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Darcy moved the book closer to her hand. She released the paper.

For the first time, he considered the invitation from her side. Charles and Jane were choosing a new home together. Caroline expected to form part of their household. Miss Bennet had accompanied her sister because she loved her, leaving the rest of her family behind. An additional month at Pemberley was not simply another month in comfortable rooms.

“Your father will have little cause to fear that you are neglected,” he said. “But I understand that an account of your comfort cannot supply your company.”

Elizabeth’s expression softened before she looked down.

“No. Nor can his letters quite supply his. Though I should be very sorry to lose them.”

Charles offered at once to frank her next letter if she could obtain him a seat in Parliament before dinner. Jane laughed, and Elizabeth told him that she preferred to pay the postage rather than undertake the canvassing.

“I mean to write today,” she said. “I must ask for my warmer gowns and pelisse. I brought what I thought sufficient for the autumn, but Mrs. Reynolds has been describing a Derbyshire winter.”

“Reynolds will frighten you with snow before we have finished September,” Darcy said.

“She was very reassuring. She said the roads were generally cleared eventually.”

He smiled. “I shall endeavour to improve upon that promise.”

“And I shall ask Papa for books. If I am to be buried in snow, I must be occupied.”

“You may have anything in the library.”

“Thank you. But there are books at home which I know very well. I should like to have some of them beside me.”

He understood. He kept a volume upon his own shelf which Georgiana had borrowed and never finished. There was nothing remarkable in the edition. Another copy would have contained exactly the same words.

“I hope he will send them,” Darcy said.

Jane asked whether she might add a page to the letter, and Elizabeth immediately moved to fetch paper. The room resumed its occupations around the spread plans. Caroline was proposing curtains, Charles disputing whether he need concern himself with them before acquiring a sound floor, and Jane listening with a pleasure which had been absent while he was away.

Darcy took the surveyor’s report toward the window. Charles followed him with a question about the terms he should offer the owner. They discussed who would inspect the repairs and how to make occupation depend upon their completion. Darcy recommended that Vale return before Charles accepted possession; Charles wrote the suggestion down himself.

“I am grateful,” his friend said more quietly when they had finished. “I had begun to think I must have Jane in her own house before the child came.”

“She appears willing to remain.”

“Yes. I ought to have asked her sooner.” Charles looked toward his wife. “I wanted to give her something settled.”

“You can do that without giving her floors which must be taken up.”

Charles laughed. “You make it very easy for us to stay.”

Darcy did not answer immediately. Across the room, Miss Bennet was asking Jane whether their mother would know where the pelisse had been put. Jane thought Mary would find it if their mother could not. They spoke of drawers, books, and a shawl belonging to an aunt, all the familiar objects which had been left behind in another house.

He had room enough for every trunk they might send. He had offered rooms and fires, servants and a library. It occurred to him that he had not yet asked whether his guests possessed everything a longer stay would require.

Charles glanced at the report still in Darcy’s hand and lowered his voice.

“If there is any arrangement we should make—”

“There is none which need send you away.” Darcy gave the report back to him. “Write to the agent. We shall speak of the other matters when you have his answer.”

At the table, Jane had drawn Elizabeth’s paper nearer and begun her addition to their father’s letter. Elizabeth stood behind her chair, reading what her sister permitted her to see and objecting to a description which made her sound uncommonly useful.

“You are useful,” Jane said.

“Then you must not tell Papa. He will expect me to remain so when I go home.”