Page 113

As Darcy finished this portion of his recitation, the Duke asked him to pause and told him a very brief version of his entrapment, then suggested to Darcy, that he have a settlement drawn up like the one that had been used for the hussy that compromised him.

The terms should be widely published in society so that any ‘lady’ considering trying to entrap him would know that her life would be a living hell and that she would never have access to anything besides a small room and a pittance of a settled amount with almost no pin money.

Darcy thanked the Duke who promised to have Sir Randolph send his solicitor a copy of the template that had been used in his first ‘marriage’.

At that point, Darcy laid out his history with one George Wickham, ending with his planned revenge of stealing Miss Darcy’s fortune via an attempted elopement. When he was done, there was silence for several minutes.

Lady Elizabeth was the first to speak, “As sorry as I am for Miss Darcy that she was importuned by that kind of blackguard, and I accept that you were distracted by your worries, that neither excuses your behaviour nor makes it more acceptable.”

“Andrew, Richard, and Bingley told me the same last night, and I agree. As I said before I shared all of this with you, it was not as an excuse, just in hope of your understanding. I know that I have a lot of work to do, and that I have major changes to make. In addition, I have amends to make too many who I have both intentionally and unintentionally slighted.” He offered with great contrition and wanted to further clarify his character.

“My parents taught me what was right but never demanded that I correct my temper. I was taught good principles but left to follow them in pride and conceit. The humiliation that I received last night, richly deserved and just, forced me to reflect on my behaviour and character. I at last saw myself through other’s eyes, and what I saw was not very pleasant or gentleman like.

Lady Elizabeth showed me how arrogant all my pretensions are, or rather, were.

” He hung his head as shame overwhelmed him.

“You may have heard, Mr. Darcy, that once someone has lost my good opinion, it is lost forever.” Lady Elizabeth spoke before her parents could again waylay her; inwardly satisfied Darcy nodded in acknowledgement with his eyes on his shoes.

“I have been accused of having implacable resentment. It may be because I am cautioned by what my beloved Mama and Papa suffered for a year before God took that woman away. Talk is not indicative of status, Mr. Darcy. We are all judged by our actions. This morning I have written to my Aunt, Lady Pricilla De Melville, Countess of Jersey, and Mama’s sister.

She will share my news with my other Aunt, Lady Rosamond Bennet the Duchess of Bedford, and her fellow patronesses.

As bad as I feel for your sister and would like nothing more than rip the heart out of the blackguard and his paramour, you will find that not many will want your society.

“If you can indeed change, can become a better man even in the face of such adversity, then I will know that you meant your words and they were not offered just to placate us and rescue your reputation in society. Your actions will not be held against anyone else, not your friends at Netherfield, nor any of your family most especially your sister or mother. That is the only hope that I can offer you at this time, Mr. Darcy, the rest will be up to you. As a good Christian woman, I can do no less. You have made painful admissions this day, so at the very least, I must allow that you may be sincere and can earn my forgiveness. I suggest you use your time well.” With that, Lady Elizabeth rose, as did Darcy, she returned a brief curtsy to his bow, then left the study.

As Mr. Darcy left Longbourn, Elizabeth watched him from her bedchamber window.

For the first time that she could remember, she started to question herself, that mayhap she had been too hard on him.

Did he in fact have redeeming qualities that she had been blinded by her prejudices to see?

Unbidden, a thought popped into her head that he was the most handsome man that she had ever seen.

She dismissed the thought with alacrity willing herself to think on something else.

She admitted to herself that she never expected the arrogant man to apologise, and certainly not in the fashion that he had.

Her emotions were warring with each other and the more she thought about it the more that she could see the sincerity of his apology.

She was sure that he would never have recounted his sister’s trauma if it had not been completely true.

She shook her head to try and clear it; she knew that she had much to think on.

Darcy had expected some repercussions, but not to the extent such as this.

Strangely, or maybe not, it firmed his resolve.

As hard as it would be, he would make the changes and be a better man, one worthy of the title ‘gentleman’.

