Page 56 of Georgiana
“Mrs. Reynolds. Please thank the footmen who brought my wife into the house.”
“It was his Grace who helped Mrs. Darcy. He carried her up to her room and made sure everything was taken care of.”
Darcy shot a look of surprise at his brother-in-law and exchanged a few quiet words with his trusted housekeeper. Shortly after Mrs. Reynolds left, he approached Max.
“Thank you,” Darcy said in a low voice.
“I was there at the right time and did what any gentleman would do given the circumstances.”
“Regardless. You made sure my wife was taken care of in a most expeditious manner.”
“Do not disregard your own sister. She kept her head about her and made sure you were summoned.”
“I’m glad we agree about my sister on something. Once again, thank you.” Darcy gave him a half bow and returned to his cousin’s side. Ashton raised a brow and his brandy glass toward Max. Richard grunted and continued to ignore him.
“Mr. Darcy.”
Carson slipped through the door and approached his employer, whispering a few words into his ear.
“Have Mrs. Reynolds prepare their rooms for them and the children.”
“Right away, sir.” Carson left the room and the door closed softly behind him.
“What is it, Darce?” Richard asked.
“Bingley and Jane have arrived. I sent an express as soon as I could. I know Lizzy will want her sister with her at this time.”
The door to the drawing room opened again and this time the nanny entered with a tousled hair toddler in her arms.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Darcy but Master Bennet refused to go to bed until he’d seen his Papa.”
Darcy held his arms wide and the nanny passed the little boy over to his father.
“What’s wrong, my boy. Have you missed your Papa?”
The child, who had the dark curls of his mother and the blue eyes of his father nodded his head before popping his thumb into his mouth.
“Where Mama?” he lisped around his finger.
“Mama is busy having a baby and tomorrow morning you will be a big brother.”
Master Bennet removed his thumb and cast a disdainful look at his father.
“I am not a bruver. I am a Darcy.”
Ash and Richard both chuckled and Max couldn’t help but smile at the determined set of Bennet’s jaw. Even at his tender age he was a replica of his sire, right down to attitude.
Darcy cast an apologetic look at his cousins and began walking toward the door. Evidently, he planned on escorting his own child to the nursery and settle him down for the night. Max had a sudden vision of carrying his own child through the halls of Adborough Hall. If he hadn’t bungled his own marriage, he and Georgiana could have been expecting their own child at this very moment.
He remembered how Elizabeth’s light body had tightened in his arms with each contraction. Never before had he realized how much a woman went through to bring forth children and he set a mental reminder to thank his mother most profusely the next time he saw her. That was, if he saw her again. Unless he made amends with Georgiana, his family could well disown him for life. His future looked exceedingly bleak and he experienced a sudden, keen sense of loss.
“Are you well, Adborough?” Viscount Ashton took a step toward him. “You’ve gone quite pale.”
“I’m fine.” Max fumbled for his pocket watch. “I have had a long day and believe I’ll retire for the night.”
He exited the room and before the door closed completely, he heard the two brothers speaking.
“Come now Richard. He’s trying to make amends.”
