He sighed in relief. Recognizing his nervousness, she walked over to him and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“For being such a sweet man.”

He raised a brow in question.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said teasingly. “It is much better to be a sweet man than a rascal and you know it. I am glad you care for my comfort. It bodes well for the future.”

He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “I care about everything to do with you.”

Jane and Georgiana joined them and they spoke of wall colors and drapery patterns until Darcy asked if she would like to meet the potential lady’s maids. They went downstairs to Georgiana’s sitting room and soon the two young women were introduced by the housekeeper.

After greeting them both and asking some preliminary questions, Elizabeth asked if she could speak to each woman alone and Darcy offered his study for the interviews.

Lorraine Smith was a temporary maid who had sought out her own training to be a lady’s maid. She was born and raised in London, had a very keen eye for fashion, and was clearly eager to help her mistress make a splash on the social scene. Elizabeth liked her and thought she would likely be very good at her job, and she was well qualified, but she thought Lorraine might be unhappy with the quieter life she envisioned them leading in Derbyshire and the subdued wardrobe and hairstyles she preferred.

Elizabeth asked her about this and was surprised to find that she had actually spent several summers at Pemberley as a child. Her aunt and uncle were tenants there and her parents had sent her to stay with them on more than one occasion. She had fond memories of the estate and enjoyed country pursuits but found that town was where more work was to be found, so town was where she stayed.

Elizabeth thought there might be something of a kindred spirit in Miss Smith, and if they wouldn’t clash too much on clothing choices, she would make a good maid.

Molly Sanders was twenty-four and worked in the London house. She had acted as Miss Darcy’s maid when the regular maid had a family emergency, and she was intelligent and personable. She had been shadowing the same maid off and on for the last several months and hoped to find a suitable position soon. She had spent her childhood at Pemberley but had moved to London to work in the town house after her father died. She still had family in Derbyshire and looked forward to returning.