Page 13

Library

Longbourn

Elizabeth felt tears spring to her eyes, but she forced herself to take a deep breath and then said, “I know that there are rumors circulating about my behavior at the Netherfield ball.”

“Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said in a gentle tone, and she reluctantly turned to face him, only to be surprised by the look of genuine sympathy on the man’s face. “It is not your fault.”

Elizabeth huffed and said, “I know it is not, but that does not remove the danger to my reputation, which naturally affects my sisters as well.”

“So far, it seems that the gossip is mostly confined to the lower classes,” Darcy said. “Given that Bingley has now offered for your sister and been accepted, I hope that perhaps that news will push aside any rumors about the ball.”

Elizabeth brightened for a moment, and then her face fell. “Miss Bingley has heard the rumors. ”

“Miss Bingley?” Darcy demanded. “Are you certain?”

“Very much so. After dinner Saturday night, she said that she had heard about immoral dealings on the upper floor of Netherfield during the ball, and made a point of staring at me directly while she said it. She knows.”

Darcy leaped to his feet and began striding up and down the room, his fists clenched.

“Not only does she know,” he finally said, “but she likely has been sharing her claims of Miss Elizabeth’s supposedly immoral behavior with anyone who will listen.”

“Why would she do that?” Bennet demanded, sounding genuinely angry.

Darcy turned to face both father and daughter and said, “She does not wish for her brother to marry Miss Bennet, not because of your daughter’s character, which is everything good, but because Miss Bingley is an inveterate social climber and she wishes Bingley to wed a woman with better connections.”

“Will Mr. Bingley break the engagement if the scandal grows?” Elizabeth demanded in alarm.

“He will not,” Darcy said. “He loves your sister very much, and I told him about what actually happened in the library. He is well aware of the situation and is resolved to ignore it for the sake of his happiness, along with Miss Bennet’s.”

Elizabeth relaxed a trifle, though her heart was still beating rapidly. Yes, it was wonderful that Jane was well engaged, but this burgeoning scandal continued to be of great concern.

“There is a simple solution, of course,” Darcy said, looking at her with an odd expression on her face.

Elizabeth stared back and straightened her back. “And what is that, sir?”

“We could marry,” he said gently and then lifted a staying hand. “Please, allow me to say what I should have said in the library. The truth is that I admire you very much. You are beautiful and clever, and you do not pander to me at all. I am, in fact, in love with you. I know I did not tell you that…”

“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth interrupted angrily. “I had thought better of you. What point is there in such a deception when I know you despise me and my family? Did you not make that clear during your so-called offer to me that it would be a great sacrifice on your part because of the inferiority of my family?”

Darcy noticeably winced and said, “I suppose I ought not to have said that. ”

“There is no reason why you should not say that,” Elizabeth replied resentfully. “We have never liked one another, after all. Indeed, we argued constantly when Jane was ill and I was caring for her. Moreover, I know that you did not approve at all of…”

“Lizzy, stop.”

The quiet words from her father did indeed cause her to stop, and she turned her head toward the fire and swallowed convulsively. This was an absolute nightmare.

“Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said, “I do not pretend to know you well, but I sense that you are being genuine when you say that you admire Elizabeth.”

“I do, very much,” the deep bass voice said, and Elizabeth turned back to stare in wonder at Mr. Darcy’s face. He did look odd, with a sorrowful demeanor replacing his usual expression of hauteur.

“Lizzy,” Bennet said, turning a gentle face toward her, “you dislike Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” her father asked simply.

Elizabeth felt she could not look at the master of Pemberley and turned toward her father. “He insulted my beauty the first day he laid eyes on me. He argued with me constantly when I was at Netherfield Hall. He despises our family and my younger sisters’ behavior.”

Bennet smiled, rather sadly, and said, “It is true that your younger sisters are very silly, and a sensible man like Mr. Darcy cannot be blamed for disapproving of their behavior.”

“Oh Father,” she replied with a sob, “pray do not make me marry him!”

“I will not, of course, my dear,” Bennet replied, reaching forward to take her hands in his own. “But I think perhaps that if Mr. Darcy is willing, you ought to become engaged.”

“Engaged?” Darcy and Elizabeth chorused together in surprise.

“Yes, engaged,” the master of Longbourn replied, releasing Elizabeth’s hands and leaning back. “Mr. Darcy, I believe you genuinely wish to marry Elizabeth.”

“I do,” the man vowed, his face grave.

“Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy is a clever young man, along with being rich and handsome. Your first interaction was a poor one, and then Lieutenant Wickham poured poison into your ears regarding Mr. Darcy’s honor. His claims were obviously false and deceptive, and I think it quite possible that you could be happy together. I propose a three month engagement, and at the end of it, Elizabeth can choose whether to marry or break the engagement, assuming you agree, Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth’s eyes shifted to Darcy, and she was shocked to see an expression of anxious hope on that handsome countenance.

