Page 104 of Shields and Roses

"Ah, well," said Darcy, playing up his disappointment, "I suppose there is always that game of chess Sir Phillip and I were going to play earlier."

"It is a dreadful fate," Bennet said, "but I think you two can manage."

Sir Phillip moved the table with the board between them and checked that it was set up correctly. "You won the last game," he said. "That makes the first move yours this time."

~o~

Bennet's prediction about the former Viscount Rand came true shortly before the ladies returned from Meryton. However, instead of sending a messenger, Darcy's uncle showed up at Longbourn's front door with Georgiana at his side.

After winning two games against Sir Phillip and proving the younger man was not Richard's proxy when it came to chess, Darcy had wandered out into the corridor intending to go upstairs and pack the rest of his belongings for the transfer to Netherfield Park. He neared the entry just as Mrs. Hill opened the door to greet the unexpected visitors.

"Viscount Rand! Do come in, my lord," she said, knowing the gentleman was always welcome.

"Good day, Mrs. Hill. I hope you will be able to spare me a room or perhaps put me in with my nephew. I was not expected. However, I think my niece was. Georgiana, this is the Bennets’ housekeeper, Mrs. Hill."

Before Georgiana could do more than nod politely, Darcy had rushed to the entry and swept her up in a hug. She squeaked in surprise at the sudden attack, then realized who was holding her.

"Will!" she happily cried out his name.

Darcy hugged her tightly for a moment. Then, still keeping his left arm wrapped around his sister, he released her with the right and offered that hand to his uncle.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you here and safe, Uncle Peter," he said as they clasped hands. His uncle's grip said more in return than words could have.

Smiling, Darcy turned to Mrs. Hill, who had been waiting quietly in the background. "Mrs. Hill, I will take them back to the study. Mr. Bennet will be as glad as I am at their arrival."

"Yes, sir. Will it cause any confusion if I have Viscount Rand's luggage brought up to the room you have been using?"

"It will be no problem at all. I was nearly packed anyway. I just have a few small items to put away before we can bring my luggage down. Of course, with my carriage currently in use, we cannot load it now anyway."

Mrs. Hill nodded and turned away even as Georgiana protested while clinging to him more tightly "But Will, we only just arrived. Are you going away somewhere?"

He gave her another quick and comforting squeeze before he stepped away, gently untangling himself from her grasp. "I am not going far away, sister. Longbourn is a lovely estate, but it can only hold so many people, and more guests will soon be arriving in addition to you two. Starting tonight, I will be staying at a nearby estate that Bingley has leased for the next few months. I will only be three miles away." He grinned at her as he added, "Of course, once you take your place here as an honorary Bennet sister, you will soon forget all about me and it will not matter how near or far I stay."

"Oh, Will, I never could forget you," she said seriously.

"Georgiana, dear, I am only teasing you," he said on seeing her distress. "Have I been so serious and stodgy these last few years that you do not know what teasing sounds like from me?"

"You were pretty stodgy, Will," his uncle said. "I sometimes thought that if it were not for Richard, you never would have learned to laugh at all."

"Richard has been a big help to me," Darcy agreed, nodding. "For instance, he was able to immediately identify a certain young woman for whom I had been searching just from the description of her favorite necklace." While he continued to smile, the look he gave his uncle was a challenging one all the same.

Peter Fitzwilliam turned away slightly so he was not quite meeting his nephew's searching eyes. "Yes, well, about that…" he began, but stopped as Georgiana excitedly interrupted.

"Have you found Miss Rose, Will? Have you spoken to her yet?"

"Yes, Georgiana, I have spoken to her. Several times, in fact," Darcy said, and his smile lit up the room. "It turns out I only heard part of her name, which is why I had such a hard time finding her. My lady of mystery is, in reality, Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet."

"Bennet?" Georgiana asked, bouncing in her excitement. "Truly, Will? Your mystery lady is one of the Bennet sisters?"

"Yes, Georgiana, truly. Thanks to Richard, I have met with her, we addressed our misunderstandings and are on very good terms with one another."

Georgiana turned to her uncle, "Is that not wonderful news, Uncle Peter?"

"It is," he answered her, then continued, "I am glad that Will and Lizzy have finally spoken and are now on friendly terms. Will, I am truly sorry I did not correct your misunderstanding regarding her name or point you to her. You must understand that I was acting on Lizzy's express request. As the insulted party, I felt she had the higher claim. I hope you can forgive me."

Georgiana looked between the two in surprise as she realized her uncle had already known. Will offered his hand to his uncle again. Peter took it gratefully and they shook hands.

"She and I have discussed her reasons and her request to you and several other people who could have enlightened me. I admit I felt betrayed when Richard first told me and I realized you had known all along, but matters have worked out and I am in an understanding and forgiving mood today. Now, let us get to the study before we are caught in the entry when Mrs. Bennet returns with all the other ladies."