“Dear Mr. Darcy!” laughed Elizabeth, “you must be taking your lessons from my own book of sparing one’s self all inconvenience. I am not so incapable or unwilling as you imply, and further assert that I would find such a project most agreeable. I have a great love of travel, having met with much success and happiness as a consequence in the past. Although I have already got my share of husbands, I may be so generous as to lend Georgiana some of my good fortune en route. I am not sure, however, what I may do for you, as your share of happiness is necessarily complete. I was thinking of a great German Cuckoo clock for the hall at Pemberley, or maybe a Venice-boat for the lake?”

Satisfied with having made Mr. Darcy laugh, Elizabeth continued, “I do believe that we might begin after Christmas, and the Bingleys could travel with us?”

Darcy replied that the Bingleys were most welcome, indeed; however, it may be difficult to persuade them to leave their children for such a long time. Elizabeth then suggested her father and Kitty, and Darcy made no objection. Colonel Fitzwilliam was added, and the composition of their party credited with perfection. Besides the family, it would be necessary to bring such a number of servants with them their present coach would not accommodate. Besides the ladies’ maids, it was necessary to take Mr. Darcy’s valet, Mrs. Reynold’s assistant, a maid-of-all-work, the under-butler, the steward’s boy, and two footmen to serve as postillions and out-riders, in addition to the two coachmen and a stable-boy, who could also serve at table, if need be.

Darcy began a correspondence the next day with his carriage-maker, one Mr. Birch of Great Queen Street, and ordered a travelling chariot and a travelling coach of large size to be ready the following February. Elizabeth saw that he frequently consulted his notes from the visit to the museum to view Buonaparte’s chaise, and felt some complacency in the thought of travelling in the same stile as had the Emperour! Put to this large coach must be a team of four heavy carriage-horses for the mountain journey, requiring Mr. Darcy to direct Mr. Bakewell to find suitable horses. “We require an additional four for the servants’ coach for the main part of the journey, and will put two of them to the travelling chaise for the road over the Alps. We can take post horses for the second coach when required. Two mounted out-riders will be necessary for safety, and in case one of the carriage horses becomes lame.”