Elizabeth drew back.
“And then, the business of the next generation, it’s all solved as well. Your blood is my blood, and we shan’t worry overmuch about Bart’s, for he is, in every other way, a most exemplary duke. It solves absolutely everything.”
“But Neithern and I, we don’t have those sorts of feelings for each other,” said Elizabeth.
Her Grace shrugged. “Oh, that will come with time, likely. In my case, I did feel a great deal for my late husband, but then he rather beat all of my admiration out of me.” Her mouth twisted into a semblance of a smile. “So, it faded out. You will find, ofcourse, that a marriage need not have any feelings in it at all for it to function.”
“Yes, but my parents’ marriage, I never wanted one like it,” said Elizabeth. She realized this could be confusing. “The people who raised me, that is, the Bennets.”
“Well, there are a number of things we want in the first flush of youth, and then we grow up,” said the duchess.
“Yes, but I have compromised so much on all of it, and now, I have another chance to do it right, and I can’t—”
“It’s that Darcy person that Bart told me of,” said the duchess. “Is it not?”
Elizabeth’s lips parted. “Well, no, there is nothing between us that would indicate anything, necessarily.”We did say we would get married when we were drunk, but we have agreed to be married before, other times, and it has never actually happened.
“Bart is gone out of his head for the girl, the Darcy girl,” said the duchess. “I told him of this idea, of his marrying you, and he wasn’t pleased. He said you wouldn’t agree either, that you would want the brother. So, I do have another idea.”
“Oh?” said Elizabeth.
“A betrothal,” said the duchess. “Between your daughter and Bart’s son, which will keep the bloodlines as well as they can be kept, I think.”
“My daughter,” repeated Elizabeth.
“Yes, after you marry this Darcy person and you do have a daughter—”
“You wish me to promise away the future of a child I have yet to conceive?”
“It’s done all the time, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, but perhaps you aren’t aware of what it’s like in these social circles.”
“Maybe itusedto be done,” said Elizabeth, “but this is a different time—”
“I also need you to exert your influence on Mr. Darcy to convince him to marry his sister to Bart,” said the duchess. “I know he may have objections, since he knows that Bart isn’t of noble blood, not at all, but no one has to know that, and his sister would be a duchess.”
Elizabeth was speechless.
“Well,” said Her Grace, “you have some time to think about it, anyway. We also have to be sure that you are not carrying that colonel’s child, I suppose, though if you are, that is no concern. We shall accept and care for that babe easily enough.”
“I am not,” said Elizabeth.
“Excellent,” said Her Grace. “Then, that makes things easier. We could likely wait only six months, and then we can proceed with a wedding between you and Neithern.”
“But you just said the thing about Mr. Darcy.”
“I did,” said the duchess with a shrug. “Either way, but it must be one or the other. You either agree to marry Bart or you get Miss Darcy to marry Bart and agree to the betrothal of the children or I shan’t give you a pretty penny, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. We must ensure the line, you see?” She got up, huffing.
Elizabeth was too stunned to get up for a moment, but then she did, and she saw the duchess out.
“Oh, it goes without saying,” said the duchess at the door, “that if you do not cooperate, I shall take back the carriage and the servants I sent you.”
“Yousent them,” said Elizabeth. “I see.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CAROLINE WAS PLEASEDwhen Bishop Sulles wasted little time in arranging their marriage. Though she was of age and there was no need to get permission from her brother, Sulles did come and speak to Mr. Bingley, who was absolutely pleased to be rid of Caroline and made little attempt to disguise this fact.
Since there were no objections, everything proceeded quite quickly after that.
