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“Yes, Papa,” Georgiana teased.

Evan grinned ear to ear. “Papa ...I think I could get used to that!”

Pemberley

One day later

Georgiana and Evan swept into the foyer with Millie in tow. “Where is my brother?”

Mr. Walker and Mrs. Reynolds were there, but both failed to answer as their eyes came to rest on the child in Georgiana’s arms.

“Oh, forgive me. I should have...this is...” A little flustered as she realised the way Millie was dressed, she turned the child in her arms, so that the elderly couple could see her pretty face. “This is our daughter, Millie!”

“Oh my!” they both exclaimed, before Mrs. Reynolds declared. “She is beautiful—the very image of you, Mrs. Ingram. Master William mentioned your good fortune briefly this morning, and we are all so delighted.”

Mr. Walker shook his head in agreement. “Indeed! Both of you!” he echoed, nodding to Evan who beamed.

Georgiana hurriedly explained. “We have been to the shops in Lambton, buying new clothes and such. She is in need of everything!”

“That is perfectly understandable.” Mrs. Reynolds assured her, patting the little girl’s back. “I am sure she has outgrown everything. Children grow so fast.”

Mr. Walker intervened, bringing the conversation back to what he and Mrs. Reynolds had been discussing before their arrival. “I am loath to deliver bad news amidst your happiness, but we have just now received this message from the Hazelton’s estate.” He held up a paper. “Of course, we did not open it, but the servant who delivered it confided that Mr. Hazelton has died. He strongly suggested that we should inform the Master as soon as possible.”

Georgiana and William had known Lord and Lady Hazelton all their lives, as they had been the good friends of George and Anne Darcy. And while Howard Hazelton had not been well, his sudden passing was unexpected. Well aware of the Darcy’s high regard for the Hazeltons, Mr. Walker sighed in relief when Georgiana indicated she already knew.

“Yes, I came to tell William that I heard of it while we were in Lambton.”

Mrs. Reynolds offered, “We were discussing sending a footman to the far pasture to fetch Mr. Darcy. He was summoned by one of the workers this morning to inspect a shed that was in danger of collapsing after the last storm.”

“And my cousin, Richard?”

“He received a letter by special messenger early this morning from his commanding officer, requesting his immediate return to camp. There was a stroke of good luck in that the man he had been waiting to see in Lambton, sent word that he was back. He and young Fielding left straightaway to meet the fellow in Lambton, then to return the young man to Sheffield on the Colonel’s way north. Though Colonel Fitzwilliam insisted they could ride, Mr. Darcy had them take his coach as far as Sheffield for the boy’s sake.

Georgiana nodded, perturbed that she had not had the opportunity to see Richard again or to talk with Arthur. Seeing the frustration on her face, Mr. Walker added, “It was unexpected, madam, but young Fielding did leave this letter for you. He said it included his address so that you may write with any questions you might have.”

Taking the missive, she replied sadly, “It seems that is always the case with Richard. I hardly ever have a chance to talk with him anymore. Nonetheless, I am glad Mr. Fielding left his address.” Seeing her disappointment, Evan leaned down and kissed Georgiana on the cheek, then addressed the butler.

“I will go fetch Darcy.” He donned his hat. “Ana, you and Millie should probably wait here, as I am sure you will want to discuss with your brother how to be of help to Mrs. Hazelton.”

She cast a questioning gaze to Mrs. Reynolds. “Will we disturb Miss Lawrence if we wait in the music room?”

“I think not. She has not been out of her rooms since—well, for some time. If you will proceed to the music room, I shall find Mrs. Lightfoot and order tea and refreshments. You and the little one can enjoy it while you wait for your husband and the Master to return.”

~~~*~~~

Barely an hour later, William and Evan had already returned and instantly set off for the Hazeltons’ estate, as the widow’s letter had requested William’s presence immediately. He asked Evan to accompany him and suggested that Georgiana and Evan stay for dinner, so they could discuss what he learned. Nonetheless, as the hours wore on, Georgiana was beginning to wonder if she should not have taken the carriage home. Millie was getting tired and irritable and really needed a nap. Rejecting the idea of putting her down to sleep in one of the guest rooms, Georgiana had decided to let her sleep on one of the sofas in the music room.

However, Millie had managed to get berry stains on her hands, face, and the front of her dress after she discovered the sweet treats on a plate of fruit Mrs. Reynolds had sent along with some other refreshments. Georgiana was not concerned about the stains on the dress, as it would be thrown out as soon as her new clothes arrived, but she wanted to clean her face and hands of the stains before she fell asleep.

Since Mrs. Reynolds had not reappeared, she picked up her child and quietly made her way out of the room and up the stairs, intent on using William’s dressing room. There was sure to be a fresh pitcher of water, soap and clean towels inside there, and she knew that she would not encounter anyone inside his private quarters.

Tiptoeing down the hall, she was unaware that Millie was beginning to suffer a stomach-ache because of all the fruit she had consumed. The little girl’s tiredness, combined with a now aching stomach caused her to begin to whimper. Not long after they had entered William’s dressing room, the whimpers escalated into crying, and, before she could decide whether to abandon her plans to clean up her daughter, Millie’s sobs had turned to wails. The sound of footsteps in the hallway signified that the servants were trying to locate the source of the disturbance, so, in exasperation, she abandoned her efforts and went towards the door to reassure the servants. Just as she re-entered the hallway with her crying child, the door just across the hall flew open and Georgiana cringed.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway, frozen in place at the sight of Georgiana holding a screaming Millie, who sported red stains over her hands, face and gown. Before Georgiana could utter anything in the way of explanation, Elizabeth fainted.

The sound of her hitting the floor with a sickening thud caused Georgiana to scream as well, and servants began rushing towards them from every direction.

~~~*~~~