Chapter 16
Ben stood at the window of his medieval fortress, his spyglass to his eye, keeping faithful watch over the king’s land, when he noticed a splash of red moving steadily along the lane and then darting into the woods.
He soon supposed it was an officer from the militia.
That was something worth investigating, but he remembered Darcy’s admonishment to keep his distance from the militia.
On the other hand, as a good watchman, he felt obliged to investigate what was going on.
He was about to pack his things and scuttle down to the ground when someone else came into view.
A fair lady skipped along the path. Closer scrutiny revealed this was no fair lady at all.
It was Aunt Lydia, and she was alone. He was no stranger to her wont of walking to Meryton nearly every day, but never had he known her to walk anywhere unaccompanied and especially not this early in the morning.
Where is Aunt Kitty? Ben’s interest was piqued when he observed his aunt Lydia veer off the main path in the same direction as the officer he had espied earlier.
He imagined the militia must be conducting some secret mission and perhaps his aunt Lydia had been taken into their confidence. Perhaps she is a spy acting in service of the kingdom!
Ben suspected that Darcy did not care very much for Lydia, for he rarely, if ever, spoke to her more than was necessary in greeting or farewell.
More telling was the absence of warmth in his demeanour when he was with Aunt Lydia that always existed when he was with Aunt Georgiana.
Surely this intelligence would increase his esteem, for who did not admire a spy sacrificing herself on behalf of her country?
No—I dare not breathe a word of any of this to a single living soul, for doing so would surely brand me a traitor to my country.
Besides, Ben had another purpose in being out and about so early that morning.
His mama had pointed out the road to his dearly beloved Grandfather Carlton’s estate the other day, and Ben was determined to journey there on his own.
He was not unaware how this would meet with his mama’s objections, what with her having said on more than one occasion that she did not approve of the people who now resided at Camberworth.
Ben had no intention of seeing any of them.
He simply wanted to return to the place that belonged to his late father’s father.
If he were quick about it, he would return to his fortress by early afternoon, and no one need ever know about his adventure.
Later that day, Darcy and Bingley nearly collided in the doorway of Bingley’s study. Bingley stepped aside. “I say, old man, where are you headed in such a hurry?”
“I must be off to retrieve my son.”
“Did you not say your London solicitors were due to arrive within the hour? What of your meeting?”
Without pausing for even a second, Darcy said, “Tell them to await my return.”
Ever since Ben had wandered off from Cheapside that harrowing day last spring, Darcy had made certain Ben was properly escorted wherever he went.
Having no reason to suppose Ben would venture beyond the confines of the Longbourn estate, Darcy had relaxed his restrictions in Hertfordshire.
Now learning what a mistake that had been, he did not know whether to be aggrieved or amazed upon receiving word of Ben’s whereabouts that afternoon.
Upon being announced, Darcy strode into the room. Ben pushed his chair away from the small table where he and his uncle Henry Carlton sat and rushed to Darcy’s side. Carlton, a tall gentleman with dark hair and a slender build, was right behind his nephew. The gentlemen bowed.
“Mr. Darcy, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
“Indeed.”
Ben’s eyes opened wide. “You already know my father, Uncle Carlton?”
“Indeed, your father and I had the pleasure of making each other’s acquaintance when he first arrived in Hertfordshire.”
A servant entered the room, and Carlton excused himself, thus allowing Darcy and Ben a bit of privacy.
“Why did you keep your plans to visit Camberworth a secret?”
“I am sorry. I should have told you, for I knew you would understand, but you would have told Mama.”
“Why should your mother be kept in the dark?”
Ben lowered his voice to a whisper. “Mama does not like the people who reside here.”
“I will have to inform her, for there are no secrets between your mother and me.”
Carlton approached Darcy and Ben. “You know, I truly do not mind that my nephew thought to come all this way to visit. I was delighted to renew our acquaintance, for he was so very young when we last saw each other.”
He turned to Ben. “If your parents will allow it, you are invited to return at any time during your stay in Hertfordshire. In fact, if Mr. Darcy is agreeable, I would love for the two of you to join me for a day of fishing. What say you, Mr. Darcy?”
“I see no harm in that.”
“Capital!”
Taking his son by the hand, Darcy said, “Ben, we must be off, for I have a prior engagement this afternoon. I can delay it no longer. Say goodbye to your uncle.”
Shortly thereafter, Darcy and Ben sat high upon Darcy’s stallion, which trotted along at a slow, steady pace.
Ben’s pony trailed behind them. Darcy said, “Ben, although your mother and I strongly believe in the importance of familial legacy, that does not give you licence to discover it on your own. You were wrong to wander off to Camberworth all alone. Your act will not go unpunished. You do understand, I pray.”
His lower lip trembling, Ben turned to face Darcy. “I hope you are not saying I cannot return to Camberworth. Pray you and I will go fishing with my uncle.”
“I gave my word that we shall return to go fishing. I shall not disappoint you in that. I believe family is important, and you ought to know your father’s family as well as you know the Bennets and the Fitzwilliams.”
“When shall I meet my Darcy relatives?”
“I am afraid that, aside from an uncle who lives on the continent, we have no other known relatives on my father’s side of the family.”
“I should very much like to meet him.” An air of enthusiasm spurred him on. “When we meet, shall I call him Uncle Darcy or Mr. Darcy?”
“I suppose you might call him either of the two. It depends upon what makes you comfortable.”
Ben turned and smoothed his hand on the stallion’s dark, shiny coat. “What of his friends? Do they call him Darcy?”
“I imagine they might. Why do you ask?”
“Well, my uncle said his friends call him Carlton. He said when I grow up all my friends will call me Carlton too.”
“That is true.”
His voice riddled with curiosity, Ben said, “How will we know which of the two of us is being talked about when we are together?”
