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the death of his father earlier that year, he had inherited not just his father's legal firm and the house in which his mother and his brother's family continued to live at his invitation, but he had also acquired the status of the head of a professional family, with an enviable reputation for probity and public service.
Recent reports of some of his brother's social activities had given him cause for concern, and he had intended to talk to David about it. The realisation that Emma was unhappy made it obligatory that he should do something about it.
Stephanie and Victoria were so tired from travelling that they had to be taken upstairs, bathed, fed, and put to bed at once.
Emma took some time to refresh herself and change before returning to join the others. As she had expected, James had been persuaded by his mother to stay to dinner. There was still no sign of her husband, and Mrs Wilson, becoming rather impatient, ordered that the meal be served.
When they went in to dinner, James, having taken his mother in and helped her into her seat, returned to escort Emma and then sat between her and Colonel Barclay's wife. The colonel applied himself to entertaining Mrs Wilson with tales of mutual friends in Bath.
When Mrs Barclay was also drawn into conversation with his mother, James Wilson took the opportunity to remind Emma of her promise to talk to him about her present problems. When she fell silent, he pressed her for an acknowledgement, "My dear Emma, I cannot help you unless I know what makes you unhappy. It is not just for your sake, but for Victoria and Stephanie, too; they should not grow up in an atmosphere of mistrust."
She was immediately defensive. "I have said nothing of mistrust! You must not assume things."
Chastened by the swiftness of her rebuke, he apologised. "I am sorry, but there you see it. Unless I know the cause of the problem, I am more likely to make inaccurate assumptions."
The servants were clearing away the dishes before placing platters of fruit and cheese on the table. Taking advantage of the movement around them, he appealed to her, "Will you at least agree to talk to me about it? You can decide how much you want to tell me."
Emma could not avoid his eyes, and his sincerity was so compelling that she gave in. "Yes, yes of course, but I shall need a little time."
"Good, you can have all the time you want, Emma. I shall make some arrangements next week," he said, clearly pleased.
After dinner, Emma asked to be excused, pleading tiredness, and Mrs Wilson was sympathetic. "Of course you may Emma, my dear. Indeed, it is most inconsiderate of David to be so late. I cannot imagine what he is about."
She was about to go upstairs when a light carriage was heard in the street. It stopped at their door, and presently David walked in. He appeared slightly unsteady, but cheerful enough.
He greeted them all, kissed his mother and went to help himself to the port. Unhappy with the bottle on the tray, he sent the footman off to fetch one of his favourites from the cellar.
Meanwhile, addressing both James and Emma, he demanded to know if they had enjoyed their journey to Pemberley. "Is Mr Darcy still as proud and arrogant as ever?" he asked. "And did you meet Colonel Fitzwilliam? He has an uncommonly beautiful wife. God only knows what she sees in him."
Seeing Emma's look of panic, for she knew this was his way of starting an argument--one that only he could win--James Wilson intervened to say that Darcy had seemed not in the least arrogant. "He was the perfect host, and indeed the evening turned out to be most interesting and pleasant. Pemberley is one of those great houses that implies pride and arrogance in its owners, but I did not find it so. Both Mr and Mrs Darcy were most hospitable, and I have been invited back to dine with them soon."
David's raised eyebrows expressed his opinion. "Have you indeed? They must prefer you to myself."
Emma could not remain silent at this suggestion, "That is not fair David, we