The song ended with applause all around and then Mr. Bennet made a request. Next he knew, Mary was playing a lively air and Jane had joined her sisters behind the pianoforte. The two eldest sang while Mary’s hands flew across the keys, invigorating the air around them and filling the room with an almost palpable joy. Then the most extraordinary thing happened. When the song came to the part that was usually sung by a man, and in this case would have been sung by Mary’s low voice, Colonel Fitzwilliam began singing!

He had a pleasing baritone and sang with aplomb, to the great delight of the ladies who could not stop smiling at him. The next verse Elizabeth sang directly to the colonel, as the song dictated, and he actually sang back to her! Then Jane took a turn and before they were done, his sneaky cousin had sung with every Bennet sister in the place! They finished to a hearty round of applause and before they could begin another song, dinner was announced.

Darcy cursed his ill luck and the rain that kept them from walking out and his fool cousin for stealing the smiles that should have been his. Elizabeth was leaving tomorrow! He had to ask her tonight; it was his last chance! And he must speak to Mr. Bennet before they left, if only to give him permission to write to her while she was at the seaside. They were to be there above three months. He could not become engaged and then go an entire three months without seeing or even hearing from his beloved. It was not to be borne!

Dinner was no better. He was seated two places away from Elizabeth, her sister Jane between them. They participated in conversations together and he was able to talk to her, but there was no opportunity for private discourse. After an interminable meal, during which his aunt continued to heap advice upon her newest supplicant while Mr. Collins commended everything she said, the ladies finally departed for the drawing room and the men remained behind. Darcy quickly pulled aside his cousin and asked him to leave him alone with Mr. Bennet to discuss some private business. Fitzwilliam merely winked and poured himself and Mr. Collins a drink while Darcy asked Mr. Bennet to join him in the library for a moment.

“Mr. Bennet, would you like a brandy?” Darcy asked as he closed the door behind them.

“No, thank you.” Mr. Bennet seemed greatly distracted by the shelves of books he was surrounded by and he walked along slowly, reading the titles and occasionally touching a spine.

“I understand from your daughter that you are a great reader,” Darcy said, more from the need to do something than an actual interest in the conversation.

“Yes. There is nothing so good on a cold day as a good book and a warm fire.”