Within a half-hour, a servant brought back a scrawled reply, granting the favour; no doubt curiosity played a part in the promptness of the response. Charlotte told her husband a truncated version of the truth – that Lady Catherine sought a tête-à-tête with her – and set off across the park. She had forgotten how gentle the Kentish Weald was, with no hill sloping too steeply, no vista too dramatic. The green of the trees was just beginning to fade like silk in the sun, and haws could be seen among the roses as they dropped untidy drifts of petals.

Soon she was ushered into the presence of Lady Catherine, whose eyes were unusually sharp. But before Charlotte could express more than the usual courtesies, her ladyship had much to say on the subject of Mr Bennet’s death, and the imminent move of the Collins family to take possession of Longbourn. Charlotte quailed a little; it was clear that in her mind, her ladyship had them already settled in Hertfordshire. She was voluble in her advice on every aspect of the matter, including the return of Sir William and Lady Lucas to court: ‘Pray send your mother the name of my mantua-maker; I shall write a line and see she is attended to. Cost is not a factor for my family, of course, but I imagine your mother is obliged to economise, and I can assure you that at least in Mrs Rossetti’s hands, she will not be cheated.’

Next, Lady Catherine had a great deal to say about Mrs Collins’s stay in Derbyshire, but at least she broached a topic Charlotte hoped to allude to: ‘I trust you found your months at Pemberley pleasant. You certainly look well, Mrs Collins; your colour is improved, and I believe you are a little plumper, which suits you. But that is Pemberley for you; no one who visits comes away without some benefit. My sister did a great deal to improve the family apartments and their furnishings, you know. I believe Miss Georgiana Darcy’s rooms are a byword for beauty and style not only throughout England, but even the Continent. Mr Henry Holland designed them, and I hope you were afforded the chance to see them – the paper for the walls was produced as a special commission in the studios of Mr Chippendale. Even accustomed as you are to witnessing the style of living at Rosings, I imagine that the splendour of Pemberley was unlike anything else you have experienced. I presume you bring me compliments from Mr and Mrs Darcy. I hope they are in good health. Tell me, is there yet no sign of an heir?’