Page 54 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)

Darcy smiled. “You are quite welcome. I should like very much to have a private audience with my son just now.”

Ben and Samuel exchanged glances: Ben’s questioning and Samuel’s contrite.

Turning to his father, Ben said, “Da, I am excited to go riding this morning, and Samuel is too.”

“I assure you that what I have to say shall not interfere with your plans. Now run along, Samuel. Ben will join you in the stables as soon as we are done.”

Soon after Samuel quitted the room Ben said, “Will you join us on our ride as well? What good fun it would be.”

“Not this morning, Ben. Perhaps you and I shall enjoy a ride later this afternoon.”

Ben’s eyes brightened. “Shall it be the three of us? I should enjoy that even better.”

“It will be solely the two of us, Ben.”

His shoulders slumped, Ben said, “Da, I cannot help but consider that you are not very fond of Samuel, and I think he feels the same. He was hesitant to come with me for fear you might object to his being here.”

“Ben, if your friend was reluctant to enter my study uninvited, then it is as it should be.”

“But of course he had an invitation. I invited him.”

“So you did.”

“Yet you made him feel unwelcome.”

How was Darcy to explain to Ben the edicts of etiquette that dictated that servants did not simply gallivant throughout the halls of Pemberley or enter the master’s study uninvited?

Such behaviour was just the thing that George Wickham would have done when Darcy and he were children.

That turned out very badly. Fortunately, Ben had never met George Wickham.

To the extent it is within my power, he never will.

“An unintended consequence, I am sure.”

“Then you will reconsider? You will go riding with Samuel and me.”

“I never said that.”

“Please, Da. I should like that very much.”

“You cannot always get what you want.”

“I know you tell me that, and I know it is true, but I do not simply want Samuel to share all I enjoy—I rely upon it. It is such a joy to wake each morning knowing we will spend the whole day together.”

“Once your lessons are done, you are at leisure to enjoy the entire day with your friend. Indeed, this brings me to my purpose in asking to see you.” Darcy took Ben by the hand and encouraged him to have a seat by the fireplace.

“Ben, I need you to understand that your study time is intended solely for you and Mr. Coolidge. I am afraid Samuel’s presence comes at your expense. The time Mr. Coolidge is spending with Samuel is time he might otherwise be spending with you.”

“What I have found is quite the opposite. You see, I had been spending part of my time teaching Samuel to read and write and add and subtract. I do not agree that it takes time away from my lessons—it adds to my lessons.”

“Ben, this really is not a matter for debate.”

“Da, why can you not see that this arrangement works out best for all concerned? The time I spend with Samuel on his lessons is time not spent at leisure.”

“I suppose the only fallacy in your argument is the premise that you need spend any time at all attending to Samuel’s education.”

“Oh, but I truly must. Else he will never be able to fully enjoy the tales of the knights of the roundtable on his own. He must continue to rely upon my reading it to him. He would much rather read to himself.”

“Ben, did Samuel ask you to take such a task upon yourself?”

Ben cast his eyes downward. “Not in so many words.”

“Then how do you know it is important to him?”

“Because! One day, I came across him in the stable poring over the pages of The Knights of the Roundtable , struggling to make out the words—with no success whatsoever.”

“Your favourite book? How did it come to be in the stables of all places?”

“Well, it used to be my favourite book. It now belongs to Samuel. He told me it is his favourite. But what good is there in having a favourite book if one cannot read a single word it says?”

“I will allow that your reasoning in that regard is sound, and it is a good thing that you wish to see young Samuel establish the same deep appreciation of the legend of King Arthur that you enjoy. However, I will not allow that it is Mr. Coolidge’s job to see that it comes about.

Samuel is no longer allowed to attend your lessons with you, and you must refrain from encouraging him to do so. ”

“But, Da?”

“No buts, young man. I believe your friend is waiting for you at the stables. You must not continue to keep him waiting.”

Ben remained seated as if refusing to be dismissed so easily as that. How he reminded Darcy of Elizabeth in that regard.

“I should have thought you would have been very proud of my gallantry towards Samuel.”

“Ben, I am proud of you.”

“Is it not a very noble thing to want to encourage him? Is a proper education not just as important for my friend as it is for me?”

“Your efforts might be described as very noble. However, there are many young children who live amongst the tenants who might benefit equally.”

“Then what say you we go about teaching them all?”

“Educating the masses is not something that I have ever given serious consideration, Ben, and for the time being, neither should you. No—my purpose is to do all in my power to see that you are reared as a proper gentleman so that when you reach the age of majority and take your rightful place amongst elite society, you shall be properly prepared.”

Elizabeth walked into the room. “Ben, I had not expected to find you here. I thought you and Samuel might be off enjoying some new adventure.”

