Author's note:

There is nothing like wedding bells to soften having to celebrate Christmas in the midst of a pandemic. Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, I hope you enjoy this chapter and have a much better 2021 than 2020 has been. Please stay safe and Merry Christmas!

Chapter 192

When the day of the wedding had finally arrived, Ben was incredibly happy but also surprisingly nervous. Mr Brewer would say Ben had read too many cheap novels, if he'd known Ben was deadly afraid someone would crash through the church doors during Mr Eliot's wedding sermon and object to the marriage. Some old lover of Jean's, Ben had heard of his former reputation and feared some townsman might turn up with his pregnant daughter, claiming Jean as the father. Or what if Ben's real father had found out where they lived and sent someone to ruin mum's prospects?

Ben knew this was nonsense, there was no reason such a thing would happen precisely on this day, the wedding had been announced in the papers to obtain their marriage licence but no-one ever read those notices and besides, who cared? Maybe the stupid young farmer from Ripley who'd threatened mum when he was spying on her at night and then ran into Jean? Decidely un-gently? Ben had been very frightened that night, but the unfortunate incident had eventually resulted in them having the cottage and best of all, Jean himself.

Dressed to within an inch of his life in the best shirt and pair of pantaloons he'd ever owned, wearing beautiful new boots made especially for him and with his hair neatly cut, Ben amused himself with imagining frightening scenes in chuch involving mainly Jean doing a lot of smart talking and fighting before getting married to mum anyway. It passed the time until a carriage and team of four could be heard entering the village.

'They're here!' he yelled at the top of his voice, hoping Fanny, Mrs Darcy's maid who had come over to do mum's hair and dress for her special day, would finally be ready. If a lady took so long to get dressed every day, mum would be glad not to be one since she was not very patient and preferred to be doing something useful with her time. Well, Ben would just go out and greet Bob or whoever was driving, so he wouldn't get bored whilst they waited. And maybe he could help with the horses, he knew a lot more about handling horses now they had one themselves. Though Mr Darcy's horses were more like Liquor than like Spot, their own pony. He was so patient he really didn't need someone to look after him all the time, it was as if he understood that mum was doing important work and needed him to help her instead of the other way around, as it was supposed to be.

As Ben burst out of the front door in a rare state of nervousness, he immediately realised that mum was not just important to Witham but also to the people of the great house including Mr Darcy, for blocking the path leading towards their house was the most beautiful carriage Ben had ever seen, the large one with gold leaf ornaments and red velvet seats usually hidden under a large canvas sheet in the large barn at Pemberley. Jean had shown it to Ben when mum had sent him over to tell Jean she'd moved in with the widow in Ripley right after they'd had to leave their hut in the woods. By then, Ben had been sure mum loved Jean, but she had not told her lover she did and had instead quarreled with him. Ben did not think he'd ever understand grownups though he knew he would turn into one some day in the future.

Stable gossip said Mrs Darcy didn't like this carriage but Ben loved it, and he was thrilled to be allowed to ride in it, even if it was just this once. He almost felt guilty to only now recognise the thoroughbreds pulling it, that was the ultimate honour where Ben was concerned, to have those precious horses taken from their comfortable paddocks to please his mum. Well, and Jean, of course, he had worked for the family for ten years and was greatly appreciated and respected. But somehow he knew the honour was for his mum, because she could do what no other woman in the county could: make Mrs Darcy feel safe and keep her healthy during her pregnancy and subsequent delivery.

Most children, even Jonathan and Nathaniel, who had lived all their lives in the little guard house on the Pemberley grounds, were very much impressed by Mr Darcy, but Ben had been treated so kindly by the gentleman and his sister that he loved them and respected them, but could not fear them. Especially not Mrs Fielding, who was giving him piano lessons in secret to surprise his parents. Mr Fielding, now he was someone Ben could fear because he had been so intense when he had at one time taken on Ben's lesson instead of his wife. But then he was a master, a great talent and composer, it was an honour to have a lesson from him and besides, he was very handsome and kind. Just intense. And Jean, most children would be afraid of him, but to Ben he was just his father and he felt nothing but pride and love for him. Mum and dad might be happy to get married today but their joy was as nothing to Ben's: seemingly out of nowhere, he'd gotten a father, a house, a dog, a horse and lessons. All at the same time, no boy had ever been this fortunate!

And soon he'd have spectacles as well. Their day in town had been such a treat, testing his eyes for the spectacles, choosing rings for mum and dad, and a tiara for mum which made her look like a princess. Even Ben got a shiny new belt buckle and brand new clothes. He got to drive Spot and they had dinner in a pub, it was just incredible!

'Ben, you look magnificent!'

That sounded like Peter, standing at the lead horse's head, Ben almost didn't recognise him since he was wearing a formal livery. And Bob was on the box, as splendidly attired.

'You two are looking much more splendid than I do, Peter. But I'm really happy with my new clothes, mum thought I'd prefer to wear them more often and I do. She got me this silver belt buckle as well, doesn't that look just like Rover?'

And he showed the men the only thing that had ever made him greedy to own, a rather large belt buckle in the shape of a dog's head. It did look just like Rover, and though it was a bit too large and shiny to be in truly good taste, he loved it already. He was still a child, he didn't need his clothes to be in good taste.

'So it does,' Peter said when Ben was close enough for him to see it. Bob couldn't leave the box so Ben hopped on to show it.

'That is a real beauty, Ben,' Bob commented, 'and it does look just like Rover.'

Then mum and dad came out the front door, chatting with Fanny, looking more than splendid themselves.

