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The Duchess of Derbyshire decided to take her younger sisters and Loretta shopping to Harding, Howell and Company Department store on Pall Mall as a treat in the morning.

After refreshment at Gunter’s, the group would make a visit to Madame Chambourg’s shop to be measured for two ball gowns each, which would be a come-out gift from William and Elizabeth.

The truth was that Elizabeth was regretting her agreement to an early start time, cajoled by the four young ladies a few evenings before at a family dinner they had enjoyed at Jersey House.

It had not snowed in London yet, but the cold was accentuated by the wind whipping between the buildings, she had woken cocooned in her husband’s warm and powerful arms her as he lay behind her still sleeping contentedly.

A maid had built up the fire, and combined with the sable blanket and the coverlet, she felt warm—like a nice spring day—, and was too comfortable to willingly leave the loving embrace of her husband, even if it was how she had woken up most mornings since she had become his wife.

They had loved one another more than once last night; the desire had not changed with her pregnancy and, if anything, there were times when her appetite for her husband’s ministrations was insatiable.

They had found new positions that accommodated her ever expanding girth.

As Elizabeth lay on her back, she felt the babes kick.

She lifted the covers, looked, and was amazed as she was every time.

She, and usually William with her, watched the physical manifestation of the dance that the two made on her insides.

Today it looked like the sea, and a none-to-calm sea at that.

There were waves and troughs. Whether boys or girls they seemed to love exercise, like their mother.

As much as she would have liked to stay, there was no question of her unwillingness to disappoint the four young ladies.

Mary and Kitty would be at Darcy House by nine to break their fasts with the Darcys, and then the group who were part of the expedition to try and make a dent in Pemberley’s wealth, would pick up Loretta on the way to the Pal Mall.

As Elizabeth moved to exit the bed, the strong arms that she had slowly and gently removed from her person locked onto her.

“William!” she scolded playfully, “I need to get up. Your sons have been dancing the quadrille on my bladder, so unless you want to be the cause of a large mess, I suggest you release me, my love.”

“I know, my Elizabeth,” William said almost petulantly. “Just a few more minutes please.”

“It is not desire that draws me out of our toastie bed, William,” she said as she kissed him, “it is necessity.”

He relented after demanding some more kisses as a toll to pass, a toll which his wife was more than happy to pay after she relieved herself.

It was a satisfied Lady Elizabeth Darcy who joined her mother-in-law and sisters to break her fast. Lady Anne quirked an eyebrow at her daughter-in-law and was content at the essence of happiness that were plain for any to see between her son and his wife.

After she had her repast, Lady Anne excused herself to ready herself for her walk across the square to visit the ladies at Bennet House; and Lady Jersey would be joining them soon.

Killion, assisted by a footman, handed his mistress and the young ladies their outerwear, and the four took the most comfortable of the Derbyshire town coaches.

After a brief stop at Jersey House to collect Loretta, they headed to the department store where they alighted at the main entrance.

The five made their way to the second-floor perfumery where all of the latest French scents were housed.

How Harding, Howell and Company acquired the latest from a country that was at war with the kingdom was a mystery that none asked about as they did not want to know the answer.

Elizabeth was a little behind the four young ladies as they browsed the wares when a high-pitched, whiney voice intruded on their peace.

“Look ladies,” Miss Price said with affected airs, “if it is not that little nobody who imposed on my Viscount at the theatre.” Mr. and Mrs. Price had made sure not to attend any events that the Bennets or their extended family would be, and until this day they had been successful in separating their daughter from the object of her jealous hate.

“Oh look,” she continued, “she is with some nobodies like herself, and look at her dowdy companion!” the unwise chit chortled with disdain as she gave the Duchess of Derbyshire a cursory look.

Her two friends had looks of true horror on their faces as they recognised who Amanda Price had just insulted. “Come Amanda, let us leave,” one of the friends beseeched.

“Why should I leave? Those who are far lower than I should be the ones to leave, not me!” she countered, derision dripping from her words.

