Page 4 of Reputation, an Easy Thing to Lose (Reputation Verse #1)

Chapter 3

For the Sake of Our Sisters

Gardiner Imports, Cheapside, Lo ndon

22 September 1812

E lizabeth looked around the room. There was a large oak desk with a massive black leather chair against the wall. Two smaller leather chairs sat in front of the desk, and they looked stiff. The desk loomed large in the room and the smaller chairs were in a definite position of inferiority. Perhaps the elder Mr. Gardiner had used the difference in furniture size to gain the upper hand in business negotiations. Whatever the reason, the effect was profound.

In the corner of the room sat a much less menacing couch covered in a dusty white sheet. Darcy was already carefully folding the sheet to avoid kicking up any dust. She followed his silent lead and sat on the edge as far from him as possible with her hands folded in her lap. How does one start such a conversa tion?

I love you desperately, but you know you cannot marr y me .

Think of Miss Darcy! We cannot ruin your baby si ster.

I could not bear it if you came to resent me for ruining your life.

That last thought started her tears again. For, if Elizabeth was honest with herself, this was the real reason she would not succumb to any pressure he may lay upon her. If Elizabeth relented and secured her own happiness at the expense of the Darcys’ family reputation, he would surely come to resent her. It would be better to live her life as a lonely spinster and have memories of their one kiss than to wake up one day knowing that her husband no longer loved her.

Darcy went from distressed to despondent when he saw her tears. He pulled his handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped her eyes. With one finger under her delicate chin, he lifted her face to his and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Miss Elizabeth, I beg of you, please tell me what distresses yo u so.”

Honesty was her only choice. “I will not allow my selfishness to ruin your sweet sister. Despite your wishes and mine, we cannot m arry.”

Darcy looked at her with sad acceptance. She feared his next words as much as she knew they must come.

“My sister is the reason I am here today. She urged me to come and declare myself to you. She does not fear the scorn of society, so why should we fear for her?”

This was not what Elizabeth expected him to say. Something inside her snapped, and all her sadness flashed into ire. “Why? ‘Why,’ you ask? You cannot be serious! She is but a child and you are her guardian! She has not even come out into society yet. She has never had the privilege of dancing at an assembly or attending a glittering dinner party. She cannot have many friends, and now you wish to relegate her to the untouchables! What can you be thinking? You may not be willing to set aside your selfishness for another, but I am. I will not take her life away before she can liv e it!”

Darcy dropped both of his hands from her face, rose from the sofa and strode to the one window in the room, behind the massive desk. It was covered with a dirty blind, but seeing the outside world was not his goal. Much like her words at Hunsford after his disastrous and insulting marriage proposal, these accusations cut him deeply. Her reproofs then were not totally unfounded, but if he could not control his temper, this interview would dissolve quickly, and no solution would ever be reached. After several regulated breaths, Darcy turned back to Elizabeth who had collapsed into herself. With her face in her hands, she sobbed silently, tears streaming onto her gown.

What had his sister said last night? Do you not love her in part because she has her own mind? Perhaps you should use it! Yes, that was it. He must not giv e up.

Darcy made his way back to Elizabeth’s side. He took her in his arms like he used to hold Georgiana when she had bad dreams as a child. He shushed her softly then relayed his sister’s wisdom. “Georgiana told me many things last night, but the most intelligent thing she said was to remind me of your beautiful mind. I believe that we are stronger together than apart, and by working as partners, we will find the solutions that elude us individually.” Darcy leaned back and cupped Elizabeth’s cheek. He waited until she looked up at him before continuing. “I am totally besotted and wish to never be parted from you. I believe you have confessed this morning to loving me as well. We will find a way to secure our own happiness and protect our families, but we must consider all of the options together and not let the heartbreak of these last weeks overcom e us.”

