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About a sennight after the advertisement appeared in the Times of London , it was seen by Lucas Wickham, who was now known as Peter Waterford.

He would have liked to get closer to those who had wronged him and had a hand in the murder of his son, but he was fairly certain that by the time he answered, the position would be filled.

It had already been a sennight since it was posted in the papers, and if he had decided to respond, when his letter finally reached the estate in question, almost as many days would pass.

Hence, he decided it was not something he should apply for.

In the time he had been in Cornwall, the master of the estate had increased the wages to try and incentivise Waterford to remain in his employ. However, Wickham decided he would keep his eye out for positions in the surrounding counties.

It would take him time, but if he moved north by a county or two each time, he would get closer to being in a position to avenge his son’s death.

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

During the three months they had been in Meryton, Elizabeth had loved all the time she was able to spend with Charlotte Lucas.

Although they were still wary of Miss Millar, Jane, as they had been asked to call her, in the last half of their time in Hertfordshire, she had been included in the circle of friends some of the time.

So far, she had given them no reason to repine being in her company. This included Elizabeth; however, she always felt that her half-sister was adept at hiding her true self from those around her. Elizabeth was yet to see anything overt which gave her pause.

The only time her half-sister had allowed her mask to slip was the first time Elizabeth rode to Longbourn on Jamil .

She had seen Jane’s face as she was waiting to dismount, and she could swear there had been a flash of jealousy.

Jane was able to ride, but she only rode a rather long-in-the-tooth mare, Nellie, who refused to go faster than a slow canter.

Elizabeth supposed it was only natural to admire Jamil when Jane was stuck riding Nellie.

During the times they had been in company together, Jane was usually quiet. Other than novels, she did not read; she did not play an instrument, sing, speak any foreign languages, or have any accomplishments.

For this, Elizabeth did not blame Jane as much as her mother.

Elizabeth refused to think of the woman who rejected her and her three younger sisters as ‘Mother’.

If she had to use a name for her, it was Mrs Bennet.

The first time she had been in Jane’s company and used Mrs Bennet, she had seen her half-sister’s eyebrows go up.

Elizabeth explained why she referred to Jane’s mother in that form, and Jane claimed she understood.

By the time the four Bennet sisters, Charlotte Lucas, the Gardiners, and the Phillipses departed Purvis Lodge for Rambler’s Run, Elizabeth and Jane had agreed to write to one another, even though she still felt a distance between them.

Elizabeth would correspond with Jane until they were scheduled to arrive back in Hertfordshire after Easter of 1807.

She had not shared it with Aunt Maddie yet, but Elizabeth suspected Jane would have liked being invited to be one of the party travelling north.

Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward would not join those heading north, as Aunt Maddie was too close to her lying in, so they would return to Portman Square, where she would be attended by the midwife she always used as well as being close to the rooms of the accoucheur, Sir Fredrick Gillingham.

Aunt Maddie hoped she would not need the accoucheur’s services, but she felt comforted knowing he was not far off.

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

As it was the first time Charlotte had been to the north, rather than pass all of the time at Rambler’s Run, a month was spent in Lambton.

One morning, the Bennet sisters, Esmé, Philippe, and Lilly, with a maid and two footmen as escorts, were leaving the parsonage for the short walk into the town.

Charlotte and Elizabeth were first out of the door and were looking back at the rest of those accompanying them.

As such, they did not see the two men about to knock when the door opened.

The two friends walked into something solid, and each one felt strong hands steady her so she would not fall.

“Please pardon us…” Charlotte began. Her voice faltered when she looked into a pair of laughing eyes in the face of a rather handsome man. “We did not see you there.”

“Did you not see that we were exiting the house?” Elizabeth demanded somewhat peevishly.

“As impertinent as you were when you were six, I see,” Hertfordshire stated, his eyes smiling.

He had imagined that Miss Bennet had grown from a pixie into a beautiful young woman.

She had done that and so much more. “Do you remember me? We met in Mr Lambert’s study, and I believe you asked me some probing questions then as well.

Something to do with why I could not wait to see him, I believe. ”

Elizabeth’s eyes got huge as she realised who she had just insulted. “Your Grace, please pardon me; it has been some years since I have seen you, and I did not recognise you.”

“Uncle Archy, you know this young lady?” Anthony enquired.

As they were in residence at Castlemere, the Duke and his heir presumptive had been on their way to meet with the two Mr Lamberts. The older was set to retire at the end of July, and the Duke was to prefer the son to the living.

“This outspoken young lady is Miss Elizabeth Bennet; I believe three of the young ladies behind her are her sisters. You recognise Miss Lambert and Master Philippe, do you not?” Anthony nodded.

The Duke turned to the still very becomingly blushing Miss Bennet.

“Will you introduce the lady and the girl accompanying you to us?” He cocked his head toward Lilly.

“It will be my pleasure, Your Grace; however, I do not know the man with you,” Elizabeth said playfully as she recovered her equanimity.

“Ahh yes, that is true. This gentleman is Mr Anthony Barrington, my sister’s son and my heir presumptive.” Hertfordshire made the introduction with a flourish. He was grinning widely.

“His Grace, Lord Archibald Chamberlain, and Mr Barrington, it is my pleasure to present to you my best friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas, of Lucas Lodge in Hertfordshire. As a reminder, my sisters are Mary, Catherine, and Lydia.” Each one gave a deep curtsy.

“The girl you have not met is Miss Lillian Gardiner of Purvis Lodge, my cousin and firstborn to my aunt and uncle who you came to know when you and I first met.” As awed as she was to meet a duke, Lilly gave a creditable curtsy.

“Where are you going?” Hertfordshire questioned.

“Charlotte, Miss Lucas, has never been to Lambton before, so we are going to show her around the town,” Elizabeth replied.

“Perhaps we will see you in the town,” Anthony stated. He knew it was a first meeting, but there was something about Miss Lucas which he found intriguing. It was a first for him.

Seeing his nephew’s interest, Hertfordshire released him from the need to meet with the two Lamberts. “You know what we are to cover, so why do you not guide these ladies around the town? You can protect them if some blackhearted knave approaches them.”

“Thank you, Uncle; I believe some walking about the town would be enjoyable,” Anthony responded appreciatively. He offered his arm to Miss Lucas, who took it with a blush.

Since she had lost her beloved more than three years past, Charlotte had never reacted to another man with any sort of interest. She knew almost nothing about this man, had only just met him, but when she placed her hand on his arm, she felt a jolt of electricity flowing between them.

She chastised herself; it was far too early to think of the future with him or any other man.

The Duke was fascinated by the impertinent miss who had replaced the little pixie.

Once they were out of sight, he proceeded to his meeting with Lambert and his son.

At the end of the brief discussion where he confirmed the living would go to Mr Adam Lambert as soon as his father retired, he asked a few questions about the guests at the parsonage.

He was intrigued to learn that the Bennet sisters had just met, and spent some time with, their father at Longbourn, and they would return there around Easter of 1807. The Duke decided it was time for him to visit Netherfield Park at Easter of the coming year.