“Negotiation?”
Darcy colored.“Miss Elizabeth requested that we progress slowly so she might have the time to come to know me.”He almost added that he had confessed his error in judgement to Bingley before she would accept him, but he would keep that to himself unless absolutely necessary.
“That is a reasonable request, seeing as how she hated you when she left for Kent.”
Darcy winced.It was one thing to know she had disliked him—it was another to hear it spoken of so matter-of-factly by her own father.
“I know Miss Elizabeth did not have a favorable opinion of me, but we have spoken and cleared that away.My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, became friends with Miss Elizabeth and when she mentioned Wickham, he could not but warn her of the man’s avarice.”
Mr.Bennet’s brows rose again.He had clearly not expected the conversation to take such a turn.“I think you had better begin again, Mr.Darcy.”
And so Darcy told him of his history with Wickham, changing names and details to protect the privacy of the innocent, and told Mr.Bennet somewhat sparingly of his evening visit to the parsonage on the day Elizabeth had been so distressed.He did not mention the brandy or his original intent, but he gave what details he could and by the end of his recitation, Mr.Bennet looked thoroughly shocked.
“I think I had better read this letter.”
He opened the seal and was surprised at its brevity.
Father,
Please do not toy with Mr.Darcy.He will be my husband one day and I wish the two of you to be friends.He has a wonderful library if such a temptation is needed to induce you to be kind to him.
I care for him, Father.
I am sure he will tell you all about our reconciliation and the information that led to it.Listen carefully and watch over my sisters.Mr.W is not to be trusted.
Charlotte likes Mr.Darcy, and if it makes you feel more assured, Aunt Gardiner thinks him a fine man, based not only on my account of him, but that of an old friend in Derbyshire who knows him away from our company.Surely two such references cannot but be in his favor?
I shall not remind you of your promise since I am sure you remember it quite clearly yourself.
I shall merely sign,
Your loving daughter,
Elizabeth Bennet
Mr.Bennet laughed heartily when he finished the letter.“Well, Mr.Darcy, it seems I have been charged with not toying with you.”
Darcy smiled uneasily, not knowing how to react to such a statement.
“Do not worry, young man, I will leave you be.Now, let us get down to business.You wish to marry my daughter?”
From there, Darcy was on firmer footing.He shared his hopes that they would be wed by the end of the year, his tentative plans for a wedding trip, and that he thought they would spend roughly eight months of the year at Pemberley, though Elizabeth might prefer something different.They spoke of settlements and pin money, entailments (Pemberley’s was limited, thankfully) and wills, and their proposed living arrangements.
Georgiana would live with them as he hoped she and Elizabeth would get along, but if they did not, his sister did have her own establishment in Town that could be utilized, or she could potentially stay with another relative.
Mr.Bennet was impressed.He hated to admit it as he had long looked forward to teasing whoever Elizabeth’s suitor turned out to be.In some ways, Mr.Darcy was an easy target for such endeavors, and intelligent enough to give Mr.Bennet a challenge, but he had promised Elizabeth.There would be plenty of time for fun and games in the future.
“Well, Mr.Darcy, I think that is all I need to know.If you will have the settlement drawn up, I will review it.”
Darcy shook his hand and a relieved smile broke out on his face.“So I have your blessing, sir?”
Bennet drew a deep breath.“Yes, you have it, and Elizabeth as well.Tell her I expect her home within the fortnight.”
“I thought she was due to return to Longbourn Saturday?”
Bennet raised one brow, much like his daughter did.“She was.I assumed you would like a little more time in Town, before being subjected to my wife’s effusions.Though by all means bring her back Saturday if you prefer.”
“No!A fortnight is agreeable,” said Darcy quickly.
