Page 23 of Darcy in Distress (Pride and Prejudice Variation #17)
Bingley’s study was a comfortably-sized room, but at this moment, it was rather crowded. Darcy and Georgiana sat side by side on a small couch near the fire, with Elizabeth on a matching chair close by. Wickham stood in his usual place near the window, and Bingley sat behind his desk.
Richard Fitzwilliam stood near the door to the library, his hands clasped behind him, his face set in grim lines.
“I fear that my meeting with my father was not productive. The earl initially insisted that in order to secure Lady Anne’s release into our care, Georgiana must marry my brother Cecil.
When I declared that neither Darcy nor I would ever countenance such a match, he made two other suggestions, but both are entirely unpalatable. ”
“If it is for more money, I can obtain it,” Darcy declared. He had forced himself to take a seat next to his sister. His inclination was to pace up and down the room, but he knew that Georgiana felt safer with him at her side.
Richard shook his head. “No, I offered a ransom, on your behalf of course, and he refused to accept it. He demands a marriage that will tie the Darcy family to the Fitzwilliam family. In his mind, there are three acceptable unions: for Georgiana to marry Cecil, for Georgiana to marry me, or for Darcy to marry my sister Emma.”
His audience gasped nearly in unison at these words, but Darcy, after a moment to recover, said resolutely, “Very well, I will marry Emma.”
“No, you will not!” Georgiana exclaimed. “You know that she is exactly the sort of woman to drive you mad, Brother, with her shallow brain and irritating chatter. I would far rather marry Cecil than have you marry Emma.”
She broke off, her face suffused pink, and turned her apologetic gaze on Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I apologize for such harsh words about your sister.”
“Not at all, my dear,” Richard said quickly.
“There is no real harm in Emma, but I quite agree she would be a dreadful match for Darcy. She loves society and finery, and despises reading books and living in the country. It would be quite cruel to force her into such a marriage, Darcy, even aside from your own wishes.”
The master of Pemberley sighed deeply, and his shoulders slumped. “You are correct, of course, Richard. What are we to do?”
“I could marry…,” Georgiana began.
“No,” Richard interrupted. “No, Georgiana. You will not be a sacrifice to my father’s cruel schemes. I would be a better husband to you than Cecil, but I am thirty years of age, and you are but sixteen. You deserve to choose your own husband, and to do so when you are older.”
“We will find another way,” Darcy declared, finally allowing himself to stand up and begin marching up and down the floor. “I presume there were no signs that Lady Anne was within Matlock House?”
“None at all. My father claimed that she is being held elsewhere, and I have no doubt he is speaking the truth. My mother and sisters are in residence, and Emma, as you said, is a chatterbox. The earl would not risk it.”
“Did you speak to Lady Matlock or your sisters?” Wickham asked. He had been a silent but attentive observer of the conversation thus far.
“I did not,” Richard said. “My mother has a timid nature, and my father either ignores or bullies her when they disagree. The girls are also powerless, and both Emma and Marianne are very young, and would likely fall into hysterics if the truth was known. I think it wise, for now, to keep them unaware of the details in this tragic affair.”
“There is, of course, an additional problem in the form of Lady Catherine,” Wickham pointed out unhappily.
“If Mr. Collins is to be believed, she is on her way to Netherfield with a special license in her hand and Miss de Bourgh in her train. I know she has long been insistent that you marry your cousin Anne, Darcy, but the timing is particularly egregious.”
“She is at least somewhat aware of Matlock’s attempts to gain control over Lady Anne and Georgiana,” Darcy said grimly. “If I refuse to comply with her wishes, she may choose to throw her support toward Matlock regarding the guardianship of Georgiana and my mother.”
Elizabeth turned worriedly toward Georgiana, who was staring straight ahead, her eyes narrowed, her brow lowered in thought.
“Georgiana,” she said, reaching out to pat her friend on the arm. “Please do not worry yourself unduly. I am confident that a solution will be found.”
Georgiana nodded and then glanced around the room, a small smile playing around her lips. “I agree; indeed, I have a marvelous idea.”
“An idea, Georgie?” Darcy asked skeptically. “What is it?”
She opened her mouth as if to speak, closed it, rose to her feet, and hurried to her brother’s side, whereupon she raised herself on her toes and began whispering into his ear.
He listened with growing astonishment, his eyes straying unconsciously toward Elizabeth .
“No, no, I could not ask such a thing,” he finally said in a low voice, though Elizabeth, who had sharp ears, heard every word. “Given our family situation, it is impossible and improper that she would ... regrettably, it is quite out of the question.”
Georgiana tossed her head in exasperation and turned toward Elizabeth, who was staring at the siblings, her forehead creased in confusion.
“Elizabeth,” Georgiana said, “do you think that our family’s situation is so scandalous my brother is not a worthy bridegroom?”
Elizabeth quickly rose to her feet and shook her head, exclaiming, “No, of course not! Mr. Darcy, I do beg you not to concern yourself about such foolishness! It is your uncle Matlock who is responsible for your current troubles, but any woman who has the honor of knowing you must acknowledge your diligence, your godliness, your kindness, your intelligence, and your gracious temperament.”
Darcy stared into the lady’s passionate countenance, and his heart leapt within him.
“In that case,” he said, his face suddenly alight with hope, “might I have the privilege of speaking to you in private for a few minutes?”
