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Being at home added an ease to her host’s features, fascinating Elizabeth until his gaze fell upon her. She quickly averted her eyes to her own shoes and chastised herself for momentarily forgetting her dislike of him and being distracted by his handsome features.
    Just then, a commotion brought all their eyes to the landing above where a graceful, womanly figure stood. She paused briefly before calling out, “William!” and rushing down the stairs into Mr. Darcy’s arms. Elizabeth’s brows rose when she heard his deep chuckle as he wrapped his arms around his sister and assured her that he missed her too. Then Georgiana turned and greeted her cousin, though less exuberantly and in a more genteel fashion.
    “Georgiana, may I introduce to you our guests, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Maria Lucas of Hertfordshire. They are to stay with us for a few days. Ladies — my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
    Georgiana, acknowledging their presence for the first time, immediately turned white then red in her embarrassment. Her modesty surfaced, and she looked to her brother for guidance. Mr. Darcy responded with a small smile that showed the tender regard he held for his sister. Suddenly, Elizabeth was caught by Georgiana’s recent youthful animation, so like her deceased sister, even if displayed with more decorum than Lydia was wont to do. With unshed tears, Elizabeth curtseyed and managed a stifled greeting to Miss Darcy. The brief familial scene had been a lovely diversion, but the force of her loss hit her once more, bringing with it again the weight of the past few days.
    Georgiana looked at her brother with creased brows, and he shook his head infinitesimally before turning to his housekeeper. “Mrs. Carroll.”
    Immediately Mrs. Carroll walked to Elizabeth and linked her arm in hers before leading her towards the stairs. “Come, dear. I’ll take you to your rooms; you must be very tired from your journey.” She motioned to a maid to help Miss Lucas, and together they ascended. Elizabeth found the housekeeper’s touch a comfort. Certainly, she was not expecting Mr. Darcy’s servants to be so familiar, but at that moment, the tender, soothing words served only to ease the ache in her heart.
    * * *
    Mr. Darcy watched Elizabeth reach the landing of the stairs and turn to go up the next flight. His eyes never left her person until she disappeared from sight. He was torn by the joy he felt at having her in his home and the sorrow he felt for her melancholy spirits. He turned to his sister, who was clearly befuddled by the situation with their sudden guests.
    “Come, Georgie,” he said as he led her to his study. Georgiana sat quietly on the settee while he walked along the perimeter of the large, book-filled room to his mahogany desk. He sat warily in the leather chair behind it and rubbed his eyes. Together they sat without speaking until there was a knock at the door and Mrs. Carroll appeared.
    “You wished to speak to me, sir?”
    “Yes.” Darcy rubbed his face again before standing. “Mrs. Carroll, Georgiana, I wanted to speak to you both about our guests.” He looked towards his housekeeper. “I trust they are comfortably being taken care of in their rooms?”
    “Yes, sir. I have ordered baths — and tea and hot chocolate.”
    Darcy sighed heavily. “Thank you, Mrs. Carroll. Miss Bennet and Miss Lucas are acquaintances of mine from my stay with Mr. Bingley in the autumn. I encountered them again while I was at Rosings. They were visiting with Miss Lucas’s sister and Miss Bennet’s cousin, Lady Catherine’s parson. Yesterday, Miss Bennet received news that her sister had suffered a terrible fall and passed away. She was not sixteen.”
    Georgiana’s face froze in horror as she realized that the girl was her age.
    “Oh, Brother! How awful for her! And I —” She covered her mouth as she thought of how her exuberant greeting for her brother might have looked insensitive to the solemn