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T he next afternoon, Darcy entered Mr. Bennet’s study and took a seat in front of the man’s desk.

Today, he would make good on the promise he had made to himself last night to secure his happy future with Elizabeth before anything could separate him from it.

Hurst was right. It needed to be done sooner rather than later.

He was certain his mind would not rest easy until Elizabeth was officially Mrs. Darcy, but to have a formal agreement with her would lessen his fretting over what Wickham or Mr. Collins or someone else would do.

He exchanged pleasantries with Elizabeth’s father as he made himself comfortable.

“Are you here for a discussion about estate matters, or have you had enough of courting my daughter?” Mr. Bennet’s lips were tipped into an amused smirk.

“I would not mind having a debate about some estate related item,” Darcy replied.

“However, that is not my reason for being in here rather than in the drawing room with Miss Elizabeth. And no, I am not done with courting your daughter. In fact, I find that I would like to court her for the rest of my life as my wife.”

Mr. Bennet chuckled. “That sounds very pretty, which surprises me that it is you and not Mr. Bingley who is sitting here saying it.” He sighed. “But then, love has a peculiar effect on a man when it latches onto him.”

Darcy smiled and shook his head at just how turned around love had caused him to be. He had found himself willing to do and say things that he would have scoffed at before meeting and falling in love with Elizabeth.

“I will not argue with you on that,” he said, “but I cannot take credit for the sentiment. My uncle has always stated that he would court my aunt forever, for his love would never lessen and only grow deeper with time.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

“It seemed ridiculous to me as a young man, and I suppose if I were to analyze it logically now, it still would. However, I believe I understand what he meant, for how does one put what one feels about the lady, whom one loves above anything else, into words?”

“I would suggest poetry.” Mr. Bennet tapped a drawer on his desk. “And then keep it under lock and key unless, of course, you prove to be as good as Byron or Shakespeare. Then you might want to publish it and earn a few pence.”

Darcy’s brow furrowed. Did Mr. Bennet write poetry? “Do you keep your poetry in a locked drawer?” he asked.

He could not picture the man sitting in front of him as the sort of gentleman who wrote flowery things about his wife.

But then, his uncle did not appear, upon first glance, to be the type of fellow to openly declare his love for his wife either.

Be that as it may, upon being counted among Lord Matlock’s acquaintances for any length of time would prove to a person just how wrong that first impression was.

Again, Mr. Bennet chuckled. “I find I have no answer to that question. At least not one I wish to give,” he admitted. “So, tell me. What can I do for you today? I already gave you permission to marry Elizabeth when you petitioned me little more than a week ago.”

Darcy drew a deep breath. “I know, and I am still grateful for that. I…um…” He shrugged with both shoulders this time instead of just one. Why was he here? “I…um…” He shook his head. Turned around and at sixes and sevens was his constant state lately.

“I do not know why I need to tell you of my decision before I officially present my offer to your daughter, for I fear neither your rejection nor hers. Therefore, I am not here because I wish to have you support my suit to her on my behalf.” He blew out a breath.

How did he explain this? “I suppose I am here for what is likely a selfish reason, because I value your good opinion, and I believe that is why I must tell you that I intend to secure your daughter’s hand today. ”

Once again, he could not help shaking his head at his mind’s befuddled state.

At any other time in his life, he had known precisely why he wished for an interview with a gentleman, and now look at him!

Sitting here attempting to sort out why his heart and feet had directed him to Mr. Bennet’s study.

“I am also likely here because I know how close your relationship is with Miss Elizabeth, and having a sister who has been left to my care and who means the world to me, I have some knowledge about what exactly I am asking of you when I leave Hertfordshire with Miss Elizabeth as my wife.”

Mr. Bennet’s replying nod and smile spoke of his knowing the struggle to which Darcy referred. “I appreciate your concern for me,” he said. “Parting with any of my daughters will be difficult. But I know that my Lizzy’s departure will be the hardest.”

There was one more reason which had likely been part of his purpose for meeting with Elizabeth’s father before seeking her out.

