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“And a fire?”

“Yes.”

“Then I forgive you the distance.”

Darcy took his cousin’s hand, then found that a handshake would not serve. He drew him into a brief embrace which surprised them both. Fitzwilliam recovered first and struck his shoulder affectionately.

“That is better. Your last letter was so civil that I wondered whether I should be required to announce myself.”

“You have never waited to be announced in your life.”

“I should hate to begin at Christmas.”

The servant took his coat and hat. Sir approached, examined a boot, and accepted the Colonel’s hand behind his ears with the gravity due to an old acquaintance.

“Still here, then, Houndsmere. I thought you might have inherited a title with more duties by now.”

“He considers the house sufficient,” Darcy said.

“I hope you do not interfere.”

“Continually.”

“I see marriage has not softened you yet.”

Darcy smiled before he could prevent it. Fitzwilliam observed the smile with undisguised pleasure.

After his cousin had changed, Darcy took him into the drawing room. Jane sat near the fire, her son asleep in a cradle brought down for the afternoon. Charles stood beside it with the appearance of guarding an object of uncommon value. Elizabeth had left room upon the sofa and looked up as Darcy entered with his cousin.

The introduction was easily accomplished. Fitzwilliam congratulated Jane and Charles before turning to Elizabeth.

“I owe you a particular obligation, Miss Bennet.”

“Do you? We have only just met.”

“My cousin wrote more than a page without mentioning the condition of a road. I had begun to think it impossible.”

Darcy drew a chair toward the sofa. “You exaggerate.”

“I have preserved the evidence.”

“Then I must ask to inspect it,” Elizabeth said. “He may have described a bridge upon the next sheet.”

“He described you. I confess I preferred it.”

She coloured, but her answer came readily. “I hope the description was flattering enough to excuse the difference.”

“Darcy is a cautious man. He did not attempt to do you justice. I suspect he was afraid I should come sooner.”

Charles laughed. Darcy sat beside Elizabeth and resigned himself to an afternoon in which his cousin would have every advantage.

He did not particularly wish to be rescued from it.

“Your family is expected tomorrow?” Fitzwilliam asked Elizabeth.

“If the roads remain as they were when they left,” Elizabeth said. “Papa has promised to stop rather than prove that a date in a letter can govern the weather.”

“He will find that difficult,” Charles said. “Your mother will wish to be here.”