Page 70 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)

E lizabeth was relieved to reach her aunt and uncle’s home.

It had been a dismal coach ride to London.

Charlotte had insisted that Mrs. Bailey accompany Elizabeth, and she had been glad of it.

But now Mrs. Bailey had joined Mrs. Cousens upstairs as neither Elizabeth nor her aunt needed their companions for this private conversation.

They sat quietly in the parlour and she confided in them, telling them what had transpired with Lady Catherine, as closely as she could remember.

“I’m sorry, I cannot be absolutely certain I’ve repeated it exactly as she said, I was too overwhelmed to think clearly.”

Her aunt rose and came to sit beside her, putting her arm comfortingly around her. “I am not surprised, Lizzy. It sounds as if she is an intimidating character, as well as being very rude.”

Uncle Gardiner looked grave. “It is very serious, Lizzy. I have summoned Mr. Darcy to come this afternoon, we must confer with him as the rumours involve him, too.”

Elizabeth reached for her handkerchief. “It is not his fault that I chose to live independently, Uncle.”

“No, it is not. But we must see what he has to say about resolving it.”

“I do not wish to force him into marriage!” she exclaimed. “It would not be good for either of us.”

“I am not saying that at all. But Lady Catherine is his aunt, and he will likely not be pleased with her if she has started or inflamed these rumours.”

Elizabeth sank back into the padded sofa. “I wish I had followed my instincts when I took Oakfield. Then this would not have happened.”

Her aunt frowned. “What were your instincts?”

“Oh, yes.” Elizabeth grimaced. “It wasn’t you I mentioned it to.

I told Lady Palmer on the way back from the house party.

” Elizabeth grimaced. “I should have remembered and discussed it with you, too. I had a thought that I would take the place as a widow by the name of Mrs. Powell.” She smiled at her aunt.

“Although I would not have used your maiden name if you had objected.” She sighed.

“Then people would think I had a jointure that covered the cost of the house and I would have remained respectable.”

“Why did you decide not to do that?” her uncle asked curiously.

She shrugged slightly. “I wasn’t quite ready to disappear. And my family; should I keep it a secret from them? Should I tell them? Could I trust it not to get out if they knew? I could hardly pretend to have really married and be in mourning for a year.”

“That would have been a problem.” He shook his head. “I can see why you decided against it; it is unfortunate that this has happened. But we must also consider the effect this will have on your family.”

“We cannot go much further until Mr. Darcy is here,” Aunt Gardiner rose to her feet. “I have a light luncheon set. It will help you feel a little better, Lizzy. I don’t think you slept last night.”

Elizabeth nodded and followed them quietly from the room.

She was rather dreading seeing Mr. Darcy.

The anger on his face when he had accused her of deception and hiding her business had grown in her mind past the memory of those hopeful moments at the wedding during the very long night she had just endured.

She took a moment during the meal to speak to her uncle. “I do not impute any blame to Mr. Darcy for these rumours. Please do not accuse him of anything.”

She was quite relieved when he finally was shown into the parlour; the waiting had been agonising enough.

He looked tired, she thought, and reserved. Then she noticed the same crimson ruby in the stickpin securing his cravat, exactly as it had looked at the wedding.

After the formal greetings, as he rose from his bow, she smiled hesitantly. “You are wearing the ruby stickpin, sir. Just as you did at the wedding.”

He smiled back, his gaze heartbreakingly gentle.

“There were no rubies that were quite the right colour. This stone is a spinel. It is the nearest I could get to the crimson of the gown you wore at the assembly where we first met. And it reminds me of the wonderfully irreverent conversation we had at the supper there.”

Elizabeth could sense her aunt’s intent gaze, but she could not look away from him. “I remember,” she said softly.

Uncle Gardiner cleared his throat. “Perhaps we could all take a seat and discuss the current situation.”

She sat beside her aunt on the sofa, feeling unaccountably that she and Mr. Darcy ought to discuss this in private between themselves. But she knew it would not do, particularly now, when the scandal was so all-pervading.