Reaching again for the handkerchief he had given her, Elizabeth looked back down. It was hard to argue with him when looking into his sincere eyes. “It would be more than eighteen months before the shame of Lydia’s situation could ever be dismissed enough to make me marriageable. And, regardless of Miss Darcy’s contention otherwise, I will consider her future. We could not marry until her situation is definite. That could be years yet. I cannot be a burden on my family for so long and my taking a position would do even more damage to my reputation.” Trying to make him understand, Elizabeth looked back to his face, allowing the tears to continue to fall. “London society would never allow you to marry a woman who had taken a position, even if I were a companion or governess to a landed fa mily.”

Darcy stood and began to pace. “What if I were to supply your uncle with the money to support you and Miss Bennet? Then there would be more to send to your mother and younger sisters.” Elizabeth started to shake her head, but Darcy continued. “Not directly, of course, as that would garner suspicion. But I have been considering diversifying my holdings and Charles recently mentioned how well some of his import stocks were faring. This appears to be a large, well -r un organization and the state of Edward’s furnishings speak of good profits. I could buy in as an investor and free up some of Gardiner Imports’ cap ital.”

“If anyone found out, we would all be ruined. Do not forget that my uncle shares our shame as one of Lydia’s guardians and the ton will assign it to anyone connected to us. A capital investor from such high society will be ridiculed for investing with such a disreputable fa mily.”

Stepping up to the window again, Darcy stared out and paused, twirling his signet ring behind his back. “Then, perhaps you could come and be Georgiana’s companion, at least outwardly. In reality, we would marry quietly by special license and not announce the union until after Georgiana has a suitor. This way, any money I send to Edward could be masked as your ‘salary,’ and we could be toge ther.”

The hope in Elizabeth’s chest was too tight. There was still much to consider. “Miss Darcy already has a companion, does she not?”

Darcy smiled. This was not a true argument, at least not from Elizabeth. He returned to the sofa and sat close by her side. “Yes, but Mrs. Annesley is more of her governess than a debut companion. A young lady newly out who has no mother or older sister to guide her often takes a slightly older companion for social functions. This woman is usually unmarried and serves as her friend as well as her chaperon. Mrs. Annesley does not fit that position, and I was going to hire someone soon for just that purpose. And, Elizabeth, I believe we are beyond formalities.” Taking both of her hands, Darcy placed sweet kisses to the back of her knuckles. “Please, my sister is Georgiana, and I would be honoured if you would call me Wil liam.”

“I cannot think of a greater pleasure, William.” Tears once again rose to Elizabeth’s eyes, but they were happy tears. After another moment, the crease returned to her brow. “Lady Catherine will never allow me to serve as Georgiana’s companion. My ridiculous cousin continues to write her. The letter telling of Lydia’s condition is likely already in the post. If you defy her, she will tell all who will listen about my sister, and I will be forced to re sign.”

Blast his aunt! “Perhaps we need to consider Miss Lydia. How many people were privy to their living situation before the duel? Would it be credible to purchase a forged marriage license for her and Wic kham?”

“But my father killed him in a duel. Why would that have taken place if they had mar ried?”

“An enraged father might still challenge the son - i n -l aw to a duel for the heartache caused.” An image of himself facing against Wickham for all the worry and heartache caused to Georgiana and now Elizabeth rose to Darcy’s mind. Before he could become too upset by thoughts of a man who was now beyond harming his family, Darcy cleared his throat. “Besides, the marriage could not be truly legal, since she was sixteen without a guardian present. But if we confabulated the fact that a ceremony took place, it would lessen her shame. Also, now that she is pregnant, a defective marriage license will be ratified by effect of the common law. She could be considered a widow and the child legiti mate.”

“Would it be enough for Lady Catherine and my co usin?”

