Chapter 19

Elizabeth slept heavily without waking all day and all night. Mary sat with her during the day and in the evening, Lydia took over for the night, planning to sleep in Elizabeth's room in case she woke with nightmares or in distress. They marvelled at how exhausted she must have been from worry and dealing with the crisis from the fire, the patients, Lady Catherine and Anne, Wickham, the attack on Sister Mary Cecelia, her fears for her sisters and child, and everyone else that had been endangered at Windmere by the blackguard.

The next morning Elizabeth woke early, at five in the morning, and went to her refreshing chamber as Lydia slept. She was desperate for a ride, not having been on a horse since arriving in Kent other than the one unsuccessful attempt the day she was nearly shot. She went next to her dressing room and dressed in breeches and riding boots. There would be no ladylike side saddle today. She planned a hard pounding ride, and nothing but astride would do.

As she twisted her hair up in front of her vanity, Lydia spoke from the bed where she had slept with her sister, "After what happened yesterday when you left the house in breeches, Lizzy, I am amazed you believe you will be allowed to escape again. I am astounded by your audacity."

"Chastise me all you like, Lydia, but do it later if you please. I have barely been on my horse for almost two months, and now the danger has passed, I am determined to ride like the hounds of hell are behind me. If any of the gentlemen think to follow me, please discourage them, I would like to be alone this morning," Elizabeth replied as she left the room. She left the house through the kitchens, taking a scone from the tray as she passed, wrapping it in a handkerchief and putting it in her pocket, and also procuring an apple for Artemis.

She enjoyed the stillness of the stables as she saddled her horse and then left for her ride, followed by two grooms as always. She rode hard for nearly three hours, glorying in the freedom of being outdoors. When she returned, she curried her horse and entered through the back of the house, then slipped up to her rooms to bathe and change. When she returned downstairs, breakfast was left out in the dining room for her. She prepared a plate and took it to her study, thanking the staff for delaying clearing the meal away for her, then attended her correspondence as she ate at her desk, relishing the feeling of her life returning to normal.

"I suppose you think you'll get away with your antics yesterday without chastising, Lady Astley, but I assure you, every gentleman in the house is lining up for his turn to give you your tongue lashing," Colonel Fitzwilliam drawled from where he leaned against the door frame.

"There may come a day in the future when I must explain my actions to a man, and face his displeasure after endangering myself, but happily, as of this moment, I am unencumbered, and owe no explanations to anyone," Elizabeth replied firmly, avoiding his gaze.

Colonel Fitzwilliam remained where he was, glaring at her sternly, until Elizabeth looked chastened and said, "Very well. I will admit that you and Colonel Brandon are owed an apology. You, sir, have spent nearly two years attending to the safety of my family, and Colonel Brandon has delayed returning home for over two months now in an attempt to protect me. I recognize, Colonel, that my actions have been a poor return for your efforts, and must seem a paltry thanks for such dedication to my family's welfare. However, I have ever been a woman of action. My deeds were necessary, and I have not yet learnt to condemn them."

Colonel Fitzwilliam sighed and took a seat across from her desk. "I worry for you after such an experience. Did you sleep well? Many would struggle after taking a man's life. I do not know what you expected to achieve through your actions, but you could not have expected it to end as it did."

Elizabeth stared at him. "Colonel Fitzwilliam, I am the widow of a renowned physician. Celebrated for his skill and knowledge by even Her Majesty. I have taken part in the writings of medical journals and textbooks, and have learned about nursing and medicine from skilled professionals. I quite assure you that Wickham's end was completely expected. I knew precisely what would happen when I sliced open his arm. Indeed I taunted him, allowed him near me, to get close enough to close his hands about my throat specifically in order to get near enough to achieve such an end."

Colonel Fitzwilliam stared at her in shock. "If you were to admit such a thing in front of anyone, especially the magistrate, you would hang, Lady Astley."

