Page 12 of Unwillingly Mrs. Darcy

Elizabeth

E lizabeth walked along the gravel path leading to the inn, her heart was thundering in her chest as each step brought her closer to him. The prospect of facing Mr Darcy again unnerved her, though she steadied herself with long-practiced composure. Before entering, she paused to address the innkeeper. “Please inform Mr Darcy that I am waiting for him outside. He is expecting me.”

Moments later, Mr Darcy emerged, the faintest of smiles softening his otherwise serious demeanour. Elizabeth’s chest tightened involuntarily. She chastised herself for the sudden flutter, reminding herself why she was here.

“Miss Bennet,” Mr Darcy greeted her warmly as he approached. “I must admit, I had hoped you had reached a decision quickly. Although your countenance implies there is more to discuss.”

Elizabeth took a steadying breath. “Indeed, there is much to discuss, Mr Darcy. Let me begin by saying I have not decided, though it would be foolish of me to deny the weight of my family’s circumstances.” She met his gaze squarely. “That said, I must be transparent. I have no desire to become Mrs Darcy, and I struggle to believe your intentions in proposing this arrangement are entirely pure.”

Mr Darcy let out a quiet snort in response to her words, an uncharacteristic and unguarded reaction that caught Elizabeth by surprise. “Pure intentions? Miss Bennet, I make no such claim. It is true—I desired to marry you. In truth, my feelings for you have not much altered, despite your stern rebuke the last time we spoke on this subject. However, I assure you, this is no underhanded ploy.”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, her scepticism plain. “Yet you admit your feelings have not changed. Am I to believe this proposal is wholly driven by necessity? Might it not be your way of achieving your original aim after all?”

“Partially,” Mr Darcy said honestly, surprising her. “But my reasons are far from singular. Yes, I do hope that this marriage might provide an opportunity for you to reconsider your judgement of me. Still, I must insist that our conversation focuses on matters of practicality, not my affections.” He straightened, and Elizabeth could tell he was restraining himself. “There is no need for conjecture, Miss Bennet. Whatever my motives, this arrangement serves a greater purpose. We both have families to protect. We can do so together.”

“Why must it be a marriage? Why can’t it be a courtship? A false courtship. Surely that would satisfy anyone curious about your circumstances?”

He shook his head. “I had considered it. While it might silence the gossips amongst the Ton, it would not help me—or my cousin—in the long term. As long as I am unwed, my aunt will insist that I marry Anne. No, I must have a wife, there is no other way around it.” He paused before addressing her further, “Besides, a courtship that does not end in a marriage could bring suspicion on you, I do not wish society to judge you or your family harshly.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. A part of her did feel some sense of relief that her reputation had figured in his final decision. However, she had to keep her feelings at bay, so she hardened her heart and said, “A neat little solution for you. But what would become of me should I tire of being your unwilling bride?”

Mr Darcy stepped closer, his voice lowering slightly. “I thought you might ask such a question. Which is why I wish to make something clear. I propose an agreement. We will marry to preserve appearances—for both our families’ sakes—and after sufficient time has passed, we can annul the union, if that is still your wish. I will arrange everything, including a generous settlement, and shoulder the blame entirely. It will not reflect poorly upon you.”

Elizabeth’s breath caught. “An annulment? You would simply allow me to leave you—freely, without contest?”

“Yes,” Mr Darcy affirmed. “Though I hope you might find staying with me more agreeable than you currently imagine. Whatever your ultimate decision, my intention is to ensure your family is provided for.”

Elizabeth hesitated. “And you suppose I could remarry after such an annulment? Surely you know what is said of women in our society who have a marriage end thus. No matter how much you claim to take the blame, it will be I who is held responsible.”

Mr Darcy frowned slightly. “It is possible that society’s views would hinder such prospects, though the blame will rest solely upon me. Still, even if that outcome makes a second marriage difficult, you would have independence and security, unbound by any obligations to me.”

Elizabeth could hardly believe what she was hearing. “And you would commit all of this to paper? An agreement properly witnessed and recorded?”

“Every word,” Mr Darcy replied without hesitation. “My solicitor will handle the particulars, and your uncle may review them for fairness.”

Her astonishment was palpable. He was agreeing to nearly all the terms she might have demanded—but why? “Is marrying your cousin so intolerable to you that you’d go to these lengths to avoid it?”

Mr Darcy’s jaw tightened briefly. “It is not just my reluctance, Miss Bennet. My cousin Anne does not desire the match either.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping slightly. “Though it is not widely known, Anne has affection for someone else—my cousin Richard. Lady Catherine would never consent to such a union, but my marriage to you might finally permit it to happen quietly.”

Elizabeth blinked, processing the revelation. She had met Colonel Fitzwilliam briefly when he visited Rosings, and had thought him to be a fine, upstanding gentleman. She wondered why Lady Catherine favoured Mr Darcy over his cousin. “Does Lady Catherine know of their feelings for one another?”

“She does not,” Mr Darcy said sharply. “And she must not. Were she to suspect, she would do everything in her considerable power to thwart them. Richard’s prospects depend upon her goodwill—and that of my uncle, his father the Earl of Matlock. Perhaps things might have been different were he the first son, but as the second, my aunt would see him as a less desirable prospect.”

Elizabeth felt her discomfort rising. The weight of the situation was heavier than she had imagined. Yet, as she considered the prospects of supporting her family, sparing her sisters undue burdens, and alleviating Mr Darcy’s guilt-ridden sense of responsibility, she realised that his proposal might indeed hold the only viable solution.

“I…” she hesitated. “I am unsure if you understand the financial burden, Mr Darcy. My father’s best chance at recovery is to have a physician at his side as often as possible, a physician like this is expensive.”

“It would also benefit him to have nurses to aid him, and your mother. I am aware. I have made enquiries. I know just such a physician who is willing to come here and stay at Longbourn, or one of the cottages nearby. He can bring trusted assistants as well.”

“I could not presume to ask you to pay such a sum.”

“You, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, could not,” he said. “But Mrs Darcy, Mistress of Pemberley most certainly could—and should. Of course, you would have to consent to return to Pemberley with me, otherwise we will not be believed.”

She pondered this for a moment and then said, “There is one condition I would add.”

Mr Darcy waited patiently.

“If I must live at Pemberley, I will take Mary and Kitty with me. If mother is to have a physician and nurses to help, then they will not be needed. Indeed, I fear they are ill-prepared to manage things at home, and absence might harm their development more than it helps.”

“And what of Jane and your youngest sister, Lydia?”

“Lydia is content to stay in Brighton with the Forsters for now. They have invited her to spend the summer with them. Jane would never agree to leave, she will stay to care for my mother and father. If I am to be separated from my father, then I would wish that she remain with him.”

A faint smile softened Darcy’s face. “If your father was well enough to travel then I would have suggested that he recuperates at Pemberley with us. Indeed, as soon as his physician says that travel is permissible, then I insist. The fresh Derbyshire air is a balm to the soul and would do him a world of good. Of course, your sisters would be welcome at Pemberley. I imagine Georgiana will find their company most agreeable.”

Elizabeth was startled yet again by the ease of his acquiescence. “You would have everything ready for us? The treatment, arrangements for my family, all written and formalised?”

“Absolutely,” he affirmed.

Elizabeth hesitated for only a moment longer before she reluctantly agreed. “Then I suppose, Mr Darcy, you and I are to be wed.”

Mr Darcy’s expression softened further, the intensity of his gaze warming. “I give you my word, Miss Bennet, that I will not let you regret this choice.”

But as Mr Darcy walked away to make the preparations, Elizabeth wondered—could such a promise truly be trusted?