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“I should like Anna to live at Pemberley. As my ward.”

Ruth looked down at Anna, then toward Martha.

Martha looked toward Thomas. He remained standing, one hand resting upon the chimney-piece.

“She would continue to be called Anna Hargreaves,” Darcy added.

“We did not give her the name to have a claim upon her, sir,” Thomas said.

“I know.”

“We would have called her what you wished.”

“I wish her to keep the name she has.” Darcy looked from one to the other. “And I do not wish to take away the people she knows.”

Martha’s fingers moved over the edge of her apron. “Would Ruth go with her?”

“If Ruth is willing. That is one of the things I have come to ask.”

Ruth glanced at Martha before answering.

“I would not willingly leave her, sir.”

“Nor would I ask you to do so.”

“There would be a room for me?”

“Beside the sleeping room, with a door to the passage. Mrs. Reynolds can show it to you. You may tell her anything which would make it inconvenient, or tell me.”

Ruth nodded, but he could see that she had not yet considered all the questions she might wish to ask. He must give her time to look at the place before requiring an answer about living in it.

Martha had found her own question.

“When would you mean to take her?”

“I have fixed no day.”

“She knows her cradle here. She knows when Thomas comes in. I am not saying she could not become used to another room, only that she is happy in this one.”

“I know she is.”

Darcy looked at Anna, who had succeeded in bringing one bell of the rattle to her mouth. Ruth gently moved it away and substituted the clean corner of a cloth. The child accepted the exchange with very little protest.

“I am not dissatisfied with anything you have done.”

“We did not suppose—” Martha began.

“I should like to say it plainly. You loved Georgiana. You have loved her child. I have been very grateful, and have made that gratitude much easier to express by leaving every difficult part of Anna’s care to you.”

Thomas moved his hand from the chimney-piece.

“There has been pleasure in it, too, sir.”

“Yes. I hope you will allow me some of that as well.”

Martha’s eyes filled. Darcy had not meant to make her cry. He looked down at his own hand, suddenly unable to find any of the words which had seemed necessary upon the walk.

“You have always been welcome here,” she said.