Page 50 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)

Jane sacrificed her position and moved into her husband’s welcoming embrace.

“Oh! How shall we meet again?” Jane inquired.

“Seeing as how the circumstances turned out so advantageously for us all, I can hardly imagine the occasion as anything but a cause for joy. However, knowing my sister as I do, I can hardly imagine her as being very accepting of our marriage and my decision to find happiness with you.”

“Perhaps, then it is left to the two of us to extend an olive branch.” He kissed her on her temple. “After all, my misunderstanding of the truth of their acquaintance coloured your feelings towards your sister.”

“I do not blame you at all. Even I was convinced of the unseemliness of my sister’s association with Mr. Darcy.”

“Perhaps we were all mistaken. Nonetheless, the fact that they are married does not minimise the lack of propriety shown by either of them. However, we are all family now. For the sake of our family, it is incumbent upon us all to let bygones be bygones.”

The shades in the master suite were drawn just so, allowing the full moon’s silvery light to flood the chamber.

With his head resting on his cushiony pillow, Darcy watched Elizabeth sleeping peacefully by his side.

How he adored this woman. He felt truly blessed to have won her heart after what seemed like a lifetime of waiting and hoping.

Finally, she was his—his lover and his wife, God willing, for the rest of his days.

Leaning forward a bit, he placed a faint kiss atop her head—a brush of his lips as gentle as a warm breeze. Still, she stirred. She opened her eyes. Her expression led him to know she was not at all aggrieved to be awakened so.

Elizabeth traced her fingers along his chin. “Is everything all right, my love?”

“All is perfect,” he whispered. “I did not mean to interrupt your peaceful slumber. Pray, close your eyes and sleep. I’m contented merely to watch over you.”

She darted her eyes in the direction of the ticking clock. It was close to midnight. Sitting up, she said, “I suppose I ought to look in on Ben.”

“Why?” Darcy asked. “I am certain he is tucked safely in his bed and sound asleep.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I am afraid that looking in on my son during the middle of the night is a habit that has been many years in the making. I have yet to teach myself to do otherwise.” She placed her hand on his chin once again.

“Pray you will endeavour to be patient and indulge me in this regard a while longer. I shall not always feel this way—I promise.”

Darcy put his finger lightly upon her lips. “I understand; trust me, I do. For so many years it has been solely the two of you.”

She smiled in appreciation of his affirmation of her sentiments.

Suddenly torn between his desire for his wife and his admiration of her abiding devotion to her son, Darcy combed his fingers through his hair. “You love him. Indeed, I love him too.”

“I know you do. But for so long, I have thought of myself as being the only one my son has in the whole world.”

“Ben also has me. Now that the three of us are a family, so long as you insist on looking in on Ben at this hour, you must allow me to accompany you. Better still, I encourage you to remain here and sleep, and I will go to Ben’s room to assure he is doing the same.”

“I could not expect you to do that.”

“I insist,” he responded while persuading her to lie back and rest her head on her pillow.

He kissed her gently on her chin. Sitting up, he lowered his feet to the floor.

Upon donning and purposely securing his luxurious satin robe, he headed toward the door.

Pausing, he turned to gaze at Elizabeth.

Feeling all the blessings of his long-awaited bliss with the only woman he had ever loved, Darcy smiled. A blessing indeed.

Ben pushed the heavy door of Darcy’s study ajar and peeped inside. His mother had reminded him more than once that Mr. Darcy was not to be disturbed when in there with his steward, for they were attending to estate business. He was delighted to find him there, alone.

Darcy sat at his chair with his head buried in the paperwork before him. Ben raced to the desk and cajoled his way into Darcy’s lap.

“Good morning, Da!” Ben eagerly expressed.

“Good morning, son!” Darcy responded in kind, before regulating his tone. “Where have you been this morning? I looked for you in your room. You were not there. The servants were unable to account for your whereabouts.”

“I waited for you for as long as I could bear, Da. Any way, you do not rise nearly as early as when we first arrived at Pemberley.”

Darcy thought of his increasing reluctance to leave his bride’s side each morning. “Indeed.”

