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“Do not worry, my love. William would not expect to be invited to a family affair that includes the Bennets. I must tell you this, though, William may have behaved in a reprehensible way in Meryton, and most especially toward Lizzy, but when he gives his word, it is his bond. When he says that he is committed to change and better himself, I would stake my life on it.” Richard soothed.

“As long as she does not think that you are asking her to forgive him before she sees proof of his changing herself, you may want to share that information with Lizzy. You know how obdurate she can be, but I can tell you that she was shaken by his apology.” Lady Jane collected her thoughts for a few seconds.

“She could not imagine that one with such a character as she had sketched for him was willing to apologise and prostrate himself as he did, or to accept full responsibility for his actions with no excuses. She will not admit it, but she is much more impressed by my soon-to-be cousin than she wants to be, and she does find him more than tolerable to look at.”

While the six stood on the top of Oakham Mount, a hill and not a mountain by any stretch of the imagination, Richard and Jane stood next to Lizzy and Tom Bennet.

“I received an express from your favourite person with best wishes to Jane and me on our betrothal.” Richard offered, as he smiled with amusement.

“I would expect no less; he is your cousin after all.” Lady Elizabeth sniffed, trying to feign disdain.

“Liz-bear, you realise that in six weeks he will be your cousin too, do you not?” Tom Bennet, Marquess Birchington teased his sister.

“We do not have to see or like all of our family , Brother. If you are not careful, I will place you in that category along with Mr. Darcy!” she retorted with a playful smile.

“There are some things that I must tell you about our cousin, Lizzy. And before you berate me for trying to influence you to forgive him before you are ready, I am not. I just want you to have the information. What you do with it is up to you. Are you willing to listen?” Richard asked carefully, following his Jane’s advice knowing that she would never want to cause harm and only bring peace to those she loved.

“Do you think me so unreasonable that I would not listen?” Lizzy frowned as she looked at each of her companions and saw the looks that they were sending her and blushed a little, ‘Do not answer that! Yes, Richard, I will listen.”

“Thank you for your condescension, Lady Elizabeth,” he gave her a faux bow.

“In his express, Darcy gave me his word of honour that he would do what he needed to in order to correct his faults and be a better man; the man that we who know and love him believe that he can be. Before you repeat the ‘talk is cheap’ refrain, there is something that you must know, and Andrew will verify the veracity of what I am about to say.” Viscount Hilldale understood where his brother was going, and he nodded his agreement.

“Darcy has never lied in his life. When he gives his word of honour, I would stake my life on the truth of his statement.

It may not be easy for him, and it may take him longer than he would like it to, but he will do it.

He will make a real change, not offer hollow words to placate you or anyone else.

The other thing is that I know of no one that is more loyal to those that he cares for.

Yes, he had a big blind area regarding those that he feels are below him in consequence.

“The irony is that he is the best master and landlord.

He will do anything, bear any expense, to help those who are dependent on him and Pemberley or his other estates.

You could ask any of his servants at Darcy House or his estates, and they and any of the tenants would give him such a flaming character that you would be sceptical and wonder if they were coerced to speak of him so.

Anyone who believed that would be dead wrong.

I think it is because he knows that none of them would ever try to hunt him for their gain and that he can be himself with them that helps him lower his mask completely when he is around them.

“None of what I have recounted to you excuses his behaviour here, nor his insults to you and the family.

All I hope is that it gives you an insight into the man behind the mask.

I trust that the good man that we all know is inside of him makes an appearance; the one we see when he is relaxed and not uncomfortable in society.

“Lastly, he is very shy. Even without being an object to be hunted, he is not comfortable around people with whom he is not acquainted. Before you point it out, his upbringing as a gentleman should have governed his behaviour, his mother and father, and yes, my mother and father and our aunt Catherine tried to curb his pride. He is now faced with the truth of what he has become and that is what he has to correct.”

“You have given me much to think on, Richard,” Lady Elizabeth stated as she turned toward the east to watch the sun rise.

It was a cold but clear day with no wind.

They could see their breath as they watched the spectacular pallet of colours God had chosen to paint the sunrise with on that day.

Once it was above the horizon, the six headed down the path and walked back to Longbourn for some very welcome hot tea and coffee before they broke their fasts.

After the family had completed their meal, the two Fitzwilliams joined the Bennet men in the billiard room for some friendly competition.

It was good that the younger men were all friends and soon to be brothers as all four were very competitive.

It was a source of entertainment for Lord Thomas as he watched the younger men try to act as if they did not care when they lost to one of the others.

After observing for a while, the Duke returned to his study to address estate business.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The following morning after his trusted valet had shaved him and helped him dress, Darcy broke his fast, then departed for his solicitor’s office.

he broke his fast then Darcy departed for his solicitor’s office.

The first thing on his list was to have a settlement drawn up as his Grace had suggested.

He would then allow Mr. Harrison Steveton, Esq, his own solicitor, leak the terms of the settlement so it would soon be widely known that if he was forced to marry any lady against his will, thanks to a compromise, that this would be the only settlement that he would use.

His sister already had protection that would not release her dowry without a match approved by both Darcy and Richard Fitzwilliam.

The Darcy’s had used Steveton and Son since Darcy’s late grandfather’s day.

Both his grandfather and his father before him had always arranged an appointment, but the current master of Pemberley and Darcy House would arrive when it was convenient for him and expect to be seen without ‘lowering’ himself with the effort of making an appointment.

He rapped on the roof with his cane and told the driver to return him to Darcy House.

If he was going to change, he needed to change all his high-handed actions and arrogant presumptions, starting with this one.

A very surprised Killion opened the door for the master who asked him to have his messenger sent to the study.

When the boy arrived in his study, he nervously wrung his cap as it was the first time ever being there.

Normally, the butler would bring him messages, and he would return answers to the same.

Darcy had never mistreated a servant, but like requesting an appointment, talking directly with the young lad was another step he wanted to take.

“What is your name lad?”

“K-Kip B-B-Black, Master,” The nervous boy stammered.

“Kip, please take this message to Mr. Steveton at Steveton and Son and wait for an answer. Do you know where that is?” Darcy asked with a warm smile.

“Y-yes master, I does,” said the scared but pleasantly surprised boy.

“Good. When you return, please bring the answer directly to me.” The boy backed out of the study offering the best bow that he was able to effect before he made his way to the mews where the cob that he used to deliver his missives was waiting, saddled and ready to go.

A flabbergasted, but pleased Mr. Harrison Steveton was staring at the message the Darcy House messenger had just handed him as if it were a bewildering bit of news.

He asked the lad to wait in the hall and then asked his clerk to have his father join him in his office.

When his father entered, he observed that his son looked as if he was trying to puzzle some great mystery.

“What is it, Harrison? You look truly perplexed?” His father asked, the concern unmistakable.

“In the five years since Mr. George Darcy’s accident, how many times has his heir requested an appointment, rather than arrive unannounced and demand our attention?” he asked his father with all the warmth and love that he felt for the man.

“As far as my recollection goes, never. Why do you ask?” his father asked with no little curiosity.

“Because I just received this,” he said quietly as he handed his father the missive. After reading the short note, the father was as amazed and as pleased as his son.

“Mayhap it is true that he ran afoul of Lady Elizabeth Bennet as has been rumoured, and she has set her family and their connections after him? Maybe Darcy is finally trying to become more like his late father?” the elder Steveton chuckled.