Darcy listened in amazement. Elizabeth had never spoken of this previously. She had shared her first thoughts of his home and of how Mrs. Reynolds’s praise had opened her mind, but his wife had never confessed how her opinion of him had changed once she had seen for herself all his responsibilities.

“I understand, Mrs. Darcy,” Mrs. Williams said. “I would watch the admiral right before a battle and realize how much of the world depended on him—on his decisions. At such times, I would feel an overwhelming love for my husband.”

A long silence followed Mrs. Williams’s declaration. Her words had been pretty, yet something about her speech bothered Elizabeth. It sounded rehearsed. Often women professed their love for a husband who was tyrannical. Is the widow trying to preserve the late admiral’s reputation? Elizabeth wondered.

“Well, I am sure that my dear Wickham would be a fine leader,” Lydia asserted.

Elizabeth started to point out to her sister Wickham’s shortcomings, but a squeeze of Darcy’s hand reminded his wife of Mrs. Williams’s presence in the coach. Besides, Murray was pulling open the door to let down the steps. “We are pleased that you returned safely, Mr. Darcy.”

“Thank you, Murray. I will see to the ladies. Have someone help Viscount Stafford’s party. Unload the trunks as quickly as possible. I want everyone inside.”

“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy turned to those disengaging from Stafford’s coach. “Everyone into the house. My staff will see to the belongings and the horses.” With a flick of his wrist, he directed footmen to support the ladies on the icy steps leading to the main door, while other members of his staff hurried to bring umbrellas, which offered some protection from the elements.

“It certainly is miserable,” Adam Lawrence remarked before following the women up the steps.

Darcy glanced back to make sure that everything was as he had instructed.Assured that all was well in hand, he turned his attention to the house and the open door.Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw him, standing partially behind a drawn drapery in the east wing, in a room not currently occupied, one under remodeling. For a split second their eyes met, but then the figure disappeared, almost as if it had never been there. The drape did not move, but the shadowy image withdrew. Darcy shook his head to clear it. Had his eyes, blinded by the rain and the snow, played a trick on him? Of course, even if someone was truly there, it could easily be one of his staff checking on the rooms, making sure things remained secure. Yet none of those explanations gave him any comfort. Instead, a shiver ran up his spine, and Darcy found his eyes searching the window once more.

“Fitzwilliam!” Elizabeth’s voice called from the open door. “Murray has control of everything. Come before you find yourself soaked to the bone.”

Closing the carriage door, Darcy quickly followed the rest of his party up the steps. He stamped his feet to remove the mud clinging to his boots. Then he handed Mr. Baldwin his greatcoat. “Have someone bring us tea in the green room, Mr. Baldwin,” Darcy ordered.

“Both Miss Darcy and the Mistress have placed like orders, sir.” The man smiled slightly.

Darcy chuckled. “I suppose I must abdicate some duties to the women in my life,” he whispered.

“It seems a wise decision, sir.”

“Obviously, we will need additional rooms available. Besides a room for Mrs. Wickham, another four rooms should be readied. Place the women in proximity to one another and the men likewise.”

“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”

“And have Mrs. Jennings prepare—”

“Mrs. Darcy again, sir,” his man interrupted him.

Darcy smiled at the man who had served the family since Darcy was a boy. “I will leave you to do your job, Mr. Baldwin.You know it better than I do.”With that, he followed his party to the drawing room—to the warmth of the fireplace and hot tea.

“Oh, Fitzwilliam, I was so worried.” Georgiana greeted him as he stepped into the room.

Darcy slid his arm about her waist.“As you see, other than a bit chilled, we are all safe.” He glanced toward the hearth where Elizabeth stood. “Did Elizabeth introduce you to everyone?”

“Yes, Brother.” Georgiana, who was always a bit shy, clung to his hand. “It was kind of you and Elizabeth to bring the others to Pemberley.”

“It is only for a few days.” Then he whispered in her ear. “At least with the others here, Lady Catherine will not offer you her usual caustic censure.”

Georgiana smiled at that idea. “Let me help Elizabeth with the tea service.” She moved away from him. The absence of his aunt and the influence of his new wife had given Georgiana a large dose of confidence this past year, but he feared that the appearance of Lydia Wickham at Pemberley might be a setback. At age fifteen, Georgiana had aligned herself with George Wickham, a man with whom she shared a familiarity. He, in turn, had claimed to love her, but as it played out, her dowry of thirty thousand pounds and possible revenge on Darcy had interested the man more. Darcy had learned of Wickham’s planned elopement and arrived in time to send the man packing.The effect of this disappointment on Georgiana persisted. She lacked confidence in social situations, always wondering if people liked her for herself or for her wealth. Having Lydia as a reminder of her mistake could prove detrimental. Darcy would guard against that happening. He would not deny Elizabeth her sister’s company, but he also would not allow Lydia Bennet Wickham’s presence to hurt his sister.

At the moment, even with Anne’s situation with Lieutenant Harwood, Darcy was thankful for his cousin’s presence at Pemberley. Anne always catered to Georgiana, and his sister could keep company with Anne and her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson.That way, Lydia would scarcely notice Georgiana.

Thirty minutes later, Mr. Baldwin appeared at the door. Darcy met him there and then turned to the group. “Mr. Baldwin assures me that your rooms are prepared with comfortable fires burning in each. I am sure most of you would like time to freshen your things after such a harrowing day. Your trunks are in your chambers. If you are in need of anything, please do not hesitate to ask any of my staff. I am afraid we keep country hours. Supper will be served at half past five.”

“If you will follow me,” Mr. Baldwin instructed the guests.

