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A few short weeks after the new Marquess of Hertford was born, Madeline Gardiner was brought to bed. In a labour which lasted barely two hours, she delivered her fourth child and second son, who was named Peter Jacques.

At the same time, the new Marquess of Hertford Heights had been christened a few days before Peter was born. His godparents were Charlotte and Anthony, with Robert Darcy as the third one.

Matty, as he was called by his parents and family members, was growing apace. He had just reached the three-week mark, and he was already noticeably bigger. The babe was his parents’ pride and joy. He spent his days either in someone’s arms or in a cradle placed in his mother’s bedchamber.

Said mother cared not for the restrictions dictated by society after a woman gave birth.

Elizabeth point-blank refused to lie like an invalid in bed in a heated, and darkened room all day.

The first thing she did was order that the drapes be pulled back and the windows opened.

Next, she was out of bed and walking about in the suite two days after she delivered her son.

Thanks to a conversation with Sir Fredrick Gillingham, Archy did not attempt to gainsay her because the accoucheur had opined that there was no medical benefit to a forced sequestration after the birthing process.

He advised, like he always did, that as soon as she felt able to move around, she should.

He had said there was no hard and fast rule as far as he was concerned, as every woman would recover at her own pace.

By the time Aunt Maddie delivered Peter, Elizabeth was already taking walks outside and had begun to visit Jamil again. Her body was still too tender to ride, but she would sit with Archy and watch their sisters—including Jane—ride out.

Elizabeth and Archy had been pleased when, a week after Matty was born, Jane began to address him as Archy rather than His Grace.

It had taken Jane a little while, but she finally accepted that she was seen as a part of the family and not an interloper.

It had been hard for her to accept, regardless of what they said or how warmly they acted towards her, that her sister and brother-in-law did not hold any of her past atrocious behaviour against her.

As soon as she realised it was in fact the case, Jane relaxed with everyone, not only Betsy, who until that point had been the only one with whom she could be herself.

She revelled in the closeness she experienced with all of her sisters.

When they referred to Jane now, it was simply as ‘sister.’ Gone was the qualifier of ‘half’ before sister.

If only she had realised many years ago how much pleasure there was to be had in a close sisterly and family relationship.

In fact, her younger sisters had shared among their friends in Meryton about Miss Millar’s vast improvement. The change Jane had experienced in the way she was welcomed by the residents of the area when she had recently visited Aunt Hattie and Uncle Frank at Longbourn was extremely pleasurable.

Jane was so comfortable with her new family that she had agreed to accompany them when they were to go to London for the upcoming Little Season. Jane had no expectation of finding a husband, but she was looking forward to the shopping and entertainment in Town.

Archy gave her, in what was in her opinion, an overly generous allowance. She intended to only use her own money when she made purchases in London. She was determined not to take advantage of Lizzy and Archy’s generosity.

Betsy too was treated more like a family member and less like a paid companion. Miss Walker could not believe that her life had changed in the manner it had; to go from a servant at an estate in Ireland to where she was now was beyond comprehension.

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

“The Queen congratulated that duke and his wife for the birth of a son,” Karen Waterford told her husband one evening when he returned to the steward’s cottage at Oak Grange.

He seethed within that the man who had not lifted a finger to save his George now had a son.

His former employer had a healthy son as well.

Lord Matlock, who could have, should have, ordered clemency for George, had two sons.

Thinking of the three families who had wronged him so grievously made Waterford/Wickham discontented.

They very seldom travelled north for any length of time, and when they did, there was a cadre of guards in evidence.

At least, they had no idea he was in the general area.

That was a small comfort next to the fact that it had been years since George had been unjustifiably hanged, and yet he still had to be patient.

No matter how much he claimed that he could wait, Lucas Wickham was losing his forbearance.

As he did whenever he felt the melancholy at not avenging George’s death, he told himself he would gain that which he desired more than anything else.

