Page 76 of Obligation and Redemption

“Near and far are relative terms. You see, when obstacles are in the way twenty can feel like one hundred. I did contemplate leaving him there,” she then gave a sly glance over in Darcy’s direction, “but Mr. Darcy was quite pitiful, so I could not abandon him alone in the elements; therefore, I remained. Getting him to the cabin was really quite selfish of me, for I myself did not want to be caught in the storm. But I am afraid we experienced the full force of the storm nonetheless. Mr. Darcy was fortunate enough not to remember our journey in the woods. I had never been so glad of my own habit of vigorous exercise, for without it, I could not have gotten him to safety,” she finished with a smile.

“You have not addressed my question of having help.”

“I told you that we have no servant to walk out with me, and that I was quite alone until your cousin almost ran me over,” she said with a small, quick tilt of her head. Her smile was waning.

“Forgive me if I find your story of this feat too absurd to credit.”

Darcy had been passively listening to the exchange and realised that he had never questioned Elizabeth as to the details concerning his move to the cabin.

He too wanted to know how she could have transported him alone and remembered the suspicion he held on that day – that another had been there to assist. Wickham!

But then just as briefly thought about the absurdity of Wickham’s being present just as he had been going by.

Of course she could have been meeting Wickham in the woods, and that man could have rendered the plan upon seeing that the horseman was Darcy himself.

He continued to listen, determined to hear the truth one way or another.

Elizabeth reiterated her previous declaration and then directed another remark to the countess concerning the delicious fare, spending the rest of the meal answering questions as succinctly as she could and changing the subject as needed.

As Elizabeth was quite skilled in repartee as a defence, she remained confident and never let on her discomfiture and exasperation.

In fact, on at least three occasions during the evening, she took pleasure in a silent joke, needing no one to share the amusement but wishing her father had been in attendance to enjoy a private but pointed glance.

These small but fortunate reflections made her first dinner with her in-laws bearable, despite their assailment.

During the separation of the sexes, Lady Susan stood by the mantle where she could watch Elizabeth through the mirror while simultaneously stealing glances at herself.

Lady Estella was sitting with their guest along with her daughter.

She simply needed to determine on her own if Elizabeth was indeed guilty of orchestrating Darcy’s descent.

“Mrs. Darcy, your husband has told us his part in how your marriage came about. I am sure you understand our concern, that we cannot help but suppose that you might have arranged the whole unfortunate business.” She did not say this accusingly, but seemed to sincerely want to know the truth, so Elizabeth responded in like manner.

“Lady Estella, you ask no more than my own family, for they wanted to be certain that I was not taken advantage of while alone with an unknown man obviously accustomed to having his own way.” Georgiana opened her mouth to defend her brother, but Elizabeth continued on.

“Please understand that Mr. Darcy’s and my own connections must see this in two divergent but plausible ways.

Neither of our characters was known to the other before the incident.

Circumstances outside of our control brought us together, so that neither of us was at fault. ”

“But your mother, do you deny her role in spreading the rumours abroad about the compromise?”

“I cannot deny that she played her part in the scandal. My mother acted on a perceived opportunity. I do not condone such means of collecting husbands; and I can assure you that this was done against my will, for I was out of my senses in the sickbed, and against my father’s will, who knew nothing of her initiative.

Unlike many of the single ladies in our society, I am not the type of woman who would seek an attachment to a man who had no regard for me, solely based on his position in society, the size of his estate, or his family name.

“I must forgive my mother, as I am sure many other ladies must forgive their own, for taking the opportunity presented to her to secure the future of her vulnerable family. I don’t believe that she acted any differently than many mothers put in like circumstances and certainly undertook her plan without malice.

That is not to say that I approve of her intervention, for I do not.

Nor do I adhere to the idea of marrying for any motive other than affection or in my present circumstance, to save my family from ruin.

Ours is a society driven by pecuniary and status-based considerations when it comes to marriage, which is essentially a business arrangement to benefit one or both parties; you cannot deny it.

” Then Elizabeth took a calming breath before continuing.

“I hope that as time goes on, you will bear witness to my character as proof that I, if not my mother, am innocent of any stratagem that forced Mr. Darcy into an undesirable alliance with me and my family. I will do my best to keep him from regretting his decision to protect my family from a most ruinous scandal.”

Lady Estella listened to Elizabeth’s speech in wonder as she defended herself with poise and conviction.

She could not say that she completely believed the young bride’s defence, but she could respect her tenacity under pressure.

Few women of her acquaintance, young or old, would have borne the attack this evening as Elizabeth had, and with as much intrepidity.

And if she were completely honest with herself, Elizabeth’s response had merit.

She could not dispute the rationale that many marriages of the ton were based on mercenary designs.

Was that not why her own son married Lady Susan, for her dowry of thirty thousand?

Would he have married her if not for her purse and family?

Indeed, she and the earl had to practically force the point by decreasing his allowance to a near trifling before he would agree, for he found Lady Susan to be disagreeable in looks and temperament.

She had even suspected, much to her despair, that her son assuaged his disappointment with trips to the exclusive brothel on St. James Street.

But the difference in her son’s situation was that both agreed to the match with open resolve, not out of force but mutual benefit.

In addition to an alignment with the Earl of Matlock, Lady Susan would one day be the countess, thereby putting her in a position of even greater deference than she was as daughter of a baron.

And Langston received thirty thousand pounds through the marriage.

But Darcy could receive no benefit from such a match as he found himself.

Indeed, he took on a liability, for now he was obligated to a family in need of saving and was honour-bound to be of some assistance.

The men joined the ladies, and Darcy went to his sister to discern how she bore the evening, for they had spoken little.

There was no way to exclude Georgiana from the family’s interrogation of his wife, and he was just glad that those in company had not gone so far as to openly suggest any corporeal breaches of propriety.

Actually, having his sister in attendance likely helped to ensure that the insinuations upon his wife did not descend into vulgarity.

Ascertaining that Georgiana was well, if not a little distraught over the conversations to which she had been privy, he then joined Elizabeth as a show of support.

Darcy had sat in resigned discomfiture knowing that the interrogation would be long and arduous.

He actually admired Elizabeth for her ability to withstand such a direct attack from no less than two peers of the realm and their noble wives.

Darcy even began to have insight into her unique humour that had often been at his own expense, but when directed elsewhere, even to his own relations, he was able to appreciate.

Her quick wit and intelligence impressed him, as long as his dear sister was overlooked.

Darcy was just glad that they would be past the drama before Christmas Day itself.

He had hoped that James would be in attendance on this, Elizabeth’s first exposure to the Fitzwilliams, but he had to admit that she was quite able to hold her own despite her unfortunate upbringing.

And on the way home, within the confines of the carriage, Darcy said, “I hope you were not offended by my family’s queries.

Their intentions were not to humiliate you, but to calm their own reservations in defence of me. ”

“Of course not; I would never judge you by your family’s manners, as I would not want to be judged by my own family’s words and actions. You see, we both have relations who seek to protect us in embarrassing ways.”

“Perhaps we have something else in common then.”

“Perhaps. So we return to their home for Christmas?” At his agreement, she continued, “You had told me that your cousins have children, but they were not introduced to me. Will we see them on Tuesday?”

“In the past they have been presented during tea.”

“Tell me about them.”

“Langston has a son and daughter, of six and four respectively. Their names are Edmund and Emily. Victoria has two daughters, Rebecca and Emma, of about the same ages, maybe a little younger.”

“I love children. I hope I will be able to spend a little time with them on Christmas. Are they of easy temperament?”