“But Papa . . . it was not . . .”
“Enough!” Mr. Bennet was, for perhaps the first time in his life, less than amused with Elizabeth. He may not have been the most involved and conscientious of fathers, but he had taught his five daughters the rules of proper behavior! Granted the youngest two seemed to have learned less than the older three, but he simply expected more from Elizabeth. “I will hear none of it tonight! You, my dear, have nothing to say to me that will change how I feel about what I just witnessed!”
“Yes, sir.” Elizabeth immediately stepped forward towards the ballroom at her father’s impatient gesture, and looked up to see the shock and horror on Mrs. Long’s face. With a sinking feeling, she realized the woman had witnessed the whole thing as well. Oh no! Now all of Meryton will know, for Mrs. Long is a bigger gossip than even my mother! She glanced back at Mr. Darcy only to see he had turned his back and his head was bowed. She looked away and her tears started forming once again. She suddenly was grateful for her father’s hand pulling her. Her tears, in combination with the darkness of the night, left her nearly blind.
Mr. Bennet’s heart softened upon seeing his daughter’s tears. After all, he reasoned, things could be resolved quite easily, assuming that Darcy was as decent a man as he appeared. Seeing her distress he tried to tease her into a better mood. “Well Lizzy, I do believe this ball ended up being life changing after all!” Surprisingly, or at least to Mr. Bennet, it just seemed to make her tears worse.
Chapter 4
M
r. Bennet was sure to demand marriage after what he had witnessed. Mr. Darcy had been up all night contemplating what to do. The dawn was breaking in the east and he hadn’t had a wink of sleep. He had thrown his cravat and waistcoat haphazardly on the floor, and sent his boots after them, hearing them land somewhere by the window. Still his body felt confined and constricted. Sleep was impossible given the turmoil his mind was in. One moment he was furious with Wickham and wanting to call the magistrate, but what crime had been committed? It was a man’s world and all Wickham had done was work to ruin a woman’s reputation. And the woman was not a faceless creature, but his Elizabeth! He chastised himself for not unearthing Wickham’s plan in time. I, who knew him better than anyone, and yet was still too blind to see his scheme! Elizabeth’s reputation would be ruined, and Darcy knew that he would be seen to have played a part in it.
And to be seen by Mrs. Long! She most likely would have sworn all her friends to “secrecy” about seeing him and Elizabeth embracing so intimately, effectively making certain everyone knew about it by the noon meal today. Certainly Darcy had no objection to comforting Elizabeth— far from it— nor did he even regret being found doing so. But to have people assuming a relationship or even expecting an understanding to take place was another matter entirely. Darcy was a private man for the most part. He hated when his personal affairs were written about or gossiped about.
But he could not bring himself to focus on that entirely. Every time he thought of the embrace in his mind, he would relive every touch, making his body react the same way it had then. It had felt so right! Her soft hair on his lips, her small shoulders in his hands, her face nestled in his chest, the way she looked up at him . . . stop it, man! You are to meet with her father in a few short hours and you still have not figured out what to do! Stop thinking about last night and determine what you are to do today! He went over the situation again but his mind drifted back to her tearful face and he was stricken with anger once again. Wickham! If only he knew what his original plan was. Was he just trying to ruin Elizabeth? Why? Did he know my feelings for her? How? He replayed that awful day at Longbourn where he had spoken with him in front of Elizabeth. What had he said or done that led Wickham to think he had admired Elizabeth? Surely one afternoon was not enough to surmise such feelings were present! He could have no doubt that what Wickham did to Elizabeth was done to injure Darcy. What else could interest Wickham in ruining a woman of little fortune? Focus, man! What will you tell her father? It was no use; he needed to be out of this confining room. He rang for his valet. Martin would not appreciate the earliness of the hour, and would regard his state of dress with suspicion, but it didn’t matter. Let him think what he wished. Out of pride he went to the bed and ruffled the bed linens and pillows to make it look as if he had slept in it. There, now it will look like I fell asleep in my clothes.
