Page 24 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)
G eoffrey Collins was beside himself with worry and pacing the floors back and forth to the general discomfort of his brother and sister-in-law.
Where is she? The last he had seen of her was the night before when she had pleaded a headache, thus, unable to share the evening alone with him after everyone else had retired.
When she did not come downstairs for breakfast, he feared she might be ill still.
His sister Charlotte reminded him that Elizabeth had spoken of her plans to spend the morning with her son.
She even went so far as to say Elizabeth and her son had awakened at the break of dawn, breakfasted together, and pretty soon afterwards set off on a lane leading towards the village.
Collins took some measure of comfort in that.
Persuaded that she and her son might return shortly, he sat down to the breakfast table to read his paper.
Upon skimming the pages that held no interest at all to him in the wake of Elizabeth’s unpredictable behaviour, he ventured to the small parlour room in the back, the one Charlotte normally reserved for her own personal use but graciously allowed the girls during their extended stay.
He found them there, each contentedly reading their books.
He spent a scant amount of time with them and left them with a promise that Elizabeth would visit with them upon her return .
“Where have you been all this time? I have been most anxious over your lengthy absence. I have waited hours for you to return,” Geoffrey Collins demanded as soon as she walked into the door.
Elizabeth handed her bonnet to the servant and beckoned her son to go to his room and wait for her there. She answered, “I am sorry you worried, but why did you, pray tell? I am known for my penchant to take long morning walks.”
“Yes, my sister-in-law kindly reminded me of that fact. Although, I find it hard to imagine after your complaint of a headache last evening, you would have suffered no lingering after-effects this morning. I was most eager to spend time with you. Moreover, Gillian and Emily have been asking for your company. They, too, were disheartened by your lengthy absence. I promised them you would spend time with them this morning.”
“Why would you do such a thing without first conferring with me, Mr. Collins? Did I not make it clear I intended to spend today with my son?”
“Does spending time with your son preclude you from enjoying that same time with the girls?” Collins asked impatiently.
“As we are to become a family in a matter of months, we need to use our time here in Hunsford to our advantage by becoming intimately acquainted.
I expect you to be as much a mother to my daughters as you are to Ben.
Likewise, I will be as much a father to Ben as I am to Gillian and Emily.
“It is incumbent upon both of us to do our part. I will start by taking Ben under my wing. I expect you to begin spending time with the girls.”
Slowly, Elizabeth counted. One, two— surely, the words he spoke in and of themselves were not refutable, but the officiousness inherent in his tone had by then worn dreadfully thin. Nine, ten— Elizabeth managed a slight smile.
“As you wish, Mr. Collins,” replied she with all the patience she could muster. “Now, if you will pardon me,” Elizabeth curtseyed. Before she was able to ascend the stairs, he reached for her hand and encircled it in both of his own. Elizabeth was startled by his touch .
“Is this not your wish, as well, Elizabeth?” The apprehension in her demeanour did not go unnoticed by him. He let go of her hand. “Do you have another idea how the five of us might become better acquainted during this time?”
“I have no objections to your scheme, Mr. Collins.”
“Excellent! I felt strongly you would recognise the advantages of my proposal.”
“If you will pardon me then, I wish to look in on my son, as I promised I would do.”
“Of course, afterwards look in on Gillian and Emily and make your apologies. They are waiting for you in the small parlour room.” Elizabeth’s eager ascent of the narrow stairway was halted once more.
“My brother informed me Lady Catherine expects us later this afternoon. See that Ben is well-groomed and fit to be received by her ladyship.”
One, two, three—
Having seen to Ben, Gillian, and Emily to everyone’s satisfaction, Elizabeth made way to her room. Finally—a moment of solitude. She locked the door behind her, leaned against it, and rested her head thereupon for a second or two to catch her breath.
It was during such times when she missed her life at Camberworth most. She was a tense mixture of emotional and physical feelings, brought on by the combination of the pleasurable moments spent with Mr. Darcy, the contentious conversation with Mr. Collins in the hallway, the challenges of getting Ben cleaned up for his visit at Rosings Park, and finally sitting with the girls.
