“Pray forgive me for the interruption,” Mr Darcy said firmly. “I believe Miss Elizabeth is right, Mr Bennet. She is as concerned in this as I, and with as much right to witness the outcome. For the moment, she is half yours, as your daughter, and half mine, as my future wife. I ask that you allow me to anticipate the discretion that will become mine, if we do wed, and say that Miss Elizabeth ought to be allowed to join us.”
Mr Bennet quickly gave way, mumbling a few words of surprised acquiescence, but Elizabeth felt herself far more shocked than her father showed himself to be. Mr Darcy had spoken not of an indulgence to a stubborn woman, but of the consideration owed to a true partner.
It was more than she had dreamt of. And as they hammered out the last details of consulting Mr Rather, of determining the day on which the trap ought to be set and how Mr Wickham ought to be summoned into it, when they would go into the hiding place and how reveal their presence, if at all, Elizabeth could not help but feel that even her desire for the truth could not make her wish for a dissolution of their engagement.
Chapter 22
“What is the matter with you, Lizzy? You’ve been fidgeting all throughout dinner. And you have not touched a bite of your food,” her mother scolded. “Really, if you are to be a wife, you must understand that wasted food is a great evil. You will find yourself in ruin if your children treat your table like this someday.”
Elizabeth looked up at her mother and tried to take a bite. But her stomach was in too much turmoil to force even a small portion down her throat. She chewed slowly and swallowed with difficulty. “Forgive me, Mama. I am not feeling very well this evening.” After all, it was not a lie, Elizabeth thought. Her stomach was queasy and her pulse racing. She was only refraining from telling her mother that her indisposition was not due to any illness, but to the knowledge of the trap that was about to unfold for Mr Wickham later that evening.
It would be a momentous night indeed. If they could not make Mr Wickham confess, they would surely have no other choice but to go forward with the wedding.
Would that be so bad?Elizabeth had come to feel anything but reluctant about marrying Mr Darcy. On the contrary, if she could only believe that he viewed the possibility of their union with as much longing as she did, she would gladly marry him, compromise or no. In that light, Elizabeth thought uneasily, perhaps she ought to hope for their failure, for success would certainly mean an end to the idea that they ought to marry. How could she possibly admit that she no longer wanted to be vindicated and released?
“You are not feeling well, Lizzy? Oh, my dear girl, and when you are so soon to be wed! You must have some of my smelling salts, and we shall call Doctor Roberts, and —”
“There is no need, Mama, thank you. I am only nervous. I am sure it will soon pass.”
“But Lizzy —”
“Let her be. She has much to occupy her thoughts this evening,” her father said. All his family looked at him in surprise. It was a rare thing for him to speak at the dinner table unless he had something important to discuss. Usually, he allowed the girls to speak while he listened in silence, interspersed with sarcastic comments.
Her mother looked at her father sharply. “Indeed? Has something happened to put the engagement in jeopardy?” She only paused for a moment before looking at Elizabeth. “Tell me at once!”
Mr Bennet answered first. “There is nothing you need worry yourself about, Mrs Bennet.” He took a bite of his food and chewed very slowly. Elizabeth knew well it would drive her mother to distraction. “After dinner, I will see Elizabeth in the library alone. And I will not have any of you listening outside the door. Is that quite clear?” he ordered.
Thankfully, her younger sisters had the good sense not to whisper behind their hands, but Elizabeth could see that they were nearly drowning in curiosity.
Their curiosity would have to wait. Once dinner was finished, and rather more quietly than usual, her father sent her mother and younger sisters off to the parlour to engage in a game of cards or to read by the hearth. Jane was the only one allowed to follow them a short way down the corridor toward the library. “Is everything well, Lizzy?” Jane asked softly. “I would hate to think that you were in trouble in some way.”
“I am well,” Elizabeth assured her. “I cannot speak of anything at the moment, but know that hopefully, if all goes as Papa plans, I will be vindicated this night.”
Jane squeezed her hand. “Be careful, Lizzy,” she whispered. She left Elizabeth and her father alone, joining the rest of the family in the parlour. Elizabeth turned to her father, and they went to the library to carry out the plan that had been conceived only a few days prior.
Her father opened the door for her and came through behind her, closing it tightly. He waited to see if there would be any sounds of footsteps outside the door, but he need not have worried. Mr Bennet so rarely gave ultimatums that on the rare occasions he gave an order, the rest of the family dared not disobey him. “Are you prepared for what this night may bring, Lizzy?” her father asked. He lit several more candles from the one that had been left burning while they had sat down to dinner. “The course of this evening could drastically alter your future. Are you aware of that?”
Elizabeth clasped her hands in front of her. “I am,” she replied. “I am not afraid of marriage to Mr Darcy — not anymore. But I would rather have my conscience clear, free to marry for affection instead of being forced by circumstance. I am sure he would feel the same,” she said softly. Over the course of their acquaintance, her emotions had been in turmoil. Somehow, almost beyond her perception, she had begun to feel a certain respect for him, a confidence in his honour and care for others. Then respect had turned to confidence in him, confidence to friendship, and friendship to love. Elizabeth was ashamed now of how rashly she had judged Mr Darcy at first. And all over an insult, overheard by accident!
“Ah, here is Mr Darcy and the constable,” Mr Bennet said, breaking into her thoughts. “I told them to knock at the back window. I shall go to the servant’s entrance and let them in.” Her father opened the door and disappeared a moment later. It had seemed only prudent for them to come to the servant’s entrance to avoid alerting the rest of the family that something was afoot. It would be best for them to remain unaware of their plans until everything was brought to light.
Elizabeth wrung her hands as she waited for the gentlemen to join her in the study. She took several deep, steadying breaths to slow her speeding pulse. If all went well, they would learn the truth of Mr Wickham’s guilt or innocence that night.
Yet it was not only that that made Elizabeth’s heart beat faster. The thought of seeing Mr Darcy again left her strangely nervous. She had not seen him since they had parted ways at the gate to Longbourn, after meeting with her father in this very study.
Since the day, in fact, when she had first realised that she truly loved him.
With an effort, Elizabeth took a deep breath, willing herself to be calm. She told herself there was no reason to feel nervous. Surely nothing had changed between them.
Somehow, she could not quite bring herself to believe it.
When Mr Darcy appeared in the doorway, her heart nearly stopped. He was such a handsome figure of a man, but his calm, steady gaze instantly put her at ease. Or at least, as much at ease as she could feel at a moment like this.
The man who followed Mr Darcy was a barrel-chested and rather fatherly figure, with kind blue eyes and a balding pate. Elizabeth knew Constable Rathers of old. He had long been a good friend of her father’s, and one who always had a friendly word for Mr Bennet’s daughters.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” Elizabeth said, bowing to each of them in turn. “It is a pleasure to see you both.”
Both men returned her bow. Constable Rathers gave her a cheerful greeting at once, but Mr Darcy hesitated a moment before coming to her. “Good evening, Miss Elizabeth. I trust you are well?” he asked.