A few minutes later his valet knocked. “Enter,” Darcy said. Martin did so and regarded his master with marked displeasure. “I am sorry, Martin. I slept very ill and would like a long ride on Calypso.”
“Yes, sir. Perhaps a shave as well?” Martin had seven years of experience as Mr. Darcy’s valet. Darcy never outwardly stated his concerns or thoughts but by now his face was quite readable to Martin, and he could tell there was something deeply troubling his master. This was even more worrisome, because in the last few weeks he had seen a peace and calmness that hadn’t been there since before Darcy’s father died. That peace was no longer present today. He couldn’t remember a time when he had seen his master so troubled. As he prepared to shave him, he spoke up. “Calypso is good for you when you are troubled, is she not?” Darcy gave him a questioning look. Martin knew he rarely spoke to his master so forwardly. He continued, “Forgive me, it is not my place to ask questions.”
Darcy sighed. “Martin, you are a keen observer. You could be a bow street runner.” It was his way of excusing the comment. Perhaps talking about his distress would help him out. He knew Martin would be discreet. “I do not know what has come over me; my mind will not focus on the task at hand! I am afraid my heart and mind will not be settled easily this morning.”
His heart? Was he speaking of Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Martin wasn’t a gossip, but had knew all the same that his master was partial to her. He summoned his courage before speaking again. “Yes, the heart is a delicate thing. I have learned, though, that one must listen first with the heart, and then use the mind to create roads of opportunity.”
Roads of opportunity? Darcy would have to think on that a little. “Yes, well, although you are a man of few words, I thank you. I do not know what roads of opportunity could be found in this situation. You may continue with the shave.” It was his way of dismissing the topic. No. This situation was far too delicate to be discussed with his valet.
*****
Mr. Bennet had been listening to Elizabeth try to get him change his mind all morning. He certainly did not want to force her into a marriage. He always wanted her to marry someone she could respect and admire. But he felt her resistance to this marriage was somewhat dramatic. He remembered her blushing brightly when he teased her about Mr. Darcy after she came home from Netherfield which only confirmed that she at minimum, had the buddings of regard for him, if not already loved Mr. Darcy. And to witness Mr. Darcy brush back her curls at the entrance of the Netherfield Ball only confirmed to him that these two had a much more intimate relationship than they let on. He was sure that was the case since he saw them embracing so intimately at the end of the ball. Yes, this would be a love match, even if Elizabeth was unsure of her feelings overall. She was scared, like all young brides were. He would listen no further to her objections to the marriage. After such a display in front of Mrs. Long, her reputation, as well as those of her sisters, would be ruined if she did not marry him. Her objections were simply not valid. Any woman would be nervous, especially when the marriage was hastened, but what else was there to do? Mr. Darcy compromised her, with at least one loose-tongued witness, and therefore there was no other option. Elizabeth would come to understand that it was in her best interest to follow her heart on the matter.
“But Father, you must hear what I have to say!” She didn’t call him “Papa” this time. That kind of endearment was saved for happier times. Elizabeth had spent the morning trying to explain what had happened the night before, but he would not listen. She had never seen him behave so stubbornly. Mr. Darcy would arrive at Longbourn any minute and she was
desperate. She tried a different approach and sweetened her voice. “I know it was hard for you to witness what you did. You have taught me good principles and I have learned what you wished to teach. I beg of you, listen to me before you start making decisions that will affect me for the rest of my life!”
He had already made up his mind. Hearing her make excuses was nearly heartbreaking. Mr. Bennet simply could not stop the images of his favorite daughter being held in such a manner and couldn’t stomach hearing his daughter try to explain herself. He felt frustrated with her pointless efforts but more importantly, he was getting irritated and angry. This marriage was not what he had planned for her either, but it was a very good match. Her protests only made him angrier, as it seemed she was taking no responsibility for her actions. He may have all five daughters at a marriageable age but he expected them to be properly courted and with his permission! That was not how it happened last night. He simply could not bear to hear of other behavior that he may not have witnessed. He knew he should not be so stubborn; he should listen to her very determined pleadings, but this was his daughter after all, his favorite daughter! The images flashed once again through his mind. The only thing to do was to insist upon marriage. It was the only way, and it would be a good match for his dear Lizzy. Whatever she had to tell him was of little consequence; they must marry. He still could not believe his Elizabeth would behave in such a way in public! After listening to her attempt to change his mind for the tenth time that morning, he turned a deaf ear to her pleadings and motioned with his hands for her to leave his study.
