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By the time the two graduated, the war with France and its self-proclaimed emperor had commenced.

This was significant because of Richard Fitzwilliam’s choice of a profession.

He was determined to enlist as an officer in the Royal Dragoons, and he refused to allow his father to purchase a rank higher than the lowest one possible, that of a second lieutenant.

Although they would not order him to forgo his choice, his parents and brother attempted to convince Richard he could choose a much safer profession.

William, who viewed Richard as a slightly older brother, used his vaunted debating skills—he had been captain of the Cambridge debate team—to attempt to sway his cousin.

Richard had remained resolved on the army.

Gigi was nine by the time they graduated, and not even her tears convinced Richard to change his course. Hence, in October 1804, Second Lieutenant Richard Fitzwilliam was at the Dragoons training ground learning the art of war.

Thanks to the war, there could be no grand tour like Andrew had enjoyed after he graduated.

Hence, from June 1804 to September of that same year, William toured the four secondary estates owned by his father.

They were in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the final and largest of the four, in Northamptonshire.

As June was the middle of the summer, he had begun his modified grand tour at the estate in Ireland and ended it at River Run in Northamptonshire.

Once he completed his travels, William planned to return to Pemberley, via London, in order to continue his education with his father and Chalmers, the man who had been made steward when Lucas Wickham had been sacked.

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

He missed his son, who was still making his tour of the Darcy estates which he had commenced after his graduation.

Darcy had been greatly impressed with the diligence with which William applied himself to learning at university, ending up with distinctions and first in his class.

As the future owner of Pemberley, Darcy House, and all of the Darcy holdings, William would learn how to manage all of it as conscientiously as he had his lessons at university—of that Darcy had no doubt.

Sitting in his study in London, looking out across the green in the centre of Grosvenor Square, Darcy felt somewhat sad at the way William had reacted to the attempt on his life by the late George Wickham.

Even though he and others had tried to convince William he should not generalise because of the actions of members of one corrupt family, his son had developed a mask which hid his true feelings, including antipathy to meeting new people, especially those he judged socially inferior to himself.

Further, if all of that was not enough, he would give offence at times.

Darcy had had long discussions with his beloved Anne, and they had agreed that as he was past his majority, unless he committed some egregious error, it would be up to him to ask them for advice on the subject. They hoped he would come to the correct conclusions on his own.

The thoughts about his son were inspired by the letter he had received from William.

He had accelerated the pace of his tour.

He would arrive at River Run in Northamptonshire by the end of the month and intended to be in London before the middle of May, almost six weeks prior to what had been planned in the original schedule.

As it was almost time for tea, Darcy stood, taking the letter with him, and made for the family sitting room where he would find Anne and Gigi. He knew his beloved wife would want to read William’s letter for herself.

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

Sure that the name Wickham had been ruined, after George had been hanged, Lucas Wickham travelled as far from Derbyshire as possible and changed his name to Peter Waterford. This was a combination of using his late parents’ names—his father’s familiar name and his mother’s maiden name.

He travelled into Cornwall, where he applied for the position of steward at a small to medium-sized estate.

The wages were insignificant, which is why most men of experience had not applied, but there was a small cottage assigned to the steward’s position.

When he was asked for his characters, he claimed that he had lost all of his possessions in a fire.

The master of the estate employed him on a probationary basis as an under-steward.

If after three months he proved himself, he would be taken on as the permanent steward.

Regardless of his issues with the Darcys, Wickham was good at his job. So much so that he had earned the position within two months. The master of the estate could not believe his luck in finding a man as good as Waterford for such low wages.

For Wickham, he needed to bide his time. When his enemies had relaxed and lowered their guard, he would strike like a coiled snake. He cared not how long it took; he would make those who had been responsible for George’s death pay a very high cost.

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

Fanny Bennet was beyond sick of hearing about the beautiful Bennet sisters in Meryton.

It was October 1805, and she had just been regaled with stories that she was positive were not true about the demon spawn who had been expelled from her body.

Add to that her Jane, who could not be so beautiful for no reason, was seventeen, soon to be eighteen.

She had been out since she turned fifteen, yet for some unknown reason she was very seldom asked to dance at the assemblies they had attended, and not one man had attempted to court her.

Homely girls danced; plain girls like Miss Lucas had partners, but not her gorgeous girl.

It vexed Fanny greatly. Even worse than that, Fanny had heard that her brother and sister had dowered the unnatural brats who had been born to her, while her Jane, who deserved it far more, had nothing.

If all of that was not enough, her useless husband would not lift a finger to help.

After what she had heard that day, Fanny needed to confront her husband. If the tales were even partially true, it proved her assertions that her husband had planted the devil’s seed inside of her. Her dear Captain Millar had given her a child of such beauty, so it could not be her fault.

As soon as Fanny gulped down a half cup of tea, she made for the study. She knocked once and did not wait for her husband to summon her.

Bennet looked up from his well-read copy of Gilbert White’s The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne .

She was the last person he wanted to see.

Twice a day, when they broke their fasts and at dinner, was more than enough time in her company.

He had no time for the woman’s brat either, who was even more insipid and empty-headed than her mother.

“Mrs Bennet, have I not told you I am not to be disturbed? You would not like me to withhold your allowance for a quarter or two, would you?” Bennet drawled after he marked his place and placed the tome onto his desk.

“When I tell you what I heard in Meryton today, especially about that wilful girl who refused to be a son…” Fanny stopped when her husband interpolated.

“To which of our daughters do you refer since you called them all wilful?”

“The first one born to us. That unnatural dark thing. You called her Lizzy. You will not believe what is being said about her devilish ways. No wonder my beautiful Jane has no suitors when stories like those are being told about your daughters. No one will align with this family with such things being said.”

“Miss Millar is not part of my family,” Bennet barked. “Tell me what you are on about or leave my study.”

“That girl is said to be more intelligent than most boys her age or even older. I heard Lady Lucas state that her plain daughter—who has the bad judgement to be a friend of that demon child—has told of how the girl reads a book once and then can recite any portion of it as if she is reading it. She is supposedly better at chess than any man, loves to read, and not only Gothic novels like a proper lady, but the same drivel men read. If all of that is not unnatural enough, she helps with estate management! A woman is not supposed to do any of that,” Fanny screeched.

Mrs Bennet had not forgiven Sarah Lucas for gaining a title when her husband addressed the King and was knighted four years past. Not only that, the new Sir William sold his businesses and purchased the estate between Longbourn and Meryton and renamed it Lucas Lodge.

So now, not only did Lady Lucas have a titled husband, but they were landowners as well.

“Leave me,” Bennet ordered. He had much on which to cogitate.

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

“Mama, it is not fair,” Jane insisted as she stamped her foot.

“Everyone in Meryton is saying my beauty is nothing to the four they call the Bennet sisters! The eldest one is addressed as Miss Bennet. That is how I should be known. Did you not promise me your husband would adopt me and give me his name? Why is it that the name Millar is used like an insult in this town? You told me my beauty would get me any man I wanted, but none give me a second look.”

“Mr Bennet likes to vex me, and that is why he has refused to do what I most want,” Fanny explained. “It is those demon-spawn children’s fault you have no suitor. Today I heard…” Fanny repeated what she had told her husband.

Jane laughed. “A female who follows manly pursuits. She will never find a husband,” she said nastily.

“Well, of course, no man will ever marry one of those girls. At least we never have to live with them in our house,” Fanny agreed.