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Richard sobered at the expression on William’s face. “You have my word.”

“Lord Milton, Lady Waltham’s first husband, had died the week before harvest. Father mentioned that at the funeral he had offered Gwendolyn his help in determining what must be done. By this point, I was handling these things at Pemberley, as Father was growing steadily weaker. He and I both knew he did not have the strength to handle her problems.” He paused for a moment, as if reliving the event. Richard waited silently.

“I ... I thought I would help Father by taking on this task; so one afternoon while he was resting, I rode over to offer my services.” He shook his head and smiled wanly before sobering. “Gwendolyn was very eager to take advantage of my services.”

“I can only imagine,” Richard interjected.

“In any event, she locked the door to the study and proceeded to undress. I had never before seen a naked woman, and she was very beautiful. I was mesmerized. Foolish youth that I was, I was flattered when Gwendolyn proclaimed that she had been in love with me for some time. Her husband had been at least thirty years her senior, so I suppose it was easy enough to believe.” William looked sheepish and refused to meet Richard’s gaze. “I suppose it was my sense of duty that brought me back to reality, because I tried to protest. I knew that Father would be very disappointed in me. I even confessed to her that I had never ... but Gwendolyn quieted my protestations very effectively.”

William’s gaze fell, and he shuddered. “It was not long after, that I realised I was not in love but only in lust. By that time, however, I felt obligated.”

“Obligated! My God, Darce, you were young, and she enticed you. You owed her nothing!”

“I know that now, but then ...” He stood and paced again. “It was Father who made me see reason. He was very upset, but he told me I was not the first young man to be entrapped by an older woman, nor would I be the last. He expressed confidence in my ability to do what was right.” William shook his head in awe. “Then he hugged me. I do not remember his hugging me often, but I will never forget that time.”

“Uncle George was a fine man.”

William blinked back tears. “Yes. Yes, he was.” He walked over to a side table and poured a glass of brandy and looked to see Richard’s nod. Pouring another, he handed one to his cousin before sitting down.

“Why would Gwendolyn assume I want to see her now? She must know that I am not the foolish boy she exploited years ago.”

“Vanity, my friend. She has not seen you since you were twenty. She wants to believe she can still turn your head and probably believes you to be like most men—eager for the thrill of illicit sexual encounters at a moment’s notice.”

William sneered. “Indeed! If she only knew how little ...” His voice trailed off as he realised what he was saying, and he glimpsed the beginning of a smile on Richard’s face.

Seeing Darcy’s discomfort, Richard felt sympathetic and changed the subject. “Well, now that you are sufficiently warned, let us talk of other more pleasant things. How is Miss Elizabeth faring this morning?”

William’s bearing sobered, and he looked away. When he finally spoke, his voice was so low that Richard had to strain to hear. “She does not respond as well as she did before Gigi confronted her. Today was only the second time she has agreed to walk out with me, and I believe it was only to escape the house. She does not seem to hear what I say anymore. I try to carry on a conversation as Mr. Towson suggested, though she hardly gives any indication that she understands me.”

“So what does Mr. Towson recommend if she does not improve?”

William sighed heavily. “He has suggested that I confront her with something or someone that might force her to remember what happened to induce her current state.”

“Could that not do more harm than good?”

“Possibly, but what other choice do I have?”

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. “Come!” William said loudly. The door opened, and Mr. Walker came in holding a silver salver, an envelope upon it.

“This express just arrived, sir.”

William reached for the post. “Thank you.” The elderly servant bowed and hastily left, closing the door.

A puzzled look accompanied William’s perusal of the address. “What could Bingley possibly need to send me in such a hurry?”

“I do not suppose you will know until you open it!” Richard declared, receiving a withering look for his attempt at a witty retort.

William broke the seal. His face remained blank, though his entire body tensed as he proceeded to read. Much to his companion’s chagrin, he did not share the contents.

Richard could stand it no longer. “What does he say, Darce?”

William’s eyes flicked to Richard and then back to the letter. Finally he replied, “It looks as though I will have the unexpected opportunity to find out what happened to Elizabeth.”

William resumed reading until he reached the end, then sitting up straighter, he blew out a long breath of air. “The housekeeper who initially contacted the Bingleys to come for Elizabeth has sent another letter begging them to come immediately. They cannot make the trip themselves because little Peter is ill, but Bingley sent word to her that I will come in their stead. After all, Sheffield is less than a day’s ride from here. I shall set out tomorrow.”

“If you are going, I am going with you.”

“I appreciate your concern and your company, Cousin, as I am not sure what to expect. I hope I do not meet the count while I am there, as I believe I would kill him with my bare hands.”