Page 30 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

Harry’s mouth snapped shut, making Jeffry shiver. In a trice, Jeffry had disappeared and reappeared on Harry’s back.

“Let us go before the others wake up and ask all sorts of questions,” Jeffry directed. “Can you open the outside door?”

“I can,” Harry promised, turning and heading toward the glass orangery door. “Look in the glass, Jeffry. How odd we look.”

“Goodness. Well, we had best go across country and avoid all humans.”

“It is faster that way, too,” Harry acknowledged. He lifted a paw and manipulated the handle so the door opened. Once outside, he nosed the door shut. “Do we run, or just trot?”

“No running,” Jeffry ordered. “I have had enough running from Lizzy, thank you very much.”

“She likes to run,” Harry said phlegmatically. “I like to run with her. Most humans stop running for pleasure when they grow up. It must be a sad time for them.”

“I like to run,” Jeffry mentioned. “But not when I am on top of others.”

Harry approached the home wood. “Do you want to get down and run with me?”

“Guinea pigs only run two to three miles per hour. You can run ten times faster than I can. I could not keep up.”

The dog did not reply to this information. Instead, he trotted at a steady speed, covering a mile of ground without stopping. When they reached the Mery river, Harry paused at a shallow spot to take a drink.

“How can we get across the river?” Jeffry asked.

Harry pulled his muzzle out of the river. “The river is not very deep here so I usually swim across.”

“I will meet you on the other side,” Jeffry said, and then disappeared from Harry’s back. He waited under a bush, watching Harry swim across the river. When the dog arrived on the bank, he climbed out of the river and shook himself mightily. Water drops sprayed in all directions. Jeffry backed up, narrowly avoiding getting wet.

“I am dry now,” Harry said, pushing his nose under the bush. “I see you in there. Do you want to get back on me?”

Jeffry eyed him warily. “You do not look dry.”

“Dry enough,” Harry asserted.

“I doubt it.” Jeffry scurried out into the open. “Hold still, please.”

Harry pulled his head back from beneath the bush. “I’m ready.”

Jeffry spirited himself up onto Harry’s damp back. “Can we travel in the sun?”

Harry chuffed his agreement and trotted toward a patch of sunlight. “We’ll be there soon. Can you magic yourself into the house? Basile does not come outside often, and only into the kitchen garden when his mistress is with him.”

“Have you met him?”

“Me? Not a chance. There’s a jackdaw who talks to me, though,” Harry explained. “She tries to taunt the cat, and says that Basile ignores her. He prefers mice to birds.”

Netherfield soon loomed before them. Harry took Jeffry to the front door, which was closed. No humans were about.

“Leave me here,” Jeffry ordered. “But do not go home without me.”

“I will visit with the shepherd and his dog,” Harry said. “Can you find me when you are ready?”

“I can.” Jeffry disappeared from his back and stood beside him on the porch,

“The humans will see you when you get inside,” Harry warned. “There are many servants.”

“They will not see me,” Jeffry stated.

“As you say,” Harry said, turning and trotting away toward the side of the house.