Page 64

“I shall be mistress of Pemberley soon enough. I shall act accordingly. From this point, I shall assume primary responsibility for Anne’s care.”

“No, you do not understand. I cannot expect that of you. After all, she should see my face if, no, when she first opens her eyes.”

“On the contrary, sir, yours is the last face she should see when she first opens her eyes. This clinging spiral will never end otherwise.”

Darcy’s countenance was riddled with doubt. Elizabeth traced her fingers along his cheek. “Anne does not need you to tend to her, not as much as you have done thus far. You, on the other hand, are very much in need of some tender loving care, and I mean to be the one to provide just that.”

Elizabeth leaned forward to kiss him on his cheek then sat back. The two lovers gazed into one another’s eyes once again. Darcy studied her lips intently then leaned forward and kissed Elizabeth softly, tenderly, and ever so sweetly. His kiss was filled with all the love he had for her.

The two young lovers were in accord. They would try it Elizabeth’s way.

Elizabeth took over the care of Anne. Her army of nurses notwithstanding, it was Elizabeth, who sat with her, read to her, and saw to it the nurses treated her in a manner befitting the master’s first cousin.

As Elizabeth’s stamina waned, Georgiana, and even Richard, aided her in her care of Anne. Darcy too maintained a vigil of sorts, even if not allowed by those who cared for him most to remain in Anne’s room for anything longer than to look in on her and then promptly take his leave.

What is occurring with Miss Anne? Ben’s curiosity would no longer be satisfied with vague responses, having asked the question of his mama, his friend Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and even Miss Georgiana on many an occasion. One day, whilst the grown-ups were having dinner, he took it upon himself to learn what was afoot.

Ben slowly pushed the door of Anne’s apartment open and peeked inside. No one was about, save an elderly woman. The sounds emanating from her corner of the room confirmed Ben’s suspicion she was asleep.

Ben looked up and down the corridor, and seeing no one around, slipped inside. He tiptoed across the fine thick carpet to have a better view of the woman in the bed. It was the first he had managed a glimpse of her since her arrival some time ago. He had imagined her to be a wicked witch—clothed in black, a long crooked nose, warts and all—given the storm that had descended upon Pemberley with her arrival. He stared at her for a full minute. She does not look like a witch. In fact, I have seen her before. We met at Camelot!

Ben eased a bit closer to the bed. She does not stir. Is she dead? Is she merely asleep? “Miss Anne,” Ben spoke softly, taking care not to disturb the loud woman in the corner. He was about to reach over to tap Anne’s shoulder, when the grip of someone’s hand upon his own caused in him quite a scare! Wide-eyed, his heart racing, Ben lifted his head to see Darcy towering over him.

“Mr. Darcy! You startled me!”

“I should think so. What are you doing in here, Ben?”

“I-I wanted to see for myself what is taking place. I want to know if what everyone is saying is true.”

“Everyone, Ben?”

“Yes, everyone! Everyone says Miss Anne may never recover. Everyone says should she recover, she will be the next mistress of Pemberley!” Ben wrapped his arms around Darcy’s legs. “I pray with all my heart Miss Anne recovers, truly I do.” He looked up to meet Darcy’s eyes. “Should Miss Anne recover, what does that mean for my mama and me? Shall we be forced to leave Pemberley?”

Darcy lifted his young friend in his arms and settled in the chair beside Anne’s bed. “Ben, why would you ask such a question? You know your mother and I are to be married.”

“The wedding was to have taken place by now. I cannot help thinking you might be obliged to reconsider once Miss Anne recovers. She is family. My mama and I are not—not really.”

“Ben, you are mistaken. There is no one else on earth who means more to me than your mother and you.” Darcy held Ben closely. “You are my family. Nothing will ever change that.” Just then, Darcy noticed what Ben had been clutching in his hands.

“What is this you have here?”

Ben offered up the book he had brought into the room. “I thought I might read to Miss Anne for a spell,” he confessed.

“Why don’t I read to both of you?” Darcy suggested while reaching for the book and adjusting Ben in his lap so he might follow along. Darcy observed the inside pages and noted, “Ah, another tale of the Knights of the Round Table. Do you imagine Miss Anne will enjoy hearing of fierce battles, evil enemies, treachery, and the like?”

“Why, of course,” Ben asserted, feeling much more assured than he did a few moments earlier. “What is there not to like?”

“Indeed,” uttered Darcy. “Now where do I begin?”

With Ben’s assistance, the two flipped through the well-worn pages of the book. “I suggest we start here! This is one of my mama’s favourite passages. I am sure Miss Anne would approve.”

“We shall see,” Darcy uttered wistfully, “we shall see.”

Later on, Elizabeth entered Anne’s room planning to spend time with her and was surprised to find her two favourite people. Both of Anne’s guests had fallen asleep, Ben in Darcy’s lap. The hired nurse was fast asleep, as well. What is it about this room that encourages such lethargy, she wondered as she attempted to remove the book, already threatening to fall from Darcy’s hand on its own. Darcy stirred and opened his eyes.

Elizabeth placed the book aside. “I never thought to find the two of you here. What are you doing?”

Darcy slowly recalled himself to his surroundings and was slightly embarrassed to have dozed off. “I followed this young lad,” he began. “It seems he was interested in reading to Anne.”