“Perhaps we need to combine all three.” Darcy sat back on the sofa and placed his arm on it, behind Elizabeth, inching ever so closer. “If we also bandy about the notion that I had come to an understanding with Edward about a business deal prior to learning of Miss Lydia’s elopement, then it gives me a reason to be involved with her restoration. I would not want my substantial investment to be tarnished. I would show my support by taking on one of the elder sisters as Georgie’s companion and use the license story in public against any rumours anyone wants to spread. Additionally, I believe we can convince Collins to reverse his course and comply with the marriage license story based on his ongoing connection to the Ben nets.”

All of a sudden, Elizabeth felt like they could actually do this. Was it truly possible to secure their own happiness and protect their sisters? But the story was getting rather elaborate. A forged marriage license; a secret wedding; a hurried business investment. Plus, playing the part of Darcy’s employee during the London se ason.

Elizabeth turned to Darcy. “William, I can see how the pieces fit together, but we must carefully consider who needs to know which part of the story. If too many people know of our marriage, it will surely slip one day in a most disadvantageous fashion. Also, if too many people know we faked Lydia’s marriage license, that will also become common knowledge.” Elizabeth looked away from his face, scooted slightly away from his body and fidgeted with the handkerchief in her lap. “Perhaps we should wait to actually marry until after Georgiana is set tled.”

Alarmed at her withdrawal, Darcy moved again and reduced the space between them. “I do not know if our living under the same roof unmarried is a good idea. I am not a saint, Elizabeth.” He adjusted his cravat and gave Elizabeth a serious look when she finally lifted her eyes back to him. Catching his meaning, Elizabeth blushed, then laughed at the tension between them.

Darcy relaxed and reclaimed her hands in his own. “But I agree with keeping the plan as quiet as possible. Georgiana would need to know about our marriage of course, and the Darcy family house servants. That may seem like a large number of people, but my servants are extremely discreet. All of them. Most are from the Grayson -R eynolds family which has been serving us for five generations. If we explain the entire situation to Mrs. Reynolds, she will decide what to tell the staff, and there will be no questions and no breaches of our trust. I believe we should also tell Edward. He can help find any issues we may have missed, and his discretion is assured. Who else in your family we tell is up to you, but I would not tell anyone else in mine. I know what Lady Catherine will say, but the Fitzwilliams’ reaction I am unsure of. My uncle, Lord Matlock, is a wonderful man and has always been understanding, but he has a position in the House of Lords to consider. Even Richard I cannot be sur e of.”

“We should tell no one in my family,” Elizabeth laughed, ruefully. “Mother is the opposite of discreet. Mary would abhor the deception. Kitty would giggle and inevitably tell Maria Lucas, and Jane would be burdened by our secret. She has never been able to keep anything from Mamma. No, our marriage will be known only by you, Georgiana, Uncle Edward, and myself. Everyone else shall be told the investment story to explain your involve ment.”

The smile that shone from Darcy’s face was brilliant. Truly, no one was his equal when he smiled. “Does that mean you will marry me, Eliza beth?”

Her eyes sparkled with wit and her left eyebrow rose. Darcy thrilled in the expression, so familiar from their prior sparring matches, yet unseen since she had opened Jane’s letter in Lambton. “Do you consider that a proper proposal, Mr. D arcy?”

He laughed out loud. “Yes, woman, I do consider that a proposal, though perhaps not as proper as you prefer. Here, let me prepare for attempt four, so I can appease your high stand ards.”

“How do you come to the number four?”

“First was my abysmal attempt at Hunsford. Second was in your uncle’s back garden this morning after a most satisfying kiss. Third was just now. And fourth shall be in a moment.” Darcy slid off the sofa. He took off the signet ring from his left middle finger and tested which of her delicate fingers would hold the large ring. Finding that her right thumb was large enough to ensure the ring would not slip off immediately, Darcy placed his signet on her hand and kissed her knuckle just above the thick metal. “Elizabeth Bennet, I have never loved anyone as I love you. I cannot live my life without you by my side. You make me better and I want nothing more than to have you as my partner, body, mind, and soul. Please, will you consent to be my wife?”

“Yes.”