Mum wore a less practical dress than Ben had ever seen her in, it was clingy and flowing and the skirts were long and covered in embroidery. Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Eliot, Dora and Fanny had spent hours stitching tiny flowers all over it once the seamstress had sewn the general shape. It was stunning, and she wore her hair in a very rich looking style with the tiara set on her brow. She really looked like a princess, maybe a faerie princess since her hair was still a bit reddish and her nose might be a bit snub for a true princess. But to Ben she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and he could easily see that Jean totally agreed.

His new dad didn't look half bad himself, instead of his usual practical clothes he wore pantaloons like Mr Darcy and the other gentlemen, and shoes instead of boots. His coat was less fancy than his livery but not a lot. Though Jean wore it with a natural elegance, Ben was certain his dad was feeling a bit overdressed in such an elaborate garment, he had a much more simple taste himself. Still, it had been made by a very good tailor and of rather expensive fabric, and Ben was very proud of his father, who looked like he was a gentleman himself. Though in a way, his status as stable master might be higher than that of some gentlemen visiting at the great house, since Mr Darcy seemed to love horses more than anything except Mrs Darcy.

Maybe he was indeed right, this show of respect from Mr Darcy wasn't for dad's benefit, the carriage and the horses and the liveried servants and all, maybe they were here mainly to please mum. Mr Darcy loved his wife most of all, and mum was the best midwife in the county, he depended on her to help his wife and her sister and both their babies to be safely delivered. That had to be the most important thing on Mr Darcy's mind right now. Though Jean did secure those beautiful thoroughbreds for him, and the pretty little ponies that so pleased Mrs Darcy to learn to drive.

Pleased that he had worked this out for himself, Ben felt proud to enter the carriage with his mum and dad, Peter closing the door behind them with a flourish and a wink for Ben.

'How do you like being driven in a carriage with liveried servants, Ben?' Jean asked.

Ben felt the plush seats and ran his hand over the smooth wood of the interior.

'It's beautiful, though I suppose I'd rather drive myself with Spot. Can you really drive those thoroughbreds, dad? I'd get myself entangled in the reins immediately. But Mr Darcy doesn't have all his staff picked up with his most beautiful carriage when they get married, does he?'

'He certainly doesn't. To whom do we owe the honour, do you think?'

'To mum. You take care of Mr Darcy's horses, and he loves them. But mum takes care of his wife and baby, and he loves them even more.'

Both mum and dad looked at Ben with respect, and dad replied as if he were imparting a great secret.

'Very good, Ben, but I think there is another person Mr Darcy wants to impress. Which carriage do you think mum likes more, this one or Mrs Darcy's?'

'The smaller one, it's very pretty and you like it better because it's in better taste. I suppose this is a bit ostentatious, but look at the velvet cushions and those cute little brass lamps!'

'And the thoroughbreds, and the livery. Who will remember this day forever? When maybe he is a famous doctor looking for a place to settle?'

Ben couldn't believe it.

'You mean me? Why? I'm just a child, I have no money and no name. My father does, but he doesn't even know I exist.'

'You're very bright, Ben, and if Mr Darcy doesn't help you to become a doctor, Mr Manners will. Nick told me his master knows a doctor in London who can offer you a place to learn everything you need to know. And once you know how to be a doctor, you'll likely want to return to where your family lives, and Mr Darcy will have an excellent doctor for his family and tenants.'

'Well, maybe he chose the carriage and the livery to please me, but I still think it is to honour mum. Mrs Darcy sent her maid to mum, not to me.'

'Never mind, Ben, it was just a guess. You're probably right about Mrs Darcy wanting to please mum. But you're not just any child, you have a great future ahead of you and I'm certain Mr Darcy will do everything in his power to help you get ahead.'

Well, that was something Ben could believe, and he did think he'd like to go to London for a few years to study, then return and help mum with her patients.

'Are you ready to walk me to the altar, Ben?'

Some weeks ago, mum had asked Ben to give her away to Jean. Her father would have done that, but she was an orphan, and of course she could have found someone else or walked by herself, but, 'We've been all we both had for years, Ben. I want you beside me today, not just watching from a church seat. You're much more to me than just a ten-year-old child.'

And Ben agreed, they'd had just each other, and though he had relinguished his role to Jean with great satisfaction, he felt he should be with his mum once more to give her away officially, so to speak.

Jean had chosen Nick to stand by him, he said, 'Any of my staff would do it but it wouldn't feel right. And if it weren't for Nick I wouldn't even have considered getting married, I thought being someone's husband wasn't for me.'

Ben liked Nick a lot and was glad to see him have a role in the wedding.

Since it was expected to be a beautiful day, they would have a short celebration outside in the garden of the Witham church, to please the village that had for so long been without the sound of wedding bells. Then they would drive to Pemberley, where the real celebration would take place in the common room of the great house with all Jean's friends. Ben thought the new conservatory would be the perfect place to have a celebration, but of course it wasn't altogether finished and not even mum was important enough to let her do that. It would have to wait until Ben himself was a famous doctor and planning his own wedding. If they really wanted him to settle here they'd let him have a party among the famous oranges the Prince of Wales was reputedly going to gift Mrs Darcy to plant in the spectacularly modern structure. It would certainly give them plenty of time to finish it and let the trees get settled.

'A penny for your thoughts, Ben,' dad offered, but of course Ben wasn't going to tell him the grand fantasy his mind had just made up for him. Instead he replied, truthfully, 'I think I'm the happiest boy in the world. I can't wait to see you two married, I've wished for you to become my dad since you started visiting mum, Jean. And now it's really happening!'

