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Darcy knew Cadmus sensed his unease. The poor horse kept flicking his ears this way and that, on the lookout for danger. Darcy continued to settle his own nerves before he faced Mr. Bennet by taking calming breaths. So much depended on the outcome of the conflict he was riding towards.

“When we get there, be sure to act like you are above Mr. Bennet, possibly even annoyed at his presumption to ask something of you as he turned down your request to court Miss Elizabeth.” Theodore spoke from his charger, Achilles, his posture completely relaxed and unworried, his experiences in life having enabled him to remain collected even on the battlefield.

“So I should act the way you have told me not to act when in company. It feels like my life has come full circle. I finally come to a place where I begin to relax and feel close enough to someone to be myself, but to continue on that path, I must act as I did before.” Darcy shook his head with a sigh. “It is a peculiar sensation.”

Mr. Bennet was happy to hear that his guests had finally arrived. He had worked himself into a frenzy, his heart pounding in anticipation of finally having the book in his possession. “So, gentlemen, have you brought the book in question? I do not want my time wasted by useless chatter.”

“It is here, sir. If you would like to inspect it.” Theodore produced the specially wrapped package containing the book he so desired.

Mr. Bennet grabbed it eagerly, unable to hide his glee at finally having the rare book in his clutches.

His hands trembled as he pulled open the oilskin that had protected it.

The binding was almost pristine, and the cover still had the embossing.

A smooth finger ran along the words with the caress of a lover.

It was destiny that they had finally found their way to one another.

“I suppose that if you would like to marry my daughter, you may have her if you leave the book with me.” Mr. Bennet stated this without once removing his gaze from the book.

“No matter how you may view things, I am aware of the significance of the items around me.” Darcy extended his arm and extracted the book from Mr. Bennet’s clutches.

Theodore spoke up, hoping to move things along in the right direction. “I am sure you would be willing to make some kind of arrangement, Darcy. What if he upped the ante, so to speak?”

Darcy held the book aloft just out of Mr. Bennet’s reach. “If I have something you want above everything, it is only fitting that you give me everything else that you have. I know the worth of this book and there is no way a man like you can afford it.”

“I cannot give you Longbourn. They entailed it in such a way that I am unable to sell it,” Bennet complained.

“It is so like you to refuse to see what is before you. You would not allow me to court Miss Elizabeth, and yet you would release her when you knew what I had. Now I say that is not enough. I want you to release them all. I know how much you enjoy the power you hold. That is the price I want you to pay.” Darcy allowed his animosity to seep into his voice.

He would never treat a woman in such a way himself, but he knew it was how Mr. Bennet would view things.

Elizabeth had coached him on what to say to deal with her father.

Mr. Bennet’s hand froze in the air, his mind too busy with indecision to contemplate motion as well. Oh, how he wanted that book, had wanted it for far too long. Yet he did not want to relinquish his hold over his wife and the girls. They were his chief form of entertainment, besides his books.

“Darcy, that does not seem very sporting. Don’t take away the possibility of him experiencing the joy of being the victor.” Theodore played his role as devil’s advocate.

“What do you suggest, cousin?” Darcy questioned, as if they had not already planned every word.

“First off, I suggest we lower the stakes. What if you do not get the ladies? Maybe just removing them from his power is enough. They have an uncle in town. Perhaps he could sign something that would allow their uncle to decide for them and permit marriages and what not. As for your wife,” he said to Mr. Bennet, “sign something granting her a separation and a release of her dowry to her. Second, you could get a chance to come out on top. What if you play a game of chess?” Theodore watched the wheels turning in Mr. Bennet’s mind.

Darcy gave the appearance of vacillation. “That is not exactly what I had in mind. However, playing a game of chess against Mr. Bennet would satisfy me. It has been a long time since I played at Cambridge.”

Mr. Bennet pondered the chance before him.

He risked having to sign away control over the women in his life.

How problematic would that be, though? His brother-in-law would provide them with a place to live, food and clothing, at his own expense.

