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A rchibald Chamberlain had to fight to maintain his equanimity when the young Darcy heir admitted to both interfering with her riding and directly insulting his fiancée.

As much as his anger was roiling below the surface, when William Darcy had related how he had been asked who he thought he was, Hertfordshire could see the look on her face and hear his beloved taking his friends’ son to task.

The long, very good friendship with the Darcys and Fitzwilliams stayed his hand from taking serious retribution against the young man.

“That you came to report what you did is laudable, except it should never have occurred in the first place. In my fiancée’s words to you, who do you think you are?

What excuse do you offer for your reprehensible behaviour?

” Hertfordshire demanded of William Darcy who stood before him, his head hung in shame.

“None, Your Grace. There is nothing I am able to say which would excuse or justify my actions towards your betrothed,” William responded, not lifting his head to look at the Duke.

“At least in that we agree,” Hertfordshire barked.

“I am aware you did not know who the lady was, but that does not make what you did any better.” He looked at the Darcy and Fitzwilliam parents who were present in his study.

“I know from conversations with your parents and your aunt and uncle that none of them have ever taught you to behave the way you did; in fact, they abhor your haughty behaviour and your improper pride.”

The four who the Duke referred to nodded their agreement with the statement.

“Do not forget; I was present the day the late George Wickham intended to murder you. For you to impute his motivations to everyone you believe is below you is both illogical and wrong.” Hertfordshire ceased speaking when he heard a knock on his study door.

By the lightness, he guessed it was a feminine hand. “Come,” he called out.

Elizabeth entered the study with Anthony and Charlotte following her. She was about to launch into a recitation of the confrontation with Anna’s rude brother when she saw him standing before her. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Charlotte and Anthony also stared at William Darcy but said nothing.

“If you have come to inform me of this young man’s inexcusable behaviour, he has already told me himself,” Hertfordshire reported.

“He told you just how rude and presumptive he was? How he insulted me and attempted to command me not to be on your land, and certainly not riding astride?” Elizabeth enquired sceptically. “He did not say anything to Lydia, but his criticism of how we were riding was aimed at her as well.”

“I may be many things, but I do not dissemble. I reported everything to His Grace in full detail,” William responded challengingly, lifting his head.

“Why would I think that one who behaved the way you did would be an honourable man and would report his actions to my fiancé? Your actions left me no room to think well of you. You spoke those vile words before my sisters, your own sister, and my two friends,” Elizabeth shot back.

She looked at her Archy. “I requested that Charlotte and Anthony come with me to see you in case you needed corroboration of what I was to tell you.”

Hertfordshire took his beloved’s hands in his own. “There will never be a day when I do not believe what you tell me, Lizzy. William Darcy here,” he cocked his head to the young man standing before his desk, “reported that…” He repeated what had been told to him. “Is there anything he left out?”

William blanched at the Duke’s unqualified words of support for his fiancée. The enormity of his pride driven error began to sink in. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his parents, neither of whom looked sympathetic to him.

Elizabeth arched her eyebrow at her insulter. “No, that was an accurate retelling, except for a few words here or there,” she agreed.

He hid his surprise that she seemed to remember each word he had said as if it were written down before her.

Extraordinary. “Your Grace, Miss Bennet, may I take this opportunity to apologise profusely? Not, Miss Bennet, only because you are soon to be a duchess, but just because it is the right thing to do,” William requested.

Elizabeth looked at Archy and nodded her agreement. She would hear the man and decide whether it was a perfunctory apology or genuine begging of her pardon.

Lady Anne and Robert Darcy held their breath waiting for the Duke to respond to their son’s request. If he refused to allow William to apologise, it would not go well for their son.

The Matlocks too waited in anticipation.

It would not affect them directly, but they preferred things to be settled quietly with no word leaking to the scandal-driven Ton .

As much as he would like to apply some of the techniques he had learnt at Gentleman Jack’s in London to William Darcy’s face, Hertfordshire gave a tight nod.

