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Darcy household and, although Lord Malvern had voiced dissatisfaction with the choice of companion for his niece and Lady Stretton had found more than enough to say, the Darcys were supremely undaunted. The reason for their unconcern was simple: neither of them were in town to witness their relations’ manifest displeasure.
    Georgiana and Miss Bennet were at Pemberley. They had travelled north within a se’nnight of Miss Bennet’s removal from Malvern House to Berkeley Square. Truth be told, Darcy had specifically planned it so, to shield his sister from any disagreements and allow her to settle into a comfortable relationship with her new companion, away from Lady Stretton and her snide remarks.
    The only disappointment was that he would have liked to see it happen, yet circumstances had conspired to prevent him. Just three days before the planned departure to Pemberley, an uncommonly frantic letter had arrived from the land steward at Rosings to bring ill tidings of a thunderstorm that had caused much misery in Hunsford village. A thatched roof was struck by lightning and the fire had rapidly spread to five adjoining ones, all of them dry as tinder after two long months of drought. Fortunately the nearby tithe barn had a tiled roof so the damage was not as extensive, nor was there any loss of life, but Darcy understood that a great deal had to be done, and not by Lady Catherine, who only knew how to sail forth and scold everyone into harmony and plenty.
    Thus, he was forced to allow the ladies to travel to Pemberley without him, escorted by the butler, Georgiana’s lady’s maid and a small army of postillions and footmen, while the other carriage drove him to Kent on the following day. Fitzwilliam joined him yet again, but only for a fortnight – he had to report to duty by the end of the month. His cousin teasingly told him he merely wanted to investigate whether Lady Catherine had a hand in setting the village ablaze for the sole purpose of getting him back to Rosings, but in truth his good sense and military thinking were of great assistance in getting the cumbersome wheels in motion. As for his help in dealing with an exceedingly obstructive Lady Catherine, it was nothing short of priceless.
    Unfortunately he had taken his seat on the London coach that very morning, leaving Darcy to enjoy the delights of Lady Catherine’s society and unravel the tangled skeins of her affairs. With a sigh, Darcy rubbed his eyes and reached for his cup of coffee. He drained it, closed the ledger before him and donned his coat. It was time to meet with the land steward again.
     

 
    CHAPTER 4
     
     
    The steady drizzle that had been his near-constant companion from Grantham had given way to tentative rays of sunshine streaking their way through the low-lying clouds and casting the odd spot of golden light over the surrounding hills.
    Kent would have benefited greatly from such wet weather. Then perhaps there would have been less fire damage at Hunsford, and he might have been allowed to return home much sooner, Darcy thought and rummaged for his pocket watch. An hour at the utmost and he would be at Pemberley at last.
    His enforced stay in Kent had lasted a great deal longer than expected. Too long. Lady Catherine, while eager to reign in great state over her domain, was not so willing to carry out the duties that came with privilege, and it had been his unwelcome task to mediate between her rigid will and her beleaguered people.
    The dealings with the land steward had been fraught as well – he was too well accustomed to please his mistress over everybody else. At least the new vicar was of greater assistance, and Darcy was glad that the former sycophantic parson, Collins, had relinquished his post to play the part of the lord of the manor in Hertfordshire.
    During his stay at Rosings, Darcy was reminded just why Miss Bennet’s reference to Longbourn had sounded familiar and understood that the comfort of the parishioners of