Having to scrimp and save was certainly a possibility.

How much money did his tradesman brother-in-law have, anyway?

Mr. Darcy would have to go through Mr. Gardiner if he wanted to marry Elizabeth.

Their lack of connection to an estate would harm all of their standing. Was there a downside?

“I cannot recall. Which of us won the last time we played the game ourselves?” Theodore questioned.

“I believe you did, but has been quite a while.” Darcy tried to sound bored when in reality he was exceedingly hopeful. Mr. Bennet was going exactly where they led him.

“I would receive the book if I win a game of chess, and in the slight chance that I lose, I would sign something to the effect of releasing the girls to my brother-in-law. Is that the agreement?”

“I would like that you sign the paperwork beforehand with the agreement that we cast it into the fire if you win. I would hate to cast you in an unpleasant light, but there have been those who do not follow through on their end of the deal when they are angry they lost.” Darcy recognized the probability of Mr. Bennet being a very sore loser.

Mr. Bennet was unconcerned about the paperwork, as he had no intention of losing. “I suppose that is fair.”

“I am carrying a contract with me now and if you give me some time to write the names, we can continue.” Theodore cleared a small area of the cluttered desk to get to work.

Once the contract was ready, he presented it to Mr. Bennet to review and sign.

“There is a space at the bottom for you to sign, and Darcy and I will sign as witnesses.”

Only glancing at the contract briefly, Mr. Bennet signed away all his rights where his family was concerned without a second thought.

Darcy and Theodore both signed at the bottom as well, and it was complete save for the chess game.

Taking the contract, Darcy waved it about to dry the ink before folding it up and placing it in his breast pocket.

“Let us proceed, then. I would like to read my new book.” Mr. Bennet had every confidence in his chances of winning. He would relish this victory for years to come.

“I would be agreeable to start now,” Darcy said, holding back his smile. He nodded at Theodore, who had moved the chessboard to the center of the desk and began arranging the pieces.

“Shall we begin?” Theodore allowed himself a small smile. He loved it when things went according to plan.

Head tilted, enjoying the peace, Elizabeth tried to absorb the serenity of nature and let her anxiety float away with the breeze.

So much depended on this day. She had confidence in Wills, but her old fears surrounding her father kept creeping back like an ugly weed in an otherwise beautiful garden.

“At last you are alone. I have been watching you forever.” A disheveled Wickham emerged from the bit of wilderness behind the archery field. His once spotless clothes were now stained and torn, giving him a squalid look.

Elizabeth’s shock at seeing Wickham approaching her was considerable.

The closer he got, the easier it was to note the sour smell of his unwashed clothes.

She could sense a cold hostility radiating from his eyes, and it felt like it was chilling the atmosphere around her.

Her heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to be cowed by his presence and held her ground.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“You will help me get one of your horses and get away. I hate this godforsaken town, and I am ready to leave.” Wickham took the time to inspect his prize.

He had pieced together what had happened after he had emerged from his drunken stupor.

She had fallen off the cliff, yet she only had her arm in a sling and a bruise on her face.

It was not fair. With his luck, he would have broken over half his body. Why was luck so unequally shared?

“I certainly will not.” Elizabeth stood trying to put the bench and distance between them.

“You and Darcy have conspired to ruin my life. He will not be so pompous when I take you with me, will he?” Wickham leered at her, admitting, if only to himself, that Darcy had exceptional taste.

“Did you lose your senses somewhere in the woods? Darcy has done nothing to harm you. He enabled those here to protect themselves from your manipulation and greed. If you lived an honest life, most of your problems would disappear.”

“I want to get what I deserve. I am worthy of more, and I will do whatever it takes to get it. With people like Darcy standing in my way, how will I ever achieve it all if not by underhanded means?” Wickham made a haphazard grab for her arm, wanting to drag her towards the stable.

If he could force them to let him take a horse, he would kill two birds with one stone.

He would get away from his troubles. It would ruin Elizabeth when he took her with him, and uptight Mr. Darcy would not want a ruined woman.