"I am aware of that. I do not intend to repeat it ever again. But please do not concern yourself for my emotional state. I assure you, I will not lose one second's sleep over that man's end. In the world we live in, most people could never do what I did and bear their conscience. I assure you, I can bear it quite easily. There is no shortage of good men and women in our society, but society must also have those of us who have good and honourable intentions, yet are willing to do whatever is necessary to provide ourselves and the rest with safety. Not dissimilar to your experiences in battle, I expect. Sometimes unpleasant tasks must be undertaken, and someone must have the fortitude to undertake them. I shall meet my maker with a clear conscience, sir. And whatever consequences I must face for my actions, I will accept them willingly."

Colonel Fitzwilliam gave her an appraising glance as he rose and bowed. "I am grateful that you are safe, Lady Astley, and that the ladies of your family have the protection of one such as yourself. As you say, there must always be those of us with the fortitude to undertake unpleasant tasks. I believe the description you are looking for is ruthless, but I never thought to hear it applied to a woman. If I had undertaken this unpleasant task last year when I should have, you would not have had to. You have my apology."

Elizabeth endured similar, but much less intimate and forthcoming visits from Colonel Brandon and Lord Matlock, and made her apologies. Mr Darcy was noticeably absent. Elizabeth mused that either the man was absorbed in the business of Rosings Park, or exceedingly angry with her. Shortly before luncheon, Elizabeth gathered her daughter and sisters and went out for the first walk with Beau that they had enjoyed since arriving at Windmere. The dog's shoulder was healed, and he now ran without limping or favouring the limb. When they returned, Elizabeth surprised her sisters with a picnic in the garden to celebrate their freedom.

After their luncheon, Elizabeth took Diane and Beau back up to the nursery for their nap, and went upstairs to see Sister Mary Cecelia. The young woman was awake, and extremely jumpy and distressed. Elizabeth broke down and wept, begging her forgiveness for the dreadful crime against her person while she was under Elizabeth's protection.

Elizabeth's distress was what was needed to pull Sister Mary Cecelia from her shock and trauma. She held Elizabeth in quite as high a regard as Elizabeth held her and the other sisters. It was by Elizabeth's great efforts and expense that the dream of the order to teach nursing at a proper women's college had become a reality. The order had been grateful for Elizabeth's support for years. The sweet and gentle nun could not bear to see Elizabeth, usually so poised and in command, in such anguish. Sister Cecelia assured her that there was nothing to forgive, that she could be a woman of courage, just as Elizabeth was, and she promised she would not allow the experience to cause her lasting harm. She would accept the love and support of her sister nuns and by the grace of God, learn to put the horror of the beating behind her.

*****

Darcy continued to avoid Elizabeth for the next few days, taking his meals on a tray in his study, and eschewing his morning ride. Elizabeth allowed him his space, understanding how angry he must be with her for putting herself in such danger. She recalled his frantic, disjointed babble as he carried her away from Wickham's bloody corpse, and she knew that the gentleman loved her. Whether he would forgive her and move forward she did not know, but her heart missed his company and his distance served to show her how much she had come to care and even to have true, womanly affection for him.

Four of the remaining patients had recovered as much as they were able, although due to permanent scarring, would never be considered acceptable for employment again in most houses. Darcy gave each of them settlements from the estate as well as a cottage to live in for their lifetimes. Only two of the patients remained, and as soon as Sister Mary Cecelia recovered enough to travel, the Sisters would return to their order. The maids were by then well able to manage the care of the last two patients. Lord Matlock and Mr Darcy would both make enormous donations to the order in thanks for their services to the family.

Lord Matlock received word that Lady Matlock would return to London in one week, and began making plans for Anne and Lady Catherine's removal from Windmere. Elizabeth planned a lovely garden party before he left, and wrote to Charlotte to return to them and take part in celebrating Mary's twentieth birthday. She planned the event in secret with Mrs George, selecting her best china dishes and crystal goblets, her best tablecloths. All of Mary's favourite flowers would be in the arrangements and her favourite foods would be served in the most lovely presentation they could manage. She informed all of the guests of the surprise, and the cook made a large and lovely cake with sugared violets for the occasion. Elizabeth received a letter from Charlotte requesting the use of a carriage to return two days before the party.

