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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND CARD GAMES

A NANOWRIMO NOVEL

BY BLUE EYES BLACK DRAGON

IT IS A TRUTH, UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF A LARGE FORTUNE, MUST BE IN WANT OF A DUEL CHAMPIONSHIP.

However little known the personality or situation of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well-fixed in the minds of the local families, that all of fashionable society are thrown into quite an uproar about the matter. The news of a new family coming into a neighbourhood inspires the local community to begin planning immediately. For the officials, a tournament must be planned. For the young, and talented duellists, decks must be assembled, cards traded or sought anew. Whispers about the newcomers’ cards spread like wildfire across the forests and fields. For others, the arrival of a rich, single gentleman is a different matter of course.

“Mister Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard the news? Netherfield Park is let at last!”

“No, my dear,” said Mr Bennet, looking up from his book. “I have not.”

“But it is!” she insisted. “For Mrs Long has just been here, and she told me all about it!” To which she received no answer. “Well?” She continued tersely, “do you not want to know who has taken it?”

“You want to tell me,” her husband replied, “so I doubt that I have any say in the matter.”

It was as much invitation as she could expect to receive. “Why, my dear, Mrs Long says that Netherfield has been taken by a young man of large fortune from town! That he looked about the house, was quite impressed with the large card halls, and signed on to it immediately. He is to take possession as soon as the Beach Season has ended.”

“What is his name?” Mr Bennet asked mildly.

“Yami.”

“Does he bring with him his family?”

“His family! No, no, Mr Bennet. He is quite single!” She sighed rather dreamily. “A single man of large fortune. At least one million a year to afford the upkeep of Netherfield. What a fine thing for our children!”

Mr Bennet raised a single eyebrow. “Indeed. How is it their business?”

“Mr Bennet!” his wife said, agitated. “How can you be so tiresome? You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them!”

“Is that his design in settling here?”

“Design? Nonsense! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with them,” she said smugly. “Between our children we have all the set to tempt a gentleman, of whatever orientation.” At Mr Bennet’s look, she continued. “Anyway, you must go and visit him as soon as he comes!”

“I should think not,” the gentleman replied, making a show of turning back to his book. “You may send the children. Téa is a fine gentlewoman and will serve my place for propriety’s sake.”

“No, no!” Mrs Bennet insisted, tempestuous. “If you do not go, it does not signify that you show any interest with forming an alliance between our two households. It must be you that goes, not merely the eldest gentle!”

“I will send a letter,” Mr Bennet offered, his countenance all seriousness. “To grant my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the children—though I must throw in a good word for my little Joey.”

Mrs Bennet huffed. “I desire you to do no such thing! Joey is not a bit better than the others. He is not half as skilled a duellist as Yugi, nor as beautiful as his natural sister Serenity. But you are always giving him the preference! Coarse and quick-tempered as he is.”

“They have none of them many advantages to boast of,” he said. “They are all silly and ignorant like other children. But Joey has something more of esprit than his siblings.”

“How can you be so cruel?” Mrs Bennet cried. “To abuse your own children in such a way. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.”

“You are mistaken, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They have been my constant companions for the last twenty years!”

“You are teasing me on purpose!”

“Perhaps. But you will live. Hopefully to see many young men of fortune come to live in the neighbourhood.”

“It will be no use if twenty gentlemen come, since you will not visit them!”

“I swear by my deck, my dear. When twenty such gentlemen live here, I shall visit them all.”

Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour and superiority, that the experience of twenty-three years had not been enough to make his wife understand his mind. Hers was less difficult to comprehend. She was a woman of simple understanding, small mind and uncertain temper. Her anxieties took root by the troubles at home. The business of her life was to get her children settled in a good situation; her hobbies were dice and gossip.

CHAPTER TWO

Mr Bennet was among the first of visitors to Netherfield. He had, in fact, intended to visit him—though said the opposite merely to agitate his wife (a rather fond pastime of his). Until the evening of his visit, she had no knowledge of his intentions.

Observing his second child, employed with reassembling his deck, he suddenly addressed him with: “I hope Mr Yami will stand up to it, Joey.”

“It does not matter what deck Mr Yami can face,” said their mother petulantly. “Since we are not to be acquainted with him!”

“You’re forgetting, Ma,” Joey said, “that we’ll meet him at the tournament. Mrs Long had promised to arrange a duel between us.”

“I do not believe Mrs Long will do any such thing!” snapped Mrs Bennet. “She has two duellists of her own. She’s a selfish, hypocritical woman and I will say nothing about her!”

Mr Bennet was watching on with much amusement. “Then I am glad you do not rely on her for an introduction, my dear.”

Mrs Bennet gave him a scornful look and did not reply. Turning to her youngest daughter, she hissed, “stop coughing, Serenity! Have a little compassion for my poor nerves!”

“Serenity has timed her coughs badly,” said their father, from behind the evening newspaper.

“I do not cough for my own amusement,” Serenity said in a small voice.

“When is the next tournament to be, Yugi?” Téa asked, leaning over to her eldest brother who was busy reading the tournament booklet.

“Tomorrow fortnight,” the small dandy replied, “with a small prize of a newly released card.”

“So it is,” Mrs Bennet said sourly. “And Mrs Long will be out of town until the day before! So it will be impossible for her to arrange the duel.”

“Then, my dear,” interjected her husband, “you will have the advantage over your friend, and introduce Mr Yami to her.”

“How can you be so teasing?” The wife demanded, holding a hand to her fluttering heart. “For I am not acquainted with him myself!”

“Indeed, a fortnight’s acquaintance with the family is certainly too short a time to know a man’s true character.”

The children stared at their father, while the mother cried out at his cruelty in teasing her once more.

“What is the meaning of that?” He asked. “Do you consider the rules and structures of social politic nonsense? I do not quite agree with you on that point. What say you, Rebecca? You are always buried in your books. What have you read on the subject?”

Rebecca, who had been indeed consumed with her book, looked up from the pages. “I...”

“While Rebecca is assembling her ideas,” he continued, “let us return to the subject of Mr Yami.”

“I am sick of Mr Yami!” snapped Mrs Bennet.

“I am sorry to hear that,” Mr Bennet said, a triumphant sort of smile crossing his lips. “But why did you not tell me as much this morning? If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered to go visit. It’s unfortunate. Now that I have actually made the introduction, we can’t escape his acquaintance now.”

The astonishment of his wife was just what he wished for. When her first ecstasy of relief was over, she began to say: “how good it was of you, Mr Bennet! I was sure you loved our children to well to neglect such a duty! And such a good joke too, that you went already and said not a word about it! Letting me prattle on wounded when you already had the balm.”

“Now, Serenity,” Mr Bennet said. “You may cough as much as you like.” With those words, he swiftly left the room to enjoy his victory and the solitude of his library.

“What an excellent father you have,” Mrs Bennet said to the gathered children. “I do not know how you will thank him enough! Téa, my love, though your deck is the weakest, I dare say Mr Yami will make your acquaintance at the tournament!”

“Oh,” said Téa, smiling. “I am not afraid. I may not be able to beat Yugi, but I certainly have bettered Joey time enough!”

“Hey!” the younger brother cried, offended.

His siblings hid their smiles from Joey, not wanting to incite him into an argument in wake of such good news.

CHAPTER THREE

Mr Yami returned the visit to the Bennets on a morning a few days later. Though he had hoped to be lucky enough to spot the children, whose duelling skills were spoken about often around the town, he had no such luck. Téa and Serenity were more fortunate than their older brothers, as they managed to catch sight of him from an upstairs window as he arrived. When their two brothers returned from the nearby village, having paid a visit to the card shop they favoured, they heard the news:

“He’s not a very tall gentleman!” Téa declared, neatly organising her deck, “about your height, Yugi—but a little taller.”

“He’s very handsome,” Serenity contributed. “Very noble-looking.”

“He is certainly rich,” Téa added, “and a very fashionable man. I daresay he will be a very adequate duellist!”

They were joined shortly afterward by Mrs Bennet, who was not entirely unhappy but still somewhat agitated. Under Téa’s careful questioning, they were able to learn from their mother the details of her introduction to Mr Yami.

He was a fine gentleman, well-mannered but friendly. He was indeed an enthusiastic duellist, and promised to be quite skilled. Nothing could have been more delightful to the Bennet children—to be fond of duelling surely meant that his heart was warm and open. The set of his hat declared that he was a gentleman with interest towards dandies, rather than ladies or gentlewomen, to which she gave Yugi a pointed look. To which he could only reply with a blush

The agitation, they learned, was from Mr Yami rejecting, however politely, her invitation to dinner over the course of the next week. “He is obliged to be in Domino on business! What sort of business could he possibly have so soon after moving to the country?” She bemoaned.

“Maybe he went to get his fiancé,” Joey suggested, rolling his eyes.

“Oh, no, he is quite unattached. He told me as much himself.” But she was still fretful.

Her mind was not settled until the sons’ particular friend Mssr Tristan Taylor came to visit, along with his mother who shared the gossip with Mrs Bennet.

Mr Yami, Dame Taylor explained, had gone to the capital in order to bring back with him a large party of friends for the tournament. The exact number of the party was a source of dispute between Dame and Lady Taylor. The gentlewoman insisted that he was to bring twelve dandies and seven gentlemen with him from Domino. Her wife, on the other hand, insisted that it was seven dandies and three gentlemen! Whichever way, the younger members of the party grieved over such a high number of dandies. Gentlemen and -women were scarce enough among their neighbourhood, without the addition of fine dandies to draw away their attention from their local sort.

It was a relief to discover, however, that upon their arrival to the card rooms, there were only five members in total: Mr Yami, a gentleman cousin of his, his two sisters and the husband of the elder. Mr Yami was as good-looking and gentlemanlike as the Bennet children had been promised, with a pleasant countenance and easy, unaffected manners. His skills at duelling were some of the best in the country, and were almost the very best in the room. His two younger siblings were very fine indeed—the elder of the two was Madame Isis Mahad, a noble-looking and beautiful gentlewoman accompanied by her husband; and the younger a single lady, Miss Mana Yami. But it was his cousin that soon drew the attention of the room.

Mr Kaiba was tall, noble-looking and displayed the elegant grace of a fine gentleman. A report was soon circulating the room of him having one billion pounds a year, a large estate in Derbyshire and no less than three legendary blue eyes white dragons in his deck. In a ballroom he could have no hat to indicate his preference, and the kerchief kept in his pocket was a simple white lace that gave utterly no hint toward who might seek to gain his attention. In addition to his fortune and figure, he had that mystery to gain the notice of the entire room for about half the evening—until his manners gave a disgust which turned his popularity to notoriety. He was demonstrating the proudest and most displeased manner, unwilling to be introduced to any of the neighbourhood and only duelling twice the whole night—once with Mr Yami, and another with Madame Mahad. The neighbourhood quite decided that they much preferred the lesser gentleman, and his company was much sought after.

Joseph Wheeler, the second son of the Bennets, had been obliged by the scarcity of duellists to sit out a few rounds. It was during this point that he happened to be near Mr Kaiba when his friend came to speak with and scold him. Mr Yami had played a duel every round, and had come at that moment from the table to fetch his partner a glass of punch and come upon his surly-looking friend.

“Cousin,” the shorter gentleman said, “I must have you duel! I can’t stand to see you lurking about in such a sour manner!”

“You are duelling with the only skilled duellist in the room,” Mr Kaiba said pointedly. “There is no other person with whom it would not be a mere annoyance to sit down at table with.”

Monsieur Wheeler was pleased to see an awe-struck looking across the first gentleman’s countenance as he gazed back toward his table. “Mssr Moto is the most talented duellist I have ever come across! I think I will lose this match, but I find myself not offended by that prospect...”

Mr Kaiba gave his friend a particular look that his cousin seemed to recognise. Though from Mssr Wheeler’s seat, he could not see what it was.

Mr Yami cleared his throat politely. “Irregardless... There is one of his siblings behind you. He is rather handsome, and I dare say well-versed in the rules of the game. Do let my partner introduce you, and arrange a match.”

“Which do you mean?” Mr Kaiba asked coolly. Then, turning around he looked for a moment at Joseph. The dandy smiled, and abruptly the gentleman turned around. “I would have more a challenge playing solitaire.”

Mr Yami scolded him, but was swiftly called back to his duel. Mr Kaiba walked off, and Joseph lowered his eyes with a frown. He told the story however, with much of the esprit his father so admired—for he was of a bright, pleasant disposition with the sort of humour he delighted to share with all who would have part in it.

The evening, as a whole, was spent pleasantly by those who attended. Mrs Bennet had seen her eldest child once again champion of the tournament, and earning amongst his other prizes the admiration of the entire Netherfield party. Mr Yami had duelled with him thrice, even with all of his famed skills unable to win against him. His two sisters shared in the admiration of their brother, and expressed the wish of becoming better acquainted with him. Yugi was flattered by the attentions, though in a quieter way than his excitable mother. Joseph could share in his brother’s pleasure, and had seen many admirable duels to entertain him. Rebecca heard herself mentioned to Miss Yami as the most intelligent person in the neighbourhood; and Téa and Serenity had reacquainted themselves with many of their friends, which is all they had yet learned to look forward to at a tournament. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn.

CHAPTER FOUR

When Yugi and Joseph were alone, the former—who had been wary about confessing his admiration in front of their mother, who tended to take these sorts of things and run amok with them—confided in his brother how very pleased he was my Mr Yami.

“He is everything a duellist ought to be,” Yugi said, a pleased smile across his expression. “And he was very kind to me.”

Joseph, who had seen Mr Yami’s countenance while he spoke of Yugi, saw no harm in encouraging his elder brother’s feelings along. “Who would not be?” He asked, smiling. “You are the gentlest, most kind-hearted person I hope to meet in all the world. What would be more natural than him paying his attentions to you?”

Yugi, flattered, slipped into the covers of his bed on the other side of the room to put off replying to his brother’s comments for a moment or two. “I was very much flattered by his asking me to duel a second time.”

“Were you?” Joseph asked, sitting on the corner of his own bed, still neatly made. “I wasn’t. What could be more natural than his asking you to duel again? It is clear to see that you are at least five times more skilled at Duel than anyone in the room. But he seems kindly, so I give you my permission to like him, little though it’s worth.”

“Joey,” Yugi scolded kindly. “Your opinion is held in my highest regard.”

Joseph grinned at him. “Oh? So if I had told you that he was a scoundrel and not worth paying any mind? You say that would make a difference!”

“It may,” Yugi said, biting his lip. “I would certainly be more hesitant in my opinion if you thought badly of him.”

“Rest easy,” the younger said. “I have seen nothing of him to be wary of. You always see and believe the best in everyone, Yugi, but I think in this case your tender heart may not be too misled.”

Yugi coloured. “I always say what I think of people...”

“And that’s the marvel.” Joseph laughed. “The rest of his party, I think, are not as pleasant as the brother.”

“You mean Mr Kaiba? I’m sure you merely misunderstood him...”

“And I am equally sure that I did not,” Joseph said dismissively. “But not only the cousin. His sisters...”

“Madame Mahad and Miss Yami? What could you possibly have to say against them?” Yugi asked, quite bewildered, “They were charming women. Very polite and personable.”

“I have only my instincts to speak of,” Joseph answered. “And they warn me that the two of them may not be entirely what they seem. They are capable of making themselves agreeable, that much is certain. When they give the effort.” He paused here, to smile at Yugi’s frown. “But it seems to me they are not the kind to often feel the effort necessary.”

“You are very mistrustful, Joey,” Yugi said, smothering a yawn.

“And I am always willing to be proven wrong,” he added to that with a grin. “Go to sleep, Yugi. I will turn down myself soon enough.”

Yugi was asleep quickly and, taking the candle, Joseph took himself to their father’s library. He did not have Mssr Moto’s quick intelligence, nor Rebecca’s wealth of learned knowledge. Not to say that his mind was ill sufficient, only that he often had to wrest with ideas for a good while before he came to a proper understanding of them. His study that evening was the events of the Tournament, not excluding the duels he had participated. There was much to be learned in wins and losses, the elderly Mister Moto often advised him, and not only in terms of Duel.

///

Five miles away, the Netherfield party were still awake, at card games and supper. “Hertfordshire is a quaint little country,” Madame Mahad was saying, contemplating her hand of cards while she waited for her turn. “They have no fashion and peculiar manners, but that’s to be expected in the country.”

“I found them all quite welcoming!” Mr Yami declared, throwing down a card to win the stack and drawing the pile toward him to add to his kitty. He placed another card to begin the round anew.

“You would,” Miss Yami said, laughing. “No doubt every dandy with an eye for a gentleman left the evening with their head full of you.”

Her brother was not so comforted by that answer, but Madame Mahad eagerly took it up. “Particularly those Bennets! Did you hear Mrs Bennet, Mana? Going on and on as if all her children were on the verge of becoming spinsters.”

“I did.” She turned eagerly to a silent Mr Kaiba, always eager to have his opinion on everything so she could make it her own. “What say you, Kaiba? What is your opinion of these Bennets?”

“Marriage is undoubtedly Mrs Bennet’s sole design,” he said, in a low, disinterested voice. “But her children were not so intolerably engaged. The younger two were as ignorant and occupied by gossip as their mother, but the others... well.”

“Miss Hawkins had much to say on the local histories,” Mr Mahad offered. “Her manner was uncomfortable, but she was well-read.”

“And Mssr Moto!” Mr Yami broached, eager. “He was delightful, and an excellent duellist.”

“You have made your opinions on the eldest child quite clear,” Mr Kaiba said, his tone not so entirely approving. “Not one person in the room held any attention of mine, nor any pastime to grant me pleasure. Mssr Moto plays well, that I will grant you, but he smiles too much.”

“Mssr Moto is a kind boy,” Miss Yami said, smiling. “Do you not think, Isis?”

“Indeed, Mana,” her sister replied. “I would not object to knowing him better.”

“If you would all kindly return your attention to the game,” Mr Kaiba said, bringing the line of conversation to a close.

The party did not stay down for much longer, and Mr Yami went to his rooms with his thoughts full of the first duellist whose skills could best him.

CHAPTER FIVE

Within a short walk from Longbourn leaved a family with whom the Bennets were particularly good friends. Dame Wilhelmina Taylor had been formerly in trade in Meryton, the most well-sought tailor in the county. However, after being knighted for her long service in the mayoralty of that town, she had retired with her lady wife and their children. The house, thereby after named Taylor Lodge, was less than one mile away from Longbourn.

Lady Taylor was a good, kind woman and was a very valuable neighbour to Mrs Bennet. They had several natural children. The eldest, a sensible, level-headed young dandy of about twenty-seven, was Joseph’s intimate friend.

