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E lizabeth looked up at the huge leaves pressed against the roof glass as she moved further into the hothouse.

She didn’t need to watch where she walked, because William had his arm around her and would keep her safe.

She knew that, just as much as she knew she didn’t wish to leave here on the morrow.

“The chair is right behind you.” Her husband’s indulgent voice drew her attention, but she didn’t need to look down as he pressed gently on her shoulder and she lowered herself to a sitting position.

He laughed, and that drew her attention. She sighed and looked round.

“Now what have I done?”

“I was only thinking that I was happy you did not discover this place until we had been here for two weeks. Had you discovered it earlier, I believe you would have seen nothing of the rest of the park.”

“That is as may be, William,” she made her voice stern. “But I will have to leave it behind tomorrow, and who knows how long we will be away?”

He took the seat beside her and reached for her hand. “But you will enjoy staying at Netherfield with your sister? And also the opportunity to visit Longbourn without all the previous strictures on your movements?”

“I will,” she nodded. “But only because you will be there, too. And because I know we will be needed to protect Mama and my new baby brother or sister from Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins.”

His features settled back into the sternness she had seen when she first encountered him.

“It is indeed a disgraceful thing that it is necessary at this time.” He lifted the hand he was holding to his lips.

“But it is well to take the opportunity of visiting friends and family. I think you will have a happy time.”

She laughed. “Indeed. I hope Mama’s nerves are not too noisily expressed, and with Lydia and Kitty still at school, I believe Longbourn may be quite calm compared to when I was a girl.”

William nodded. “But your father has asked that you stay at Netherfield and call daily at Longbourn.”

Elizabeth rose to her feet, and moved her chair closer to William’s. Then she could lean against him, and his hands came to her shoulders, tenderly moving across them. She sighed.

“I’m happy you are coming too, William. And I hope it won’t be too tedious for you. At least Mr. Bingley is there as company.”

His smile flashed out. “I will be well. If you’re there, then that’s where I wish to be. And besides, your papa wrote last week, challenging me to a series of chess matches.”

She laughed at the thought. “Yes, he will be determined to stay in his library while the household might be in chaos outside the door!”

She stood, her hand resting on his arm, at the top of Oakham Mount, gazing out across the landscape she had loved all her childhood.

It was the first morning after they had arrived in Hertfordshire, and this was the place she’d wanted to walk to. She leaned against him.

“I know you normally wish to ride out in the early mornings, and I very much appreciate that these last months you have walked with me. But I insist we begin to establish a pattern of days that can come to encompass what we both enjoy.”

William’s arm tightened on her hand, pressing it against his body, and his chuckle wrapped round her and sent a shiver through her.

“You don’t think I enjoy walking out with you in the mornings?” He lifted her face to his, and his voice took on a teasing tone. “Or you don’t enjoy it?”

She laughed, and lifted her hand to his face. “You know I would monopolise all your time if I could. But that would be neither possible nor advisable.”

He nodded. “I know it, dearest. But, while we are no longer technically on our tour, we are not at Pemberley, and therefore any regular routine would be disrupted in any event.”

“Oh yes,” Elizabeth moved to the edge of the knoll. “It seems very strange to me at Longbourn.”

William tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Let us sit on the bench and talk about what has unsettled you.”

Elizabeth settled herself on the seat, happy that she could sit close to him. “Mama seems well and much quieter, even though she is still nervous. And yet …” She shivered a little, and William’s hand enclosed hers, but he didn’t speak.

After a few minutes, she huffed a quiet laugh.

“There’s me and Jane married — and I think Jane is hiding a big secret; she looks radiant and spends a lot of time with that little smile on her face, her mind miles from where she is.

” She glanced up. “And Mama — our mother, well, the only Mama I have ever known — is so large and will give birth within the month. It feels … wrong in a way.”

William’s hand squeezed hers. “I think I can understand a little how you feel. I remember I was but twelve when my mother gave birth to Georgiana. I had learned enough at school to know what must have preceded the event, and it felt almost indecent, in a way, that my own parents, who seemed so old to my young mind, could have indulged in such things.”

“Yes! That is exactly it!” Elizabeth jumped up. “I am pleased for them, really I am, especially if they finally have a son and put paid to Mama’s fears about the hedgerows, but, if I am right about Jane, her child will have an uncle or aunt who is barely older!”

William reached up and pulled her down beside him. “Life is untidy, Elizabeth, and we have to remember that. You might be the Lady Elizabeth, a duke’s daughter, but it is Longbourn and your family here that has made you what you are, and the woman I love above all else.”

Elizabeth sighed and rested her head against his arm, not quite able to reach his shoulder. “I love those little romantic comments you make.”

“And yet, it took me so long to realise your worth when I thought you were Elizabeth Bennet. I nearly lost you.” She felt a shudder go through him.

“By not declaring myself to you earlier, by not coming to your papa until it was almost too late — I could have lost the chance to win your good opinion.”

“And Father’s!”

“And that of the duke,” he agreed. “I still find it difficult to believe he was so generous as to allow me to offer for you.”

“And I was worried he might push us so fast together that we might not develop the felicity we have, because I’d believe it to be arranged.”

He looked surprised. “You thought he might arrange a marriage with a Darcy?”

“After you had rescued me from Wickham, and then the incident with that silly man at the Lords reception?” Elizabeth laughed. “Oh, yes. I believe Father looked around hastily for the most honourable man he could find.”

He chuckled again. “I love those little admiring comments you make.”

Elizabeth laughed, recognising he had turned her own words around. Then she glanced up. “Do you have any indication from Mr. Bingley that I might be right about Jane?”

He nodded. “He is like an excitable puppy, wanting to jump around and tell me everything, but who is not allowed to. And you have seen how solicitous of her he is.”

“Oh, yes,” she breathed. “When we are at that point, William, I beg you do not do that to me. I hate the thought of being thus stifled.”

William’s arm went round her. “I know how you will feel, but I beg you will understand how anxious I will be for you.” His heavy sigh reverberated through her.

“I can begin to understand the torment that led your father to blame mine and behave what seemed irrationally for so long.” His voice thickened.

“I will be fearful for you the whole time, dearest. I can hardly bear even the thought I might lose you.”

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. She had been right.

If what she suspected was true for her, too, she must hide the fact from everyone and ensure William was not worried or anxious a moment before it became necessary.

She smiled; it would be quite a challenge.

She jumped to her feet. “It won’t happen again — and I am hungry for breakfast. We had better return to Netherfield.

Jane will be anxious to be ready when Father arrives. ”

He rose to his feet and offered his arm. “Of course.” His eyes were amused. “And how do you feel about staying in the same house as your father now you are a married woman?”

“I’m trying not to think about it.” Elizabeth made a face. “But I am glad he’s going to be here before Lady Catherine appears with Mr. Collins.” She looked up. “Do you think she will demand to stay at Netherfield, it being larger than Longbourn?”

William shook his head. “I don’t know. I wondered if she might demand to stay at Longbourn, so she can interfere if Mrs. Bennet delivers a son. But that is why the duke is coming. He can override her demands and back up your papa’s refusal to permit her to enter.”

“I do hope it all goes well,” she whispered. Then she set her mind to their walk and smiled up at him. “Let us talk of other things, William, if we may.”

“Whatever you say, my dear.”