The Darcys had enjoyed three years of blissful matrimony, producing two beautiful children. During this time, they had managed to never be separated from one another over night. Darcy always arranged his affairs so that whatever business must be conducted in town, it was done while his family was there with him. Inevitably, however, he found himself having to go to London during the late spring of this, their fourth year of marriage, some time after he had removed his family to the country. Mrs. Darcy had no desire to make the journey into town, nor to leave her children or the beauties of Pemberley. She would nevertheless have done so quite contentedly to be with her husband if not for the fact that her youngest child, still a babe, had taken ill. Having been assured by the doctor that the child's illness was not so serious as to cause him to cancel his intended trip, and his wife having voiced her agreement, Darcy departed Pemberley with the intention of returning in a fortnight.

Elizabeth was desolate, especially at night, but during the day, she rallied her spirits and passed the time playing with her children and in the company of Georgiana. The baby's health improved within a week. Darcy was also desolate in London, and found that in calculating how long his business would take, he had not counted on the fact that his family would not be with him. Having nothing better to do, and being eager to return home, he was able to finish his business in less time than he expected and was able to begin the journey home earlier than planned. The carriage made very good time on the first day of the journey and it was estimated that they would arrive at Pemberley by noon on the third day. The second day brought them even further, and when the carriage stopped at an inn for the night, Darcy was only about fifteen miles from home. The journey would be conducted easily in the morning, and they would be at Pemberley well before noon. But he would much rather be there tonight. He knew the carriage could not travel so far on the roads once it was dark, and although it was not yet dusk, it would be well into the night before they neared Pemberley. The horses and the driver also needed rest. On horseback, however, the journey would be much quicker and he determined to go himself and have the carriage follow in the morning. He hired a horse and purchased a lantern, and set out for Pemberley.

As darkness approached, Elizabeth sent her children to bed and after spending some time with Georgiana, the two ladies retired to their own rooms. After dressing for bed Elizabeth laid down to re-read all of the letters she had received from her husband since his departure. He had written to her every day. He had not, however, disclosed his hopes of leaving town early, to avoid the risk of raising her hopes and then having them disappointed.

The first half of Darcy's journey was made in the waning sunlight of dusk. It was only for the last part that he had to use the lantern, but by then he had entered country that he was so familiar with, he scarcely needed it. When he arrived at the Pemberley stable, it was secure for the night and the grooms had all gone home. Darcy unsaddled and stabled the horse, to be returned to the post in the morning. He then went into the house, which was empty and quiet. He was surprised to see that the lights in all the common rooms had already been extinguished for the night. He stopped at the nursery and placed a kiss on the forehead of each of his children, then he entered his wife's room, too impatient to go to his own room and change into his nightclothes before seeing her. When he walked into the room he was surprised to find her asleep in her bed amidst a scattering of his letters. He smiled in delight at the sight of her. Quietly, he removed his coat, waistcoat and cravat, and set them on the chair beside her bed. Then he gathered up the letters and placed them on the chair as well, before climbing into the bed with her and drawing the curtains around them.

As his planned activities required her to be awake he had little concern that she might be roused by his actions as he drew her to him. He then began placing small kisses on her face and neck and whispering how much he had missed her. After a few moments of these attentions her eyes fluttered open and she smiled as she saw him, "you are home!"

"Yes, my love, I am home."

They then spent the next several hours becoming re-acquainted before falling asleep in each other's arms. They awoke late in the morning, and were murmuring sweet endearments to one another, when Elizabeth's maid, Lucy, quietly opened the door to the mistress' room from the adjoining dressing room to begin her daily chores. When the master was home, she would not enter without knocking unless she was sure he was not in the mistress' room, but as he was in London and Mrs. Darcy was very likely still asleep, she did not knock. When she opened the door, her eyes were arrested by the unusual sight of gentleman's clothing lying neatly over a chair near the mistress' bed. She then detected more than one voice from behind the bed curtain and could tell the mistress was not alone. The second voice was distinctly, that of a man. She was surprised but could only think of the horror of being detected. Therefore, she closed the door as quietly as she could, and the two inhabitants of the room were none the wiser of her having been there. Once in the privacy of the mistress' dressing room, Lucy gasped heavily and then she ran out of the room. She found Mrs. Reynolds in her office, and she entered and closed the door. Mrs. Reynolds was alarmed by the look on Lucy's face. She bade the girl to sit down and reveal what was on her mind.