That the Bennets and the Taylors should meet to talk over the tournament was a certainty. Mrs Bennet had laid out the tea things before the rowdy noise of them had been heard at the road.

“You began the evening well, Tristan,” said Mrs Bennet with a surprising lack of resentment, “you were Mr Yami’s first choice.”

“Yes,” Mssr Taylor replied, “but he seemed to like his second opponent better.”

“Oh, you mean Yugi, I suppose.” Here she gave her eldest child a warm, proud look. “Because he duelled with him thrice. Certainly it seemed as if he did admire it. I think I heard something say so to that effect.”

“Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr Weevil?” Joseph asked, fully aware that his mother had demanded the story several times and surely only wanted to gloat over the matter. “Mr Weevil asked him how he liked our Hertfordshire tournaments, and whether did he not thing there were a great many talented duellists in the room, and which he thought the best? And Mr Yami answered to the last question — “Oh! The eldest Bennet, Mssr Moto beyond a doubt. There cannot be two opinions on that!” Is that what you heard, Ma?”

“Upon my word!” Mrs Bennet said to that, not directly answering her second son’s question. “That is very decisive indeed. It does seem as if,” she gave a significant pause, “but, however, it may all come to nothing.”

“Mr Yami is certainly a very agreeable gentleman,” Mssr Taylor said, “much more so than his cousin. Poor Joey! To be snubbed by hum in such a way.”

“I would ask you not to put it into Joey’s head to take any notice of the scorn from a man such as him. He is so disagreeable it would be rather a misfortune to be liked by him! Mrs Long told me last night that he stood close to her for an entire duel without once opening his lips!”

“Are you quite sure, Mother?” Yugi asked. “I am certain I heard Mr Kaiba speaking to her. It was my duel they were watching, after all.”

“Yes,” Mrs Bennet said, vexed, “but only because she asked him how he liked Netherfield and he could not but help respond for propriety. I daresay he was very angry at being spoken to!”

“Miss Yami told me,” Yugi continued in a gentle, but unmoveable voice, “that he never speaks much except with his intimate acquaintances. With them he is remarkably agreeable.”

“I do not believe a word of it my dear,” Mrs Bennet said stubbornly, as equally unmoveable in her opinion as Yugi was in his. “Everybody says he is filled up with pride! If he had any good manners, he would have spoken to Mrs Long!”

“I do not mind his snubbing Mrs Long,” Mssr Taylor said, for no one really liked the elderly woman as much as Mrs Bennet. “But I wish he had duelled with Joey.”

“Another time, Joey,” Mrs Bennet said, giving Mssr Taylor a little glare. “I would not duel with him, if I were you.”

“I believe, Ma,” Joseph said, his eyes sparkling with good-humour, “I can easily promise never to duel him!”

“His pride,” said Dame Taylor, in an old and wise voice, “does not offend me so much as it does others. There is some excuse for it! Such a fine young man with family, fortune, everything right to him. It is no wonder he has some pride!”

“That’s true,” Joseph replied. “I could probably forgive his pride, if he were not determined to crush everyone else’s.”

“Pride,” observed Rebecca, speaking as if reading from some book, “is a very common failing. By all accounts, human nature is particularly prone to it. There are very few of us who do not think well of ourselves for one thing or another. Vanity and pride are different things, though they are often used together. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion or ourselves, while vanity is to what we would have others think of us.”

“If I were as rich as Mr Kaiba,” cried young Joshua Taylor, the youngest son of the Taylors, “I wouldn’t give one fig about how proud I was! I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine every day with the company of the prettiest women!”

“Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought,” Mrs Bennet said, quite offended by his speech. “And if I were to see you at it, I would take away your bottle immediately.”

The boy protested that she would not, she argued that she would, and the dispute ended only with the Taylors’ visit.

CHAPTER SIX

Mssr Moto and Mssr Wheeler soon visited on the two sisters at Netherfield. The visit was repaid quickly; and their friendship decided. Mssr Moto’s kind manner grew on Madame Mahad and Miss Yami. Though they continued to protest that the mother was intolerable, and the female children not worth talking to, a wish of being better acquainted with them was expressed toward the two sons. By Yugi, the honour was received with much gratitude and happiness. But Joseph still saw the shallowness of their attitudes, and the way they treated everyone - including at times his elder brother - and did not like them. He saw their kindness to Yugi as a result of the good opinion of their brother.

It was obvious, each time they met, that Mr Yami did indeed admire Mssr Moto. To Joseph, it was equally clear that his brother returned the affections of the gentleman, and was very much in love. He noted, however, that it was unlikely to be noticed by the world in general—for Yugi’s warm, cheerful behaviour would disguise the growing tenderness away from suspicious eyes.

He said as much to his friend Mssr Taylor, one day when they were walking together around the Taylor Lodge.

“It may be pleasant for you,” Tristan replied. “But it is a great disadvantage to be so guarded. If one conceals their affection with equal skill to the object of it, they may lose the opportunity of fixing them! Should Yugi be looked over because Mr Yami is equally in the dark, it will be no consolation that the world at large hasn’t noticed.”

“Mr Yami would be blind indeed not to notice Yugi’s affections!” Joseph said, not at all believing it.

“Say what you will, Joey. We can all begin love freely—a slight preference is natural enough. One sees it every day. But there are very few of us who have the heart to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, you should show more affection than you feel.”

“Ha!” Joseph said, grinning. “If this is about Serenity again...”

Tristan gave him an angry look. “Yami and Yugi meet often enough,” he said, directly not answering Joseph’s words. “But it is never for long hours, and they are always in large parties. Yugi should therefore make the most of every half hour in which he can keep his attention. When they are engaged, he will have leisure enough for falling as deep in love as he wishes.”

“Your plan is a clever one,” replied Joseph, smiling still. “If I were determined to get a rich husband—or any spouse at all—I should take it on to the letter. But it won’t do for Yugi. He is not mercenary in his feelings. Or even certain in those feelings being returned at all—for we barely know his character.”

“Well,” said Tristan, not at all convinced. “I wish Yugi all the success in love as he gains in card games. If they were married tomorrow, they have as good a chance at happiness as if they knew each other for their whole lives! Happiness in marriage has nothing to do with how two people are before their felicity. They always grow to become different versions of themselves anyway. It’s better to know as little as possible about the flaws of a character with whom you are to pass your life.”

Joseph gave a hearty laugh, and clapped his friend’s shoulder. “You make me laugh, Tristan. But you know it’s not so! You would never act in this way yourself.”

Tristan smiled, but Joseph could see that he was not happy with the younger dandy’s opinion.

///

As focused as Joseph was in watching Mr Yami and his brother, he was hardly aware enough to suspect that he himself was becoming an object of interest in the eyes of the gentleman’s cousin.

Mr Kaiba had at first refused to find anything worthy of attention toward the second Bennet son. At the tournament, he had looked at the dandy with perfect indifference. When they met next, at a dinner party held by the Weevils, he watched Joseph only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and to his family that he had nothing worthy of admiration, he began to find that Joseph’s countenance, though frequently made displeasing with a variety of expression, was remarkably handsome. This discover was followed by others even more mortifying. Though he had noted more than one failure in the aesthetic of his form, he was forced to acknowledge that his figure was slight but concealed strength beneath the delicateness of dandy fashion. In spite of his vocal offence at Joseph’s manners being unfit for proper society, he was caught by their easy playfulness.

Of all this, Joseph was perfectly unaware. To him, Mr Kaiba was only the gentleman who scorned all company he did not find worthy of his standards, and had thought him not skilled enough to bother to duel with.

Mr Kaiba began to wish to know more of him, and as a step toward conversing with Joseph himself, attended to the dandy’s conversations with others.

This however did not escape Joseph’s notice. At a large evening party, held by Dame Taylor, he murmured to his friend: “what does Mr Kaiba mean by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, Joey.” But Mssr Taylor was beginning to have his own suspicions on the matter.

“If he doesn’t stop I will say something to him about it!” Joseph insisted.

At that moment, Mr Kaiba began to approach, having finished attending to his cousin’s duel. Joseph gave his friend a look, then turned smartly to the gentleman. “Did you not think I expressed myself especially well just now when I was asking Dame Taylor to host a tournament?”

Mr Kaiba seemed a little startled at being directly addressed, but his response was not delayed in the slightest. “It is a topic that often incites a duellist to such levels of enthusiasm.”

Joseph smiled slightly. “Yourself excluded, sir?” He asked.

Mr Kaiba did not look entirely certain how to take that. “I do not demonstrate the same vivacity that Mssr Wheeler does when it comes to an eagerness for duel.”

The dandy’s smile only widened a little, eyes sparkling with mirth. “Is there anything that incites you to enthusiasm, Mr Kaiba?”

Mr Kaiba gave him a slight frown. “A great many things, monsieur. I merely do not expose myself in such a manner at the slightest mention of them.”

Joseph’s temper was sparked, he opened his mouth to retort, but Mssr Taylor touched his arm and he remembered himself. He frowned and closed his mouth, listening as his friend said: “it is your turn to be teased now, Joey. Mssr Moto has just finished his duel and you promised to play him at Backgammon tonight!”

Joseph bowed silently to Mr Kaiba and walked away with his friend, whispering furiously: “did you hear how rude he was to me?”

Tristan patted his arm as he sat Joseph down at the backgammon board. “Your own behaviour probably earned as much, Joey.”

Joseph didn’t have time to argue with his friend. His brother sat down to table, and together they played the game. Together they played two games—and won one each. Backgammon was the only game that Joseph could challenge his elder brother at. Although whether that was because he was skilled at the game, or that he had unparalleled luck with dice rolls was constantly in discussion.

After two games, he was forcibly displaced by his sister Rebecca, who was eager to challenge their brother for a game. Though Miss Hawkins and Mssr Wheeler rarely played against one another, the former did better at the game than her brother.

Miss Hawkins and Mssr Moto played three rounds, two of which the lady won, and would have gone on longer but the eldest Bennet child was drawn back to the Duel tables for another duel against Mr Yami.

Lady Taylor took pity on the slighted young lady and offered to be her antagonist, and was eagerly accepted. The party, however, congregated around the duel tables to watch Mr Yami and Mssr Moto play.

Mr Kaiba happened to be standing near Dame Taylor, who addressed him thusly: “what a charming entertainment of an evening. There’s is nothing better than games to bring company together.”

“Games are certainly an equalizer,” Mr Kaiba replied, his tone not entirely friendly. “Even a simpleton can learn to play a basic game.”

Dame Taylor either did not understand his tone, or merely chose to ignore it—of which he wasn’t certain. Turning back to the tables she said: “your cousin plays superbly. You are adept in the skill yourself, I dare say.”

“You saw me duel at the Tournament, I believe,” Mr Kaiba answered.

“Yes, I did,” she answered, nodding. “It was quite enjoyable to see such skills put to use. Do you often enter tournaments in town, sir?”

“Not often, no,” he replied. “I rarely duel unless I can find a challenging partner.”

“I had some designs,” she said, “of settling in town myself. But I don’t think the Domino air would agree with Lady Taylor.”

Mr Kaiba made no answer. At that moment, Mssr Wheeler came from observing the backgammon table, smiling such a glow of good humour that Mr Kaiba was quite caught by the sight. Dame Taylor noticed and called out to him, “my dear Joey! Why are you not duelling?” She turned to the gentleman. “Let me offer this young dandy as a partner, Mr Kaiba. He is not as skilled as his elder brother in the game, but he is always a pleasure to sit down with.”

Joseph drew back, a slight frown crossing his countenance. Mr Kaiba silently noted that the smile became his features much better, but the new look did not wholly detract from them.

“Excuse me,” he said politely to Dame Taylor, giving a slight formal bow—more gentlemanlike than the mixed bow-curtsey that most dandies employed. “I would have you not assume that I came this way looking for a partner.”

The gentlewoman attempted several times to get him to agree, but before long Joseph wandered away to find his friend, and Dame Taylor likewise bowed to Mr Kaiba and left him to his thoughts.

He was soon after accosted by Miss Yami, who smiled and said: “I can guess the subject of your contemplation, Mr Kaiba.” The gentleman was somewhat agitated to be distracted, but gave a polite look and asked her what she supposed. “You are thinking that an evening like this is excessively tiresome. Indeed, I find myself agreeing with you! The company, and the inferior society.”

“You are mistaken, Miss Yami,” he answered easily. “My thoughts were much more agreeably engaged.”

“Oh?” She said, her curiosity far outweighing her disappointment. “Do tell me then, Mr Kaiba.”

“I have been thinking,” he said calmly, “of the pleasure a pair of fine eyes can bestow in one’s face.”

Miss Yami was surprised and, eager, said: “you must tell me then, good sir, the name of whom has inspired this reflection!”

“Monsieur Joseph Wheeler.”

“Mssr Wheeler!” Miss Yami cried. “I am all astonishment! How long has he been a favourite?” Then, smiling, she teased him: “when am I to wish you both joy?”

Mr Kaiba turned his face away from her. “A lady’s imagination is very rapid. It jumps from admiration to marriage between one breath and another.”

“No, Mr Kaiba,” she teased. “If you truly admire him, I will consider the matter entirely settled! You will have an interesting family—and they will forever be waiting on you at Pemberley.”

He listened to her with a countenance of perfect indifference. Perceiving him to be as unaffected as she wished, she entertained herself in this manner for the rest of the night.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Mr Bennet’s estate consisted almost entirely of property amounting to two hundred thousand a year which, unfortunately for his children, was entailed in default of natural heirs on a distant relation. In consequence, though they had many fine children, one of whom could inherit in the eyes of the law, their home would be swept up from them upon their father’s death. Such was a major cause of Mrs Bennet’s anxieties. Her fortune, though adequate for her style of life, had not been enough to supplement his. She had little turn for economy, and through twenty years of marriage had not saved much to give to their legal children after the death of herself and her husband.

She had two siblings—an older sister Mrs Phillips, who had married one of her father’s clerks and settled in the nearby village of Meryton; and younger brother Mr Moto who owned a respectable game shop in Domino.

Though they did not often see their Uncle Moto, their visits to Mrs Phillips were much more frequent. The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton, and the five children were often tempted to walk there, though not equally often. Messrs Moto and Wheeler would sometimes go two or three times a week—to visit their aunt, or supplement their decks at their favourite game shop. Rebecca could be seen there decidedly less often, as dedicated to her study and accomplishments as she was. On the other hand, it was a rare day to see Mlle Gardiner and Miss Wheeler not walking into the village, to call on a milliner’s shop or exchange gossip with their aunt.

The two girls’ visits were now particularly fruitful, with the new training camp for the Sanction Guard opened up in the village. Every day they could glean from their aunt some new bit of information about the training guards, their names and connections. Before long, they were even introduced to some at the assistance of Mr Phillips.

Their incessant talk of nothing but guards was quite frustrating to Mr Bennet, whose scolding of them over breakfast one morning was interrupted by the arrival with a letter from Miss Yami for Yugi.

The servant who had delivered the letter waited for an answer, and was given a bit of bread and cheese in the kitchens. “Well, Yugi,” Mrs Bennet demanded eagerly, “what does it say?”

“Miss Yami invites me to dinner,” he answered, reading the letter with a pleased expression, “for the gentleman will be dining out, and she wishes for additional company for her and Madame Mahad.”

“Dining out?” Mrs Bennet asked fretfully. “No, that simply will not do.”

Yugi folded up the letter and sent the servant back with word that he would attend. “May I have the carriage, Mama?”

“Certainly not!” she replied, smiling. “For it is likely to rain. You must go on horseback, and then the Yamis will invite you to stay overnight!”

“Mother,” Joseph said, distempered. “They will more than likely send him home in their own carriage that way. You might as well save them the trouble and let Yugi go.”

“No, no.” Their mother was resolved. “You will ride.”

“I would really much rather go in the carriage,” Yugi said, as firmly as he dared to speak with his affectionate mother.

“But your father cannot spare the horses!” she cried, quite merrily. “They are wanted in the farm, are they not?”

“They are wanted in the farm far oftener than I am allowed to have them,” he responded, amused by his wife’s antics. “You had better obey your mother’s wishes, Yugi.”

As consequence of both his parents’ refusal, the eldest Bennet child was forced to make the five-mile journey to Netherfield atop a complacent, steady horse. Their mother’s scheming was answered: Yugi had not been gone five minutes before it began to rain very heavily. It did not let up all the night and Mrs Bennet was quite satisfied. That was, until a letter came the next morning from Yugi at Netherfield.

Addressed to Joseph, it read thus:

“MY DEAR JOEY,

I find myself very unwell this morning which, I suppose, can be attributed to my getting thoroughly soaked yesterday afternoon. My kind friends will not hear of my coming home until I am recovered. Tell our mother the news as best you can without causing alarm — for excepting a sore throat and a headache, there is nothing much else the matter with me.

Yours, etc.”

Joseph relayed the message to his parents over breakfast, but did not—as Yugi requested—attempt to soften the blow to his mother. He felt she quite deserved the full force of the news due to being the cause of Yugi’s distress.

She, however, was not particularly bothered by the news. “Such news! Now Yugi will have to stay even longer. They cannot in good conscience send him home until he is completely recovered—and that could take a full week, with any luck!”

“Well,” Mr Bennet said, “if Yugi is to die from a dangerous illness, you will be glad to know that it was in the pursuit of Mr Yami.”

“Oh, I’ve no fears of that! People do not die of little trifling colds. As long as he stays there, she will be very well taken care of—and in exactly the right position to receive the right attentions from Mr Yami! But, if I can have the carriage, I will go and make sure of the matter myself.”

Mr Bennet remarked, in her very same words the prior morning, that the horses were engaged and couldn’t be spared. Mrs Bennet was not put out, and went about her breakfast.

Joseph, however, was determined. “I will walk to Netherfield,” he declared, “and see for myself that Yugi is well.” His brother’s sweet disposition often meant that his own troubles were underplayed so as to not cause anyone undue distress.

“Nonsense!” Mrs Bennet cried. “How can you suggest such a thing? In all this mud, you will be unfit to be seen!”

“I will be fit enough to see my brother,” Joseph replied. He was quite indifferent to presenting himself in a supposedly bad light—Mr Yami, the only one of the house’s opinion he particularly cared for, would not be offended by his appearance in light of his devotion to his brother.

“Is this a hint to me to send for the horses, Joey?” Mr Bennet asked, more willing to provide them to his favourite child than for his wife’s nonsense.

“Not at all, father,” he responded. “I do not mind the walk. Five miles is nothing when you have determination. I will be back by supper, more than likely.”

“We will go to Meryton with you,” Téa said eagerly, speaking for herself and Serenity.

Jou quickly changed into a more practical attire for the walk and soon the three of them set out. Joseph left his two youngest sisters at Meryton and continued on alone across the fields and woods in the quickest route to Netherfield. He came upon the house, fresh with the exercise, if unfortunately splattered with mud on the white stockings exposed by his trou.

