Darcy and Elizabeth both turned and began walking in the direction of the house, becoming aware of the commotion coming from Mrs. Bennet as she stepped down from the carriage.
Elizabeth instinctively turned and grasped Darcy’s coat, effectually bringing him to a stop before they stepped out into a clearing. “Are you certain you wish to do this now?”
“I have never been more certain. There is no longer any need to delay, and I cannot take the chance of encountering some other impediment before it is announced or that someone else will find out. I am resolute, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth sighed and turned to walk again. “I only hope we will find my father in good spirits.”
This time Darcy stopped her. Taking a quick glance toward the house to ensure no one could see them, he took both of her hands in his, cupping them together, and brought them up to his lips. “Elizabeth, my love, there is nothing to fear. I shall make your father understand.”
Elizabeth looked into his eyes, and she felt her whole body quiver as she felt his warm breath gently encircle her cool fingers.
Darcy wished he could remain here with Elizabeth indefinitely. How he wanted to hold her close and kiss her endlessly! Before turning to walk into the house, he was determined to enjoy one last kiss. He released her hands and brought his arms around her waist, pulling her the short distance to him. She was firm, yet so soft, against him. He lowered his mouth and met hers, enjoying the feel of her feminine softness pressing against his unyielding body. His arms tightened about her as he felt intoxicated by her presence and her response.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. She felt herself spinning, as if in a swirling current, as his kiss deepened. She returned his embrace by bringing her arms up around his neck, as much to steady herself as to show her affection. His kiss and touch had the most pleasant effect of leaving her quite lightheaded, positively breathless, and in a most pleasantly disconcerted state.
At length, Darcy pulled away, looking down at Elizabeth’s flushed face. He took in a deep breath before he was able to say anything. “I think it would be prudent for us to join your family directly, Elizabeth.” He fingered a loose curl that framed her face and smiled. “However, I would have you know it is a good thing we are about to announce our marriage to your father, as all I wish to do is steal away with you to Pemberley directly!”
The set of his eyes as he looked upon Elizabeth immobilized her. Even if she wanted to, she could not remove her arms from around his neck. He brought up both hands and gently took hers in his, bringing them down.
“Come, Elizabeth, it is time for us to go in.”
They walked toward the house, united in purpose, yet separated a respectable distance from each other by the conventions of their day. Elizabeth wanted nothing more but to draw the strength she needed by entwining her arm within her husband’s, but as no one yet knew of their mutual attachment, they walked divided by, what seemed to Elizabeth, an ocean of distance.
As they approached the house, they were greeted by a multitude of wails and loud exclamations from the other room, mostly from Elizabeth’s mother.
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, my nerves! Please do not say such things!”
“Mrs. Bennet! I am saying only what I believe is the reality of the situation. Your wailings will do nothing to remedy our troubles!”
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy with a look of alarm. “Perhaps now is not a good time, William.”
“Let us find out, first.”
He gave her a reassuring smile, which was immediately followed by a pained expression as he overheard Mrs. Bennet exclaim in an enraged voice, “But of course he will marry her!”
“I find that quite improbable, my dear wife! She has no fortune and nothing to recommend her!”
Elizabeth paled and looked with great fear at Darcy, wondering with mortification if her parents had somehow come to hear some misconstrued report about them.
Darcy returned her look as he began to suspect that Wickham may have furthered his evil scheme and spread some venomous lies about him and Elizabeth that the Bennets had come to hear.
Darcy followed Elizabeth into the room and all eyes turned to the couple.
“Mama? Papa?” Her voice was weak as she looked at the alarm and anger engraved upon their faces.
“It is about time you came home, Lizzy!” Mr. Bennet directed his anger at Elizabeth in a harsh and bitter voice.
She looked with great alarm from her mother to her father. “What has happened?”
“Oh, Lizzy! Lydia has run off. She has eloped, but your father insists they are not to be married!”
Both Elizabeth and Darcy breathed a momentary sigh of relief that the news that was wreaking havoc in the Bennet household was not due to them.