The guests rose and made their way to the door. As each one passed Darcy, he or she murmured words of gratitude once again—everyone except Lydia, who seemed to think of herself as more than a guest. “You will have someone bring me water for a bath, Mr. Darcy?” She offered her most beguiling smile.

“Certainly, Mrs.Wickham.”

With everyone’s departure, Georgiana excused herself to practice her music. Finally, it was just he and Elizabeth. Immediately, she moved into his embrace. For several moments, they simply held each other. “I suspect after this week, we will be more than happy to isolate ourselves at Pemberley once again,” Darcy said.

Elizabeth rested her head on his chest.“I am sorry for my sister’s impudence,” she said, near tears.

“None of that, Elizabeth,” he warned her. “I have known no greater joy than I have found with you this past year. Have you not realized that I would move mountains to make you happy? I can tolerate the inconvenience of a few extra people for the pleasure of seeing you enjoying your family.”

“But Lydia is so uncontrollable,” she protested.

He countered, “And Lady Catherine is not?”

She wound her arms about his neck as she confessed, “Well, perhaps we are even.” Elizabeth lifted her chin to look at him. Darcy tightened his hold on her, drawing Elizabeth closer to him. “You are my heart,” she whispered as her lips parted in anticipation of his kiss.


“No, Mrs. Darcy. I never found the candleholder,” Megs reported. “I searched all the nearby rooms to be seein’ if it be there, and I askt’ Margie and Lilly to be checkin’ Her Ladyship’s room like ye be sayin’, but it be not there either.” She appeared more than a bit upset.

Elizabeth puzzled over this mystery. “It certainly makes no sense,” she muttered. “I thought surely it would turn up by now.”

“I be sorry, Mrs. Darcy.”Tears began to fill the woman’s eyes.

Elizabeth heard the trembling in the maid’s voice. “My goodness, Megs. Do not do that. No one is blaming you.The candelabra will reappear, just as I said this morning.”

“I would not want ye to be thinkin’ poorly of me, ma’am—like me did not do me job. I like it at Pemberley. So much better than at the Johnsons’.” She blurted out the words in a rush of emotions.

“I assure you, Megs,” Elizabeth said calmly, “that we have no complaints regarding your work. The holder will reappear. In a house the size of Pemberley, it could be anywhere. We will continue to search for it.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank ye, Mistress.” The woman bobbed a curtsy before leaving to do her duties.

Without thinking about what she did, Elizabeth began to search the rooms along the hallway leading to Georgiana’s private chambers. Even as a child, Elizabeth had hated an unsolved puzzle, and although she knew it would reappear, she wanted to find the candleholder to solve this particular mystery. However, after thoroughly going through three bedchambers, she realized the futility of such a search. There were just too many places at Pemberley to look. She would alert Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Baldwin—have everyone on the lookout for the missing item.


“Mr. Baldwin, I was wondering if we had men working in the east wing today?” Darcy, as he always did when he hosted guests at Pemberley, was double-checking all the details for the evening’s entertainment.

“Not of which I am aware, sir.” The butler lit the wall sconces in the main hallway. “Should I inquire, sir?”

Darcy glanced toward the main staircase.“I thought I saw someone in the window when we returned from Lambton. I may be wrong, but I would like to know for sure.”

“I will check with Murray, sir.”

“Be discreet, Mr. Baldwin. If one of our men is shirking his duties and hiding out in the unoccupied rooms, I wish to catch him in the act.”The more he considered those brief seconds of eye contact the more convinced Darcy was of actually seeing someone in the darkened room. A footman being where he did not belong was the most logical explanation.

“I will see to it personally, Mr. Darcy.”


Elizabeth tapped lightly on Lydia’s chamber door. “Lydia,” she said as she opened it just a crack, “may I help you dress?” Elizabeth wanted a few minutes alone with her sister. She had not seen Lydia since the day her youngest sister and George Wickham had left Longbourn for Newcastle. That had been before Darcy’s second proposal—before her double wedding with their oldest sister, Jane, to Charles Bingley. Of course, the Wickhams claimed that his military duties and the great distance prevented their attending the wedding, but Elizabeth knew the real reason to be the unspoken feud between Darcy and Mr.Wickham.

“Come in!” Lydia called from behind the screen where she dressed.

“I thought we might have some time together.” Elizabeth came closer to the screen. “It has been more than a year since we had a five-chit chat.” It was what they had once called that time at the end of the day at Longbourn when the five Bennet girls gathered to share gossip and hopes and dreams. Beside the long talks with her father and her uncommon need for Jane as her confidante, it was what Elizabeth missed most about her Hertfordshire home.

“Sure, Lizzy.” Lydia grunted, obviously struggling into her clothes.

Elizabeth indulgently came around the screen.“Let me lace that for you.” She took up the strings of her sister’s corsets. “I will ask Mrs. Reynolds to find someone to serve as your maid while you are at Pemberley.Would you like that, Lyddie?”

“Just listen to you.” Lydia turned to really see her sister. “Are you not the be-all, now that you have married Mr. Darcy. Back at Longbourn none of us had our own maid. We all shared the Hills and Harriet.”

Elizabeth spun Lydia to where she could tie off the last of the strings. “Well, I did marry Mr. Darcy, and if that makes me uppity, then so be it.” Elizabeth walked back toward the room’s seating area. “So do you wish the help of a maid or not?”

Lydia followed her as they took a place before the hearth.“Why should I not live in luxury while I may,” she replied.

Elizabeth pulled her feet up under her to sit comfortably.“Jane’s last letter said that you and Mr.Wickham had moved recently. I will need your new directions.”