He was shown to the breakfast room, where most of the party were sat at table. They were quite startled by his sudden arrival. He was received, after a shocked pause, quite politely, and quickly shown up to his brother’s sick room.

In his absence, Miss Yami turned to her sister and whispered: “what a sight! To come upon a house, without invitation, in such a state!”

“Did you see his gentleman’s trousers?” Her sister replied. “Think of the scandal—a dandy, dressed on purpose on gentleman’s attire. What do you expect his playing at?”

“I would assume,” their brother said carefully, “that he found the voluminous material of a dandy’s trousers too cumbersome for the long walk.”

The two sisters wisely decided against further censures, at least while in his presence. Going up to Mssr Moto’s sick room, they paid careful attention of the patient, and showed warm politeness to the younger Bennet.

Mssr Wheeler did not quit the room, attending to his brother with singular devotion, and assisting the apothecary who came to examine him. Mssr Moto was declared much too ill to be moved, and was promised a speedy draught to settle the fever and numb the headache.

At three, Joseph reluctantly declared it was best he left. The sisters prepared to order the carriage but, seeing Yugi’s distress, were obliged instead to offer him hospitality for the night. Joseph gratefully accepted, and a servant was sent to Longbourn to acquaint the family with the news and bring back “some more suitable attire, hm?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dinner at Netherfield was an uncomfortable affair for Mssr Wheeler. He sat by Mister Mahad, who was stoic and showed almost no expression. Miss Yami was paying meticulous and—Joseph could perceive—rather unwanted attentions to Mr Kaiba. Madam Mahad was in discussions with her brother—but Mr Yami spared some time to enquire from Joseph about the wellbeing of Mssr Moto. He could not, however, answer favourably. The gentleman’s anxieties on the matter gave Joseph a little solace, and the attentions from the gentleman—though understandably somewhat scarce—made him feel welcome at the table.

He returned upstairs after dinner to attend to Yugi. In his absence, while their brother and Mr Mahad were occupied at duel, the two sisters immediately began to abuse her as they had wished to do that morning.

“What bad company he is!” Miss Yami declared. “He has no fashion, nor turn for conversation, certainly no beauty. His skills at duel are deplorable at best—did you see at the tournament? He lost to Mr Moto in less than ten turns!”

“That’s hardly fair, Mana,” their brother scolded her, looking up from his hand. “Mr Moto is a particularly skilled duellist. It does not lessen his abilities to have lost to him.”

The youngest sibling continued on, unaffected by his censure. “He has nothing to recommend him, so it seems, than being an excellent walker!”

“I will never forget his appearance this morning,” Madam Mahad agreed, “he looked like a pig farmer!”

“I have never seen a pig farmer so well-dressed,” her husband contributed, with no expression at all on his face.

“I could hardly keep my manners, Isis,” Miss Yami said, drawing the attention of her sister back unto herself. “I can hardly see why he would come at all! How senseless. Why should he slog through the mud like a badly behaved dog simply because his brother was a little poorly? And his hair! It almost looked uncombed with how windswept it appeared. Why he should think it proper to come out without a hat, I do not know. And his stockings!”

“His stockings!” Madam Mahad agreed, her face twisting up into a disgusted moue. “I hope you saw his stockings—utterly blackened by mud, when they should have been covered up by a proper dandy’s trou.”

“It was all lost on me,” Mr Yami said. “I thought Monsieur Joseph Wheeler looked remarkably well this morning. I for one noticed nothing of dirty socks!”

“You noticed, I’m sure, Mr Kaiba,” Miss Yami said, turning to the gentleman who was stood nearby silently observing the game.

“His stockings were mud-stained, it is a fact,” he said, rather unremarkably.

“I daresay you wouldn’t want your brother wandering about in such a state.”

“Certainly not,” Mr Kaiba answered, unmoved by the comment. “But he is quite a bit younger than Mssr Wheeler, and I take care he not put himself in a situation where he might be harmed or discomposed. His governess takes charge of accompanying him around out of doors.”

“That he should wander around, up to his ankles in mud, quite alone, dressed so improperly. What could he mean by it? It shows an abominable sort of conceited independence, and a country-born indifference to decorum.”

“It shows an affection for his brother that is commendable,” Mr Yami said, a warning sort of tone in his voice.

While her elder sister began to compare the sweet manners of Mssr Moto, to those of Mssr Joseph, Miss Yami leaned in to Mr Kaiba and whispered. “I daresay this adventure has sullied your admiration of his fine eyes.”

“Not at all,” Mr Kaiba said, his tone as unaffected as ever, “they were brightened by the exercise.” He turned then, and bowed toward the door.

The two sisters were silenced on the subject by the arrival of the very one they had been abusing, now better dressed for an evening. He returned the bows of the gentleman, and the polite incline of Madam Mahad’s head, with a dandy’s curtsey.

“Come join us, Monsieur Wheeler,” Mr Yami said kindly. “How is your brother?”

“He is much the same, I am afraid,” he responded regretfully. “But he has just gone to sleep.”

“Then you must sit with us and try to ease your mind of worry’s burden. I am just about finished with Mahad, and then you may face me in a duel.”

Joseph bobbed again, thanked him, but replied that he had not brought his deck—and that he would content himself with observing a game.

The gentleman immediately offered to have it sent for, but this too was politely declined. Instead, he offered to have any of his other games fetched for the dandy’s entertainment. “Would that I had more to offer you,” he said. “For your sakes now, and my own in general. I enjoy gaming very much, but I hardly have the time it seems to search for something new.”

Joseph smiled. “Don’t censure yourself for my sake, Mr Yami. I promise that I am perfectly content observing the duel.”

“Pemberley houses some of the finest game sets I’ve seen,” Miss Yami said, turning to the gentleman beside her. “I daresay you should be most proud of your collection, Mr Kaiba.”

“It ought to be,” he replied, “it has been the work of many generations.”

“And you have added to it considerably yourself. Why, I do recall that fine chess set you purchased just this summer in Beachton. You know the one—with the ruby and diamond pieces.”

“I recall,” he answered, though seemingly not knowing why she was referring to it.

“I’m sure you,” she said directly to Mssr Wheeler, who had since turned his attention back to the game, “have never seen one its like. It is so fine...”

“Perhaps not,” Joseph replied carefully, disliking her tone. “But I have seen a great number of fine sets.”

“Do you play?” She asked with some surprise.

“Not well,” he answered, smiling with perfect ease. “I am far too easily outwitted from my simple strategies.”

“Well, I do not find myself surprised,” she replied unkindly, “for you fare much better where luck is on your side and your mental taxation is not required.” Joseph inclined his head and made her no answer. “Where, then, did you have such an opportunity to observe such a fine set? Accompanying your brother to a tournament, perhaps.”

“No, my lady,” he replied. “Yugi does not particularly enjoy Chess as a game. I was speaking of my Uncle’s shop in Domino. He sells many games, and often has something particularly fine to display in his window.”

“Your uncle is... a shop-keeper?” Madam Mahad asked, a note of disgust in her voice that was not at all disguised.

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, his offence clear. “And was once the kingdom champion of Duel.” He turned to Miss Yami, angry pride shining in his eyes. “And he is very adept at Chess as well, my lady.”

She did not even attempt to feign interest. “Mokuba plays so well,” she said, turning once more to Mr Kaiba. “Has he yet won a tournament?”

“Not as of yet,” Mr Kaiba replied. There was a particular smile on his face at the mention of his brother that quite distracted Joseph from his offense. The look became already handsome features in quite an unexpected way. “But only because I have not allowed him to participate. He is still quite young.”

“Has he much grown since the summer?” She asked. “Will he be as tall as you?”

“I should say so,” Mr Kaiba answered. “He is yet now Mssr Moto’s height, if a little taller.”

“How I long to see him again,” she said, with eager platitude to the gentleman. “I never met with anyone who delighted me so much. So fine, and well mannered, and accomplished for his age! I daresay I never knew anyone who plays the proper board games as well as he does when they were but fifteen.”

“Mokuba,” Mr Yami explained quietly to Joseph’s bewildered expression, “is my cousin, Mr Kaiba’s young brother and ward. My sisters are very fond of him.”

Mssr Wheeler nodded, and watched the duel until its completion. After which, he bid them all goodnight and returned to his brother’s room.

“A duel monsters champion!” Madam Mahad laughed, in disbelief. “Some shopkeeper in town? I daren’t believe it! I have never heard of such a thing. There are no Bennets or Wheelers on the Champions Lists.”

“Perhaps,” Mahad said quietly, “he refers to Mister Solomon Moto. He was very adept at Duel in his youth, and I have heard some rumours that following his first defeat he surrendered his deck and opened a shop.”

“Champion Moto?” Mr Kaiba asked in disbelief. “Who won the fourth Blue Eyes from Professor Hawkins thirty years ago?”

“His brother is called Moto,” Mr Yami pointed out. “Perhaps it was not just a naming at an orphanage.”

“If it is all the same to you,” Mr Kaiba said shortly. “I will excuse myself before any further discussions on the matter of naming and orphanages continues.” With a bow, he left the room. His thoughts were dark, but once the shadow passed, they returned to Mssr Wheeler, and how his anger had beset his features almost as well as his laughter.

CHAPTER NINE

Joseph spent the chief of his night in Yugi’s room, tending to him in a slight fever. It was not enough to cause him enough alarm to wake Mr Yami and request a physician be sent for. Though he was much relieved, shortly before dawn, to note Yugi’s fever breaking and him drifting into a natural sleep.

He was glad to be able to send the good news to Mr Yami’s enquiries through a housemaid shortly after the house woke. The two sisters visited the sick dandy before dressing and were glad to hear of Yugi in better health. When the elder dandy woke, they spoke with him a little before excusing themselves.

In light of the good news, he requested a note to be delivered to Longbourn to acquaint their mother with Yugi’s improved condition and ask her to survey the situation herself. Mr Yami eagerly complied, though his sisters may have wished to say something to the second motive.

Mrs Bennet, accompanied by her other three daughters, arrived after breakfast. Having found Yugi in a state of health to cause no sort of alarm, she was content to wish him a slow recovery in hopes of keeping him at Netherfield for a while longer. Joseph was mortified to hear it, but wisely said nothing.

To Yugi’s request of being carried home, he received firm denial. Both from his mother, and the apothecary who arrived a few minutes into his mother’s examination. The two youngest daughters bothered Joseph eagerly with demands to know about the hospitality he received, and if their dinners were as fine as they were rumoured to be. He avoided their questions as best he could and was much relieved when Miss Yami appeared and politely invited them to take tea with her in the parlour.

Mr Yami met them there, and said to Mrs Bennet: “I hope you do not find Mssr Moto in a state much worse than you expected.”

“Indeed I do, Mr Yami,” she said, feigning distress. “He is much too ill to be moved. I’m afraid we must trespass on your hospitality a while longer.”

“Removed!” Mr Yami cried, distressed. “Oh no, he must not be moved. It could cause a terrible relapse. It must not be thought of. My sisters, I’m sure, will not hear of it.”

“You may depend on it, madam,” she said with cold civility. “That Mssr Moto will receive every possible attention while in our care. Better perhaps than can be afforded to him in your house.”

The snide comment went over Mrs Bennet’s head. “It is difficult to give attentions to the ill when one must control one’s many children. I am glad you are so attentive to his care, Miss Yami.” She smiled. “I will take Joseph back with me, so there is no additional strain on your household.”

“Nonsense,” Mr Yami said, smiling. “Mssr Wheeler must stay as well. He has been an excellent nurse for his brother.”

“I assure you,” his sister said, “that one more is no strain on our hospitality.” Although she would have rather liked to get rid of the younger dandy, now that her brother had insisted there was really nothing to be done.

“I am glad you like him so well, Miss Yami. He is a sweet boy, with the best disposition. I often tell my other children that they are nothing to him.”

Joseph flushed in angry embarrassment and said nothing.

“What a charming room you have here, Mr Yami. I do not know a more beautiful house in the neighbourhood than Netherfield. I do hope you intend to stay.”

“All of our friends follow the social seasons,” Miss Yami answered, “as all the fashionable people do.”

“I think that the constant movement from place to place shows a very shallow character for fashionable society,” Joseph replied. “Do all fashionable people hate each other and wish to escape one another as often as possible?”

“Joey!” Mrs Bennet barked. “Remember where you are and whose guest you are.”

He shrugged, and would not be scolded out of his opinion. “If a person can’t make themselves happy in one place with the same group of people, it demonstrates a weak character.”

“That is exactly the sort of exclusionary attitude I find amongst many country residents,” Mr Kaiba said. “In a country lifestyle you do not have the same variety of experiences as travellers.”

“I can assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as there is in town!” Mrs Bennet replied angrily. “I cannot see that London or Beachton have any advantage over the country, other than the shops and public tournaments. The country is a vast deal more pleasant, is it not Mr Yami?”

The gentleman seemed rather uncomfortable at being so addressed. “They both have their advantages,” he said with quick composure. “It is one’s disposition that makes them prefer one style over the other.”

Rebecca addressed the room then, with a quote she had memorized some time earlier. “Restless hearts will follow the well-trodden paths of town to tire them, but weary hearts will retire to the country for rest.”

“Quite succinct!” Miss Yami said. “If a little dreary.”

“Do you not like poetry, Miss Yami?” Mrs Bennet asked with some surprise.

“On the contrary, madam,” the young lady returned. “I am very well versed in all the great poets.”

Joseph couldn’t keep his composure to quieten his laugh. “The ‘great’ poets,” he said distastefully. “All the love poems considered great are nothing but a poet’s attempts to flatter themselves for being great lovers, or more importantly great poets.”

A startled silence overcame the room, and it was Mr Kaiba who spoke quickly. “I am more used to hearing to hearing poetry as an ageless expression of love,” he said.

Joseph merely smiled. “I should lend you a book, Mr Kaiba, that would explain the matter much more eloquently than I can manage.”

The gentleman bowed. “If you tell me the title, I will endeavour to add it to my collection.”

Joseph gave him an offended look. “If you think to borrow a book from my father’s collection would be unsupportable.” He turned away, and asked his family whether Mssr Taylor had come to visit.

“Yes, he called yesterday with his mother,” Mrs Bennet replied.

“Did he stay for dinner?” Joseph asked.

“No. He was wanted in the kitchen, I dare expect,” the woman said. She turned to Mr Yami. “For my part, Mr Yami, I always keep servants that can do their own work. My children are brought up in a higher way. But the Taylors are a very good sort of family.”

“Indeed, I find them very amiable.”

There was a pause, after which Miss Yami thanked them for their visit and said in the politest way possible that they ought to go home. The carriage was ordered and, during this wait, the gentlewoman daughter put herself forward to address the head of the house.

“If you will remember, Mr Yami,” she said, “that you promised to hold a tournament here at Netherfield once you were quite settled. I do hope you intend to stay a man of your word.”

Joseph felt all the embarrassment of her impolite machinations, but said nothing. Thankfully, Mr Yami answered it with warm cordiality. “I have not forgotten. When your brother has recovered, you shall name the very day. It would not be proper of course, to see him excluded from such an event.”

“No indeed,” she said, smiling. She bowed to him in a gentlewoman’s fashion, and returned to Miss Wheeler’s side to whisper with the young girl.

The other Bennets left shortly afterward, and Joseph instantly returned to his brother’s room to attend to him. Over luncheon, Miss Yami gleefully told Madame Mahad all about the embarrassment of the morning, and the two of them thoroughly enjoyed laughs at the expense of their friend’s relations. Mr Kaiba could not be enticed to join them in their censure, despite all her witticisms on fine eyes.

CHAPTER TEN

That evening, Mssr Wheeler once more joined the family in the drawing room. Tonight was Mr Yami and his sister at Duel, with the husband observing with all his usual silence. Joseph picked up a deck of standard playing cards and sat down to a solitaire game, but was principally occupied with watching what passed between Mr Kaiba and his loyal admirer.

The gentleman was writing, and Miss Yami beside him was frequently attempting to regain his attention with little success. Their conversation went like this:

“How delighted Mokuba will be to receive such a letter,” she said.

Mr Kaiba made no answer.

“You write uncommonly fast.”

“You are mistaken. I write at a perfectly average rate.”

“What letters you must have an occasion to write—and letters of business too, how odious I should find them.”

“It is lucky, then, that you have chosen the life of a lady and not a gentlewoman.”

“I beg you, tell your brother how I long to see him.”

“I have already done once so, by your request.”

“Do you always write such charming long letters to him?”

“They are generally long. I dare say he would not often call them ‘charming’.”

“No, they must be. Anyone who can write with ease cannot write ill!”

The duologue was interrupted then by Mr Yami, who laughed and declared: “That won’t do, Mana! For our cousin does not write at ease! It is yet another kind of social interaction, and we all know how he despises those.”

Mr Kaiba said nothing but Miss Yami, offended on behalf of the other, answered: “well you are hardly permitted to talk on the matter, brother! Your letters are atrocious. You skip half your words and smudge out all the rest.”

“My thoughts flow so rapidly that my pen cannot keep up,” Mr Yami said, not at all offended. Mssr Wheeler got the sense that this was a conversation oft repeated between the group.

“You allow your excitement to overcome your composure too often, cousin,” Mr Kaiba said. “That is no very admirable trait.”

Mssr Wheeler was somewhat surprised, and had made a quizzical noise before he was aware of himself. The eyes of the room turned on him at that.

He found himself arrested by the piercing blue eyes of Mr Kaiba. “You disagree, Monsieur?”

“I should say so. If I understand you correctly.” He maintained the stare, unwilling to be the first to look away. “Do you mean to say that a gentleman is not afforded the right to enthusiasm?”

“No, not as such,” the gentleman replied. “I was speaking of particular cases when the ecstatic effusions of an unrestrained character inconvenience those around oneself.”

“Quite right!” Miss Yami declared, attempting to break the exclusive nature of their conversation. She succeeded as much as getting Mr Kaiba to glance at her for clarification. “Those of superior society must always keep themselves in composure. It is a matter of their good breeding. Those who let themselves get away with their emotions at any moment are not to be admired.”

“Miss Yami demonstrates a succinct opinion,” Mr Kaiba replied, looking back to the dandy with whom he was principally conversing. “The upper classes cannot present themselves in so unrestrained a manner.”

He hummed. “Do you lend nothing then, sir, to one’s overwhelming passions?”

“I cannot see a situation wherein a man’s passion should overcome his common sense.”

Joseph, quite waylaid by a thought that occurred at the gentleman’s tone during their conversation, smiled slightly. “Do you believe in love, Mr Kaiba?”

Miss Yami looked offended to even hear the question spoken aloud.