“Mr. Darcy, while I have heard of these scandalous rumours, we do not know how the facts came to the attention of society. Are you aware of anything?” Her uncle’s voice was measured and Elizabeth was glad she had spoken to him earlier.

Mr. Darcy’s voice was grave. “I cannot say how sorry I am that this has happened. I would not have wished the distress on you for the world, Miss Bennet.” He drew a breath.

“However, I understand the fault is mine. Miss Bingley began the gossip, saying that I was overly attentive to you at your sister’s wedding; she appears to have forgotten the fact that it is the groomsman’s duty to escort the bride’s attendant.

I ought not to have been so assiduous in my attention. ”

“Miss Bingley! I might have known.” Elizabeth shook her head. “If that was the start of this, then, Mr. Darcy, it was equally my fault. I pray you do not think of it as solely yours.”

His slight smile warmed her before he continued. “Thank you, madam. And, then, we do not know who arrived at the conclusion that Oakfield was my way of … of …” he swallowed and could not continue.

“That is also my fault, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth could barely speak.

“I ought to have followed my first instinct and pretended to be a widow with a different name when I decided to live independently.” She squeezed her eyes shut to prevent tears falling.

“I am to blame for not even considering this outcome.” Her aunt pressed her hand comfortingly.

“Please do not distress yourself, Miss Bennet.” She could sense the anguish in his voice but hoped her relations did not discern it.

Uncle’s voice was measured. “I thank you for explaining what you know, Mr. Darcy. But the important thing is now to decide the best way to deal with this, not fix our mind on what has happened. Although I do think you ought to be aware that your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, called on Lizzy yesterday morning and made some disgusting allegations.”

Mr. Darcy turned to her and his look was pure admiration. Her heart tripped.

He shook his head. “I apologise as her nephew for what you had to go through, Miss Bennet. I am pained at what she must have said.” He smiled slightly mischievously.

“But I must tell you she called on me yesterday afternoon, and was incensed I was out and that she had to wait late into the evening for me to return. From what I understand, you were magnificent and refused to be intimidated by her. I admire your courage and your ability to stand up against an imperious woman who is of an overbearing disposition, despite her rank.”

Elizabeth felt herself blush and looked down. But his next words caused her to raise her gaze to him again.

“Do you not wish to know why I was away from home, where I went last evening, Miss Bennet?” His voice was very gentle.

She could not repress a smile. “I am sure you want to tell me.”

His look was soft. “I had sent to my lawyer requesting that he urgently bring forward the appointment I had already booked with him, and the only time he could spare me was during the evening.” He lifted the folder of papers he had been holding ever since he had arrived, and grinned wryly.

“I had some hope at the wedding that you might not be entirely against me, despite my reprehensible actions the time before, and have spent the days making careful notes. These, Miss Bennet, are a rough, initial set of settlement papers if you are prepared to read them. I have ensured that if you do, you will find, should you accept my suit, that whatever belongs to you now or comes to you in the future, whether modest or considerable, will always remain yours completely. Yours, to do with as you wish with no interference from me.”

He placed the folder on the table with evident caution, as if he was apprehensive of their reception.

She stared at them. If he was to be believed, he had begun to prepare them before these horrible rumours, but instead with hope.

She had for so long been convinced that she would never marry, but the last week or so since Jane’s wedding had shown her that there was more to life than conducting her business, taking the challenge to earn more than tradesmen did; to prove that a woman could do what a man did.

She wanted more. Could she possibly have both?

She watched as her uncle took the folder and began to leaf through them.

He nodded gravely. “These would have to be considered carefully should there be a need for them, Lizzy; but it seems that they have been drawn up with remarkable care. I see no flaw in it. Few — if any — gentlemen of his standing would offer as much.”

Her aunt gave her a glance and a gentle smile of encouragement, and rose to her feet. “My dear Edward, I believe we have left the tea in the front parlour.” She took her husband’s arm, and the two of them left the room, leaving the door ajar.

There was a momentous silence. Elizabeth could hardly catch her breath. Was this … would she …?

