Page 96 of A Matter of Murder

“Are you willing to test him?”

When Darcy had felt obligated to propose to Josette Beaufort, he’d thought they’d made a sensible match. He hadn’t been prepared for the vehemence of his father’s disapproval,although he hadn’t threatened to disown Darcy then. But he hadn’t needed to—instead he’d implied all the ways that Darcy would ruin his reputation, and Georgiana’s, and Pemberley & Associates’, if he went through with it. Would he have gone through with the marriage if his father had put his foot down? Probably not, he realized with shame. Josette had likely sensed it, too, which was why she had broken it off.

But with Lizzie, it was different. He was prepared to fight for her.

There was just one thing holding him back.

“So you won’t have as much money,” Georgiana said now, as if that were the only consideration. “He can’t break the entail on Pemberley, so you’ll have to wait until he dies to come back, which is unfortunate—”

“Georgie!”

“But you have the inheritance from Mother’s estate, don’t you? You wouldn’t be destitute.”

“No,” Darcy agreed. Their mother had brought her own money into her marriage with their father, and it had passed to them both upon her death, although they’d never had cause to spend it before now. “But if Father were to disown me, it wouldn’t be the money that concerns me. It’s you. Father would do everything in his power to keep you from me.”

She gave him a pitying look. “He couldn’t keep us apart.”

“Yes, Georgie, he could.” Darcy kept his voice even. “He could forbid everyone around you from letting us meet orcorrespond, and then marry you off to some ogre of a man, and then your husband would keep me away.”

“I’d run away rather than let that happen.”

“I’m sure you would,” he said, putting an arm around Georgiana’s shoulders. She leaned into him. “And just think about what sort of holy hell he’d raise if you did.”

“Holy hell,” Georgiana said. “I like that.”

He raised his eyes to the ceiling. “Don’t repeat that in front of him.”

“Perhaps I’ll raise holy hell if he tries to prevent you from marrying Lizzie,” she said tartly.

Darcy was certain she would—but less certain that his sister would prevail in such a battle. She was strong, but Darcy knew his father better. He was...

Ruthless.

“Don’t worry about me,” Darcy said. “Besides, Father isn’t the only thing keeping me and Lizzie from marriage. We—”

“Really?” Georgiana spun around. “Darcy, do you mean—”

“We aren’t secretly engaged, if that’s what you’re thinking! But rather... she’ll let me know when she is ready.”

“Ready for what? Why wouldn’t she want to marry you?”

The indignation in her voice was gratifying. “She does, I think. But if she does, she’ll have to give up many freedoms to be with me—her own money, her chance to own her property or business. Lizzie’s independent. She won’t sign that away lightly—and neither should you, for that matter.”

“When have I had a chance to meet any eligible bachelors?” Georgiana asked peevishly.

“I’m just saying,” Darcy said. “Don’t rush things. Lizzie and I have no intention of parting ways. I told her I’d be willing to wait until she’s ready.”

“And when will that be?”

“I don’t know! But you have to promise me not to meddle, Georgie. Leave it to me.”

“I would, except I don’t know that I trust Father not to interfere before it’s too late.”

Darcy didn’t want to admit it, but he had a similar fear. What if his father intimidated Lizzie into not wanting to marry him at all? It wasn’t just the disapproval over the marriage—the elder Mr. Darcy was well-respected in the legal field. If he didn’t want Lizzie practicing, he could ruin Lizzie’s career by calling in a few favors.

“Try not to worry,” he told her. “For now, let’s just focus on the problems at hand.”

“Well, I think you ought to ask her to marry you,” Georgiana said, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Do it before he arrives, and then marry her quickly, before he can put a stop to it. You could propose right here—it’s the perfect spot, don’t you agree?”