Mr Kaiba’s countenance however, was carefully guarded. “I cannot see how a question like that would be pertinent, Mssr Wheeler.”

“You need not answer,” Joseph replied, still smiling. “But I am trying to make out your character. It seemed particularly relevant, given the conversation.”

“Love,” Miss Yami insisted, “is the natural state of every person. All books and history have this to say on the matter!”

Mr Kaiba gave a slight cringe at the lady’s words and turned his face away from her. “There are...certain dispositions, I believe, that are more inclined to the inflictions of the heart.”

“Oh, certainly!” Joseph answered heartily.

“While affections of the kind are known to exist in society,” Mr Kaiba continued, his tone careful, “love as it exists in the great poems of time would certainly be scarce to find today.”

Joseph remembered, what he had said that morning, regarding poetry, and bowed his head, a smile beginning anew.

“What a singular opinion,” Miss Yami said, her countenance quite disturbed.

“Do you not,” he asked carefully of the gentleman, “advocate marrying for love?”

“Of that matter, I will not give an opinion,” Mr Kaiba replied. “Marriages are undertaken for many reasons.”

“I think it important,” Joseph said, “that a man must know what it is he desires. Should he wish to marry for fortune or convenience, he must find one who is aligned with his own wishes in this matter. The difficulty comes when one employs arts to attain the love of their chosen when their motives are of the other kind.”

Mr Kaiba regarded him silently for a long moment, his countenance undecipherable. Miss Yami was flushed, and stood. “I think we should have music. Isis, you will not mind playing while you duel?”

Madame Mahad made no objection, and Miss Yami moved to the piano. She quickly began a lively tune. Her wish of catching Mr Kaiba’s attention with her exhibition was not granted. He merely moved closer to Mssr Wheeler so that their conversation could continue despite the music.

“The balance of those who wish to marry for love and fortune is unequal among the classes,” he declared. “Those with small fortune are more likely to employ arts to ensnare those of large fortune.”

Joseph gave him a sharp look and turned away, pretending to watch Miss Yami. “There you and I must disagree,” he answered coldly. “It is the rich, I observe, that seek to increase their fortunes by marriage, and are willing to make themselves pleasing to serve their own purpose.” His pretence of watching the lady play could not last, however, and quickly he was turning back to look at Mr Kaiba directly and readdress his opinion. “It is those of small or no fortune that learn to economise, who would not be lessened by a marriage without money. I disagree with you, sir! It is the very rich who more often employ arts!”

“I will not offend you,” Mr Kaiba said, in a tone that told Joseph he could not care less about offending the him, “by asking you to provide evidence of your claims. I do not believe your capacity will allow for such a demand. I will merely dispute to agree with you on principle and end the argument thus!”

Joseph very carefully curtailed his anger, giving Mr Kaiba an angry look. “Very well,” he said, his teeth gritted.

The silence that followed was charged with mutual anger and dissatisfaction.

For some minutes, Mr Kaiba observed Mr Yami and Madame Mahad’s game of duel. Without warning, as if incited by some internal force, he turned back to Joseph and said. “The other points you have made,” he said, his tone cool, “I applaud as sound. A man must know his desires, and he must not deceive others about what they are.”

Joseph knew not how to speak with Mr Kaiba agreeing with him, and said nothing.

“Not only in matters of marriage and such,” the gentleman continued, not in the least dissuaded by his silence, “but in all matters of his life.”

“You recommend displaying one’s desires openly?” Mssr Wheeler asked, overcome with disbelief. He could not believe that Mr Kaiba, of all people, was recommending open candour.

“No,” he said, somewhat uncomfortable. “I said nothing of concealment. Certainly there are situations and topics which ought not be made public knowledge. There are degrees of intimacy, in which parts of the necessary secrecy can begin to be uncovered.”

“A person who does not understand their desires does not understand themselves. To know what one wants is to know what one is. A person who conceals their true self is a liar. I,” Joseph said boldly, “have never endeavoured to conceal anything of what I am. What I think and feel is freely given to those who dare to ask!”

Mr Kaiba gave him another peculiar look that Joseph knew not how to read.

“There are some,” Miss Yami said, having returned from the piano, “who would call that ill-breeding.”

“And there are others,” Joseph replied, tired of her superiority, “who would call it honesty.”

Shortly thereafter, Mssr Wheeler excused himself to attend to his brother. Though Miss Yami tried to goad Mr Kaiba into agreeing with her about the proof of Mssr Wheeler’s inferiority, Mr Kaiba would not answer her. He sat in silence for some time, looking at his cousins’ duel but not observing it.

///

The next morning, as Miss Yami was walking through the gardens on Mr Kaiba’s arm, she teased him anew about his hypothetical marriage to Mssr Wheeler.

“I hope,” she said, “that when the desirable event has taken place, you undertake to improve your dandy’s relations. Mrs Bennet ought to be told the advantage of holding her tongue among superior company. The younger girls, I think, you must cure of their incessant habit of chasing after Sanction Guards. Even your dandy could use a firm hand, in restraining that trait bordering on impertinence and conceit.”

“Have you anything else,” Mr Kaiba asked in a dry voice, “to propose for my domestic felicity?”

“Do have the portraits of your aunt and uncle Phillips hung in the gallery next to your cousin, the Justice. They are in the same profession you know, if only in a far lesser capacity.” She smiled coldly. “And as for your Joseph’s picture... you must not attempt to have one taken. After all, what painter could do justice to such fine eyes?”

“It would be difficult indeed to capture their expression,” Mr Kaiba responded. “But their colour, and shape, and his smile. Those certainly would be well-represented by any painter with a true appreciation for beauty.”

Miss Yami was too astonished to make an answer to that before they were suddenly come upon Madame Mahad and Mssr Wheeler himself coming from another path. She frowned. “I did not know you intended to walk out,” she said, with some agitation. She hoped they hadn’t been overheard!

“You used us ill,” Madame Mahad declared tempestuously, “for coming out without telling us!” Then she immediately took Mr Kaiba’s free arm, leaving Joseph out of their party.

Somewhat disturbed by their machinations, Mr Kaiba said: “this walk is not wide enough for our party, we’d better go into the avenue.”

But Joseph only laughed. “No, don’t. You look much better as three than four!” He smiled. “I’m sure you all have things to discuss. Unwanted houseguests perhaps.”

Then, eyes sparkling with mischief and humour, he headed off into the rose garden, which he much preferred the prospect of anyway. He was in good spirits, for Yugi had improved so much he felt himself well to join them in the evening. The news, in addition to relief at his brother’s condition, afforded him the knowledge that it would not be long until they would be home again at Longbourn and away from company that so clearly despised him.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

After dinner, Joseph hurried up to prepare Yugi to join them downstairs for the evening’s entertainments. The dandy was still weak from illness, but eager to have some company outside the room after days concealed inside his sick room. The sisters were in the drawing room, and they seemed genuinely happy to see Yugi in better health. Joseph was much more inclined to think them amiable when he observed the way they attended to his brother. He reminded himself, however, that it was as shallow and deceitful as the sisters themselves. A person who picked and chose who they chose to be amiable to was simply another kind of liar.

His point was proven when the gentlemen returned from the other room and Miss Yami instantly dropped her attention to friend in favour of addressing Mr Kaiba before he had walked more than three paces into the room.

The gentleman in question did not answer her except for a bow and then turned his attention to Mssr Moto, wishing him well and noting that he seemed much better improved. Mr Mahad echoed the sentiments with a slight change of countenance, then hurried to move away. It was Mr Yami, naturally, whose profusions were most pleasing to Mssr Wheeler’s notice. He was warm and genuine with his pleasure at seeing Mssr Moto well improved, hoped to see him fully recovered within the next few days, and promised to do whatever was in his power to assist him. Having expressed his sentiments toward the dandy’s health, he then moved to a seat by the fire and converse with him for almost all the evening.

Madame Mahad sat with them, attention divided between attending to their conversation and restructuring her deck with some new additions fetched earlier that day. Her husband attempted to encourage the room to Duel, but found even his open petition denied. Mr Kaiba was reading a book, with Miss Yami beside him—though she was not so much reading as constantly enquiring after the gentleman’s progress through his own book. Mssr Wheeler contented himself with browsing the new card-lists, daydreaming about what cards he could add to his strategies if only he could afford them.

He was brought out of his contemplations by Miss Yami calling his name. “My lady?”

She appeared to be walking about the room. “Let me urge you to follow my example and take a turn about the room. It is indeed refreshing after being so sedimentary for an evening.”

He could think of no reason to deny her, so he closed the magazine and stood. She linked their arms and had only made one circuit of the room before she was calling out to Mr Kaiba. “Sir, you watch us. Do you wish to join us on our sojourn?”

Mssr Wheeler had not even noticed the gentleman’s attentions, and turned his eyes slightly to look. Indeed, he quickly met the blue eyes of Mr Kaiba and did not look away until they had turned around a little table and gone the other way.

“No, my lady,” Mr Kaiba answered Miss Yami’s question. “You can have only two motives for such activity. Either you have secret matters to discuss, or you are conscious that your figures look to their best advantage while walking.” When Mssr Wheeler glanced over his shoulder, he saw the gentleman smirking. “If the first, I would only get in your way. If the second...well, I can admire you much better from my seat.”

“Shocking!” Joseph exclaimed, quite startled. He was unused to being an object of admiration, and that it should come from this gentleman was even stranger. Yet, Miss Yami’s arm did not release his and he was forced to continue the turn of the room.

As they passed Mr Yami and Mssr Moto, the sister overheard the topic of a tournament and recalled the previous day’s conversation. “By the way, Atem,” she said, “were you quite serious about holding a tournament at Netherfield?”

“I see no harm in the matter, Mana. It seems an excellent undertaking. Think you not, Mssr Moto?”

Yugi smiled and inclined his head, but did not seem energetic enough to make a proper answer.

“Well, I would advise you, before you begin writing out the invitations, to consult the wishes of the present party. There are some here who would think such a thing in our home would be more punishment than pleasure.”

“If you mean Kaiba,” answered her brother, “then he may go to bed before it begins. Not that I suppose you will, cousin. You have such duellist’s pride—would you be able to withstand sitting out at our own tournament?”

“I give you no dissuasions for the event, cousin,” Kaiba replied, not looking up from his book. “Private tournaments are much more tolerable than public ones.”

“There you are, Mana!” Mr Yami declared. “We have even Kaiba’s approval of the matter. It is thoroughly decided.”

“I should like tournaments much better,” she said rather petulantly—for she was not a duellist herself, “if conversation rather than gaming were made the order of the day.”

“Much more rational, cousin,” Mr Kaiba answered dryly, “but rather less like a tournament.”

Mr Yami had already returned his conversation to Mssr Moto, and at long last Miss Yami released her walking companion’s arm and sat beside Mr Kaiba again. Joseph took up the magazine of card-lists again and sat to look through again.

“Monsieur Wheeler has the right idea,” Mr Mahad declared. “To supplement his deck with the latest cards for an advantage over the other duellists.”

“Oh,” Joseph responded, surprised. “It hardly matters to me whether I have better cards to surprise my opponents. It is a game after all, and I intend to enjoy it.”

Mr Mahad bowed and said nothing, only began to ask Mr Yami how long until the tournament—and whether they would have time to order new cards from Domino?

His speech, however, had caught another gentleman’s attention. Mr Kaiba closed his book and looked at Mssr Wheeler intently. “You share not your brother’s pride for the game?”

“Indeed not,” the younger brother answered. “Pride is far too much like vanity,” he continued, “and we all must guard ourselves from such weaknesses.”

“Vanity is a weakness indeed,” the gentleman replied. “But pride... Where there is a real superiority, pride will always be under good regulation.”

Joseph could not help but smile. “You do not then, Mr Kaiba, regard your own pride as a fault?”

“Certainly not. I have earned my pride. Why ought I be ashamed of it?” The gentleman was genuinely curious, but was careful to conceal it behind a mask of composure.

“You have never been conscious then, good sir, of your pride having caused offence to another person?” He asked.

“Anybody whose pride is too weak to withstand the presentation of my own is not worth facing at all!”

“Well then,” Joseph said, smiling still. “Perhaps you are much better off keeping your entertainment by playing solitaire.”

Mr Kaiba was so startled by the dandy’s recollection of his own words at the last tournament that he had attended that he could not make an answer.

He was silent, but Miss Yami was not so content to let the affront stand. “Have you finished then,” she asked, “attempting to pick out our cousin’s faults?”

“Oh certainly,” Joseph said with a laugh. “If Mr Kaiba’s pride is not a failing, then he must regard himself as without flaw.”

“I would ask you not to apply opinions to me that I have never expressed,” Mr Kaiba said impatiently. “I have never made such a pretension. No being is without fault. I certainly do not regard my pride as one.”

“Then you must have one you are conscious of,” Joseph answered, now curious.

“If I were to speak of one now, it must be my temper. It is, I believe, too little yielding for the convenience of society. My emotions are not puffed about with every art employed to move them. I cannot forget offences to myself or my family, nor do I care to forgive them.”

“That is a failing indeed,” Joseph answered, regarding him. “One I might attribute to your pride.” He laughed heartily and settled, opening the card list again. He hardly knew when he had closed it.

“And you, Monsieur?” Mr Kaiba asked. “What have you to say for your pride?”

“Only this,” the dandy replied, not looking at him. “I care not much for it. If it were to help someone important to me, I would crawl through mud to assist them.”

“Yes,” Miss Yami said, smirking. “We have already seen your willingness to cross mud to assist your family.”

“And I have no shame for it,” he responded. Setting aside the card-list, he attended a fatigued Yugi back up to his bedroom.

Mr Kaiba was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Joseph too much attention.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The brothers agreed that the next morning, Joseph ought to write to their mother and request the carriage be sent to bring them home. Mrs Bennet, who had always planned Yugi to stay at Netherfield for a full week, answered that it could not possibly be spared until Tuesday afternoon. Against staying longer, the younger brother was absolutely resolved. It was then decided that the Yamis should be applied to lend them a carriage for the journey home.

The request was met with many professions of concern. The master of the house was particularly concerned and insisted that Yugi was not well enough to travel. Smiling, the dandy quietened his fears. Between the three siblings, however, enough was said to convince Yugi that he must stay one more night and travel the next morning. The agreement was made and, though disappointed by the delay, Joseph was pleased to have a time fixed for their return home. He felt keenly, from all but the brother. that he had overstayed his welcome.

Miss Yami was soon sorry she had suggested the delay. For her affection for one brother was far outweighed by her jealousy and dislike of the other. To Mr Kaiba, the news of their leaving was welcomed with relief: Mssr Wheeler had been at Netherfield for far too long and he was glad to hear that the dandy would go. Mssr Wheeler attracted him more than he liked, and every moment he spent with them only put him in the way of the dandy’s influence.

His last day, then, was spent ignoring Mssr Wheeler as best as his mind—growing with partiality to the dandy—could be distracted. His silence toward the guest also had the advantage of neatly curtailing Miss Yami’s agitating teases about his preference for Mssr Wheeler, and the future happiness he could expect to have with such a husband. When he found himself alone with Joseph for almost two whole hours during the morning, he paid close attention to his book and would not speak a word to the dandy.

At last, Sunday morning after the Sanction notices, the two Bennets prepared to depart from Netherfield. With the expectation of his departure, Miss Yami’s manners towards Joseph were much improved. Mr Yami seemed unable to conceal his disappointment at their leaving, and made many pretty invitations for them both to visit Netherfield often. (Mr Kaiba had contrived to engage in some business with Mr Mahad and could not possibly remove himself to give them any parting ceremonies.)

As the fine carriage pulled away from the very grand house, Joseph could feel nothing but relief. Their return to Longbourn was not taken as favourably as he had hoped, but it was still better treatment than he expected to receive while remaining at Netherfield one day longer.

Their mother did not receive them kindly, and scolded them for inconveniencing Mr Yami when their own carriage could have been spared in two more days. Their father was never very enthusiastic, but he did comment to Joseph that he was glad to have him home. They found Rebecca, as she was often, at study of some heavy tome that gave Joseph a headache just to look at. Téa and Serenity shared all the gossip they had gleaned from Meryton and the new Sanction Guard training academy.

It was, Joseph felt keenly, the peace of returning home.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I hope, my dear, that you have ordered a good dinner for today,” Mr Bennet said quite suddenly over breakfast. “I have reason to expect one more to our family party.”

Mrs Bennet gave him a confused, agitated look. “What do you mean, my dear? I know no one who might join us.” She frowned. “Unless Tristan Taylor should stop in and consent to join us. My dinners are good enough for him, certainly!”

“The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger.”

“A gentleman stranger!” Her eyes glowed with excitement. “Why, who could it be, Mr Bennet? Is he single?”

“His name is Mr Devlin.”

“Goodness!” their mother gasped. “By the sanction! How unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got. Téa, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment.”

“I am glad to see you so enthused about his arrival, my dear,” Mr Bennet said, smiling. “About a month ago I received a letter, and a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, who when I am dead may turn you out of this house as soon as he pleases!”

Whatever excitement Mrs Bennet had felt was instantly poisoned by her own anxieties. “My dear, I cannot bear to hear that mentioned! It is the worst thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children. Especially when Téa is perfectly able to inherit by Sanction inheritance laws.”

Yugi and Rebecca had often attempted to explain to her the nature of a bloodline entail. But she was quite beyond the reach of reason.

“It is certainly a most treacherous affair,” Mr Bennet drawled. “Nothing can cure Mr Devlin from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But perhaps, if you listen to his letter, you might be a little softened by his manner.”

“No,” their mother replied fretfully. “I am sure I shall not! I think it impertinent of him to write to you at all! I hate such false friends. He only wishes to see Longbourn for himself to judge how he best take charge of it before he inherits the responsibility! Oh, why would he come to us now? Could he not keep on quarrelling with our family, as his father did before him?”

“If you would listen, my dear. You may find some answer to your questions.”

DEAR SIR,

The disagreement subsisting between your family and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness. Since I had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach. For some time, I was kept back by my own doubts, but my mind is now made up on the subject. Having received my clerkdom from the honourable patronage of Lord Pegasus James Crawford, who has chosen me to be the personal clerk of himself and his daughter, Miss Kisara Crawford.

As a man of the Sanction, however, it is my duty to promote peace in all families and good law to all of those within my influence. I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I mean no offence to your fine wife nor your dear children, and assure you of my readiness to make every possible amends. Of which I will discuss another time.

If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of being received at Longbourn on Monday, November 18th, one month from this date; and shall trespass on your hospitality until the Saturday of the week following. I can do this without any inconvenience, as Lord Crawford has already granted permission for an absence from the family during this period of movement between the Hunting and Home seasons. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and children, your well-wisher and friend,

CLERK DUKE DEVLIN, ESQ.

