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Chatton as a permanent residence for Mary, and Darcy, who was his usual quiet self, did not challenge him, though he did mention in passing that she could stay at Pemberley if she wished. Mary declared no preference, so Chatton it was to be.
    “Perhaps we should call on Maddox,” Bingley said to Darcy in confidence. “To… I don't know, assess things.”
    “He is not the only doctor in England, Bingley! And he would undoubtedly come with Caroline.”
    “So what if he does? We cannot avoid the extended family knowing the whole of it for long, and as she is now related to Miss Bennet, Caroline has almost as much interest in avoiding the scandal as we do. So no harm done there.”
    Bingley had a point. Besides, if Mary was to see a doctor, it had best be the one least likely to gossip. “Fine. But first, Mr. Bennet.”
    “Oh dear God, never did I fear our father-in-law so.”
    “He has no reason to be cross with us. That is, provided we hide the children from him, and even if we don't, he'll hardly beconcerned. Might even find it amusing. In fact, it might put him in good humor for the very bad news.”
    “You have a point.”
    “So that is the plan, then. He will see his grandchildren. And then Miss Bennet.”
    “Poor Mary.”
    Darcy gave him a look.
    “How can you be so hard on her, even in private? It's not her fault.”
    “Unlike your own Calvinist leanings, I do believe in free will, Bingley.”
    “That is not to say she wasn't taken advantage of. Even if she thinks she wasn't, with… cultural differences and such. You've been to the Continent—you know they all think we're stuck-up Englishmen with no romantic nature whatsoever, and for good reason.”
    “I never said I had no romantic nature.”
    “But people have thought it of you. I've said it to you, in so many words.”
    “On that, I will relent,” Darcy grumbled.
    “What are we to do, Darcy?”
    “Simple,” he said, as if it was. “I am to save yet another Bennet sister.”
    “How do you propose to— oh . Well, I'm willing to help. She's my sister as well.”
    “You have two small toddlers and a daughter who hasn't said her first words.”
    Bingley frowned. “Point taken. I do feel useless then.”
    “You will be sheltering a young woman with child from considerable scandal. That is hardly the definition of'useless.' In fact, I believe you will be quite busy for the next seven months.”
    “Plus your child. Who, I imagine, will have us all ink-skinned when the matter is done.”
    To that, Darcy had to hold back his response, as he decided that, with all of the serious goings-on, hitting his brother-in-law in the face would not be proper. Not again, anyway.

STORM AT CHATTON
    FORTUNATELY, AS THEY WERE able to travel at greater speeds than the elderly Bennets, who had not been informed of the cause for their invitation, Dr. and Mrs. Maddox arrived at Chatton first. This was their first journey there in several months, as the doctor's schedule kept him in London, and he seemed reluctant to take whatever salary was offered from Bingley. Dr. Maddox had a townhouse, small but still far beyond his own means, that Bingley had given the couple as a gift.
    Dr. Maddox insisted that he would provide for his wife, though privately Charles wrote to his sister and said that if the doctor worked himself ragged, she would start receiving checks from Chatton anyway. So Caroline Maddox had two dedicated men trying to satisfy her every want and need, and she never looked more radiant, aside from being a bit worn from the traveling. Upon their arrival, the doctor was quickly taken aside and informed they rather selfishly needed him to see Mary Bennet.
    “Is she ill?”
    They shrugged and pushed him in a room with Mary Bennet, a person whom he had never met, but to whom he was related by marriage. On the other side of the door, the Bingleys and the Darcys waited. He took only a few minutes to reappear.
    “What do you want me to say? She's with child,”