“That would be entirely agreeable to me,” he said softly. “Miss Bennet, will you accept my offer of marriage if I promise that I will release you from the engagement without reproof at the end of three months?”

She gulped hard again and blew out a slow breath.

“Is that truly fair to you, sir?” she asked softly.

This provoked a chuckle and a deliberate shake of the head from the gentleman. “Miss Elizabeth, this is exactly why I wish to marry you. Do you know that most of the women in the kingdom would leap at my offer, not because of me, but because of my wealth and estate and position in life? Yes, it is entirely fair. I wish for a love match, much like my own parents, and if you do not love me, it would be a kindness to me for you to reject our marriage.”

She looked back at her father, who said, “It is your choice, Elizabeth, but given the ugly rumors, I believe this is a reasonable path. In three months, if you decide you do not suit, you can choose to end the engagement. By then, Jane will be married to Bingley, and any rumors regarding the Netherfield Ball will be replaced by more current whisperings.”

Elizabeth grimaced, leaned back, closed her eyes, and thought hard.

When she opened them, she said, “Very well, I will agree with your offer of an engagement, Mr. Darcy. But I must insist on something.”

“What is that?” he asked, his dark eyes grave.

“I do not want you to marry me if you cannot accept my family as your own. If you are repulsed by them, or my situation in life, I must insist that you tell me so that I can release you from the engagement.”

He hesitated and then said, “Very well, Miss Elizabeth. That is entirely reasonable. Thank you.”

***

Drawing Room

Netherfield Hall

Before Dinne r

Caroline's needle stabbed into the muslin spread across her lap with a viciousness quite at odds with the delicate floral spray she was embroidering. The room was pleasantly warm, with the fire crackling in the hearth, and Hurst and Louisa side by side on the loveseat adjacent to Caroline's own chair. Unfortunately, both Charles and Mr. Darcy were absent from the domestic tableau, hence Caroline's current foul mood.

She wished her brother would stop enjoining Mr. Darcy to ride out so often. It seemed that they were out on their horses every day, leaving her little opportunity to display her own accomplishments and attractions for to Mr. Darcy. Already they had been out for hours, riding hither and yon and who knew where.

At least they would not be riding to Longbourn anymore, she thought with satisfaction. This morning, Clara had informed her mistress that the rumors about Miss Elizabeth were everywhere now, and that Charles’s valet had shared the news with his master only this morning. Charles would understand the necessity of separating himself from a scandal-ridden family, even if he showed a depressing lack of social ambition. Indeed, it seemed likely that he would be perturbed enough that he would easily consent to returning to London.

It would be wonderful to return to Town. It would not be as busy and cheerful as during the Season, of course, but there would be Christmas, and shops, and the theater, and rides in the park – even the dullest day in London was more diverting than the most interesting day in the country. Furthermore, some of her friends would be there, too, women of wit and fashion, not these backwards country bumpkins.

She was broken from these pleasant thoughts as the door opened, finally admitting Charles and Mr. Darcy. Both had rid themselves of their dirt and donned their evening attire, and Mr. Darcy looked wonderfully handsome in his blue coat.

“Charles, there you are!” Caroline exclaimed, leaping to her feet. “Where have you been all day?”

Her brother was, she noted with annoyance, wearing a broad smile on his face, and he took a few feet into the room and announced, “I have been to Longbourn, and I have wonderful news. I am engaged to Jane Bennet!”

Caroline stared at her brother in stunned belief and then, in spite of herself, released a howl of distress. “No, no!”

“Caroline!” her brother replied, his expression suddenly furious. “I insist that you stop this wailing immediately. Jane and I…”

“But she is ruined!” Caroline squawked. “Charles, there is a great scandal associated with the Bennets, and you will be dishonored by any association with such a family! You simply must…”

“The scandal is at an end now,” Darcy interrupted. “I beg you not to concern yourself about that.”

She stared at him wild-eyed. “What do you mean? Miss Elizabeth was seen creeping upstairs during the ball, and the only possibility is that she was engaged in a liaison in one of the guest bedchambers with a man!”

“On the contrary,” Darcy said coolly. “She was in the library enjoying a few peaceful minutes with a book, and I happened to meet her there. I assure you that nothing illicit or ungodly happened between us, but given the scurrilous rumors, I made an offer of marriage to her today, and I am pleased to say that she has accepted me.”

Caroline’s eyes bugged out.

“What?” she whispered.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet and I are engaged,” Darcy said and smiled.

Caroline fainted.