“At four o’clock, therefore,” Mr Bennet said, “we may expect this peace-making gentleman. He seems to be a most polite, eloquent gentleman.” There was a peculiar smile about his lips that only his two sons noticed.

“There is some sense in his apologies,” Mrs Bennet said, though her manner was still sullen, “but if he is disposed to make them amends, I shall not be the one to discourage him.”

“He certainly seems polite,” Joseph agreed, “but very conceited in his manner.”

“In terms of composition,” Rebecca said, “he does not write ill. The idea of an olive branch is not perhaps original, but it is well used in such a circumstances.”

To Téa and Serenity, neither the letter nor its writer were at all interesting. A clerk of the sanction was in no way equal, to their minds, to a guard from the same institution. Clerks were only the second level of legal hierarchy of the Sanction; and did nothing much more than write out paperwork as an intermediary between the laypeople and the district’s magistrate. Nothing at all compared to even the lowest Sanction Officer, who would inevitably be in peak physical condition, and well trained, let alone the Lieutenants that were being trained at Meryton.

Rebecca joined her mother in her feelings on the situation—that of thinking that Clerk Devlin’s polite manner and interest in reconciliation somewhat made up for his entail. Indeed, Mrs Bennet was preparing to see him with so much composure it surprised her children.

Clerk Devlin was punctual to his time, and was received politely by the entire family. Mr Bennet, in his usual style, said very little—but the others made up for his silence with their usual voracity for conversation. Clerk Devlin himself needed little encouragement, and indeed seemed to dislike being out of the centre of attention for too many minutes. He was polite, but very proud—of himself, and his patron Lord Pegasus James Crawford (for he rarely said anything but the noble’s full name).

He had not been sat down for very long before he complimented Mrs Bennet on having so fine a family—said he had much of their beauty and accomplishments. “But, in this instance, rumour has fallen short of the truth! I am sure before long they have husbands—or wives, as suits their taste.”

The false attempted at gallantry did not settle particularly well with most of its audience—but Mrs Bennet quarrelled with now compliments, replied: “you are very kind sir, I’m sure. I wish with all my heart that it may prove so. For else they will be made destitute. Things are settled so oddly...”

“You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate.”

“I do, sir. I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor children, you must admit. Not that I mean to blame you for the matter, for you could hardly control the circumstances of your birth. I just do not see the reason to entail estates away from the home at all—even for a blood connection.”

“I am very sensible, my lady, of the hardship to my fair cousins. I could say much on the subject, but I would suggest you and I curtail that conversation for another time. But rest assure, fair cousins, that I come prepared to admire you.” He gave a bright smile.

Yugi fought for composure, and managed a polite smile. Joseph scowled at the strange manners of their cousin. Rebecca was composed and nodded at his words. Téa and Rebecca however, giggled to each other and whispered meanly about their guest.

He was prevented from making any more embarrassing overtures on that head by summons to dinner. The children, however, discovered they were not the only objects of his admiration. The dining room, and all its furniture, was examined and praised—to which Mrs Bennet would have been pleased were it not for the suspicion that he was admiring them as his own future property. The dinner too received profuse compliments.

“To which of my fair cousins do we owe tonight’s superior cooking skills?” He asked, all smiles.

Mrs Bennet gave him a much offended look. “I assure you, Clerk Devlin,” she replied coldly. “We are perfectly able to keep a cook. My children have nothing to do in the kitchen.”

“My lady, I must plead for your forgiveness! I am very sorry to have displeased you.”

She softened slightly. “I am not at all offended.”

But despite this, Clerk Devlin’s apologies continued for ten minutes afterward.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

While the dinner was arranged, Mr Bennet said very little. Once the servants had withdrawn however, he introduced a topic he suspected Clerk Devlin to take up with much esprit. “You seem very fortunate in your patron, Lord Crawford. His attention to your wishes and the consideration of your comfort appear to be very remarkable.”

Mr Bennet could not have chosen a subject better suited to the clerk’s area of interest. “I have never in my life observed such behaviour in a person of rank—such affability and condescension. He treats me as if I am any other gentleman, and makes no objection at all to my joining the society of the neighbourhood. I dine with the family of which I am sanctioned to at least once a week, and am often asked to join a party of cards.”

Joseph looked surprised. “You do not live in the Crawford’s home, then?” He asked.

“No, no of course not. Lord Pegasus James Crawford has bequeathed to me the cottage on his property. He even visits to approve the alterations I am making—and suggested some himself. Shelves in the closets upstairs.”

“That’s all very proper and civil I’m sure,” Mrs Bennet said, giving Joseph a disapproving look before he could go on. “I dare say he is a very agreeable gentleman. It is a pity that men in general or not more like him. Has he any family?”

“He is a widow, sadly. But he has one natural daughter, the heiress of Rosings—the estate on which he lives—and of very extensive property. As well as a townhouse in Domino, and a beautiful Villa in Beachton.”

Mrs Bennet looked grim. “Then she is better off than many legal children. And what sort of young woman is she. Is she very handsome?”

“She is a most charming lady,” Clerk answered. “Lord Pegasus James Crawford himself that says in point of true beauty, Miss Crawford is far superior to the most handsome of her gender. She is, unfortunately, of a very sickly constitution that has prevented her presentation to society. She is very amiable, and often condescends to drive past my humble abode in her little phaeton with ponies.”

“Is she very accomplished?” Rebecca asked curiously.

“Her indifferent state of health has unfortunately prevented her from making progress in all the best accomplishments. I have often told Lord Pegasus James Crawford that this has deprived the Duel Championship of its brightest ornament.” He smiled, pleased with himself. “His lordship was very pleased with the idea, and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer these little delicate compliments that are always acceptable to the nobility. I find myself particularly bound to pay this kind of attention to my sanctioned family.”

“It is happy for you that you possess the talent for flattering with delicacy,” Mr Bennet said. Joseph could see the overflowing amusement of his father in the slight curl of his lips. “May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous arrangement?”

“They arrive chiefly from what is passing at the time,” Clerk Devil answered, with an easy smile. “But sometimes I amuse myself with composing little elegant compliments that may be adapted to any situation, though I always wish to give them an unstudied air as possible.”

“Oh believe me, Clerk Devlin,” Mr Bennet replied. “No one could suspect your manners to be rehearsed.” The father’s expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as conceited as he had expected, and caused an entertainment he had hoped to look forward to. He maintained a perfectly composed countenance through-out all the speeches.

Joseph was very displeased by his cousin. The politeness was only a tool which he used to deceive people into believing false modesty. He was truly conceited, as he had expected from the letter.

By tea-time, he had quite had enough. Claiming a headache, he excused himself to bed. Lying upstairs, he could easily hear the noise in the drawing room after dinner. Clerk Devlin’s slow, resounding voice designed to gain attention; the higher, more excitable voices of his two younger sisters; his mother’s often shrieky cries. Yugi’s polite voice was too quiet to hear from upstairs, Rebecca probably had not much to say, and father was too much enjoying the guest he had inflicted on his family to do anything but observe.

Sighing, Joseph turned on his side and closed his eyes. Sleep did not come until long after the house was quiet and Yugi had joined him in going to bed, however.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Clerk Devlin, now having a good house and very sufficient income, intended to marry. Seeking a reconciliation with the Bennets, he decided to choose one from the adopted children, providing they were as handsome and amiable as general opinion made them out to be. This was his plan of amends for inheriting their father’s estate, and he thought it an excellent one. The plan was full of excessive generosity and disinterest on his own part.

It did not vary upon seeing them. He was a gentleman that had inclinations toward both dandies and ladies (with a slight preference for dandies, that by no means eclipsed his admiration of ladies). Though this pared Téa out of his choices, it left four other options. He decided, with owing to seniority, that Mssr Moto should be his choice. Yugi Moto was petite and gentle, and his skills at Duel made him a most eligible choice. For the first evening, Yugi was his settled choice.

A short conversation with Mrs Bennet before breakfast the next morning however made an alteration. The conversation began with a long, minute description of Rosings Cottage, where he resided, and led naturally to his hopes that a homemaker might be found for it at Longbourn.

This produced from her, with a very complaisant smile, a caution that, “it is likely that Yugi will very soon be engaged to a gentleman in the neighbourhood. As to my younger children, I could not say. I certainly know of no prior inclinations for them.”

Mrs Bennet treasured the hint, and hoped that she might soon have two daughters married. The man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good graces.

Clerk Devlin went through long deliberations to change his choice. Rebecca was quickly dismissed for being too bookish, though her plainness in comparison to her other sisters held more weight than he dared admit to himself. For some time, Miss Wheeler was his choice, but after viewing her in discussion with Mlle Gardiner over breakfast, he found her to be a little too young for him. Her natural brother then succeeded her.

Over breakfast Téa had declared an intention of walking to Meryton. Serenity, naturally, agreed to go with her—the two were rarely seen apart. Rebecca excused herself, but Yugi and Joseph were persuaded to go with them.

At the last moment, Mr Bennet persuaded Clerk Devlin to go along. He wanted their guest out of the house, and more particularly out of his library. He had followed him there after breakfast and, though had taken up a large book to occupy himself, spent all of his time speaking to Mr Bennet instead of reading. It discomforted Mr Bennet exceedingly: the library had always been his place of tranquillity, which he sometimes loaned to Joseph in his quiet contemplations. His civility, therefore, was most prompt inviting Clerk Devlin to join the two daughters for a walk. The guest, being in fact a much better walker than reader, was pleased to close his large book and go.

The walk to Meryton was passed chiefly in listening to and agreeing to the civil chatter of their cousin. Once they entered the village, however, the four Bennet’s attention was—rather gratefully on their part—dispersed elsewhere.

Their attention altogether was soon caught by a young woman, whom they had never seen before, of the most gentlewomanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the street. The officer was Lieutenant Valon, whose acquaintance Téa and Serenity eagerly cultivated. They were caught by this stranger’s air, and they all wondered who she might be. Téa and Serenity were determined to find out, and led the way across the street. They had just gained the pavement when Lieutenant Valon and his companion turned back and came upon them.

Their acquaintance addressed them directly, and entreated their permission to introduce his comrade, Mademoiselle Mai Valentine. She had just come this very day from Domino, and he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps.

Her appearance was greatly in her favour. She had all the best part of natural beauty—a fine countenance, a good figure, pleasing address—to which she had greatly enhanced by a gentlewoman’s fashions. The introduction was made, and a most pleasing conversation followed, of which Mlle Valentine spoke in the politest, friendly manner. Her good nature rivalled Mr Yami’s himself, who had previously been the most pleasant of their new acquaintance.

The whole party were still stood on the street when the sound of horses drew their notice. Mr Yami and Kaiba were seen riding down the street and, distinguishing the principal members of their group, came directly towards them. The usual civilities followed, principally between Yami and Mssr Moto.

“We are just on our way to Longbourn, to enquire after you. We wanted to ensure you were in good health after your recent bout of illness. Though I can see you are blooming with good health. He looks very well, doesn’t he, cousin?”

Mr Kaiba bowed his assent to the question, and had just turned to address Mssr Wheeler when his eyes were suddenly caught by the gentlewoman. His glare hardened to stone, and she paled a shade. After a few moments, Mlle Valentine touched her hat. Mr Kaiba turned his horse smartly and walked off.

Mr Yami, seemingly without noticing what had passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.

Mssr Wheeler, who had caught the moment between the two, was all wonderment. What could be the meaning of their strange greeting? It seemed they had a prior acquaintance, but if Mr Kaiba’s countenance were any indication, it had not been a pleasant one. He resigned himself to his confusion, since it was not a topic that one could bring up easily, and he did not have the eloquent turn of phrase to guide the conversation in that direction.

Lieutenant Valon and Mlle Valentine walked with the Bennets and their cousin to the door of their uncle Phillips’ house. They made their bows and goodbyes, despite Mlle Gardiner’s pressing entreaties that they would come in. And though Mrs Phillip threw open the parlour window and loudly seconded the invitation, the two comrades would go.

Mrs Phillips was always glad to see her nieces and nephews. The two men were particularly welcome, given their recent absence. Her civility was quickly claimed, however, towards Yugi’s introduction of Clerk Devlin. She received him with great politeness, which he returned in excess. He apologised profusely for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance with her. However, he excused himself on his own behalf, citing his relationship to the Bennets as some reason for the lax in propriety and rules of introduction. Mrs Phillips was quite in awe of such an excess of good breeding.

Soon, however, Clerk Devlin lost the principality of the attention, as her two nieces demanded gossip about their newly-made acquaintance. She could give them no more news, however. But she promised to make her husband call on her at the training academy, be introduced to Mlle Valentine, and invite her to the dinner party they would have the next night. “If, of course, my dear nieces and nephews consent to join the party.”

This was quickly agreed to, and though she had no proper table for Duel, she would provide other games and entertainments to occupy them. She also extended the invitation to Clerk Devlin, who accepted with excessive, polite gratitude.

As they walked home, Joseph told Yugi about what he had seen pass between Mr Kaiba and Mlle Valentine. Though Yugi would have defended the conduct of either or both with his usual sweet-hearted manner, he could no more explain such behaviour than his brother. Now with a companion for his confusion, Joseph was as settled with the matter as he might be until he had more information to contemplate.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

As no objection was made from either of their parents to the young people’s engagement with their aunt, the coach delivered them and their cousin at a suitable hour to Meryton. The nieces had the great pleasure of hearing from their aunt that Mlle Valentine had accepted their invitation, and was then in the house with the other gentlefolk. This important piece of information delivered, they all took their seats.

Clerk Devlin was at leisure to look around the room and admire. He compared to Mrs Phillips that the room reminded him very much of a small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings. The comparison was not first received with much gratitude, but when she was made to understand what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would have hardly resented a comparison to the housekeeper’s room.

Clerk Devlin was happily employed in describing the grandeur of Lord Pegasus James Crawford and his mansion—with occasional digressions in praise to his own humble cottage and the improvements he was giving it. Mr Phillips was a very attentive listener, and she resolved to retell it to all her neighbours as soon as she could.

To the Bennets, who had heard almost constantly since his arrival the same descriptions, word-by-word, were not as entertained by this as their aunt. Without the ability to speak to one another without receiving a reprimanding look from their cousin, they could do nothing but wish for something better to do.

It was over at last, however. The gentlefolk did approach. When Mlle Valentine entered the room, Joseph found himself overcome by her beauty. The training guards of the Sanction were in general a very creditable, polite set—the best of whom were at the present party. Mlle Valentine however was far beyond all of them in person, countenance, air and walk. Joseph was sure he knew not a single person in all of his acquaintance that could compare to Mademoiselle Mai Valentine.

She was the lucky person to whom almost every eye in the room was turned; and Joseph was the very happy dandy by whom she finally seated herself. The agreeable manner in which she immediately fell into conversation — though it was merely on it being a wet night and an enquiry of the rain in Hertfordshire during the Hunt season — made him feel that the most boring, everyday topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of speaker.

With such a rival for the notice of the fair, as Mlle Valentine, and the other training guards, Clerk Devlin seemed likely to sink into insignificance. To the two young ladies he was nothing, but he still had at intervals a kind listener in Mssr Moto and Mrs Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin.

When the games were placed, he had the opportunity of returning her favour, by sitting down to a game of Cheat. “I know little of the game at present,” he said. “But I will be glad to improve myself. For in my situation of life—” Mrs Phillips was grateful for his compliance, but would not wait for his reason.

Mlle Valentine did not play Cheat, but with ready delight he accepted Joseph’s invitation to play at Backgammon. They sat in a quiet corner of the room, the plain wooden board between them, and were at leisure for conversation. He was very willing to hear her, though what he wished to know he could not hope to told: the history of her acquaintance with Mr Kaiba. He dared not even mention the gentleman.

His curiosity, however, was unexpectedly relieved. Mlle Valentine began the subject herself. She enquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton, and after Joseph had replied, asked in a hesitating manner, how long Mr Kaiba had been in residence.

“About a month,” Joseph said. Unwilling to let the subject drop, he added: “he is a man of large property in Derbyshire, I am given to understand.”

“Yes,” she answered, an inviting smile about her lips. “His estate there is a noble one. A clear one billion per year.” Then, pressing closer, ostentatiously to pick up her dice, she said in a lower voice. “You could not have met with a person more capable to give you information on the subject as myself. I have been connected with his family in an intimate manner from my intimacy.”

Joseph could only stare, all surprise. “But you had such a strange meeting yesterday!” After his uncontrolled exclamation, he coloured and made his apology.

For a few rolls of the dice, they were silent. Then she said: “Are you much acquainted with Mr Kaiba?”

He laughed. “As much as I ever wish to be. I have spent four days in the same house as him. He is very disagreeable.”

She smiled. “I have no right to give my opinion as to his character. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial.” She leaned forward, fingers brushing his as she collected up her dice. “But I do believe your opinion on him would generally astonish. You would not speak so freely anywhere else, than here in your own aunt’s household where propriety demands that everyone must agree with you.”

Joseph snorted an indelicate laugh. “I say nothing worse here than I might say at any house in the neighbourhood. I am always honest, Mlle Valentine. To that I may hold myself.”

“It is a pleasure to meet someone with such refreshing truth, Monsieur Wheeler.”

He smiled, flattered by the compliment. “Besides. He is not particularly well-liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody here is affronted by his pride.”

“I cannot pretend to be sorry,” she said. “A man such as he is rarely estimated to their merits. This world is blinded by his fortune, or frightened by his imposing manners. They choose to see him as he wishes to be seen.”

“I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man.”

Mlle Valentine only shook her head, the delicately sculpted curls falling about her in a most beautiful manner. “I wonder, with the general populace of the neighbourhood so estranged by his cold manners, whether he is likely to be in this district much longer.”

“I could hardly say,” Joseph answered. “I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. But he is a gentleman of fashion, and he may follow the Social Season away when the town Interim comes.” He bit his lip and leaned closer. “I hope your plans in favour of Hertfordshire society won’t be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.”

She gave a little tinkling laugh, whose sound delighted him. “Oh no, Mssr Wheeler. It is not for me to be driven away by Mr Kaiba. I am in training here at the guard academy for the whole Winter, at least. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go.”

She smiled at him, and Joseph could not help be struck by how beautiful she was once again.

“We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me great pain to see him. But I have no reason to avoid him that I may not share with the world: a sense of very great ill-usage!”

Joseph gave a scandalized noise. “Whatever do you mean?”

She glanced about the room, then leaned forward to talk to him in a soft whisper. “The late Mr Kaiba was one of the greatest men of the kingdom. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. When my mother died, he took me as ward into his own house. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done so by providing me in his will a little money to be used for my marriage. But when the time came, his son declared he would not do it.”

