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Under his gaze Elizabeth became conscious of the loose strand of hair near her cheek and the needle caught in the cuff of her gown. “There is rather more to do just now than there are people to do it.”

“It is generous of you to assist.”

“They are my family.”

“Miss Bingley is not.”

“No,” Elizabeth agreed. “She is certainly not. But my helping her helps them, if that makes sense.”

He nodded. “It does.”

Aunt Gardiner entered before either of them could say more. She greeted Mr. Darcy. “Forgive me for not greeting you before, Mr. Darcy. I am afraid my youngest children were creating a mess in the nursery.”

He bowed his head and smiled a little. “I recall my cousin and I created a good many messes ourselves when we were boys. Our nursemaid was thankfully a woman of great fortitude.”

“Have they been put to rights?” Elizabeth inquired of her aunt, trying to keep her mind on her cousins and not on Mr. Darcy as a boy. She could not really imagine it.

“The boys are now in dry clothing,” her aunt said, “though Edward maintains that he is the injured party.”

“On what grounds?” Elizabeth asked, with both fondness and exasperation.

“Oh, on the grounds that he was required to apologise.”

Elizabeth laughed. “A grave injustice.”

“So he believes.” Her aunt sat and invited Mr. Darcy to do the same. “Jane was also caught in the storm but will be down directly.”

Mr. Darcy took the chair opposite Elizabeth’s. “Does Miss Bingley require so much attention throughout the day?”

“She is in pain and unaccustomed to having her movements restricted,” Aunt Gardiner replied before Elizabeth could. A good thing, too, for Aunt Gardiner was a good deal more tactful than she would have been.

Jane soon joined them, and tea was ordered. It had just arrived when Mr. Bingley returned from his sister’s room, and Aunt Gardiner poured for them all.

“Caroline is much improved,” Mr. Bingley announced.

“She told you so?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, but she found fault with my residence at Albany, the absence of her maid, and the colour of my coat. I consider that an encouraging sign.”

“It does suggest a return to her usual habits,” Mr. Darcy said.

Elizabeth quite agreed. Not aloud, of course.

Mr. Bingley took the chair conveniently placed nearest Jane and began asking what she had seen since coming to town.

“Very little,” Jane said. “We have been here only a few days.”

“Then you have not walked in Hyde Park?”

“Not yet.”

Mr. Bingley immediately began enumerating the places she ought to visit, forgetting that they were caring for his sister. Well, perhaps Jane and her aunt could go.

Mr. Darcy glanced at the book beside Elizabeth’s mending. “Are you reading The Lady of the Lake?”

“Attempting to. I have made little progress.”

“Do you find it difficult?”