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"There is nothing useful to be found in novels, sir," she finished firmly.

"My word, Miss Catherine, that is a severe judgement. The Greeks managed to find room for natural philosophers and poets both. I don't believe Homer did them any lasting harm."

"Hmm," she said, not wanting to make any real reply, and turned her attention back to her breakfast.

They both sat quietly for a few moments, the chatter of the table humming around them. Then he leaned his face close to hers and said, "Miss Darcy, there is something very soft rubbing up against my leg."

She pulled back from him instinctively. "Sir! If you mean to imply that I would ever..."

He chuckled softly. "Now, hold on to your bonnet, Miss Darcy. That is not what I meant at all."

He lifted the tablecloth and they both looked down to see Pegasus making himself agreeable to the visitor by winding between his legs.

"The dog thinks he's a cat," said Kate with a sigh.

"He's a very handsome fellow, if a little plump," said Mr Briar, reaching down to give the dog's copper head an affectionate scratch.

"I should not make too good a friend of him, sir. You shall never eat in peace again for as long as you are within these walls."

"Good advice, Miss Darcy. I shall do my best to treat him with only the coldest disdain and bare civility."

Then he winked at her, and it was as if every reasonable thought in her head escaped through her ears. Her mouth went dry. She could feel heat rushing up her neck and her fingers trembled slightly on her cutlery. She had never known someone so able to upset her composure so thoroughly, and she could not think why he was so successful at it.

She looked up and saw her sister Bella regarding her thoughtfully. She had already had quite enough of being in company for one day, and there was still the blasted treasure hunt to endure. At that moment, her parents entered the room arm in arm, her mother leaning close to her father and laughing gently at something he had said, while he looked adoringly down at the top of her head. Why must she be surrounded by people mooning over each other? Her parents were certainly old enough to know better. Perhaps she could manage a couple of hours upstairs before the "fun" began.

"Happy birthday, Papa!" called Bella, and suddenly the whole table erupted into a chorus of birthday wishes.

"Many happy returns, Darcy!" boomed Uncle Charles from the sideboard, raising his coffee cup in salute. "Fifty years! Good heavens, you are getting on, old man!"

"Thank you, Bingley," said her father drily, accepting a kiss from Bella and Kate before bending to embrace Mina, who had abandoned her sketchbook long enough to wish him many happy returns. "I am grateful to you for reminding me."

"Half a century!" George added cheerfully. "An extraordinary achievement, sir."

"Are you all quite finished?" Darcy asked, although Kate could see he was trying not to smile.

"Not remotely," said her mother, squeezing his arm affectionately. "We have an entire day of celebrations ahead of us, my love." She turned towards the table with a bright smile. "And how is my very favourite grandson this morning?" She bent down to plant a kiss on William's sticky face.

"Trouble," said George with a laugh. "He has already indisposed Nanny by way of a bowl of porridge this morning."

"Oh dear," she said. "But when you are that beautiful, no one can stay angry with you for long."

"There is that," laughed Bella.

"And Mr Briar, how good to see you again. I trust you slept well?"

"It was most comfortable, Mrs Darcy. I thank you again for your hospitality and for allowing me to join what should be a family party."

"Any friend of Richard's is a friend of ours, and I hear from my husband that you are most interesting company. Not many of our guests can claim to have seen the pyramids at Giza or explored the ruins at Pompeii."

"I do lead quite an unusual life," he said, laughing softly. "It displeases my mother and father greatly, but what can I say? It amuses me." He smiled devilishly.

Kate looked at him in astonishment. Was he flirting with her mother? He was incorrigible.

"Yes, we are delighted to have you here, Briar," said her father. "I was telling Kate yesterday about your latest paper. You will send it to me, will you not? It is one of my greatest joys, sitting with my daughter and going over some new scientific discovery or newly released volume. We spend many happy hours in my study, do we not, my dear?"

"Yes, Papa," said Kate quietly.

"Is that so?" said Mr Briar, turning his head to look upon her once more.