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“Very well, Fitzwilliam,” Nathaniel said with a grin. “Are we all excited about today’s entertainment?”

“Well, Annie can’t wait,” said Fitzwilliam, turning with a smile to his wife.

“I can wait, rather,” she said. “I’m not fond of tramping around and trying to solve mysterious clues. It is not quite my natural habitat. But it is at least a beautiful day, and the children, and those who act as children,” she added, with a sideways glance at her husband, “will enjoy it.”

“Has Mrs Darcy assigned you to a team?” Fitzwilliam asked. “You’d be more than welcome to join ours, but I know she’s taken a rather strict approach to the games and I would not want to upset her plans. I have known sergeant majors who were less fearsome.”

“I have had the great honour of being assigned to the Darcy family team. I will be accompanying Miss Darcy, Miss Mina and Mr Darcy.”

“You have made a good showing of yourself, then,” said the Colonel, thumping him on the back. “Been at Pemberley two minutes and Darcy is going to have you on his team. My cousin does not accept new faces easily. You must have made a good impression on him.”

“I may have promised to send him my latest paper.”

“Well, that will be it, then. There is nothing Darcy loves more than poring over dusty scientific or historical nonsense. Not that I mean to cause offence, Briar.”

“No offence taken,” said Nathaniel, laughing and holding up his hands. “I see Darcy now. I suppose I must join my comrades. Good luck, Colonel. Mrs Fitzwilliam. May the best team win.”

Nathaniel threaded through the crowd until he reached the tall form of Mr Darcy.

“Briar,” he said brightly. “There you are. Did I just see my cousin chewing your ear off?”

“I always have time for the good Colonel and his lovely wife.”

“Yes, well, he may be family, but no one spouts quite as much nonsense as Richard, so I beg you not to take anything too seriously. Now, are you prepared? My wife has hidden herself away from me all morning. Lord only knows what she has in store for us.” He looked across the terrace. “Mina! Kate! Come and join our party of adventurers.”

Miss Mina Darcy, who looked very little like the other Darcys but very like Mrs Darcy’s sister, Mrs Jane Bingley, skipped over happily. She had a sketchbook under one arm and a small bunch of wildflowers in her hand. “Hello. Are we to begin shortly?”

Miss Catherine Darcy took a slower and more sedate route across to them. She studiously avoided Nathaniel’s gaze and looked instead upon her father. “I am here as promised, Papa. You do know how I love this type of fun and games.”

“Now, enough of all that. You’re in danger of robbing your father of his medal as the most serious Darcy within Pemberley’s walls.”

Nathaniel smiled at the girls, who, though sisters, could not have been more different. “Miss Mina. Miss Darcy.”

“Oh, it’s you,” said Mina, looking at him distractedly, as though she had only just noticed he was standing there. “Are you joining our team? Jolly good. I’m rubbish at these things, to be honest. I’d rather sit to the side and draw the competitors, but Mama would not have it.”

Nathaniel smiled sympathetically at her and turned to Kate. “I have it on good authority that you have a fine mind for logic and problem-solving, Miss Darcy, as, I understand, does your father. Combine that with my own talent for hunting down lost objects, and perhaps we have a chance of success.”

“Yes, well, I would just rather get the thing done, to be honest,” she said, still not meeting his gaze.

She was wearing a muslin gown the colour of spring leaves with a matching pelisse, and her dark hair was pinned up with a few curls falling around her face. Nathaniel thought she looked very pretty indeed and was enjoying the sight of her when he remembered that her father was standing barely a foot away. He hastily turned his attention to the trees at the edge of the terrace, hoping Mr Darcy had not noticed his interest in his daughter. Fortunately, the gentleman was looking towards some commotion close to the double doors which stood open as people milled in and out.

“Kate,” said Mr Darcy over his shoulder, a touch of reprimand in his voice. “Let us try and enter into the spirit of things. Your mama will be most displeased if you wander around the gardens with a Friday face.” He turned his attention back towards the house. “Good Lord, what is she standing upon? I believe the announcements are about to begin.”

Nathaniel craned his neck to get a better view of proceedings. Mrs Darcy was being helped onto what looked like a giant overturned flowerpot by two footmen, who were far too well trained to let so much as a smile pass over their features.

"That pot has been standing in the orangery for nigh on twenty years," said Mr Darcy, more to himself than to Nathaniel. "How the devil did she get it out here?"

Mrs Darcy put two fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle.

"Good God, Elizabeth," said Mr Darcy, shaking his head, although a smile played around the corners of his lips.

"There we are," said Mrs Darcy in a clear, loud voice. "That will do splendidly. Now that I have your attention, my dear, dear friends, I am very glad to welcome you to what I hope will be one of the highlights of the celebrations of my darling husband's fiftieth year. It has been my honour and great privilege to spend many of those years loving and vexing Fitzwilliam Darcy, and it would not do to mark such an occasion without a veritable festival of amusements for all of his dear friends and family. My husband may well disagree with that view of things, but he is nothing if not indulgent of his very silly wife."

"And a very pretty one at that!" came Colonel Fitzwilliam's booming voice from somewhere in the crowd.

"Always the gallant soldier, Richard!" Mrs Darcy laughed, while her husband rolled his eyes in amusement. "Now, on to today's entertainment. As you are no doubt aware, this will consist of a treasure hunt spanning the gardens and near grounds around Pemberley. I have, I think, informed everyone of their team. However, if you find yourself without a place, please do come and see me and I will ensure you are safely ensconced in the bosom of a suitable party."

She wobbled a little on her perch atop the planter, and Nathaniel heard Mr Darcy suck in a sharp breath between his teeth. One of the footmen reached out an arm to steady her, but Mrs Darcy held up a hand to signal that there was no cause for concern.