Darcy felt desire’s familiar rush. “Yes, it is. It’s as if, before you arrived, Pemberley was only a fine house. Now, it’s a home. You have left your imprint on it, my dearest Elizabeth.”

Before she could respond, the sound of a carriage before the inn brought everyone to his feet. Scrambling to the windows for a better view, Darcy made a point of shadowing Elizabeth with his body. Using a napkin to wipe away the pane’s cold dampness, Darcy peered over Elizabeth’s shoulder. “A gentleman,” he whispered close to her ear.

“And a lady.” Her face turned up to his in anticipation.

Darcy wouldn’t tell her there was, literally, “no room at the inn.” He recognized his wife’s need for female company. At Pemberley, she had spent her days interacting with Georgiana, Mrs. Reynolds, and others from the community. On this trip, as Mr. Parnell had had no wife, Darcy’s business had left Elizabeth alone to entertain herself in a strange city. Leaving her behind as he met with the cantankerous Parnell, Darcy had actually wished Elizabeth’s youngest sister Lydia Wickham had remained in Newcastle. He had done his wife a disservice by imposing his needs upon her.

As they and several others watched, the man braced the woman’s step on the icy path, and within seconds the inn’s door swung wide to a couple draped in soaking wet outerwear.

“Greetings,” Mr. Washington called as he approached. “Welcome to Prestwick’s Portal.”

The young man removed his beaver and shook the dampness from his greatcoat. Quickly checking the woman to see to her comfort, he turned to the innkeeper. “We were certainly pleased to see the road markings leading to your inn, Sir.” The man helped the lady with her cloak. “I hope you have a room available for Mrs. Joseph and me.”

Mr. Washington’s face fell. “I fear, Sir, that we’re beyond capacity. Even my maid’s room is being used for two of the gentlemen’s gentlemen.” He gestured to those who curiously looked on.

Elizabeth broke away from the group and intervened. “Surely, something can be arranged, Mr. Washington. Obviously, Mrs. Joseph cannot return to the icy roads.” She referred to the young woman’s physical condition — very much with child. “It’s simply too dangerous.”

“Where would you have me house the Josephs?” Mr. Washington asked defensively. “Every room’s full.” He glanced toward where the baron sat alone in the common room. “We have no other options.”

The group’s gaze followed his to where Baron Bloomfield finished his meal. “What say you, Bloomfield?” Sir Jonathan asked. “Are you willing to relinquish your room to the couple?”

The baron looked up with disdain. “You address me, Padget?”

“Are you of the persuasion, Sir, to consider a room reshuffling to accommodate Mr. and Mrs. Joseph?”

Bloomfield’s gaze fell on the waiting couple before a snarl curled his upper lip. “I think not. The prospects of sharing a room with a wheezing and gouty Bradley are impossible. It’s bad enough to experience the man’s aches and pains through this inn’s thin walls. Encountering the man’s complaints first hand will not occur.”

Darcy, recognizing Elizabeth’s building ire, suggested, “Mrs. Darcy, why do you not see Mrs. Joseph closer to the hearth while we sort this out. I’m sure the lady could use some hot tea.”

Elizabeth resented being relegated to the role of hostess, but she heard her husband’s resolve. He understood her objections to the baron’s persistence and would deal with it on her behalf. “Certainly, Mr. Darcy. Come, Mrs. Joseph.You must be chilled quite through.”

“Thank you, Ma’am. I’m just that.” Mrs. Joseph accepted Elizabeth’s arm as support.

Darcy cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, perhaps we can place our heads together and come up with a solution for the Josephs’ dilemma.” He gestured to a small table, and the other travelers — minus Bloomfield and Bradley — joined him. “Mr. Washington, I’m certain Mr. Joseph could use a tankard of ale.”


Elizabeth ordered tea and soup for the lady and settled Mrs. Joseph before the fire. “I’m Elizabeth Darcy,” she said as she helped the woman lower her frame into the straight-backed chair. “My husband and I are from Derbyshire.”

“I’m pleased to have the acquaintance, Mrs. Darcy.” Mrs. Joseph extended her hands to the fire. “I’m Mary Joseph. My husband and I reside in Staffordshire.” She expelled a deep sigh as the warmth reached her. “It’s been a treacherous few hours.”

“You have been traveling long?” Elizabeth asked.

“Three days. Matthew allowed extra time because of my condition.” Mrs. Joseph rested her hand comfortably on her expanded abdomen. “We return to Northumberland. Newcastle, actually. We received news recently that my husband’s mother has taken seriously ill. Her days may be numbered so we set out to be at her bedside.”

Elizabeth waited for Nan to place the tea and soup on a nearby low table before responding. “Mr. Darcy had business in Newcastle. We had hoped to be at Pemberley by Christmas, but now we’re unsure.”

Mrs. Joseph glanced about the room. “At least, there’s a holiday touch about the space. The pine scent is quite comforting.”

Elizabeth nodded her agreement. “The men gathered the greenery today, and the inn’s proprietress and I organized the arrangements.”

Mrs. Joseph sipped the warm tea. “I approve, Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth smiled easily. “It was a female whim, but upon Mr. Darcy’s insistence, the gentlemen — at least, a few of them — acquiesced.” Elizabeth poured herself some tea. “I hope you’ll not find my next comment too personal,” she said tentatively. “But should you not be in the midst of your confinement, Mrs. Joseph?” Considering her own tenuous condition, Elizabeth added, “A woman cannot be too careful under the circumstances.”