“No!” cried Joseph, catching the attention of the room around him. Once their attention went away again, he continued: “how could that be? How could his will be disregarded? Why did you not seek Sanction counsel?”

“The language was worded in such a way that the particulars gave me no hope from the law. A man of honour could not have doubted in intention, but Mr Kaiba chose to doubt it. Or to treat it as a conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it. The sum would be nothing to a man of fortune like Mr Kaiba, but still he guarded it jealously.”

“This is quite shocking,” Joseph said. “He deserves to be publicly disgraced.”

“Some time or other he will be,” she replied. “But it will not be by me. Until I can forget his father, I can never expose him.”

Joseph felt much admiration of him for such feelings, and thought her more beautiful than ever when she expressed them. Still, he was agitated by her confidences. “I had not thought Mr Kaiba so bad as this. I have never had a very good opinion of him, but never thought him capable of such immorality. He seems indeed to despise his people in general, but I did not suspect him of such decent, such injustice, such... inhumanity!”

“I will not trust myself on the subject,” she said. “I can hardly be just to him.”

“To treat you in such a manner. The godchild, the friend, the favourite of his father! A young woman like you whose very countenance can vouch for your being amiable!” He blushed at that, and hoped he had not exposed himself too badly.

Mlle Valentine merely smiled and thanked him for the compliment.

Joseph, however, was still agitated by the news. “I wonder that the very pride of this Mr Kaiba has not made him just to you. If from no better motive, he should have been too proud to be dishonesty. Yes, dishonesty, it must be. Dishonesty to himself, to you, and to the memory of his father!”

“It is interesting that nearly all of Mr Kaiba’s behaviours can be traced back to pride,” she agreed. “His pride is perhaps his dearest friend. But we are none of us consistent, and his behaviour to me showed he has stronger impulses even than pride.”

“Can such abominable pride as his ever have done him any good?”

“Yes. It often leads him to be liberal and generous. For he gives his money freely, to display hospitality, assist his tenants or for sanctioned charities. Family pride has done this—for he cannot appear to disgrace the Kaiba name, or lose the influence of Pemberley house. He also has brotherly pride, which with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his young brother—and you will generally hear him cried as the most attentive and best of brothers.”

“What sort of boy is little Kaiba?”

She shook her head again, curls settling about her shoulders. “I wish I could call him amiable. But he is too much like his brother. Very, very proud. As a child, he was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond of me. I devoted hours and hours to his amusement. But he is nothing to me now.”

“Is he decided in his gender yet?”

“No. Though it is very likely he will become a dandy—his brother may insist on it. In traditional families you know, younger brothers are always made to be dandies.”

“How old is he? Does he live at home?”

“He is about fifteen or sixteen, away at one of the fine schools in the countryside I believe.”

Their game ended shortly thereafter. Though Joseph would have liked to play her again—he could hardly remember what had passed in the game and whether he had won or not—she was swept away in discussions with Lieutenant Valon. Joseph rearranged the pips into their starting positions and then went to observe the game of Cheat.

Clerk Devlin was faring badly. Almost the entire deck of cards was crammed into his hands, with the other players having two or three each. “Do not make yourself uneasy, my lady,” he was saying to Mrs Phillips, “when a person sits down to a card table, they must take their chance of these things. Once I have the hang of this game, I will endeavour to teach it to Lord Pegasus James Crawford—so that when we gather for cards at night (as we often do) we may have one more game to play.”

Mlle Valentine, who had just returned from her conversation, stood near Mssr Wheeler and asked whether his relation was very intimately acquainted with the Crawford family.

“Lord Pegasus James Crawford,” he replied, using the exact pompous tone that her cousin did, “has very recently purchased his commission as a Clerk to serve sanction in his own family. I do not know how he was first introduced to the lord’s notice, but he has certainly not known him long.”

“You know, of course, that Lord Pegasus Crawford and Lady Cordelia Kaiba were natural siblings, and that he is uncle to the present Mr Kaiba.”

Joseph was surprised. He had wonder that it had not been mentioned to him before. “No, indeed, I did not know. I had never heard of him before yesterday.”

“His daughter, Miss Crawford, will have a very large fortune, and is believed to assist Mr Kaiba in uniting the two estates.”

The information made Joseph smile, as he thought of poor Miss Yami. How vain indeed were all her attentions, her attentions to his brother and her praise of himself. He was always self-destined to another!

“Clerk Devlin speaks highly of both Lord Crawford and his daughter,” Joseph said. “But despite his tone I suspect, in spite of my cousin’s praise, he is a very arrogant and conceited gentleman.”

“He is both vain and conceited in a great degree,” Mlle Valentine replied, smiling. “I have never met such a dandy to his conceited manner.” Joseph blushed in shame but took the correction for future use. “I have not seen him for many years, but I very remember that I have never liked him, and that his manners were dictatorial and insolent. He has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever, but I rather believe he derives most of his abilities from his rank and fortune.”

Joseph allowed that the gentlewoman had given a very rational account of it. But she moved away shortly thereafter to share her attentions amongst the rest of the party. Her manners recommended herself to everybody: whatever she said, was said well, and whatever she did, done gracefully. Joseph went away with his head full of her, as did many of the others who set their hat in favour of a gentlewoman.

Long after everyone else at Longbourn had retreated to bed, Joseph sat up in the library and tried to arrange his thoughts on everything he had learned from the beautiful guard-in-training. His opinion on Mr Kaiba was further sunk, particularly in the news of his being so willingly deceitful toward society in general about the matter of Mlle Valentine’s inheritance. He decided he would not become fooled by Mr Kaiba’s pride into believing him to be a proper gentleman!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The next day, Joseph related to Yugi all he had learned from Mlle Valentine regarding the gentleman at Netherfield. Yugi listened with all astonishment and concern—he could not believe that Mr Kaiba could be such a man and still keep Mr Yami’s regard. Yet, the possibility of Mlle Valentine having really endured such unkindness was enough to interest his tender feelings. Nothing, therefore, remained to be done but to think well of them both, defend the conduct of each, and insist that that some accident or mistake must have been made.

“They have both been deceived in some way or another, I dare say,” the elder brother replied. “We can form no idea. Mlle Valentine did not give you all the particulars—perhaps she does not fully understand them herself. Interested people may have misrepresented the facts to the two concerned. It is impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them.”

“Very true indeed. Now, my dear brother, what have you to say on behalf of those interested people? Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody.”

“Laugh as much as you choose, Joey. You will not laugh me out of my opinion. One does not know what to think.”

“I beg your pardon. One knows exactly what to think. Mr Kaiba has been dreadfully insincere toward our new acquaintance. If it is not so, let him contradict it himself. There was truth in Mlle Valentine’s looks.”

Yugi gave his younger brother a concerned look. “Joseph, do not let your admiration of Mlle Valentine blind you to the possibility of her own faults. She may very well be as open and amiable as we find, but she may very well not.”

The two dandies were summoned from the shrubbery where this conversation was taking place by the arrival of the very person whom they had been speaking. Mr Yami and his two sisters had come to give their personal invitation to the long-expected tournament at Netherfield - which was fixed for the following Tuesday. The two sisters were delighted to see their dear friend again, were glad to see Mssr Moto in good health, and repeatedly asked him what he had been doing with himself since their separation. They paid little attention to the rest of the family, avoiding Mrs Bennet’s civilities as much as possible, saying little beyond what was necessary to Joseph, and nothing at all to the daughters. They were soon rising from their seats with an impatience that took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off before the mother could invite them all to dinner.

The prospect of the Netherfield Tournament was extremely agreeable to every member of the family. Mrs Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest child, and was particularly flattered by receiving a personal invitation alongside the ceremonial card. Yugi pictured himself to have a delightful evening with the society of his two friends, the attention of their brother, and the extremely likely prospect of winning himself yet another championship. Joseph thought with pleasure of duelling a little with Mlle Valentine, and to see further evidence of Mr Kaiba’s heinous nature in his looks and behaviour.

Joseph’s spirits were so high on the occasion that, though he did not often speak unnecessarily to Clerk Devlin, he could not help but ask if he intended to observe the game.

“I assure you,” he said, “that I intend to play in the game myself. I have a talent at many games, and if my dear cousin Joseph might think to assist me a little in assembling a deck from the cards I have purchased, I daresay I will win my way to respectable position. Indeed, I hope to be honoured to sit across from all of my fair cousins in the course of the evening.” He gave Joseph a determined look. “I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Joseph, for the first duel especially. A preference which I trust my cousin Yugi will attribute to the right cause, and not any slight to the order of seniority.”

Joseph found himself unable to escape the request. He had fully expected to be engaged by Mlle Valentine for the first duel—and to have Clerk Devlin instead! He accepted the invitation with as little disappointment as he knew how to convey, thinking it best if the duel was got out of the way quickly. The attempted gallantry however, suggested something more:

It occurred to him for the first time that he had been selected from among his siblings of the one being a worthy homemaker of Rosings Cottage, and of assisting to form card parties at Rosings in the absence of more eligible visitors.

The idea soon reached to a definite, if mortifying certainty, when he observed the clumsy attempt at flirting while forced to assist Clerk Devlin in assembling his deck. It was not long until his mother gave him the understanding that the probability of their marriage was all but settled in her mind. He could do nothing but snub the attentions as politely as he could, and hope his cousin might never make the offer.

From the day of the invitation to the very day of the ball, there had been such a torrent of rain that kept the family quite indoors. If there had not been a Netherfield tournament to prepare for, the children may have been quite pitiable in their state of agitation. Even the cards ordered to supplement their decks had to be fetched by proxy from the card shop. But nothing less than a tournament on Tuesday could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday endurable to the lively Bennet children.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Until Joseph entered the social room at Netherfield and looked in vain for Mlle Valentine among the cluster of training guards, he had never doubted that the gentlewoman would be present. He had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared his deck in the highest spirits for the conquest of her duellist’s heart. The certainty of meeting her had not been waylaid by the recollections of the awkwardness of her coming. But in an instant, the suspicion became overwhelming that she had been purposefully omitted from the guards’ invitation for the pleasure of Mr Kaiba. Though this was not exactly the case, her absence from the party was confirmed by her friend Lieutenant Valon.

“Valentine was obliged yesterday to go to Domino on business, and has not yet returned.” He added, with a significant smile: “though her business might have been put off a day or two if she had not wished to avoid a certain gentleman.”

This part of the news, unheard by the other Bennets, was caught by Joseph. It assured him that Mr Kaiba was not less answerable for Mlle Valentine’s absence than his first assumption. Every feeling of displeasure against the gentleman was made violent by the disappointment; and he was forced to withdraw to the nearly-empty duelling room to calm himself enough to no longer wish to cast harm.

When the gentleman himself approached to make polite enquiries about his health and excitement for the games, he could only make the slightest of answers. Turning away, he resolved to himself to avoid conversing with the gentleman entirely. Even Mr Yami, who spoke to him soon after, could not wholly do away with his foul temper.

Soon, however, the games began. Mr Yami and Mr Kaiba began the evening. After their first turn, the other tables began to fill up. Before Joseph could lose himself in the enjoyment of a few duels, Clerk Devlin appeared at his side to remind him of his obligation to duel.

His temper was challenged. Clerk Devlin, awkward and solemn, paused the game every few moments to ask his opponent whether he could make this move? And whether he should use this card now or save it for later? He easily won, given the clerk’s lack of skill at the game. The moment of his release from the table was ecstasy, and returned him to much of his natural good humour.

He quickly found Tristan Taylor, whom he had not seen since before his stay at Netherfield. Enquiring after his friend’s week, he was then encouraged to air all his grievances to his friend. They sat down to a table, and Joseph spent the time in between calls of cards whispering about Clerk Devlin, and a little about his new acquaintance Mlle Valentine. Tristan listened with a friendly ear, and a very sympathetic look.

After they stood from the table, he found himself suddenly addressed by Mr Kaiba. He took the dandy so much by surprise by asking for a duel that Joseph had accepted him before he knew what he had done. The gentleman walked away again immediately to prepare them one of the best tables.

Joseph pulled Tristan away into one of the dark corridors and whispered. “Did I just agree to duel with Mr Kaiba?” He whispered.

Tristan gave his best consolation. “I dare say you will find him a very enjoyable opponent. He duels very well.”

“Goodness no!” he cried. “That would be the greatest misfortune of all, to find a man’s company enjoyable when one is determined to hate him, do not wish me such an evil!”

Tristan gave him a disapproving look and could not help but to caution him: “do not be a simpleton, Joseph, and allow your fancy for Mlle Valentine to make yourself unpleasant in the eyes of a man ten times her consequence!”

Joseph made no answer and was called away then by Serenity, who came to tell him that Mr Kaiba was searching for him to commence their duel. He was received with much dignity at the table, and caught the amazement of those around them at viewing Mr Kaiba sit down to duel with someone outside his own party.

They sat for some time without speaking, as they shuffled their cards, and then allowed their opponent to cut them fairly. Once the duel began, they spoke only to announce their cards as they played.

Joseph had imagined that their silence would last through the entire duel, but then decided it would be more of a punishment to his partner to oblige him to talk. Smiling, he said. “You handle your cards with ease.”

“I am very familiar with them.”

After a pause of an entire turn, he teased him with much mirth: “It is your turn to say something now, Mr Kaiba. I talked about your hold, and now you ought to make some kind of remark on my cards, or the progress of the tournament.”

Mr Kaiba smiled. “If you tell me which you wish me to say, I would oblige you.”

“Very well, that reply will do for present.” He turned over a trap and confiscated one of Kaiba’s spell cards to the discard pile. “Perhaps by the by I might observe that private tournaments are much pleasanter than public ones. But for now we may be silent.”

“Do you talk by a rule then, while you are duelling?”

“Oh, always. It would be peculiar to sit silent for half an hour together with nothing but the names of cards and the count of our points to pass between us.”

They were waylaid by a chain of cards to uncover, and then when the field had cleared again and he was drawing, the gentleman asked: “do you and your siblings often walk to Meryton?”

“Tolerably often,” he replied. “My two youngest sisters more oftener than the rest of us. But we go there perhaps once a week to visit our aunt.”

He turned a card and moved it to attack one of Mr Kaiba’s cards. The gentleman quickly discarded it.

Unable to resist his own temptation, he continued: “when you and your cousin met us there the other day, we had just been forming a new acquaintance.”

The effect was immediate. Whatever animation had been across the gentleman’s features was immediately lost to a composed, but cold mask. His next turn was particularly brutal, and Joseph was forced to keep his silence as he contemplated his remaining deck and how it could be used to counter the gentleman’s strategies.

In the wait for Joseph’s next phase, Mr Kaiba said in a taut voice: “Mademoiselle Valentine is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure her making friends. Whether she is equally capable of retaining them is less certain.”

Joseph’s temper caught, and he threw down a card with force. “She has been so lucky to lose your friendship!” he replied, “and in a manner in which she is likely to suffer from all her life.”

Mr Kaiba made no answer. It was that moment Dame Taylor walked by them, intending to pass through the tables to the other side of the room. She was arrested, however, by the arrangement of the duel, and stopped for a few turns to observe their game.

“I have been highly gratified by this game, my dear sir,” she said. “Such superior duelling is not often seen. It is evident that you belong to the first circles. Allow me to say however, that your fair partner does not disgrace you.” She turned then to Joseph and said, smiling, “I hope to have the pleasure of observing your game often repeated, my dear Joey. Especially when a certain desirable event shall take place!”

She looked with some significance toward Mssr Moto and Mr Yami. The latter was in duel with his sister, but was observed closely by the dandy standing directly behind him, and frequently turned to him for conversation. Mr Kaiba’s eyes also turned that way, and the sight seemed to strike him forcefully. He looked at them with a very serious countenance, ignoring the rest of Dame Taylor’s conversation.

“But you will not thank me for detaining you from the rest of your duel. Play on!” Giving them a gentlewoman’s bow, she left them to the duel.

There was a pause, before Mr Kaiba recollected himself and returned his attentions to the duel table and his partner. “Dame Taylor’s interruption has made me forget what we were talking of.”

“Nothing much,” Joseph said, too busy with his cards to answer him with full attention. “We have tried two or three subjects already without success. I cannot imagine what we are to talk of next.”

Mr Kaiba smiled. “What think you of Chess?”

“Chess? Oh! No.” He lowered his cards from his face. “I cannot talk of chess at a duel table. My head is always full of something else.”

“The cards always occupy your mind in such scenes, does it?” He asked, amused.

“Usually,” he confessed. “There are few things I enjoy in life other than a game, with a well-matched partner.” He thought for a moment, of Mlle Valentine, and their night last week.

“Our minds are aligned to that,” Mr Kaiba said in a low, intimate voice.

Joseph raised his eyes with a startled look at his sudden change in tone. He became aware of colour rising in his face, and quickly dropped his gaze back down to his cards. “We spoke, here at Netherfield, of honesty and other virtues, Mr Kaiba.”

“I recall,” he said, still in the same quiet voice.

“You do not hold honesty as a virtue in as much esteem as I do, sir,” Joseph said, “but do you make a conscious effort to keep yourself as truthful as you can?”

Mr Kaiba frowned, faltering with one hand on his deck. “Yes, of course. As all should.” He gave the dandy a discomforted look. “May I ask to what these questions tend?”

Joseph made attempts to shake off his heavy mood. “Merely to the understanding of your character.”

A peculiar look crossed the gentleman’s expression. “What success do you have?”

“I do not get on at all,” he confessed. “I hear such different accounts of you. It confuses me. I must wonder whether you present yourself differently to many people—and which presentation is a false one.”

Mr Kaiba frowned. “I can believe that report of my character may vary greatly. But I would ask, Mssr Wheeler, that you trust your own judgements on the matter before listening to the opinions of another.”

He met the deep blue eyes of his opponent, laying down his final card. “Then you, Mr Kaiba, must promise me never to present yourself falsely to me.”

The gentleman looked back with an intensity Mssr Wheeler could not feel equal to, but made every effort to match. “You have my word.”

There was a long silence, and a stillness of the game. Joseph was hardly aware of the room, he could not look past Mr Kaiba and their moment. Applause from another table shattered the moment, and Mr Kaiba looked away.

“I sacrifice my three white dragons to summon the blue eyes ultimate dragon. Your black knight is obliterated, along with the rest of your lifepoints.”

Joseph laid down the rest of his cards. After recollecting their decks, they both rose to their feet and met gazes again. “This was,” he faltered, “a very challenging duel. I hope one day to play such a duel again.”

A slight smile crossed the gentleman’s lips, and he reached forward to shake the dandy’s hand. “I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours.” Without another word, he turned away and walked from the table.