What she longed for was a long hot, relaxing bath.
Alas, such a luxury was entirely out of the question in the tiny confines of her chamber, not that she would even think to burden the few household servants with such a selfish request.
Wanting nothing more than a moment or two to indulge in the pleasurable memories of her morning, Elizabeth fell back upon the small bed and closed her eyes.
She imagined herself back in another place and time, at home at Camberworth, with hardly a care in the world.
Such pleasant thoughts enveloped her as she drifted into a calm peaceful state where satisfying imaginings of HIS touch flooded her senses.
The sound of footsteps just outside her door interrupted her light slumber.
In no time at all, reality encroached on her life once more.
Soon enough, she would find herself once again in his company.
Having allowed him such liberties that morning, having assuaged her rekindled aching desire for him in the solace of her room, she reflected upon the rest of her day.
How will I bear to see him again—so soon?
As the weather was fine, they eschewed the offer of Lady Catherine’s carriage and had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park.
It was all Ben could do to contain his joy over his visit to the castle, which he steadfastly referred to as Camelot in his mind.
He did not need the evil Meleagant to remind him yet again that the magical place was to be referred to as Rosings Park.
When they ascended the steps to the hall, Ben’s excitement was every moment increasing.
He did not know what he might expect to find inside but the thought that he might see his king spurred him on without trepidation.
From the entrance-hall, they followed the servants through an antechamber to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting.
Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to greet them.
Ben observed the tall, large woman, with strongly marked features, which might once have been handsome, and wondered at the possible connection of the regal personage to his king.
She spoke in an authoritative a tone, as signified her self-importance.
“So, you are young Bennet Carlton.”
“Yes ma’am, I am. Thank you for inviting me here this afternoon.”
Lady Catherine observed the child with some measure of admiration.
She noted he was well-mannered. She was exceedingly pleased.
Everyone was invited to sit. Collins and Ben elected to sit on either side of Elizabeth.
Her ladyship embarked on a lengthy discourse, speaking to Ben of his grandparents and the family resemblance, even as she remarked that he was decidedly his mother’ s son in describing his eyes.
Ben was delighted to hear talk of his grandparents and his heritage.
Other than his mother, no one ever spoke to him of the proud Carlton family.
The barrage of ensuing questions, however, was not particularly enjoyable. Even Ben could surmise the elderly woman bordered on being meddlesome. He soon began fidgeting with his neck cloth, the one Mr. Collins had insisted he wear, and he commenced shifting restlessly in his seat.
Less than a quarter of an hour passed before their party was extended.
“Kin—Mr. Darcy!” Ben shouted, immediately correcting himself, upon recalling his mother’s earlier gentle admonishment against referring to the gentleman as such in the company of others. Ben raced unceremoniously to his side.
“Ben! Fancy seeing you here,” Darcy exclaimed with a bright smile, as he relaxed the haughty stance he typically preferred in the presence of his stern aunt.
“Indeed! It is a surprise to have been invited here. Are you surprised to see me?”
“I confess to having some knowledge I might see you this afternoon.”
The familiar exchange caught Lady Catherine utterly by surprise. She had not witnessed such a cordial display from her nephew to anyone, save his younger sister Georgiana. “You know my nephew, young man?” her curiosity begged.
“Yes ma’am. He is my best friend in the whole world!” Ben affirmed without hesitation.
“That is rather strange,” uttered Lady Catherine. Her ladyship’s countenance bore a befuddled look.
Elizabeth noted the grand lady’s confusion. “It seems they formed a close alliance whilst Mr. Darcy visited in Hertfordshire, your ladyship,” she began. “I only became aware of it yesterday.”
Darcy directed his full attention to Elizabeth. Although she had spoken the words for Lady Catherine’s benefit, her eyes were trained on him. “It is a pleasure to see you again—so soon, madam. ”
Elizabeth smiled daringly, wondering at his boldness. Does he actually intend for everyone to know we spent the morning together?
Darcy aimed his focus towards Geoffrey Collins, who had shifted his position to move a bit closer to his intended. Both men merely nodded. Ben tugged at Darcy’s hand. “May I have a tour of the castle?”