Ben regarded Darcy’s far-away gaze curiously. “May we commence our riding lessons now? I am eager to see my new pony.”

“I have no doubt of that. Unfortunately, I expect my steward to arrive any minute. We have much to discuss before I am free to accompany you to the stables.”

Ben looked about Darcy’s desk. “What are you working on? Perhaps, I might be of service.”

Darcy chuckled. “In due time, son, for I intend to teach you all there is to know about the management of the estate. However, for now, you are to enjoy your carefree youth a bit longer.”

Ben would not be dissuaded. He continued to look about for a means to be of use. “What is that?”

Darcy retrieved the object of Ben’s curiosity. “This is a rendition of Pemberley.” Darcy stretched out the parchment, placed it on the desk, and began to point out various spots of interest, some of which Ben had seen already, many he had not.

In the midst of their perusal, Ben danced around the question that lingered in the back of his young mind. “Da, do you suppose I shall ever own an estate as fine as Pemberley?”

Darcy spoke gently. “As a gentleman of means, which you shall one day be, I have no reason to suspect otherwise, Ben.”

“Is my family’s estate of Camberworth forever lost to me?” Ben asked tentatively, recalling how his mother had spoken of the entail, the details of which were too complex for even his inquisitive mind.

“For now, you are not to concern yourself with such matters. I shall endeavour to explain the nature of entailed estates to you when you are older. Does that sound agreeable?”

Ben did not answer, but rather draped his arms around Darcy’s neck. “I love you, Da.”

“As I love you,” Darcy responded.

Darcy and Elizabeth lay in bed together basking in the warmth of their shared passion. He held her in his arms and rested his head atop hers. “Are you happy, my love?”

Elizabeth stroked her hand across his broad chest. “Exceedingly so,” she whispered.

A light scratch at the door prompted the two lovers to look at each other in silent acknowledgement.

Elizabeth smiled apologetically. Darcy placed his finger gently on her cheek and then followed through with a light kiss.

Ben had suffered unpleasant dreams for the past two nights.

Darcy could only imagine the young lad had met with fierce two-headed dragons, ferocious beasts, and what not, yet again.

Darcy got out of bed and donned his breeches and robe quickly. Tying it at the waist whilst walking over to unlock the door, he glanced back at his wife to assure that she too had recovered her silken nightgown and robe .

Darcy opened the door. Ben only had eyes for his mother. He walked right by Darcy and climbed into bed. He was fast asleep in his mother’s arms before Darcy had managed to close the door and return to bed.

Elizabeth whispered. “I am sorry. It is just that it has been solely the two of us for so long.”

Darcy silenced her with a soft, reassuring kiss. “I understand, my love. We shall allow him to remain a short while longer before carrying him off to his own bed,” Darcy affirmed.

Nearly a half-hour later, Elizabeth awakened from a quiet slumber. She had dozed off. Now, neither her son nor her husband was in the bed beside her. Darcy had carried Ben to his room some time ago. Ben had stirred as Darcy tucked him into his bed.

He rubbed his eyes. “Da, where is my mama?”

Darcy placed his finger to his lips, beckoning the young child to hush. “Your mother is asleep, as you should be,” he whispered.

“But I am not tired,” Ben yawned. “I am wide awake.”

“On the contrary, young man, you are quite sleepy. Now, get some rest.” Darcy leaned forward and bestowed a light kiss atop Ben’s head. He picked up the candle the servant had placed on Ben’s bedside table and turned to leave.

“But I am not tired,” Ben repeated, this time trying his best to stifle a yawn.

Darcy had had enough experience tucking Ben in bed to know how that would go. He set the candle down and retrieved the book from the table. “Very well—I shall read to you for a spell. That always helps.” Darcy relaxed in the chair and started reading.

Awhile later, Elizabeth entered the room in time to espy her son drifting off to sleep. She crossed the room quietly and sat in her husband’s lap. “What are you reading?”

“An account of The Knights of the Round Table,” he whispered, as he pointed out the title of the book.

Elizabeth smiled. She spoke softly, “Indeed, is there anything else?”