Page 37 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)

“No,” Ben adamantly expressed, “I do not want to be parted from Mr. Darcy again!”

“Ben, it is not proper—” she began. A light knock on the door that had been left slightly ajar interrupted what she had meant to be a stern speech. Thinking Mr. Darcy was returning, Elizabeth spoke without diverting her eyes from her son, “Please enter.”

“Pardon me, Elizabeth. My brother mentioned your son had awakened,” said Georgiana as she approached Ben’s bedside. “I am most eager to meet the young man whom my brother professes to be the bravest young knight in all the land and his dear friend.”

If Elizabeth could have used but one word to describe her young son at that moment, she would have chosen smitten .

Ben, who heretofore never looked at anyone of the opposite sex, who was not also his family, except perhaps to find fault, bore an expression of complete awe.

The golden tresses framing Georgiana’s face lent a majestic glow to her graceful mien.

Having never seen a true-to-life angel, surely he felt himself to be staring into the face of one such heavenly creature now.

Elizabeth happily made the introductions. “Ben, I would like you to meet Miss Georgiana Darcy.”

Georgiana curtseyed, “I am happy to meet you, young sir. My brother has told me so much about you.”

“You are Mr. Darcy’s sister! He has spoken of you to me, as well. I am delighted to meet you, Miss Darcy. ”

“Indeed, but you must call me Miss Georgiana. I hope to become acquainted with you very well over the coming months.”

“Georgiana, you are very kind,” Elizabeth began. “As I was just telling Ben, we will soon return to my uncle’s home in Cheapside. I do not imagine we shall have many opportunities to see one another once that occurs.”

Georgiana witnessed the dismay in Ben’s eyes on hearing his mother’s words.

The younger woman took Elizabeth’s hand in hers and said, “Elizabeth, I am sympathetic to the notion that you may not wish to remain in my brother’s home much longer, but I hope those sensibilities do not include my home, as well.

It would mean the world to me if you and Ben would be guests in my home at least through the end of the Season.

“I am not yet out in Society, but I imagine there are many pleasant diversions we all might enjoy.”

Ben’s face glowed brightly with enthusiasm. “May we accept Miss Georgiana’s invitation, Mama?”

“May I have time to consider your kind offer and its implications before I respond yes or no? I have concerns that I must first address,” Elizabeth said.

“Of course, take as much time as you would like. But mind you, nothing would please me more, nor would anything bring greater joy to my brother, for that matter, than for you to say yes. It would be an opportunity for you to get to know both of us better, would it not?”

Later that day, Darcy came across Elizabeth in the library.

She was stretched out on the couch, an opened book in hand, soundly asleep.

He watched for a moment, taking in the sight of her, her slow even breaths causing her breasts to rise and fall with a gentle motion.

He found himself unable to resist the opportunity to approach her and attend to her comfort.

The gentle pressure of his removing the book from her hand stirred her.

Upon sitting upright, she recalled herself to her surroundings after a moment or two passed .

“I am sorry to have disturbed your peaceful slumber. I know you must be exhausted. Have you had any rest in bed at all? How do you find your room?”

“I should be begging your forgiveness for my unseemly behaviour,” she expressed tentatively. “What must your staff think of my falling asleep in your library?”

“It has been a harrowing ordeal for us all. My staff would never think unkindly of you. Besides, you are welcome to fall asleep anywhere in my home, at any time.”

“Are you flirting with me, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked, smiling fondly in reminiscence of their irrepressible affection for each other.

“I am afraid you have that effect on me,” he declared unabashedly.

He seated himself beside her and took her hand in his.

On a more serious note, he continued. “Despite how this all came about, you must allow me to tell you how delighted I am to have you and Ben here with me. As much as I would wish to avoid any unpleasant conversations, I must know how this came to be. When last we spoke, you were determined to go forth with your plans to marry Geoffrey Collins. Shall I expect him to barge through my door at any moment demanding what is rightfully his?”

“For better or for worse, that ship has sailed. You see, Mr. Darcy, I am no longer engaged to marry Mr. Collins.”