The day arrived and Elizabeth, before leaving her room in the morning, slipped a slim jewellery case into her pocket, containing a pearl choker for Mary's birthday gift. With her maid Sarah, Elizabeth made her way to Mary's rooms, followed by Lydia, whom she met in the hall. She entered to Mary's response to her knock and said, "We are just come to see that the birthday girl looks her best today. What are you wearing? Heavens, that will never do, put that old gown away, Ethel. Let us see what else we have here." Elizabeth and Lydia rummaged through the wardrobe, and found a lovely pink gown that Mary was saving for a special occasion.

Elizabeth, Lydia and the maids ignored all of Mary's protests, dressing her and arranging her hair in a new and most becoming style. As Mary glowed before the mirror, Elizabeth placed the choker about her neck and closed the clasp. Shushing Mary's protests against the extravagant gift, Elizabeth took her sister's hands and said, "Mary, today is a most special day. I wish you to know how grateful I am to have you for my sister, and wish you the happiest of birthdays."

Mary wept a little as her eldest sister left the room. Elizabeth then went downstairs to see that everything was in hand, and that the footmen knew not to allow Mary near the back gardens until luncheon.

Darcy attended the party out of respect for Mary, but he avoided Elizabeth's gaze. Elizabeth sighed. Apparently he was not to forgive her. She regretted it, but she could not regret her actions. She would repeat them again without hesitation. She refused, however, to mope about it in front of her guests. As despondent as his distance made her, she would wait until she was alone with her sisters to give into her anguish. She was well versed in despair, she could and would hold her composure until her guests moved on.

Otherwise, it was a merry party. Lord Matlock gifted Mary with a delicate silver bracelet in appreciation for her efforts hostessing his family, and making them all so comfortable during their trials. The bachelors did not give gifts, for it would be inappropriate, but they did give very lovely bouquets from the gardens of Rosings Park. Lydia gave Mary a lovely embroidered shawl that she had been working on for weeks, and Charlotte gifted her a book of poetry. There was even a pair of gifts sent with Charlotte by Mrs Bennet, a lovely length of fine Brussels lace procured in London by Uncle Gardiner, and even a novel, which she had taken a recommendation from Mr Bennet in selecting. The nuns gave their best wishes to Mary, it was a merry time, and the party enjoyed cake and champagne on the lawn, and watched as Diane and Beau played joyfully in the garden. A letter arrived from the Reverend Mother during the party, approving the plan for Evie to live with the order and receive her education. Everyone toasted the girl for her assistance to Elizabeth, and wished her well in her new life. Lady Catherine and Anne declined to come downstairs. The two had not left their rooms since arriving at Windmere.

The following day, Lord Matlock was planning for the next day's journey to London with Anne. He would be gone for one week, and then return for Lady Catherine. Anne would continue to be seen by Mr Roberts while in London. Lord Matlock ordered all of the doctor's recommendations to be followed, including the discontinuation of the many tonics Anne took each day for her health. They were unsure if they could help her to stop purging after meals, but the family was keen to do their best.

As he spoke to his son about the plans for the trip, he asked him, "So what is Darcy planning? It seemed that he was about to propose to the woman, and suddenly he avoids her like smallpox. I was quite keen to think we might gain Lady Astley as family. He certainly could not make a better choice."

Colonel Fitzwilliam sighed. "He will not speak of her. I do not believe he will stay in Kent much longer. I believe he has not forgiven her for putting herself in such danger. I cannot but sympathise with him. She confided to me that she put herself in danger purposely in order to get close enough to dispatch the blackguard. What is a man to do with such a woman? The fear of how she might harm herself next would be enough to drive any man mad."

Lord Matlock put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Son, it is a rare man who can retain his dignity in the face of such a woman that he knows has little to no need of his protection. But such women do not come along in every lifetime, and the rewards of earning their devotion are infinite. Darcy must decide if he is man enough to love a woman who can take care of herself."

"I do not envy him," said Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"Why would you envy him? As gentle as Miss Bennet is, I sense a will of iron every bit as strong as Lady Astley's. And I observed the girl fencing with the arms mistress the other day, thankfully in a gown. But I would not count on your young lady being any less wilful than her sister," laughed Lord Matlock.

"You do not disapprove then?" asked Fitzwilliam.