Mr. Bennet continued. “He has no need for a woman with no fortune! I fear your hopes for a marriage between them, my dear, are unfounded!”
“Lydia? Elope? How did this happen?” cried Elizabeth.
“We thought she was visiting the Forsters today,” her mother explained, “but Hill just recently discovered this letter.” She frantically pointed to a note held by Mr. Bennet. “She had never gone to the Forsters!”
Elizabeth felt herself grow unsteady. “I cannot believe this!”
Her father came and looked at her gravely. “Hill sent someone for us immediately when the note was discovered. We stopped by the Forsters’ upon leaving the Phillips’s, and when we applied for Lydia, they said they had not seen her all day.” It was all he could do to explain the situation to Elizabeth in a calm, rational manner.
“But with whom did she elope?” Elizabeth asked, her voice and countenance distressed.
“According to this,” Mr. Bennet shook the note angrily, “she and that Wickham have run off together, proving to me that she has not an ounce of sense in her!”
Darcy started at the mention of Wickham’s name, growing incensed at what he heard “With whom did you say she ran off?” His voice was low and raspy.
Mr. Bennet looked at Darcy curiously, suddenly wondering why he was here. “Mr. Wickham. And it makes absolutely no sense that he would run off with the intention of marrying our Lydia! She has nothing to offer him!”
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, please,” cried Mrs. Bennet. “Perhaps they love each other! He had certainly been singling her out with his attentions.”
“Nonsense! He has absolutely no use for her… at least as a wife!”
“Oh, do you have to say such things?” Mrs. Bennet reached for her smelling salts.
Darcy looked down at Elizabeth, tightening his hands into fists, and finally recovering a semblance of control, whispered to Elizabeth, “Would that be George Wickham?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, feeling quite distraught that Lydia was putting her family through this, but also that her husband was witness to the scene. “Are you acquainted with him?”
Darcy closed his eyes and brusquely rubbed his chin with his hand. “Unfortunately, I am.”
Suddenly, Mr. Bennet looked again at Darcy, noticing his most severe countenance. “And might I inquire as to your presence here, Mr. Darcy? Are you enjoying the trials and tribulations of our family?”
Darcy stiffened, unable to calm himself enough to make a rational response.
“And where have you been, Lizzy? No one seemed to know where you were off to.”
“I was out… walking, Papa.”
“At least you have not run off, eh?” He looked at his wife, who flailed a handkerchief in the air to circulate some air around her.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy; her eyes wide as she shook her head, giving him a look that said now would definitely not be the time to say anything!
Crying relentlessly, Mrs. Bennet said, “I am sure he intends to marry her, Mr. Bennet! Lydia would not do this to us!” She dramatically dabbed at her tears with her handkerchief. “Oh, my poor, dear girl!”
“Madam,” Mr. Bennet answered gravely, “I can guarantee that he will not! Lydia may be under the foolish impression they are to be married, but I am most certain this Wickham will leave her disgraced when he is through with her! Colonel Forster himself told me that he had just come to learn of his disreputable behaviour! He has unpaid gambling debts throughout Meryton! He certainly cannot expect our family’s fortune sufficient to pay them off!”
“Excuse me, sir,” Darcy said. “But I must agree with Mrs. Bennet. I believe Wickham does intend to marry your daughter.”
Darcy’s words halted all thought and movement on Mr. Bennet’s part. “Mr. Darcy,” he said slowly. “I appreciate your trying to console us in our time of distress, but you can hardly know the circumstances.”
“Sir, I beg to disagree. I have known George Wickham from childhood, and there is some information of which you are not aware that will shed some light on his willingness… indeed, his purposeful resolve… to marry your daughter.”
Suddenly, Elizabeth’s eyes shot open wide as she realized Mr. Wickham must have been the longtime family friend who took their marriage certificate to Lady Catherine. That meant he knew about their marriage. And that meant her husband was about to tell her father the truth about them!
