Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (3 page)

“Oh, she is too ill for that!  She is surely not ready to return.  I am sure that you are in no hurry for her to leave?”  Darcy’s brow creased as he realized that she was assuming his visit was regarding Jane.

“I will leave it to your husband to decide if Miss Bennet should return, however Miss Elizabeth assures me that she is doing very well.”

“Lizzy would have had her home two days ago.”  Mrs. Bennet sniffed, and squeezed his arm.  “But that was not necessary, was it, sir?”

“Mrs. Bennet, I am here to see your husband?”  Darcy said uncomfortably.

“Oh, of course!”  She knocked.  “Mr. Bennet!  Mr. Darcy is here to visit!”  She gave him a simpering smile and closed the door.  Darcy found himself alone with Elizabeth’s father, who had risen to his feet and was looking at him with unhidden surprise. 

“Mr. Darcy?”

“Sir, I am here today to have a very serious conversation.”

“Well you have my attention, sir.  Please be seated.”  Mr. Bennet settled into his chair and watched the young man sitting stiffly across from him. 

“Mr. Bennet, I will go straight to the point.  This morning I compromised Miss Elizabeth before witnesses in the Netherfield library, I offered her my hand in marriage, and she has accepted me.  Due to constraints of my schedule, I will require us to be married within the next fortnight.  That would mean the 30
^th
of November.”

“Pardon?”  He said when he had recovered his senses.

“I have proposed to Miss Elizabeth and she has agreed, sir.  My terms are to marry quickly.  I have heard the rumours of my worth in the gossip of the neighbourhood, and assure you that it is grossly underestimated.  I will go to London immediately to have the settlement prepared.  I will purchase a special license if you like, but I can just as easily purchase a license to wed from your church.  There is no need, nor time, to have the banns read.  I assure you that your daughter will be well cared for both during my lifetime, and should I predecease her, afterwards.” 

“You assume that I will agree to this!”  Mr. Bennet sat up and stared at Darcy for his audacity.

“I would be shocked if you did not.  Surely you know the value of my offer, sir, and the unlikely chance that Miss Elizabeth will ever receive anything comparable from another gentleman.  I am aware of her poor prospects. They have been enumerated to me on many occasions by the sisters of Mr. Bingley.”

Mr. Bennet could not ignore the truth of that statement.  “Indeed.  However, let us return to the most pressing issue.  This compromise.  What exactly did you do to my daughter?”

“I kissed her.”’

His relief was palpable.  “A kiss?  I am willing to overlook such an occurrence as the frivolity of youth.”

Surprised, Darcy studied him.  “Sir, I kissed her before Mr. Bingley and his sisters, and then proposed.  She accepted me.  I am frankly astonished that you have not called for a carriage to send me on my way to London for the settlement already.  You should be welcoming this with open arms.”

“I should, but I always wanted better for Lizzy.”

“Better!”  Darcy stood and walking to the window, looked at his imposing carriage.  “Better?”  He murmured then returning to his seat, nodded.  “She told me that she spoke of her hurt feelings when she heard me at the Assembly, am I correct in thinking that you wish for her to marry with felicity?”

“She told you of that?”  Mr. Bennet regarded him carefully and began to see beneath the businesslike and arrogant facade of the daunting young man.  “You care for her.”

“I do.”  He acknowledged.  “And she admits to liking me as well.  Sir, she
did
accept my offer.  Whatever standards you each hold for her future, I seem to have met in her estimation.  I do not believe that she would have agreed otherwise, even if she cannot yet verbalize her opinion.  I understand how overwhelming this is.  She is not alone in feeling such emotion.”  He leaned forward.  “Sir, I hoped that this would not have been necessary to mention, however, I know of your struggles.  You say that you wanted better for her than a man such as me; yet you did not answer my question about wishing for her to marry with felicity.  Would you not prefer your daughter marry a man who she does hold in some affection rather than condemning her to life with a stranger?”

Mr. Bennet started.  “What are you saying?”

“I know that the heir of Longbourn is coming to visit here, and I know of his desire to marry one of your daughters.  Your wife will not direct him to Miss Bennet because she has hopes that she will marry Bingley.  This heir will be given Miss Elizabeth because the other girls are not suitable.  Your family will be assured Longbourn upon your death.  Have I said enough, sir?”

