Page 2 of Mr. Darcy’s Honor (Darcy and Elizabeth Forever: Pride and Prejudice Variations #1)

“I would rather live in a cottage with someone who respects me than in a palace with Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth declared sharply. “He was insufferably arrogant. He told me that his love was against his will, against his reason, and even against his character.”

“The unmitigated gall,” Wickham murmured. “To suggest that you, of all people, would be a stain upon his character.”

“He made it quite clear that marrying me would be a sacrifice to his better judgment,” Elizabeth explained, her temper rising again at the memory. “He spoke most contemptuously of our family.”

“Our family?” Mrs. Bennet drew herself up with wounded dignity. “What precisely did he say?”

“Oh, merely that our mother’s relations in trade were regrettable, that our younger sisters’ behavior was improper, and that accepting me would require him to overlook numerous disadvantages.”

The effect of this revelation was even more dramatic than Elizabeth had anticipated. Lydia’s face flushed crimson, Kitty looked ready to burst into tears, and Mary drew herself up to her full, unimpressive height with wounded dignity.

“He dared to criticize our family?” Lydia sputtered. “That pompous, self-important?—”

“Language, Lydia,” Jane murmured automatically, though her gentle features had hardened.

“How dare he judge us?” Kitty demanded. “We are perfectly respectable.”

“Indeed, we are,” Mary added stiffly. “The Bennet name may not boast of ancient nobility, but we are landed gentry with impeccable moral standing.”

“The man is a monster!” Mrs. Bennet screeched, her voice rising to operatic levels. “To speak so contemptuously of the Bennet name. Why, we have been established in Hertfordshire for generations. Generations, I tell you!”

Elizabeth felt a fierce surge of love for her family, even for troublesome Lydia and ridiculous Mary. Whatever their faults, they were her family, and Darcy’s casual dismissal of them had wounded her more deeply than his insults to herself.

“You see why I could not possibly accept him,” Elizabeth said, addressing the group but finding her gaze drawn back to Wickham, who had remained notably quiet during her sisters’ outburst. “A man who would speak so contemptuously of those I love could never earn my affection.”

“Quite right,” Wickham said firmly. “Darcy has always held himself above his company. I am not surprised to learn that his arrogance extends even to matters of the heart.”

“The insufferable, arrogant man!” Mrs. Bennet exploded. “How dare he insult my family while simultaneously proposing to my daughter!”

“Mrs. Bennet is quite right to be offended,” Wickham interjected smoothly. “Miss Elizabeth showed remarkable courage in refusing such a degrading offer. No lady should accept a proposal delivered with such disrespect.”

“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said decisively, “would do well to examine his manners and learn some basic courtesy before attempting to court anyone.”

Wickham nodded approvingly. “Miss Elizabeth speaks the truth. A gentleman’s character matters far more than his fortune.” A shadow crossed his features. “But where were Mr. and Mrs. Collins during this ordeal? Surely your cousin would not have permitted such insulting behavior toward his guest?”

“They had gone to dine at Rosings Park with Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth explained. “I had a headache, so I stayed back to work on my correspondence.”

“Alone!” Mrs. Bennet gasped, her voice reaching new heights of alarm. “You were alone with that dreadful man? What if someone had seen?”

“Do not trouble yourself.” Elizabeth put a placating hand on her overanxious mother. “No one saw us.”

“How improper of Darcy to seek you out unchaperoned,” Wickham said with a protective frown. “Miss Elizabeth, he did not harm you, did he? I fear you were completely unprotected during this encounter? For how long?”

“Harm her?” Mrs. Bennet squeaked. “What manner of harm? Oh, my delicate sensibilities! I cannot bear to think?—”

“Mama, please,” Elizabeth said, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the public nature of their discussion.

“It could not have been more than the span of an hour, if you count all the pacing, long silences, and brooding glares. He alternated between harsh exclamations and uncomfortable pauses, seeming to regret his sentiments even as he declared them. There were moments when the silence stretched so long I wondered if he had forgotten I was there, and others when he looked at me with such cold reproach that I felt quite frozen.”

“An hour!” Wickham exclaimed. “How you must have suffered under such an ordeal. To be trapped alone with Darcy in one of his black moods…”

“Black moods indeed,” Mrs. Phillips declared. “The man sounds positively menacing. To think what might have happened to our dear Lizzy.”

“It was most unpleasant,” Elizabeth admitted, grateful for his understanding but growing mortified by her family’s public hysteria. “But fear not. Mr. Darcy could no more harm me than he could smile without appearing to suffer from severe indigestion.”

They had reached the lane to Longbourn, and Jane gently steered Elizabeth away from Wickham. “We should not keep Lieutenant Wickham from his duties any longer,” she said smoothly. “Thank you for escorting us part of the way.”

Wickham bowed with perfect grace. “The pleasure was entirely mine.” His eyes met Elizabeth’s with unmistakable admiration.

“Miss Elizabeth, I concede that Darcy behaved abominably, yet he was not wrong in recognizing your worth. Perhaps someday, when I have earned my own fortune, I might approach you with the humility and respect you deserve.”

Elizabeth blushed at the unexpected compliment. “You are too kind, sir.”

“Not kind,” he corrected gently. “Merely honest. I shall treasure our conversation today.”

As Mr. Wickham departed, Elizabeth caught a group of matrons gossiping by Longbourn’s gate.

“A Bennet in disgrace… how delicious.”

“So much for Miss Lizzy’s virtue.”

Their words pricked like nettles, but Elizabeth steeled herself while her momentary triumph soured on her tongue.