“Pray, Mr. Darcy, what is this information?”
“Yes! Yes!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “What do you know? I knew he would marry her! I just knew it!”
“I would speak with you alone, sir.”
“You have some information that will explain his singling out Lydia?”
Darcy nodded.
Elizabeth pleaded with him with her eyes. “Perhaps now is not the best time, Mr. Darcy.”
“No, I believe there is no better time.”
A sense of dread began to rise up within Elizabeth, knowing her father’s propensity to be overcome with anger and see very little else objectively. She said, “Please, then, I beg leave to join you.”
“No, I believe I need to discuss this with your father alone.” He turned to the middle-aged gentleman. “Shall we?”
Elizabeth’s fingers covered her mouth in distress as she watched them turn to leave.
“What is Mr. Darcy about, Lizzy? Tell me what he knows!”
“Something about Mr. Wickham, I presume.” Elizabeth’s response was deceptively calm.
“Oh, Lizzy! If he does not marry Lydia, what shall we do? What shall become of us? This would destroy my meagre hopes for you girls to marry well! Oh, but he will marry her! I just know it! He must!”
Elizabeth sighed at her mother’s clashing emotions. She did not know it for a certainty, but felt very strongly that it would not be in Lydia’s best interest to marry this man. The alternative, however, was just as dreadful.
She wondered how her husband would fare breaking the news to her father. As a tremor unexpectedly passed through her, she excused herself and quickly caught up with the men.
She knew her mother would only persist in attempting to garner information from her, and at the moment she felt she would rather endure her father’s interrogation than her mother’s.
Her father looked at her oddly as he reached the door to his study and began to walk in.
“Lizzy, was there something you wanted before we go in?”
Elizabeth straightened her carriage and took in a deep breath. “I wish to come in with you and Mr. Darcy, Papa.”
“Elizabeth, no!” Darcy ordered, and then closed his eyes contritely as he felt the wrathful gaze of Mr. Bennet upon him. Softly, he muttered, “Please no, Miss Elizabeth.”
Observing the stubborn determination of Elizabeth and the awkward countenance of this man of great wealth and position, Mr. Bennet was more than a little curious. To Darcy’s disbelief, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Come, Lizzy. I recognize that determined look on your face. If you feel as though you should be here, then who am I to stop you?”
They walked into the room. Elizabeth quickly sat down in one of the chairs while Darcy remained standing. “Come, Mr. Darcy, sit,” offered Mr. Bennet.
“Thank you, no, sir.” Instead of taking the proffered seat, Darcy walked over to the window and looked out. He then turned back to Elizabeth and in a firm, yet gentle, voice said, “Please allow me to do all the talking.”
Elizabeth folded her hands tightly and silently nodded her agreement.
Eyeing them both suspiciously, Mr. Bennet said, “You have some information for me… something about this Wickham.”
“Yes, but it is not all about Wickham. Part of it concerns me… and your daughter.”
“Lydia?”
Darcy shook his head. “No, sir. Miss Elizabeth.”
Mr. Bennet’s eyes narrowed at his words and he looked at the blushing countenance of his daughter. “Lizzy? What does this have to do with her?”
Elizabeth took a breath as if to answer, and Darcy slowly reached out a hand to stop her. “What I have to tell you will most likely be… difficult to understand.”
“Mr. Darcy, nothing that has happened today has been easy to understand.”
“I am not quite sure how to tell you this.”
“Telling me directly is a viable option.”
Darcy looked over, glancing furtively at Elizabeth, and nervously said, “Someone else once said something to that effect to me.”
Mr. Bennet narrowed his eyes at the man pacing the floor in front of him. “Pray, Mr. Darcy, what is the relationship between you and my daughter?”
Darcy made an attempt at a smile, however difficult it was for him to produce one. “I…” Darcy’s heart raced as he searched for the right words. “I seem to have found myself in possession of a strong love and admiration for her, sir. Very strong.”