His heart swelled with hope. “Does this mean—” Darcy optimistically began, only to be interrupted by Elizabeth.

“I am afraid it means nothing as far as our situation is concerned, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth.

Looking away from the sight of the hurt she had inflicted on him, once again, so reminiscent of the look she witnessed their last time together in Kent, she continued.

“I am sorry if this causes you pain, Mr. Darcy. I shall be eternally grateful to you for all you have done for both Ben and me. You mean the world to Ben. You mean a great deal to me, as well. It is just that—” unable to continue, Elizabeth stood and moved away from Darcy.

She walked towards the window and looked out, paying no attention at all to the sight beyond .

“It is just what?” Darcy approached her from behind and spoke tenderly.

“Mr. Collins accused me of ending the engagement because of an unhealthy and unrequited desire for you.”

“You know better than that, Elizabeth,” Darcy said, as he gently took a hold of her arm and guided her to face him.

“Well, yes, but I am unable to swear his words are wholly without merit. I confess, he was all wrong for Ben and me, just as you foretold. However—” Elizabeth lost her voice in the wake of Darcy’s skilled fingers cupping her chin, willing her to look deeply into his piercing blue eyes.

“Did he harm you or Ben?”

“No … not physically,” Elizabeth said, tentatively. Darcy stood mere inches apart from her … so close, the faint scent of lavender brought to mind the first time he had held her in his arms.

“Yet, he wounded you deeply with his words. I understand. I can only imagine the harsh things he might have said to you, especially regarding my intentions. However, surely you must know the truth. I am in love with you. And just in case you have forgotten, may I remind you, gently?” Darcy feathered soft kisses along Elizabeth’s cheek that concluded with a gentle brush against her lips.

Past spoken words, ever-present hushed thoughts to the contrary; she yearned for the pleasure of his touch.

The ensuing cessation of his lips touching hers and the absence of the gentle stroke of his fingertips on her chin prompted the opening of her eyes.

“Have you given Georgiana’s invitation any further consideration?” Darcy asked as he gradually moved a respectable distance apart and laced his fingers behind his back.

Before Elizabeth could respond to what had happened, he continued, “I want Ben and you to remain close to me whilst you decide your next step. There is no logical reason for the two of you to be uncomfortable in an already crowded house when Georgiana has more than enough room to accommodate you in a manner befitting Ben and you. ”

“Did you tell your sister to extend the invitation, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth challenged, endeavouring to mask the overwhelming effect of his deep, loving voice on her composure.

“No, it was her own idea. I thought only to have her here to make you more at ease, and hopefully, more willing to stay. Nonetheless, I could not have been more pleased at her initiative. I freely admit my motives are entirely selfish. I want you and Ben always to be a part of my life. You know this. Be that as it may, I will not press you into doing my bidding,” he promised.

“My mind will be eased considerably knowing you and Ben are safe and comfortable and as near to me as my sister’s home.

In no time at all, Darcy had rearranged his life to accommodate his new guests by doing everything in his power to see to their comfort and satisfaction.

He wished he might never have to be separated from Elizabeth again.

However, the reality of the situation was such that they would be parted before long.

Ben had recovered fully after a healthful stay in bed.

In but a day or so, Elizabeth and Ben would be obliged to remove to Georgiana’s establishment.

One evening, both having bid Ben a pleasant night’s sleep, as had been Darcy and Elizabeth’s routine ever since her arrival, they stood in the hallway just outside Ben’s door.

“Is this goodnight for the two of us, as well?” Darcy asked, hoping Elizabeth might be amenable to the true, unspoken nature of his appeal.

One too many innocent brushes of his hand against hers over the course of the evening and chance glimpses at one another whilst turning the pages of Ben’s night-time storybook had sparked natural curiosity that begged for satisfaction.

Elizabeth’s stomach fluttered. Her silent voice screamed inside, I wish this night might never end! “What do you have in mind?”

Darcy conveyed his intentions, not with words, but rather with not so subtle sweeping looks—her eyes, her lips.

At length, he bestowed an intimate touch upon her face and was about to follow the earlier path of his eyes with his fingers—if that went well, perhaps even his lips.

