Page 36 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)
“ P ardon me, ma’am. The Master wishes to know whether you will be dining downstairs, or if you would like a tray sent up. I am to sit with Master Ben, along with the nurse, should you wish to take your meal downstairs. I will be able to fetch you at once should you be needed.”
Elizabeth did not respond straightaway, even though she looked intently at the timid young girl who barely spoke above a whisper. Everyone in Mr. Darcy’s household had regarded her with such deference since the frightful incident involving her son began.
“I suppose I might join my host for breakfast. Do you know whether Mr. Darcy and I will be dining alone?” she asked, wondering if his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam might be joining them, as well.
“No ma’am. You will be dining with Mr. Darcy and his sister, Miss Darcy.”
Elizabeth brushed her fingers through her unkempt hair.
In the aftermath of the excitement of the previous day, she had given precious little thought to her appearance.
Moving her hands to smooth her dress, she suddenly realised she wore the same clothes she had worn when she had arrived at Mr. Darcy’s town-house the day previous.
Her appearance was utterly lacking. It would not do to meet his sister in such a state, yet she had nothing more than the clothing on her back.
“What is your name?” Elizabeth thought to ask.
“I am Agatha, ma’am.”
“Agatha, please tell Mr. Darcy I shall be delighted to join him for breakfast. I only require a half-hour or so.” Elizabeth surmised it would take at least as long to attend to light toiletries and to freshen her attire.
“Certainly, ma’am, my Master figured you would be wishing for some time. I am to show you to your apartment.”
Thinking the room he had arranged for Ben was more than adequate accommodation for the two of them for whatever time they would remain there, Elizabeth interjected, “My apartment?”
“Yes, ma’am, if you will follow me.”
Elizabeth lightly placed her hand on Ben’s shoulder and brushed a gentle kiss atop his head. The child did not stir. A reassuring nod from the nurse sent Elizabeth comfortably on her way.
Upon entering the grand apartment across the hall, two doors up, Elizabeth was convinced there had been some sort of mistake.
After opening the door and quickly stepping aside to allow Elizabeth to pass, Agatha bid a hasty retreat down the long hallway.
Decidedly feminine, the room was bright and airy, pleasingly decorated in a medley of soft pastels.
Warm fragrances of spring filled the air.
She noticed the large bouquet of freshly cut flowers in the vase on a beautiful mahogany vanity table.
“Pardon me, I fear I am in the wrong room,” said Elizabeth to the young woman who busily arranged gowns in the wardrobe. Noticing them to be her very own, she said in surprise, “Are those my belongings?”
Caught unawares by her presence, the young woman immediately ceased her activities and rushed to greet Elizabeth at the doorway, where she had remained standing.
“Yes, ma’am,” she eagerly spoke whilst bobbing politely. “It is my pleasure to meet you. I am Hannah. I am to be your new maid.”
Incredulous, Elizabeth repeated, “My new maid? ”
“Yes, ma’am, I have taken the liberty of preparing your bath and laying your clothes out for this morning.”
“Thank you Hannah, but you need not go to the trouble. I am able to fend for myself.”
“It is no trouble at all, ma’am. It is my job as well as my pleasure to attend you.”
Downstairs in the breakfast room, Darcy, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley, were enjoying coffee and hot tea whilst waiting for Elizabeth to join them.
“You must allow me to thank you once again, dear Georgiana, for agreeing to stay here in my home and act as my hostess whilst Mrs. Carlton and her young son are in residence.”
“I am delighted to be of service to you,” Georgiana affirmed with good humour for the third time since her arrival that morning.
“So, how did you find Mrs. Carlton’s relatives when you arrived to retrieve some of our guests’ belongings?”
“I must say the Gardiners seemed a bit taken aback by the lateness of the hour and our cousin’s take charge manner. On the whole, I believe they found my presence somewhat reassuring. Above all, they were delighted to know Ben had come to no severe harm, and both he and his mother were safe.”
“At the risk of being crass, how would you describe the Gardiners? What of their home, their living conditions? Does it seem an ideal situation for the Carltons?”
“Brother, I am afraid you raise questions which I am quite unprepared to address. I have yet to meet the Carltons! Mrs. Gardiner did speak of their four small children and how they were all distressed over the news of Ben’s disappearance.