Elizabeth could not meet her father’s eyes. Darcy’s words, admitting his love for her to her father, made her heart swell, and she stole a glance at her father to behold his response.
Mr. Bennet stood up and alternated glances between the two. “You have piqued my curiosity, Mr. Darcy. I do not know whether I have a greater desire for you to pursue this line of conversation about my second eldest daughter or ask what you know of Wickham and my youngest daughter. But I shall leave it to you to continue.”
“Thank you, sir. If I may, I should prefer to begin with Wickham. We grew up together as boys as his father was my father’s steward. As he grew into adulthood, I saw him embrace some excessively improper behaviour and disagreeable habits.”
Darcy paused, wondering whether to mention Wickham’s deceitful scheme involving his sister, but when Mr. Bennet seemed to accept his words without question, he determined that revealing those painful circumstances was presently unnecessary.
“He had indicated an interest in being a clergyman, and before his early death my father secured a living for him. Wickham then refused the living, settling instead for a large sum of money. The greater part of that money was gambled away or wasted on reckless living.”
“Go on.”
“Unfortunately he is not a man to be trusted. He has lived his life trying to secure a fortune for himself doing as little as possible. He gambles, cheats, steals, extorts… does everything with purely selfish motives.”
“Your words do not instill in me any confidence that he is either suitable for my daughter or intent on marrying her. As I said before, I do not believe he is going to marry her! And from what you have said, I cannot see why you believe he will!”
“Because, Mr. Bennet, Wickham knows that by marrying Lydia, he is marrying into a family connection with a substantial amount of wealth.”
Mr. Bennet looked at him oddly. “You refer to Jane’s marriage to Mr. Bingley? Come, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley may have a good fortune, but certainly not enough to induce this type of man into marriage!”
“You are quite right in your assessment of what will induce Wickham, and no, it is not Bingley’s fortune.”
“Then whose fortune do you mean? Certainly you are not blind! Our family’s fortune could not elicit that type of inducement!”
Darcy came over to the desk, in front of Mr. Bennet, and stretched both hands out, planting them firmly on the desk.
“My fortune, Mr. Bennet.”
“Yours?” Mr. Bennet looked at him with bewilderment and promptly sat down.
“I told you that I have a strong… very strong admiration for your daughter.”
“Yes, and what exactly are you trying to tell me?” Mr. Bennet found himself struggling to maintain a steady demeanour. Glancing at Elizabeth and then back to Darcy, he asked, “Or is there something you would prefer to ask me?”
“With all due respect, sir, I wish I could have the honour of asking you what ought to be your due. But unfortunately, I cannot.”
Mr. Bennet eyed him suspiciously. “I do not take your meaning, Mr. Darcy. I repeat, sir, just what, exactly, are you trying to tell me?”
Darcy took a deep breath before answering. “Elizabeth and I are married, sir.”
Mr. Bennet narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. He tried to grasp the words he just heard, determining if he could have somehow misunderstood the words. Slowly, and most deliberately, he spoke. “Excuse me, Mr. Darcy, but I believe you just said that you and my daughter are married.”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
Mr. Bennet slowly stood up from his chair, bringing himself to eye level with Darcy. Elizabeth bolted from her chair, reaching out to her father in an attempt to calm him. “Lizzy? You married my Lizzy?” The indignation in his voice could not be mistaken.
“Papa, please…”
Darcy nodded, bracing himself for the anger he heard in Mr. Bennet’s voice and saw rising in his face.
Mr. Bennet pounded a fist down upon the desk. “How dare you come here and tell me that you and Lizzy are married! How can this be?”
“Mr. Bennet, if you will only allow me to explain!”
“Explain? Explain? What sort of explanation can there be?” He turned away, pulling a handkerchief out and wiping his brow. “My Lizzy!” Turning to his daughter, he cried, “All I ever wanted was your happiness, and now I discover you have married this man, whom I hardly know, without even informing me! Without ever asking for my consent?”