“I apologise fully and without reservation to both Miss Bennet and His Grace. As I was saying before Miss Bennet joined us, there is no excuse for my behaviour, and I should never have presumed to impose on Miss Bennet and those riding with her. I fully understand that even had I had the Duke’s authority to approach potential trespassers on his estate,” William did not miss how one of the eyebrows above one of the very fine eyes began to arch, “my first action should have been to speak respectfully to the group of riders and ascertain the facts before assuming I knew everything simply by relying on my own faulty judgement.”

William turned to face Miss Bennet. “All I can do is beg your pardon for the insulting words which escaped my mouth. You were correct when you inferred I behaved in an ungentlemanly way. I am heartily ashamed of what I said to you and the despicable way I behaved.”

As much as she wanted to rail against the man, Elizabeth could tell that his amends had been genuine. She was formulating her reply when he spoke again.

“Whether you demand it of me or not, I think I must return to River Run without delay. There is much I need to work on with regard to changes I need to make to my character. Besides, I cannot imagine Miss Bennet wants me at her wedding, and I am sure that after my display the same is true for Barrington and his fiancée.” He turned to face Barrington and his betrothed.

“To both of you and the rest of the riding party, I offer my sincere apologies.”

“What think you, Lizzy?” Hertfordshire queried.

“Young Mr Darcy’s apology is, I believe, sincere, and as such, it would be rather churlish of me to refuse to accept it.

He is correct insofar as I would prefer that he not be here for our wedding after the way he behaved earlier.

” Elizabeth turned to the other couple who would be married with her and Archy. “I do not want to speak for you two.”

Charlotte and Anthony had a quiet but brief talk.

“My fiancée, who is Miss Charlotte Lucas, and I agree with Lizzy. Had you not readily decided to remove yourself from the field, we would have also desired your absence,” Anthony stated.

“Marjorie is a niece to your parents; that would have been uncomfortable, but thankfully, we will not have to explain our reasons to them.

He paused as he looked at the man who was an acquaintance of his.

“Take the time and make the amendments you need to make, because the way you are now, not even Richard Fitzwilliam would want to be in your company.”

William hung his head again; he was fully aware that Anthony Barrington had been correct. Unless he addressed all of his character flaws, he would end up leading a very lonely life.

“I think my son needs to learn some humility,” Robert Darcy spoke for the first time.

“Anne and I are pleased that his apologies have been genuine, but the underlying problem is that William has improper pride. Almost as bad as his Aunt Catherine.” Darcy turned his head to look at Hertfordshire.

“Your solution for Miss Millar comes to mind.”

Everyone in the study except the subject of his father’s musings knew exactly to what, and to whom, Darcy was referring.

“Father, what do you mean?” William asked trepidatiously.

“You do not mean the same estate where Miss Millar is, do you, Darcy?” Hertfordshire enquired. “Given her past tendencies, it may not be wise to put your son in her path.”

“No, I did not intend to impose on you at one of your estates. I have Loch Ness View, near that body of water in Scotland, in mind.” Darcy turned to look into his beloved wife’s eyes. “What say you, Anne?”

“In my opinion, it may just be what William needs,” Lady Anne agreed. “What is your opinion, Elaine and Reggie?”

“ Extremis malis, extrema remedia ,” Matlock stated stoically in Latin.

“Uncle, what do you mean extreme actions need extreme remedies?” William queried. He had a feeling whatever it was, he was not going to enjoy it. Why was Father speaking of sending him to the estate in Scotland? He had been there for a month or so during his modified grand tour.

“Darcy, did not your son spend time at your estate in Scotland as part of that tour of his?” Hertfordshire asked.

Darcy allowed it was so.

“Then I suggest my estate of Glen Morgan Heights, where he is unknown. You want him to learn his place, but not to be constantly humiliated being with those who served him the last time he was there,” Hertfordshire explained.

“I agree; if it is no imposition, Glen Morgan Heights it will be,” Darcy said gratefully.

William’s look was that of a man who had become more and more confused.

“Master Darcy, do you not know that besides the three sisters you did not meet today, I have a half-sister?” Miss Bennet asked him, seemingly incongruently.

William shook his head.