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As the door closed softly behind Miss Bennet and her sister, turned to find Mr. Bennet regarding him with a steady and discerning eye.

There comes, in the life of every gentleman, a moment of particular formality—a conversation with the father of the lady whose regard he seeks to obtain. now stood on the brink of such a discourse, though he scarcely recognised it for what it was.

“Mr. ,”

began Mr. Bennet, dispensing with ceremony.

“you have informed me that measures are already in motion to ensure Mr. Wickham shall no longer disturb the peace of Meryton, and that by tomorrow, he is to answer for his offences. That being so, I must ask why you have chosen to caution me in particular. Why not Sir William, who holds the office of magistrate? Or Colonel Forster, who commands the regiment, and thus Mr. Wickham also? Why, sir, was this warning directed at me?”

shifted, betraying a moment’s unease beneath the unflinching gaze of the elder gentleman, who remained silent, his expression wholly inscrutable.

“Sir,”

said he at length, his voice composed though his mind remained unsettled.

“Miss Elizabeth has spoken to me on the subject of Wickham, and I feared she may have placed more confidence in his account than it deserved.”

“Ah,”

replied Mr. Bennet, a dry smile touching his features.

“so you sought to warn me—believing my Lizzy too young or inexperienced to resist Mr. Wickham’s charms?”

shook his head with urgency.

“No, sir. Miss Elizabeth possesses intelligence and judgement in no small degree. Yet Wickham has deceived those with far more experience than she.”

Mr. Bennet’s brows arched, though his tone retained its accustomed irony.

“Indeed. But my question remains. If you have already taken measures to restrain Mr. Wickham, why bring the matter to me? One might almost suppose you hoped that someone—perhaps my Lizzy—might be persuaded to think more favourably of your character. After all, she alone, among those unconnected with your party, was singled out with a dance at the ball.”

It was useless to evade further; Mr. Bennet was far too discerning to be deceived.

“Mr. ,”

Mr. Bennet continued before could reply.

“shall I speak more plainly? You find yourself attached to my Lizzy, and it troubles you. You consider yourself bound by duty to marry within your own rank. You are likewise concerned how your family might regard such a connection. Thus, you have withdrawn yourself from her, both to preserve your own peace and to avoid raising any hopes in hers. Am I correct thus far?”

could do naught but incline his head in silent acknowledgment, his eyes cast downwards.

“Well,”

said Mr. Bennet with a quiet laugh.

“you have, at the very least, succeeded in the latter. She held no particular regard for you—at least, not until today.”

offered no reply; Mr. Bennet had spoken nothing of which he was not already aware.

“Mr. ,”

said Mr. Bennet, now more deliberate.

“as guardian to a young lady, you will doubtless understand my request. Unless your intentions are fixed, I must ask that you refrain from seeking Lizzy’s company.”

inclined his head.

“I understand you perfectly, sir. In your place, I should expect no less.”

“Just so,”

replied Mr. Bennet.

“But there is another reason for my request. After the apology you made today, it is unlikely that you will easily be forgotten by my daughter—not from partiality, I assure you, but because she prides herself on her judgment of character. And until today, yours was an easy study: proud, haughty, and heedless of the feelings of others.”

received the remark in silence.

“Pardon my candour,”

Mr. Bennet continued.

“but Elizabeth must now contend not with the misjudgment of one, but of two gentlemen—you and Mr. Wickham. This burden will not be lightly borne. She will reproach herself, and often her thoughts will return to you—not with anger, but with regret.”

His gaze remained fixed upon .

“There is a likelihood, too, that she will persuade herself she did you wrong by provoking you. And you may be certain that her curiosity concerning the true Mr. , once roused—especially in a young lady such as Elizabeth—will not be satisfied with ease.”

could not but concede the truth of this.

“In a young woman’s mind,”

Mr. Bennet concluded.

“such reflections may lead her where she never intended. Therefore, I must repeat: unless you are fully resolved, do not engage her. And if you are, be prepared to stand by her against censure and family alike.”

inclined his head as Mr. Bennet finished, his countenance marked by resolve.

“Mr. Bennet,”

he said with composure.

“you have my word that I shall absent myself from Miss Elizabeth until my intentions are settled. Yet, if you should see me in her company from this day forward, you may be assured that I am resolved to court her—and nothing, save her own objections, shall dissuade me from seeking her hand.”

Mr. Bennet extended his hand, which took with sincere gratitude.

“Thank you, Mr. ,”

said Mr. Bennet.

“In return, I offer you my blessing, should you ever—ever—wish to pursue my daughter. Rest assured, neither of my two eldest daughters would entertain a proposal not founded upon the deepest affection. Were they to grant you the privilege of courtship, it would be because they deemed you a man worthy of both esteem and love. Understand this well: they would not accept you for your fortune or consequence, but for yourself alone.”

inclined his head as he rose to depart.

“I thank you for your counsel, Mr. Bennet. I fear I have detained you longer than I ought. I shall return to Netherfield to await my cousin’s arrival, and tomorrow I shall send word regarding any measures taken concerning Wickham.”

Mr. Bennet nodded and returned his gaze to the book he had laid aside. turned to the door, his hand upon the latch, when he heard Miss Bennet’s voice—light and clear.

“Mr. Bingley gave his word that he would return before the week’s end, and he is not a gentleman to break his word.”

could not but hope—nay, fervently wish—that those words might indeed prove true. He was convinced that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would make every effort to prevent their brother's return to Hertfordshire. Moreover, nothing he had ever observed in Bingley inspired confidence that he would defy his sister’s influence and seek out Miss Bennet. The man was as easily swayed as a reed in the wind.

realised with a heavy heart that, by refuting Miss Bingley’s assertions in that letter, he had likely raised in Miss Bennet a hope that might never be fulfilled. What was meant to comfort her might instead increase her distress, should Bingley fail to return.

He closed the door gently and turned to face Mr. Bennet.

“Sir, there is another matter—concerning Bingley—that I believe you ought to know.”

Mr. Bennet lifted a hand, forestalling any further explanation.

“You fear your friend may be unduly swayed by his sisters to remain in town. You question whether his character possesses the strength to resist their influence. And you fear for my Jane, of course.”

gave a single, silent nod.

“I had suspected as much,”

replied Mr. Bennet.

“Your friend seemed rather too eager to please. Well, we shall wait and see. Love, if genuine, may yet call forth a man’s fortitude. Should he truly care for Jane, he will return. And if not—then perhaps it is better he stay away. Jane will be disappointed, certainly—but it is good for a girl to be crossed in love now and then. It gives her something to consider, and she will recover.”

found the sentiment too flippant for so grave a matter. Yet Mr. Bennet was no fool. Indeed, he was a man of quiet discernment, and likely knew his daughters far more intimately than could claim.

“Very well, sir,”

said at length.

“Be assured of this—should Bingley return, it will be by his own resolve. I shall not attempt to sway him.”

Mr. Bennet inclined his head, as though the matter required no reply. withdrew, no more at ease than when he had entered.