A Wife for Mr. Darcy

introduce my daughters, Amelia and Sophia, and their traveling governess, Madame Konig.”
    After overcoming the surprise of finding Lord Fitzwilliam attending the wedding festivities of her friend, Lizzy had to make a real effort not to laugh. The earl was as colorful as any of the ladies at the breakfast. His footwear, with their gold-thread stitching, jeweled buckles, and high heels, was as out of date as his attire, making him look like a courtier in the court of a newly crowned George III. But then Lizzy realized that this show had a purpose, and the gaudiness of his apparel was deliberate. She was convinced he had come to Lucas Lodge as a diversion, and when she looked at Mr. Darcy and he would not return her look, she knew she was right.
    It was his little cousins, Emmy and Sophie, who saved Mr. Darcy from a stern rebuke. After bending down so that both girls could kiss him on his cheeks, Lizzy had heard him say: “When I last saw you, I thought it was not possible for you two to get any prettier. But I was wrong. Here stand before me two of the loveliest young ladies in the kingdom,” and the pair squealed with delight. The girls then introduced Madame Konig to Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy looked for his reaction to the woman he knew to be his cousin’s mistress.
    “Madame Konig, I am pleased to meet you,” Darcy said, bowing, and he gently took her hand. Although Madame said nothing, her gratitude to Mr. Darcy of Pemberley for his recognition was evident on her face.
    “Lizzy, the governess…” Jane said.
    “Traveling governess,” Lizzy answered, correcting her sister.
    Jane had to look away for fear of laughing out loud. “Is the traveling governess who I think she is?” After Lizzy nodded, she continued, “My goodness, even in her staid governess clothes, she is absolutely stunning. I think her eyes are actually violet.”
    “Yes, I think so as well. But what I find so appealing about her is the way Lord Fitzwilliam’s daughters keep looking at her. They obviously are comfortable in her company, and, I suspect, quite fond of her as well.”
    After mingling among the guests for several minutes, Lord Fitzwilliam finally made his way over to Lizzy, and after inquiring about Mrs. Gardiner and expressing regret for her absence, he asked to be introduced to her family.
    “Milord, this is my eldest sister, Jane,” and after Jane had curtseyed, he took her hand and briefly kissed it. “Miss Bennet, while at Pemberley, I told Miss Elizabeth that if her sisters were half as lovely as she was, then your home must be aglow with all the beauty contained therein. Mr. Bingley is very fortunate indeed.”
    Jane acknowledged the compliment in full blush. She had never met an earl before, and here he was holding her hand, with his mistress standing but a few feet away.
    “And you are…?” he asked, looking at Kitty.
    “Catherine Bennet, milord.”
    “Catherine? Hmm? I think not. Catherine is too serious a name for someone with such an engaging smile. I would suspect you are known as Kate or Kitty to your friends.”
    This compliment practically caused Kitty to swoon, and Mary nearly did when Lord Fitzwilliam took her hand in his and held it all the while he was addressing her. “Another beautiful Bennet sister. But you are different from your sisters. I see a look of intelligence in your eyes. You must own to it, Miss Mary. You cannot hide it from me. Beauty and intelligence in one lovely lady. How blest you are.”
    Upon hearing the compliment, Lydia snorted, causing the earl to turn his attention to her. “The youngest Bennet sister, Miss Lydia, I presume? Have you come out into society, my dear?”
    “Yes, milord, this past year.”
    “You are very young to be out, only four or five years older than my Amelia, and because of your youth, I am sure you are eager to find that perfect gentleman, fall in love, and get married. Please allow me to caution you that such decisions should be delayed for a number of years until you are more mature. Marriage is forever, so be cautious. Forever is a very long time.”
    Why was Lord Fitzwilliam talking to her like this, Lydia asked herself? He had said only nice things to everyone else. And what did he know anyway? He was hopelessly out of fashion, and his shoes were particularly ugly. As soon as the earl turned his attention to her mother, Lydia walked away.
    “Ah, here we have yet another sister,” he said, taking Mrs. Bennet’s hand. Mrs. Bennet started