Elizabeth gasped. His gentle touch was agreeable in every way.

She closed her eyes as her imagination of what was to come leapt.

A faint cry interrupted the anticipated bliss. “Mama—” echoed softly through the closed-door.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and read in Darcy’s some measure of dismay. “I must see what my son wants,” she whispered.

“Must you?”

“I must.”

“Of course, you must,” he conceded, a bit of reluctance evidenced by his tone.

Darcy relinquished his touch. Elizabeth gradually increased the physical distance between them, even if not the emotional embrace, for she did not turn her back towards him until the last possible moment.

Upon entering the room, she unhurriedly pushed the door shut with her eyes settled upon Darcy, who remained standing in the same spot with a look of longing as telling as was hers.

Elizabeth enfolded her hands behind her back and rested against the door for a moment. Breathe , she reminded herself before going to Ben’s bedside.

A few days hence, the pleasant weather encouraged Darcy and Ben to have a walk in the park. The young lad had been noticeably quiet, giving Darcy to wonder if anything was amiss. Ben stated that all was well when Darcy pressed, but the words did not match his demeanour at all.

Growing increasingly concerned, Darcy asked, “Are you quite certain there is nothing troubling you, Ben? Friends have no need to keep such matters to themselves. You and I are friends, are we not?”

“You are my best friend in the whole world,” Ben responded reassuringly.

“Then perhaps you will confide in me.”

“Well, there is a matter that I have been thinking about since Mama and I went away from the parsonage house, but I am not certain if I ought to say anything.”

“Not even to me?” Darcy replied.

“This matter is more of a question.”

“You do know that you may ask me anything. I shall always endeavour to answer as best I can.”

“In that case, pray tell me, King Arthur, what is romance?”

Darcy swallowed hard. Of all the questions in the world, he never expected that one. “That is a rather odd question for a young knight such as yourself. What has brought it about?”

“Before my mama and I left the parsonage, I heard Mama and her friend, Mrs. Collins, talking.”

“Ben, surely you know better than to listen to conversations meant to be between your elders.”

Ben sighed. “That is what my mama says.”

“And yet you confess to having done so.”

The lad shook his head. “Indeed. How else am I to know what is happening all around me?”

“I posit there are some things—a great many things, in fact--that someone as young as you ought not to know.”

“Do you mean to say I should know nothing at all about romance?”

“Not at the moment. You will know all about romance soon enough.”

Ben shrugged a little. “Still, I would welcome anything you can tell me for now, so that I might know what to expect when the time comes.”

“I have a suspicion that your curiosity will not wane until I have answered your question. Very well, then.” Darcy halted, thereby encouraging young Ben to do the same.

He lowered himself to the child’s eye level.

He cleared his throat. “Romance is what takes place between a man and the woman he loves. It has to do with the manner in which they comport themselves with each other—the things they say and do and the tender sentiments they suffer in so doing… even the way they look at each other.”

“Mama said a marriage with romance is something to which everyone ought to aspire when they can,” said Ben. “Mrs. Collins said she did not necessarily agree.”

Darcy chuckled a little in spite of himself. “That is precisely the sort of thing I would expect of Mrs. Collins,” he said in a low voice meant only for himself.

“Oh?” Ben exclaimed.

Somewhat obliged to offer an appropriate response, Darcy added, “My aunt’s vicar does not strike me as being of a romantic bent.”

His expression easing from bafflement to intrigue, Ben asked, “Are you romantic, King Arthur?”

“That is a matter of opinion,” Darcy replied.

“If you are romantic, I should like it very much if you would tell my mama.”

“Ben,” Darcy said, “I do not believe this discussion should go any further.”

The young lad shrugged again. “If that is your wish, I shall say no more. However, will you promise me that you will think about it?”

It would be a promise easily kept, Darcy silently acknowledged , for it is a matter that is always on my mind. He stood and resumed his former attitude, encouraging Ben to act accordingly. Extending his hand and accepting Ben’s small hand in his, in turn, Darcy replied, “You have my promise.”