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The dinner party was purposefully understated, with the few guests invited shown into the largest parlour to listen to a quintet play soft music whilst they chatted before the dinner bell rang. William was relieved that Jane seemed comfortable as he remained by her side.

Suddenly, however, Lord Matlock required his opinion on a matter and waved him over to where he was conversing with Lord Covington. The moment William pardoned himself and left Jane standing alone, one of the matrons of the ton, Lady Somersby, someone whom Jane had met earlier, rushed to her side.

Whispering so loudly that most everyone nearby could hear, Lady Somersby said, “The countess informed her closest friends of Mr. Darcy’s reasons for engaging himself to you so quickly, but I believe I can speak for us all when I say we were stunned to learn he was engaged to a very pregnant woman. Oh, we heard about the judges’ supposed preferential treatment to men in a courtroom, but for Mr. Darcy to enter an engagement so quickly after his wife’s death … well, you must know the rumours are that you and he were special friends before Lord Morgan’s unfortunate death.”

Flabbergasted, Jane started to say that she hardly knew Mr. Darcy before her husband’s death, but was interrupted as Lady Somersby continued, “By the way, when is the child due? I heard your lying-in would be in two months’ time, but from your appearance, I say the child could come at any minute.”

Stunned at her insinuations, Jane could think of no reply but the truth. “I-I had thought the birth would be in two months, but the local physician, Mr. Graham, thinks it could be earlier.”

“Mr Graham? Ah, Mr. Darcy’s physician,” she declared, as though uncovering another secret.

“Yes. Since I will be in London for a good while, Mr. Darcy was kind enough to ask him to take me on as a patient.”

Suddenly, Lady Matlock rang a bell to indicate that dinner was ready. Jane was pleased that she would escape further questioning from that woman as William rushed back to escort her into the dining room.

When they reached the dining room, William was not pleased to see how Lady Matlock had arranged the seating at the table. He was positioned on the opposite end of it from Jane, who was seated between Viscount Leighton and Lady Throckmorton, the biggest gossip in London. Across from her sat Lady Covington, who was second only to Lady Throckmorton in that capacity. Georgiana, who came downstairs just after dinner was announced, was seated beside Lady Covington, and he wondered if his sister felt as intimidated being seated amongst that group as Jane’s expression indicated she did.

In any event, if word was to spread about their engagement, Jane had to face the scrutiny of the ton, and if anyone could spread the word, it was those two ladies. Hopefully, if the ton did spread the news, the judge appointed in Jane’s case would believe he was serious about the marriage and grant him the power to handle her affairs.

Suddenly, his thoughts were brought back to the present by a question from Lord Throckmorton, who was sitting across from him. “I say, Darcy, I hope you do not think me impertinent for asking, but I heard that, despite all your trials, what with your wife’s death and all, Pemberley is on track to do well this year. With all the rain we have had, a good many of my crops were stunted and had to be ploughed under.”

“Actually, two years ago my steward suggested constructing drains in all the fields where water often stood. Fortunately, I gave him leave to do what was needed, and we lost very little to standing water this year. In fact, our yields increased over last year,” William added. “I cannot take credit for it, however, as it was Mr. Sturgis’ recommendation.”

“I need to find a steward like Sturgis,” Lord Throckmorton declared with a laugh and a wry smile to those on either side. “Do you suppose I could tempt him away from you?”

“I would hate to lose him, so I try to keep him satisfied,” William stated, a little miffed that Throckmorton would say such a thing. Suddenly, he heard the man’s wife asking a question of Jane, and he strained to hear what was being said at the other end of the table.

“Lady Morgan, how long have you known Mr. Darcy?” Lady Throckmorton enquired. “I ask because those of us who have always prided ourselves on knowing what great men, such as he, are about were quite astonished to learn he had asked for your hand. Though your late husband was a member of the ton, he managed to keep you hidden in Hertfordshire during your marriage; thus, you are a complete unknown to us.”

“My husband did not care for the balls, soirees and other activities in London, which is why we kept mostly to our estate in Hertfordshire.”

Suddenly, Georgiana was speaking. “I am full curious,” she said. “How does it feel to be engaged to my brother, knowing that he was once in love with your sister Elizabeth?” Stunned, Jane did not immediately reply, so Georgiana added, “Yes. I know her name, for Brother wrote often of her in his letters from Hertfordshire.”

Georgiana’s tone was challenging, and though William wished to rebuke her for trying to create strife, he knew that would only draw attention to her actions. Instead, he held his breath, anxious to hear Jane’s reply.

Having coloured at Georgiana’s statement, Jane took a moment to compose a reply. “I-I can only say that Elizabeth made it plain that she never wished for Mr. Darcy’s attention. Therefore, I do not feel any guilt about accepting his kind offer to engage himself to me.”

“Except for the fact that you need a man to represent you in court, I cannot imagine Brother engaging himself to you so quickly after your husband’s death,” Georgiana continued.

Jane blushed even redder. “Whatever Mr. Darcy’s reasons, I believe his intervention on my behalf will help me tremendously.”

“Is that the only reason you are marrying my brother—to help your case?” Georgiana continued. “Do you not think that makes you appear an opportunist?”

“That is not why I accepted his offer to engage himself to me. As a widow, I must think of my children first and foremost, and I could not have asked for a better offer. Moreover, since David’s death, I have learned what a kind person your brother is and have come to admire him greatly.”

Jane’s reply seemed to appease those who were listening for signs of scandal, and if Georgiana had more to say on the subject, she must have decided to save it for later.

William breathed a sigh of relief after Georgiana went silent, and he focused his attention thereafter on what he was eating, barely lifting his eyes to meet those around him unless addressed. After dinner, the men gathered to smoke cigars whilst the women removed to the music room, where the quintet resumed playing. Once the men joined the ladies, a soprano joined the quintet, singing several songs until the evening came to an end.

Lady Matlock made a point of sitting next to Jane during the performance, though they spoke very little. The music served to provide enough distraction to prevent Georgiana, or anyone else, from asking more questions that might embarrass the future Mrs. Darcy.

As William escorted Jane back to the Morgan townhouse, he addressed Georgiana’s impertinence.

“I pray you will forgive my sister’s conduct tonight. I expected the ladies of the ton to ply you with questions, but I had no idea Georgiana would have anything to say. Rarely does she engage in conversation, and it never crossed my mind that she would attempt to embarrass you.”

“Please do not concern yourself with my discomfort. I am more worried to discover that she will be hurt when we marry. I would not wish to come between you.”

Ignoring the fact that Jane was convinced they would marry, William replied, “Since she saw Anne’s personality change so drastically, Georgiana has not wanted me to marry again—ever. I cannot say that I blame her. It was like something out of a gothic novel to watch Anne’s transformation from shy cousin to a demon we never dreamed existed.”