Joseph became aware of a sensation against his fingers. Glancing down, he saw a card in the hand Mr Kaiba had just taken. Turning it over curiously, he saw a black dragon card. Staring in the direction the gentleman had gone, he slipped it into the pocket of his waistcoat and left the table to the next duellists.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN PART TWO

He stepped into the social rooms and was almost immediately come upon by Miss Yami, with a cold smirk. “So, Mssr Wheeler, I hear you are quite delighted with Mai Valentine! Your brother has been telling me about her, and asking me a thousand questions. I find that the gentlewoman omitted to tell you that she is the natural daughter of one of the late Mr Kaiba’s housekeepers.” She paused, as if waiting for some reaction.

Mssr Wheeler raised his eyebrows. “Have you more to say, Miss Yami? I was on my way to fetch a refreshment.”

She frowned at him. “I will only detain you for a moment more. I urge you, as your friend, not to give yourself over to all of this gentlewoman’s claims. As for Mr Kaiba’s using her ill, it is perfectly false! On the contrary, Mr Kaiba has always been remarkably kind to her—moreso than she deserved!”

“You know the situation yourself?” Joseph asked, watching her without expression.

“I do not know the particulars,” she confessed, “but I know very well that my brother’s cousin is not at all to blame. He cannot bear to hear Mai Valentine mentioned, and though my brother did the polite thing and invited her tonight, we are all very glad she decided not to come.” She smiled, self-important. “I pity you, Joey, for this discovery of your favourite’s guilt. But really, considering her situation in life, one could not expect anything better!”

Joseph stepped toward her aggressively, and was pleased to see her step back, intimidated. “Her guilt and her situation appear by your account to be the same! I have heard you accuse her of nothing worse than being the natural daughter of a housekeeper!” He gave her an angry look. “One’s upbringing means much more than the circumstances of their birth! Or perhaps you believe me to be less than her for being born the son of a wheel-maker?”

“I beg your pardon,” Miss Yami replied, turning away with a sneer. “Excuse my interference. It was kindly meant.”

They curtseyed to one another, and then Miss Yami walked away. “Insolent girl,” Joseph muttered, continuing his path to the refreshment table. “You are very mistaken if you expect to influence me by such an offensive attack as this.”

He had his punch, and a little of the food that was there, before seeking out his older brother. Yugi was standing with Mr Yami, the two of them speaking amiably. His brother wore such a sweet smile, and such a glow of happy expression, that marked how well-satisfied he was with the occurrences of the evening. Everything else about the evening was forgotten in favour of being extremely happy for his brother.

Before many minutes had passed, however, Mr Yami was called away by Mr Kaiba to perform some duty as host, and Joseph was free to approach his brother.

“I wanted to ask,” he said, smiling as much as him, “what you have learned of Mlle Valentine. But if you have been too pleasantly distracted to think of any third person, you may be sure of my pardon.”

“I have not forgotten,” Yugi said, taking his arm. “I merely have nothing satisfactory to tell you. Mr Yami does not know the history, and is ignorant of any particulars. He will vouch, however, for his cousin’s good conduct. He believes that Mlle Valentine has deserved much less attention from Mr Kaiba as she has received. With his account and his sisters’, it seems Mlle Valentine is not as respectful as her appearance would allow us to believe.”

Joseph did not like this, and picked through for something to prove it false. “Does Mr Yami know Mlle Valentine himself?”

“No, he never saw her until the other morning at Meryton.”

The younger brother nodded, satisfied. “Then every account has been received from Mr Kaiba himself. Did he say anything about the inheritance?”

“He suggested the will may have concerned a dowry, but even of that he is not certain,” Yugi answered.

“Well. Mr Yami’s reports are as sincere as he may be while still unacquainted with the particulars. But I am resolved to think of both Mr Kaiba and Mlle Valentine as I did before.”

Yugi gave him an agitated look, so Joseph swiftly changed the topic to one more enjoyable for each. He listened with delight to the happy, though modest, hopes which Yugi entertained of Mr Yami’s regard—and said all in his power to heighten his brother’s confidence in it.

Mssr Moto was soon called away to another duel, and Joseph sought out Mssr Taylor. The enquiry toward the pleasantness of his last duel was brushed aside, as he could not contemplate the matter himself quite yet. Before further discussion could take place, Mssr Wheeler was suddenly come upon by Clerk Devlin.

“I have just been so fortunate as to make a most important discovery!” He paused for someone to enquire, and Mssr Taylor fulfilled the office with good graces. “I have found out that there is now in this very tournament a near relation of my noble patron. I happened to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady of the house the names of his cousin Miss Crawford and her father Lord Pegasus! Lord Pegasus James Crawford, there is no doubt! I am most thankful that the discovery was made in time for me to pay my respects to him, and trust that he will excuse my having not done so before!”

Joseph looked at him with horror. “You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr Kaiba, surely.”

“Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon most sincerely for not done it earlier. He is Lord Pegasus James Crawford’s nephew! It will be in my power to assure him that his lordship was quite well eight days ago.”

Joseph tried his hardest to prevent himself from such a scheme. “Mr Kaiba would see your addressing him without introduction as an impertinence! If you wish to pay compliment to his uncle, you would show yourself as a polite gentleman.” He was very agitated with the polite but resolved smile Clerk Devlin was giving him. “If you would wait a moment, I could ask my father or Dame Taylor to offer him an introduction.”

“My dear Joseph, I have the highest opinion in the world in your excellent judgement—within matters of your understanding. Of this, however, I am afforded superior knowledge. There is a wide difference in the forms of ceremony amongst the laity, and those which regulate the Sanction. As a clerk, I must feel myself equal to address those of every rank and situation. You must allow me to follow my own conscience on this occasion, and pardon me for neglecting to follow your kindly advice. In future, I shall undertake it as my foremost guide, except wherein cases like this one that I am more fitted in education and society to decide on what is right.”

With a bow, he left the two dandies to attack Kaiba. Too overcome with embarrassment, Jou turned on his heel and walked away.

He wandered through the other public rooms and found everywhere only shame and mortification. His mother was talking incessantly of her expectations of the felicitous marriage with Mr Yami, and all the comforts she could enjoy when such an event occurred—all in hearing distance of Mr Kaiba, who looked as grave as a mourner to be hearing such things. In the next room he found Téa and Serenity amongst a crowd of training guards, laughing without care for propriety; and flirting shamelessly without regards to their reputations. In the next room, he found Rebecca violently debating with a rather startled and uncomfortable gentleman, while Mr Bennet merely watched on and laughed.

It seemed, if his family had made an agreement to expose themselves to the most ridicule, they could not have done a better job. He had some comfort in the fact that Mr Yami was aware of none of it. For when he was not paying direct attention to his duel, he was absorbed in the society of Mssr Moto.

He found himself a quiet balcony and hid himself out there until the noise of the party died down.

Mssr Moto won the tournament, to no one’s great surprise, though there had been mere dozens of points between his victory and Mr Yami’s. Joseph congratulated him with warmth, but he suspected Yugi could comprehend his mood beneath the words.

The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart, and by a manoeuvre of Mrs Bennet, had to wait for their carriage for a quarter hour longer after all the other parties had gone. It only gave Joseph the further shame of observing how vehemently some of the residents wished they would leave. Madame Mahad and her sister did not open their mouths but to complain of fatigue, and impatiently watched the road for the Bennets carriage. Clerk Devlin filled the silence with excessive compliments and long speeches to Mr Yami and his sisters on the success of their entertainment, their superior hospitality, and their utter civility in hosting the guests. Mr Yami and Yugi were standing apart from the others, speaking only to each other in low, intimate voices and hardly noticing the room at all.

At length, their carriage was waiting. Mrs Bennet pressed her hope to see the whole family soon at Longbourn, addressing herself principally to Mr Yami. To him, with an eager civility, she expressed the desire to have him sit down to their table at a family dinner, without the ceremony of a formal ceremony. The gentleman was all grateful pleasure, and promised to wait on them when he returned from Domino for a few days’ business.

Mrs Bennet was perfectly satisfied. She quitted the house with her mind full of preparations for settlements, new carriages, wedding clothes and sanction orders. She would undoubtedly see her eldest child as homemaker of Netherfield in three or four months. Of having her second son married to Clerk Devlin she thought with equal certainty and about half as much pleasure. Clerk Devlin was certainly convinced of his attachment to the dandy. Joseph was the least dear to her of all her children, and she found the clerk to be a well enough match for him.

Joseph’s head was so full of thoughts, it ached, and prevented him from assembling them by the need to retire to bed immediately. As consequence, he woke with as much confusion and agitation as he had slept.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Joseph would have been grateful for a day’s peace and reprieve, wherein he might walk in solitude to figure his thoughts into order. He was not to be given his wish. Clerk Devlin came upon him in the breakfast room, while the family sat to breakfast, and addressed their mother with these words:

“My lady, if you would grant me permission, I would solicit a private audience with Joseph in the course of the morning.”

Before Joseph could do anything more than make a mortified noise, Mrs Bennet had answered: “Yes, certainly! I am sure Joey will be very happy.”

She swiftly hurried everyone out of the room, though Joseph entreated them all with looks and a few soft pleas not to leave him. But he was denied, with apologetic looks from Yugi and shrill laughter from Téa, and left alone with Clerk Devlin.

“My dear Joey,” the gentleman addressed him directly, “your modesty does you great service. But I assure you, I have your mother’s permission for this address.” He towered over the dandy, still seated. “You can have no doubts as toward the reason for my solicitations. My attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion for my future life.”

Joseph made a distressed noise and covered his eyes.

“Your natural modesty, attributed as it should be to the delicacy of your gender, would have you doubt this, I am sure. But... perhaps, before I am run away with my feelings I should tell you my reasons for marrying.”

“Please,” Joseph pleaded, “I have such a headache. I would beg that you leave me in peace.”

Clerk Devlin ignored him entirely. Joseph could hardly listen to his laborious descriptions of why he should marry, the most of which was about Lord Pegasus James Crawford for some reason he could not comprehend.

He was startled into attention when the gentleman swept up his spare hand. He lowered his other, feeling his heartbeat throb in his head. “And now,” he said, “nothing remains but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection.”

Joseph snatched his hand away. “Sir,” he bit viciously, “I have not given you permission to touch me in any such manner!” His thoughts were sticky in the painful prison of his head. “I thank you for the compliment you are paying me, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than reject your proposal.”

Clerk Devlin cleared his throat. “It is normal, I now learn, for a dandy to reject the addresses of a man they mean to accept when he first applies for their favour, sometimes even two or three times. You must give me leave to flatter myself that this is merely an art to increase my suspense.”

“Sir, please.”

“You have no reason to reject my hand. I am quite worthy of yourself, and the establishment I can offer you - the connection to the Crawford family - makes me more than a dandy like yourself can expect. Your portion in life is so unhappily small, and though I am assured of your loveliness and amiability, it is unlikely that you may ever receive another offer of marriage.”

Joseph stood up. “How dare you, Clerk Devlin? I seek to deceive no one of my thoughts! Unlike you, who presumes to fool everyone into thinking you are a man of gentleman’s manners when you are a pompous, conceited—” He fell silent, clutching his head in a sudden sharpening of the pain. When he straightened himself, he looked directly to his cousin and gave him the force of his distempered look. “I will not, and will never marry you. Now, you will excuse me!”

He moved with violent energy from the breakfast room, hurrying past his mother listening at the door. He heard her go in to the breakfast room after him to reassure Clerk Devlin, but then he was collecting his bonnet from the vestibule and leaving the house in his frantic desire to escape.

He walked along the wide road toward Meryton, though knew not where he was going. As he was overcome by his agitation, a racing heart, and the violence of the pain in his head, he leaned against a fencepost and wept bitterly.

He was startled to hear his name called, and realised he had heard horse hooves on the road. He raised his head and looked up at Mr Kaiba haloed in watery autumnal sunlight.

///

Mr Kaiba had ridden to the border of the district to see off Mr Yami, mostly to ensure that his cousin did not call on Longbourn on his way. He had been on his leisurely ride back to Netherfield when he had come across a figure in dandy’s clothing, leaning unsteadily against the fencepost. He had dismounted, and approached the dandy in order to offer his services to the nearest house. It would be Longbourn, which would be rather uncomfortable for him—but he knew Mssr Moto and Mssr Wheeler at least would treat the dandy with civility and kindness.

When he came closer however, the bonnet - trimmed with a ribbon on each side to indicate a preference for both gentlemen and gentlewomen - no longer obscured the dandy’s face. A face with which he had become rather intimate. “Monsieur Wheeler?”

The dandy gave a start at hearing his name, then turned to look at him. His face was lined with distress, cheeks wet with tears. The eyes that looked at him were reddened and unfocussed.

He gave a quiet exhale of “Mr Kaiba...” and then pitched forward into the gentleman’s arms in a faint. He caught him with some surprise and much concern, calling his name and patting his cheeks to try and revive him.

He debated for a moment riding the dandy to Meryton to the apothecary directly, but Longbourn was much closer and they were likely to have smelling salts there. Perhaps they would know the source of Joseph’s ailment, as well.

Lifting him into his arms, he left the horse unattended and carried the fainted dandy back to the house.

Unbeknownst to him, Mssr Taylor, who was coming down the road at that moment to visit his friends at Longbourn, saw the spectacle. He held his own suspicions as toward Mr Kaiba’s unexpected gallantry, but silently took up the horse’s reins and walked after its master.

The scene which Mr Kaiba burst, unexpectedly gallant and dramatic, was thus: Mrs Bennet was in a pique, insisting with much determination that her husband go after their son and command him to come to his senses. The two younger Bennets were nearby, whispering to themselves.

They were the first to spot him, and fell instantly silent. Mrs Bennet raved on, until her youngest called out: “Mama.”

She stopped then, turned to Mr Kaiba with her husband and stared at him in utter silence. He shifted the dandy in his arms, uncomfortable with their looks, and said: “I beg pardon for your intrusion...”

“What is the matter with Joey now?” She asked, with a terseness that offended him for the sake of her ailed son.

“I came upon him on the road, overcome by some illness. He fainted, so I thought it best to bring him home.”

She clucked her tongue impatiently. “Another one of his headaches no doubt. He deserves as much after this morning.” She turned away and begun arguing with Mr Bennet again. “When Joseph awakes, I command you—”

He was broken from his attention by the youngest daughter, who murmured to him, “you best bring him upstairs. Téa has gone to fix the curtains.”

Mr Kaiba really did not want to go any further into the house, but there was nothing to be done about it. He followed the young lady up the tight staircase into a darkened bedroom. He flushed in embarrassment, but the young Miss Wheeler beckoned him to lay down his charge on one of the beds. Doing so, he instantly stepped away. Mssr Moto was at his brother’s side in an instant, holding salts under his nose.

He paused only long enough to see Mssr Wheeler regain consciousness, then promptly excused himself from the room, and swiftly, the house.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Meanwhile, downstairs, things were continuing in an awkward fashion. Ever since Joseph's quick exit from the breakfast room, Mrs Bennet had been inside hearing him congratulate himself on the happy prospect of his new connection with the family. The woman, however, had seen the expression on her younger son’s face and was not wholly convinced. Once Clerk Devlin’s profusions on the future felicity he was to expect ceased, she was able to ask him for the particulars of his proposal.

He did explain, however, and Joseph’s vehemence had startled her—but no less than Clerk Devlin’s determination to believe that he had been successful in his proposal. She gave him a concerned look. “I am not sure I quite believe that Joseph has agreed, Clerk Devlin. But he will be brought to reason. He is a headstrong, foolish boy and does not know his own interest. I will make him know it, however.”

Clerk Devlin frowned a little to hear this. “If he really is headstrong and foolish, I do not know if he will be a particularly desirable husband to a man like me. I expect from my partner submission and obedience, in all the important matters.”

“In all the important matters, he is,” she insisted. “Joey did look unwell when he passed, perhaps he was overcome with one of his headaches. They put him in a sour disposition when he is unable to tend to them accordingly.”

“Does he suffer these headaches often?” Clerk Devlin asked warily.

Seeing that her second attempt at persuasion had not gone any better than her first, she could see that she was out of her way. “Not at all, almost never, indeed—although loud parties and a lack of sleep do agitate them. In your humble home I’m sure he will never be overcome by them.”

“That is some reassurance. Though I am coming to think that if he persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it would not do to force him into accepting me. If he is liable to such delicate indisposition, he may find the situation harmful.”

“Oh nonsense, he will be reasonable when he has recovered. I will go to Mr Bennet directly, and we will have the matter settled before dinnertime!” Without waiting for his answer, she fled quickly from the breakfast room to her husband’s library. “Oh, Mr Bennet! You are wanted immediately! Everything is in uproar! You must come and find Joey, bring him home and make him marry Clerk Devlin!”

Mr Bennet raised his eyes from his book and settled them upon her face with such indifference it distressed her further. “I have not the pleasure of understanding you. Of what are you talking?”

“Of Clerk Devlin and Joey! He made a proposal this half-hour past and Joey has gone and rejected him and left the house in a state! Now Clerk Devlin is beginning to say he will not have Joey!”

“Joey has gone out in a state?” He asked, raising to his feet.

“Oh, Mr Bennet, you do focus on the most tiresome things! You must find him and insist upon his marrying Clerk Devlin!”

He gave his wife an inscrutable look. “He will hear my opinion, when he has been found.”

She followed him out to the hall by the vestibule, and was insisting her point when suddenly the household was come upon by the peculiar sight of Mr Kaiba entering with an unconscious Joseph in his arms. Mrs Bennet knew not how to comprehend the moment, so instead she returned her attention to her original occupation.

While they were still in his confusion, Tristan Taylor came inside, having tied up Mr Kaiba’s mare somewhere safely. He was only inside for a few moments before Mr Kaiba came down the stairs and headed directly out the door, pausing on the step to bow and leave without making any goodbyes.

Mr and Mrs Bennet quickly went up the stairs, and the two youngest daughters came down the stairs. Upon seeing Tristan there, Serenity clutched his arm and whispered with eager enthusiasm: “you would not believe the fun of the morning, Tristan! What do you think has happened? Clerk Devlin has made an offer of marriage to Joey, and he rejected the proposal! Not only that, but he fainted on the road and was rescued by Mr Kaiba of all people! He looked very gallant—like a hero in the old paintings!”

They hurried out soon afterward though, on their way to Meryton for gossip and a draught from the apothecary. Mssr Taylor quietly let himself into the drawing room, where he found Clerk Devlin contemplating in solitude. The gentleman looked up as he entered, and greeted him with much cordiality and politeness. They sat together in conversation while the household was busy.

Upstairs, Mrs Bennet had seen that Joey had regained his wits, and immediately set upon her husband to speak with him. Mr Bennet, with his usual alacrity, settled himself into a chair beside his son’s bed. “I have come to you with a matter of importance. I understand that Clerk Devlin has made you an offer of marriage. Is this true?”

