Page 80 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

And perfectly formed, too.

“What is he, Georgiana?” Maria Lucas asked, abandoning her puppets and looming over them. “Oh, I know. Is this Jeffry, the guinea pig?”

“Yes,” Georgiana said. Jeffry heard the smile in her voice. “This is Jeffry.”

“Can we pet him?” one of the little girls asked.

“Yes, can we?” the other children chorused together.

Here they come. Stay strong.

“Gently, and one at a time,” Mary told them. “Pretend he is a tiny kitten and pet him like that.”

Now I’m a kitten? I should have gone to Netherfield and pestered that cat, Basile.

Jeffry wheeked, which made the children jump, and then fall into giggles.

Lizzy and Mr. Darcy entered the family drawing room, discovering that all the Lucas children were crowded around the sofa, arguing about whose turn it was to pet Jeffry.

“I should have brought Squeaky,” she said in an aside to her companion.

“Do they like mice better?” Mr. Darcy asked.

Lizzy chuckled. “They know Squeaky better, and the petting could have been shared around.”

“We must endure,” he murmured.

“I think Jeffry is the one enduring,” Lizzy told him.

Maria crossed the drawing room, holding out her hands. “Welcome, Lizzy.”

Lizzy grasped her hands, and they kissed each other’s cheeks. Breaking away, Lizzy indicated Mr. Darcy.

“Do you remember Mr. Darcy?”

Maria curtsied, and Mr. Darcy bowed his shoulders. “Welcome to the Manor, sir,” she said in a shy voice.

“Thank you,” he replied.

“Have you come to take Georgiana away?” she asked, turning to look at the sofa where his sister sat with Mary.

“Only if she is ready to leave,” Mr. Darcy said. “She appears to be having an amusing time.”

“I see that my sister has Jeffry meeting the children,” Lizzy observed, her eyebrows high.

“I am amazed,” Maria revealed. “He was not here earlier, but somehow he is here now.”

“It is a mystery,” Lizzy said. “Are your parents at home?”

“No. They are visiting an old friend in Meryton.” The door to the drawing room opened and the Lucas’ butler entered, carrying a large silver tray. “Ah, here is Germain,” Maria said, grinning. “I hope you like children’s fare, Mr. Darcy.”

Mr. Darcy held up a hand. “I do not require anything to eat, thank you. Mrs. Godbed provided us with refreshments.”

“It is the same with me, Maria,” Lizzy said.

“Pray, find seats for yourselves and be welcome,” Maria said.

Lizzy slipped across the room to scoot the children off the sofa so she could sit beside Georgiana. “Excuse me, please,” she said to them. “Look, refreshments have arrived.”