'I'm glad to hear that, son. I can't say I ever expected to have children, but since it turned out to be you I'm very pleased to have a son. Much better than having a baby, you never know what kind of person they will grow into.'

He was joking, Ben knew. Dad would love a baby of his own, though he'd never admit it. But first he'd be the father Ben never had.

Jean and mum both looked very happy and very beautiful, and the carriage brought them to the Witham church much too quickly, Ben could have spent hours watching them exchange loving looks and small tokens of affection. From the moment they alighted the carriage there would be people all around them, and though Ben knew most of them he would have liked spending some more time as a family. Of course they had been exactly that for a month already, and it would be years before Ben was old enough to leave home. But this was such a special moment and he would have liked it to last a bit longer.

Peter again held the door open for all three of them, and as Ben got out in front of the church, he could see a veritable throng of people waiting outside to greet them. Mr Eliot was there, of course, and his mother Mrs Eliot. And Mrs Reynolds and the rest of the Pemberley staff, and all their neighbours. Ben had expected Mr and Mrs Darcy to attend the formality, but Mr and Mrs Manners were there as well, and Mrs Fielding and Mr Fielding. He was very famous in London but still he was here! Nick was already on his way to dad, and Ben was happy to see that Mrs Brewer and Nathaniel and Jonathan had come with their father.

A small and slender woman with red hair and a toddler on her arm had to be Peter's missus, and was the tall man with her her father? Did he even know Jean? Oh, yes, he had helped find Mrs Darcy's ponies and dad was helping him find a team for the beautiful carriage he had ordered from the same coachmaker who had made Mrs Darcy's beautiful little phaeton with Mrs Brewer's help. See, he wanted to talk to Mrs Brewer, leaving his wife with their daughter and grandson.

There was so much to see, Ben almost forgot he had his own role to play in this wedding, until he heard Nick's voice beside him.

'Too bad Mr Manners has convinced Mr Darcy to send you to his London physician to become a doctor, Ben, for you'd make a fine guard! I bet you can name everyone present.'

Could Mr Darcy force Ben to go to London? Of course he couldn't! Nick merely assumed Ben would be pleased to be assured of a place to realise his dearest wish before he was even eleven years old! Ben thought of the carriage and the livery.

'I haven't seen Darren and Rose, yet, and I did expect them to attend.'

'Tall, handsome man in his forties, woman about the same age, two adult lads and a young woman? Youngest works for your dad, what's his name again... he's tall but younger than you'd think. Patrick, isn't it?'

'Yes, that sounds like them. So Rose's children came as well, neat! They live in Clifton. Darren is a healer for animals, dad says he's the best. I think Patrick is eighteen, that's quite old, isn't it?'

'For a new stable boy it is, and I suppose when you're just ten yourself. But I think he is pretty tall for such a young lad. He won't have any trouble controlling the horses.'

'Dad says that's mostly a matter of will, a horse is so much stronger than any man that size doesn't matter.'

He'd said that while teaching Ben how to ride properly, not that Spot was going to give his little student any trouble. They were great friends already, and Ben learned as much from the horse as from his human teacher. Though to be fair, dad had had to teach Ben how to recognise the smart horse's instructions so in fact he had learned the most from him.

'That is true, though I'd say this young man has plenty of will. He looks like he has.'

From what mum and dad had been talking about, that was a very true observation. But Nick had more important things to talk about next, he wanted to show Ben where he was supposed to be at which point in the ceremony, and Ben did his best to remember everything he said.

He followed Nick back towards the entrance of the church, where people were filing in past Mr Eliot and his mother, it appeared as if they were directing everyone to a specific seat. Ben wondered whether the village people would be insulted to be barred from their usual place in their very own church and forced to sit further to the back to make way for the Pemberley family and staff and Jean's friends. He guessed not, since Mr Darcy was their landlord and it was an honour to receive him here, and the whole village had been very glad to have a new family settle and get married in their church. Mrs Reynolds had wanted dad to be married in the Clifton church, where the Pemberley household attended service, but mum and dad wanted to please their new neighbours and give them the wedding they had been waiting for fo r so long. Ben thought it was the right thing to do, and he liked that his village friends were going to see him in his new clothes. It felt good to arrive in a carriage and be noticed by Mr Darcy, and it seemed the most important man in the whole county and his family and friends did not mind sitting on the front benches in this much smaller building whilst they had their own richly furnished pew in the Clifton church.

Mum and dad were still outside, greeting people left and right, and remarkably Mr and Mrs Darcy were doing the same. Mr Manners and Mrs Fielding and their spouses were already sitting in the front row, Ben had admired them as they came in. The ladies were just incredibly beautiful and so well-dressed in silk dresses and little coats in an army style, with elaborate hats, long gloves and priceless jewelery. Though Ben admired them, he did not envy them their riches, he knew mum was supremely happy now with her new clients, her new husband and her new house, and Ben was no different. The gentlemen were as superbly dressed, but whereas Mr Fielding was as beautiful as his wife was pretty, Mr Manners looked rather commonplace compared to his beautiful lady. In his wedding finery, Nick the body guard looked as genteel as his master, in fact they could be brothers, Ben realised, and Simon the valet threatened to outshine every male present, including Mr Fielding and Mr Darcy. He looked like an angel in his light buff gentleman's coat, his black pantaloons and with his blond hair grown out into little ringlets, drooping in the typical ruffled style of a fashionable gentleman.

