“And what, Your Grace, would that be?” Bennet asked.
He did not know how he could give Jane to this man in matrimony. What Fanny wanted was immaterial, he was old enough to be hergrandfather.
“I have selected one of your daughters to be my duchess,” the Duke related matter-of-factly.
“B-but y-Your Grace, Jane is only eighteen summers old, somewhat younger than yourself,” Bennet stammered as diplomatically as he was able.
The Duke looked past Bennet to where Wickham was standing. “Wickham, who is this Jane?” he demanded. “I thought her name is…?”
“It is Elizabeth, Your Grace,” Wickham corrected demurely. “Mr. Bennet is under the misapprehension you mean to make his eldest, the blonde one you danced with, your duchess.”
Now he had to fight to keep from casting up his accounts. Bennet was frozen, it was not Jane but Lizzy the Duke was demanding. He knew Lizzy’s disposition and she would never agree to marry this old man.
“There must be an error, surely you do not want to marry my second daughter who is but sixteen,” Bennet managed.
“I most certainly do,” was the indignant response.
How could this man who was lower than horse dung on his boot be resisting the honour he was bestowing on his family? If he did not need the man’s agreement he would have had his men dispose of him.
It was easy to see the Duke was becoming angry at his opposition to his desire. Bennet was sure Lizzy would refuse and even if she was forced into the church, she would not recite her vows. His second daughter did not allow anyone to intimidateher. Much like he did with his wife, Bennet chose the path of least resistance.
“Please accept my abject apologies, Your Grace. I was not prepared for the high honour you desire to bestow on my family and specifically my second daughter,” Bennet bowed to the man to show his deference. “Would you be willing to come to my estate later today?” Seeing the Duke was about to berate him Bennet elucidated. “I am sure a man of your discernment realises he must speak to the lady in person and convey the honour of his proposals. As soon as Lizzy has agreed then we will solidify our agreement.”
Hertfordshire cogitated for a moment. Seeing the girl—having only been in her company for their truncated dance—would tell him if she was as impertinent as he believed she was.
“I will grace you with my company in two hours. Before you depart, I have a question.” The Duke wanted to know how much the man loved his wife, that way it would increase his pleasure when Wickham brought her to him and he took her.
“Ask what you will, Your Grace,” Bennet replied evenly.
“So I can understand the environment she was raised in, is yours a happy home? Is the relationship between yourself and your wife a good one? Was it a love match?” Hertfordshire probed.
He had not been ready for the burst of derisive laughter from the nothing country squire.
“Please excuse my outburst, Your Grace,” Bennet bowed again. “My eldest daughters are who they are in spite of my wife who entrapped me into marrying her, so you can imagine my union is the farthest from a love match you could find. If that disqualifies Lizzy—Elizabeth as a potential bride, I will understand.”
Any desire he had to bed the man’s wife was washed away in an instant when the Duke understood this was a man who could not care less if his wife was taken by another. “No, it has not changed anything.” The Duke waived Bennet away.
He signalled Wickham to remain when the other guard showed the father of the girl from the room.
“No Mrs. Bennet?” Wickham verified. He had seen the change in his master as soon as Mr. Bennet related the truth of his feelings for his wife.
“You know me well, Wickham,” Hertfordshire growled. “If you ever try and use anything against me, you will not live to see the next sunset.”
“Your Grace, you must know you have my complete loyalty,” Wickham assured his master.
He felt a cold shiver travelled down his spine. He was all too aware the Duke would have him disappear if he even suspected disloyalty. Wickham had to keep proving his worth to the man. As soon as the Duke decided he was not useful any longer, he would meet his end. Thankfully he was good at procuring the man that which he wanted. His secret hope was the Duke would expire before the time he was deemed of no more use.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Janey, please do not cry so,” Elizabeth pulled her older sister into a hug as she tried to console her.
Their mother had summoned Jane as soon as Papa departed for his meeting and whatever Mama had told Jane had upset her terribly—Elizabeth knew not what that was as Jane was crying too much to tell her anything—and she had returned looking sadder than Elizabeth had ever seen her. As soon as Jane entered and Elizabeth asked her what ailed her, Jane burstinto tears and now, more than ten minutes after entering the bedchamber and falling into her younger sister’s arms, she was still sobbing.
Jane was usually the one who guarded her emotions closely. Elizabeth had seen her cry a few times before, but never as her dearest sister was now. It was breaking her heart and she knew not what to do to make Jane feel better.
“Janey, did Mama say something to upset you?” Jane nodded. Her crying lessened somewhat. “Will you not tell me what hurt you so much?” More nodding. “Would you like me to ask Sarah to bring a pitcher of water and a glass for you?” Again her older sister nodded her head.
With the deluge of crying reduced to a trickle, Elizabeth went to the chamber’s door and looked out into the hall. She did not want to leave Jane. Luckily she saw one of the upstairs maids and called her over and requested she ask Sarah—the maid shared by all five sisters—to bring the water. The maid bobbed a curtsy and went on her way to fulfil her charge.