"How could I disapprove? If knowing her convinces you to sell your commission, I would kiss her feet even if she were a scullery maid. You would never have done it just because Anne is to give you Rosings. I find Miss Bennet to be the perfect lady for you. I knew it the first moment I saw you look at her. I am happy for you, son. You shall have Rosings, and I am told the girl has a dowry that would impress a marquess. To add in such luck as to find a worthy girl who will make you happy is a rare blessing," answered his father. "Your mother shall weep with joy when she hears."

"I have no idea of her dowry, although I suppose Lady Astley will settle something on her. I had not considered it. Mother must not begin making plans or spreading news. Miss Bennet just turned twenty, and I will not ask for her hand before she has her season in town and gains her majority. I will not have any rumours or talk in London. Lady Astley has indicated that their father might create interference if he thinks there is an attachment. There was some trouble with him attempting to obtain the dowry Lady Astley inherited from her mother, and she suspects he will create mischief if he thinks Miss Bennet has made a match before her majority in order to extort her sister," said Fitzwilliam.

"Indeed, indeed. That will not stop your mother from making her acquaintance at the first opportunity. However, I would recommend securing her affection before she begins her season," advised Matlock. "Back to the topic of Darcy, however. I am concerned. We cannot allow him to go waste away at Pemberley, for you know he will hole up there for years if we do not intervene."

"What do you suggest? He will not speak to me of it," said Fitzwilliam.

"Perhaps we should have someone else intervene. I shall have your Aunt Cathy say something to him tomorrow. I shall make the arrangements before I leave with Anne," replied Matlock.

"Are you mad? Aunt Catherine? What are you about?" asked an astonished Fitzwilliam.

"You shall see," chuckled Matlock as he left the room. Later that day, he was seen whispering to the maid who usually waited on Lady Catherine, and passing her a gold sovereign.

Matlock left the next morning with Anne just after breakfast. As the maid was clearing away Lady Catherine's tray, she spoke, "Everyone is all on tenterhooks wondering if today will be the day. I am sure you must be anxious to wish your nephew joy, your ladyship."

"What is this? Will this be what day? I must have my share of the information!" demanded Lady Catherine, stirred to interest by the mention of her nephew's joy.

The maid was surprised. His lordship said the lady would be interested, but the maid had her doubts. Lady Catherine took little interest in her surroundings, and had spoken little since arriving at Windmere. "Why Mr Darcy of course. He has been courting Lady Astley since he arrived, ma'am, and everyone is keen to know when he will propose."

Lady Catherine surged to her feet and headed to the door. She grasped the maid's wrist. "You will show me to your mistress immediately," she demanded. The maid knew that Lady Catherine was not restricted to her rooms. She only remained there because she wished to. The girl did as she was told, wondering what sort of hornet's nest Lord Matlock had stirred up, and just as the house was returning to normal.

The maid knocked on the door to Elizabeth's study and curtsied as she announced the guest. "Lady Catherine wishes to speak with you, your ladyship."

Elizabeth thanked and dismissed the girl, and turned her attention to Lady Catherine.

"You can be at no loss, Lady Astley, to understand the reason for my visit. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I have come."

Elizabeth looked at her with unaffected astonishment. "Indeed, you are mistaken, madam. I am not at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here although I am happy to see that you have left your rooms."

"Lady Astley," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "You ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me a few moments ago. I was told that you, Lady Astley, would in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew. My own nephew, Mr Darcy! I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on speaking with you, that I might make my sentiments known."

"If you believed it impossible to be true," said Elizabeth, with amusement, "I wonder that you took the trouble of coming to confront me about it. What could your ladyship propose by such behaviour?"

Lady Catherine glared at the insolent woman and declared, "To insist upon having such a report contradicted."

"Your coming here, to speak with me," said Elizabeth coolly, "will be rather a confirmation of it; if indeed, such a report is in existence."

"If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourself?" inquired Lady Catherine imperiously.

"I have not heard a word of such speculation," declared Elizabeth truthfully. Her household did not gossip, at least not if her servants knew what was good for them.

"And can you likewise declare that there is no foundation for it?" demanded Lady Catherine.

