“I’ve not been introduced to him,” Elizabeth mused, “although I think he was standing with Mr. Darcy when I saw them at the first ball I went to.” She shivered. “And, of course he was there with Mr. Darcy yesterday, in the woods.” She pushed herself to her feet.

“Come on, let’s go downstairs. I want to ask about Dawlish and what is happening.”

Jane winced. “You ought not to upset yourself, Lizzy.”

“I won’t,” Elizabeth promised her, and headed for the stairs. She didn’t want to be perceived as just another feeble female; but then, she didn’t want to be dragged back to London at once, either.

The sitting room seemed very full, but Father came forward, and stood beside her as Jane made her comfortable.

She saw Mr. Darcy, standing in a corner of the room, trying to look inconspicuous, but his unguarded expression as he saw her warmed her slightly, although she was careful not to appear to catch his eye.

Once she was settled, there seemed to be a tense pause, and she smiled brightly. “If it is up to me to begin the conversation, then I have two questions.”

Father and Papa exchanged rueful glances, and Papa chuckled. “Only two? Well, ask away, my dear, and I will let your father deal with the difficult ones.”

“Very well.” Elizabeth let her gaze swing to Father. “Dawlish. What is happening, and when?”

The atmosphere in the room sobered, and Father took her hand.

“Abbott has been dealing with the matter. The funeral will be here in Meryton, Elizabeth. Your papa and Abbott have made all the arrangements, and the ceremony is at half after three this afternoon. I will be attending on your behalf as well as my own. And I have ordered a headstone. You and I will discuss the wording on it to your satisfaction.”

Elizabeth swallowed. “Thank you, Father. I suppose I cannot be permitted to watch from the coach? I would like to honour his sacrifice more than just sitting here.” She knew what the answer would be before he shook his head.

“If it may be permitted, Your Grace, my cousin and I will also attend to show our respects of his sacrifice for Lady Elizabeth.” Mr. Darcy’s voice was warm and compassionate, and Elizabeth squeezed Father’s hand, when he cleared his throat.

“Very well. Perhaps all the gentlemen present will be able to attend.”

Elizabeth tried to smile. “Thank you, everyone. I’m grateful for your willingness to attend for me.” She stared into the fire. She would not allow her emotions to show, she would not!

After a few moments, she lifted her head. “And can you tell me what is happening to Mr. Wickham?” She didn’t allow herself to respond to the collective indrawn breaths around the room, but lifted her chin higher.

“There speaks my daughter.” The duke shook his head, a mixture of pride and resignation on his face.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace, that Longbourn has instilled some rather more forthright behaviour than might be expected in a daughter of yours.” Papa sounded more amused than properly apologetic, Elizabeth thought.

“Yes, Papa, but I was wondering when I will have to speak to the lawyer to give my statement? That will be necessary before the trial, won’t it?”

Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. “If I might answer, Your Grace?” At the duke’s unsmiling nod, he stepped forward.

“Lady Elizabeth, Wickham is being dealt with under martial law. I gave my statement yesterday evening, as did my cousin.” He indicated the officer standing beside him.

“By doing it this way, there will be less public reaction to the incident and we can keep the town from the more salacious details which might be an embarrassment to you.”

“It is well thought of. Thank you.” Father didn’t sound too grudging, Elizabeth thought, and she squeezed his hand again.

The colonel bowed at her and beamed, his face as open and good-natured as that of Mr. Bingley. Then he turned to his cousin. “I have not had the honour of an introduction to the lady, Darcy. Might you perform the honours?”

“Lady Elizabeth, may I introduce my cousin, the Honourable Richard Fitzwilliam, Colonel in the Blues and Royals? He assisted me by riding down yesterday in the attempt to prevent Mr. Wickham putting you at risk.” Darcy turned to his cousin.

“Richard, the Lady Elizabeth Osborne, daughter of His Grace, the Duke of Lancaster.”

Elizabeth had risen to her feet while no one was watching, and swept him a curtsy.

“Lady Elizabeth, I am honoured, but please, retake your seat. I would not dream of disturbing your recovery at all.” The colonel seemed as anxious as any to keep on the right side of Father, she thought, and smiled pleasantly at him.

“I am glad to make your acquaintance, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and also happy that you and Mr. Darcy saved me from a precarious situation.”

He bowed again. “It was an honour, even though I am sorry we were not in time to prevent your ordeal.”

Elizabeth sat back down, and looked at him expectantly. “So, what does this military justice involve?”

She watched the two cousins exchange a glance before they both looked at the duke. He nodded at them, and Mr. Darcy spoke.

“The courts martial have been arranged for this afternoon at two o’clock.

We will be expected to attend.” He turned to the duke.

“We would normally then be expected to stay for the sentence to be carried out, but when I tell the senior officer about the time of the funeral, I expect it to be delayed, and we will return after the funeral for it.”

He turned back to Elizabeth. “Suffice it to say, Lady Elizabeth, you will never be troubled by him again.”

“By which you mean you are expecting him to be hanged, I suppose.” Elizabeth decided being frank would discompose every man in the room — except for Papa — and she wasn’t wrong.

“Lizzy!” Jane remonstrated softly, and Elizabeth blushed. Perhaps she ought not to have said it.

Mr. Darcy glanced uneasily at the duke. “The sentence will not be decided by the presiding officer until after the court martial, Lady Elizabeth.”

She nodded. “And the other two officers who assisted him?”

“They are also being court martialled, madam.”

Elizabeth decided to change the subject, and turned to Jane. “Might you pour me another cup of tea, please? Then we can talk of other things, perhaps.” She pretended not to hear the collective sigh of relief.