Page 19 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“I have been for a walk in the Longbourn home wood,” that Darcy fellow said as he entered the room. “I am famished.”

Basile curled his lip, pausing in his eating until that man chose his food and sat at the table. Then, Basile addressed the delectable haddock once more.

“A sweet dog followed me into the wood, as it happened.”

Basile stopped eating. Dog!

“We walked for a time, and then we came upon Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who had her dog, Harry, out with her. She said my companion’s name was Conny.”

Basile sniffed. Zat short and fat idiot.

“I thought I would invite Georgiana for a visit, if you have no objection?” Darcy asked. “My cousin could escort her.”

“Of course you must invite them,” the Bingley brother said with marked enthusiasm.

“Dear Colonel Fitzwilliam!” his Caroline cried. “And darling Georgiana. Yes, do invite them. Would you like me to write her an invitation to include in your letter?”

“That is kind of you, Miss Bingley. I am certain she would like to have an invitation directly from you,” that Darcy fellow said, the sound of praise in his voice.

My mistress wants zis man, and I wish ‘er to be ‘appy. ‘ow can I help ‘er catch ‘im? I can’t chase ‘im like a mouse. Mon Dieu, I suppose I must be nice to ‘im. Basile sneezed. Zee idea makes me want to vomit…but this ‘addock is so…nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.

“When do you plan to start entertaining, Charles?” that Darcy fellow asked.

“We have had morning visitors,” the Bingley brother said.

“Half the county has been around,” his Caroline remarked.

“Now that you mention it, Darcy, I suppose it is time to have some sort of jollification,” the Bingley brother mused. “What do you suggest?”

Slowly, that Darcy fellow said, “Oh…perhaps an afternoon visiting party would be the thing? Perhaps some tea? Twinings has a lovely congou tea that Georgiana and I enjoy in the afternoons.”

“Caroline, do we have any congou tea?”

His human sighed. “We do. We received our delivery of teas from Twinings on Saturday. Tea in the afternoon? How original.”

“Today is Tuesday,” the Bingley brother pointed out. “We could send out invitations later today for this Thursday.”

“Charles!”

“What is it, Caroline?” her brother asked, sounding surprised. “I thought you loved to have parties.”

“I do, I do,” she snapped. “But two days is little time to prepare, indeed.”

“You are brilliantly able, my dear,” the Bingley brother swore. “I warrant our gathering will be the talk of the district.”

His Caroline clicked her tongue. “Brewster,” she said to the butler.

“Yes, miss?”

“Tell cook I wish to see her in my sitting room once we finish eating.”

“I will, miss.”

*

Lizzy met Mary as she walked through the outer doors into the orangery. Dressed in a drab beige gown, trimmed in brown piping, Mary appeared ready to make her regular visit to the infirmary where she read to the sick, which she would do tomorrow. She should buy some cheerful gowns to wear day-to-day.

“Ah, there you are,” Mary said. “Papa wishes to eat and you are late arriving as usual.” She eyed the apron. “You have been running again, have you not? Well, you had best take that off before entering the breakfast room.”