Mrs. Joseph’s chocolate brown eyes sparkled with the room’s warmth. “I suppose I should’ve taken the weather into consideration; it’s late December, after all. But as I’m a month from my delivery, I thought it best to support my husband. Matthew would never forgive himself if he wasn’t at his mother’s side when her time came, and I wouldn’t selfishly demand that he choose between the woman who sacrificed everything for him and me.” Mrs. Joseph nervously giggled. “What if I were not my husband’s first choice, Mrs. Darcy? Can you imagine the wedge driven between us if that were so?”

“I have no doubt that Mr. Joseph would realize his duty rested with you, as would the elder Mrs. Joseph,” Elizabeth assured.

The woman shot a fleeting look toward her husband. “I wouldn’t wish for Mr. Joseph to choose me out of duty, Mrs. Darcy. I’m vain enough to seek the man’s love.”

Elizabeth observed, “Few of us of any station have the luxury of knowing true love in marriage, Mrs. Joseph. If you are so fortunate, I commend your joining.”

The young woman sipped her creamed soup. “Do you count yourself among those fortunate ones, Mrs. Darcy? I know it’s truly none of my concern, but as we are, apparently, the only female guests here, I suspect we’ll become intimate friends thanks to our circumstance.”

Elizabeth didn’t turn her head, but she knew Darcy watched her. The thought of his constant attention brought a smile to her lips. “I know Mr. Darcy’s affections,” she said softly.

“Good,” Mrs. Joseph pronounced. “Then you’ll understand the necessity of my accompanying Mr. Joseph on this journey.” She sighed deeply. “Of course, I had an ulterior motive. My father and I parted with bitter words. I had hoped that if I delivered his first grandchild where he might meet the babe that he would forget what he saw as betrayal.”

“A child can resolve many ills. Our Lord sent his son to offer us forgiveness.”

“I don’t wish to portray my father in a poor light. He placed everything aside to raise a daughter alone after my mother’s passing. He worked countless hours to create a successful business, but he provided me both sympathy and encouragement. Through all his trials, he demanded only one thing from me — my loyalty. He had chosen a man who would follow my father’s every order, but I had other ideas. Unfortunately, my father couldn’t fathom how I could love another more than I loved him. To complicate the matter, Mr. Joseph accepted a living outside of Stoke-upon-Trent. My father took what he saw as my complete abandonment of him quite hard.”

Elizabeth thought of her own father. “I’m one of five daughters, but I suspect that my father feels abandoned by each of us.”

“However, he misses you the most, Mrs. Darcy,” Mrs. Joseph said with some amusement.

Elizabeth blushed from the obvious. “I flatter myself that Mr. Bennet prefers me over my sisters. I’m terribly vain, you see, Mrs. Joseph. Perhaps you may not wish my acquaintance, after all.”

“I wouldn’t criticize your pride, Mrs. Darcy,” the lady teased.

“My sister Mary once observed that pride is a very common failing. That human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.”

“Your sister is quite wise, Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth smiled happily. Having a lady’s company created a relaxed atmosphere. She quite enjoyed the pert Mrs. Joseph’s easy-going wit. “Mary has been called several things, but ‘wise’ isn’t among them. She’s my most serious sister and the most talented. Mary spends countless hours at her studies and at practicing her music.”

“Tell me of your other sisters, Mrs. Darcy.”


“Then what would you have me do?” Mr. Joseph asked through gritted teeth.

Mr. Horvak asked, “Could Mr. and Mrs. Joseph stay in the common room?” As a group, they had determined that it would be impossible to move people’s rooms. Each occupant was a minor son of the aristocracy or a titled gentleman, except for Mr. Betts and Mr. Dylan. Although they lacked status, the two remained as Mr. Washington had refused to ask them to relinquish their shared chamber. With their hard work about the inn, the men had earned a right to a room.

“I cannot see it,” Mr. Washington insisted. “A woman sleeping where men play cards and drink is not appropriate. Mrs. Washington and I have taken pallets before the kitchen hearth and Nan in the storeroom. Every space within the inn is full. If I had a private parlor…”

“We cannot ask Mr. and Mrs. Joseph to resume their journey,” Darcy insisted. He had watched his wife’s animation with pleasure. She had needed another lady’s company, and besides advocating the solution to the Josephs’ predicament because it was the charitable thing to do, Darcy wanted Mrs. Joseph’s presence to ease Elizabeth’s unrest.

“Of course not,” Mr. Washington declared. “However, the best I can do is a mattress in the stables. I have drivers and footmen and valets to house in addition to each of your rooms. We would be sorely pressed if some of you gentlemen hadn’t pitched in with the chores and hadn’t brought us some ready meat to feed everyone. People are sharing the attic and the storage areas. You and Mrs. Joseph might spend your days in the common room and your nights in one of the stalls. We can put your Tilbury coach and maybe a couple of ours under the lean-to. That will free up more space.”

“But are there not others sleeping in the barns?” Padget asked.

“Several of yer men have bedded in the loft.”

“It doesn’t seem proper,” Padget continued. “To place a woman in such a position.”

Washington sighed heavily. “It be all I can see as proper. Mr. Joseph will see to his wife’s safety.”

Resigned to the solution offered, Mr. Joseph gathered his gloves. “I cannot place Mary and my child in danger by returning to the roads. We had two close calls today — too close for my mind’s peace.” He stood reluctantly. “I should speak to Mrs. Joseph. I hope, Washington, that there are additional blankets available.”

“I’ll see to it, Sir.”

Darcy moved ahead of Joseph. Reaching Elizabeth, he extended his hand. “Come, Mrs. Darcy.We’ll retire for the evening.”

Elizabeth accepted his hand. “May I first give you the acquaintance of Mrs. Joseph?” she asked tentatively.

“Of course, my dear.”

“Mrs. Joseph, may I present my husband, Mr. Darcy?”

The lady inclined her head. “I’m pleased for the introduction, Sir. Mrs. Darcy and I have become fast friends.”