Elizabeth gasped softly at these words but nodded. “Yes, Mr. Darcy, I would be honored. ”
“Come along,” Georgiana hissed to the other three gentlemen. “They wish to be alone!”
She grasped her cousin’s arm, and pulled him from the room, followed by Bingley, who looked bewildered, and Wickham, who looked respectful.
“That is really quite brilliant, Miss Darcy,” Wickham commented once they had stepped into the corridor outside the study.
Bingley looked even more confused and asked, “What is happening?”
/
Darcy waited for the door to close before turning back to Elizabeth Bennet, who stood silently in front of the fire, her hands clasped loosely in front of her.
The autumn sun was already sinking in the west and taking the bright sunshine with it.
Thus, the study was a cozy, welcoming place, with its snapping fire providing warmth, and the numerous candles offering their soft light.
The woman who stood before him, clad in a simple green muslin dress, fit in perfectly in the house of a wealthy man.
Miss Elizabeth also seemed entirely at home in an assembly hall and walking the trails of Longbourn.
She seemed to be one of those remarkable individuals who was comfortable anywhere; yet another reason why the lady would make him a good wife; if, of course, she could be prevailed upon to accept him.
It occurred to him that he had been standing for at least two minutes in silence, and Elizabeth, while her face was calm, must be growing impatient.
“I am sorry,” Darcy said apologetically.
“I fear that I have never been in this situation before, and thus am struggling to find the appropriate words. I … that is, I would like to marry you. I would like you to be my wife. But if the very thought is repugnant, I beg of you to say no. Or perhaps you need more time to consider, though I have little time to wed, but I am certain my words must be a great shock to you.”
Elizabeth smiled, though her eyes were watchful. “I am not surprised, Mr. Darcy; well, that is to say that I am not surprised that you wish to wed, and quickly.”
Her companion started and said, “Truly? I confess that it must seem a very peculiar time to be making an offer!”
“Not at all!” Elizabeth returned, retaining her poise. “It makes all the sense in the world, Mr. Darcy, though I do not understand why you would choose me.”
“Why does it make sense?” Darcy asked, eyeing her in wonder .
Elizabeth shrugged and said, “It seems obvious that a few minutes ago, Georgiana realized that if you are married, Lady Catherine will no longer have any motivation for interfering in the matter of Lady Anne’s abduction.
At the moment you are, to use an odd metaphor, a bone being pulled between Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the Earl of Matlock.
Both wish to join their family line to yours by marrying a daughter to you.
If you are already married, that will no longer be an option.
It is a magnificent plan, truly. What I do not understand is why me?
I am honored to even be considered for the role of Mrs. Darcy, but surely there is some other woman you know better who would prove a more appropriate wife? ”
“There is not,” Darcy answered with sudden fervency.
“Miss Elizabeth, when I was a younger man, before I learned of my father’s cruelty toward my mother and the Wickham family, before Lord Matlock’s calumny brought our very name into disrepute, I attended many a society ball, assembly, and Venetian breakfast. I was very popular with both the maidens and their matchmaking mothers because of my wealth and my connections to the nobility.
I never met a woman that I wished to marry, never!
You are a remarkable lady, Miss Elizabeth; intelligent, kind, quick thinking – indeed, your rapid understanding of the situation saved my sister from abduction only yesterday!
You are also devoted to your family and more aware of the needs of the tenantry than the vast majority of women.
Indeed, when I think of your many attributes, I truly cannot imagine why you would even consider joining yourself to me given our family’s struggles.
I must say that if you feel yourself unable to, well, that is to say, I hope you will not even consider such a thing if you… ”
He trailed off in embarrassment, aware that he was doing a disastrous job of making a proposal to the woman he truly wanted to marry.
Elizabeth took a step forward and gazed intently up into his face.
“I am entirely indifferent to Lord Matlock’s idiocy and Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s plotting, except inasmuch as I grieve for you and your family, who do not deserve such persecution from your own relations.
I admire you very much, Mr. Darcy. I admire your devotion to your mother and sister, your kindness to your friends, your diligence in caring for your estate in the midst of great trials with your family. I merely wish to know…”
She trailed off and Darcy reached forward unconsciously to take her gloved hands in his own.
“Yes?” he asked urgently.
“Is this, would this be, merely a marriage of convenience?” she asked, her cheeks suddenly flushed with embarrassment.
Darcy stared down at her and his grip tightened on her hands.
“No, it would be no mere civil contract between us. I am greatly attracted to you; you are bright, beautiful, and brave. I have never felt this way about a woman, and I believe that, yes, it is love, though I confess to some turmoil in my heart due to all that has come to pass in these recent days. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make you happy. More than that, I have every reason and hope that our affection, our felicity, will only increase with time.”
Here Darcy halted, and he bit his lip before continuing, “That is, I do not know how you feel about me, Miss Elizabeth. Given your warmth and vibrancy, I cannot imagine you wish for a mere business arrangement between us, nor would I desire that you enter a marriage where you feel uneasy about, that is…”
Elizabeth, quite sympathetic to her suitor’s floundering, interrupted, her eyes now glowing with affection. “I admire you very much as well, Mr. Darcy; indeed, I too have never felt like this about a gentleman before.”
She smiled and continued, a little tremulously, “I do admire, respect, and yes, love you, and truly believe there is no man in Britain who would make me happier. Yes, Mr. Darcy, I would be honored to be your wife.”