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“I see, but I imagine it must be important to make you forego your riding lesson, even for a day. You love riding.”

“Indeed, I do. Mama, I was just speaking with Da about some of his favourite memories of Christmas. I was at a loss to share my own. Have I any special memories I may have forgotten?”

“Ben, I am sure you do. Let me see. Do you recall how your Grandfather Carlton and I would bundle you up, and the three of us would ride about the countryside bearing gifts of warm clothing to the less fortunate families in the local villages?”

“Truly, Mama?”

“Indeed. On Christmas Eve, the three of us would deck the halls with boughs of holly and greenery. It was the one evening you were allowed to stay up longer than usual, and we would sit around the fireplace warming ourselves as the Yule log burned on the fire.”

“It sounds wonderful. I wish I could remember.”

“So do I, son. However, I imagine you were too young to maintain those memories. One can hardly blame you. But what of this past Christmas at Longbourn? Have you no memories of spending time with your grandparents? Do you remember how Aunt Mary read to everyone?”

Ben’s greatest memory of his aunt Mary was how she enjoyed reading Fordyce’s sermons. Surely the fact that she did so on Christmas Eve warranted no special consideration on his part. His countenance said as much.

Elizabeth continued recounting the events of the past Christmas. “Who could forget how Aunt Kitty and Aunt Lydia made a mess of the holiday greenery and how they argued over the best placement of the mistletoe? In addition, your young cousins from town were there. Do you not remember any of that?”

“I imagine my greatest recollection was feeling sad about King Arthur’s leave-taking and my fear I might never see him again.”

Elizabeth bit her lower lip. “It could not have helped that I did not believe King Arthur truly existed. Have you forgiven me for not believing in you?”

“Oh! Yes, Mama. My greatest wish was that you, too, would meet King Arthur. I knew you would love him just as much as I. Now look at us.”

“Yes, you and I are truly blessed to have found King Arthur.”

“Indeed, wishes do come true.” The purpose of his visit came to mind. “Mama, if you could have but one wish in this world to spend Christmas with anyone, who would it be?”

“Is this a trick question? My greatest wish is to spend Christmas with you, son. This, in turn, means I should also greatly wish to spend it with Fitzwilliam.” A happy smile lighted her face. “How lucky it is for me that you two seldom part.”

“Then I should say other than Da and me?”

A faraway look in Elizabeth’s eye spoke volumes. “I dearly miss my sister Jane.”

“Aunt Jane, you say. I miss her as well, but you speak as if you might never see her again, Mama. Why is that?”

“I fear the reasons for my sentiments are far too complicated for you to comprehend.”

“Mama, I am growing older with each passing day. You must not think of me as a child. Da says I am old enough to begin private tutoring lessons. In fact, my lessons commence in January.”

“I suppose you are correct. Do you remember Mr. Collins?”

The answer to her question etched across his face. “The evil—sorry, Meleagant?”

“Meleagant? Is that how you refer to Mr. Collins?”

Ben nodded. “Indeed.”

“But you were about to say, the evil Meleagant, were you not? Is that how you imagine Mr. Collins?”

“In the beginning of our acquaintance, I did. I have since considered he is not evil at all.”

“What brought about the change in attitude?”

“Da told me that I must respect him, on the chance he might become my stepfather. He said Mr. Collins was a good father, admired by Gillian and Emily, and therefore a good man.”

“Fitzwilliam told you all that?” Will wonders never cease? To this day, he has nary a good thing to say about the gentleman; not that I blame him. “With such being the case, why do you refer to Mr. Collins as Meleagant, still?”

“I prefer to keep my options open where he is concerned.”