The children, confined indoors by a passing shower, had transformed one end of the room into the deck of a pirate ship. A card table draped with blankets served as the captain's cabin, whilst the sofa had somehow become a rocky island upon which Lucy—a princess of considerable importance—awaited rescue with little patience. Edward had appointed himself captain by right of seniority, but George disputed nearly every order he gave. Mr Gardiner lowered his newspaper and observed that the voyage appeared to have concluded in mutiny.
"I am not mutinying," George protested. "I am taking command."
"You cannot take command," Edward replied with all the dignity of his eleven years. "It is my ship."
Lucy, who had grown tired of waiting to be rescued, climbed cheerfully down from the sofa.
"I should like to be a pirate instead."
"I thought you were a princess."
"I was," she agreed. "But pirates look much more amusing."
Before anyone could settle the matter, the sharp rap of the front knocker echoed through the house.
Lucy sprang upright. "I shall answer it, Mama!"
"I fear Simmons would object rather strongly," laughed Mrs Gardiner. "Besides, visitors generally expect somebody a little taller."
The little girl accepted the disappointment with good grace and resumed arranging cushions into what she declared was now a pirate cave. A few moments later footsteps sounded in the hall, followed by the butler, who opened the drawing-room door.
"Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam."
Elizabeth jumped up so suddenly that the socks on her lap—an attempt at darning that she had long abandoned—fell to the floor.
Darcy entered first. He looked thinner than she remembered. The days since they had parted seemed to have left their mark upon him. There was a weariness about his face that careful shaving and immaculate tailoring could not disguise, and for one suspended instant he did not appear to notice anyone else in the room. His gaze found Elizabeth at once and remained there, as though she were the only other person in the world.
Behind him came a gentleman of rather different character altogether. Colonel Fitzwilliam was somewhat shorter than his cousin, broader through the shoulders, with a wide grin that seemed to hint at mischief. He bowed first to Mrs Gardiner, then to Mr Gardiner with easy politeness before turning towards Elizabeth.
"Miss Bennet," he said, "I have long wished to make your acquaintance. Your servant, madam."
Before Elizabeth could frame a reply, Lucy emerged cautiously from behind a cushion and regarded the newcomers with deep suspicion.
"Are you pirates?"
For a heartbeat Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared to give the matter serious consideration.
"I regret to say we are not, Miss Gardiner."
Lucy's face fell.
"But," he continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "I have occasionally sailed with gentlemen who would have made very respectable pirates if the army had not secured them first."
George abandoned the pirate ship immediately.
"Have you fought them?" he asked, tugging at the colonel's coat.
"Soldiers generally have the bad fortune to fight other soldiers," replied the colonel. "It is much less exciting than pirates, I am afraid. Very little booty to be had and rather more mud."
Edward, relieved to find an adult who looked like he would respect proper chains of command, stepped forward.
"I am captain."
From behind him George pulled a face.
"So I perceived," said Fitzwilliam gravely. "Your authority has been disputed already, I think."
"It is George."