Most of the Pemberley staff were sitting now, and mum and dad came in, and Mr and Mrs Darcy, all four still chatting with people from the village. Despite having grown up in relative isolation, Ben instinctively understood this was very important to both his parents as well as the local landowner. By mingling with their tenants, the Darcy's strengthened their bond with them and by attending dad's wedding they also gave the message that their stable master was important to them. Mum and dad showed their neighbours they didn't feel too important to mingle with them even though someone much more important was present. Maybe Mr Darcy was even setting dad up as his eyes and ears in Witham, Ben knew the villagers had felt a little abandoned because the family hardly ever visited there. Now they could tell dad of their troubles, and he'd relay them to either Mr Brewer or Mr Darcy himself.

As he followed his parents and Nick towards the altar, he took a good look where he was supposed to sit after giving mum away. It seemed he was rather important, for there were only two empty seats in the front row and one was to be his. There was a single vacant seat beside Simon, who was on the farthest side of the row with Pemberley family members. That was Nick's place, since he belonged to Mr Manners' household. And there was an empty seat on the near side of the row of genteel ladies and gentlemen, right next to Mrs Fielding. That had to be Ben's seat, and when for a moment he panicked because he had forgotten to ask Nick where he had to sit for the main part of the ceremony, Mrs Fielding looked straight at him and winked. Ben did not lack self-assurance, not in his finery on the happiest day of his life!, so that was enough for him. He was to sit next to Mrs Fielding on the one side, and Mrs Reynolds on the other.

But first, on Mr Eliot's signal, he took his mother's arm and led her to her side of the altar. Mum was the most beautiful woman of all, her dress might not be the most expensive dress ever worn to a wedding but it had been made of valuable fabric by an excellent seamstress, and on top of that it was a work of love from dad's friends, which was much more important to mum. And most important for Ben, it had mum wearing it, she had as good a figure as Mrs Manners and as pretty a face as Mrs Fielding, but with an extra golden sheen to her blonde hair.

And thus they approached Jean, who looked as smitten as Ben could ask for, and Nick smiled to let Ben know he did well. Then when Mr Eliot had mum and dad take each other's hand, Ben calmly strode towards his seat, Nick right behind him until their ways parted.

As he sat down, Mrs Fielding whispered, 'Well done, Ben. Will you play for them?'

Play for them? Could he? He'd had several piano lessons from Mrs Fielding but was that enough to play on a wedding, even a small one?

He decided not to reply since Mr Eliot was starting to speak. The clergyman addressed mum and dad and pointed out how precious love was, and what the responsibilities of a marriage were. Ben knew Jean had never planned to marry, but he didn't look as if he was having second thoughts. Mr Eliot was a very good speaker and his thoughts on love were very profound, Ben was even more impressed than usual in church but that was probably because the happiest moment in his life was about to happen. Tears of joy threatened and Ben let them fall, his village friends were all seated very much in the back of the church and Nathaniel and Jonathan would never laugh at him for crying over a sermon. And it wasn't the sermon, really, though it was, the vicar's words reminded Ben of the time before Jean came along, when all the world seemed against them and Ben didn't know even one person besides mum, let alone someone who wished them well.

Mrs Fielding took his hand and squeezed it gently, maybe she had been lonely in her life, he seemed to remember she had lost her mum when she was still very young, that must have been a terrible loss. Ben's father was still alive but Ben had never known him, he couldn't really mis him. And he'd had his mum. And now he had a real father as well, one who taught him everything and who made his mum happy.

Then mum and dad spoke their vows and kissed, and Ben's sadness over the past was replaced with intense happiness over the present. No boy in England could be as lucky as he was, to have a mum and a dad, and a house and a dog and a horse, and lessons and friends and a future as a doctor. Mrs Reynolds and Mrs Fielding congratulated him, and then mum and dad came to fetch him to have everyone else congratulate him. And Ben didn't find this boring for he knew what he had gained, all these people wished him well, and mum and dad, and he let them shake his hand or embrace him, even kiss him if they wanted to. And he had a kind word for everyone who wanted to talk to him, which was easy since everybody was kind in the first place.

Mrs Wright had begged mum to be allowed to throw a little wedding party in the church garden, a very pretty spot secluded from the rest of the village by an ancient and rather high wall made of natural stone. Ben had never been there before and he was thrilled to see the wall from the secret side, covered in climbing roses and fragrant honeysuckle. The Pemberley family had already left, as had their friends from among the staff and from other villages. These were all their new fellow villagers, Ben had met nearly all of them but only knew their closest neighbours well. Of course mum knew them better, she was their healer after all, but she never talked about her patients.

Still, there was plenty to see in the garden and Ben had to talk to quite a lot of people. As could be expected from Mrs Wright, she had arranged for some excellent treats to make all the guest feel at home, and with the ceremony over Ben felt most able to make up for the breakfast he hadn't been able to eat because of his nerves. He did make certain not to stuff himself because he knew Mrs Brewer had made some of her special pies for the celebration at Pemberley, and it would be foolish to miss out on those.

'Are you happy to see your mother married, Ben?'

Mr Eliot had a very pleasant voice and not just when he was preaching. He was the kindest man Ben had ever known, most people did their best to be good but Mr Eliot was naturally superior to normal human beings. And yet he had plenty of authority, it was as if his perfect example made it impossible to have sinful or selfish thoughts around him.

'I'm the happiest boy alive today, Mr Eliot,' Ben replied, 'it was my dearest wish for Jean to fall in love with mum and he has made her so happy.'

Since Mr Eliot was so kind he dared add, 'And my life is so much better now with a father and all those other things I never had.'

