Elizabeth lifted young Richard into her arms. There was nothing more she might do to cover the truth and so she chose to do what she must.
“I cannot my dear for I have guests tonight. I would like you to meet someone first, before you go to your meal. This is the Earl of Matlock and Lady Matlock. They are your father’s parents, your grandparents.”
The Matlocks stared intently at the boy in Elizabeth’s arms. The hallway was silent for a moment before young Richard reached for Lady Matlock. “Grandmother?”
Elizabeth swallowed the knot in her throat. She had not planned for this moment, for her son to be revealed, and it was fraught with emotion and peril. She held tightly to her son but Lady Matlock stepped forward and took one of his small outstretched hands.
“Reginald,” she whispered, “is he not the perfect replica of Richard as a child?”
Richard Thomas Bennet Fitzwilliam launched himself into the lady’s arms and gave her the sweetest hug. Lady Matlock was stunned, but she turned to her husband with tears streaming down her face. Elizabeth watched as they lavished her son with loving care and attention.
Mr. Darcy’s hand on her shoulder startled Elizabeth. His voice was low but she heard every tortured word. “Why would you lie to us? Why hide Richard’s son all this time when you knew he was the heir?”
Elizabeth stuttered and searched for the words that would express her fear of losing her son. “I was afraid, William. I am afraid. I hated the lie, I did. But how could I trust the Matlocks when Richard did not trust them with the knowledge of our marriage?”
“You could have trusted me,” he hissed, his eyes gone to slits. “I fought for you against them. I believed we were at least forming a friendship and perhaps more, or are your feelings a lie as well?”
Elizabeth’s head moved slowly from side to side. The remaining family members in the dining room had filtered out and now Georgiana looked around in confusion. She could not understand what she was seeing. “William, what has happened?”
Mr. Darcy took his sister’s arm as she stepped near. “It seems that young Thomas here is not Bingley’s son after all.”
Georgiana looked to Elizabeth. “What does he mean, whose child is this?”
“He is mine, mine and Richard’s, he was born after Richard died in the war.”
Georgiana’s hands trembled as she hugged herself and tears of joy blinded her momentarily. Mr. Darcy pulled his sister closer and whispered for her to maintain her composure. “The child will not understand if we descend upon him with tears and questions all at once.”
“But why did Elizabeth hide him from us? Did she not think we might love him as we loved his father?” Georgiana kept her voice low so the child would not overhear.
Elizabeth stepped toward the Darcys eager to explain and give her apology for the deceit. “I feared many things, Georgiana. It is difficult to explain at the moment. I am sorry for deceiving you. You never deserved such treatment.”
The small hand tugged her skirts again. “Mama, who is this?”
Elizabeth bent down and hugged the boy close again. This was not the way she planned to introduce her son but she could not turn back now. “This is Mr. Darcy and his sister Georgiana. They are your cousins.”
“Mr. Darcy sent the books!” Young Richard exclaimed and turned to look up at the man. “Thank you sir, I love books!”
Mr. Darcy smiled at the boy and knelt to shake his hand. “It is my great pleasure to know you liked them. I think I shall send more.”
Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Darcy over her son’s head but his eyes were cold when he glanced at her. Georgiana knelt beside her brother. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Thomas.”
The boy corrected her most kindly. “Thomas is my middle name, after my Grandfather Bennet. Richard is my real name, after my father.”
Georgiana swiped at the stray tears on her cheeks. “You look so very much like him, you know. He would be so proud of you.”
She lifted a hand and tousled the fair curls of her newly found cousin. The hallway had fallen silent again and Elizabeth stood and took her son’s hand. “You must not miss a most wonderful dinner with your cousins, my dear. Come and take your seat in the breakfast room.”
The dinner guests made their way back to the dining room, each lost in their own thoughts and preparing for battle when Elizabeth returned.