“How do you know this?”  Mr. Bennet paled.

“I overheard you speak to Mr. Philips at the officers’ dinner.  That was hardly the place for such an intimate discussion.”

“You should not have been listening in.”

“Agreed, but I did.  Shall I recite your reasoning as I understand it?  It seems that she is destined to marry within weeks whether by my hand or yours.”

“You heard everything . . .” Mr. Bennet whispered.

“I suppose that your plans can be seen both as selfish and sensible, but ultimately it is unfair to your daughter.” 

Mr. Bennet became defensive.  “How are my desires any different from yours? You seem to be forcing her hand before she has the time to decide against you through a courtship.”

“You would not allow a courtship. I know that already, as your plans are clear.  She certainly would not receive one from your heir; undoubtedly he sees marriage to one of your daughters as a gift to your family, to save their home when you die.  I see it as the act of a weakling who has no ability to attract a suitable bride any other way, barring desperation on the woman’s part.  My circumstances are admirable and under other conditions, you might be delighted to entertain my offer; however, they do not match your desires for yourself or your estate.”  Darcy’s gaze was steady and Mr. Bennet nodded solemnly with the truth of it.  “At least Miss Elizabeth has decided to accept me on her own.  Yes, at the time of the proposal she was undoubtedly overwhelmed and off balance by my attentions, but time has passed from that emotional moment.  At no time has she indicated regret for her decision.  She is frightened, concerned, curious, but I believe that she sees the possibilities as well, and is awakening to . . . previously unrecognized . . . feelings.”

“Love?”

“I doubt that.”  He said softly and looked down.  “However she does like me, I believe, which is hopefully enough.”  He paused and looked back up.  “You will be gone, Mr. Bennet.  She would live on in this home, doomed to be wife of a man I heard you describe as ridiculous.  Is that truly what you want for her?”

“Of course not.  I love her.”  He said quietly.

“Then, as you have already stated, you
do
wish more for her,
and
protection for your family.  What better situation can you imagine than to marry her to me?  Sir, my friend Bingley has a history of falling in and out of love.  I would not count on him marrying Miss Bennet as the means to save your family should this heir decide against Miss Elizabeth.  If I were married to her, I would be willing to assure that a home was provided for your daughters and wife in this area so they would remain near their friends.”

“And far from you.” 

Darcy inclined his head and raised his brows.  “Think of your daughter, sir, put your desires aside and consider her future.  Do you honestly feel that the heir of Longbourn is well-suited to Miss Elizabeth?  More so than myself?”  Mr. Bennet hesitated, and then opening a drawer, removed a letter and silently handed it to him.  Darcy read it, his eyes widening and narrowing, and ending with an expression of contempt.  He folded it and returned the letter to Mr. Bennet.  “I hope that your opinion of this man is as poor as mine?  You would condemn a sparkling, beautiful, intelligent woman like Miss Elizabeth to life tied to a sycophant fool?”  He watched Mr. Bennet’s unspoken agreement.  “Sir, by amazing coincidence, this Mr. Collins is pastor to my aunt.  Lady Catherine de Bourgh would only give a living to a person who would satisfy her desire to have her dependents grovel at her feet at all times.  She has attempted to bully me into marrying my cousin for years, I know her methods.  This man would destroy Miss Elizabeth.”

“It seems that I have no choice but to agree to this.”  Mr. Bennet said sadly.  “Must it be so soon?  Must you take her from me?”

“I have no choice.”  Darcy said simply. “I will care for her, sir.  She will be safe.”  In a moment of absolute candour Darcy dropped his mask of strength.  “I need her.”

Mr. Bennet saw the raw emotion that flashed briefly over Darcy’s expression and it was gone.  He realized then that he felt far more for her than was admitted, and perhaps it was true, Darcy’s need for Elizabeth by his side was greater than his own.  “You will not tell me why it must be she over some woman suitable to your station?  Although Lizzy may not realize the difference between you, I do appreciate the sacrifice you are making.  What has befallen you, sir?  Will you not tell me?”

“Only if you intend to tell Miss Elizabeth the plans you held for her.”  Darcy looked up and saw the reflection of the pain he felt in her father’s eyes.

Mr. Bennet nodded slowly and silently accepted his terms.  “I wish to speak to Lizzy.”