He turned back abruptly at Darcy, pointing his finger at him. “All right, young man, but it had better be an explanation that is to my satisfaction!”
“Sir,” beads of perspiration began to form on Darcy’s brow as he struggled to maintain his composure. “We were on the ship together going to America. Down in steerage, where Eliza… Miss Elizabeth was staying, they had doubled up the children in beds. When sickness broke out, Elizabeth charitably gave up her bed to a child and subsequently was left to sleep on the floor. She then took ill, herself. I had the only available bed on the ship so we had the captain marry us so she could sleep in that bed without any semblance of impropriety. We agreed that I would annul the marriage when I returned to England.”
“You agreed to enter the holy state of matrimony… on a ship… only to have it later annulled?” He slammed his fist on the desk. “I find it easier to understand Lydia running off as she did than what you just told me Elizabeth agreed to!”
“I was ill, Papa…”
His eyes glared at Darcy. “So you took advantage of my Lizzy when she was ill?”
“Sir, I never…” Darcy paused and turned to his wife. “Perhaps you had best leave while your father and I continue this conversation.”
“But…”
“Please,” Darcy’s eyes implored her.
“I shall be just outside the door.” Elizabeth gave pleading looks to both her husband and father before turning toward the door.
The two men watched as she exited and closed the door behind her. Darcy turned back to Mr. Bennet. The look in the older gentleman’s eyes and expression on his face were certainly not lost to Darcy’s understanding. He was angry, and Darcy regretted that his anger was compounded against him due to Lydia’s indiscretion. The possibility that Elizabeth had acted imprudently was overwhelming him. “Sir, I hope you will believe me when I say that I have behaved only in an honourable manner toward your daughter.”
Mr. Bennet was taken aback by this. “You expect me to believe that you spent all that time together in the same room and she remains as virtuous as when I escorted her onto the ship?”
Darcy felt all the approbation of her father weighed upon his answer. “Yes, sir.” Darcy closed his eyes as he fought off the imposing awkwardness that this discussion was creating within him. “I give you my word, sir.” Darcy managed to take in a few breaths to bolster his resolve. He continued, “Mr. Bennet, our marriage initially was one of convenience. However, while on the ship, I grew to love and admire your daughter but, regrettably, did not openly confess it due to my belief that she wished the marriage to be annulled. When we met again at Netherfield, I was delighted to discover that she returned my regard and, like myself, desired to keep our marriage intact. I want to assure you that our love for each other is strong and we desire nothing less than being able to openly acknowledge our marriage. I appeal to you, sir. We will do whatever you wish for us. Although I cannot ask for your permission to marry your daughter, I respect her beyond measure and would not wish to compromise her reputation without securing your blessing upon our marriage.” He held his breath, waiting for Mr. Bennet’s response.
Mr. Bennet was quite moved by Darcy’s admission but was still too stunned to respond favourably. “At the moment, I am not inclined to give my blessing; however, I am willing to give it some thought.”
Darcy slowly let out his breath. “I would appreciate that, sir.”
Mr. Bennet had almost forgotten about the reason for their conversation in the first place. When at last he did, he said to Darcy, “But back to my other daughter. This Wickham somehow learned of your marriage to my Lizzy and figured he could entice our Lydia into marrying him so he could, through some means, benefit from your fortune?”
“That is what I assume, sir. His sole motive for everything he does is to secure riches for himself with as little effort as possible. It would not benefit him to run off with Lydia and then cast her off. No, I believe he does intend to marry her and eventually use his connection to me through your family to support his habits and lifestyle.”
“And knowing this, you still wish to remain married to my daughter?”
“More than anything, sir.”
Mr. Bennet knew Mr. Darcy was not a man one should ever refuse. He was rightly angered by his daughter’s secret marriage, but deeply gratified by the measure of this man before him, not just his wealth—that would make Mrs. Bennet undeniably happy—but the strength of his principles and conviction. However, he was not inclined to let the man off so easily.
