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Even though he and William were as close as brothers, Fitzwilliam had not mentioned his feelings for Anne to him. The plan was to first speak to Anne and see if she was sanguine with the statement that his dancing the three significant sets would make to everyone. Fitzwilliam had never canvassed Anne’s feelings for himself. Her decision regarding the sets at the ball would make that clear to him. He also wanted Anne to be assured that his feelings for her had nothing to do with her fortune.

The crunch of carriage wheels from the drive ended Fitzwilliam’s woolgathering. He and William stood to go outside to greet their family members.

As she watched the two men exit the drawing room, Mrs Hurst could not but feel a little sadness for her younger sister who was restricted to her suite upstairs. Caroline needed to be dosed with laudanum a few times each day to keep her calm. Louisa Hurst could only imagine the airs and graces her sister would have put on had she still been the mistress. Then again, she wondered if Viscount Hilldale would have attended them had Caroline been in that position. She had always made excuses for Caroline’s benefit as to why she had never met any of the Fitzwilliams other than the colonel; however, Louisa knew the truth. The rest of that family simply refused to know Caroline. Her sister would have crowed about hosting a noble in her house from one end of society to the other. In the end, she had to admit that the peace without Caroline was preferable to the way it was when her sister was among them. She heard the crunching of the wheels cease as the conveyance came to a halt.

By the time the Hilldale coach and the trailing older carriage halted, Fitzwilliam and Darcy were standing in the drive just in front of the steps leading up to the veranda above them. They watched as Andrew leaned in to hand someone out. It was not Anne as they expected. It was Mrs Annesley! Next out was Anna, and last was Anne.

Her two guardians stood gawping at their charge while her eyes dropped to the drive as she nervously moved a bit of gravel about with the toe of one boot. Fitzwilliam surged forward and pulled Anna into a hug.

He guessed that his and William’s silence made the insecure young lady think she had done something wrong by surprising them. When Andy said he was coming with Anne, Fitzwilliam had known there would be a chaperone; he just did not think it would be his ward and her companion. “It is very good to see you, sprite,” Fitzwilliam told Anna.

“You are not angry with me for coming unannounced?” Georgiana asked quietly, not making eye contact.

“Angry? I am very pleased to see you, is that not true, William?” Fitzwilliam glared at his cousin, who had stood there like a stupid statue, his mouth open. No wonder Anna thought them angry with her.

Darcy shook the surprise at seeing Anna and Mrs Annesley alight from the coach from his addled mind. “Sweetling, Richard, for once, has the right of it. What you noted was surprise but never anger,” Darcy assured his sister. “Seeing you is a great treat. The truth is I am more than pleased to have you join us here.”

“Truly?” Georgiana relaxed as soon as she realised she had not disappointed her brother again. “When Anne and Andrew told us that Miss Bingley is no longer mistress here, I asked if I could join them.”

“And as we needed a chaperone, we decided two was better than one. Anna and Mrs Annesley rode with us while my maid, Anna’s, and Andy’s valet rode in the carriage carrying our trunks,” Anne informed her cousin. She was looking at Richard as she spoke and was very happy to note how pleased he looked to see her now that his surprise at seeing Anna was past.

While the local footmen assisted the Hilldale footmen to remove the trunks, the four arrivals followed their two family members into the house. Once they were relieved of their outerwear, they all climbed to the first floor and entered the drawing room, where Bingley and the Hursts were waiting for them.

“Miss Darcy!” Bingley exclaimed. “We were not aware you would join us, but you are very welcome at Netherfield Park. Lord Hilldale, you are also welcome.”

“Richard, will you make the introductions, please?” Hilldale, who had never met the Hursts, requested.

It was the matter of a minute for all those who had never met to be introduced. “Miss Darcy, would you like to share a suite with your cousin, Miss de Bourgh, or do you prefer to share with Mrs Annesley?” Mrs Hurst enquired after the introduction had been made. Chambers were ready for the viscount and Miss de Bourgh, but it would be easy for another set to be made ready for the unexpected guests.

Georgiana looked to her brother and Richard for guidance.

“It is up to you, Anna. I know you have become used to sharing a suite with Mrs Annesley. If that is what you prefer, Anne will not be upset,” Darcy stated gently.

“William speaks the truth; you chuse what is better for you,” Anne added.

“In that case, as long as Anne is sanguine with it, I will share with Mrs Annesley,” Georgiana decided.

Mrs Hurst rang for the housekeeper and issued instructions to prepare the suite next to Miss de Bourgh’s. It was not long before Mrs Nichols reported that the set of rooms for the additional guests were ready.

While Mrs Hurst and the housekeeper led the newly arrived ladies to their chambers, Hilldale remained in the drawing room.

Hilldale looked at his younger brother and cousin questioningly.

“Bingley, may we use your study?” Fitzwilliam requested. “Darcy and I need to speak to my brother.”

“Go ahead; I will wait here with Hurst,” Bingley allowed.

“Well, what is being done with that profligate blackguard Wicky?” Hilldale demanded as soon as the door had been pushed closed.

The two younger men informed Hilldale about everything that had been put into place to clip Wickham’s wings. “We are waiting for word from Colonel Forster that Wicky has been apprehended. As soon as we know that, then we will go to see the bastard,” Fitzwilliam related.

“In that case, I will join you. I want to see the downfall of that libertine who attempted to harm my young, innocent cousin,” Hilldale insisted.

No one gainsaid him. With that, he made for his chamber to wash and change.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

When Wickham was summoned to Colonel Forster’s office, he thought nothing of it. It was not an uncommon occurrence for one or more junior officers to be needed to complete some task or other for their commander.