“You will know.”
“I like my uncle very much. I think he and I will be great friends.” Ben nestled closer and turned to face Darcy again. “But you need not worry.”
“Oh?”
“Indeed. Even though you are my father, you will always be my best friend.”
“I was of the opinion Samuel had claimed that spot.”
“Oh, but it is very different.”
“How so—if I may ask?”
Ben raised his finger to his lip. “Allow me to think.” After a moment he said, “If I could never see anyone in the world ever again but one, save my mama, I would want to see you.”
Darcy placed a kiss atop Ben’s head. “I feel the exact same way, my son.”
Elizabeth placed her fingers under her son’s chin and lifted his face. “I understand you enjoyed quite an adventure this afternoon, young man.”
“Oh, yes, Mama. Although, I know I should never have gone all the way to Camberworth on my own, I simply had to see if it was at all like I remembered.”
“May I trust you will never do anything like that again?”
“That I cannot say, for my uncle Carlton has invited Da and me to return.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, her eyes questioning.
Darcy placed his hands atop Ben’s shoulders.
“Yes. While exploring the grounds, Ben happened upon a gardener who recognised him. Soon enough, Ben’s presence had garnered the attention of most of Camberworth’s servants and, ultimately, Mr. Carlton.
Ben and his uncle were embroiled in a battle of chess by the time I arrived to claim him. ”
Ben said, “Indeed. And I was sure that I would emerge the victor, but we ran out of time. And do you know what Uncle Carlton did, Mama?”
“I have not the faintest idea, son. You will have to tell me what your uncle did.”
“He left all the pieces standing so that when I return we can pick up our battle exactly where we left off. He said that is how he and his father—my grandfather—left off all their games.”
“I am glad you enjoyed meeting your uncle, Ben.”
“He is a very kind gentleman. Did you know that Da and my uncle already knew each other?”
Darcy said, “I am afraid Ben suffered a bit of disappointment that he did not have the honour of introducing us.”
“Oh, just a little,” said Ben. “Although I should like to know how you know my uncle.”
Elizabeth said, “I am afraid it is a long story—one I am sure your father will share with you. Only now is not the time, for I need you to prepare for dinner and you know all that entails—especially after an adventure the likes of which you enjoyed today.”
Once Ben had quit the room, Elizabeth turned to Darcy. “It sounds as though Ben had quite a day at Camberworth. In spite of that, do you suppose it is wise for him to make a habit of visiting there?”
“Although I was as dismayed as you that Ben made his way so far on his own, I suppose if he must return to the place that means so much to him because of its familial ties, so long as I am with him, no harm will result.”
“I take it you have said nothing to Ben about your favourite wish that Camberworth will one day be his.”
“No—until I have a firm commitment from Carlton, I shall not raise Ben’s hopes in that regard.”
“At least there is something we can agree on regarding this whole business scheme. May I ask if you are having any luck in persuading Mr. Carlton to your purposes?”
“No—not yet.”
Despite Darcy’s reassurances, Elizabeth’s misgivings would not be repressed.
“I do not know that I am entirely comfortable with Ben’s becoming attached to his uncle. There is a reason, after all, why I did not deem Camberworth a proper environment for my son once his uncle took over as master.”
“I assure you the situation now is not at all as it was.”
“Still, this situation is fraught with disappointment. I should hate to contemplate Ben’s heartbreak should his hopes be shattered.”
“Should something like that unfold, we shall both be here for our son.” Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand in his. “That being said, do you think there is a chance in the world that I would take Ben there if I thought anything of the sort might occur?”
“Anything can happen.”
“Ben ought to know his only adult uncle.”
“What if Ben’s relationship with his uncle fares no better than your relationship with his lordship?”
“Actually, I was exceedingly fond of my uncle when I was young. It was only after he ascended to the earldom that we began to grow apart. I suppose he took his role as head of the family a bit too far,” Darcy said in reference to the lengths to which the Earl of Matlock had gone for so many years to bring about a union between Darcy and his cousin Anne.
“By his own admission, Carlton is more than agreeable to the scheme. He looks forward to getting better acquainted with Ben. Besides, how many times have you said that Ben ought to know all of his relations?”
“Must I remind you of the reason I left Camberworth in the first place?”
“I recall your saying how the widow Carlton had created such an unsavoury environment that you thought it unwise to allow Ben to be raised there. Well, it appears that Carlton now shares your sentiments. I have it on good authority he has put an end to all that. He went as far as to relegate the widow Carlton and her child—his stepbrother—to the dowager house, a situation that she found unbearable, and, as a result, she retired to Bath with her child.”
“And you know this because?”
“As I am intent upon procuring the estate for Ben, my solicitors are well-versed on any and every matter that might affect my purpose.”
“Supposing such a thing is even possible,” said Elizabeth.
“It is Ben’s legacy. I am obligated to try; it is the least I can do.
While Ben is not the heir to Pemberley, he will have his place as my eldest son.
I want him to have the certainty of knowing that, when he is of age, he will immediately take his place amongst the landed gentry.
What better way than to be master of his own estate; specifically, the Carlton family estate? ”
Elizabeth said, “I can see you are determined to arrange every aspect of Ben’s future.”
“I do not deny that I would do anything in my power to see that Ben does not suffer one bit as he takes his rightful place in society. It simply would not do to have someone whose fortune is as great as Ben’s be without an estate grounded by his own roots.”
“Do you mean to say, like Mr. Bingley?”
“Yes—in a manner of speaking. Bingley’s coming into a substantial fortune and haphazardly settling upon a suitable estate is not something I would wish for our son and neither should you.
Ben should not suffer a single moment of not knowing who he is or where he belongs and, as long as it is within my power, he will not. ”