'Good. I thought so but I was a little in doubt when I watched you during the ceremony. I thought you might feel left out with your mum and Mr Hugo so intimate.'

That was so considerate of him! But not at all necessary.

'Oh, no, everything is just as it should be. I'm just a child, I couldn't give mum what she needed though I did try to help. Your words made me realise how lonely things used to be, and how much we have gained with Jean and here in Witham. And Nick and Jean both said Mr Manners wants me to study in London to become a doctor. Nick is Mr Fowler, he works for Mr Manners so he should know. And everyone has so much respect for mum, even Mrs Darcy and Mr Oliver. No one was ever kind to her, Mr Eliot, except Jean.'

'I see I may have underestimated you, my boy. I heard you were really smart and now I believe it. Well, I'm glad you're happy, and that things have improved for all of you. I hope the local boys aren't giving you any trouble?'

They didn't but they might have, most villages weren't as accepting of new people, let alone if they were Irish. But somehow people had had respect for mum's abilities from the first, and of course it didn't do Ben any harm to have the Pemberley stable master as his father and a large dog to play with and now a real horse of their own. To dad, Spot was a large pony of low breeding, but to the village boys he was a small horse and almost supernaturally smart.

'No, sir, they have been very kind to me. And I may be small and bookish but dad has taught me to fight like a French soldier. I'm not very good at it but good enough to not be frightened of a few boys.'

Mr Eliot laughed and said, 'I'm pleased to hear that, Ben. And should you have any trouble with them you let me know and I will talk with them. Don't start a fight just yet, please, though I suppose knowing how to fight makes you more self-assured and less likely to be teased. Well then, Ben, I wish you a very good time feasting with the Pemberley staff, I have an elderly parishioner to attend to in Clifton, he is not expected to last much longer and I want to spend as much time with him as is still possible.'

Ben wondered who the old man was who was dying, and whether he had seen mum or another healer. He knew she wouldn't want to celebrate whilst someone needed her. But Mr Eliot hadn't sounded like the poor old man could be helped. Because of his mum's calling, Ben had seen a lot of suffering people even though he was still a child, and he already had a certain detachment most people never developed. It was how he knew he could be a doctor, but he had never realised a clergyman needed that same ability to ease the suffering of people without buckling under the weight of his empathy. Maybe it was even worse for Mr Eliot, since he couldn't actively heal people, he could only support them with his presence and kind words.

'Thank you, Mr Eliot, and good luck with your parishioner. I hope he isn't suffering much.'

Mr Eliot did not seem to expect such an answer, for a moment he looked very surprised. But he quickly adjusted and said, 'Thank you, Ben, it's always difficult to say good bye to someone, even if he himself is ready to exchange this world for the next. There is no pain, he is just old and tired, and ready to be reunited with his beloved of almost fifty years. She died last winter. You really are not like other boys, do you mind if we talk again soon? Some Sunday after service?'

'I'd be pleased to, sir. I love to hear your sermons, even though both mum and dad were raised Catholics.'

'We're all worshipping the same God, my son, and you and I, and your mum and dad, recognise that.'

And with that, Mr Eliot shook Ben's hand, then went back into the church building, presumably to prepare himself for a visit to a dying man.

Still a bit impressed with his day so far, Ben ran into his friends, all wearing their Sunday best and accompanied by siblings. They usually played by the river or explored the forest with boys of a similar age only, and Ben hadn't met any girls from the village so far. He'd seen them in church, of course, but now he was introduced to three girls of his own age and one older girl, a young woman almost.

She was much taller than Ben and very pretty in her Sunday dress and with her hair done up like mum had started to do outside their own house. This girl didn't have reddish blonde hair like mum, but nut brown with a lovely curl, and Ben secretly wished to see it loose, it would be even prettier with the curls allowed to fall naturally. Of course he didn't mention that, he had excellent manners.

'Hello Ben, I'm Steven's sister Margret. I thought I'd keep an eye on all the little brothers and sisters.'

She didn't mean Ben's friends but a whole host of really small children following their siblings around whilst their parents chatted with the bride and groom. They were all ages, and Margret seemed to like minding them.

'Which ones are yours, besides Steven?'

She gave him a smile as if he was much older than ten, and Ben was glad to have said the right thing. To be noticed by an older girl was a real privilege and he was going to make the most of it.

'Just the little girl with the blue bows, over there. Her name is Juliette. She is just four.'

Ben saw the little girl admiring the flowers growing over the rough wall, but he also noticed a fleeting look of sadness cross Margret's face, as if she'd recently lost a sibling she cared about very much. So it wasn't the right question after all, why hadn't Steven ever spoken about this?

'She is very sweet, Margret. I'm sorry I asked.'

'Why should you be sorry... wait, you noticed that? But you're just, how old? Steven's age, so ten? And small for ten.'

'I'm just ten, and indeed small for my age.'

'Now I have to say I'm sorry, it doesn't matter that you're small. Mr Hugo isn't all that tall either, and he is very handsome. And maybe you'll grow a lot taller, yet.'

Ben was just glad she seemed to have forgotten her sadness and frankly, that she deigned to talk to him at all. Most older girls ignored boys like him.

'I'm sixteen. Since you've just moved here, you couldn't know what happened, unless some of your neighbours gossiped even worse than usual. My sister Brionne died last winter. She was just two years younger than me and my very best friend.'

'You lost your sister? That's terrible! Steven never told me about this. I'm so sorry for all of you.'

