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Darcy picked up the fine linen napkin to dab his lips before acceding to the older gentleman’s wish. Ben did likewise. “Ben, I would like you to meet my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Richard, this young man is Bennet Carlton.”

Richard bowed and encouraged Ben to remain in his seat. “So this is the young man whose story was so broadly spoken of last evening. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“It is my pleasure as well, sir.”

“Pray tell, young man, how do you know my friend?”

“Your friend?” Ben directed a quizzical eye towards Darcy. “You said he was your cousin!”

Darcy smiled widely. “Indeed, Ben. He is my cousin and my friend. The two are not mutually exclusive, you know.”

“If you say so—as long as he does not suppose he is your best friend,” Ben affirmed adamantly.

“Oh no! I believe you have firmly staked that honour for yourself.” Darcy could not help laughing at Ben’s possessiveness when it came to such matters.

“Indeed! But I suppose since he is your friend, he might be my friend as well,” Ben said as he leaned a bit closer to Darcy as if speaking confidentially.

“I believe you will find him quite worthy,” Darcy replied with certitude.

“But what shall we call him?” Ben asked Darcy as if it were the weightiest consideration they had yet faced.

Richard had had enough of being ignored by the two of them. “I must insist upon having my share of this conversation.”

Darcy said, “I am afraid there is something you must know about the two of us.” He looked to Ben for confirmation. Ben nodded his approval. “You see, I am truly King Arthur and this young man is my brave knight, Sir Lancelot. The two of us are conferring to decide who you might be.”

“Ah, King Arthur and Sir Lancelot, you say!”

Ben eagerly responded, “Indeed! Moreover, my mama is Lady Guinevere, and this is Camelot,” he declared with considerable enthusiasm, his arms stretched wide and nearly matched by his smile.

“I see!” Richard spoke in a tone apt to the seriousness of the occasion. “Then you must allow me to introduce myself as Merlin.”

“Merlin?” Ben asked Darcy, with a look of uncertainty.

Darcy recalled the many times Richard had been there for him whenever he had needed him most, including as recently as the evening before. He grinned. “Trust me, my young friend; Merlin is a most befitting name.”