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Darcy nearly offered to write again, send a carriage, or contrive some assurance which would settle the matter. He remembered what she had asked of him scarcely ten minutes before.

“I hope he comes,” he said.

“So do I.”

Elizabeth folded the letter. She made no attempt to fill the silence which followed, and he discovered that he did not find it uncomfortable. The fire settled softly beside them. She looked about the library as though deciding where she would put her father when he arrived.

“He will like this room,” she said.

“Bingley has told me so.”

“Do not leave him here with a book you particularly wish to finish. He may find it before you return.”

“Would he object if I joined him?”

“Only if you wished to talk about something less interesting than the book.”

“I shall take care to choose my subject.”

She rose, and he stood with her. At the door Elizabeth paused.

“Mr. Darcy, I hope you know that I am grateful.”

“You have said so.”

“I have said rather more besides.”

“I should have been surprised if you had not.”

She gave him one last amused look and went upstairs.

Darcy returned to the chair she had occupied, not to sit in it, but to move it back beside the hearth. He stopped with his hand upon its back. She had spent nearly half an hour in his company and had left him wishing for more. The conversation had included a request he had not expected and a correction he might once have resented. Neither had spoiled it.

He went to his desk and took out paper.

His first sentence to Fitzwilliam was absurdly formal. He crossed it through. His cousin had seen him muddy, furious, exhausted, and once so helplessly amused by Georgiana’s account of a music master’s wig that neither of them could recover when the gentleman entered. He need not invite such a man to his own house as though applying for an introduction.

Darcy began again.

Pemberley, October 10, 1813

My dear Fitzwilliam,

If your duties permit you to leave them at Christmas, I should be very glad to have you here. I have delayed asking because I was foolish enough to suppose an invitation could wait until I knew precisely what sort of company I should be able to offer. You may come and judge the company for yourself.

Bingley and his wife remain with us while work is completed upon the house he means to take. Mrs. Bingley expects to be confined next month. Her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and Miss Bingley are here also, so you need not fear being left entirely to my conversation.

Anna grows and is well cared for. I have been considering what arrangements might be made for her in the house, though nothing is settled and I shall first speak with those who have cared for her. You will wish to see her. She has lately discovered that an object dropped upon the floor will be restored to her as often as she chooses to drop it; I shall be pleased to introduce a second gentleman to that employment.

Come for as long as you can conveniently remain. I have missed you, and ought to have said so without waiting for Christmas to provide an occasion.

Yours affectionately,

Darcy

He read the letter once before folding and sealing it for the next post. His cousin knew enough to understand what remained difficult.

When they assembled in the drawing room before dinner, Elizabeth wore blue.