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L ady Leticia Barrington felt torn. She very much wanted to remain with her brother and sister-in-law for as long as possible, but at the same time, she knew Charlotte could enter her lying-in any day now. Her daughter-in-law was not alone as her mother and younger sister were visiting Rivington.

After a conversation with Archy and Lizzy where she explained her conundrum, based on their advice, Leticia decided she and Hubert would return to their home in the dower house at Rivington. They departed reluctantly but travelled at a normal pace on their journey home.

Archy’s nieces and their families departed the day after his sister. The MacIntyres remained at Castlemere for an additional sennight before departing for the north and their estate of Colbath Dale.

Once the MacIntyres had left, the Phillipses and Bingleys decided it was time for them to go to their homes. Cathy and Lydia, with a stop at Pemberley to collect Anna, travelled with the Phillipses. Once they had departed, only the Chamberlains and Mary remained in residence.

“When should we say something to the children?” Hertfordshire asked his wife after they had returned inside once they had seen their family off.

“In my opinion, we should wait as long as we can before we destroy the children’s equanimity. When you approach the point you feel like you will need laudanum, it will be time to speak to them,” Elizabeth suggested.

“I agree,” Hertfordshire replied as they arrived at the family sitting room where their children were waiting to spend time with them.

Elizabeth put her hand on Archy’s arm to stop his progress towards opening the door.

“We should speak to Mary and Richard. Mary does not think it is appropriate to marry before you…” Elizabeth had to take a gulp of air to stop the tears which were always just below the surface now.

“Before He takes you from us. She thinks it would be disrespectful to marry, and she will mourn for six months.”

His wife, speaking of mourning, reminded him that she had never responded to his request that she limit her mourning to one year.

Now was not the time, but they would have that conversation soon.

There was so much to do before… He realised Lizzy was waiting for his reply.

“I agree, we should have that discussion with them.”

They kissed and entered the sitting room to the delighted squeals of their twins and the excited giggles of Matty.

A few hours later, a messenger arrived from the court in Derby.

Lucas Wickham and the two Younges had all been found guilty of multiple counts of attempted murder.

The sentence of hanging had been imposed and carried out the next morning.

Neither Hertfordshire nor Lizzy celebrated the loss of life, but they knew that those who had been punished had made their own choices.

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

Ever since the revelation of Hertfordshire’s illness which would result in his passing, William Darcy had been in deep contemplation.

He kept replaying the meeting the day of Lady Elizabeth’s birthday over and over again in his mind.

No matter which way he analysed the words that had been spoken, he arrived at the same conclusion.

The Duke of Hertfordshire was urging him to marry his widow, if she would have him.

He knew enough about Lady Elizabeth to be certain she would not do anything she did not want to do.

He was also fully aware of the deep and abiding love she shared with her husband, and as such, he was not sure she would ever want to marry another.

It was not a subject he could raise with Hertfordshire, so if he needed some clarification, it would depend on the man wanting to discuss it again.

It was good they had family and close friends around them to assist them with coming to terms with everything.

He gave thanks daily that it was not one of his parents looking at a life ending illness, but he knew how hard it would be for the surviving one with the kind of love shared by his mother and father.

“William, do you want to ride to Castlemere with me,” Richard asked his younger cousin. He was being hosted at Pemberley as it was much closer to Castlemere and Mary than his parents’ estate of Snowhaven.

“I thought we were all allowing them some time as a family?” William verified.

“We, I, did, and other than the Chamberlains and my Mary, no one else remains in residence at Castlemere. Besides, I was summoned.” Richard held up a note.

Knowing how much he would like to speak to Hertfordshire, if the Duke desired it, William agreed without delay.

Soon enough the cousins were on their way to Castlemere, racing each other down the length of the valley, across the fields towards Castlemere.

Invictus and Zeus were running neck and neck when they reached the low fence marking the border between the estates.

At the expert urging of their riders, both stallions sailed over the fence with room to spare.

When they reached the lake, they turned their horses to the south and galloped along the shore.

