Darian awoke in her chambers the following day, somehow managing to be in her sleeping gown. “Miss Smith, you’re awake.” She sat up to see one of the servant girls, Anna, standing at the doorway with a tray containing Darian’s breakfast. “Anna, what time is it?” she inquired groggily. “It’s just about eleven in the morning ma’am,” Anna replied, approaching her and setting the tray on the bedside table. “I see. And, pray tell, where is the Castor family at this moment?” she inquired, picking some grapes from off the tray.
“Mr. William Castor and Mr. Harold Castor have gone to town,” the African girl replied. “Mrs. Castor is still in bed.” “And Ben?” The words left her mouth before she could stop them. Anna blushed, looking down to her feet. “The younger Mr. Castor is on the terrace, mi’lady,” she informed. “Is that all you’ll be needing?” When Darian nodded, she turned to leave. “Anna?” Darian asked as the young servant reached the door. “Yes, Miss Smith?” “Why are you blushing?” she inquired. Anna flashed her a knowing smile. “It’s nothing really,” the young girl explained. “It’s just that, the younger Mr. Castor inquired after your particular wellbeing just this morning, ma’am.”
Darian watched the girl leave, unable to lessen the heating in her cheeks. Benjamin had inquired after her! She shook her head, willing away any fictitious thoughts that threatened to creep their way into her mind. He was just being a gentleman. A flirtatious one, but she figured London had made him that way. Even if he wasn’t just being flirtatious, and he actually did fancy her, they could never have a bond outside of the childhood friendship that they once had- society would never allow it. On that note, Darian finished her breakfast and readied herself for the day.
Upon descending the stairs, she heard a sound that appeared most foreign to her- the sound of laughter. Several high pitched giggles were evenly accompanied by a much deeper, harmonious chuckle. Immediately, her fingers twitched to contact the ivory keys of the organ in the living area. There hadn’t been such a joyous sound as laughter in the household for years. Struggling to keep herself together, Darian made her way to the terrace, where the merriment originated. Benjamin was running around in a circle, successfully avoiding the grasps of three younger boys who possibly bore ages between eight and thirteen. Upon her arrival, he looked upwards, near losing his balance as he saw her. The three boys took advantage of the opportunity and pounced on him, the four bodies falling to the ground, with him taking the brute of the fall.
“Dari!” Benjamin guffawed, as the three boys pulled at his legs and arms, tumbling over him and leaving little muddy footprints all over his suit. He didn’t seem to mind it one bit. “Help me before these ruffians tear me limb from limb!” She tried to stifle a laugh in vain. It was a rather amusing scene to behold. “Oh, I dare not intervene,” she giggled. “Lest they make a mess of me as well. Whatever you’ve done to provoke such cruelty, Ben, I best say you throw in the sponge. It seems the boys wouldn’t have it any other way.” Eyes lit at the jovial tone in her voice, Benjamin twisted and turned for a moment with the boys who were relentlessly attempting to bind him with only their feeble hands, before giving up and lying on his back. “Very well,” he relented. “I surrender.” The boys laughed proudly and stood, stepping away from him to observe their success. “As agreed,” Benjamin said, sitting up and digging into his pants pocket. “Three pence if you can help me bait the beautiful Miss Smith unto the terrace.”
He grinned at the shocked expression planted on Darian’s face as he handed each boy his coin. “You know,” he told the oldest boy, “this is probably the most exquisite young lady in all of Lancashire.” Darian blushed, rolling her eyes at him, but the young boy looked up at her in confusion. “Her?” he inquired. “But she’s a Negro.” His words struck her like a brick. She was about to lower her head in submission and retreat to the living quarters as she had been imposed to do since she was a child, but Benjamin’s voice stopped her. “She does look like one, doesn’t she?” he agreed, raising to his feet and approaching her. “But I think that’s what makes her all the more lovely.” In her confusion, she allowed him to loosen the bun that was holding up her hair.
