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Darcy smiled. She was very like him. Perhaps the most like him of all his children. Quiet and studious, happier in small groups than in a large company. She loved animals and nature and learning everything she possibly could about the world around her. But she also had a tendency to shut herself away from anything that made her uncomfortable, and that worried him. Darcy knew too well where such habits could lead. Had Elizabeth not crashed so gloriously into his life all those years ago, challenging him to push against the ropes of propriety and self control he had tangled about himself, he dreaded to think what sort of man he might have become. A lonely one, certainly. A proud and probably deeply unpleasant one. He did not want Kate to allow the world and all it offered to pass her by.

"Your mother has sent me to find you and bade me tell you that tea is about to be served on the south lawn."

Large dark eyes, almost a mirror of his own, looked up at him pleadingly. "Do I have to?"

Darcy tried to look firm, but his heart wasn’t in it. He understood her feelings well enough.

"There are so many people here, Papa. And everyone is so noisy."

William chose that moment to seize Darcy's cravat and began determinedly pulling it loose. His valet, Burke, would be most displeased. He resettled the boy in his arms. "I know it is not your favourite sort of occasion, my love, but it would mean an awful lot to your mama and me to have you with us. It is so rare that the family is all together."

"There is a good reason the family is never all together."

"Nonsense," he said, although he understood her meaning and did not entirely disagree.

"Did you see Uncle Charles and Uncle Richard playing cricket? They are like ten-year-old boys."

"They have always been like ten-year-old boys," Darcy said gravely. "I am assured it is a great part of their charm, although both have vexed me nearly to the point of tears on occasion with their silliness."

"That is just it. Everyone becomes silly when we are all together. There is no one to have a proper conversation with." She hesitated, stroking Pegasus's long ear between her fingers. "And you have been so busy with all your guests that we have not been able to sit together for an age."

Darcy's expression softened. He shifted William more securely onto one hip and reached out to tuck a dark curl behind Kate's ear. "I know, my dear Katie Cat. Another couple of days and peace will be restored. Then you and I shall barricade ourselves in here with chocolate and all the scientific papers you can endure."

Kate smiled at him then, and it was her mother’s smile. It made her whole face light up and a feeling of tenderness washed over him to see it. He might have enjoyed the sight a little longer had William not decided that his own contribution to the conversation was long overdue. His grandson interjected a long, emphatic stream of vowels, one hand waving in the air as though contributing something of great importance to the conversation.

Kate laughed. "I suppose we shall never have complete quiet again."

"Probably not with this young devil within our household."

Darcy struck about for something to tempt her outside and recalled a new connection he had made that morning. "I have made the acquaintance of a friend of your uncle Richard whom I think you might find interesting. He is an antiquarian and an excavator. Not quite your main area of interest but fascinating nonetheless."

Kate closed the book and looked up at him with interest. Progress was being made, Darcy thought happily.

He hurried on. "He travels extensively, examining ruins and tombs and the like. He has spent time in Egypt and has even worked in the pyramids. Is that not fascinating?"

"It is a very singular occupation. I wonder if he has seen the pyramids at Giza?"

"We shall have to ask him. He has given lectures on his subject as well. He is an Oxford man rather than Cambridge, but I suppose I shall forgive him that if he can offer a little interesting conversation beyond the weather and whatever fresh trouble is brewing on the Continent. Briar, I think his name is. Nathaniel Briar."

"Nathaniel Briar?" she said, her nose scrunching together as it often did when she was displeased.

"Yes. You have already met him?"

"I made his acquaintance earlier. I was searching for somewhere quiet to read and found him in the library."

"Your uncle assures me he is a very good sort of chap. More importantly, he appears to know his subject extremely well." He shifted William again as the boy attempted to insert one chubby finger into Darcy's ear. "I thought you might be interested in one of the papers he has written recently. He has offered to send me a copy."

"I must say, Papa, he did not give me the impression of a scholar. I had dismissed him as the silliest sort of fop."

"Yes, well, his clothing is perhaps a little flamboyant."

Kate gave him a look. "Just a little?"

Darcy suppressed a smile. "Very well. He dresses like a peacock. But Fitzwilliam assures me that beneath all the finery he is as smart as a whip, so perhaps we should both reserve judgement until we know him better."

"I shall try," Kate said hesitantly, reopening her book. "Although I remain unconvinced."

Darcy recognised the gesture for what it was. His daughter considered their conversation finished and expected him to take himself elsewhere. He remained quietly in place until Kate finally looked up again.