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E lizabeth was happy they had waited until after lunch. It had meant she received the letter which had been sent down to her from Osborne House.

Her heart had lifted at the handwriting. Aunt Gardiner! Perhaps she might find out why Father had thought they might not be at Gracechurch Street.

She had taken it upstairs with her when Mr. Jones arrived. She would stay in her chamber to read it afterwards. Smiling, she recalled Father’s knowing eyes on her as she left the sitting room.

He was being very patient, she thought. It must vex him to be in the constant company of Papa and Mr. Bingley, who could not stay away when Jane was here with her.

“Well, Lady Elizabeth,” Mr. Jones set down his bag. “I am quite sure there is no need for this call. You look exceedingly well this morning.”

Jane sniffed a little. “I wish you could make her rest, Mr. Jones. I am sure these things take longer to recover from than Lizzy will admit to.”

He glanced up at Jane. “Is there anything particular you are concerned about, Mrs. Bingley?”

“Well, not in particular. But she did seem rather pale last evening.”

“Jane!” Elizabeth scolded her. “You know it was only that I am worried for you.” She turned to the apothecary.

“I would like your permission to go back to London this afternoon, Mr. Jones. You know I will be safe with my father, and the coach will convey me direct from this house to the door of the townhouse. I think Jane needs to rest, and Mama is proving a demanding patient. And Jane needs Netherfield back. It must be hard, entertaining a duke when one is newly married.”

Mr. Jones raised his eyebrows at Jane, who blushed pink.

“You know I would do anything for you, Lizzy. I don’t want to say goodbye.”

“And we won’t.” Elizabeth reached for her sister’s hand. “We will say au revoir . I am safe now to return often.”

Mr. Jones watched quietly until they had finished talking before he spoke, understanding that Jane had given in to her sister, as she always had.

“Well, I need not stay longer, I think. Lady Elizabeth, as you well know, you have been fit to return to London as soon as you wished, and if you want me to speak so when I go downstairs, then I will.”

“I thank you for your insight, Mr. Jones.” Elizabeth beamed at him. “Jane, if you do not mind, I will stay up here for a few minutes to read my letter from Aunt Gardiner.”

She broke the seal as soon as she was alone, and skimmed the sheets quickly, before settling down to read it properly.

Derbyshire! Aunt and Uncle owned a significant estate in Derbyshire! They’d only maintained the Gracechurch Street house at the duke’s request while Elizabeth was young.

She dropped her hands to her lap while she stared out of the window. They had sacrificed so much for her, even to the risk of young Edward not being accepted as a gentleman’s son when he went to school.

She strolled with her father in the gardens before lunch. “Thank you for permitting my aunt to give the news of their estate.”

He smiled tightly. “How did you feel when reading of it?”

“Probably about how you imagined.” Elizabeth laughed, though she didn’t feel like it. “I am delighted for them, but mortified that they allowed themselves to be thought of as mere tradespeople — just for me.”

“It was their suggestion, Elizabeth. We spent a long time in conference while you were a small baby at Consall Hall. Your uncle had already discovered his flair for investing and decided he didn’t wish to take on his father’s law practice in Meryton.

” They turned at the end of the gardens and began to make their way back towards the house before he continued.

“Of course, your aunt spent her childhood at Lambton, not twenty-five miles from Consall, so it was inevitable that when they were looking for an estate, it would be near there.”

And near Pemberley. Elizabeth didn’t say the words. Aunt and Uncle Gardiner at Peak House, her mother’s family at Consall, and Mr. Darcy at Pemberley. All in — or near — Derbyshire and close together. Lancaster Castle was a hundred miles further on. She sighed.

“I’m glad Aunt Gardiner is back in the Derbyshire countryside she loved.”

He seemed to know what she was thinking.

“It is, of course, a full day’s journey from the castle, whereas Gracechurch Street was but half a day from Longbourn.

But then, you will always have a coach available to you, at any time you wish to make the journey, instead of waiting until your papa could spare the coach. ”

She smiled at him. “I’m happy you’re able to permit me to continue the association with everyone in my past, Father.”

“I should be a poor father if I attempted to separate you from your past, Elizabeth. And I doubt I’d be successful, anyway.” He sighed heavily. “I am sorry you had to endure what you did, though. I thought you’d be safe.”

“So did we all, Father.” She tightened her fingers on his arm. “None of us could think of the evil in that man.”

“I’m happy you’re safe now, and even more impressed at your strength of character, Elizabeth. It will be a foolish man who underestimates you, thinking your diminutive frame hides a weak woman.”

Elizabeth matched his smile. “I have learned well, Father. I think being raised in a large and boisterous household might have been very good for me — although I am sorry it means you and I remained strangers for so long.”

He huffed a laugh. “You are wonderful. There is not one debutante I have met in town who has your strength and determination. You will do well, my dear, even when you inherit my estates.”

She clutched his arm more tightly. “I hope that is a long time away, Father. I want to enjoy learning to be a daughter you can be proud of.”

“I am already prouder of you than I can say,” he smiled down at her. “I am just afraid for you, now I know what lengths some men will go to to gain control of your wealth.”

Elizabeth stared ahead. She knew what was coming next, and she was right.

He took a deep breath. “I am afraid my original idea that you need not hurry to marry might not be a good idea.”

She kept her voice quiet. “Will I be permitted any say in the matter, Father? I would prefer the sort of love match that you had with Mother.”