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Elizabeth walked into her father’s library, praying that he had changed his mind and would support her decision to reject Mr Darcy’s offer and wait out the rumors.

“Ah, Elizabeth, quite the dilemma you have gotten yourself into this time,” he said gravely after she shut the door.

She paused before going to the chair in front of his desk. He did not sound as jovial as she would have thought. He normally found humour in everything. She sat and waited for him to say something, anything. He returned her gaze then gave her a weak smile. She felt sick in the pit of her stomach.

“Papa,” she said, slowly fidgeting in her seat. “Surely you can see my reason for not wanting to marry Mr Darcy?”

“Yes,” he drawled out, nodding slowly. “I am sure being a countess would be such a chore. Servants to do the bidding of your slightest whim would get tedious after a time.”

Elizabeth stared at him, trying to read his mood.

“So I can take it that you have settled on your cousin?”

She looked horrified. “No. I want neither.”

He looked at her sadly. “Unfortunately, those are your two choices unless you have a third, Mr Wickham perhaps? Your mother was most annoyed that you spent time talking discreetly with him.”

“No, Father.”

“I admit it is not an ideal situation and one I never expected you to be, but it is where we find ourselves. As your father, it grieves me, but I also have to look out for the welfare of your sisters. We already have a considerable lack of eligible men around here. Regardless of what may or may not have happened, your actions will affect their reputations, more so if I do nothing and let you have your way. I have thought for some time now that I would have a similar issue with Lydia or perhaps Kitty. I thought you to be more sensible.”

“So an act of simple compassion comes back to bite my hand,” she replied sadly.

“You have the choice between an earl and the man who is set to inherit our home. Many young ladies have thrown away their virtue for a rake, gambler, or wastrel.”

“My virtue is still intact,” Elizabeth declared angrily.

“Not in the eyes of our friends and neighbors,” he replied bitterly, “and that is what matters right now. It is an unfortunate truth of our times. What society believes you have done will be the perception, even if it is completely untrue. Maybe one day we will grow out of such folly, but as it stands now…” He looked at her with sadness and shrugged.

“It will eventually fade away.”

“No, it is already like an out-of-control fire. Some are saying this was preplanned.”

“Preplanned? How can that be when we have barely met?”

“You supposedly became acquainted when you visited your aunt in London this summer. The story is that the deaths in his family put a temporary halt to your affair. Once an acceptable amount of time had passed, he searched for a property near you. Netherfield was perfectly situated for continuing the affair, so he convinced his friend Mr Bingley to take it. Which I might add, is the reason for his short lease.”

“How can anyone in their right mind believe such nonsense?”

“Sometimes the more ridiculous the story, the more believable it becomes as who would make up such a tale? Mr Darcy being stranger and because of his status in high society, was being watched. Watched very carefully, it seems. The first night he was in town. The two of you danced at the assembly.”

“The first time we met, and that is what people do at dances.”

“Yes, but you were the only one of our local women to whom he gave the pleasure. A short time later, you were observed alone on the balcony.”

“I was looking for Lydia, and he happened to be there.”

“Or it was an arranged rendezvous. Someone below heard a snippet of your conversation about your dress and your modesty.”

Elizabeth paled. “It was only a jest.”

“You were then observed returning to the floor a discreet time apart so as not to attract attention.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“Maybe so. You two have been observed at various parties in close conversation.”

“That is a natural phenomenon at parties. People come together and talk.”

“I know, but do they meet on Oakham Mount to continue their conversation or perhaps plan what they will discuss at the next party? Like your rendezvous with him the day of the Lucas dinner party.”

Elizabeth could not tell if he meant that statement to be humorous. It sounded that way, but his countenance did not display his usual signs of jocularity when he was making fun at a subject.

“Do I really need to hear this nonsense?”

“Unfortunately, yes. I think you do, so you know the seriousness of it.”

“Then please, tell me what else I am accused of to carry out this affair,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Mr Darcy then spent the night here.”

“So they think we carried on this salacious affair under your very nose?”

He ignored her response and went to the next accusation. “The following day, you were observed in his carriage on the way to Netherfield.”

“With your permission, and Mr Bingley was with us,” she cried, raising her voice in frustration.

“Then it is a good thing they did not see Mr Bingley or what people think might be even more vulgar.”

“Father!”

“I do not like this any more than you do, Elizabeth. If it were another family, I might find humour in the stupidity of all these accusations. Lies always travel faster than the truth and outweigh it tenfold. However, it is my family. Because it is you in particular, I do not enjoy this any more than you.”

Elizabeth crossed her arms and fumed. He scrutinized her for a moment before continuing.

“That same day, you were both spotted alone in the stables.”

“I was making sure Mr Withers was being cared for.”

“To others, it was a potential romp in the hay.”

“Oh please, I don’t know how much more I can take.”

“As I have only one more before the night in question, I shall continue if you do not mind.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and told him to finish, wondering what other possible charge he could have heard. She knew he did not believe a word of it but knew that as her father, who cared for her, was laying bare all he had somehow found out. She wondered if he had made inquiries because he thought she had lied?

“This is probably the most damning piece of information I have received. Not that I don’t believe you, as I mean in that it is as others see it.”

“I am well aware of the low regard people think of me now, Father. Say what you have to say and let’s be done with it.”

“Mr Darcy was overheard convincing Mr Bingley to offer you the opportunity to stay at Netherfield.”

“Yes, to take care of Jane and help him with his sister and cousin,” she replied angrily.

He held up his hand to stop her. “Any single instance of these events might cause people to think nothing of it. But a series of coincidental circumstances add up to the most damning of all.” He paused, not for dramatic effect but because he hated to have to say it. “You were seen asleep together on the couch in the drawing room. The original rumor. When that began to circulate, the one you admit to, the gossip started. The other aforementioned bits of information coalesced into this grand affair. I know you have a believable answer for all these accusations, but you have confessed to the one that matters.”

“Because it is the truth,” she cried.

“Do you understand where this is going?”

“People will believe anything they hear?”

“Yes, and we need to resolve this problem,” he said emphatically.

“Please do not do this, Papa.”

“I have no regard for what others think of me. Right now, I have to consider your sisters and their futures. I will not live forever. When I depart this life, this house will go to your cousin. That is a simple fact I have to face. You must make this right.”

Elizabeth slumped at his words, knowing what he said was true. She knew of two girls from the village who succumbed to gossip’s judgment once the rumors began. One had hastily married. The other was sent away to live with distant relatives. She looked back up when her father let out a long sigh.

“I do not think Mr Collins wants anything to do with me now. Not that I care.”

“Mr Darcy might be willing to convince him these rumors.” He cleared his throat. “Are false.”

Elizabeth slowly shook her head.

“Then this should be easy. I abhor compelling you to accept marriage, so I will give you time to contemplate your own answer.”

“May I go now?”

“Yes, yes,” he answered, waving her away with a sad expression.

She pushed herself out of the chair and went to the door; as she reached out for the knob, he added. “Elizabeth, I am truly sorry it has come to this, but I can see no other way to resolve the issue that does not harm this family.”

She nodded, opened the door and slowly made her way upstairs to her room. The one saving grace that night was that Mr Collins accepted an invitation to dine at Lucas Lodge.