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He needs it for his own sake and for his future as well. He is ready to experience a life that allows him more companions of his own age and inclination.”
    â€œYou mean he wishes to go to school?” Elizabeth frowned. “He has never mentioned it to me.”
    â€œOf course not. He does not want to upset you; he adores you, as all our children do. However, when you are not present he talks of little else but the day when he will attend a proper school.”
    As she stared at him, Elizabeth knew he was speaking the truth. She gave a sigh.
    â€œYou are right. I knew it must come eventually, and although I did not admit it, I knew only this morning that the time had come. When Laurence was running around the museum…” She gave a rueful smile.
    â€œHe is lively and energetic and full of enthusiasm, but he grows ever wilder as the days progress,” Darcy agreed. “And what is more, he leads Jane astray. She will be far more ladylike without Laurence to lead her into mischief. So we are agreed?”
    â€œYes,” she said.
    â€œAnd we are agreed on the trip to Egypt?”
    â€œYes, a thousand times yes. It will be the holiday of a lifetime.”

Chapter 3
    Elizabeth and Darcy agreed not to tell the children about the Egyptian trip at once, as the thought of six overexcited children was rather too much of a good thing, but they discussed it with Edward at the earliest opportunity. Elizabeth was not sure how he would take the news, whether he might think they were interfering, but she need not have been concerned, for he was enthusiastic about the idea.
    â€œIt seems only fitting that the two of us should go together,” he said to Darcy. “After all, it is what our fathers did.”
    â€œIf only we knew the name of the third member of their expedition, we could invite his son, too,” mused Darcy.
    â€œI did not know there were three men in the original party,” said Elizabeth, who had not heard it mentioned before.
    â€œYes, there is a portrait of all three of them,” said Edward. “I found it on a wet afternoon when I explored the attic. It was covered in dust and had obviously not been good enough for my father’s refined tastes or he would have hung it in his study. The three men were painted in front of the pyramids.”
    â€œAnd do you not know who the third man is?” asked Elizabeth.
    â€œI did not recognise him,” said Edward carefully, adding, “I did not even recognise my own father. He had a beard, he was very thin, and his skin was as brown as a nut. It was only the ring on his finger which gave away his identity.”
    â€œAnd could your father not tell you?”
    â€œHe does not like to speak of Egypt. He fears it will encourage me. It is a pity we do not know of any artists who might be willing to come with us. I would like to have someone to record the expedition,” said Edward. “We could have our portrait painted in front of the pyramids like our fathers.”
    Elizabeth opened her mouth, and Darcy said, “No, you cannot ask him.”
    â€œWhy not?” she replied. “I am sure he would like to come with us.”
    â€œThe poor man was of a nervous disposition. He jumped every time I spoke to him,” said Darcy. “He would probably faint at the sight of a camel.”
    â€œYou forget, my dear, that you are far more awe inspiring than any camel!” Elizabeth returned with laughter in her eyes.
    â€œDo you mean you know someone?” asked Edward.
    â€œDarcy has just commissioned a family portrait,” said Elizabeth. “We were going to have it painted in London, or perhaps at Pemberley. But as we already have several family portraits with various Darcy houses in the background, I think the idea of being painted against a backdrop of camels, sand, and pyramids is an excellent one.”
    â€œI doubt if Paul Inkworthy will think it an excellent idea,” said