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“‘Bingley has shown remarkable confidence in taking two unmarried sisters to a house containing only one eligible bachelor. I hope his friend possesses a cousin. It would be a pity to waste so much excellent hospitality for want of a second gentleman, though I do not undertake to persuade either young lady to accept him.’”

Darcy looked at her.

Elizabeth lowered the letter. “I hope you will not hold Jane answerable for Papa’s plans. She has already done her part.”

“Does he frequently make such recommendations?”

“He prefers to accuse Mama of making them. I thought it only fair to expose him when he began.”

“I do possess a cousin.”

“How obliging of you.”

“Colonel Fitzwilliam. A younger son of my uncle, the Earl.”

“You need not give me his entire pedigree. I did not bring the letter as an application.”

Darcy laughed, surprised into it by her quickness. “I was about to say that he is seldom at a loss for conversation, and might therefore supply another deficiency.”

“I have observed no shortage of conversation at Pemberley.”

“Perhaps the distribution has been imperfect.”

“I shall not ask you to explain that. I might discover you meant me.”

“You have never left me in much doubt as to your meaning, Miss Bennet.”

“Not when I have understood it myself.”

“My cousin would enjoy your father’s company,” Darcy said.

“Then you must take care. Between them they might arrange your household entirely.”

“Fitzwilliam has tried.”

“Without success?”

“Not entirely. I am generally more willing to admit it after he has gone away.”

Elizabeth smiled. “That seems hard upon him.”

It had been. Darcy had answered his cousin’s concern with assurances that nothing was required, and had subsequently resented the quiet which followed. Fitzwilliam had duties of his own. He could not spend his life appearing at Pemberley in the hope of being admitted to a confidence Darcy might not choose to offer.

“I should ask him to come for Christmas,” he said.

“Would he be able to leave his duties?”

“He must tell me that. But I have not yet given him an invitation to answer.”

“Then I hope Papa’s impertinence may have done some good.”

“Will your father come himself?”

“He has not decided when. Mama will have a great deal to say about leaving Longbourn, and a great deal more about remaining there while Jane is here. I expect him to wait until one argument defeats the other.”

“You would like to see him.”

Her smile altered. “Very much.”