Page 64 of One Night with Mr. Darcy

After dinner, Georgiana went and stood in the open front door, letting the cool air flutter against her skin, eyes closed, looking blissfully content. Mr. Darcy went with her to her bedchamber.

Elizabeth took Willie to hers. Instead of bundling the boy off to bed in his own little cradle, she lay down with him in her own bed.

He snuggled his sweet, small body into hers.

She clutched him.

After he was asleep, she cried.

She was not sure why she was crying. Maybe for some loss of innocence. Maybe for the horror of the day. Maybe for the end of it all, the sheer awfulness of all of it.

But she was not sorry.

And she was glad he was dead.

Later, the door opened.

She looked up to see that Mr. Darcy was there. He looked into the cradle, and then saw them both on the bed.

“Lie down with us,” she whispered to him, unsure why she was issuing such an invitation.

But he did it. And first, he stripped off his jacket and his cravat and waistcoat and pulled his shirt free. Then he crawled in and wrapped his arms around them both.

“I’m sorry you had to do that, Elizabeth,” he breathed in her ear. “It was my task, not yours. I would have done anything to spare you that.”

“I know,” she said. “I wish I hadn’t had to do it either.”

He tightened his grip on her.

“Stay,” she said.

“I shouldn’t,” he said.

“I know,” she said.

He stayed.

They slept.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

MR. DARCY WOKEup to a small set of limbs climbing all over his body.William,he thought,my son.He opened his eyes to find two small eyes gazing at him. The little boy was perched on his chest.

“Good morning, Fitzwillie,” said the little boy.

“Good morning, Willie,” said Mr. Darcy. This was not good. How were they going to explain this to the boy? He didn’t know, but he wouldn’t have traded this moment for anything in the world.

Willie stuck out his tongue.

Mr. Darcy stuck out his tongue.

This was the most delightful thing in the world to the little boy, who began to giggle wildly.

Mr. Darcy laughed too, a deep rumble of perfect satisfaction that welled up in his chest and seemed to overtake him.

Next to them both, Elizabeth stirred.

“Good morning, Mama,” said Willie.