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“Given your propensity to come and go at your leisure, with nary an invitation, you seem to think so.”

“Unless I am mistaken, Eliza Carlton arrived at your doorstep without an invitation, as well,” Caroline opined. She had not forgiven him for his ill-treatment.

“It is quite different with Mrs. Carlton, as you very well know.”

“I certainly know how it seems,” Caroline spoke in a hushed tone, for his ears alone. “Come now, Mr. Darcy, you are fooling no one with this subterfuge. Why did you choose Eliza Carlton, of all people? Was I not here first? What has she that I have not?”

Darcy leaned down and spoke to her in a hushed tone, so close the warmth of his breath sent tremors along her spine. “My heart….” Having instigated the response that caused no one any harm but her, she stood foolishly by and watched as he walked away.

Being the determined old rogue he was, Lord Matlock was as eager for the combining of the estates of Rosings and Pemberley as was any of the Fitzwilliam family. To his way of thinking, it would only enhance his own overly inflated opinion of himself as the powerful patriarch of the Fitzwilliam dynasty. It did not sit well with him at all that his sister, Lady Catherine, seemed resigned to Darcy’s declaration that a marriage to his cousin Anne would never be.

Two things had bothered him most upon first hearing of the beautiful young newcomer. Who was the young woman who had taken up residence in his nephew’s home? His nephew could pretend all he wished that he had not taken on the role as the young woman’s protector. In the end, he and he alone authorised the goings-on in his sister’s establishment. Moreover, what of the young boy his nephew had been seen with on numerous occasions? Might these two possibly be his mistress and his illegitimate child?

Those two mysteries were solved immediately upon Georgiana’s arrival. The truth behind his niece’s guest was not nearly as nefarious as he had envisioned. The young lady who accompanied his niece could not possibly have been the mother of his nephew’s supposed child. She was the young widow his sister Catherine had spoken of in her missive. Still, he was determined to carry his point. On the pretence of escorting Elizabeth to another room where there were other guests to whom he wished to introduce her, he informed Georgiana he wanted to steal her lovely friend for a moment.

Alone in his study, he offered Elizabeth a glass of wine, which she politely declined. He poured himself a stiff drink and took a seat behind his desk. Elizabeth sat down in a large, hard leather chair.

“So you are Mrs. Elizabeth Carlton. My sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, spoke of you in one of her letters. She made your acquaintance during your recent stay in Kent, if I am not mistaken.”

“Indeed, you are correct.”

“Capital! When I first learnt that my young niece had welcomed a beautiful young widow and her son into her home, I feared you might be someone else entirely. I am glad my initial suspicions are unfounded,” Lord Matlock confessed. He spoke of his concern that Darcy might have fathered an illegitimate child, but Elizabeth could not have suspected that. “Lady Catherine mentioned in her letter that your son is the sole heir of her late friend, Mrs. Sara Carlton.”

Elizabeth offered no confirmation. The more he spoke, the more he reminded her of the grand lady. She suspected he needed no encouragement when it came to letting his sentiments be known.

He continued, “Lady Catherine also mentioned you had an arrangement with her vicar’s older brother to be united in marriage, one that ended abruptly. However, she did not inform me of the details regarding your broken engagement.”

“Why would anyone have informed you, my lord? What concern is any of that of yours?”

Not one to be put off so easily, the earl insisted, “I should say it is of great concern, especially if it has anything to do with my nephew and the fact that you are now living in one of his homes.”

“If Mr. Darcy does not object to my being a guest in his sister’s home, why should you?”

“If you were merely a guest of my niece’s, I would not be troubled, I assure you. You and I both know better than that, do we not?”

“I have no idea what you mean, I am sure.”

Lord Matlock slammed his glass to the table, forcefully. “I will not play games with you, young lady. You are residing in my niece’s—no, my nephew’s home because it suits him to have you there!”

Her courage increased with his attempts to intimidate her. Elizabeth declared, “Think what you like, Lord Matlock. I am a guest in your home because your wife invited me here tonight. I doubt she invited me here to be subjected to such an unwarranted attack.” Elizabeth spoke in haughty disdain, intended to match her host’s.

“I am used to making my opinions known, young woman. Heaven only knows what my nephew must be thinking in allowing you to share his sister’s home. Perhaps it is a part of his body, other than his head, with which he is thinking, madam. You are as beautiful as any other woman with whom I have ever known him to associate. The one thing you lack and all the women before you possessed, is a fortune.

“Even so, should you possess all the wealth in the world, I would not condone a marriage between my nephew and you. He is intended for my niece!”

“I am afraid you are greatly misinformed if you believe that to be true. Perhaps it is your nephew with whom you should be speaking.”

At that moment, the subject of their discussion walked into the room. Completely ignoring his uncle, Darcy strolled directly to Elizabeth. “Mrs. Carlton, how delighted I am to see you this evening.”

Elizabeth stood to return his greeting. “Indeed, the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Darcy.” In a bold show of defiance towards Lord Matlock, Elizabeth offered Darcy her hand. He bowed before her and bestowed a warm kiss.

“I see you have met my illustrious uncle. I apologise I was not here, as I might have had the honour of introducing you, myself. I trust he has been a gracious host,” Darcy said in a mocking tone, intended to vex his dear uncle.

Lord Matlock raised himself from his chair and baulked at his nephew’s impudence. “Now, now, Darcy!” he exclaimed. “How would you expect me to comport myself towards a guest in my home?”

Darcy ignored his uncle’s rebuke. With all his attentions focused on Elizabeth, he said, “If you will grant me the privilege, I look forward to escorting you to dinner.”

“You are very kind, sir,” she responded. “If the two of you will pardon me, I find myself in need of refreshment. Shall I see you in the drawing room, Mr. Darcy?”