Page 141 of Triumph at Pemberley

Alexandrine managed the impressive feat of laughing, crying, hugging her mother, and talking at the same time. “Maman, Maman!”

Mme. Hartung pressed kisses on their heads. Once they had calmed a little, she said, “Oh, my darlings, I am so glad to be with you again! Pray make your greetings to Mr. Jack, too.”

The children obeyed. Friedrich demanded a promise of a horsie ride later, which Jack agreed to with a smile.

Mme. Hartung said, “I must tell you some important news, little ones. Mr. Jack is now your father.”

Darcy’s jaw dropped. How had that happened?

Alexandrine ducked her head, staring up shyly at Jack, but Friedrich shrieked, “Papa! Papa!” The boy threw his arms around Jack’s waist until his new father – really? – picked him up and whirled him around.

Jack grinned. “How lucky can I get, to have two such wonderful children of my own!” He opened his free arm to Alexandrine. She embraced him, too, with tears in her eyes.

Mme. Hartung asked him, “Do you mind if I go with them while you speak to your family?”

“Of course not.”

Elizabeth said firmly, “Not until we congratulate you and tell you what an unexpected joy this is.” She nudged Darcy’s ankle with her slipper.

He took Mme. Hartung’s hands. No, she was Mrs. Darcy now, too! “I can think of nothing that could make me happier. You saved my life, and now you are bringing joy to Jack.”

Jack laughed. “She is making a habit of saving men named Darcy! She rescued me from my prison, with help from Gentiane.”

“Rather the other way around,” she said ruefully. “Gentiane deserved all the credit. I merely assisted him.”

“Mama! Come see our rooms!” Friederich exclaimed. “And my tin soldiers. Mr. Darcy loaned them to me.”

“I thank you. If you will be so kind as to excuse me,” the new Mrs. Jack Darcy said to them. “I hope we will have time to catch up later.”

“Indeed,” Darcy said indulgently.

After she and the children had disappeared up the stairs, Darcy asked Jack, “Married, then? That was fast.” Not that he had a foot to stand on, since his own marriage to Elizabeth had been precipitous, to say the least.

“Well, mostly,” Jack said with a laugh. “We had a French émigré priest say the lines over us, though without a license or banns. There was no time for more. Everyone in London already believed we were wed in France. A jaunt to Scotland will fix the legal piece.”

“Or we can just have the rector here do it,” Darcy said. Jack and Mme. Hartung – who would have expected it? Jack would likely tell him the full story when they were alone.

Yet another change to his family.

As if on cue, Jack asked, “Where is Georgiana? I was hoping to see her here, too.”

This was going to be hard to say. Darcy cleared his throat. “About Georgiana.”

Jack must have seen something in his face. “Oh, no. What happened?”

Elizabeth said, “Perhaps we can continue this conversation in the ballroom where there is room for the dragons. Cerridwen is asking to hear your news.”

By the time Darcy finished explaining both Georgiana’s transformation and Lady Anne’s new baby, Cerridwen was just arriving in the ballroom. Gentiane had already made himself comfortable there, and the little dragonet Topaz was curled behind Darcy’s feet.

Jack shook his head in wonder. “I will miss Georgiana. I wish I could at least send her a message.”

“I will ask my little fae friend Sparrow if that is possible,” Elizabeth said. “We still have several lesser fae here, keeping an eye on us for Georgiana.”

Richard came barreling into the ballroom. “Jack! This is a welcome surprise!”

Jack jumped up to embrace his cousin. “You look better than the last time I saw you!”

Richard laughed. “You are the only person in England who could say that. Everyone else flinches when they see me. I asked Coquelicot to leave the scars, in honor of all the men who died that day.”