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Suddenly torn between his desire for his wife and his admiration of her abiding devotion to her son, Darcy combed his fingers through his hair. “You love him. Indeed, I love him too.”
“I know you do. But for so long, I have thought of myself as being the only one my son has in the whole world.”
“Ben also has me. Now that the three of us are a family, so long as you insist on looking in on Ben at this hour, you must allow me to accompany you. Better still, I encourage you to remain here and sleep, and I will go to Ben’s room to assure he is doing the same.”
“I could not expect you to do that.”
“I insist,” he responded while persuading her to lie back and rest her head on her pillow. He kissed her gently on her chin. Sitting up, he lowered his feet to the floor. Upon donning and purposely securing his luxurious satin robe, he headed toward the door. Pausing, he turned to gaze at Elizabeth. Feeling all the blessings of his long-awaited bliss with the only woman he had ever loved, Darcy smiled. A blessing indeed.
Ben pushed the heavy door of Darcy’s study ajar and peeped inside. His mother had reminded him more than once that Mr. Darcy was not to be disturbed when in there with his steward, for they were attending to estate business. He was delighted to find him there, alone.
Darcy sat at his chair with his head buried in the paperwork before him. Ben raced to the desk and cajoled his way into Darcy’s lap.
“Good morning, Da!” Ben eagerly expressed.
“Good morning, son!” Darcy responded in kind, before regulating his tone. “Where have you been this morning? I looked for you in your room. You were not there. The servants were unable to account for your whereabouts.”
“I waited for you for as long as I could bear, Da. Any way, you do not rise nearly as early as when we first arrived at Pemberley.”
Darcy thought of his increasing reluctance to leave his bride’s side each morning. “Indeed.”
Ben regarded Darcy’s far-away gaze curiously. “May we commence our riding lessons now? I am eager to see my new pony.”
“I have no doubt of that. Unfortunately, I expect my steward to arrive any minute. We have much to discuss before I am free to accompany you to the stables.”
Ben looked about Darcy’s desk. “What are you working on? Perhaps, I might be of service.”
Darcy chuckled. “In due time, son, for I intend to teach you all there is to know about the management of the estate. However, for now, you are to enjoy your carefree youth a bit longer.”
Ben would not be dissuaded. He continued to look about for a means to be of use. “What is that?”
Darcy retrieved the object of Ben’s curiosity. “This is a rendition of Pemberley.” Darcy stretched out the parchment, placed it on the desk, and began to point out various spots of interest, some of which Ben had seen already, many he had not.
In the midst of their perusal, Ben danced around the question that lingered in the back of his young mind. “Da, do you suppose I shall ever own an estate as fine as Pemberley?”
Darcy spoke gently. “As a gentleman of means, which you shall one day be, I have no reason to suspect otherwise, Ben.”
“Is my family’s estate of Camberworth forever lost to me?” Ben asked tentatively, recalling how his mother had spoken of the entail, the details of which were too complex for even his inquisitive mind.
“For now, you are not to concern yourself with such matters. I shall endeavour to explain the nature of entailed estates to you when you are older. Does that sound agreeable?”
Ben did not answer, but rather draped his arms around Darcy’s neck. “I love you, Da.”
“As I love you,” Darcy responded.
Darcy and Elizabeth lay in bed together basking in the warmth of their shared passion. He held her in his arms and rested his head atop hers. “Are you happy, my love?”
Elizabeth stroked her hand across his broad chest. “Exceedingly so,” she whispered.
A light scratch at the door prompted the two lovers to look at each other in silent acknowledgement. Elizabeth smiled apologetically. Darcy placed his finger gently on her cheek and then followed through with a light kiss. Ben had suffered unpleasant dreams for the past two nights. Darcy could only imagine the young lad had met with fierce two-headed dragons, ferocious beasts, and what not, yet again.
Darcy got out of bed and donned his breeches and robe quickly. Tying it at the waist whilst walking over to unlock the door, he glanced back at his wife to assure that she too had recovered her silken nightgown and robe.
Darcy opened the door. Ben only had eyes for his mother. He walked right by Darcy and climbed into bed. He was fast asleep in his mother’s arms before Darcy had managed to close the door and return to bed.
Elizabeth whispered. “I am sorry. It is just that it has been solely the two of us for so long.”
Darcy silenced her with a soft, reassuring kiss. “I understand, my love. We shall allow him to remain a short while longer before carrying him off to his own bed,” Darcy affirmed.
