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He agreed that although Lizzy had been a little harsh in her response, he understood his daughter’s desire to tell her husband first. Lady Sarah could not but agree with him.

They decided that they would remain at Pemberley another two days before departing for Broadhurst to collect their youngest daughters then return to Longbourn until the little season.

Their participation in the little season was, of course, contingent on Jane’s confinement.

If need be, the twins would join the De Melvilles for the little season, and based on the letters from her sister Priscilla, neither Mary nor Kitty would miss their parents as their attentions were otherwise engaged.

Lady Sarah had given her husband the letters to read and then handed him a letter that had arrived at Falconwood for him from their nephew Wes.

While her husband read, Lady Sarah sought her sister-in-law Rose to ask if she wanted to return with them or to stay with Lizzy and William or Amy and Tom until they all returned to London, but if she chose either of the latter option, she would exercise her sisterly rights and demand at least a month of her time watching their daughters during their come out, if not for the whole of it.

Lord Thomas broke the seal on the letter.

22 August 1812

Broadhurst, Essex

Uncle Thomas,

I am writing to inform you that I have formed a most tender regard for your daughter Mary.

Oh you do, do you! I will have to have some words with you, nephew, Lord Thomas thought, scowling as he read on.

Before you say it, I know that she is not out yet, and if the information that my parents conveyed is correct, you will require that I, or anyone else for that matter, not declare themselves before she has had a full season.

Let me assure you that I will abide by that stipulation if that is your desire, and I assure you that my intentions are completely honourable. I love your daughter as a man loves a woman, and I have strong indications that she returns my regard.

“At least he will not fight me on my stipulations,” Thomas muttered to himself then sighed as he settled into the news.

“The truth is that I could not imagine a better man for my Mary, although she may rail against the time constraints if her heart is truly engaged. That is just the problem, is it not? I will lose one of my youngest daughters, and this one a full decade before I am ready.” He chuckled, knowing full well a father that loved his children as much as he did never was really ready to let them go.

But with Wes she would never be actually gone.

“Other than their personalities very nearly being designed for each other, this is a serious point in his favour. The second, of course, being far more important than the first today, just for today,” he said to himself.

I felt honour bound to write to you of my intentions and feelings as I would not want you to hear anything second hand. All I can do is assure you that I will not cross any conventions of propriety and will do nothing to harm my cousin’s reputation.

You had better not! Lord Thomas huffed to himself.

Sincerely,

Your nephew, Wes

P.S. If I were a soothsayer, I would say that at some point my friend Mark Creighton, Viscount Chatsworth, the eldest son to the Earl of Derby, will be contacting you regarding my cousin Kitty.

I know the Earl. I may have to chat with him in the Lords and find out if his son is as honourable as the father, as one does not take the conjectures of a familial non-soothsayer lightly.

He chuckled to himself, wondering if anyone else had ever had that thought or if it was his to coin and immortalize in his journal.

Lord Thomas sighed forlornly. His babies, if young women now, would soon be leaving him and Sarah for their own homes.

As long as the men were honourable and loved his daughters and were loved in return, he would not deny either suit, but Wes had been informed correctly.

There would be no declarations before the end of the twins’ first season.

Lady Sarah found her sister-in-law in her sitting room relaxing before dinner.

When she asked Lady Rose her preference as far as returning to Longbourn, staying at Pemberley, or going to Longview Meadows with Amy and Tom, she chose to return to Hertfordshire.

She had a feeling that Lizzy and William would appreciate some solitude after the last few months, and that Amy and Tom would have enough guests without her adding to the number.

The truth was that Rose Bennet, Dowager Duchess Bedford, was not yet ready to return to her late husband’s former estate.

His passing was still too raw, and she still had about two months of deep mourning left based on her promise to Sed.

She thanked her sister for her solicitude and informed her that she would be ready to depart whenever Sarah and Thomas wanted to start the journey to Essex.

Tom and Amy, as Lady Rose had surmised, invited the Ashbys to join them at Longfield Meadows when they departed in two days.

