Page 237

Her father found his chair after tea. Mary discovered the library before dinner, and Kitty found Anna in the nursery with Ruth. Elizabeth accompanied her there, glad to make another introduction which could be simple.

“This is Anna Hargreaves,” she said. “Mr. Darcy’s ward.”

Kitty held out a cautious finger. Anna caught it firmly and attempted to draw it toward her mouth.

“She has a tooth,” Kitty announced.

“She has been very industrious about acquiring it,” Ruth said. “We have all heard of the trouble.”

Elizabeth laughed, then took the little hand when Kitty needed rescuing. Anna reached toward her, and Ruth allowed Elizabeth to lift her.

When the child grew restless, Elizabeth returned her to Ruth. Kitty followed her from the nursery reluctantly.

“I wish she were coming down to dinner.”

“She would not enjoy it.”

“I should.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth said, smiling. “That is generally the difficulty.”

By Christmas morning the house had acquired the familiar sounds of her family: Mary’s deliberate practice, Lydia calling to Kitty across a passage when she could have walked six steps, her mother’s enquiries for things which were usually in the room beside her. Elizabeth woke to them with a happiness which made getting out of bed easier despite the cold.

She attended church with Darcy and her family, then returned to find Jane by the fire with her son and Charles in attendance. The baby had kept them at home. Jane asked after the service and listened while Mrs. Bennet supplied particulars which had very little to do with it.

Anna came down after her sleep. Martha and Thomas had walked over to see her and were taking refreshment with Mrs. Reynolds before returning to the cottage. Elizabeth went to the housekeeper’s room with Darcy, who had been fetched from a discussion with her father about a book neither gentleman was willing to surrender.

Anna sat upon Thomas’s knee, pleased by the movement of his watch chain. Martha held the watch itself safely out of reach while allowing the child to touch the links.

“She will have the whole thing if you let her,” Darcy said.

Thomas smiled. “She has tried, sir.”

Anna looked up at Darcy’s voice. She smiled, then turned back to the chain when Thomas moved it.

“You must possess something equally interesting,” Elizabeth told Darcy.

“I shall not attempt to compete.”

When Ruth came for the child’s dinner, Martha kissed Anna’s cheek and returned the watch to Thomas. He tucked it safely into his waistcoat before handing Anna to the nurse. Martha and Thomas agreed to come again.

Elizabeth stayed a moment after Darcy had gone upstairs with Ruth and Anna. Mrs. Reynolds was trying to undo the ribbon round a parcel of fabric pieces sent down by Mrs. Bennet for the nursery sewing. The bow had become a knot, pulled tight by somebody anxious to keep the scraps together.

“I shall have to cut it,” the housekeeper said.

“Mama would never forgive us. That ribbon has probably survived three parcels already.”

Elizabeth set one finger upon the knot and held the parcel steady with her other hand. Warmth gathered beneath her fingertip. She let the crossed lengths ease apart, slowly enough that the loops did not whip free and scatter the contents.

“There.”

Mrs. Reynolds lifted the ribbon away.

“Thank you, miss.”

“You may save it for a fourth parcel.”

“I shall. Your mother will be pleased.”