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“I know you would, Ben. We all want to see him. However, in the interest of time, it will be best if your mother and I go on ahead. Once the situation is better understood and proper arrangements can be made for our entire party to remain in Hertfordshire—possibly for weeks—your cousin Richard will bring you and Georgiana to join us.”

“What about Cousin Anne? Will she come with us?”

“I suppose that is entirely up to her. This is her home.”

“Yes, Da, I know this is her house, the place she grew up. But does that make it her home?”

“Those are strong sentiments for one as young as you. Who have you been listening to?”

“It is what has been said for as long as I can recall. When Mama and I were at Longbourn, she often said it was a house that no longer felt like home. When we stayed in town with Uncle and Aunt Gardiner, Mama said it was a house that was not our home. She even said the same thing when we stayed with Aunt Georgiana in town. However, Cousin Anne often has said that Pemberley feels like home.”

“Ben, tell me that you feel the same way—that Pemberley is home.”

“I do, and you, Mama, Aunt Georgiana, Cousin Anne, and I are a family.”

“Then I know what must be done, for we shall not have our family disrupted. What say you we go to Anne to make certain that she knows she is more than welcome to join us should she wish it? You do understand that she might wish to stay here at Rosings with Lady Catherine?”

“We shall never know for certain unless we ask her.”

In spite of the gravity of their situation, Darcy chuckled. “I believe you are correct. Shall we proceed?”

Ben placed his hand in Darcy’s and commenced urging him along. “Oh, yes. Let us do everything in our power to keep our family together.”