'It's very hard to talk about and everyone else in the village knows. And somehow life goes on, I suppose for Steven as well. Juliette does or says something funny, it's summer again, babies get born, people get married. You'll probably have a sister or brother soon. But Brionne will never come back.'

Mum always had this effect on people, they started to tell her all kinds of personal things that weighed on their hearts, and apparently Ben was a true child of hers. But despite being only ten years old, he knew what to do, he'd let Marget tell him about her sister, and then she'd feel a little better.

But that turned out not to be what Margret hoped to get from him.

'I'm so afraid something will happen to mum or Juliette, Ben. What if they get sick this winter and die? It was just terrible, we all had the flu and were sick for weeks. Then we got better but Brionne turned for the worse. I'm so afraid it will be mum this winter, or my sweet little sister.'

'Was Juliette sick as well?'

'A little. She and dad and Steven were not as bad but we all had it. People say Mr Darcy sent your mum to live here to help us. Can she keep us safe?'

He couldn't promise her that mum would keep everyone from dying, nobody could. It was probably best if she talked to mum directly, she could explain much better. Not today, of course, but later this week.

'She cannot save everyone, Margret, she is no magician or saint. But she has helped a lot of people stay healthy or get better more quickly. Would you like to talk to her about it yourself?'

'I couldn't expect your mum to spend time on me. Mrs Darcy calls for her when she is ill, and came to her wedding. She doesn't even know me.'

'Mr Darcy lets us live here to keep Witham safe this winter, remember? Mum wants to get to know all of you. And she is almost as good in answering questions as she is in asking them. You'll feel much better after you've talked to her. I'll ask her as soon as I get home tomorrow.'

For Ben would not go home with them tonight, he was staying over at the Brewers. Mrs Brewer had invited him over to give mum and dad their wedding night to themselves, and though they didn't mind having Ben about he thought it would make their wedding night different from other nights and thus extra special. Besides, staying with the Brewers would be fun, there were Jonathan and Nathaniel to play with, and Mr and Mrs Brewer were always nice.

The other village girls now wanted to meet Ben, and Margret listened to their chatter with a smile on her face. Of course they mostly wanted to praise his mum's dress, but they also showed some kind interest in Ben himself. It was nice to meet new children of his own age, he was very glad they were all so friendly. And yet felt he should have spent more time talking to Margret, she needed someone to talk to, but he knew a wedding feast was not meant for deep conversations and he was so much younger than her, it really was better to have mum do it.

And he did not wait for the next morning to tell her, when they had taken their leave from the Witham people and were being driven to Pemberley in Mr Darcy's beautiful carriage, mum offered him the perfect opportunity to unburden his heart.

'You were pretty busy making new friends, weren't you, Ben?'

'Nearly all my friends turned out to have at least one sister, so, yes.'

'There was one older girl among your admiring flock, they usually don't spend any time on ten-year-old boys?'

Mum had seen everything, and Ben knew she didn't keep an eye on him to control him, the hurt in Margret had probably drawn her notice. Mum was like that, a born healer. Darren probably had the same thing, and Nick had it but with trouble instead of hurt.

'They mostly admired you and your wedding dress, but they are too much in awe of you to tell you in person. Mrs Darcy sent her carriage for you and came to your wedding after all. Same with Margret, the tall girl. She is Steven's sister and they lost her younger sister last winter. She was Margret's best friend. I could feel her hurt, mum, and she told me about it as if I was a healer myself already. I said you would talk to her, she is very afraid to lose her mum or her little sister. Poor Margret thought she wasn't important enough for you.'

'So you told her I wanted to get to know everyone in the village?'

'Exactly. And Mr Eliot was afraid I resented the two of you getting married because I cried during the ceremony. I told him I was affected by his speech, it made me remember how things used to be. But then I realised that from now on we would be together, in a real house, and I felt happier than ever before.'

Mum and Jean both hugged him closely, and mum promised to visit Margret and talk to her.

'Do you think the people of Witham are happy with their share in our wedding, Ben? Do you think they mind us having the real celebration at Pemberley?'

As far as Ben could tell they had been pleased, 'You lived there for ten years, Jean, and you still work there all day. Of course they understand you'd want to share the most important day of your life with your friends, I bet they're mighty pleased to have had the service in their own church. And I think they were very proud to have Mr and Mrs Darcy and all those other important folks visit, thanks to you two.'

'There will be few children at Pemberley, it might have been more fun for you to stay in Witham with your friends.'

'I don't mind, mum, Jonathan and Nathaniel will be there, and I like them best of all. And I can't wait to taste Mrs Brewer's best pies.'

And those pies were even better than Ben had imagined in his wildest dreams, despite having tasted the results of Mrs Brewer's baking skills regularly. He was as happy as he had ever been, and yet the richness of the sweet treats somehow reminded him that three months ago he had never tasted anything like this, yet. That thought made him a little sad, not because he was afraid of his life ever reverting back to extreme poverty, not even because of the memories of what mum had been through before she was so happily settled. Ben was afraid a lot of children, living even as close as Ripley, were still as poor as mum and himself had been, maybe even poorer. They'd always had enough food to fill their bellies, how many children were going hungry while he was enjoying a feast of sugar, cream, butter and eggs?

'I know that pie is the best you have ever tasted, so there must be something else bothering you, Ben. Will you tell me what it is?'

Nick might look dangerous but he was so very kind, and his arm was as good as new. And he was from the streets of London, he would understand.

'I'm very happy, Nick, really. And the pie is indeed the best I've ever had. It just reminded me I'd never had any before we moved to Witham. And then I thought of all the children who don't have any food at all, and that made me sad.'

