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“You are correct, Retta,” Mary said as she recovered her equanimity, “if we are willing to tease then we need to be able to accept teasing in return.” She looked at Georgiana, “You know it was in fun, do you not?”

“Yes, I do,” Georgiana stated evenly. “I did not take umbrage; you know how easily I get embarrassed. I will only take the bracelet off when James replaces it with something else,” she said boldly.

“You mean like a betrothal ring?” Lorretta asked and the four dissolved into gales of laughter. Once they had stopped laughing and wiped their eyes, they changed the subject.

“I hear that Miss, thinks-she’s-high-and-mighty, Price is telling anyone who will listen that ‘her’ viscount will make her an offer this season,” Loretta informed the others.

“She is in for a big let-down,” Kitty said in a bid to mitigate the anger building in her twin.

“That…” Mary huffed, “if she tries to do anything, she will be irrevocably ruined!”

“Who is Miss Price?” Georgiana asked.

“She is a social climbing shrew who is about to start her third season,” Loretta explained with obvious distaste.

“She is from very new money who thinks that because she had set her cap for Wes, that he will be hers for the taking. If Wes had ever felt anything but repulsion for the girl, then new money and roots in trade would mean nothing, but she is an uncouth shrew with no class and less sense of style. She always dresses in some shade of burnt orange and look hideous in it.”

“If she tries to entrap Wes,” Mary seethed, “she will have me to answer to!”

“Even she is not that airheaded Mary,” Kitty tried to placate her sister. “Ever since Papa allowed William to release his “settlement,” there have been very few compromises by either men or women.”

“Even if she did try, Wes would allow her to be compromised but never marry her,” Loretta said with authority. “There is only one who will be my sister in the future, and that, Mary, is you!”

“What about us?” Georgiana asked indicating herself and Kitty.

“Yes, and the rest of our sisters?” Kitty added.

“You know I mean by marriage to my brother, if I needed to make it plainer for you two dunderheads,” Lorretta harrumphed and said in jest.

The conversation shifted to the gowns that they had all received that morning from Madame Chambourg’s shop and how they could not wait to wear them when the family went to a theatre on Drury lane on the morrow to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream .

The young ladies were more than excited, well at least three of them, as the men that they loved would be sitting near them under the watchful eyes of four companions.

Between the various branches of the family, they had access to five boxes of which three would be in use for the upcoming performance.

The older group would be in the Bedford box as it was the largest of the three that were side by side, the young single group in the Hertfordshire box, and the younger married couples in the Jersey box.

The Darcy and Fitzwilliam boxes were on the opposite side of the theatre.

Those in the family patronising the theatre that night met at Bennet House for an aperitif before the performance.

Lord Mark Creighton was somewhat nervous as he would be meeting a large chunk of Lady Catherine’s family for the first time.

His nerves did not subside when, after being introduced to the Duke of Hertfordshire, he was invited, which he had no doubt was a summons, to come meet with his Grace on the morrow at ten o’clock.

He was put at ease with the warm welcome that he received from the family and made his way to sit with the younger group.

The conversation flowed easily in the drawing room and Mark was impressed at the fact that there was no artifice among the people he observed, notwithstanding that they were some of the most powerful members of the Ton.

The carriages were brought to a halt in front of the theatre, and after the family disembarked, they made their way into the foyer where they were greeted by friends and acquaintances, as well as those who wanted to be connected to members of the family.

Miss Amanda Price was standing with her parents when she saw ‘her’ viscount enter with a very elegant lady on his arm.

She did not miss the looks that were exchanged by the two.

Never having been a lady of good sense, she marched up to Lord Wesley and tried to sink her talons into his arm while at the same time trying to act as if Mary did not exist.

“Oh your Lordship, it is so good to see you again,” she simpered.

“When I saw that this person,” she sneered at Mary, “had accosted you I just knew that you needed me to rescue you.” She batted her eyelids in a way that she considered coquettish, but the effect was like she was trying to clear cinders from her eyes.

“Excuse me Madam,” Wes said loudly enough that everyone standing in the foyer stopped talking and looked at them as he physically detached her offensive person from his.

“When have I ever given you leave to be so familiar with me?” he demanded, his stare at her dripping with disdain.

“I have never invited your attentions, nor do I desire them! If you had any sense in your head you would have noticed that I walked in escorting Lady Mary Bennet, who is the daughter of their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Hertfordshire.” He let the last hang in the air.

The harpy blanched at the public setdown she had just received.

Her mouth flapped open and closed like a beached perch for a few moments while all stared, then she turned and retreated to her parents with as much dignity as she could muster.

Her parents, whose aim in life was to advance in society no matter how it was achieved, were mortified at the disapproval that they saw from some of the leading members of the Ton.

As soon as the foyer emptied after the bell signalling five minutes prior to the performance sounded, they wisely left the theatre dragging their protesting daughter behind them.

“There is no need to leave,” she protested as they waited for their chaise to be brought round. “My Wesley was not in a good mood tonight having to escort his insipid cousin. You will see how it will be; I WILL be his viscountess!”

