Elizabeth was quick to fill the silence. She had more arguments, and she would voice them. Turning to Mr. Darcy, she asked, “I do not suppose you would agree to jilt me and marry another lady post haste?”
His eyes darkened. “How would that repair your reputation? People would assume you were in the wrong.”
Elizabeth felt the ground crumbling under her feet. She was running out of options. “Because people always side with the gentleman—especially if he has 10,000 a year,” she grumbled. Society was unfair. Why did it allow gentlemen to do as they pleased but considered the lady ruined?
Mr. Darcy straightened to his full height. “I am no happier at the injustice females must endure at the hand of a hypocritical society than I am to have my fortune so grossly underestimated.”
There was the proud Mr. Darcy she knew.
Papa chuckled. Elizabeth wanted to hit something. “Your wealth means nothing to me.”
He stepped closer to her, his tone softer. “I realize that you find a union with me repulsive.”
That drew her eyes to him. The look she saw in his expression was humble, pleading, concerned.
Perhaps she was being too harsh. When he spoke again, she listened with a more open mind. “The damage has been done, and I shall spend my remaining days making what reparation I can. However, it is in your hand to save the reputations of your sisters.”
The truth hit Elizabeth with the force of a battering ram. She would do anything to spare her sisters from ruin. If she did not act quickly, her sisters’ prospects would be vanquished before they even departed from Netherfield. Given the scandal he would have to endure, it was not likely that Mr. Bingley would propose to Jane—especially with his sisters, who would do nothing to strain their friendship with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s refusal would mean the end for Jane, for her sisters, for herself. Not even Mr. Collins would have them. The fact that she would even think of him right then was proof of the desperation of her position.
There was no other option. Elizabeth would have to marry Mr. Darcy.
He extended his hand, and she numbly accepted it.
Dropping to one knee, he asked, “Miss Elizabeth, will you do me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?”
He was sincere. Had the circumstances been any different, she would have found his gesture charming. At least, he offered the pretense of a choice. It made what could have been a heartless transaction—his name for her respectability—more palatable. More hopeful.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth swallowed hard and said, “I will.”
CHAPTER14
Darcy’s face flooded with heat with all he had endured over the past few minutes. First, a father whose negligence exposed his family to shame had questioned Darcy’s honor and called him to account for his ungentlemanly behavior. That the accusations were not unfounded struck Darcy to the core.
However, it was Elizabeth’s reaction which crushed him. Was marriage to him so unpalatable that she would rather face absolute ruin? If not for her loyalty to her sisters, Darcy was convinced Elizabeth would have stood by her decision to refuse him. Him! A Darcy!
On one hand, he grumbled at her displeasure. He was hardly an ogre! On the other hand, he admired her. Elizabeth was a lady of high principles. She did not pretend an emotion she did not possess, nor was she swayed by fortune. Her respect and affection would be honestly granted… if he could earn them.
He rose to his feet, releasing her hand as he did, and the irony of their position nearly moved him to laugh. Of all the women he could be stuck with, it had to be the one who had posed the greatest threat to his plans.
Now she had ruined his escape to London. Throughout the recent events, Darcy had spared nary a thought for Bingley, Miss Bennet, or even Georgiana. He would have to be cautious lest Elizabeth distract him altogether from his purpose: to get Bingley away from the Bennets.
That was a problem he would wrestle with later.
First, he must convince a skeptical crowd of a secret engagement. Growing up with Wickham had taught Darcy that facts were useless unless people believed them. Appearance was everything. If he and Elizabeth won over the good opinion of the majority, nobody would doubt the veracity of their tale.
Mr. Bennet took his daughter’s hands in his, pressing them against his chest. “It is a better beginning than most have, my dear girl. I will own that I am encouraged toward optimism. Both of you are of strong mind and character, and I have no doubt that if you direct your energies to work together, you will find a way to be content enough. Perhaps you will be happy, and you will think upon this moment with humor some day.”
Darcy did not feel like laughing, but he appreciated the attempt at lightheartedness. He could see where Elizabeth had learned it.
Moving away from his daughter toward the door, Mr. Bennet said, “I shall tell Mrs. Bennet the good news. She will be delighted.”
It pained Darcy to be the object of that vulgar woman’s delight. He dreaded the day Mrs. Bennet crossed paths with his aunt Catherine.
There was another detail he must share before Mr. Bennet departed and the curtains opened to Act One of his new life. “About that… there is something you must know which will undoubtedly add credibility to our sudden announcement.”
Two sets of curious eyes regarded him.
Mr. Bennet said, “You have an evil twin who called my Lizzy ‘barely tolerable’ at first sight?”