“Miss Bennet,” his voice was achingly tender. “Would you do me the honour of allowing me to speak? Or have I misjudged the situation? I would not wish to cause you any distress.”

She looked up, there seemed to be both hope and anxiety within his gaze. She could hardly bear it.

“Please speak, Mr. Darcy. I would not prevent you.”

He moved from his chair to sit beside her, and reached out as if to take her hand, but hesitated.

She smiled at him, and opened her fingers, and thus encouraged, he took it. As she was not wearing gloves, having been at the house before his call upon them, she felt all the intimacy and the warmth of his hand, and could hardly think of anything else.

“Miss Bennet — Elizabeth — I hope I do not discompose you, and I know you have said that you are not in need of a husband, but I must tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” He smiled and lifted her hand to his lips and her heart could barely be contained.

He lowered her hand and continued. “I know I ought not to speak thus. With these terrible rumours, you must wonder if I am only offering because of pride and a sense of honour, that I would wish to mitigate this scandal.” His thumb was moving across the back of her hand, creating delightful sensations cascading up her arm.

“I must tell you that I would never wish you to accept my suit with a sense of obligation, or that you must do so. I wish for a marriage like that my parents had; mutual affection and love.” He indicated the folder on the table.

“I have been planning these for days now, and it would only remain for you to read them, have them examined by your father and uncle and your uncle’s lawyer.

Anything that needs to be changed or added will be done.

Anything . I will never, never , interfere in any matter of your fortune or business should I be so honoured as to win you. ” His smile was slow and heartfelt.

“I will be your greatest supporter and bulwark for everything you do.” He raised her hand again and his lips touched her skin. “I am in awe of you; in awe of all you have done and achieved.”

He rose to stand before her and drew her up to stand close to him and took both her hands, embracing them with both of his, and she trembled.

“Dearest, dearest Elizabeth, I know I am not worthy of you, nor would any man be, but would you allow me to be beside you all our days? Would you do me the greatest honour and accept me as your husband?”

Tears started to her eyes; never had she imagined tenderness and devotion like this. He had humbled himself; had the settlements written to prove his trustworthiness. All of it had been for her, and — yes. She could trust him.

She brought her hands and his with them to her own face and pressed them against her cheek, hearing his breath catch as she did so.

“I will remember this moment forever,” she whispered. “I have been so afraid of trusting anyone; but you, Mr. Darcy, have proved more constant than I believed possible.”

She hesitated. “That day you came. It was not that I did not trust you. It was that I trusted no one.” She raised her eyes to his. “I am so sorry I hurt you.”

“I can forgive you anything, anything at all, dearest, if you might only explicitly answer my question and relieve my anxiety.” But his tone was hopeful, and she believed he had confidence in her.

“Yes, Mr. Darcy. Yes, I will marry you. I have come to understand that my affection and love for you have been growing for some time.”

“My family call me William.”

“William.” She leaned forward and rested her head against his chest, enjoying the steady beat of his heart, as constant as he. His arms stole around her.

“Thank you, loveliest Elizabeth.” His murmur rippled through her. “I pray you might allow the ceremony to be soon.”

She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “I think there might be complications around that; but for the moment, I would wish not to think of it.”

He tightened his embrace. “Whatever you wish, my love.”

A few moments later, she heard the sound of her uncle clearing his throat in the hallway. Mr. Darcy — William must have heard him too, for he reluctantly loosened his embrace and stepped back.

When her aunt and uncle entered, Elizabeth was standing demurely beside William, but knew her blush must be apparent.

Aunt Gardiner embraced her warmly. “I am so pleased, my dear. He is a good man.”

Uncle was shaking William’s hand. “My congratulations, sir. You have secured a wonderful lady.”

William’s gaze met Elizabeth’s. “The best, sir. And I thank you both for your assistance and care of Elizabeth over the years.”

Elizabeth smiled back at him. At last. No fear nor distrust. He had freely made a promise to her, and she had gladly received it. Now she could look forward to the future with joy and excitement in opportunity once more.