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“I have missed my last two courses but have not yet felt the quickening. I was waiting until then to tell you the good news. However, you have seen I am nauseous in the mornings and I feel that my body is changing. I know that losing your son is devastating but I am sure that I carry his heir.”

It changed the focus of the two older Hursts. They mourned their son, but that mourning was tempered by the knowledge he was on his way to ruining the family. And then there were the debts, which would take several years to fully discharge. Within a month it was confirmed that Louisa Hurst was pregnant with their grandchild and heir. The child was named David after his alleged father.

--

“Aunt Susan, I am confused. I thought my only Darcy family was William. Or at least my immediate Darcy family.”

Susan Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock was equally confused.

“You are correct Georgiana. I think the cadet line is as distant as a third cousin several times removed, or possibly even a fourth cousin. And I do not believe they share your surname. Why do you ask?”

“You know how ladies will pretend to whisper but in truth are speaking just loud enough for a person to hear?”

Her aunt nodded, it was a shabby, yet commonplace, trick in society.

“I know exactly what you mean.”

“Well I heard three young ladies talk about the Darcys being in trade. There was much sniggering and giggling and when the three of them left the look they gave me was.”

She stopped.

“It was not a sneer, but it was not a gentle smile either. Something like mocking or scornful maybe. But there was definitely an edge.”

The Countess was distinctly unhappy.

“Did you recognise them?”

“By sight but not by name. I have seen them on Bond Street at least once, maybe twice. I have not been introduced to them.”

“Thank you for telling me this. I will make some enquiries and see what is behind this.”

Georgiana smiled and left to change and then practice at the piano. The Countess went to her husband’s study and found him talking to their younger son.

“Excellent, two of you are here. Is Andrew at home?”

Five minutes later the four of them were huddled together in the study. The Countess explained what had happened to Georgiana that afternoon. She caught the look between her two sons.

“Out with it. I know that guilty look. What do you know?”

Both brothers cursed their mother’s eagle eye. Richard started.

“This is probably for the best. You are aware that Bingley and his pestilent sister have been Darcy’s companions for the last two years. In fact, when I stop and consider it, they have been attached to his coattails for more than three years. I do not know why Darcy puts up with them. Bingley himself is harmless, no different to many others in town; lounging around with too much money and too much time. The sister on the other hand is, well you heard me. She is a disease. I have been reliably informed she fancies herself as the next mistress of Pemberley and will not let facts, or Darcy’s indifference, get in the way of that delusion. She is thoroughly on the shelf, past her quarter century. But that is nothing compared to a personality which is worse than the most gruesome of snakes from India. There is one that spits poison at you; that is Caroline Bingley.”

The Earl interrupted.

“Yes, yes, we know all that. We have been telling Darcy that for months, years. Get to the point!”

“Sorry father. The Bingley family made their money as carriage makers. The firm started by Bingley’s grandfather, and continued by his father and uncle is still in business, indeed is thriving. So much so that there have been Bingley carriages spotted on the streets of London in the last month.”

Richard did not need to go on. They all got the point.

“It is all well and good to know of their roots in trade, and silently sneer at the brother and sister. And through that connection to sneer at Darcy, although that will have been even more silent.”

His family knew what he meant.

“But suddenly there is direct evidence, tying the pair to the existing and current family trade. You would think Caroline Bingley was Princess Charlotte’s sister they way she has acted in the past. There will be many people waiting to take their revenge. She, and the brother, will be getting it with both barrels.”

The Earl had lost his bluster.