Page 29 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)

Lady Catherine paused long enough to consider his words.

His father’s son , she surmised as she recalled how the late Mr. Darcy and her sister, indeed, had enjoyed a love match.

She could no longer deny that regardless of the agreement between two sisters so many years ago that their offspring would one day be joined in wedlock, Lady Anne, if she were alive, would not want her son to do what she would not do herself.

Lady Anne would not wish to see her son marry out of family obligation rather than follow his heart.

“I have heard quite enough, young man. I do not wish to see you take your leave of Rosings with the prospect of you never returning. I have lived with the notion that you and Anne would be married for so long, the very thought of it has consumed me. You are correct. I obviously cannot force the matter, otherwise you two would have been married years ago, and we would not be having this conversation.”

Darcy glanced over to his cousin Richard, and the two cast looks of utter disbelief mixed with apprehension. Flabbergasted, both silently asked the other had their aunt taken leave of her senses.

The dubious looks that passed between the two gentlemen did not go unnoticed by the elderly woman. “Why are the two of you looking at each other thus?” Lady Catherine began. “I know what I am about.”

Still poised just outside the door, Anne could not believe what she had heard.

All her life, her mother had insisted she would marry Darcy, even against her own misgivings, and now she was conceding the marriage would never be.

She had heard quite enough for one evening.

Anne angrily stormed towards the stairway.

Without help from Mrs. Jenkinson, she made her way up the long spiralling steps. We shall see about that!

Violent rains had persisted throughout the night, but the morning came filled with the invigorating scents of the welcoming spring air.

Elizabeth saw to it her son was free to meet with Mr. Darcy and the two of them set out early.

She led him along the sheltered lane which now held such bitter-sweet memories.

Over halfway there, she paused. “Run along ahead, Ben. Mr. Darcy is expecting you,” she kindly instructed her young son.

“Are you not planning to join us, Mama? It has been far too long since our last adventure with King Arthur!”

Elizabeth knelt before her son and straightened his collar.

“I am afraid not.” She gently informed her young son Mr. Darcy wanted to speak with him, man to man.

Ben’s eyes widened. The prospect was pleasing to the young lad, for he, too, had wanted a chance to do just that for some time.

The eager smile spread across his innocent face tore at Elizabeth’s heart.

She prayed the trust she had placed in Darcy was not misguided, that he would know exactly the right words to say to protect her child’s sensibilities.

“Do not keep Mr. Darcy waiting,” said she. “I shall see you back at the parsonage.”

“But you cannot leave just now. I need your help with another adventure!” Ben exclaimed, upon hearing from his friend that he would be returning to London that same day.

“What sort of adventure do you have in mind?”

“Well, you know the evil Meleagant intends to marry my mama.”

“I take it you are referring to Mr. Collins, Ben,” Darcy gently rebuked. The young man nodded affirmatively. Darcy continued, “Then I would say yes. I have been reminded on more occasions than I care to recall of the gentleman’s intentions.”

“I say we save my mama!” Ben avowed eagerly.

“Save her? How do you propose we do that? In the end, is it not your mother’s choice whom she marries?”

“Well yes, but perhaps if we rescue her then she might marry you. I know she likes you better.”

“You think so, do you? How do you suppose that to be true? ”

“She laughs whenever she is around you. She never laughs around the evil Meleagant . ”

Out of the mouths of babes, Darcy thought.

“Ben, you and I must talk about your attitude towards Mr. Collins. It is of some concern to me. Suppose he does marry your mother,” Darcy voiced aloud even as his thoughts sang out, Heaven forbid!

“Then, you must not refer to the gentleman as evil. I am sure he is a decent fellow, and not at all evil.”

“But he is not very amiable. He is harsh and forbidding, and he has no imagination whatsoever.”

“Is he not a good father? Do his daughters not revere him? Should he become your stepfather one day, then you too must revere him.”

“How do I go about doing that? I do not like him at all, and I suspect he does not like me either.”

“You do not have to like him, though I would encourage you to try. However, he is your elder, and you must show him the proper respect. The best way to start is to stop thinking of him as evil. Do you not agree?”

Darcy and Ben continued to discuss the matter at length, each with a measure of give-and-take, until they were as close to one mind as could be, considering such varying sentiments.

In the end, Darcy only wanted what was best for his young friend.

Ben trusted his older, wiser friend enough to know he would not counsel him fool-heartedly.

That resolved, Darcy imparted the words he would never have wished to speak to his friend as short a time ago as the day before, words of farewell mixed with comforting reassurances.

“Ben, because divine providence brought us together again, I contend our friendship is meant to be. Even as you and I are about to embark on paths that will find us miles and miles apart, we are best friends, are we not? I shall always carry you here,” Darcy lifted Ben’s small hand and placed it so, before continuing, “in my heart. Moreover, I will not say goodbye, but rather so long, for I strongly believe this is not the end. ”

Saddened and yet ever inquisitive, Ben asked, “How shall I ever contact you—in case I need you.”

Darcy reached into his pocket, secured a finely embossed card with his name and address, and handed it to Ben. “Here is my London address. For now, I suggest you put this in a very safe place. Should you find yourself in town and in need of a friend, do not hesitate to call on me.”

Ben looked at the card intently and slowly read, “Fitz-william Darcy. Fitzwilliam? Is that your name?”

Darcy smiled. “Yes, is there something wrong in that?”

“No, no, it is just that Fitzwilliam is your cousin’s name, just as Bennet is my grandfather’s name.”

“Yes, yes I know. Bennet is also your mother’s maiden name, just as Fitzwilliam was my mother’s maiden name.”

Ben was encouraged by that bit of information, for there was another thing the two of them shared. Reluctant to part, Ben began to list the other things they had in common until some time had passed and Darcy was obliged to send the young lad on his way.

Darcy stood and watched his young friend move farther and farther away with a muddled mixture of sadness and gladness.

He felt sadness because once again he found himself having to say goodbye, but gladness because Ben did not appear to suffer the imminent separation as painfully as he had in Hertfordshire.

Ben continued to amble along the path, occasionally looking back over his shoulder, quietly reassured to find his trusted friend still standing there.

When at last, they were far enough apart that Ben could no longer see his friend, he ran off, saddened, of course, and yet heartened by the hope of one-day being in Mr. Darcy’s company again.