'That is a very profound thought for a child your age, Ben. Do you often worry about other people being poor, or unhappy?'

Ben had to admit he didn't, but he didn't really know any personally.

'I think it was the pie that did it, can food be too good?'

Though Ben didn't really mean that, he was still enjoying his slice very much even as they were talking, Nick seemed to take Ben's suggestion very seriously.

'Did you ever hear Mr Fielding play his own work, Ben?'

'I did, yes, one day after practice. It was very beautiful, and very sad in some parts.'

'Did it remind you of sad things in your own life?'

'It did, though Mr Fielding cannot have known about them, he didn't even know I existed when he wrote that. Mrs Fielding said his music did that to everyone.'

'Exactly. Because it is art, and art makes people feel things. Like your belt buckle, it's so beautiful, it must make you very feel special.'

'I've never wanted something so badly, something I don't really need, I mean. Of course I want mum more, and Jean, and Rover. This is just a thing.'

'But it's beautiful and it speaks to you. Like Mr Fielding's music, even if you cannot touch that. Maybe Mrs Brewer's pie is art as well. Maybe that is why it brings out strong feelings in you.'

It was a ludicrous idea, pie as art? But Mrs Brewer was an artist, Jonathan said some man from London had come and taken away a lot of his mum's works, to put it on display in some great hall and let as many people see it as possible. Some pieces had already been sold, to very rich people apparently. Maybe everything Mrs Brewer made was art.

'Is Mrs Darcy's phaeton art as well, then? Mrs Brewer had a part in making that.'

'What do you think? Art is very personal. Seeing your dad and Liquor move together made me feel similarly touched, that was art to me.'

'I guess it is, then, though the little carriage with the little horses just made me glad, it looked just like the faeries had conjured it up. Which means Mrs Brewer's pie is likely art as well, but dad riding Liquor? When dad rides a horse it makes me feel proud to be his son, but that's just hard work, isn't it? Though I suppose he has something extra with horses. He bought us the ugliest gelding ever, but Spot is so smart no-one dares say that where he can hear it, for fear of hurting a horse's feelings. It's as if he understands everything we say, and that is just what mum needed since she cannot waste time on a horse's moods when someone's life is in danger.

Thank you, Nick, for explaining. Though I do feel bad for children suffering hunger or pain.'

'Well, whenever help your mum you're already doing more to help people than most of us. And I've heard you are already studying to become a doctor yourself, that is so admirable for a boy your age. I've seen a lot of bad things in London, and though there are always people trying to help it doesn't seem to get much better. Don't let it spoil your pie or the wedding, just do whatever a ten-year-old boy can do.

Oh look, I think we're about to have some music.'

Ben hadn't even seen the piano with everyone standing in front of it, but now friends and colleagues stepped back to reveal Mr and Mrs Fielding's beloved little black piano, and Mrs Fielding herself coming straight towards Ben, smiling!

He knew she was not coming towards someone standing behind him, she'd asked if he would play piano for the wedding guests, but he only now realised what that meant. She laid a hand on his shoulder and spoke loud enough to catch the attention of everyone in the room. Ben could feel more eyes resting upon him than ever before, but he felt strangely calm despite realising what he had promised to do.

'A wedding is no wedding without music, which is why Ben is going to play a few songs from his mother's country of birth for us that he has been studying with Mr Fielding and myself.'

Imagine there really being a piano present on mum and dad's wedding, and him being expected to play it! He'd only had four lessons so far!

In a low voice, Mrs Fielding said for his ears only, 'If you're afraid to play all by yourself, I'll accompany you.'

But Ben wasn't afraid, those songs weren't that difficult, and these were all his friends. Mrs Fielding had told him Mrs Darcy loved folk songs, which wasn't all that remarkable since everybody did.

Now the common room grew totally quiet, and Ben sat in front of the keyboard. The music sheet were already in front of him, and Mrs Fielding sat down beside him on the broad stool.

'Start with the scales,' she whispered.

So Ben did, they weren't nearly as difficult as they sounded, and music filled the large room.

'Now start on the first song,' she said, which he did. It went rather well, he thought, it was much easier to stay concentrated with so many people listening and watching, and before he knew it the song was finished and everyone applauded.

He played two more, he couldn't see what mum and Jean thought of this big surprise since he was too busy remembering which key belonged to which note, but he supposed they'd tell him later. Or Nick would, he was a guard, he always kept an eye on everyone.

When he was done, Mrs Fielding ruffled his hair and said, 'Well done, Ben, we will take care of the rest of the entertainment, you get yourself some more of that pie. Thank you for being a good sport!'

And as soon as Ben got up to be praised by every member of the Pemberley staff and even some visiting valets and maids, Mr Fielding took his place and they started playing a merry tune that set everyone's feet tapping.

Of course this could only result in some impromptu dancing, and mum and dad were soon led to the front of the line. Ben wondered where they had learned to dance like the English but they didn't miss a step, and they looked just perfect together.

Mrs Reynolds handed him a plate with two smaller pieces of different pies, she knew he'd want to taste them all if he could, and this time he felt nothing but joy as he watched the merry dancing and relished the creamy sweetness.

'Will you dance with me when you've finished your sweets, Ben?' a kind voice asked, and Ben was surprised to see Dora, Mrs Manners' maid, standing before him. She was very pretty, and kind, and Ben wanted to dance with her but he didn't know the steps.

'I don't know how to dance, Dora, though I'd like to,' he replied.