"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall choose not to answer," returned Elizabeth evenly.

"This is not to be borne. Lady Astley, I insist on being satisfied. Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?" shrieked her ladyship.

"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible," chuckled Elizabeth.

"It ought to be so, it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in," stated the elderly woman insistently.

"If I have, I should be the last person to confess it," Elizabeth smiled.

"Lady Astley, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this! I am the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns!" shouted Lady Catherine.

"But you are not entitled to know mine. Nor will such behaviour as this ever induce me to be explicit," Elizabeth replied firmly.

"Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?" demanded the woman.

"Only this, that if he is, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me," said Elizabeth, with an eyebrow raised. "I refuse to believe that Mr Darcy is capable of such dishonourable conduct."

Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union. And now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters could be accomplished by their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy?

"What is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and his aunt wished him to marry his cousin. You both did as much as you could in planning the match. Its completion depends upon the inclination of others. If Mr Darcy is neither by honour nor affection confined to his cousin, why should he not make another choice? And if I were to be that choice, why should I not accept him?" asked Elizabeth.

"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Lady Astley, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace, your name will never even be mentioned by any of us," threatened the Lady.

"These are heavy misfortunes indeed," answered Elizabeth. "But I have connections of my own aplenty. Besides, the wife of Mr Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness attached to her situation, that she could upon the whole, have no cause to repine."

"Obstinate, headstrong woman! I am ashamed of you! Let us discuss this. You are to understand, Lady Astley, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose, and I shall not be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's whims, nor have I been in the habit of brooking disappointment," tried Lady Catherine.

"That will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable, but it will have no effect upon me," responded Elizabeth.

"I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence! My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble family, and on the father's, from respectable, honourable, and ancient families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voices of every member of their respective houses. And what is to divide them? The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family or connections. Is this to be endured? But it must not, shall not be! If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up."

"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; he is the grandson and nephew of an earl; I am the granddaughter and the niece of an earl. He is a man of great fortune, I am a woman of great fortune. So far we seem quite equal in every regard."

"True. You are a gentleman's daughter. But what is this about earls? Who was your mother besides the daughter of a country solicitor? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition, and your fortune, while it must be attractive to many men, is nothing to Darcy's." Lady Catherine said snidely.

"Whatever my connections may be, and I am in no way obliged to disclose them to you for your approval," said Elizabeth, "If your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you."

"Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?" demanded Lady Catherine.

Though Elizabeth would not for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine have answered this question, she could not but say after a moment's deliberation "I am not."

Lady Catherine sighed in relief. "And will you promise never to enter into such an engagement?"

"I will make no promise of the kind, Lady Catherine, and I weary of this conversation. If you cannot select another topic I must insist you find another room to inhabit. You are a welcome guest here at Windmere, and I rejoice that you have felt strong enough to leave your apartment. May I tempt you to take some tea in the music room? I am sure my sister Miss Bennet would be happy to play for you," offered Elizabeth.

"Lady Astley, I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require," stated the older woman insistently.

"And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr Darcy to marry your daughter, but would my giving you the wished for promise make their marriage any more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it upon his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs I cannot tell, but you certainly have no right to concern yourself with mine. I must beg therefore, to be importuned no further on the subject," said Elizabeth firmly, wishing to put an end to the topic, but the lady was inexhaustible.

"You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?" shrieked the Lady.

"Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments," said Elizabeth. "I have no desire to offend you or your family. I am only resolved to act in that manner which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."

"You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty and honour. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world!" said Lady Catherine with venom.

"Neither duty, nor honour," replied Elizabeth, "Have any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my accepting Mr Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were displeased by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern. And the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn."

"And this is your true opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine Lady Astley, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable, but depend upon it, I shall carry my point!" In this manner Lady Catherine talked on as she headed for the door of the study. She left the room and slammed the door behind her.

Elizabeth rang the bell and asked the footman to find the maid and send her back in. Five minutes later the maid Alice stood in front of her desk. "Alice, can you explain to me how Lady Catherine came to be under the impression that I am to wed Mr Darcy?"

