“Have you now? Then you do find her tolerable. I thought you might.” Mr. Bennet chuckled, and it turned into a cough. He drank from a glass on his desk to settle it while Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy, wondering if he recognized his own words.
The man made no indication that he recalled his insult from all those months ago. “Indeed, sir, your daughter is one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance. Her wit, her vivacity, her compassion… these are only a few traits that I desire in my wife. Miss Bennet will be an excellent mistress of my homes, if I am so blessed to secure her hand and your consent.”
Mr. Bennet looked at Elizabeth. “What say you, my dear? Will you have this man? He is rich, I suppose, and you will have more fine carriages and jewels than Jane. But none of that would matter if it was not what you wanted.”
Elizabeth hesitated. Her father truly looked dreadful. How had none of her family seen it? Had Mr. Bennet hidden in his library to conceal his condition? New resolve took hold, and she gathered her courage. “It is, Papa,” she finally said. Her marriage to Mr. Darcy would ensure that her mother and sisters would not be destitute when their father died. Heaven knew that Mr. Collins still might turn the Bennets out of Longbourn when he inherited. By the look of it, that would be soon.
“When do you want this wedding to take place?” he asked.
“We wish to marry as soon as the banns have been called. There are still some season events in town that Elizabeth and I will attend. Lady de Bourgh has offered her sponsorship. She will not be presented this year, but I have many friends and acquaintances that will want an introduction.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips as Mr. Darcy once again spoke for her without asking. She did not object, however, for a long engagement seemed impossible if she wished to be married before her father passed.
Mr. Bennet regarded her knowingly, raising a brow at her expression. “If you wish it, so it shall be,” he said quietly. “Shall we inform Mrs. Bennet?”
They stood and Mr. Bennet offered his arm to Elizabeth. She took it, allowing him to subtly lean on her as they walked. She leaned her head close so that she could whisper in his ear. “I will have an explanation from you when Mr. Darcy departs, sir.” Her father merely patted her hand in reply and said nothing.
They entered the parlor to find Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Mary conversing. “My dear,” her father said, calling attention to thethree of them standing just inside the doorway. “I have an announcement to make.”
Mrs. Bennet looked at Elizabeth and huffed, turning her head away sharply. “Speak then, husband, so that we might return to our conversation.”
“It pleases me to inform you that Mr. Darcy has just this day asked for our Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. I have granted him my consent. They will be married as soon as the banns have been called.”
That gained Mrs. Bennet’s attention. “Lizzy, married to Mr. Darcy?” She looked at the aforementioned gentleman to seek confirmation and Mr. Darcy obliged her with a polite nod.
“Less than a month to plan a wedding! Of course, Elizabeth would do such a thing to her mama. I already conceded to Mr. Collins’s wishes.” She turned to Mr. Darcy. “You, sir, are very kind to offer for my most headstrong child. I prevail upon you to convince her to give me more time to arrange a wedding that befits a man of your station.”
“On the contrary, Mrs. Bennet, it is I who wishes to be married as soon as the banns are called.” Mr. Darcy spoke evenly with just a hint of disdain. “As Mrs. Darcy, Elizabeth will need to be seen in town. The best time to do that is during the season, which is happening now.”
Mrs. Bennet huffed but did not argue. “I shall set to work immediately, then,” she said, frowning.
The front door slammed, and Lydia exploded into the room behind Elizabeth and the gentlemen. “Mama! You will never guess what Maria Lucas just told me!” She noted her sister standing there and said, “Oh, hello Lizzy! You will want to hear this for it concerns your favorite.”
Lydia turned back to her mother. “Mr. Wickham has been arrested! Maria says that Mr. Long caught the gentleman purloining his emerald cravat pin. They searched his quartersand found a lot of the missing things from Meryton. I did not believe Maria, of course, not at first. But I went to the cell they are keeping him in, and he is there in irons. Can you believe it? Surely, someone must have framed him.”
“And, in consequence of his ‘deplorable behavior,’ Miss King’s uncle has declared their engagement ended and taken her off to Liverpool.” Lydia ended her speech by flopping herself onto the settee and folding her arms.
The silent room erupted in squawks from Mrs. Bennet and Kitty. Mary said something about a man breaking the commandments, and the cacophony continued until Mr. Bennet called for silence.
“It seems I must send a note to Colonel Forster,” he said. “If our missing items can be reclaimed, I wish to know when and where we might do so.”
“Mr. Wickham seemed like such a kind and amiable man,” Mama lamented. “How could he do such a thing?”
“He is being framed; I know it!” Lydia’s protests rose about the rest of the voices in the room. “Such a handsome man could never behave in such a way.”
“Mr. Wickham is adept at making friends, Miss Lydia, but less able to keep them.” Mr. Darcy’s words silenced Lydia, and she gaped at him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.
“Mr. Darcy has proposed to Lizzy,” Kitty chimed in.
Lydia laughed. “What a good joke! After thinking her only tolerable! Tell us, Lizzy, did he compromise you?”
“Enough, child. Go to your room.” Mr. Bennet’s sharp rebuke was unexpected; he so rarely tried to correct his youngest daughter.
Lydia’s jaw dropped open in shock, and she started to protest. She seemed to think better of it, though, and she closed her mouth, stood up, and flounced from the room.
“Elizabeth, see Mr. Darcy to the door if he is going, or show him to a guest room if he is staying,” Mr. Bennet said wearily. “We can speak after.” He turned and walked slowly from the room. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy trailed after, leaving her mother discussing with her sisters what must be done to prepare for their wedding.
