Page 124 of Shields and Roses

Both turned quickly, recognizing the voice. "Richard! They said in unison. "And Charlotte!" Lizzy added happily as she saw his companion.

Richard gave a shallow bow without dislodging his wife's hand from where it rested on his arm. "The same," he said, smirking.

"When did you arrive?" Darcy asked as he and Lizzy quickly closed the gap between the two couples.

"Yesterday evening. It was late enough we did not want to intrude at Longbourn."

"Now we are hoping Mrs. Bennet still has room to include us on the guest list for tonight's dinner party," Charlotte added.

"Can you doubt it?" Lizzy said. "Mama is still thrilled by Richard's comment before your wedding that he has looked on her as the nearest thing he has to a mother. She will always find room for the two of you."

"I was also hoping to speak with my father," Richard said after they all had a laugh at Lizzy's comment. "Sir William said he had arrived."

"Ah, your luck is not so good there," Will told him. "He and Sir Phillip left yesterday morning for Rosings Park. Your father plans to talk with Aunt Catherine about ceasing her attacks and to tell her the news about our grandfather. They hope to be back in time for the dinner party, but even that will depend on both our aunt and travel conditions."

"I am glad Father did not go alone. I trust Aunt Catherine even less after what she sent Wickham and Collins to do. Sir William told us the latest about Wickham last night. Is Mary well?"

Lizzy replied, "Mary had quite a scare, but she is recovering. What prompted you to give Uncle Edward the pistol?"

"I just had a feeling it would be needed. I get them sometimes. That is also why we are here now. I had a feeling yesterday that we needed to return to Meryton right away and attend Mrs. Bennet's dinner tonight. We left soon after and here we are. Only time will tell if there was a good reason for it."

Lizzy and Darcy both nodded understandingly. "We were just headed in to break our fast. Will you join us?" Lizzy asked.

"Of course, but this seems rather late for you. Normally you and your father are the first to break your fast and the two of you disappear into his study for a talk or game of chess before any of the others except, possibly, Mary even make it down the stairs," Charlotte observed and Richard agreed.

"Circumstances change, as well you know," Lizzy winked at her friend. "Our habits change to fit them."

"We have taken to enjoying our morning coffee on the bench here in the garden and joining the others afterwards," Darcy explained.

"You sound like a long-married couple already," Richard teased.

Darcy and Lizzy both smirked in response as they silently led the other couple the rest of the way to the side door. Richard and Charlotte shared an amused look and rolled their eyes as they followed.

~o~

As expected, Mrs. Bennet insisted she had been planning on Richard and Charlotte as guests all along and acted surprised that they even wondered about their welcome. "You are family," she said, and that was the end of that matter.

Even though they had already heard the news from Sir William and from Darcy and Lizzy's letters, Mrs. Bennet also insisted on telling them all about the recent betrothals of her second and third daughters. Bingley arrived during the recitation and came in for some teasing from Richard over his hasty betrothal. In return, Bingley teased Richard for his hasty wedding. Anne and Martin joined in on the teasing for both men. With all the noise just family made, Darcy realized he had no need to worry about the upcoming dinner party. He would be surrounded as much by people he felt comfortable with as he would by those he did not yet know from the village.

Seeing Georgiana looking a little lost in all the noise, he pulled her aside. "It is a little strange after all the time we have spent nearly alone at Pemberley, is it not?" he asked.

She nodded, looking almost afraid to admit it.

"I know I said you could join us tonight, just like Lydia will, even though you are not yet out. It is going to be even noisier with all the company, but I want you to remember that we will be surrounded by people who care about us, even with all the strangers who will arrive. If you feel scared, stick close to one of the Bennet sisters or come to find me. I promise I will not judge you for being afraid of the crowd. One thing I have learned from Bingley and Richard is that even if you do not know what to say, a smile will go a long way to cover the lack of conversation. Will you be well?"

Georgiana nodded again. "Thank you, Will," she said softly.

"Yes, thank you, Will," came another voice from right behind him. He turned to find Anne standing there. She continued, "I expected any comfort in this situation to come from Martin or Richard. It means more coming from you. I am fine in this company, but I was beginning to worry about the dinner party just as Georgiana has been. You have eased my mind. And Georgiana, you can also come join me if you feel lost. We will stand and smile and feel lost together until one of our adoptive sisters rescues us."

Georgiana giggled. Darcy felt like joining her at the mental picture Anne painted of the two of them smiling hopefully while waiting for Lizzy or one of the others to notice.

~o~

Darcy's uncle and Sir Phillip arrived back at Longbourn just an hour before the non-family dinner guests were due. Richard and Charlotte had returned to Lucas Lodge after a visit of only a few hours that morning, while Darcy and Bingley had left to change for dinner about an hour before his uncle returned. They would be arriving early, before the other guests, along with the rest of the Netherfield party, but they were not there yet.

As a result, it was Mr. Bennet who first passed on the news of Wickham's death and Richard's presence at Lucas Lodge. In return, he heard a brief description of the unsuccessful visit to remonstrate with Lady Catherine.

"When we arrived, they said she was gone. My man in the stable told me she went to Boxwell. I assume she intended to chastise Anne or something of that nature. Of course, I knew Anne and Martin were already here, so I was not worried about them."