A Wife for Mr. Darcy

giggling as if she were a young girl at her first dance, and when she informed the earl that she was the girls’ mother, he went on and on about Mr. Bennet taking a child bride. All the while Lord Fitzwilliam was complimenting his wife, Mr. Bennet was watching, and he saw, for the first time in years, the young woman he had married a quarter of a century ago. Because of Lydia’s unfortunate adventure, he had promised himself that he would take greater care of his daughters. He now broadened that promise to include his wife.
    While Antony continued to enchant all the female guests, Lizzy went over to speak to Charlotte. “I cannot account for the earl’s presence, Charlotte, and I am very sorry he has come as he has drawn off all of the attention that should rightly be yours.”
    “I am happy he has come. You know I do not like being the center of attention, so I can assure you that Lord Fitzwilliam’s arrival is welcome. Speaking of the devil,” Charlotte said, stepping away from Lizzy to make way for His Lordship.
    “Miss Elizabeth, may I introduce you to my two little jewels, Sophie and Emmy.”
    Lizzy was in complete agreement with Lord Fitzwilliam’s description of his daughters. Their dark hair, hanging in ringlets and tied with ribbons and bows, contrasted beautifully with their cornflower blue eyes. Both were wearing gorgeous dresses with frills aplenty.
    “I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Amelia and Miss Sophia,” Lizzy said. “When your father and I were guests at Pemberley, he mentioned you at every opportunity, and you are as pretty as he claimed. But who is your friend?” Lizzy asked while looking at Madame Konig.
    “This is our traveling governess, Madame Konig. Our real governess, Mrs. Hall, is on holiday, and Papa’s friend came with us. She tells us stories about living in Vienna,” Amelia, the elder of the two, said.
    “My English is imperfect, Miss Bennet,” Madame Konig said with a slight lisp. “I am better in French, but I am happy to meets you.”
    “Madame Konig, I am pleased to meet you as well,” but before Lizzy could engage her in conversation, Lord Fitzwilliam asked her what she thought of his entrance.
    “With the exception of a royal procession, it was second to none, milord.”
    “Then I have succeeded, as my purpose was to create a diversion, and the reason for the diversion is waiting for you in the study. From what I have heard of your past experience, I suggest you lock the door.” After bowing and smiling, he took his leave.
    Looking around the room, Lizzy realized that Mr. Darcy was no longer present, and with all eyes on the earl, she backed her way out of the room and went in search of the master of Pemberley.

While Lizzy waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the study, Mr. Darcy came up from behind her and put his two arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him.
    “I shall not let you go until you say that you are not angry with me for Lord Fitzwilliam’s appearance, and before you say anything, you must know that he was supposed to go to Netherfield. I certainly did not know he would be traveling with an entourage.”
    “But why did you ask him to come at all?”
    After releasing her, he took her hand and walked with her to the sofa, but before he sat down Lizzy suggested that they lock the door.
    “That sounds promising.”
    “It is nothing of the kind. We do not want a repeat of what happened in the library at Netherfield. That is all I meant by my request.”
    Darcy let out an exaggerated sigh because he would not have minded a repeat of what had happened in the Netherfield library, but he went and locked the door as requested.
    “Mr. Darcy, please tell me why you invited Lord Fitzwilliam to Netherfield? Is it because Mrs. Crenshaw talks too much, and you wanted someone equally loquacious to entertain her?”
    “It is not just that she talks too much. Forgive me for discussing such things with you, but she is so heavy with child that I live in fear that she will stand up and from under her skirts an infant will appear.”
    Lizzy started to laugh at the picture he had drawn. “From that comment, I gather that your wife will be spending a good deal of time in her apartment when she is with child.”
    Darcy looked at Lizzy with that quizzical expression she found so endearing. “Why are you speaking of ‘my wife’ as if she is unknown to you?”
    Lizzy said nothing. Did he really think she could talk as if they were