“On the contrary, ma’am,” he said earnestly. “I am fighting for my future happiness. I am serious. Will you permit a courtship? Let me show you that I can be happy, that I can smile, that I can learn to be amiable. And you may send me away at any time, if you come to believe you would be miserable with me. But please, give me a chance to prove myself worthy of your affection.”
She stood still and looked at him gravely. His eyes were again beseeching. She could not deny him. “Very well, sir. I will permita courtship, and will pray that you do not break my heart in the process.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I promise, I will not break your heart. I shall take you to meet my mother. Let us go tomorrow. She will tell you, I am a good provider. I care for my tenants and my family. I do not imbibe, gamble, or keep a mistress. I am six and twenty, young enough to change.”
She was smiling, though her eyes were misty. He drew out his damp handkerchief and offered it. She dried her eyes.
“Come,” he said gently. “Let us return. I have kept you out too long, and it will look unseemly. I will speak with your brother tonight after dinner, and ask permission to take you to meet my mother tomorrow.”
He hesitated. “May I tell Darcy to hint away the rector, and any other who might approach him? I believe I have already sent Rivendell packing. He is three and thirty, my dear, too old for you. He has children, and I saw that you love children. I will give you as many children as you wish. What say you, Miss Bennet?”
She laughed softly. “Yes, sir. You may tell my brother that he can send other callers away.”
He pressed her hand. “Very well, ma’am. You have granted me all I asked. I can return to our party satisfied.”
As they neared the others, he led Mary to a smooth, flat stone and seated her there beside him. They spoke quietly together, unnoticed by anyone save Richard and Isabella, who were both grateful to continue in each other’s company without interruption.
That afternoon, Hurst received a letter from his American friend, John Dudley, announcing that he was in Leicester andtraveling north to Leeds. He wrote that he still had five of the new American rifles and could stop at Pemberley if it suited.
Hurst turned to Darcy, who stood by the window overlooking the terrace. “Darcy, my friend Dudley is on his way to Leeds. He writes that he can stop here to show us the rifles. May I extend an invitation?”
Darcy looked interested. “By all means. I am curious to see these new firearms you have spoken of. Tell him he is welcome to stay the night.”
Hurst nodded and called for his servant, giving orders for the letter to be taken at once to Leicester.
Richard waited until the other men were absorbed in their billiards game, then leaned toward Darcy and said in a low voice, “May I speak with you in private?”
Darcy turned away from the window and nodded. “Come to my study.”
Once the door was closed behind them, Richard turned, his expression earnest. “I am going to Matlock in the morning to the registry office to purchase a common license. I mean to wed Miss Lewis next week.”
Darcy turned sharply. “Good God, Richard, are you certain? Her brother will never forgive it. A slight such as this will fester; he may carry the resentment to his grave. He will resent both of us for the rest of our lives. And he may turn his back on his sister as well.”
Richard’s jaw tightened. “Let him. I have been waiting for Isabella since I was at university. She is of age, and she has accepted me. I will not lose her again.”
Darcy stood in silence, his brows drawn, his arms folded. At last, he said, “Very well. Elizabeth and I will stand up with you.”
“Thank you, Darcy,” Richard said warmly.
“What excuse am I to give for your absence?” Darcy asked.
“I will return by ten. It is less than twenty miles. If I leave at six, I can be waiting when the registry office opens and ride straight back.”
Darcy turned away to look out the window. “The American will arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon. I will take the men to Kimpton in the morning. Some will go, some will remain. You will not be missed. The haberdasher there has an excellent selection of men’s gloves and other fine leather goods.” He mused. “And there is also the confectioner with those puddings. We can while away some time there sampling the other varieties. But Richard, do your best to return in time to meet the American. Hurst knows you wanted to see the rifles. He will ask after you.”
“I will,” Richard said. “And Darcy, thank you.”
Darcy clasped his hand. “You have my blessing, cousin. God help us both when Lewis learns of your marriage.”
Mary knocked softly at Elizabeth’s chamber door.
“Come in,” Elizabeth called. Mary found her seated near the fire, drying her hair.
She sat near her, eyes bright, and cheeks glowing. “Lizzy, you will never believe me, but Mr. Lewis has asked to court me.”
Elizabeth looked up, astonished. “Mary! This is all very sudden. He has barely laid eyes on you. I have not seen him speak to you in the time he has been with us. Are you quite sure you wantthis? Did you not tell me he was rude to you, and that he threw a stone which injured you?”
Mary bit her lip, then said, “Lizzy, that is all forgotten. It was a misunderstanding. He was worried about his sister and kicking stones to vent his ire. He did not see me sitting in the garden on the other side of a thick hedge. We spent some time speaking of his hopes this morning. We walked together, and to say truth, I felt very comfortable in his presence. He is not an ogre. And he says that if, after the courtship, I find that he makes me miserable, I need not marry him.”