He thanked the Duke and Duchess for their time and then left Longbourn for Netherfield where he instructed Carstens to pack his belongings.

Darcy found the Bingleys and Hursts in the drawing room.

“I need to apologise to all of you. In my arrogance and refusal to listen, I could have caused all of you to be tarred by the same brush I have been deservedly painted with. It will be easier for everyone concerned if I take my leave.” If he had been expecting any disagreement with that statement, he would have been disappointed, as none was forthcoming.

“My man is packing as we speak, and my carriage is waiting for me. All I can do is beg your forgiveness and make the same promise that I made to the Duke of Hertfordshire and his family. I will change and work to correct my flaws, to become a man worthy of the appellation ‘gentleman’.”

“You know that I will forgive you, Darcy,” Bingley looked him right in the eye as he said it, having seemingly matured overnight, “but you have work to do and only you can do it. You have to want to do it.”

“I know that, my friend. It will not be easy, but I know what I have to do, and I will succeed.” He stated firmly with a determined look in his eyes.

“We all wish you well, Darce. God be with you.” Bingley nodded once at his friend.

Darcy bowed to the four present, and then as his valet indicated that his trunks were loaded, he boarded his coach and headed back to London.

As he sat in his comfortable conveyance, he had visions of a beautiful, fiery lady with the finest eyes that he had ever beheld.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

There was a knock on the study door and the Duke called for the person to enter. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam marched in and stood at attention in front of the desk. “At ease, Colonel,” the Duke jested. “Please take a seat, Richard.”

“Thank you, your Grace,” he said as he sat. “Before I get to the point, is Darcy still alive?” he asked with a smile, only half serious but fully curious.

“He is still in the land of the living, but he has work to do. You know Lizzy, she is quick to anger and slow to forgive. She wrote to my sister Pricilla this morning with a full report of last night and you know the rest. She will talk to her fellow patronesses and to Rose, and after that it will not be easy for your cousin.”

“William will have to sink or swim. He made this mess; he needs to fix it for himself.” Richard paused and looked the Duke in the eye.

“I am sure that you know my purpose here today, your Grace, but in case not, let me be direct. I asked for Lady Jane’s hand in marriage, and she has accepted me, so I have come to you seeking your permission and blessing.

” He made sure to be specific in naming his betrothed as he was well familiar with the Duke’s propensity to tease.

“How will you support her on what you earn as a soldier, and what will happen to my firstborn if you are called back to battle?” Bennet challenged.

Richard knew why the Duke was asking this.

A little more than a year previously he had been wounded in his left leg at the Battle of Bucaco.

He was lucky that no major blood vessels or nerves had been damaged, but his leg had been badly broken, and he was only now cleared for full duty and could walk without a noticeable limp.

“Let me address the army first. Before I came to see you, I sent an express to General Atherton, my commanding general, to announce that I am resigning from the army. I will see him when I go to Town to have the settlement papers drawn up and to sign the papers necessary to put my commission up for sale. Aside from that, I believe that you are aware, I inherited the estate of Brookfield some months ago from an uncle on my mother’s side who died as he lived: a confirmed bachelor.

The estate is large and well run and has an income of just over eleven thousand a year.

With the estate came a legacy of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds.

Uncle Paul saved most of his money over the years, as he had no one to spend it on.

“Regardless of Lady Jane’s dowry, I can keep her in the style to which she is accustomed. In the settlement you will see that I intend to leave her dowry under her control to use as she sees fit.”

“Each of my girls have a dowry of one hundred five and twenty thousand pounds. We do not advertise the amount to keep the fortune hunters guessing. Besides, I have clauses built in, just in case. I never want one of my girls, or any of my children, to suffer from an entrapment. You have my consent and my blessing, Richard.” Bennet stood and shook hands with him.

“Welcome to the family, son. Have you discussed a wedding date yet?” Bennet asked, having a very good idea what was going to be requested.

His first two daughters were identical twins, after all.