'I will teach you, it's not difficult. We'll start right here, where we cannot crash into anyone. You'll learn quickly, you'll see.'

Well in that case, Ben was eager to accept, it looked like great fun.

And though it was a bit more difficult than he expected and his legs were a bit short to keep up with a near-adult girl, it was as exhilarating as he'd expected. Ben didn't manage to pick up all the moves before the dancing was finished, but he knew he'd want to learn before he was an adult. For now, laughing and turning with Dora in a corner of the room had been great fun, and when Mrs Fielding left the piano stool to find a place with Mr Darcy and his wife, who had dropped in for a few moments to observe the merriment, the atmosphere changed altogether. Mr Fielding, a famous pianist whom, according to Jean, the Prince of Wales had come all the way to Derbyshire to hear because he couldn't forget his beautiful compositions, played some of his work on mum and dad's wedding feast! It was such an honour, and Ben could see most of the Pemberley staff hadn't heard him play before even though he lived there. Slowly, Ben started to realise how incredibly privileged he was himself, to have Mrs Fielding allow him to sit in on their practice and give him lessons. Was this also because they expected him to become a doctor and they wanted him to return to their neighbourhood after his studies?

No, it wasn't, Ben was sure. Mrs Fielding was just very kind, and she loved to play the piano so much she wanted to teach others. Dora was still standing close to Ben, maybe she missed her little brothers or sisters that she spent so much time on Ben, her face totally enthralled by the music. Though Ben had heard this piece before, the music soon gripped him again and he stood listening until the last note died away.

When Mr Fielding was done, mum and dad thanked him for the beautiful concert, and he and Mrs Fielding talked to them and some of the other staff. Probably about music, and maybe even about Ben, how he had learned to play those simple songs.

Mr and Mrs Darcy had left their seats, they had probably returned to the front of the house, they had guests, and anyway, Ben didn't think important gentlemen generally visited their staff's wedding parties. To have him and his wife present in church was remarkable enough, probably because dad had found those pretty ponies for Mrs Darcy.

Ben would have liked to meet Mrs Darcy, she had congratulated him so he knew she was pretty and quite young, but she was supposed to have a very quick sense of hunour. Apparently, she had become famous in London for her stylish dress but dad said she preferred riding her horse. Mum said she was nice, and nothing more, but Ben thought she really liked her new patient. Maybe Dora would be willing to tell him about London, if he was to study there maybe he should get an idea of what life was like in a big city, especially for someone who had grown up in a small village. But before Ben could ask, Dora looked behind Ben, nodded respectfully and said, 'See you soon, Ben, it was a pleasure to hear you play and dance with you.' She then left him, and of course Ben turned around to see who was standing behind him, judging by Dora's attitude it almost had to be..

'Hello Ben,' said Mr Darcy, who hadn't returned to the front of the house after all, 'I have some fond memories of hearing those Irish folk songs being played by a beginning pianist. And I believe I haven't yet instroduced you to Mrs Darcy, who also has a weakness for folk songs, though by now she is very adept at playing them herself.'

She was indeed very fashionably dressed, even in her own house, and even younger than he'd noticed in the relatively dark church. She offered to shake his hand as if he was an adult, and Ben decided this was not the moment to bow as dad had taught Ben to do. Ben knew he had no finer manners, he'd grown up in a forest away from people after all, and he was determined to fit in anywhere, so he'd asked his new father for some instructions. But with Mrs Darcy totally informal he could hardly show off his newly acquired polish! So he wisely accepted the hand and shook it politely.

'I remember that moment very well, Fitzwilliam,' she said to her husband with a fond smile, and then to Ben, 'though I thought he listened to my playing to compare it unfavourably to his sister's, which wasn't true at all. It took me some time to realise all music is precious, those folk songs have withstood the ages, and touch my soul even in the daily company of a master pianist. You play them very well, Ben. And I'm so glad to finally have the chance to talk to you for a bit, I've heard you are very glad to have secured a father?'

'Thank you, ma'am, I'm the happiest boy in the world. Jean is the best father anyone could wish for, and he makes mum so happy. She deserves that, she had a very tough life for years.'

'She told me about it, Ben, it must have been so hard. And yet you are both as gracious as if you have been living the life of princes. Weren't you afraid or at least shy, with all those people watching you play?'

Surprisingly enough, he hadn't been, and he still wasn't unduly impressed, standing here talking to the mistress of the house and her husband. Maybe it was because he had been raised in total ignorance of rank.

'When Mrs Fielding asked in church I thought nothing of it, and then just now I knew I should be afraid but I wasn't. These are all dad's friends, after all.'

'So they are, and yours and your mother's as well. Your mum has helped my sister very much, and I feel much safer knowing she lives so close. Well, enjoy the rest of the party, we have relatives staying over so we should see to their entertainment. I have a feeling we'll meet again since you will be here nearly every day to study.'

Ben now bowed as elegantly as Jean had taught him, to acknowledge Mrs Darcy's kindness and, yes, to show off a bit, but shaking hands was just so...ordinary and this was a special day.

Mrs Darcy laughed, and Mr Darcy smiled and said, 'Bowing to the ladies, playing the piano, Hugo tells me he is teaching you how to ride, you'll be wanting to move to London next, young Ben.'

And maybe he would, in due time. But for now there was plenty to learn right here, and knowing these important people had high expectations of him didn't bother him at all, it made him feel safe to have his future more or less secured after seeing his mother struggle for years.

But before he did all that he would enjoy himself, right here with the Pemberley staff but also tonight, staying over at the Brewers' with his two best friends.