“Well, Mr. Darcy, I must say that today has been the most taxing day of my whole existence. To go from hearing of the unfortunate elopement of one daughter to the reprehensible secret marriage of another… I truly cannot think too clearly on any of this at the moment.”
“Sir, I offer my deepest apologies for any suffering this may have caused you; however, I do not apologize for marrying your daughter. While my original intent may not have been what it ought, I wish for nothing else but to keep our marriage from being annulled.”
“And are you fearful that I will insist on having it annulled, then?”
“I would hope you would not, sir. But the truth is, at this very moment my aunt is making her way to London to see if she can dissolve it. George Wickham was more than expedient in informing her of our marriage as soon as he learned of it. But his disclosure was most likely not out of any sort of kind-hearted gesture. I imagine he was able to extort some money from her before producing our marriage certificate to her as proof. My aunt called on Elizabeth earlier today and left her with the threat that she would do all she could to have it annulled. I would beseech you to calmly think about all I have said.”
Mr. Bennet looked at the man before him. To say that he looked desperate was not an exaggeration. He rather enjoyed it and wondered just how much this man was willing to take for his favourite daughter.
“Mr. Darcy, on what basis should I accept you as my daughter’s husband? How do I know that you are not as deceitful as this Wickham, or perhaps more so? How can I give my blessing when I hardly know you save from one conversation at a ball?”
“Sir, do you trust your daughter’s judgment?”
Thoughts of his favourite daughter filled his mind. She was indeed the wisest discerner of a person’s character of anyone he knew. He nodded, knowing that of all his daughters, he trusted Elizabeth’s judgment the most. “I will give it some thought, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy looked down, not knowing whether he was in Mr. Bennet’s good graces or not. “Thank you for that, sir.” Darcy then looked back up at his father-in-law. “Mr. Bennet, there is one more thing that I might be able to accomplish in Town if I leave immediately.”
“And what is that?”
“Find Wickham and remove your daughter from his presence.”
“Do you think you can actually find them?”
“I know of several acquaintances that he has there whom he may have contacted. My only concern for your daughter is that I might not arrive in time, if you take my meaning, sir.”
“I do and would be most grateful, Mr. Darcy, if you did remove Lydia from that rake. But now you must decide what matter of business you see to first when you arrive; preventing the annulment of your marriage with my one daughter or securing the innocence of my other daughter. You have a difficult choice before you, young man.”
“I will do what I can.”
“I am quite confident you will.” Mr. Bennet looked closely at the man before him. “Colonel Forster and I talked about leaving in the morning for London to see what we can do to find them. We shall go to the Gardiners’ home and meet you there. Will that suffice?”
“Yes, sir. And hopefully, Mr. Gardiner will have your daughter in his possession.”
“We shall hope, shall we not?” Mr. Bennet looked to the door. “Should we ask Lizzy to join us again?”
“Yes, I should like that very much.”
Mr. Bennet opened the door, finding Elizabeth lingering suspiciously close. “Come, Elizabeth. I would like some words with you.”
Elizabeth walked in and cast a worried glance at her husband, whose face gave her no indication as to the outcome of their meeting.
“Well, Lizzy, I would offer you a seat, but if you are inclined to follow your husband’s lead, you will remain standing.”
Elizabeth nervously looked at her father.
“Papa, I do hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me… to forgive us. We never meant to hurt anyone.”
“Hmmm. I must say that finding out twice in one week that you had an offer of marriage is certainly something I never suspected.”
Darcy looked at him oddly. “Twice?”
Elizabeth shook her head and said softly, “I will enlighten you later.”
“But now, we must decide what we are going to do about this little bit of news. I must confess that I am not at all pleased with this disclosure; however, what is done is done. Until I decide what we are to do about it, neither of you are to speak a word of it to anyone unless absolutely necessary and, of course, you are not to live together as man and wife.”
“Yes, sir, anything you say.”