The maid stammered, "I am sorry if I spoke wrongly, your ladyship. Lord Matlock spoke to me yesterday and said that while he was gone, to speak to Lady Catherine of your courtship with Mr Darcy. He said that Lady Catherine was happily waiting for news of your engagement. I was hoping to draw her into discussion, as she speaks so little."

"And it never seemed strange to you to be gossiping about my private affairs with our guests when it is against the strict policy of this house?" spoke Elizabeth sternly.

The maid burst into tears. "I am sorry, your ladyship! Truthfully I know nothing about your courtship. It is true we are aware downstairs that Mr Darcy brings you flowers, but it was never my intention to speak wrongly! Lord Matlock, he asked me. And I only believed the lady might be interested and pleased by the discussion, like he suggested. And your ladyship, now I am afraid, because he gave me a sovereign. I thought it was just a gratuity for taking care of his sister. He has rewarded several of the other staff similarly. It never occurred to me he might have been bribing me to speak out of turn about my mistress! I shall give the sovereign back, your ladyship! I don't want to be sacked!"

"Calm yourself, Alice," spoke Elizabeth sternly. "You have been taken in by his lordship, who is creating mischief. I am not impressed by your conduct. Any time a person encourages you to speak of my private affairs, you must tell Mr Banks or Mrs George immediately, or myself if they are not available. You will never be punished for seeking me out if you believe you have information I must know, even if it turned out to be nothing. You may keep the sovereign, but only because Lord Matlock has rewarded other members of the staff for their service, and you did not suspect mischief. But I shall be speaking to Mrs George and this will be your only warning. If you speak out of turn about my affairs, or the affairs of any member of my household or staff again, you shall be turned out without a reference. After the experiences we have just had here recently, you must realise how dangerous it could be to allow anyone who lives or works here to behave in such a way."

"I thank you, your ladyship, for not turning me out. I am so lucky to work here. I will never do it again," promised Alice tearfully.

"See that you do not. Where is Lady Catherine now?" inquired Elizabeth.

"She was searching for Mr Darcy, ma'am, but just as you called for me, Colonel Fitzwilliam found her in the hall upstairs and took her back to her rooms. He says Mr Darcy is at Rosings overseeing the work, and will not return until late this evening," answered Alice.

"Very well. Explain this situation to Mrs George, and have her arrange a different maid for Lady Catherine, please. You are to be reassigned." Elizabeth dismissed the maid and returned to her correspondence.

Later that evening over dinner, Colonel Brandon informed her of his intention to return to Derbyshire in a few days. "I am grateful, Lady Astley, for the opportunity to know and assist yours and Fitzwilliam's families, and hope we shall meet again. I am sure I shall visit Fitzwilliam once he settles at Rosings Park."

"Indeed, Colonel Brandon, I am sure we shall also meet you in Derbyshire, when we visit the new nursing academy. My sister and aunt are there even now, preparing the school, and you are always welcome to call in at Netherfield or at Astley House any time you are passing nearby," Elizabeth replied. "I am sincerely grateful, Colonel, for your assistance and protection these last months. I could never have managed without your support those first days here at Windmere."

Colonel Brandon's ears burned from the compliment. The party was merry and all but Darcy were present. That gentleman had arrived back at Windmere moments before dinner, and begged their pardon to go upstairs and take a tray in his room since he was not dressed for dinner. Elizabeth was glad to have Charlotte returned to her company, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mary, and Lydia were also present. Everyone spoke, laughed and enjoyed the company, but Elizabeth's thoughts kept straying back to Darcy. She understood why he would be upset with her, but was he never to forgive her? What was she to have done, sit about waving her handkerchief? Was she to wait around to be saved by men, while the son of his father's steward picked off those she cared about one by one, and the men ran about unable to find him? She alone was responsible for the safety of her house, and she had done what was necessary to see to it.

Elizabeth excused herself early after dinner, retreating to her rooms to read and contemplate. Nearly an hour after she retired she heard a ruckus from down the hall. She opened her door to hear Lady Catherine's shrieks and Mr Darcy's low baritone emanating from the guest wing. She immediately closed the door, not having the slightest desire to listen to their family quarrel, even if it did concern her.