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At the doorway she turned.

“Perhaps we might walk tomorrow. If your hand and the weather permit.”

“My hand will permit it.”

“Then we must hope for equal consideration from the weather.”

She went through the library. Darcy heard her pause to greet Jane in the passage, then returned to his chair when the voices moved farther away.

The account book lay beside his papers. He opened it, remembered that there was nothing further to be learned from the omitted candles, and closed it again.

Tomorrow she wished to walk with him.

Chapter Thirty-nine

CHARLES PROPOSED TO repay Darcy’s hospitality by inviting more people into his house.

“Only for the day,” he said, laying a sheet of paper upon the study desk. “Most of them, at least. The Hursts might stay two nights.”

“You have decided the extent of the obligation very precisely.”

“I have decided nothing. I brought the paper for you to decide.”

There were already names upon it.

Darcy moved his own letter aside and examined the list. Charles had left a space after each name, as though Darcy might supply the degree of pleasure with which he expected to receive them.

“The second of November,” Charles said. “A ride in the morning, company afterward, and supper. Jane would enjoy seeing people without being obliged to go out, and I should like to do something besides occupy your rooms.”

“You have occupied them very agreeably.”

“Then let me continue upon a larger scale.”

Darcy smiled and drew the paper nearer.

It was Thursday, October 21. A fortnight earlier he would have found something upon the list to object to before considering whether he wanted the company. Now he read the names and began to imagine the rooms full. Elizabeth would be there. The thought occurred before any other, and he did not attempt to persuade himself that it was an incidental advantage.

“Has your wife agreed to all this?”

“She has asked that nobody decide she is too tired before she tells us so.”

“A condition you have encountered before.”

“With varying success.” Charles took the chair opposite. “We need not make the afternoon a great occasion. A few people on horseback do not oblige everybody else to behave as though a ball has been announced.”

Darcy considered the route. The old footbridge remained barred, and even after the repairs he would not have chosen the lower path for a company of riders. He drew a line upon a separate scrap of paper, marking the upper gate and the lane beyond the north pasture.

“Westcott knows this side of the estate. I shall speak to him. Any meeting must be beyond the cottages, and we shall keep away from the damaged bank.”

“I had no intention of asking you to fall into the stream again.”

“I am glad the entertainment will not depend upon it.”

His hand still objected when he gripped a pen too tightly. The cut was healing, but it was not forgotten merely because he had resumed using the hand. He put down the pen and flexed his fingers before continuing.

“I may join the first part of the ride if Ellis is satisfied. If not, Westcott will conduct you very well without me.”

He looked again at the guest list.