Page 12 of One Night with Mr. Darcy

She looked up from the child, who was lying on his back on a blanket on the floor, waving his little limbs as she tickled his belly and cooed to him. She took Mr. Darcy in, and swept up the child, protective, pressing the babe’s face against her chest. She backed away from him. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, I was hoping you’d be going up to your rooms and that I wouldn’t see you until dinner.”

“Miss Bennet.” He coughed. “Mrs. Collins, pardon me.”

“Oh, think nothing of that. I shall always answer to Bennet, I think.” She let out a laugh, but it was nervous, not at all like her old laugh. She put a protective hand to the back of the baby’s head.

He didn’t know what to say. “What a beautiful child.” Did people say that?

She looked alarmed. “Oh, thank you. Yes, he’s… I think so, but I am his mother, so I would.” Another trill of laughter.

“What is his name?”

“William.” She pushed the baby’s face into her flesh, hand up, as if shielding the child from view.

Mr. Darcy didn’t understand that. Didn’t mothers like to show off their children?

“I can’t believe…” He shook his head. No, he shouldn’t say that. It seemed a wretched thing to say he couldn’t believe she’d already had a child. It was only that—damnation—he still wanted her. There she was, some other man’s wife, bred by another man, with a boy child, no less. And he still… He swallowed. “My apologies, I should take my leave.”

“Oh, wonderful!”

He furrowed his brow.

“I mean… not… but for you, it will be wonderful, because you’ll be able to get to your room and relax after your journey. I’m quite happy to see you again, of course. Such a pleasure. How is Mr. Bingley? His sisters? Are they in good health?”

“Yes, yes, as far as I know. And your family?”

“Oh, indeed.” She nodded. “Except Jane, my eldest sister. But, erm, she is the same as… you were taking your leave?”

“I was.”

“Good, then.”

“Good, yes. A pleasure to see you again, of course.”

“Yes,” she said, nodding frantically.

He turned and walked out of the room, rather feeling as though his head was not properly attached to his body, as if his neck had been strangely stretched.

“You are acquainted with Elizabeth?” said his aunt.

“Yes, we met some months ago,” he said. “I was near Meryton with friends last fall.”

“Well, then, what a small world,” said his aunt. She looked at him, tilting her head to one side.

“I need to see to Georgiana.”

His aunt was giving him the strangest of looks.

CHAPTER FOUR

“HOW DO YOUknow my nephew?”

Elizabeth was tucking Willie into his sling. “Lady Catherine, I need to go. Willie must go down for his nap, I’m afraid, and I shall need to start getting ready for dinner, if we are all to be dressed and ready tonight. It is to be a formal dinner, I suppose? You do still want me there?”

“Answer, Elizabeth.”

“I heard you talking to him. You know what he said.” Elizabeth bit down on her bottom lip. “He and the Bingleys were very close to us, neighbors to my family’s estate. We attended the same balls and dinners.”

“You’ve danced with him?”