“Papa?Will you not say something?”
“Mr.Darcy?Your soulmate?”
“Yes.We were both quite surprised.He has the mark on his right arm.I only saw the bottom portion, it would have been indecorous for me to see the whole thing, but it is an exact replica of my mark, only smaller.”
Mr.Bennet continued to stare at his favorite daughter.
“I thought you liked Mr.Darcy?You seem to enjoy your discussions.”
“Yes, I like him well enough for a game of chess or a discussion of politics, but that is a far cry from wanting him to marry my daughter!”Bennet’s voice rose louder as he talked, and Elizabeth cringed back into her seat.
“So you do not approve?”she said in a small voice.She had never thought her father would deny her.She did not know what she would do if he withheld his consent.
Mr.Bennet sighed.“I am not saying I do not approve, but I do not love the idea either.He is a difficult man, Elizabeth.He will not be easy to be married to.”
“How do you mean?”
“Men like that are used to having things the way they like them.They do not often have to cede to another’s wishes or place another’s desires above their own.It can make them selfish, demanding.Unpleasant companions for more than an afternoon.”
“Mr.Bingley seems to like him well enough.”
“Bingley likes everyone.”
Elizabeth worried her lip.“I had not thought of all that.Do you truly think he will be a difficult companion?”
Bennet rubbed a hand across his brow.“I cannot say with any certainty.And it is a moot point if he is your soulmate.The mark will make him treat you well, or so I have heard.He will be incapable of being unkind to you.”
That was only a slight relief to Elizabeth.“I do not know that I want a husband who is kind only to me and a tyrant to everyone else.”
“Now, now, we don’t know that he is a tyrant.I should not have said anything.The truth is that we do not know him well.He may be perfectly companionable.”
Elizabeth nodded, her forehead still creased with worry.
“Let us do this.I will give him my permission to court you, and we will acknowledge the marks match after I have seen his, but you will wait several months before you wed.That will give you time to get to know him, and at least you will know what you are getting into.”He levelled her with a serious look.“Elizabeth, if you find you do not like him, you may stay here at Longbourn.Mate sickness is rare.There is a very good chance you could lead a perfectly happy life without him.”
“I do like him, papa.Far too much already, I fear.”
“Ah.”He smiled sadly.“That is the mark at work.Forgive me for frightening you, dear.I’m sure all will be well.Send your young man to me and I will work it all out with him.”
She nodded, worry gnawing at her mind.Was Mr.Darcy a demanding man?Would life with him be difficult and unpleasant?Was the happy home she wished for only a fantasy?She was afraid there was only one way to find out, and it was paved with peril.
Mrs.Bennet could not hide Jane forever, so she invited Bingley for a family dinner that evening so Mr.Collins would understand her eldest and most beautiful daughter was taken.And by a man with five thousand a year!
Kitty and Elizabeth conveniently secured an invitation to dine at Lucas Lodge that evening, and they were out the door and down the path before Mr.Collins could even see them, let alone be introduced.
Once she saw that Mary had a viable marriage prospect, Mrs.Bennet put extra effort into her least eligible daughter’s appearance.Mary was trussed up in one of Elizabeth’s gowns and her hair was done by Sarah before even Jane’s, something that had never happened as long as the girls could remember.No one was ever ready before Jane.
They knew for a fact that Mr.Collins was not marked—the poor man had not even known he could be marked.His miserly father had not arranged a ceremony for him, nor informed him of the usual procedure.By the time Mr.Collins realized he had missed this important rite of passage, he was sixteen years old.
Mrs.Bennet had told Mary in no uncertain terms of the risks of marrying an unmarked man.He could come into a mark later.It was unlikely, as Mr.Collins was already five and twenty—and she could not think who Fate would purposely saddle with such a buffoon—but there was always the possibility, and she did not want Mary to be shocked if she woke up next to a marked man one day.
Mary knew the risks and told her mother she was ready.She was proud to be the next mistress of Longbourn.She may not be the most beautiful, or even the third most beautiful of her sisters, but she could carry on their family legacy and ensure Longbourn remained in Bennet hands.She could be proud of that.
When Mary stepped into the drawing room before dinner, Mr.Collins stared at her in silence for a full minute.As if that alone was not a great feat, he then proceeded to splutter through a clearly unrehearsed compliment that left Mary blushing.Mrs.Bennet was beaming with triumph.Her daughter would be Mistress of Longbourn, and it would be her home forever.Just as it always should have been.
The following day brought great excitement to Longbourn.First, Mr.Collins asked Mary for a private audience after breakfast.Mrs.Bennet was already ridiculously happy because of Jane’s impending wedding, and Mary’s betrothal was icing on a five-thousand-pounds-a-year cake.
Collins proposed, Mary accepted, and Mr.Bennet gave his consent, though not without having a Very Serious Talk with Mary to ensure she knew what she was about.Collins was an imbecile, but he could likely be managed if she put forth the effort.She assured her father she knew what she was about and he reluctantly agreed, though he promised to negotiate a generous settlement for her so she could maintain her independence as best as possible.