“It is.”

“Very well; and this offer of marriage you have refused?”

“I have, sir.”

“Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is that not so, Mrs Bennet?”

“Yes!” she cried, glad to have her point reviewed. “Or I will never see him again!”

“An unhappy alternative is before you, Joseph. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Clerk Devlin,” he paused here, building his wife’s suspense, “and I will never see you again if you do.”

Joseph could not smile at this. He was pleased, at least, to have his father on his own side during this matter. But his head ached acutely, and he knew that his father was only acting in such a manner to quarrel with his wife.

“Mr Bennet!” she exclaimed, without the sense to think how the noise might affect her son’s well-being, “what do you mean by talking this way? You promised me to insist upon his marrying Clerk Devlin!”

“My dear,” he said, smiling. “I would request you allow me the free use of my understanding in this matter. Now, Joseph, you rest. Do not torment yourself further.”

Joseph was grateful, at least, that his mother chased her husband out of the room to scold and quarrel with him. He was left with a little peace to himself as Yugi attempted to soothe his headache with tea and cold towels applied to his forehead.

At long last Téa and Serenity returned from Meryton with his draught, and though it made him sleep until the afternoon, when he awoke he was refreshed.

He washed and dressed, descending the stairs with one hand clutched tight on the banister. When he entered the drawing room, however, he was not greeted very cordially.

“There he is,” Mrs Bennet said spitefully. “Looking as unconcerned as can be, and caring nothing for us as long as he gets his way!”

Joseph silent sat down and took up a magazine to look over, letting her talk on until she wore herself out.

“I tell you what, Mssr Joseph! If you take it into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way you will never get a husband at all! Then who will maintain you when your father is dead? Certainly not I! From this day forward I have washed my hands of you. I told you upstairs that I would never speak to you again and I mean it! I have no pleasure in talking to ungrateful children—not that I have much pleasure in talking to anyone. Nobody knows what I suffer with my poor nerves! But it is always so, people who do not complain are never pitied.”

Her children listened to all of this and wisely kept their tongue. Any attempt to reason with or sooth her would only increase her agitation. She talked on without any interruption from anyone until Clerk Devlin entered the room, with Mssr Taylor close behind. His air was more stately than usual, and he looked around the room with an unchanging expression.

Mrs Bennet straightened. “I do insist that all of you hold your tongues, and let Clerk Devlin and I have a little conversation together.”

Joseph immediately took Serenity from the room, and the two of them sojourned around the garden with Yugi, enjoying the late afternoon sun until they had to sit. Téa stayed in the room, at playing cards and pretending she wasn’t eavesdropping.

Mrs Bennet, however, barely got the gentleman’s name out before he began:

“My dear lady, let us be silent on this point. It is clear that my cousin Joseph’s disposition is not suited to familial duty. I am resigned, and at peace with the fact. Indeed, it is always easier for one to accept resignation when the object of his desires begins to lose its perceived value. You will thus excuse me from any disrespect to your family, Mrs Bennet, by withdrawing my pretensions to your son’s favour. My object has been to secure an amiable lifelong companion for myself, with due consideration for the advantage of all your family, and if my manner has been at all reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The discussion of Clerk Devlin’s offer was now at an end. Joseph had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings of his recollection of the event, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of his mother. Mrs Bennet had not, as she often professed she would, cast Joseph off from her notice. Indeed, she gave him more of it over the next days as she scolded him angrily for every little slight.

As for the gentleman himself, his feelings were chiefly expressed by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to Joseph, who rather preferred to be free of Clerk Devlin’s deceitful ‘civilities’.

The assiduous attentions were transferred for the rest of the day to Mssr Taylor, whose kindness in listening to him was a relief to all the Bennets, but especially his friend Joseph.

The next day produced no abatement of either Mrs Bennet’s ill humour, nor Clerk Devlin’s angry pride. The children all hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, on the last day of the Autumnal Interim, and to Saturday he was determined to stay.

After breakfast, the children walked to Meryton. They were joined upon their entering the town by Mlle Valentine, who attended them to their aunt’s. She was scolded by most of them for missing the tournament, which she took in good humour. Her regret and vexation was accepted by everybody, and their concern was the main topic of conversation for the night.

To Joseph, however, in a quiet moment by the window, she voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of her absence had been self-imposed. “I found,” the gentlewoman said, “as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Mr Kaiba. To be in the same room, the same party for many hours together — to probably face him in the champions’ games — would be more than I could bear. It was likely to my mind that scenes would arise that would be unpleasant to more persons than myself. I thought it best for the tone of the evening to leave the festivities in peace.”

Joseph highly approved her self-endurance, and thought her all the more respectable for her desire to maintain the enjoyments at the expense of her own.

Mlle Valentine and Lieutenant Valon escorted them back to Longbourn, and Joseph had the pleasure of the gentlewoman’s particular attentions as they walked. Her accompanying them also had the advantage of giving an occasion to introduce her to Mr and Mrs Bennet. The latter took an instant liking to the gentlewoman, and forgave Joseph a little for bringing such an acquaintance into her notice.

When the two guards left however, Yugi gave his brother a significant look and led the way upstairs to their bedroom. The dandy had taken a letter as soon as they had entered the house and, though reading it briefly in silence while their guests were in attendance, now wanted to confide its contents to his brother.

“This is from Mana Yami. What it contains has surprised me a good deal. The whole party has left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to Domino, with no intention of returning.”

Joseph was just as surprised as his elder brother, and took a seat. “What reason does she give?”

“The social season,” Yugi answered. “Now that the Interim is drawing to a close, it would be unseemly to remain at the country estate when the rest of the fashionable world has returned to their home for the Winter.”

Joseph frowned. He’d made his opinion on the ‘social seasons’ clear often enough. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that Mr Yami won’t return... though if his friend Mr Kaiba intends to keep him on a short heel, then it may.” He shook his head. “So you will wait for him to return for the next Autumn. That’s not so bad.”

Yugi shook his head and took out the letter. “I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me. I will conceal nothing from you, Joey.”

“Mr Kaiba is impatient to see his brother, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet him again. I really do not think Mokuba Kaiba has an equal for elegance, accomplishment or intelligence. The affection he inspires in Isis and myself is growing into something more than as the younger brother of our brother’s cousin. We hope, through the course of the year, to call him our own brother.

I do not know if I have ever before mentioned my feelings on this subject. My brother admires Mokuba greatly already, and he will—once Mokuba has finished his schooling by the Summer interim—have the opportunity of meeting on a much more frequent, intimate setting. His relations wish this connection as much as my own. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Yugi, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?”

Yugi stopped there, folding away the letter. “What do you think now, Joey? Is that not clear enough? Mana all but directly says she does not wish me to be her brother by law. That she knows her brother must be indifferent, if he has nothing to prevent a marriage to the young Kaiba. There cannot be another explanation for this.”

“Yes there can,” Joseph said, “for mine is totally different. I will tell you, and I won’t dress it up behind deceiving words.” He folded his arms and scowled. “Miss Yami sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry young Kaiba. A boy of fifteen who has not even decided his gender yet. Or if she does not want him to marry this child, she wants you to believe that he does to intimidate you into giving up.”

Yugi shook his head. “Joey...”

“You ought to believe me, Yugi. No one who has ever seen you two together can doubt his affection. Miss Yami definitely cannot. If she’d seen half as much love for herself in Mr Kaiba she’d have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this: we are not rich enough, or grand enough for them.”

“If we thought alike of Miss Yami,” Yugi said, “your presentation might make me easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Mana is incapable of wilfully deceiving anyone. All that I can hope in this case is that she has deceived herself.”

Joseph shook his head. “I am not surprised,” he replied. “You always think the best of people who don’t deserve it.”

Yugi sighed. “Oh, but Joey... if he returns no more until next Autumn, it won’t matter. A thousand things may arise in three seasons!”

Joey soothed him as much as he could, but he knew as much to be true. It was no doubt the reason why Miss Yami had been quick to keep them all away.

They agreed that Mrs Bennet should only hear of the departure of the family—and nothing on the social seasons, or anything to alarm her on the score of her expected felicity. Even this partial information gave her a great deal of anxiety, and she decried it as exceedingly unlucky that the sisters should leave just as their friendship was growing. They left her to the consolation that Yugi’s courtship would continue the instant Mr Yami returned to Hertfordshire. She began to plan in earnest the family dinner he would join them at, and ensured she would take care to have two full courses.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Taylors, and again during the day Mssr Taylor was so kind as to listen to Clerk Devlin. Joseph took her aside before dinner to take the opportunity of thanking him. “It keeps him in good humour,” he whispered, “and I am more obliged to you than I can express.”

Tristan assured his friend of his satisfaction in being useful, and that amply repaid him for the little sacrifice of his time. Which was kind enough on its own, but Tristan’s goals extended farther than Joseph could guess. His object was nothing less than to secure any repetition of Clerk Devlin’s advances towards his dear friend—by engaging them toward himself. Such was Mssr Taylor’s scheme. Appearances had been so favourable that, when they parted that night, he would have been almost secure of them if he had not been to leave in two days’ time.

But with that thought, he did injustices to the fire and independence of the clerk’s character. He escaped out of Longbourn House before breakfast the next day to hasten himself to Taylor Lodge and throw himself at Tristan’s feet. He was anxious to avoid his cousins, from the thought that if they saw him depart they would have understood his motives and Mrs Bennet would do all she could to waylay him.

His reception was the most flattering kind. Mssr Taylor had seen him from the window of his bedroom as he walked toward the house, and set out to ‘accidentally’ meet him in the lane. He had hoped to engage him in more attentions, continue to win his favour, but he could not expect what would pass just inside the gate.

In as short a time as Clerk Devlin’s long-winded speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both. He earnestly entreated the dandy to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men. Tristan felt no inclination to trifle with the gentleman’s happiness. He had accepted the offer solely from the disinterested desire of an establishment, and cared not how it was gained.

Dame and Lady Taylor were quickly applied to for their consent, and it was bestowed with joy. Clerk Devlin’s present circumstances made it a most eligible match for their son, to whom they could give no fortune but a small dowry. His future prospects were exceedingly fair. The whole family was overjoyed with the occasion. Tristan himself was tolerable composed: he had gained his point. Clerk Devlin was neither sensible or agreeable. His society was tiresome and his attachment to Tristan must be imaginary. But still, he would be his husband.

Having experienced disappointment in the only real inclination he had in his lifetime, he had since become bitter toward matters of romance. Yet, marriage had always been his object: it was the only honourable establishment for a well-educated dandy of small fortune. Now, at the age of twenty-seven, without being handsome, he had achieved just that.

The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the shock it was going to give Joseph Wheeler. Joseph would wonder, would condemn him for his deceptions to Clerk Devlin. Joseph valued honesty above everything, and Tristan’s very actions now would be abominable to him.

Still. His resolution was not shaken. It was only his feelings that were hurt by the understanding.

He must give the information himself, if any of their friendship was to be salvaged. He charged Clerk Devlin to give no hint of what had passed to the family when he returned to Longbourn for dinner. The promise of secrecy was very dutifully given. Keeping it was less easily done, as his absence had excited much curiosity in his cousins.

As he was to begin his journey early the next morning, he took his leaving ceremonies before the family moved to bed for the night. Mrs Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy she should be to see him at Longbourn again.

“My dear lady,” he replied, smiling widely, “this invitation is particularly satisfying, as it is precisely what I had hoped to receive. You may be certain that I shall accept it as soon as possible.”

They were all astonished. Mr Bennet, in particular, had no wish for his speedy return, and admittedly cautioned him against leaving his patron if it would cause Lord Crawford any inconvenience. Clerk Devlin thanked him with warm sincerity, and assured them with equal tone that he would do no such thing. They parted ways, after the clerk bestowed wishes of health and happiness upon them all, “not excepting my cousin Joseph.”

All of the family were equally surprised to find that he planned a quick return. Mrs Bennet convince herself that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her younger children. Serenity, she thought, might be prevailed upon to accept him. The youngest had shyly admitted to thinking him quite handsome, and if his character could be looked past she might be convinced.

On the following morning, Mssr Taylor called after breakfast, and took Joseph out for a walk in the gardens and a private conversation. He related to his dearest friend the events of the day before.

The possibility of Clerk Devlin’s believing himself in love with his friend had occurred to Joseph over the last day or two. But that Tristan could encourage him, willingly encourage and deceive him in order to secure an engagement...

“I see what you are feeling,” Tristan said calmly. “You must be surprised and disappointed. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know. I haven’t been for the longest time. I only want for a comfortable home, and this is what Clerk Devlin can provide. I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is equal to anyone can boast on entering the marriage state.”

“Tristan you know I couldn’t care less if you were marrying for money or for comfort or for love!” he replied, offended. “You know why I’m upset! I didn’t think you capable of such deception!”

“Oh, hush Joey!” Tristan said angrily. “I am twenty-seven. I have no money, no connections—nothing to recommend myself. This man believes he loves me. You and I both know he doesn’t, even if he is still fooling himself. It’s not a crime to let a man feel happiness by letting him believe something that won’t hurt him! Don’t you judge me, Joey. Don’t you dare judge me.”

Turning, he strode off toward the road. Joseph was forced to make his excuses and retreated to his rooms for some solitude. It was many hours’ contemplation until he could sort the mess that was in his head. The pang of his friend disgracing himself and sinking in his esteem....

He could only wish that Tristan would be happy with the cards he had dealt himself, and hope that Tristan hadn’t been deceiving him too, in their long years of friendship.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Joseph was sitting with his mother and siblings, attempting to concentrate through the mess of his thoughts and delaying Yugi’s enquiries, when Dame Taylor appeared herself. She was sent by her son to announce the engagement to the family. She told the matter, with many compliments to the Bennets, and much self-congratulations on the prospect of a connection between their families. Her audience was not only wondering, but incredulous.

“Dame Taylor,” Mrs Bennet exclaimed, with much affront. “You must be entirely mistaken!”

Téa, always unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed: “good heavens! How can you tell use a story? Do you not know that Clerk Devlin wants to marry Joey?”

Nothing less than the calm manner of a courtier could have borne such treatment without anger, but Dame Taylor’s good breeding carried her through it all. “I would ask you to believe that I am very secure in the truth of the situation.”

Joseph, feeling it necessary to save him from so unpleasant a situation, put himself forward: “it certainly is true. Tristan told it to me himself this very morning.” Before his mother of sisters could begin anew their disbelief, he turned to Dame Taylor and offered his warmest congratulations on his son’s expected marriage. Yugi quickly joined him, and made additional remarks toward the happiness that could be expected from the match, the excellent character of Clerk Devlin, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from Domino.

Mrs Bennet was far too overpowered to say a great deal while Dame Taylor remained. But no sooner had she left them that her feelings found a violent vent. “I do not believe it!” she protested, “I simply do not! I cannot be true! And if it must be true than Clerk Devlin must have been taken in by the most insidious of arts!” She fanned herself rapidly with her hand fan. “This is all your fault, Joseph Wheeler! Ungrateful boy! Now Clerk Devlin has been snapped up by no one so worthy, and they will never be happy together, you mark my words! Wretched boy! You’ve condemned us to the poorhouse!” She wailed and clutched her chest. “I have been so misused…by everyone!”

Their mother dwelled on her offences for the rest of the day. Nothing could console nor appease her, nor did the day wear out her resentment. It was a week before she could see Joseph without abusing him, and a month entire before she could speak to Dame Taylor or her lady without being rude, and an entire season before she could at all forgive their son.

Mr Bennet was much more tranquil on the occasion. “It gratifies me,” he said, “to discover that Tristan Taylor, whom I used to think of as tolerably sensible, is as foolish as my wife—and more foolish than my own son!” Joseph listened to this in agitation and, as he was learning to do often these days, said nothing at all.

Yugi confessed himself a little surprised at the much, but he said less of his astonishment than of his earnest desire for their happiness. Téa and Serenity were unaffected by the news, other than using it as another piece of gossip to spread at Meryton. As for Joseph, there was a newfound strain to his friendship with Tristan. They kept mutually silent on the subject, but Joseph could not easily forget that the dandy he had considered his honest and dearest friend was not the first. All true confidences between them were lost. His offence made him turn his affections with more fondness to Yugi, of whose honesty and kindness he was sure could never be sunk in his opinion.

Clerk Devlin soon sent a letter of thanks to Mr Bennet, who civilities and thankful effusions would have been more suitable for a year's stay at their home, rather than only two weeks. In the letter he also congratulated himself in the most rapturous on his future felicities with Mssr Taylor. He added that it was merely the chance to enjoy his society that had been so ready to return on their invitation to Longbourn.

“Lord Pegasus James Crawford heartily approves of my match, and has given me permission to return on Monday fortnight. He has wished my marriage to take place as soon as possible, which will of course be another motivation for my dear Tristan to name an early day to make me the happiest of men.”

Clerk Devlin’s return into Hertfordshire was no longer a pleasant expectation for Mrs Bennet. On the contrary, she complained bitterly to whichever of her children would listen: “It is very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to Taylor Lodge! It’s very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome. I hate having visitors when my health is so troubled. Lovers are of all people the very worst to be around!” She wailed and cried about Clerk Devlin’s arrival, until it gave way to the greater distress of Mr Yami’s continuing absence.

Neither Yugi nor Joseph were comfortable on this subject. Yugi had sent Mana an early answer to her letter, and was counting the days until he might reasonably hope to receive a response. Day after day passed without any more news, other than a report Téa brought from Meryton. The family was known not to be expected in Hertfordshire until the next Autumn for the Hunt season. Mrs Bennet, highly incensed by the report, never failed to contradict it as a most scandalous falsehood.

Even Joseph began to fear that Mr Yami’s sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as he was to admit to an idea that would so prevent Yugi’s happiness, he could not help but worry. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and the strong character of his friend, assisted by the amusements of Domino, might be too much for the strength of his attachment.

As for Yugi, his anxiety under this suspense was more painful than his brother’s. But his good nature never allowed himself to confide his fears in Joseph. No such restraint belonged to their mother, however. Almost hourly, she complained of his disappearance, and told Yugi: “if he does not come back, you ought to think yourself very ill-used!” It took all of Yugi’s steady character to bear these attacks with calmness.

Clerk Devlin returned, as promised, on the Monday fortnight. His reception at Longbourn was not quite as gracious as it had been on his first visit, but he was too happy to need much attention. Lucky for the others, the business of courtship relieved them from most of his company. The majority of his day was spent at Taylor Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed.

Mrs Bennet was in the most pitiable state. The very mention of anything concerning the match threw her into the most ill humours. She complained often to her husband, bemoaning the marriage and the entail frequently. He humoured her, but no more than he could entertain himself with her agitations.

END OF VOLUME ONE.