"I just opened the door to the mistress' bed chamber but I could not go in for, she was not alone."

"What? Was another maid already there?"

"No, there were clothes on the chair by her bed . . . clothes of a gentleman." Mrs. Reynolds' shock was evident. Lucy continued, "Mrs. Darcy was still abed but the curtains were drawn, and I heard her voice from behind them, and another voice as well . . . it was a man's voice."

"Are you quite certain, Lucy?"

"Oh, yes ma'am."

"Very well. Thank you for telling me of this. You did the right thing. However, you are to speak to no one else regarding this. If I hear of you so much as repeating any part of it to even one other person you will be dismissed immediately and without a recommendation, do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Very good. I have some purchases that must be made in the village, I will be saved the trouble of going if you will do it for me."

"Yes ma'am."

Thus, Mrs. Reynolds sent Lucy off to purchase several items and then went to check that the drawing room was prepared to receive company should the mistress have any callers today. And to be on the ready to handle any situation that should come up as a result of the events Lucy had discovered. She wished there was more she could do, but she could not very well go into the mistress' room, turn the man out and give Mrs. Darcy a set down, though she had half a mind to do just that. All she could do was wait until the man was gone and then have a talk with Mrs. Darcy, a talk she was beginning to dread.

As she went about her work, Mrs. Reynolds considered Mrs. Darcy's behavior. She was aware that infidelity was common among many members of high society, but she had never suspected that either her master or her mistress would conduct themselves in such manner. She was certain the master never would. They both always seemed so in love with one another. She also knew that she would have to advise the mistress that her indiscretion had been detected and give her to know that if she would not cease such activities altogether, she should at least take more care to hide them. Mrs. Reynolds was extremely disappointed in Mrs. Darcy, and her sadness and distress on behalf of Mr. Darcy was felt heavily, not only because she cared for him so well, but because she knew how dearly he loved his wife and how devastated he would be should he ever learn of what had happened.

Mrs. Reynolds was shaken out of her reverie as she heard a carriage outside. She wondered who it could be as it was a bit early for callers, and walked to the window to look out. She was surprised to notice that it was the Darcy carriage. She gasped. The master was home early and the mistress had a man in her bed. Things could not get worse. Mrs. Reynolds turned to go outside and greet Mr. Darcy with the hope of detaining him from immediately seeking out his wife, although she could have little hope of success.

As she spun around to exit the drawing room, Mr. Darcy entered and stood before her. "Mr. Darcy, you are home," she said, alarmed by his presence and surprised at the speed with which he had alighted from the carriage and made his way into the drawing room.

Darcy smiled, remembering Elizabeth's utterance of the same words the night before. "Yes, so I am, and it is good to be here."

He was in a very good mood, which only increased Mrs. Reynolds' distress. "I will inform the mistress at once, sir."

"There is no need, I have already informed her myself," he replied, his smile growing as he recalled the ways in which he had made her aware of his presence throughout most of the night.

"You have seen her this morning?"

"Yes, I just left her a few moments ago," replied Darcy, a little puzzled by his housekeeper's strange behavior. Then he was distracted by activity outside the window over her shoulder. "Ah, the carriage has arrived."

"Did you not just arrive in it, sir?" asked Mrs. Reynolds with a puzzled expression.

"No, I rode ahead of the carriage and arrived last night."

"Oh," replied Mrs. Reynolds, as understanding dawned. Then, a sigh of relief escaped her lips, and a broad smile lit her face.

Just then, Elizabeth entered the room and greeted them both. If Mrs. Reynolds had not already discerned the identity of the man who had been in Mrs. Darcy's bed that morning, the shared look of satisfaction and the mutual smiles of her master and mistress could leave little doubt of who it had been. She smiled contentedly as she watched the couple leave together bound for the breakfast room. She then berated herself for ever suspecting the mistress of infidelity and made a mental note to set Lucy aright, when she should return from the village.