Page 42 of Why I Kissed You (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“What the devil do you think that’s all about?”

Darcy turned his head, as most of the others did, on hearing muted laughter emanating from the direction of the library.

“Perhaps Darcy’s darling bride is being especially witty,” quipped Wickham.

The reprobate smirked at Darcy’s answering scowl. “I would appreciate these proceedings concluding as quickly as possible,” said he tersely, “that my bride might finally become my wife.”

Anne drew breath to speak and was immediately rendered silent by a sharp glare from Lady Disley.

“I should as much like to get home to my own family,” said Bishop Keller.

John Knightley did not look up from the desk at which he sat scribbling away. “Nearly finished, gentlemen,” he muttered.

“How convenient, Cousin Darcy, that your attorney should be the same as your uncle’s and my own blushing bride,” said Wickham, earning a glare and a snort of disgust from Anne. “She can’t take her new will to her lawyer and claim she was coerced.”

“I was coerced!” cried Anne. “Bishop Keller, how can you—as a man of the clergy—condone a young lady being forced to marry a man she despises against her will?”

“You didn’t despise me last night, Anne, my darling,” Wickham teased.

“Enough, Wickham!” snapped Lord Disley.

“Miss de Bourgh,” the bishop began in a calm, almost serene manner; Darcy suspected his silence for near the entire process had been spent in prayer for patience, “you lied to me—more than that, you made a vow before God Almighty that you were not lying. Being leg-shackled—oh, I do hope I am using the common cant correctly—to a man you claim to despise is a rather apt punishment for your wickedness. Instead of raging about the situation in which you have found yourself, child, perhaps you ought begin praying to our Lord for forgiveness of your sins, and those of the man you are soon to wed, that He might set both of you on a more righteous path.”

The colonel and the viscount snorted softly, and Darcy just managed to keep his own derision under control.

He could not wait for this wretched business to be done with so that they could proceed with the ceremony, and he could finally make Elizabeth Bennet his wife.

How he despised Anne and her mother at this moment, for casting a pall over what was meant to be one of the most joyful days of his life.

It would be a long time indeed—if ever—before he spoke to either of them again.

His patience with Wickham’s smug countenance and Anne’s petulant pouting had about been worn entirely away when Mr. Knightley announced he had finished writing the marriage articles and the two wills.

“All three?” marveled Lord Disley as he stood to receive the sheaf of papers Knightley held out to him.

“Yes, my lord,” said the attorney with a nod. “One must learn to write uncommonly fast in my profession.”

As the earl began to peruse the documents he held, Knightley said, “Really, all that’s left to do is have them signed and witnessed.”

“Thank God,” said Darcy.

Anne jumped to her feet and stood before the earl. “Uncle, please don’t make me do this! I don’t want a reprobate for a husband!”

Lord Disley looked up from the papers in his hand.

“You should have thought of that, Anne, before you threw away your virtue to try and force a man to marry you who has said for many years that he had no intention of taking you to wife. Had you and your mother respected Darcy’s wishes in this matter, we wouldn’t have had to resort to these measures. ”

“Why couldn’t Darcy respect our wishes? Why didn’t you make him?!” Anne demanded.

“Because Darcy is a man,” said Lady Disley in an exasperated tone.

Darcy stood. “I respected your wishes, cousin, insofar as acknowledging you had them. And that was as far as I was willing to go, as your wishes and my own have never been the same. As such, I was not obligated to do as you and your mother wanted. I am fortunate enough to be in a position to marry where I choose. As I told you yesterday, I am sorry it pains you that you have never been my choice, but my choice of wife has always been mine to make—not yours, not your mother’s.

Not even my own mother would have had the right to make that choice for me. ”

“Mr. Knightley will show you both where to sign,” said the earl then, handing the papers back to the lawyer. “Do not refuse me, Anne, for you will not like the penalty.”

Something in his expression, or that deep “Do not try me” voice he’d used, must have finally broken through Anne’s stubbornness, for she glared at her uncle and stomped across the room to the writing desk where Knightley had retreated with the papers.

Wickham stood lazily and followed, and they both signed their names—Anne scratching hers out with an angry scrawl and Wickham an arrogant flourish.

Lord and Lady Disley, Lord Rowarth, and Colonel Fitzwilliam followed one by one to sign as witnesses.

