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“I expect them back when you come to Longbourn.”

“I shall remind her.”

“You must do more than remind her. I have been doing that for months.”

Darcy laughed. Mr. Bennet looked at him for a moment, then held out his hand.

“I am glad, Darcy.”

The words were quiet. Darcy accepted the offered hand and found he could answer just as plainly.

“So am I, sir.”

Mr. Bennet’s grip tightened briefly before he released him.

“Now I must go upstairs. My wife will wish to tell me that there is no time, and I should be sorry to deny her the opportunity.”

He left Darcy beside the shelves. For a moment the library was very still.

It was January 18. The date had been settled through letters in December, the clergyman consulted, and the necessary arrangements attended to while Elizabeth and her mother discussed clothes with a seriousness Darcy had learnt to respect. The Bennets had remained after Christmas, filling the intervening weeks with music, walks when the weather allowed, and an astonishing capacity to be ready for a wedding except for one more thing.

Now the morning had come. There was nothing left for him to arrange which would make it arrive sooner.

He went upstairs to see Anna.

Ruth was fastening the child’s gown while Martha sat beside the hearth with a small shoe in her hand. Anna had taken the other and appeared unwilling to return it.

“She has discovered a difficulty with the preparations,” Darcy said.

“She has discovered that we wish to have it, sir,” Ruth replied.

Martha offered the wooden ring in exchange. Anna considered, then surrendered the shoe and immediately reached for it again.

Darcy took her when Ruth had finished with the fastenings. She settled against him, warm and solid, and placed the ring against his chin.

“Thank you,” he told her. “I shall not require it at church.”

Martha smiled. “We shall bring her down when you are home again. She can have her sleep while everybody is out.”

“That will suit her better than the ceremony.”

“And Ruth will be here, sir.”

“I know.”

Martha would remain for the wedding breakfast with Thomas; Ruth would attend Anna as usual.

Anna caught at his neckcloth. He eased her fingers free and kissed her brow.

“You must allow me to keep this respectable for another hour.”

She offered no undertaking, but accepted Ruth’s arms when Darcy returned her. He waited while Martha put on the recovered shoe, then went downstairs with the sound of their ordinary conversation following him.

Charles and Fitzwilliam stood in the hall. His cousin examined him with exaggerated care.

“You appear ready.”

“I am.”