In the end, the wait would be worth it.

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

November 1808

As much as they should have expected Hertfordshire House to be a mansion based on the months they had been living at Falconwood, when Jane and Betsy saw the house on Russell Square where they would be residing, their mouths hung open.

One of the nursemaids and Matty were with them in the conveyance.

He was an extremely happy babe of nine months of age.

He was babbling away in the manner babes of his age were wont to do as he sat on Nurse’s lap staring out of the window closest to him.

The two best friends were thankful they were in one of the coaches following the one Lizzy, Archy, and Mary were riding in, and that Nurse had not seemed to notice their reaction to seeing the house.

Mary had turned sixteen in September, and although she would not fully partake in society, she would attend some events like shopping, musicals, the opera, the theatre, and, of course, visits to the museums around London.

She was still thinking she would not have her coming out before she was closer to nineteen than eighteen, but Mary felt far more comfortable with those she had not met before than in the past.

Hertfordshire handed his sister and then his wife out of the travelling coach. “Thank you, my love,” Elizabeth said as she took one of his hands.

The staff and servants were not outside, as they, like all of those in homes owned by Their Graces, had been instructed not to wait in the elements during the winter or any sort of inclement weather.

The way they saw the treatment of those who served them was one of the many ways the Duke and Duchess were compatible.

For this Little Season, much to her sadness, Elizabeth would not see Charlotte Barrington.

Her best friend had given birth to a son in early September.

Charlotte had delivered a healthy son, much to Anthony’s delight as well as the two sets of grandparents.

Even though Hubert William—named for his two grandfathers—was not Leticia and Hubert Barrington’s first grandson, the fact that he was the future heir to the estate made his birth very important.

The Lucases were beside themselves with joy as little Hubert was their first grandchild.

He was as healthy as any babe had ever been; Charlotte would not travel with him, especially in the winter, until he was around six months of age; hence, she remained at Rivington with Anthony.

Elizabeth had not been at Rivington when Charlotte delivered, as Matty had had a cough. She did not want him to travel or be out in the cold, and she would not leave him.

Once they had washed and changed, Elizabeth and Archy met in their shared sitting room. “Did I inform you we will dine at Darcy House on the morrow?” she asked her beloved.

“You may have. Are the Darcys not arriving later today? I understand they were dropping Anna off at Longbourn to be with Cathy, Lydia, and Maria.” Hertfordshire verified.

“Indeed, my loveable husband, you are correct,” Elizabeth confirmed.

“I was happy to read Aunt Anne’s letter telling how William has continued in his quest to improve his character.

He has been attending the local assemblies in Lambton and dances every set, making sure to share sets with the wallflowers.

It has been since before he was sent to Glen Morgan Heights that she and Uncle Robert have seen any improper pride. ”

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

William had been in anticipation of the arrival of the Chamberlains and their party for dinner.

He knew he would be dissembling to himself if he did not own that his excitement was driven by seeing Her Grace again.

More than that, he loved to debate with her, even if her superior intellect won almost all of the time.

Playing chess against her for the first time had been a lesson in humility.

He had assumed it was one of the few areas he would best her.

It had taken her barely twenty minutes to annihilate him.

Then he had played against Miss Bennet, and had not fared much better against her.

He was hoping they would have time to discuss the latest books they had read and perhaps enter into a debate.

He had to regulate his infatuation with Her Grace, while not slighting her to achieve that aim. William heard a noise from the entrance hall, and soon enough Killion was announcing Their Graces, Miss Bennet, Miss Millar, and the latter two’s companions, Mrs Ralston and Miss Walker.

As hard as it was, William stood back and allowed his parents, aunt, and uncle to greet the Duke and Duchess first. At last it was his turn. “Your Graces,” William greeted as he bowed to them, “you are both looking well.”

“Now, William, did we not agree you would address me as Lady Elizabeth and my husband as Hertfordshire?” Elizabeth admonished playfully.