“Mama, I am glad you are here. Da and I cannot agree over a matter that has to do with my friend Samuel and me.”

Elizabeth placed her hand on her chest. “What can any of that have to do with me, Ben?”

Darcy said, “I suppose Ben thinks that your opinion of the matter will sway me in my stance.”

“Indeed, Mama, you understand why it is so important that Samuel spends time with me in class.”

“Perhaps you might give me time alone with your father, young man.”

He accepted Elizabeth’s proffered embrace, and then walked towards the door. Pausing, he turned and faced Darcy. “Good day, Father.”

Good day, Father. How those three innocent words struck Darcy hard as he recalled an agreement he and Ben made, prior to Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s nuptials, as to how Ben would address him.

Ben’s words that he would only address him as ‘Father’ when he was exceedingly vexed echoed in Darcy’s ears.

Oh, the distress of having disappointed his child for the first time.

The first of many to come, I am sure, although that in no way diminishes my current circumstances. It cannot be helped.

Once he and Elizabeth were alone, Darcy rubbed his hand across his face. “It is a difficult business being at odds with Ben.”

Elizabeth crossed her arms. “Mr. Darcy, unless you can explain your motives you will find yourself at odds with me, as well.” She then walked to where he sat and took the seat next to him.

“I see no harm in allowing Samuel to join Ben in the schoolroom. In fact, I said as much to Mr. Coolidge. He voiced no objections to the scheme.”

He reached out to her, took her hand and cradled it in his. “Elizabeth, my love, I am the one with objections. You will have no way of knowing this, but I have first-hand experience with all that can go wrong when one attempts to lift someone above the sphere in which they were born.

“Indeed, in these very halls of Pemberley did I witness such a travesty unfold. I see in Ben and his friend Samuel a similar situation that I suffered as a young child when my own best friend was the son of my father’s steward.

It is no wonder that Ben is so fond of Samuel.

My childhood friend possessed many of those same admirable qualities that endear young Samuel to everyone he meets.

But the fact is that Samuel is the grandson of servants.

He is not Ben’s equal, and I refuse to regard him as such.

I shall not repeat the mistakes of my father. ”

“So, you truly suppose that allowing Samuel to benefit from the same educational opportunities as Ben equates with regarding him as Ben’s equal?”

“I do not intend to take any steps that place me upon the path my father chose. It warms my heart that Ben should have a friend of his own age with whom to spend his days, but I shall not allow Ben to forget that their worlds are leagues apart.”

“Will that not be a hard point to argue given that they reside under the same roof?”

“Elizabeth, I do not need to spell out the differences between living above and below stairs to you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “I would hope that you do not see fit to spell it out for my young son either. I truly do not wish for my son to think of himself as being better than anyone else.”

“That does not mean it is not true. Ben is our son. He is heir to a fortune of more than two hundred thousand pounds. He will be a wealthy gentleman with expectations of owning a magnificent estate—perhaps even Camberworth, if I can successfully persuade his uncle to sell.”

“My, Mr. Darcy, these are lofty goals that you have for our son.”

“Have they not always been your goals as well?”

“My greatest goal for Ben just now is that he should enjoy his days of youth. If that means having his friend join him in class, I see no harm.”

“What would be next? Shall I see that Samuel owns a horse as fine as Ben’s? Shall Samuel be allowed to attend Eton with Ben? Shall he be educated at Cambridge alongside Ben as well?”

“You have asked a series of questions that I am not inclined to address at this point. You know my sentiments as regards boarding school.”

“Yes, hence the purpose in Mr. Coolidge’s being here, which brings us full circle. My decision is final. Samuel will not be allowed in class with Ben.”

“You surprise me, Mr. Darcy. Do you not think it would do Mrs. Reynolds proud to see her grandchild enjoy many of the same privileges as Ben?”

“You will find that Mrs. Reynolds and I are of the same mind in this regard.”

“You speak with such confidence. How do you know what her thinking is along those lines? I am rather certain you have not sought her opinion.”

“I would have no need to seek her opinion. She, more than anyone, knows the dangers in raising one’s expectations beyond what is reasonable for one’s sphere.

She witnessed first-hand how badly that turned out when my father attempted the same with my childhood friend.

She would never wish such a fate for her own flesh and blood.

You have never met the rotten fruit of my father’s benevolence. Pray you never will.”

“Pardon me for thinking it is not sound to conflate your childhood experiences with Ben’s.” Her voice a mixture of curiosity and frustration, she said, “Who is this childhood friend of whom you speak? Does he have a name?”

“What does it matter to you? He and I have ceased all relationships. He is not welcome to set foot at Pemberley ever again.”

“Then it will do no harm if you tell me his name.”

Darcy ran his fingers through his hair, and then blew out a long, exasperated breath. “George Wickham.”