“—Please allow me to finish,” she said. “I do not want to forget my list of points.”
He gestured with his hand for her to continue.
“Ninth, I suspect you are convinced I would jump at the chance to marry you, and I do not wish to bolster your arrogance.”
His body stiffened and she had to stop herself from laughing.
“As for my tenth and final objection,” she added, her tone light and airy, glad to have reached the end of this silly recitation. “If I must marry one day, I should like the experience to feel less like a reprimand and more like a pleasant experience.”
She gave a curtsy, shallow but decisive. “And now, all that remains for me to do is to assure you that I expect nothing more of you. You were kind enough to rescue my niece, and for that, you have earned my lifelong gratitude. I must thank you for your proposal but politely decline.”
He looked thunderstruck. He walked around the room in a state of agitation, then came and stopped abruptly in front of her.
“You do realize that the only reason I proposed to you is to save you from scandal? What if you never receive another offer? Do you wish to be shunned by society?”
Now he was taking it too far! She had done her best to answer him logically without taking offence, but there was a limit to her forbearance.
“Mr. Darcy, you do realize that saying such things is hardly likely to change my mind?”
“And you do comprehend that your reputation will be ruined if you do not marry me? I am offering a chance to salvage it. I understand that your pride is injured because I do not profess an affection I do not feel, but surely you cannot allow pride to destroy your future.”
This time, his words gave her pause. Was she turning him away out of false pride?
A moment’s reflection told her pride had nothing to do with it, or, at least, it was not the main reason.
“Mr. Darcy, it would be very strange indeed if you suddenly went to your knees and expressed an ardent or passionate love, when we have only been acquainted for how many day? Nine?” It was eight, but she did not want him to suppose she had been counting the days. “You did not even show an interest in learning my name untilyesterday. During those nine days, we saw each other twice. We are strangers.”
She paused and took a deep breath. “I am not allowing my pride to dictate my response. You have made several objections to our marriage, and even if they are unflattering, I can see that they are sensible. You have in fact argued your case only too well. You articulated so many objections that the very idea of accepting your proposal would be utter folly.”
He looked so aghast, Elizabeth had to control an impulse to giggle.
“Sir, you have been very kind, both to my cousin and to me. I would like to thank you for everything you have done. But now, perhaps you ought to leave, if we are to avoid an even worse scandal. We have been closeted alone in this room for quite some time. My aunt and uncle will be expecting us to be engaged.”
She put her hand out to him. “Good day, Mr. Darcy. I wish you all the best.”
He stared at her hand as if it was deceased, held it briefly, then let go and rubbed his hand against his coat.
“I will leave you,” he said, in a distant tone, “but I must ask you to think more carefully about this matter. You have been taken by surprise, and need time to adjust to the idea. I will give you until the end of the day to reach a decision. Have your uncle send word if you change your mind. I know the lasteightdays have been worrying for you, and I should not have approached you so soon. I would not have done so, if the situation were not so urgent.”
Elizabeth gave him a sunny smile, amused that he knew exactly how many days it had been since they met.
“You would not have approached me at all, if it were not so urgent, Mr. Darcy.”
His mouth twisted with a hint of humor. “True, Miss Bennet. But that does not change anything. The scandal will not go away, just because we wish it. Until tonight, then.”
“You will not hear from me tonight,” she replied. “I have no intention of changing my mind.”
Mr. Darcy’s brow quirked, but he did not answer. He turned on his heel and walked out of the door.
Elizabeth stared after him as he left, trying to memorize every aspect of his appearance. Would this be the last time she set eyes on him? Why did the idea fill her with so much anguish?
She sank down into the sofa behind her. What had she done? How could she have refused to marry Mr. Darcy?
She was certain it was the right decision, but she had never felt so miserable in her life.
Chapter 11
As Miss Bennet’s extensive response to his offer reached its conclusion, Darcy latched onto the most tangible part, which was counting days since they had met as he struggled to make sense of the rest. Not that Miss Bennet was being irrational. On the contrary. Her arguments were most compelling. Too compelling, if anything. It was just that the main direction of her response escaped him. He watched, fascinated, as she reached her final and tenth point, marking it with her fingers.