She nearly stomped her foot as she left the study. How was she going to stop this incident from snowballing? She turned on her heel and nearly ran right into Mr. Darcy. Hill’s announcement of his arrival must have been drowned out by Elizabeth’s pleadings to her father. She averted her eyes. She could hardly risk looking at him.
“Good morning, Miss Bennet,” he said politely.
So it was “Miss Bennet” now? Last night he used her Christian name while holding her in his arms, but today it was back to the formality of “Miss Bennet.” Surely after the events of last night they might share some more intimacy than that. She glared at him, and his gaze met hers. His eyes seemed to be searching for something, but he bowed slightly when she did not respond. She turned and left, not giving even the slightest curtsy or nod of the head in acknowledgement of his presence.
“Come in, Mr. Darcy. My daughter is not in the best of moods, I confess, but it is a strange situation indeed. It seems all her manners have been forgotten. Close the door behind you.”
Darcy entered the study and stood there silently. He had been hoping against hope to encounter Elizabeth before the meeting with her father. He was hoping for some kind of indication of what Elizabeth felt about all this and what it entailed. She had to have known that they would be expected to marry. Was their union acceptable in her eyes? Did she still have feelings for Wickham? He flinched at the thought.
Last night his attention had been divided between Georgiana, Elizabeth, and Wickham, and it had nearly exhausted him. He had missed the disappearance of Wickham at first, and it was some time before he noticed that both Elizabeth and Wickham were gone. He had never dreamed that he would find them kissing.
His first reaction had been nausea, then anger, then fear. The nausea was because his greatest enemy was kissing the woman he loved. The anger came when he realized it was Darcy’s fault: he had known Wickham’s nature, but had not openly exposed him. His warnings to Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet had been too cryptic, too vague. Was there more he should have done? The fear followed at the memory of Elizabeth’s words: “Perhaps then I would not have to choose between a man with selfish disdain for others and a man who is charming and handsome.” Was this Elizabeth making her choice right in front of his eyes? When he relived the scene, it seemed like Wickham’s advances were unwanted. But did Elizabeth regret them wholly? Her heated look gave him no hope from her regarding a positive preference towards marriage. If anything, she was angry and did not want to be forced to marry him. Darcy cleared his throat and resisted the strong urge to vomit.
“Well, Mr. Darcy? Are you going to stand there and look ill? Or can I offer you some brandy?” It was before noon, but Mr. Bennet thought the situation called for a bit of brandy. Arranging the marriage of your favorite daughter when she does not wish it took a little courage.
Darcy knew his nauseous stomach was just nerves, but he also knew alcohol would not be helpful. “No, thank you, sir.”
“Well, then, sit down.” Mr. Bennet poured himself two fingers of brandy and swirled it in his glass. He didn’t quite know Mr. Darcy’s intent, but he was here and that was a start. Mr. Bennet began innocuously, with a few questions about his estate in Derbyshire. He then probed about his views on the Corn Laws, and asked about the health of his parents and learned that both were deceased. He had begun to ask about his education when Darcy finally interrupted him.
“Sir, I doubt you truly care about my views on the Corn Laws. Perhaps we should both address the matter at hand?” Darcy was nervous. He had never asked for a lady’s hand in marriage before. In fact, he had never even wanted it before meeting Elizabeth. Should he have paid Mr. Bennet more respect?
