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.”

The Darcys planned an early departure for the continent, calculated not only to permit a leisurely tour through to Paris and Geneva, reaching the Italian Alps and Simplon Pass as soon as the snows permitted safe passage, but also to avoid the hordes of round, English faces who would descend upon Europe later in the spring. It was said that there was no refuge to be found where the picturesque or solitude was yet undisturbed by their innumerable compatriots, their chaises, and loud accents. Mr. Darcy had been informed that prices had increased significantly with the invasion southward, and Elizabeth was given to understand the necessity of bringing all of their bed-cloathes, as the linens on the continent were not dependably clean. Georgiana ordered a new sketchbook, and her brother provided her with an ingenious folding easel that, when extended, included a chair! To his wife, he presented an exquisite travelling escritoire, inlaid with her initials. He presented himself with an handsome brace of pistols, and a new great-coat.