“I suppose also,” Darcy said, “that I wanted to reassure you that I will care for your daughter as well as the good Lord and my finances allow. To that end, I have sent instructions just today to my solicitor to draw up the papers I will need. I expect they will be here before the close of the month for your approval. But beyond loving her until the day I die and seeing to her care both before and after my death...”

He paused to swallow and hoped that he could present this next part clearly and without offending.

“I would like to offer my protection to your wife and remaining daughters should anything happen to you – whether that is in a timely fashion or an untimely one, such as was the case with my own father. I know that when I marry, I will not just be marrying your daughter. I will be joining my family to yours.”

He sighed heavily. “Even if that means being related to Mr. Collins.” He could not keep the grimace from his face at the thought. “I am not without my share of trying relations, but your cousin does excel at being…”

“Obnoxious,” Mr. Bennet said, completing Darcy’s statement.

“That would be a fitting word,” Darcy agreed.

Mr. Bennet held Darcy’s gaze. “I do have things in place to care for my wife and any unwed daughters upon my demise.” His tone was a trifle cool.

“I did not mean to suggest that you did not, sir.” Darcy rubbed his hands in circles on his knees. He had known this part of what he wanted to stress to Mr. Bennet when it came to marriage articles held the potential to be received poorly.

“It is just that last night,” he continued, “when I should have been sleeping, I was pondering the things that Mr. Collins said at Mrs. Philips’s house last week, and I wanted to lend my support to whatever you have in place, for I do not trust him.”

Mr. Bennet’s head bobbed up and down slowly, and he wore a pensive expression that pursed his lips. “That makes two of us. His father was not known to be a man of his word unless it benefited him to be so. I rather think the son takes after the father in this case.”

He propped his elbows on his desk, rested his chin on his clasped hands, and gave a more assured nod of his head that ended a moment of silence.

“I will gladly accept your offer of assistance in my place for my wife and daughters when I can no longer give it. My wife’s brothers will, of course, also be available to assist, but I am no fool.

I know that your connections and wealth surpass theirs.

” His lips tipped up on one side into a crooked smile.

“That being said, I have one condition that I would like to make part of this agreement.”

“Of course,” Darcy said.

“There is a locked drawer on my right.” He once again tapped the same drawer he had tapped earlier when suggesting Darcy put his feelings into poetry.

“I will make note in my papers that you are to be the only one who opens it and removes its contents. Whether you consign what you find there to the flames or give it to the person who inspired it, I will leave to you.”

Darcy felt the weight of the honour conferred on him. “You would allow me to read what you have written?”

“If, indeed, I have written anything.” Mr. Bennet’s eyes danced with merriment. “And if I have, I figure I will be far too dead to be mortified should you laugh.”

Darcy chuckled at that. “I suppose that is true.”

“I also know you will not publish it or share it beyond your wife and mine.” Mr. Bennet pushed up from his chair.

“That is as much morbid talk as I can tolerate, so to change the subject to more hopeful things, shall I announce to one and all that you would like a private interview with Lizzy, or do you wish to be less conspicuous?”

“The latter.” Darcy answered quickly, causing Mr. Bennet to laugh. “I am not dead enough yet to not be mortified,” he added, which only caused his future father-in-law to laugh even harder.

Mr. Bennet opened the door to the study. “I shall see what I can do to assist you in finding a quiet moment if one is not easily found.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Now, do you think you can get Mr. Bingley to come to the point as quickly as you have? It would do my heart a great deal of good to know that two of my daughters are settled and out of the reach of a certain parson.”

“You have only to say the word, sir, and I will never approve a petition from him,” Darcy whispered. “Actually, no, you do not need to say anything. He shall never gain approval from me. Of course, this is only if something were to happen to you.”

“As frequently as you have said that,” Mr. Bennet said, “I begin to wonder if I should be worried that you have a plan.”

“A plan? To do you harm?” Darcy could not contain his incredulity at the suggestion.

“Oh, do not fear, Mr. Darcy, I know you have no motive to wish me gone. I was merely making a macabre topic into a jest. It is a fault I own that talking about my demise makes me uneasy, and to relieve the discomfort, I tend to turn to teasing.”