They were more than ready to return to their primary estate, and both recognised the advantage of being in the company of their loving family.

Amy also invited her Aunt Catherine to join them so that she would have more time with Anne and Ian.

The Ashbys would convey her to Snowhaven after the summation of their visit with Amy and Tom.

The Ashbys would be hosted for a month and having her mother and sisters-in-law with her would help Amy look to the future and not dwell on her loss too much.

Amy sat and wrote a note to the Dudleys, informing the butler and housekeeper when they would return and how many family members would be accompanying them.

After Amy wrote her missive and had her maid deliver it to Mr. Douglas so one of Pemberley’s grooms could be dispatched to their estate, Amy and Tom sat together on the settee in their shared sitting room. “How are you feeling, Amy?” Tom asked gently.

“It is still hard to think of what would have been Tom,” Amy replied with a little quaver in her voice, “but I do not dwell on the loss as I did the first few days afterward. I have accepted that it is one of those things that happen and no matter how much we want to, we cannot explain why. Mayhap one day in the future there will be ways invented to help prevent what we had happen, but for now, all we can do is keep trying to become with child again.”

“The trying can be so enjoyable,” Tom grinned as he waggled his eyebrows. He was happy to see that he still had the ability to make his beloved blush.

“Tom Bennet!” his wife admonished him playfully as she gave him a soft smack on the arm followed by a giggle. She said something in a sotto voce that Tom could not make out. Seeing his questioning look she said just loud enough to be audible, “I too enjoy the trying, maybe even more than you.”

That night, and to no one’s surprise, William and Elizabeth sent their apologies and took trays in their sitting room after sending a note to Lady Anne requesting that she fulfil the role of hostess.

The next morning, the host and hostess were the last to join the family in the breakfast parlour.

They were not the only couple sporting looks of satisfaction.

William informed the family that he had some business in Town so they would stop at Darcy House on the way to collect Georgiana in Essex and then proceed to Seaview Cottage for at least a fortnight, issuing an invitation to anyone that would like to join them near Brighton.

“We leave for Longfield Meadows tomorrow,” Tom shared, “and the Ashbys will be our guests. Anyone else who would like to join us is welcome, so thank you but we need to decline this time; though at some point, you may come to find us waiting for your arrival, and staying after you have left.”

“Let us know when you would like to claim the use of it. Maybe we could set up a schedule for visitations through the year. You want to lay claim to any particular weeks, Bennet?” He winked at his mother-in-law which had her bright laugh filling the room.

“William, you are under the bad influence of my daughter, mayhap it was a bad idea, you two getting married,” she volleyed, and he laughed, the two of them finding that they were being stared at in nothing short of astounded surprise.

“You’re stuck with me now, Mother Bennet,” he smirked at her laugh, and he leaned over to kiss his wife’s forehead before he went to the counter to fill her plate.

“There may be an imposter in our midst.” Richard drawled. “Who are you really , and what have you done to Lady Sarah Bennet.” Richard leaned forward and peered her over, making everyone at the table erupt in laughter.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I have business at Longbourn that cannot be deferred, so Sarah and I will be travelling hence after we collect our youngest daughters,” Lord Thomas grinned at Darcy, the sound of his wife’s happiness always the most wonderful sound in the world to him, “so this time we also regretfully decline the invitation.”

“The same is true for Elaine and me,” Lord Reggie stated. “There are some tenant issues that I need to solve at Snowhaven, so as much as we love being at Seaview, it is not possible to join you this trip.”

After Richard leaned toward Jane and whispered in her ear, she nodded her agreement.

“Jane and I will join you William,” Richard accepted thankfully.

“While she will pass her confinement at Longbourn so that Sir Frederick is able to attend her, this will be a much-needed rest before she enters it.” Elizabeth was pleased; yes, she was closest to Marie, but she loved Jane dearly and looked forward to being with her oldest sister in her own home.

“I have no fixed engagements,” James said nonchalantly, “so I would like to take you up on your kind invitation, Lizzy and William.”

“You are more than welcome, as long as everyone behaves,” William said.