A frown came slowly to Mr. Bennet’s face. He didn’t want to insist his favorite daughter marry without fully knowing the man, in spite of all that had happened. All he knew about him was what his family had gossiped about. Mrs. Bennet said he earned ten thousand a year. Lydia thought him boring. Jane had stood up for him several times claiming that Bingley liked him “so he must be good.” And he had heard too many times to count how Mr. Darcy scorned Elizabeth at the Meryton Assembly by saying how she wasn’t “handsome enough to tempt” him. It was obvious after the display last night that she must tempt him a little! He opened his mouth to speak, but then took a sip of the brandy instead. After the burning in his throat subsided, he said, “It was quite the scandal last night when right in front of Mr. and Mrs. Long that Denny officer came and told me Elizabeth was kissing a man in the most provocative way out on the balcony. If I recall it rightly, Mr. Denny’s exact words were, ‘Come Mr. Bennet, Miss Elizabeth has been compromised! She is kissing a man in such a way that you must stop her! Make haste!’” He gauged Mr. Darcy’s reaction carefully. Did he feel remorse? Was he proud of his actions? From what he could tell Darcy’s lips tightened, his shoulders squared, and he seemed to grow taller in his chair. It wasn’t remorse he was witnessing and it wasn’t pride. Anger? Why would Mr. Darcy be angry?
So Mr. Denny was in on it? Wickham had planned this from the beginning? If only I knew why he would do such a thing! What was he after? Mr. Darcy knew he couldn’t stay silent for long as his nausea had turned to dangerous levels. He quickly poured over this new piece of knowledge. Denny was to get Mr. Bennet to witness what Darcy himself had witnessed. Somehow compromising Elizabeth in front of her father was supposed to either benefit Wickham or hurt me. Which was it? Wickham would do anything for money; he knew that all too well by experience, but the Bennet ladies did not have dowries to speak of. Did Wickham suspect he had feelings for Elizabeth? If he was trying to hurt Darcy, then ruining Elizabeth’s reputation could be a way, however indirect, of attacking him. But was it money he was after, or the chance to damage Darcy’s own chances with Elizabeth? Suddenly he knew he understood; it was both. Wickham intended to be the man in this very chair being forced to marry Elizabeth! And in doing so, Wickham would take Elizabeth away from Darcy forever. Unless, and this seemed to be a real possibility, he was going to try to negotiate money from Darcy.
Wickham was smart enough to realize that if Darcy wanted Elizabeth, he would pay handsomely to keep Wickham from marrying her. Of course! It was all too clear now. Wickham wanted to compromise Elizabeth and had hoped that Darcy would pay Wickham not to marry her, but instead to allow Darcy to salvage her reputation by marring her himself. It was an interesting plan, one that would have risked Wickham losing
his chance to marry an heiress. He must have been quite confident in Darcy’s admiration as well as his wiliness to pay anything to keep Wickham from marring Darcy’s true love. But things didn’t pan out for Wickham like he had planned. Darcy’s mind and stomach felt a sudden wave of relief. He had spoiled Wickham’s plan and now Darcy was the one being asked to marry Elizabeth. He knew now how lucky he was to have come across them when he did. For not only was Darcy willing to offer marriage, but it looked like Mr. Bennet thought it was Darcy all along who had been kissing Elizabeth in that “provocative way.”
“Well, Mr. Darcy? You have sat there silent now for a good five minutes. I have watched you go from anger, to confusion, to what now appears to be excitement. Do you mind sharing what seems to have gone through your mind?” Mr. Bennet was all curiosity now.
“No, sir.”
“No? I believe this meeting requires at least some disclosure of your thoughts.” Mr. Bennet saw Darcy start to smile.
“Sir, on that topic I would be happy to inform you of my thoughts and intentions. I am fully aware that my actions,” and those now-thwarted actions of Mr. Wickham, thank goodness, “now imply that I must offer marriage to your daughter. I am a man of honor and will stand by what is appropriate. If you insist on me marrying Eliz . . . Miss Elizabeth, I am willing and able to offer a comfortable home and will give you my word that she will be well cared for. I was raised a gentleman and will treat her as a lady ought to be treated.”
Mr. Bennet didn’t know whether to be pleased that he was offering marriage or displeased that love and admiration was not part of the speech. “Well, I am glad to hear you and I are on the same page. I must tell you, though, that I fear Lizzy is not of the same mind. She is headstrong and has tried to voice her opinion several times in the last twelve hours. How best to inform her?”
Mr. Darcy's Promise Page 9
