“Did I not always say that ungrateful girl was wilful?” Fanny paused as she thought about solutions. “If you command it, she will have to marry him.”
“You may believe that if it makes you feel better. Mrs. Bennet, regardless of what I command, I cannot force her to recite her vows as she has promised she will not. There cannot be a marriage if one of the two does not speak their vows.”
“We will have to find a way!” Fanny intoned shrilly. “This is too important for my…our future! That disobliging girl will do her duty to her family and shewillobey. Did I not tell you she was overindulged by you? That is why she thinks she will be able to refuse to do that which she must! I will not allow her to anger His Grace! If his judgement is so lacking to want Lizzy as his wife, then have her he will.”
Bennet knew a response was not required, so he made none. He also knew nothing would sway Elizabeth from her chosen path. It was what he was relying on.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“She is magnificent,” the Duke mused after he and his party returned to the inn. “Wickham,” he looked to his man.
“Aye, Your Grace,” Wickham gave a bow to the man as he stood.
“Go use your charms and find out as much as you are able about Miss Elizabeth, her likes, dislikes, and her family. When we return in two days not only will I offer her family financial incentive, but I want something to use as leverage in case the little spitfire still refuses to marry me,” Hertfordshire ordered.
Wickham bowed and headed into the town to begin to fulfil his master’s instructions.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Lizzy, I am so sorry Mama berated you as she did tonight. I would never be able to stand strong like you did,” Jane said admiringly.
Jane Bennet was under no illusions, not only was Lizzy much more intelligent than herself, but she possessed an inner strength Jane would never have. If anyone could resist their mother’s machinations and the insistence she marry the Duke, it was Elizabeth.
“I am happy he chose me and not you,” Elizabeth stated stoically.
“How can you say that, Lizzy? You dislike the old man as much, if not more than I do!”
“That is not a fact I will dispute, Janey. But we both know if Mama was insisting you marry him, eventually you would have.”
“I do not have the core of steel you possess my dearest sister,” Jane acknowledged. “What that man said about you being as pretty, if not more so than me, is true Lizzy. I care not what Mama will say if she hears me articulate it, but it is a fact.”
“Janey, what codswallop. You are ten times more beautiful than the rest of us combined!”
“Lizzy, how can you allow what Mama says to influence your opinions of your beauty?”
“After hearing her diatribes for over sixteen years, I suppose I have given her statements much more weight than I should have.” Elizabeth sat and stared off in the direction of the heavens.
“What will you do if he renews his addresses in two days when he returns?”
“Refuse him as vehemently as I did today. They can truss me up with rope, force me into the church, and drag me up the aisle, but still, I will refuse to recite my vows. Nothing can make me change my mind!”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the next afternoon, Wickham had spoken to many in the town. He used his charm and good looks to loosen tongues and what he discovered he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was exactly what his master needed as leverage.
Wickham reported his findings to the Duke who was well pleased with the results. “Perfect, Wickham. You have once again proved your worth to me.” The Duke nodded to his man of business who was in the room. “Give Wickham here fifty pounds for his stellar work.”
“Your generosity knows no bounds, Your Grace,” Wickham bowed to the Duke. ‘The old stingy bastard could have given me a hundred times that amount and not felt it!’ he told himself.
Hertfordshire waved his man away. Absent mindedly he said aloud, “it is a pity there was one more day to wait. I cannot show any weakness by asking for the date to be changed. I will return there on the morrow as planned.”
The only part of the inn which was open to the public was the taproom which is where Wickham headed. Mayhap there would be some games of chance. He had a good amount of money in his pocket and winning more would be just the ticket.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
That night, knowing the extremely old man would be back on the morrow, Elizabeth did not find any comfort in Morpheus’s arms. Her mind was far too active.
She wanted tomorrow to be over already. The sooner the man was on his way and out of their lives the better. She cared not for all of Mama’s screeching. She was a sixteen year old girl, and it was not her duty to save the family, that rested with her parents.