As they approached the southern end of the lake where it narrowed and fed the river, they slowed their horses.

By the time they reached the wide, stone bridge over the river, the horses were walking.

Both riders dismounted and led their stallions over the bridge, after remounting, they trotted to the entrance of the castle where grooms were waiting to take charge of the horses.

The two men were shown into the study where Hertfordshire, Lady Elizabeth, and Mary waited.

“William, you are very welcome, but we need to speak to Mary and Richard first,” Elizabeth stated. “You may wait in the library or join Matty and his toy soldiers. A warning if you do, Gracie and Winston will demand rides on your back.”

“In that case, I will go visit the little lords and lady,” William responded.

Elizabeth was impressed that William chose to entertain their children. It was one of the many positive things she had noticed about him since his stay at Glen Morgan Heights.

“We requested you two meet with us because Mary told me she does not feel right marrying before we lose my Archy, and afterwards, there will be a six month wait for mourning,” Elizabeth began. “Is this a correct summation of what you two have decided, at Mary’s urging?”

The engaged couple looked at one another and nodded in unison.

“So, you have decided to deny me a pleasurable celebration before I am called home to God?” Hertfordshire said, fighting to maintain a straight face.

Mary looked horrified. “Archy, I thought you would not want frivolity during the time He gives you until…” She had suggested this to Richard, However, Mary now realised she should not have made assumptions, but that she should have spoken to Lizzy and Archy first. “Are you saying that you want us to marry soon?”

“Yes, you silly goose, that is exactly what we want. Archy and I spoke, and we do not want to sit around waiting for the inevitable as if it had occurred already. We want to live as much as possible, and that includes Archy having the honour of giving you away, Mary, my wonderful sister,” Elizabeth explained.

“A common licence is easy to acquire, how soon would you two like to marry?”

“May we?” Richard pointed at the calendar on the desk.

There were nods from Elizabeth and her husband.

Richard recovered the item and sat on the settee, his head close to Mary’s as they examined what was left of the month of March.

“Today is the eighteenth of March, what say you to us marrying on Monday? Pending the licence of course,” Mary asked.

“As long as we marry, the size of the celebration is secondary. Mother and Father are at Snowhaven, as are Andrew and Marie. Aunt Anne and Uncle Robert are home, I am only sorry the Gardiners, Phillipses, Cathy, Lydia, and Anna will not be with us. The same for Jane and Charles.”

“Well, as to that, they are all on their way,” Hertfordshire revealed. “As soon as Lizzy and I decided we would approach you, we sent couriers south and asked them to travel to us as soon as may be. They should all be here by Saturday!”

“In that case, we will delay until Wednesday to make sure they all arrive in time,” Mary enthused. “We have plans to make, I must send missives.”

“Use my study. You will find everything you need, and feel free to send grooms to deliver the notes. I assume you want to let the Darcys and Fitzwilliams know you two will finally be leg-shackled? Before you go, are you sure what you asked when I returned from Ireland, about Longbourn going to Cathy or Lydia, is what you both want.”

“Both Mary and Richard nodded emphatically without hesitation.

“It will be so. Fitzwilliam, please have William join me in a quarter hour,” Hertfordshire requested. As he and Mary exited the study, Richard nodded.

As soon as the door was closed, Hertfordshire turned to his wife.

“Lizzy, I need that promise from you. It will make me feel so much better to know you will not waste your life mourning me for more than a year. The second part is you must promise to be open to marrying again, although I will not have you promise to actually marry.”

“Archy, I do not want to contemplate…” She stopped speaking as he gently placed two fingers on her lips.

“You do remember you will be wealthier than any other non-royal lady?”

Elizabeth nodded. “But I remember in the addendum to the marriage settlement, which you also added as a codicil to your will, with your blessing, I will not gratify a compromise.”

“True, but unless you are married, you will be pursued mercilessly, worse than I was. Also, do you not think our children will need a father?”

“They already have the best father in the world,” she shot back petulantly.