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Giggling at his discomfiture, she took his offered arm and stepped onto the first of the many steps leading to the front door. As they attained the top and crossed the portico, Mr. Walker, the elderly butler, threw the door open, greeting them and taking their coats.

“Good morning, Mrs. Ingram,” Mr. Walker said enthusiastically. “It is so good to have you back again! I know you are just as thrilled as we are to have Mr. Darcy home.”

“Yes, Mr. Walker,” Georgiana said, leaning her head against William’s shoulder, “I am extremely pleased to have my brother home.”

~~~*~~~

They spent the better part of the afternoon sitting side-by-side, holding hands. Georgiana listened raptly as William told her about his eight-month stay at the estate their father had purchased years before in Scotland and the subsequent twelve months he had spent in Ireland at the estate he had inherited from their grandmother.

He related all the particulars—the repairs and improvements to the mansions, the various servants and the changes he had made in staff. She marvelled as he rattled off names of people and places and then figures, including the number of servants, tenants, crop yields and income. She was not actually absorbing the information as much as she was silently admiring his ability to remember so much. It was a long time before she interrupted him to speak.

“Oh, my poor, dear brother,” she murmured, stretching towards him to kiss his cheek. “It is a miracle that you can keep it all straight. You have so much to attend.”

“I do not mind.” He seemed dispirited, even as he tried to smile. “I would rather keep busy.”

She cupped his chin, pulling him around to face her, and the sadness in his sky blue eyes broke her heart. “I fear I must ask. Will you ever tell me why you felt compelled to leave?”

He stood and walked over to the windows, clasping his hands behind his back. It was quite some time before he spoke softly. “The reason no longer exists, and I would prefer not to speak of it, as I do not want to be dragged down into that well of despair again.” He turned to look over his shoulder. “Can you understand, Ana?”

She nodded, standing to move beside him and slipping an arm around his waist. “I understand, but please know that if you ever feel you need to tell someone the reason, I will listen. I love you, William, and I am so truly happy you are safely home.”

“I love you, too.” He turned then, taking her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. “Having you for a sister was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She smiled. “I surely hope you have better things happen to you in the future—like finding the right woman and getting married.”

“Georgiana Ingram! What are you about? Do I now have to contend with your playing matchmaker as well?” He asked in mock horror, his hand over his heart.

“Well, you know Evan’s step-brother died over a year ago in a hunting accident. His widow, Cecile Preston, is coming to stay with me next week. We are having a dinner party and…”

“Stop!” he retorted. “I think you are getting too far ahead! Let us go back to I am truly happy you are safely home!”

Rosewood Manor

One week later

The dinner party

Evan Ingram was very much his own man. Tall, blond, blue-eyed and quite handsome, he was muscular from years of fencing and riding. He had been quite the eligible bachelor when he stumbled upon a rider-less horse one afternoon on the road to Lambton. Looking around, he found that Fitzwilliam Darcy’s little sister had been unseated by a disagreeable animal. At that point on, the man who had fancied himself never marrying but living the life of an adventurer, changed course. Tonight was just one of many occasions that he thanked his lucky stars that he had.

He watched as his wife proved, once again, to be the consummate hostess, moving among their guests and making everyone feel special and welcome. She looked especially beautiful tonight in her new blue gown, and his chest swelled with pride to know that she was his.

He turned then to locate her brother among the crowd. Darcy had just returned from almost two years in Scotland and Ireland, and Evan wondered what demons had driven him that far from home. He had known the man all his life, not that they had ever been close. He was two years younger than Ana’s brother and was always too ill-behaved for Darcy’s taste. Always so serious, Darcy was the kind of boy who tried to please his father, whereas Ingram was the kind who tried his father’s patience. Only since he had been drawn to the beautiful Georgiana, had he finally gotten to know the man he once considered dull. His brother could be reserved, but he was also kind, generous and sometimes very witty.

Evan Ingram smiled over the top of his glass of punch as he located him among the crowd. His brother seemed to be trying not to appear interested in any of the women eyeing him. In fact, he had found a convenient corner in which to hide just as soon as dinner was finished. So far, he had danced only with Georgiana and two older married women and was trying to fade into the wallpaper. Seeing his disconcertment, Evan decided to join him and do what Georgiana asked him to do—but only on his own terms.

As he came to a stop by Darcy, his eyes roamed the room to locate Cecile, and finally he found her standing on the other side of Georgiana. Her face was turned towards his wife, but her eyes were on Darcy. Evan smiled to himself. His step-brother’s widow was no beauty, but she was not ugly. In truth, she was pleasant though mostly plain, and at six and twenty, she was eager to find someone interested in offering marriage.

When Cecile appeared on their doorstep two days ago, her year of mourning had ended several months before. With Georgiana’s letter touting her brother’s return to England, Cecile had made hasty plans to visit. There were eligible men in London, but the most recent gentlemen to take notice of her had only been interested in her fortune. Besides, the opportunity to be in the company of Fitzwilliam Darcy was just too tempting. Though never introduced, Cecile spoke often of seeing him at the theatre and opera years before and told Georgiana that she had been captivated by his tall, dark figure even then.

“Ana is hopeful that you will form an attachment with Cecile, I believe,” Evan said quietly.

William shifted uncomfortably. “Your sister is lovely, but I am in no hurry to form an attachment.” Afraid that he might have offended his brother, he added, “Not to say that I never will be.”

Evan barely nodded. “I understand, Darcy. Though Georgiana is rather hopeful for a match, I only want you to know that I would be most pleased if you were inclined in that direction. Cecile has had too many suitors interested in her fortune, I fear. It is disheartening when one’s sister is sought after by one cad after another, only out to pay his gaming debts.”

“How well I remember.” William stared pensively at some point straight ahead. “I believe you were the only man I considered worthy of Georgiana.” His eyes flew back to Ingram. “Not that you were perfect!” Both men laughed.

“Oh, of course not! I was too much like you—accustomed to saying what I thought and getting away with it! I thought you would toss me out of the house when I asked permission to court her.”