Oh, I met Miss Bennet, also. She resides with the Gardiners, as well. ”
“It must be very crowded. Would you say the Gardiners’ home in Cheapside is suitable for four adults, five children, and who knows how many servants?”
“I can hardly say, Brother. I suspect you would rather suffer anything than to see the Carltons return to Cheapside when it comes time for them to leave here.” Georgiana looked up at him as she sipped her tea, her brows arching.
“How would you feel about their being invited as extended guests in my home?”
“You would do that for me?”
“I would do anything in the world for you, Brother. Have you not always felt the same in regards to me?” She reached over and gently laid her hand on his.
“Besides, it is no sacrifice on my part. I would wish for nothing more than to become acquainted with the two people who have captured your heart.”
Some moments later, Elizabeth was shown into the room. Darcy immediately stood and greeted her with a warm smile.
“I am delighted to see you this morning,” he expressed, as though the two of them had not separated mere hours earlier after their nightlong vigil by Ben’s bedside. “Thank you for agreeing to join us for breakfast. I wish to introduce you to my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
By then, Georgiana was standing directly beside her brother, in front of Elizabeth. Both ladies smiled brightly and curtseyed.
“Miss Darcy, it is my pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Georgiana responded. “Come, let us have breakfast whilst we become acquainted with each other.” She wrapped her arm around Elizabeth’s and proceeded towards the table. “Allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Annesley.”
At one point, during a rare lull in the conversation between the two younger women, Darcy explained to Elizabeth his sister would be staying at his town-house with them until Ben fully recovered.
Though Elizabeth enjoyed meeting his sister, she was rather uncomfortable with the notion Darcy had invited her there with the expectation she and Ben would be guests at his home for any extended length of time.
Knowing how this would look to her family and others once they got wind of it, she had no intention of compounding her transgression of a broken engagement by taking up residence with the one man her former intended had marked as the reason for the alienation of her affections.
Elizabeth had no time to speak freely with Darcy after breakfast. As much as she wanted to express her gratitude on the one hand, on the other, she had some concerns with the manner in which he had taken it on himself to make decisions regarding her immediate future.
As disconcerting as she felt his actions to have been, resolving them could wait for proper consideration and discussion.
Not only did she suffer a strong desire to return to her son’s bedside as soon as could be, Darcy was just as eager to look in on Ben, as well.
Darcy and Elizabeth arrived in Ben’s room and found him sitting up in bed. Mr. Everett was just completing his examination.
“How is our patient this morning?” Darcy asked.
“Are you asking me, King Arthur?” Ben interjected.
“Well, no Sir Lancelot, for I have no doubt of what your response might be.” Darcy spoke from experience.
Both he and Elizabeth had remained with Ben at least an hour after he woke before dawn that morning.
At that time, Ben had insisted there was nothing at all wrong with him in one breath, then immediately returned to a deep slumber when Darcy and Elizabeth took turns reading to him.
Dr. Everett, who by then had completed his examination said, “Our young patient is not completely recovered just yet. I detected a slight bump to his head that had gone unnoticed last evening. It is no cause for alarm, as I suspect he is quite beyond any danger. However, I urge a longer period of rest before he resumes his normal routine.”
Elizabeth sat on the bed beside Ben, “It will be a while before your next adventure, young man.”
Darcy walked into the hallway with his physician. “Have you any lingering worries where the child’s health is concerned?”
“As I said last night, he is healthy and strong. I now add to the prognosis that he is quite vibrant and alert. Allow another day or two to pass, at which point you should have no reason at all for further concern.”
Whilst Darcy accompanied his physician down the stairs, Elizabeth spoke to Ben about what all had occurred.
“Ben, you gave me quite a scare yesterday. Why on earth did you take it upon yourself to leave my aunt and uncle’s home unattended? ”
“Mama, I did not mean to alarm you. I went in search of Mr. Darcy because I wanted the smile to return to your face. Ever since our arrival at Cheapside, you have seemed very sad. I hated to see you so. I reckoned if I brought Mr. Darcy back with me, you would smile once again.”
“Ben, what you did was wrong. You caused a great many people to worry.”
“I am sorry, Mama. Nevertheless, was it not worth the trouble? Are you not happy to be here?”
“Ben, that is neither here nor there. We will remain here only for another day or two at the most.”