“Of course.”  Darcy resumed his smooth expression and rose to his feet.  “I will find her for you.”  He bowed and left the room, and stepping into the hallway found Elizabeth standing nearby.  Walking to her, he touched her hand.  “Your father asks for you to come.”

She nodded, and looked down to where his hand now hung at his side.  “Mama thinks that you are here to ask for Jane.”

“I thought as much.  She wished for Bingley, I thought.”

“She finds it difficult to believe that anyone would want me.”  She said softly.  Darcy’s hand slipped over hers and he entwined their fingers.  Elizabeth looked up to see his now familiar gaze. 

“I find it difficult to imagine any man not wanting you, and I am grateful that they have been such fools.”  He lifted her hand to his lips.  “Come, we must not keep him waiting.”

Mr. Bennet moved away from the doorway where he watched the scene and felt better for the tender exchange.  When Elizabeth entered alone and closed the door, he contemplated her quietly.  “This compromise, Lizzy, what did he do?”

“He embraced and kissed me, Papa.”  She stared at her clasped hands.

“Did you resist?”

“No.”

“Was he forceful or violent?”

“No sir, he was . . .” She blushed.

“You like him.”

She looked up at last.  “I do.  I . . . I did not realize it until he encouraged me to think clearly.  He likes me as well.”

“Are you sure of this, Lizzy?  I cannot deny him such an offer, but I will if it makes you happy.”  Mr. Bennet nearly choked on the words, knowing what he had planned for her instead, and still hoped would somehow come to fruition.  He watched for any sign of hesitation and saw that there was none.

“I am sure, Papa.  He asked me on the way here if I would have regretted him leaving the area without me and I did not answer then.  I have spent the time while you spoke considering everything that we have said to each other today and our every encounter since we met; and I know for certain now that I would have regretted it very much.  I am honoured that such a man would choose me.  I fail completely in understanding why.  Did he tell you why?  Why the urgency?  Why me?”

“He did not.”  Mr. Bennet murmured.  “But I do believe his sincerity; he would not have such a good friend as Mr. Bingley if he were not inherently good, despite, it seems; a rather unfortunate inability to speak coherently when in company greater than one.”  His lips lifted in his familiar sardonic smile, and Elizabeth relaxed enough to smile in return.  

“He will place you in a very different world; you are not prepared for it at all.  I apologize for that.”  Elizabeth said nothing, only nodding, and he sighed.  “Very well, you have my blessing and consent.  Let us go tell the family.” He stood and kissed her forehead.  “I hope that you are happy with this proud, disagreeable man.”  He smiled to see Elizabeth bristle.

“He is perfectly amiable when he cares to be.”

“Then I will expect you to make that happen more often than not.”  They walked out into the hallway, finding Darcy at Elizabeth’s former post by the window, twisting his ring.  He looked up when they exited and saw her smile.  His eyes closed as if he were saying a prayer of thanks then he strode to her side.  “Mr. Darcy, you have my blessing.  I would like to make the announcement, and then I assume that you will be to London to settle your affairs?”

“Yes, I will leave immediately.  Miss Elizabeth will be able to remain at Netherfield with Miss Bennet in my absence.”  He smiled to see her head tilt and her brows lift.

“I thought that you had not contemplated the details.”

“I had time while I waited for your return.”  He again took her hand and placed it on his arm.  “Shall we tell your mother?”

“I apologize in advance, Mr. Darcy.”

“It is unnecessary.”  He assured her.  “I expect it will bring her joy.”

THE RETURN RIDE to Netherfield began in silence.  Elizabeth was far too embarrassed by her mother’s reaction to look up from her clasped hands, and Darcy was far too mortified to contemplate any sort of conversation.  Instead he stared out of the window and fought to find a soothing word, something that he whispered to Georgiana when he found her . . . he swallowed hard and tried to fight back the pain he carried for his sister.  They had just passed through Meryton and were back on the quiet country road leading to Netherfield when he felt something being pressed into his hand.  He looked down to see that Elizabeth had given him her handkerchief.  He looked up at her, his emotion clearly exposed, and then he slipped back under the facade.  “Thank you.”

“I apologize for Mama and my sisters, Mr. Darcy.”

“It is no worse than I expected, I assure you.”