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It was some time until Lydia spoke again. “I do not trust you, George. You may be telling the truth about this gentleman’s obsession with my sister, but you would never share any money with me or Lizzy.” She stiffened. “I have no wish to ever see you again, George Wickham. Leave now and never return.”

With no other choice, George played his wild card. “I know about Emma! I am willing and able to take both of you into my care; however, should you decide not to accept my offer, I shall take just her. After all, you have no means to support a child, so the courts will likely agree that she should live with her father.”

Lydia came to her feet. “I will see you dead first!”

Suddenly, Lady Clara was there, accompanied by two burly men. “You will leave here this instant, or I shall have you carried out.”

One of the men made a fist, slamming it into his other hand whilst eyeing Wickham meanly. Swallowing against the lump that had formed in his throat, Wickham declared, “I shall leave for now, but you cannot keep me away from my wife.”

Addressing Lydia, he added, “I urge you to consider all that I have said and realise it will be to your sister’s advantage if you agree to help me.”

Lydia watched in silence as George Wickham departed the premises. Then, instead of staying to answer Lady Clara’s questions, she raced to her room.

On his way to the courthouse for the first session regarding Lady Morgan’s case, William recalled his conversation with Georgiana earlier that morning. She had been avoiding him since the dinner party the Matlocks had given to introduce Jane as his fiancée to a few of their friends; therefore, he had decided to catch his sister unawares by showing up at Matlock House about the time the family usually broke their fasts.

Though none of the three seemed pleased with his sudden appearance, William was content to find Georgiana dining with their aunt and uncle. Moreover, Lord and Lady Matlock had proceeded to leave him and Georgiana alone so that they would have the privacy needed to talk. Recalling their conversation, William took a deep breath and let it go. To be truthful, Georgiana’s reservations made sense. Basically, he felt the same way as she, though he could not give voice to his feelings or succumb to his desires just yet.

“You are not in love with Lady Morgan!” Georgiana had declared. “And do not try to tell me that another marriage of convenience will thrive any better than your union with Anne! You were not formed for unhappiness, Brother. Mother said as much when she urged you to marry for love. Have you forgotten you spoke to me of her advice? I have not, and neither can I forget the emotional pain you suffered every day after you married Anne.”

Though he did not wish to marry Lady Morgan, he felt it necessary to make his sister see that not all marriages of convenience were as horrific as his had been. “Jane Morgan is nothing like Anne. And I would be remiss if I did not point out that it is possible to have a successful marriage if one cares for their partner, though they may not be in love with them at the beginning.”

“That might be perfectly adequate were you not completely besotted with someone else!” she had cried. Before he could respond, Georgiana declared, “Swear to me that you are not in love with Elizabeth Bennet.”

When he had looked about the room as though expecting an explanation to magically appear out of thin air. Georgiana had huffed, saying, “Just as I thought!”

It was then he decided to be totally honest with her. “I-I am hopeful that this engagement will be called off once the court has decided the case. If I am no longer needed to stand up for Lady Morgan in court, there will be no point to our engagement unless that is what we both want.”

Georgiana had unsettled him by laughing hysterically. “Do you actually believe Lady Morgan will not force your hand? From the way she looks at you, it is obvious that she is smitten with you. Moreover, anyone remotely acquainted with you knows that you are a man of honour and integrity. I predict that even should you try to beg off, she will not release you. No. My noble, honourable brother, you will be obligated to marry Lady Morgan even though you are still deeply in love with her sister Elizabeth.”

At this pronouncement, William was too crushed to argue; thus, he had prevaricated. “Georgiana, sometimes in life there are things we must bear for the greater good.”

“Such as marrying Anne so she could die with dignity?” Georgiana had shouted. She had stood then, tossing her serviette on the dining table. “I am done with watching you do things for the greater good. Marry Lady Morgan if you must, but I love you too much to be a witness to your ruin. Let me live with our aunt and uncle. At least there I shall not be subject to watching you die a little each day as I did with Anne.”

With that pronouncement she stormed from the room. When the Matlocks did not reappear in a timely manner, he had let himself out of the townhouse because he had to be in court shortly thereafter.

Suddenly the carriage stopped before the courthouse. As William stepped out of the vehicle, he noticed Jackson Graves waiting for him at the top of the steps. Pushing all thoughts of his discussion with Georgiana aside, he assumed what he hoped was an unreadable expression and walked up the steps to greet him.

William had been doubtful about Mr. Graves’ pronouncement that their first courtroom appearance would be brief but, nonetheless the barrister had been correct. The judge in charge of their case asked William a few questions regarding his authority to stand in Lady Morgan’s behalf and seemed satisfied with his answers. Then he announced that he had already read and agreed with Mr. Graves’ paper arguing in favour of leaving things as they were before Lord Morgan’s death until after Lady Morgan’s child was born. Furthermore, he ruled that James Morgan must continue the payments from the estate to Lady Morgan until a final ruling was made and that within a se’nnight he must produce, for the court’s inspection, a reliable copy of the will he claimed was correct.

After dismissing all other arguments, the judge swiftly gravelled their case closed and called for the next to begin. The solicitor who was present to represent James Morgan had been given no time to say anything and could do nothing but accept the judge’s ruling, as did Mr. Graves and William. Outside the courtroom, a very pleased William shook Graves’ hand.

“Thank you for your help. Had you not suggested the child Lady Morgan is carrying could be declared the heir, I would never have thought of it.”

“That is what I am paid to do.”

“I would be glad to render you a partial payment on the amount we agreed upon now,” William suggested.

“There is no need. You can settle the debt once all is said and done.” When William nodded, Graves added, “I shall notify you when we are to be in court again, though oft-times I am the only one required.”

“I shall be glad to accompany you. I am off now to tell Lady Morgan what has transpired.”

With that, William went down the steps to his waiting carriage.

Ensconced in his carriage on the way to the Morgan townhouse, William’s thoughts turned to his careless voicing to Lady Morgan his wish for Georgiana to be in her company again. His intention had not been to promote sisterly affection—after all, he had no wish to marry Elizabeth’s sister—but only to have Georgiana realise that all women were not as malevolent as Anne de Bourgh. His sister’s arguments this morning, however, proved she considered Lady Morgan not much of an improvement over Anne.

If only I had other acquaintances my sister could befriend … some kind-hearted, affable and intelligent women. Instantly, the one who still owned his heart came to mind. Elizabeth! You would have been a perfect sister for Georgiana, but I am resigned to the fact that you are lost to me forever.

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt in front of the Morgan townhouse, and William forced all thoughts of Elizabeth from his mind as he stepped out of the vehicle.