With a shock, Darcy saw that Mr Bennet hardly looked triumphant. Quite the contrary. He was sober to the point of being grim. Mr Bennet shook hands with him, then motioned for Darcy to be seated in a hardback chair across from the well-used plush chair on the far side of the desk. It took no particular perception to recognize it as being his favourite. After what must have been years of sitting, the chair had formed to Mr Bennet’s shape. It could not have fit him more precisely if it had been tailored for him.
“I am glad to see you are a man of your word, Mr Darcy. I did not doubt it, but my wife has been badgering me all morning, asking if you would really come.” Mr Bennet made his fingers into a steeple and rested his chin on the point.“I suppose there is no need to draw out our meeting with pleasantries, hmm? I want to hear it from your perspective, Mr Darcy. What happened last night?”
Darcy looked at him in surprise. From Mr Bennet’s perspective, the details were surely immaterial. The damage was done, and all that mattered was whether he would take the man’s daughter, and under what conditions. Yet he could not regret being asked for his view of the matter. The older gentleman evidentially had a regard for the facts, and that was something always worthy of respect.
“Your daughter and I did not intend to meet in the library, Mr Bennet,” Darcy said after a moment’s thought. “I received a note from Mr Hurst, asking me to speak to him. Miss Elizabeth and I met there by chance, and as I stepped forward to speak to her, I am afraid I became unaccountably clumsy. I tripped and fell with great force, knocking Miss Elizabeth Bennet over as well. It was this, and not any reason that could reflect on our virtue, that led to us being discovered in so unsuitable a position.” Darcy stopped there. Surely honesty could not require that he give the details of what he had been feeling as he had accidentally pinned Elizabeth beneath him on the library floor. Nor would her father wish to hear such things.
Mr Bennet nodded rather grimly. “I do not doubt you, sir. I know my daughter too well to do so. Yet though you are the victims of an unfortunate mistake, it does not fix the essential problem of my daughter’s reputation. You two will have to marry, or my Lizzy will have to leave this place in shame. And I could not bear to send her away.”
Darcy nodded.“I am sure I will understand, when I have a daughter of my own, someday.” It was strange to think that this man would be the grandfather of his children. An ache tugged at his heartstrings at the thought that his own mother and father would never meet his children. His mother would have been a superb grandmother. Of course, she would have also fainted to learn about the events that had transpired the night before.
Unaware of the softness of his thoughts, Mr Bennet looked at him sharply. “You will marry her, then? Neighbourhood gossip being what it is, I am sure you must know I can offer you nothing that would tempt a man of your fortune and consequence. Nothing, that is, beyond Elizabeth herself — and I cannot expect you to estimate the value of that gift as I do.”
“It is my duty to marry her,” Darcy replied. “As for the settlements, we may discuss them at your leisure. I am aware that your daughter’s dowry is not large. It is not a matter of concern to me.”
For the first time since their conversation began, Mr Bennet looked at him with something of a softer expression. “You will truly be her partner in life, then, Mr Darcy? You will treat her as she ought to be treated, and will not look on her with resentment later?”
“I will do my best to care for your daughter, Mr Bennet,” he promised. He dared not share how his feelings were softening toward her. He sensed that she was nearly as upset about this match as Miss Bingley, if for a different reason.
“I know you will. You have already shown considerable strength of character in being willing to do the right thing by my Lizzy. May I be candid, Mr Darcy?” Mr Bennet leaned forward, pushing himself out of his chair. He paced back and forth in front of the window. At Darcy’s nod, he stopped and pinned him with a severe stare.“I did not think there would ever be a man worthy of my Lizzy. But it seems I am overruled by fate.”
“I will try to be worthy of her, sir,” Darcy replied.
Mr Bennet cocked his head to the side.“Well, I am sure you shall.” He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but kept it to himself.
Darcy studied the floor for a moment. Despite the flaws Darcy had seen in his sense of propriety, Mr Bennet had merits he would not have anticipated. Much as they might disagree on questions of propriety and how one ought to direct young women under one’s guardianship, Darcy found himself liking the man.
A knock sounded on the door before Darcy could make any more promises; a small mercy. Mr Bennet went to the door, opening it wide and admitting none other than Elizabeth herself. Darcy stood immediately, feeling his heartbeat quicken at the sight of her.
Miss Bingley would have paled in comparison, had they been standing beside each other at that moment. Miss Bingley always dressed in the latest fashions: silks, furs, and expensive jewellery. But even in a simple day dress, Elizabeth outshone her effortlessly. Her simple navy blue dress brought out the healthy glow of her complexion. She wore no jewellery and had pulled back her wavy brunette hair into an unassuming chignon at the nape of her neck.
To Darcy, she was nothing less than a vision.
“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth,” he said.
“Good morning, Mr Darcy,” she responded coldly.
He did his best not to be offended. Who could blame her for being upset, as she so obviously was?
She let out a breath, then looked down at the floor for several seconds before she met his gaze again. Clasping her hands in front of her, she began.“I must thank you for rescuing me last night, particularly in view of the consequences my younger sisters would have suffered if you had not stepped in as you did.”
Darcy nearly said,“It was my pleasure,” but stopped himself just in time. He did not think it would have been very well received.“I only did what any other man would have done,” he replied.
She seemed to find that unlikely, but forbore to comment. Elizabeth took a steadying breath, glancing at her father, and went on.“However, this situation must be just as odious to you as it is for me, as I know how much you dislike me.”
Darcy could have fallen over right there. He frowned. Dislike her? What could have possessed her to arrive at such a conclusion?“Miss Elizabeth — ” he began, but she held up a hand for silence.
“Please allow me to finish what I was saying,” Elizabeth insisted, though her tone was gentle.“As I know you dislike me and only proposed an engagement to save our reputations, I should like to propose a compromise.”
Mr Bennet gave a short laugh.“Really, my dear,” he said sarcastically, glancing at Darcy.“Are you not compromised enough already?”
Chapter 7
Elizabeth tried to stifle her hurt at her father’s acerbic comment. She ought to have known that he would treat the situation with his usual dry wit. It had been too much to hope for that he would consider how painful the situation was to her feelings. Indeed, he had a right to be angry with her, though she had not acted with intent.
Mr Darcy, too, seemed to look at Mr Bennet with surprise. But of course, pride was the most dominant part of his character, and he would not choose to have any situation in which he was so closely concerned treated with levity.
“Please, Father, hear what I have to say,” Elizabeth pressed on. “I wonder if I may have a solution to our problem.”