Mary, who by now was seething, marched up to the unwise woman and slapped her hard on her left cheek.

Miss Price looked as if she was about to have an apoplexy and raised her hand to retaliate when she felt her arms in a vice like grip of Biggs, who had approached the group as the ill-advised young lady spilled her venom.

Miss Price spluttered as her mouth opened and closed but no sound emitted.

“Are you the daughter of a Duke?” Mary asked pointedly.

Not giving the stunned young lady a chance to respond, she continued.

“No, you are not but I am , as are two of my sisters,” she pointed to Kitty and Georgiana.

“And our cousin,” Mary inclined her head toward Loretta, “is Lady Loretta De Melville, sister to the man you were defaming as yours. He detests the very sight of you!”

“How dare you lie so? Daughter of a duke!” Miss Price blustered as she found her tongue.

“If this brute was not protecting you, I would put you in your lowborn place! Is he your paramour?” Mary nodded to Biggs who reluctantly released the arm he was holding.

It seemed that Amanda Price had accepted her delusions as fact and drew back her arm to slap Mary, but before she could, Mary slapped her on her right cheek with so much force that Miss Price fell to the floor.

It was at that moment that Mrs. Price, who had been shopping on the first floor, came to check on her daughter.

She arrived to see a lady that she thought she recognised send her daughter to the floor with a mighty slap.

“How dare you…” The words died on her lips as she recognised Lady Mary Bennet and her friends, and then in horror noticed the Duchess of Derbyshire standing off to the side.

Rather than berate Lady Mary, she turned on her daughter, “AMANDA PRICE! What have you done?”

“Why are you yelling at me , Mama?” Amanda asked in amazement, she was used to not getting her way and had expected her mother to defend her. “It is this Doxy you should be…” She reeled as she received another slap, this time from her mother.

“Did you two young ladies not tell Amanda who these personages are?” Mrs. Price asked the hapless friends as she curtsied awkwardly to the Duchess and her family.

“We tried to pull her away, Mrs. Price,” the one friend said.

“But she paid us no heed,” the other completed.

“Mama, how could you slap me after this nobo…” Amanda Price closed her mouth with a clack as she saw her mother preparing to deliver another slap.

“Do you not comprehend that you have ruined us in society?” Mrs. Price asked her daughter who stood finally starting to comprehend that she may have just made a huge mistake.

“The Viscount told you who his cousin was at Drury Lane, your father and I have gone out of our way to make sure that we did not attend events where her Ladyship and her family would be, but that is all for nought now.”

Elizabeth had been ready to step in if needed, but she decided to stay back as Mary had handled the harridan with aplomb.

“You called that lady,” Mary pointed to her older sister, “our dowdy companion. Is that the way that you address the Duchess of Derbyshire? Are you witless, delusional, or both?”

Miss Price’s pallor had changed to somewhere between white and grey as the enormity of her gaff was made known to her. “I…that is…” she stammered not able to get a coherent sentence out of her mouth.

“Your Grace,” Mrs. Price curtsied to the Duchess, “on behalf of my family please accept my heartfelt apologies for the thoughtless and false words that my daughter spoke.”

Elizabeth inclined her head toward the shaking woman, “As one who was unchecked when she was younger,” she said, “I recommend that you take your daughter in hand.”

“I will, your Grace,” Mrs. Price promised.

“Mrs. Price,” Elizabeth called the lady’s attention back to herself, “I would give up my dreams of joining the first circles if I were you. As you can see, this interaction was observed by a good number of people,” she pointed out the growing crowd observing the confrontation.

“My recommendation is that you and your family withdraw from society until the upcoming season is complete.”

“If your daughter ever approaches me or any of my family,” Mary returned Miss Price’s focus to her, “and that includes my cousin the Viscount, she will be given the cut direct.” With that Mary turned and joined her twin sister, sister-in-law, and cousin and the four moved to the millinery department under the watchful eye of Biggs.