Page 45

“You would do that for me?”

“I would do anything in the world for you, Brother. Have you not always felt the same in regards to me?” She reached over and gently laid her hand on his. “Besides, it is no sacrifice on my part. I would wish for nothing more than to become acquainted with the two people who have captured your heart.”

Some moments later, Elizabeth was shown into the room. Darcy immediately stood and greeted her with a warm smile.

“I am delighted to see you this morning,” he expressed, as though the two of them had not separated mere hours earlier after their nightlong vigil by Ben’s bedside. “Thank you for agreeing to join us for breakfast. I wish to introduce you to my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”

By then, Georgiana was standing directly beside her brother, in front of Elizabeth. Both ladies smiled brightly and curtseyed.

“Miss Darcy, it is my pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Georgiana responded. “Come, let us have breakfast whilst we become acquainted with each other.” She wrapped her arm around Elizabeth’s and proceeded towards the table. “Allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Annesley.”

At one point, during a rare lull in the conversation between the two younger women, Darcy explained to Elizabeth his sister would be staying at his town-house with them until Ben fully recovered. Though Elizabeth enjoyed meeting his sister, she was rather uncomfortable with the notion Darcy had invited her there with the expectation she and Ben would be guests at his home for any extended length of time. Knowing how this would look to her family and others once they got wind of it, she had no intention of compounding her transgression of a broken engagement by taking up residence with the one man her former intended had marked as the reason for the alienation of her affections.

Elizabeth had no time to speak freely with Darcy after breakfast. As much as she wanted to express her gratitude on the one hand, on the other, she had some concerns with the manner in which he had taken it on himself to make decisions regarding her immediate future. As disconcerting as she felt his actions to have been, resolving them could wait for proper consideration and discussion. Not only did she suffer a strong desire to return to her son’s bedside as soon as could be, Darcy was just as eager to look in on Ben, as well.

Darcy and Elizabeth arrived in Ben’s room and found him sitting up in bed. Mr. Everett was just completing his examination.

“How is our patient this morning?” Darcy asked.

“Are you asking me, King Arthur?” Ben interjected.

“Well, no Sir Lancelot, for I have no doubt of what your response might be.” Darcy spoke from experience. Both he and Elizabeth had remained with Ben at least an hour after he woke before dawn that morning. At that time, Ben had insisted there was nothing at all wrong with him in one breath, then immediately returned to a deep slumber when Darcy and Elizabeth took turns reading to him.

Dr. Everett, who by then had completed his examination said, “Our young patient is not completely recovered just yet. I detected a slight bump to his head that had gone unnoticed last evening. It is no cause for alarm, as I suspect he is quite beyond any danger. However, I urge a longer period of rest before he resumes his normal routine.”

Elizabeth sat on the bed beside Ben, “It will be a while before your next adventure, young man.”

Darcy walked into the hallway with his physician. “Have you any lingering worries where the child’s health is concerned?”

“As I said last night, he is healthy and strong. I now add to the prognosis that he is quite vibrant and alert. Allow another day or two to pass, at which point you should have no reason at all for further concern.”

Whilst Darcy accompanied his physician down the stairs, Elizabeth spoke to Ben about what all had occurred.

“Ben, you gave me quite a scare yesterday. Why on earth did you take it upon yourself to leave my aunt and uncle’s home unattended?”

“Mama, I did not mean to alarm you. I went in search of Mr. Darcy because I wanted the smile to return to your face. Ever since our arrival at Cheapside, you have seemed very sad. I hated to see you so. I reckoned if I brought Mr. Darcy back with me, you would smile once again.”

“Ben, what you did was wrong. You caused a great many people to worry.”

“I am sorry, Mama. Nevertheless, was it not worth the trouble? Are you not happy to be here?”

“Ben, that is neither here nor there. We will remain here only for another day or two at the most.”

“No,” Ben adamantly expressed, “I do not want to be parted from Mr. Darcy again!”

“Ben, it is not proper—” she began. A light knock on the door that had been left slightly ajar interrupted what she had meant to be a stern speech. Thinking Mr. Darcy was returning, Elizabeth spoke without diverting her eyes from her son, “Please enter.”

“Pardon me, Elizabeth. My brother mentioned your son had awakened,” said Georgiana as she approached Ben’s bedside. “I am most eager to meet the young man whom my brother professes to be the bravest young knight in all the land and his dear friend.”

If Elizabeth could have used but one word to describe her young son at that moment, she would have chosen smitten. Ben, who heretofore never looked at anyone of the opposite sex, who was not also his family, except perhaps to find fault, bore an expression of complete awe. The golden tresses framing Georgiana’s face lent a majestic glow to her graceful mien. Having never seen a true-to-life angel, surely he felt himself to be staring into the face of one such heavenly creature now.

Elizabeth happily made the introductions. “Ben, I would like you to meet Miss Georgiana Darcy.”

Georgiana curtseyed, “I am happy to meet you, young sir. My brother has told me so much about you.”

“You are Mr. Darcy’s sister! He has spoken of you to me, as well. I am delighted to meet you, Miss Darcy.”