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D arcy stood at the window, watching Elizabeth walking in the gardens arm in arm with her sister.

Surprising as their arrival had been, and concerned that Elizabeth had apparently written in such distress that her sister had prevailed upon Bingley to bring her all this way, he was happy she had the opportunity to speak with her, the most familiar and loved person from her past.

Bingley stood beside him, watching too. “I am delighted for you, Darcy, and wish you the same felicity in marriage that I have with my dear Jane.”

“Thank you.” Darcy didn’t remove his gaze from the gardens.

“But I confess I am amazed that the duke has relented and allowed you to offer for Lady Elizabeth so soon after everything that has happened.” Bingley laughed. “It’s been an eventful time.”

“Indeed. I have been fortunate.” Darcy swung round. “Do you know what Elizabeth wrote to her sister that you agreed to bring her straight here? You must have begun within minutes of her receiving it.”

Bingley looked a little uneasy. “Well, I am sure you too will find this out, but I found I would drop everything if Jane expressed a wish to go anywhere — and she would do anything for her sister, as you know.”

Darcy nodded and returned his gaze to where Elizabeth was still deep in conversation with her sister.

But Bingley was undeterred. “Thank you for saying we will stay with you at Briarwood. Of course, when we arrived, we only had the address of the castle, and it was rather intimidating to turn up on the duke’s doorstep. ”

Darcy grinned. “You’re a brave man, Bingley.”

His friend rolled his eyes. “I know I am not fit for a duke’s attention, being from trade and such, but he was quite accommodating, if a little distant. It was as well you returned before we had outstayed our welcome.”

“Yes.” Darcy looked at the clock. “Perhaps we had better go to Briarwood. I am still very conscious of the fact that I do not want to trespass upon His Grace’s patience too much.”

He sat in the small drawing room at Briarwood with the Bingleys that afternoon, listening idly to the conversation, his mind busy with other matters.

Their marriage was six weeks away. He had firmly declined the duke’s wish to marry at once. “Your Grace, we must not seem to make a hasty marriage, with all the rumours that abound. It will seem to add fuel to them, to Lady Elizabeth’s detriment.”

Her father had apprehended his reasons, and agreed to a later date with more understanding than Darcy could have wished. So there was time for the banns to be read, and Darcy was relieved he didn’t have a long trip to the Archbishop’s palace to obtain a special licence.

A footman entered the room, bearing a note on the letter tray, and Darcy broke the Lancaster seal.

Darcy, your man of law has arrived. Are you free to return to begin discussing the settlement?

Osborne

Darcy rose to his feet. “Bingley, Mrs. Bingley, my lawyer has arrived at the castle from town, and the duke wishes to begin work on the settlement. Pray make yourselves entirely at home, or feel free to visit a local landmark if you wish. I will return as soon as I am able.”

At the castle, he was able to steal a moment with Elizabeth. “Are you well, dearest?”

“I am well. I enjoyed our excursion out very much, and hope we might repeat it very soon.” Her hand tightened on his, and he almost groaned at the tantalising scent of lavender that wafted to him.

Then he was in the duke’s library. He bowed, “Your Grace,” then turned to his lawyer.

“You’ve made good time, Mr. Mordaunt. Thank you. I have had a chamber prepared for you at Briarwood until this matter is completed.”

He placed his notes on the table beside the chair indicated by the duke.

“Very well.” The duke appeared impatient to begin. “What have you planned, Darcy?”

Darcy bowed his head. “I have taken the basic settlement as arranged by my father on Mother. Regardless of Lady Elizabeth’s dowry, and her inheritance of your estates — which I hope will be many years in the future — I would like to begin with that.

” He lifted his head and gazed at the duke.

“The most important element to me is that she will always be secure, whatever happens.”

The lawyer extended a set of papers, clipped together. “I have a copy of the settlement on the late Lady Anne, Your Grace.”

The duke took the papers and began reading. Darcy took the notes he’d made over the last few days, and gave them to his lawyer.

“I am going to hand this to His Grace next,” he murmured, and the lawyer began reading, his eyebrows going up.

The duke’s eyebrows also rose when he read Darcy’s notes. “Why are you doing it this way, Darcy?”

Darcy leaned forward. “Your Grace, as you will understand, the Pemberley estates are extensive, and I think it is quite enough of a job to hand on to our eldest son — or daughter, if we are not blessed with a son. By keeping Lady Elizabeth’s inheritance as part of her jointure, she will be able to keep it separate from the Pemberley estates and can then pass it onto the child you would have chosen, if you were able to know the future. ”

“Yes, yes! I understand and this is all very generous, but I am concerned. If anything did happen to you, then, once again, she will be alone and unprotected in a world full of greedy, unprincipled men.”

Darcy nodded soberly. “This has been one of my main concerns, too, sir.” He picked up the next sheet and handed it to the duke, and gave a copy to the lawyer.

“This is one thing I am thinking of, although I am concerned that I am fettering her options and trying to control things in a way that would not be right for her at that point. She is a clever and resourceful lady, and I don’t want to appear not to trust her. ”

The duke grimaced. “I suppose you are right. But I will always be concerned for her — and you, if we do not ensure she is safe!”

Mr. Mordaunt cleared his throat. “Might I make a suggestion, Your Grace, and Mr. Darcy?”

At their nods, he pulled a fresh sheet of notepaper towards him.

“Firstly, I think that Lady Elizabeth’s dowry and the monetary part of the settlement you propose, Mr. Darcy, are all placed together in the four per cents, in a trust that ensures she has access only to the interest until it passes to the children of the marriage. ” He scribbled a note on the sheet.

“Secondly, I think the marriage settlement need not discuss in detail the Lancaster inheritance, given that it is likely to be detailed in your Will, Your Grace?” He looked up at the duke, who nodded.

“But it will need to be altered after the wedding, of course.”

“Certainly. If you wish, I can prepare a statement of the settlement for you to give to your own lawyer, as that the Will can make explicit how the lands and income are to be added to Lady Elizabeth’s jointure.” He turned to Darcy.

“You will, however, require access to some of the income in order to manage the estates properly. It might not be a responsibility which Lady Elizabeth would wish for.” He scribbled another note.

“Thirdly, I understand your wish that your heir not receive a portion that is too big, and the younger sibling or siblings nothing of note. Perhaps the settlement can include a note that certain of the holdings may be separated from the main inheritance and allocated to the younger children as they arrive.” He gazed around the table.

“I think there is also a consideration about naming some family trustees. I understand that the Osborne and Darcy families have few direct relations, and perhaps you might each consider those families who might be available to assist Lady Elizabeth should she find herself in want of advice. I will write up a series of suggestions which we may discuss again tomorrow.”

There had been little to say after that, and Darcy escorted the lawyer to Briarwood, wishing he’d had a further chance to see Elizabeth again.

It seemed that he might yet be occupied with the business for some days.

By then, the party from Consall Hall would have arrived, and they might stay until the wedding.

His frustration with the situation was not pleasant, and he wondered how to make things easier for Elizabeth — that would relieve his own frustration as well.

So he was not prepared for the coaches which pulled up outside Briarwood soon after breakfast.