“Now that all is settled,” said Wickham, “what shall my lady and I do now?”

“ You can return to Hertfordshire, for the time being,” said Lord Disley. “After all, you must resign your commission and close your accounts there.”

Fitzwilliam snorted. “He probably doesn’t have the money to pay his accounts,” he said.

Wickham neither confirmed nor refuted the claim.

Lord Disley scowled at him. “If you have debts, find a way to pay them—because we’ll not be paying them for you.

I don’t care how much you owe or to whom you owe it.

It’s long past time you learned to manage your money wisely, boy.

And remember this for once you are married to my niece: If I find that you are squandering Rosings funds, I will not hesitate to have you shipped off to a debtor’s prison. Do I make myself clear?”

“And make no mistake about it, Wickham,” added Lord Rowarth, “my brother and I will be keeping an eye on you.”

Darcy watched a flash of anger cross over Wickham’s expression, before he wordlessly spun about and headed for the door.

“Be at Rosings no later than a month from today,” the earl called after him .

Wickham paused in the doorway and looked over his shoulder. “A whole month’s reprieve before I’m to be leg-shackled, as the good bishop said? I’m astounded by your kindness, sir.”

“Only because you must wait for the reading of the banns before you marry,” supplied Bishop Keller.

Anne scoffed and crossed her arms, glaring again as she said to her uncle, “Oh, you’ll help Darcy get a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury, but not your niece?”

“You do not deserve to even be introduced to His Grace, Anne, let alone ask for his favor,” snapped Lady Disley.

“The only reason your uncle did so for your cousin was to avoid just such a calamitous incident as you’ve caused today!

Did you not once stop to think what a scandal you were risking, laying with that boy like a common trollop?

Have you no shame for letting a steward’s son deflower you when by right that gift should have been your husband’s honor? ”

“That steward’s son is still here and listening to every word,” said Wickham. “I’d appreciate it if you’d cease using that description as an insult, seeing as we are all of us to be one big, happy family.”

“Oh, shut up and get out, Wickham!” said Fitzwilliam.

Wickham smiled toothily, made a mocking bow, and finally left. When they had heard the front door open and close, all eyes turned to Anne.

“I believe your maid and your belongings are waiting in your carriage, Anne,” said Lord Disley. “Do be hasty in joining them that you may return to Kent and inform your mother of the mess you’ve both made.”

“You’re just going to dismiss me like a common shopkeeper?” Anne cried incredulously.

“Well, when you behave like the commonfolk, Annie,” said Lord Rowarth, “you get treated as they do. We’ll see each other again at your wedding.”

Anne growled and stomped her foot in a most unladylike fashion before whirling and stomping over to the door. She turned back as Wickham had done and said, “My mother will never let you get away with this.”

Lord Disley gestured toward John Knightley. “Your mother doesn’t have a choice—and neither do you, unless you wish to face legal repercussions for breach of contract. Have a good day, Anne, and do not forget to arrange for the reading of the banns in Hunsford on Sunday—I will know if you do not.”

With a last hateful glare, she departed, and the front door of Darcy House was slammed on her exit.

Darcy drew a deep breath and sighed as his aunt turned to her husband and asked, “I have but one question, my lord… What if Anne’s weak constitution should lead to her death? You know how easily she catches the slightest cold.”

Lord Disley looked to Knightley, and the attorney cleared his throat softly and said, “As per His Lordship’s instructions, my lady, there is a stipulation in the marriage contract which states that Mr. Wickham is required to continue as parent and guardian of any underage children or unmarried daughters on the event of his wife’s death.

If she should perish before bearing him children, he will receive a one-time payment of ten thousand pounds and be absolved of any further obligation towards the Rosings estate. ”

“And what if something should happen to Wickham, Father?” asked Lord Rowarth.

“Anne’s original will, which we drew up upon her majority, already stated that if she should pass without issue, Rosings would go to one of her de Bourgh cousins,” Lord Disley replied.

“Now it will go to her cousin even if she has children. She still has lifetime residency—I’ve not taken that away from her.

But considering who her husband will be, I did not think they deserved to pass the property to their children, if they even have any. ”

“I no longer wish to speak of Anne and Wickham, Uncle,” said Darcy then. “This is supposed to be my wedding day, and I should like very much to be married before the day’s end, if you please.”