One worked full time in the London house and the other was a regular seasonal maid who had recently undergone training to be a lady’s maid. Elizabeth asked that no further information be given to her about them so that she wouldn’t make a biased choice, but she had already gathered that the one from the house in town was a generational employee and had been with the family her entire life.

When the carriage pulled up in front of the large stone house, Elizabeth steeled her nerves and took a deep breath. The house itself did not bother her. However, the idea that she would be in charge of said house and its inhabitants was another story. She squared her shoulders and squeezed Jane’s hand, then walked in with her head held high.

“Welcome to Darcy House, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy. He was standing by the door and after greeting her sister and mother, quickly took Elizabeth’s arm and led her to the drawing room.

He introduced her to his sister, Georgiana, and sat next to Elizabeth on a settee near Georgiana’s chair. Jane took the chair next to her and Mrs. Bennet sat across from them.

“This is a lovely room, Mr. Darcy.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet.”

“The material looks so expensive! Has it recently been redone?” she asked, her hand running over the brocade on the arm of her chair.

“My aunt refurnished it about four years ago, I believe,” he answered.

“Your aunt Lady Catherine?”

“No, my Aunt Lady Constance.”

“Oh, is she your mother’s sister? The daughter of an earl?” she asked eagerly.

Jane’s cheeks were red and she stared at the carpet, unable to raise her eyes, while Elizabeth was silently wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

“No, my mother had but one sister, Lady Catherine, whom you met in Kent. Lady Constance is my father’s sister. Her husband is Viscount Melburn of Broxley.”

Mrs. Bennet’s eyes nearly bulged from her head. “Did you hear that, Lizzy?”

Before she could say anything else, Elizabeth clutched Mr. Darcy’s arm a little too tightly and spoke. “Forgive me, Mr. Darcy, but might we call for some tea? I’m suddenly very thirsty.”

He nodded at her silently and rose to pull the bell and pretended not to hear Mrs. Bennet whispering loudly to her daughters about what a boon it would be to have peers in the family.

Jane tried to shush her to no avail and Mrs. Bennet continued on, ignoring the red face and downcast eyes of Georgiana, until Mr. Darcy finished speaking with a servant and sat back down.

“How often are you in town, Mr. Darcy? Surely you spend the season here,” Mrs. Bennet continued in a loud, cloying voice.

“I spend a part of the season each year here, yes, but not all,” he replied.