Page 20 of Ashes and Understanding
Then, she reached a small gathering of people. Without hesitation, she bent and lifted a tiny child—a baby, really, swaddled in a worn but clean blanket—holding him close, murmuring down at him
His stomach clenched.
A child.
His mind leapt to the most obvious conclusion—her child. She was married.
Of course she was. A woman like that, a woman of such striking beauty, such command, would not have remained unattached for long.
A strange weight settled on his heart. He did not understand it, nor did he try to. Instead, he forced himself to look away, coughing into his fist as the thick air once again reminded him of the current situation.
It was an absurd reaction—what should it matter to him? And yet, as he stood there, feeling the rasp of smoke in his throat and the distant hum of voices in his ears, all he could focus on was the way she held the child, how naturally she moved among the people who looked to her for guidance.
Of course she was married. A woman like that—strong, resolute, breathtaking—would not be left to navigate the world alone.
She was a remarkable woman.
But she was not for him.
His fingers curled at his sides, and he exhaled slowly, willing away the tightening of his chest.
“Sir?” a voice interrupted his thoughts.
Darcy turned sharply. One of the footmen he had sent out earlier had returned, waiting for instructions.
“Yes,” he said, steadying himself. “Find out where the most urgent aid is required and report back.”
The man bowed and hurried off, leaving Darcy to cast one last glance in Elizabeth’s direction before forcing himself to turn away. There was work to be done, but for the first time in a long while, he did not know what to do with himself.
Chapter 5
Two months later…
Elizabeth pressed a gentle kiss on little Benjamin Bennet’s forehead. “Sleep well, dear one.”
The tiny baby let out a soft whimper, and Elizabeth’s heart clenched. “Maybe I should stay home tonight.”
“Nonsense,” said Mrs. Bennet firmly. “You must attend the assembly tonight and meet. Ben will be just fine for the evening. It is not as if we are leaving him all alone— he has Nurse here with him.”
Nurse, whose real name was Nancy Harold, served as both wet-nurse and caretaker of the child, shooed Elizabeth from the room. “Go on now, Miss Lizzy. You know I will watch him close, and it is only his teeth that are bothering him; he’s not ill.”
Nancy had been working for the family in London who had all been killed in the fires, not having had enough time to fleetheir home. Nancy’s own child had passed away several years ago shortly after birth, and she had since then worked as a wet-nurse for a variety of families. It had been a miracle when they discovered Nancy at Hyde Park, desperately searching for someone who could feed the crying infant.
“Very well,” Elizabeth said reluctantly.
“Even the Gardiners will be attending, and they have more young children to worry about!” Mrs. Bennet took Elizabeth’s arm and began pulling her out of the nursery and down the stairs. “Even with all of that business with their house burning down and the issues with the insurance agency not paying yet, they still are making time for fun.”
“I know you are worried about him, Lizzy,” Jane said in a soothing tone as the ladies bundled into the carriage. “He will be quite well, and it is important that you take a rest now and again.”
Kitty sniffed. “One would think that he were your own child with the way you fuss over him, instead of being a foundling.”
“I still do not see why you need to adopt him, Mama,” Lydia said in a sulky tone. “It is not as if he could inherit the estate or anything.”
“You are just jealous because Mama has been paying more attention to him than to you lately,” Mary smirked.
Lydia scowled at Mary’s remark. “I am not jealous!” she huffed. “I simply do not see why we must keep him when the Gardiners offered to take him.”
Mrs. Bennet gasped. “Give up my darling boy? Never! From the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was meant to be ours.” She patted her heart dramatically. “No, no, I could not bear it.”