Her parents had no doubt that hell would freeze over before that happened, but they chose not to invite an epic tantrum, so they said nothing. They resolved to try to keep their daughter away from events that in which they were aware Viscount Westmore was attending.

Once everyone was comfortable in the box with the four ladies sitting in the front row and the three young men sitting behind the young lady he loved, Mary leaned back and placed her lips close to Wes’s ear.

“I thank you for your words to that delusional and pretentious person,” Mary whispered. “She is lucky that you stepped in because I was about to give her a setdown from which she would never recover.”

“I have no doubt that you would have, Mary,” Wes said grinning. “She has no idea who she has vexed tonight. I can only hope that she heard the message, but with her singlemindedness I am not so sure that she has enough ability to reason and see the truth,” he said as he turned serious.

“If that is the case,” Mary responded, “then she will have to learn the hard way.” Mary turned around as the house was darkened and the curtain raised.

They all thoroughly enjoyed their time at the performances that night, as well as the opportunity to see and be seen; they finished off the night with a late supper at Jersey House.

Before each departed for their own homes in the morning, the four young ladies agreed that they would meet at Darcy House after they broke their fasts, and that they and some of the family’s matriarchs would go shopping on Bond Street.

Lizzy and Jane demurred, and Marie and Andrew had plans for a ride in an open chaise.

A few minutes before ten the next morning, Mr. Thatcher, Bennet House’s butler, announced Viscount Chatsworth to his master. Lord Thomas indicated that the young man should sit. After an offer of tea or coffee was politely refused by the squirming young man, Lord Thomas got right to the point.

“What are your intentions regarding Kitty, young man?” he asked as he looked directly into Mark’s eyes.

“They are completely honourable, your Grace,” young Creighton replied. “I know that you require your daughters to have their season, and as soon as that is past, I intend to request a courtship with Miss Catherine with the hope that it will reach the natural conclusion and she will accept my hand.”

“You know, I am sure,” Lord Thomas said as he watched then young man carefully to see if he could detect any prevarication, “that my daughters have very large dowries.”

“That is my assumption, your Grace,” Mark acknowledged. “However, I would love Lady Catherine with or without a dowry, and I am wealthy enough for the both of us. I intend and am happy to leave her dowry under her control.”

Lord Thomas did not doubt the young man’s sincerity and did not miss the look when he mentioned that he loved Kitty.

After what seemed like an eternity but was only a minute or two, the Duke sighed.

“I think you will suit our Kitty very well. If you are her choice, I could never part with any of my daughters to anyone who is not worthy of them. As I told Wes, you may declare yourself three months after my girls come out. Now be off with you,” Lord Thomas waved him away.

And after expressing his thanks, Mark withdrew from the Duke’s study.

At Darcy House, the Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire were relaxing in their sitting room. William was seated on one end of the settee while Elizabeth reclined, her head in his lap. He was playing with her raven tresses that he had freed from their pins.

“I wonder if Papa went easy on young Creighton today,” Elizabeth speculated.

“Look at how many times Richard and I have warned James to be careful,” William said.

“In my opinion your father will do something similar; Kitty and Mary are the last two daughters who still bear the name Bennet, so I am sure that it will be as hard for him as it will be for me when James…or anyone else, comes to request a courtship or betrothal with Georgie.”

“She has grown in a confident young woman, William,” Elizabeth soothed as she saw her husband become maudlin at the thought of his younger sister starting her life without him.

“Mother Anne will also miss seeing her every day when that eventuality comes to pass love, but like you and Richard, she wants our sister to be happy, and she wants what is best for her.”

“You have the right of it, my love,” William said as he inhaled the scent of lavender that he loved as it meant she was almost close enough.

“As long as I know that she is happy and truly in love and loved, I will never stand in her way. However, both Richard and I will insist on at least three months of a season like Father Bennet did with Mary.”

“So, the all-powerful Duke of Derbyshire is able to be flexible,” Elizabeth teased resulting in his lips turning up as he tried to remain stoic but failed. “I was talking to Mother Anne, and we both agree that Georgie is ready for that step in her life.”

“Yes, I believe she is,” William said wistfully as he acknowledged that his sister had matured as her self-confidence had grown. “It will be hard for my mother when Georgie marries and leaves Pemberley.”

“As it will for you too, my love,” Elizabeth said sympathetically as she rubbed his hands with her own. “Do not forget that before Mother Anne sees Georgiana married that she will be gifted grandbabies by us,” Elizabeth reminded William of the impending positive.

“Yes, I am sure that we will all be very busy when our daughters are born,” William grinned at the thought of two miniature Lizzies.

“You mean our two sons who will look just like their extremely handsome father,” Elizabeth countered as they oft good-natured debates about the gender was had once again.

“As long as our babes are healthy and you are well, I care not what gender they are, my Lizzy,” William said as he kissed her with fiery intensity, expressing his need for her to understand how much his words meant.

It was not long that the kissing progressed to searching hands and clothing was strewn on the floor.

William scooped his beloved wife up in his arms and carried her to their bed where they loved one another with their deep passion for one another unrestrained.