Mr. Bennet came around from behind his desk and walked toward the door. “You go do what you must in Town, Mr. Darcy. I suggest you find the fastest horse with the greatest endurance that will get you to London in time. Do what you can about Lydia. But I warn you, if you return to Longbourn only to inform me that my Lizzy’s marriage has been annulled, I will be seriously displeased!”
“Thank you, sir. I will do all I can.”
Mr. Bennet left the room with a “Hmmph.”
Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “I am uncertain whether he is completely angry at me still or has accepted our marriage.”
Elizabeth looked toward the door through which her father just disappeared.
She turned back and smiled. “I believe he is considering how insupportable it would be for me to be in a marriage that has been annulled. Presently, he finds the alternative, being married to you, the lesser of the two offences.”
Darcy raised his eyebrows in contemplation of Mr. Bennet’s words. “I suppose I shall have to be content with that at present and only hope that his opinion of me will improve in the future. I will do all that I can, Elizabeth.”
With Mr. Bennet leaving them alone, he took a bold initiative and grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips, lifting his eyes to meet hers just as his lips touched the back of her hand.
As he continued to hold her hand, he asked her, “What did your father mean by a second proposal?”
Elizabeth looked away sharply and took in a deep breath. “Mr. Collins,” she said softly.
“Mr. Collins?” Darcy looked at her incredulously. “He actually asked for your hand?”
She nodded as she looked back at him. “Do you find it surprising that he would ask for my hand?”
“On the contrary. It was quite apparent to me that he wanted nothing more than to garner your favour.” Darcy smiled. “What did you say?”
“I told him no, of course!”
Darcy smiled. “Good! I only wanted to be assured of your answer.” He squeezed her hand and looked down at it. “I brought Georgiana back to Netherfield with me. If it is acceptable to you, may I ask her to send for you while I am away?”
“I should like that very much.”
“It would give me great pleasure for you both to become better acquainted. She only had the kindest words about you and your meeting at Pemberley.”
“I am glad.”
“I have told her about our marriage, Elizabeth.”
“Then I believe that we shall not only be the closest of friends, but the closest of sisters when you return!”
A smile readily came upon Darcy’s face. “You do not know how much that means to me.” Darcy beheld the gleam in Elizabeth’s eyes. “I regret leaving again, but I promise I shall return promptly.” He closed his eyes for a moment, and as if in a prayer he added, “With our marriage intact, my beloved wife.”
He kissed her hand again before quickly leaving the room, grateful that he was able to leave the house without encountering the questioning glances or remarks by Mrs. Bennet.
Elizabeth remained in the room and her father soon returned to join her.
“Well, Lizzy. What have you to say for yourself?” Mr. Bennet inquired.
“Papa, he is a good man. You must see that he has the finest character.”
“Oh, I have it on good authority that he is a solid gentleman; a decent, principled man; one whom I should never lament having as a son-in-law.” His eyes twinkled as he looked at Elizabeth.
“Papa, I do not understand.”
Mr. Bennet reached into his desk drawer and drew out a letter. “From your Uncle Gardiner.” He absently scratched at his jaw as he held the missive out toward Elizabeth. “He thought it best to warn me that Mr. Darcy would be coming to talk with me about something of a most astonishing nature and that I should try to be open and give him my full attention. He and Mrs. Gardiner had only words of praise for him and gave him their ultimate approval. Not that I knew why they were bestowing such elaborate praises on the man.”
“And now you do.”
He looked down at her. “Yes, Lizzy, now I do. Although, even having received something of a warning in the letter, I am still shocked. And I could not allow him to think I approved of what the two of you did. No, as much as I have respect for the man, I thought I needed to unsettle him just a bit.”
“But you do forgive us?”
“Yes, Elizabeth, I do. But I am going to be adamant that for the moment we tell no one about this marriage and we wait until Mr… your… your husband returns before we do or say anything. If his aunt does somehow annul your marriage, however unlikely it is, it would be best not to have told anyone of it. Do you understand?”
Elizabeth wrapped her arms tightly around her father’s neck. “Yes, Papa. I do, and thank you!”