Darcy bowed politely.
“I hope you have a safe journey, and I am sorry for your loss.”
Mr. Bennet nodded his thanks and left the room. As he disappeared, it occurred to Darcy that he had not asked Mr. Bennet’s permission to marry Elizabeth. Mr. Bennet would not be back for several days.
Darcy did not hesitate. He caught up with Mr. Bennet as his valise was being loaded onto the carriage.
“Before you leave, sir, if I might have a moment of your time?”
Mr. Bennet sent him a quizzical look.
“Very well, Mr. Darcy. I can spare you a moment, but no more. I have already been delayed enough by the theatrics this morning. We can talk in the library.”
Mr. Bennet led the way to the library. After they had entered, he shut the door, locked it, and stood with his hat balanced on his cane, waiting for Darcy to speak. He did not offer the younger man a seat.
Darcy was taken aback. This was not how Darcy had envisioned asking permission for a lady’s hand in marriage.
Mr. Bennet’s eyes glinted with amusement.
“Do not expect we will have our privacy for long,” he said, again showing an uncanny ability to read his mind. “You will have to say your piece quickly before we are interrupted.”
“I wanted to take this opportunity—”
The was a loud banging on the door.
“Mr. Bennet! You must come at once!”
A satirical expression crossed the older man’s face.
“I knew it,” he said, with an exaggerated sigh. “If only I did not have such accurate powers of prediction.”
He wagged his brows at Mr. Darcy.
“I will be with you shortly, Mrs. Bennet,” he said loudly. “I am currently engaged with Mr. Darcy.”
He turned to Darcy.
“I would recommend you to be very brief, sir. We are running out of time.”
When Darcy had conceived of asking Elizabeth to marry him, he had conjured up the perfect romantic moment. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine such mayhem. If this was a taste of what his married life would be, then heaven help him.
“Mr. Bennet!” came Mrs. Bennet’s voice. “You cannot hide in there forever.”
Mr. Bennet looked towards Darcy. “You heard what Mrs. Bennet said. The clock is ticking.”
There was nothing for it. The time for finesse was over.
“Mr. Bennet,” he said, in the simplest way possible, “May I request your permission to address Miss Elizabeth?”
“You may address her as much as you wish, Mr. Darcy. You do not need my permission.”
The casual response suggested that Mr. Bennet had not understood his meaning.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but I did not make myself clear. I meant to say that I would like to ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.”
“Ah. I am happy to hear you have finally come round to it. I assume your finances are all in order, that you have discharged all your gambling debts honorably, and you are not about to be thrown in the debtor’s jail for unpaid bills?”
Darcy was thrown completely off guard. He did not know whether to take exception or to laugh.
