She sought to explain. “He and my father are distant cousins on his mother’s side. They have known each other all their lives and are good friends.”
He met her gaze. “I am distantly related also. On my father’s side.”
Her brow furrowed as she tried to make the connexions fit. “But you cannot be the heir presumptive. It is an elderly man, from what my father told me.” Other words from that seemingly long-ago conversation with her father came back to her. “Oh, but…youare the callous heir? That is impossible!”
“I called upon Mr Goulding when I learnt from my solicitors that I was next in line to inherit, after a cousin who is, apparently, quite ill. I ought never to have made the visit, not until I had myself under better regulation. It was, in that moment, unwelcome news. I had just received a letter from Georgiana, showing she was not in spirits. I was concerned that Bingley was becoming too involved with your sister, and I was already struggling with my feelings for you. I had decided that Bingley, his family, and I should return to London the day after the ball. And now here was this enormous obligation, one that would probably mean I was required to spend a good deal of time in Hertfordshire if I leased it or until I sold it. If I was here, Bingley would never resist the temptation to return to Miss Bennet. I behaved as though Mr Goulding was at death’s door, and I should have to begin managing Haye-Park on the morrow!” He shook his head. “At any rate, Mr Goulding began going on at length about what a boon his estate would be to me, how fortunate I was, and I-I…” he trailed off, his head bowed.
Elizabeth touched his chin and raised it, letting him see her soft smile. “Did you tell him it was a tolerable estate, but not handsome enough to tempt you?”
“It was near enough.” He turned his head and kissed her hand, closing his eyes, as though it hurt to look at her. “Elizabeth,” he breathed. “I am so sorry. I had already behaved like a beast towards you, earning the contempt of the entire community. Wickham was maligning my name to anyone who would listen, and I refused to defend myself. I visited Mr Goulding the morning of the Netherfield ball. When I departed Haye-Park, I decided I deserved a reward for having performed my duty—it would be asking you to dance that evening.” He sighed heavily. “But because of how I had acted, Mr Goulding went directly to your father, and they formed their plans. Mr Goulding was desperate to save Haye-Park from a terrible overlord. What else was he to think? Had I been a better man, you would never have been made to suffer. How dare I ask you to forgive me?”
“Forgive you for what, sir? Do you mean for taking the time to consider your duty, your family obligations, before encouraging false hopes? For ensuring my peace, comfort, and safety, regardless of whether I ever became anything more to you than an acquaintance? I certainly expect no apology for you having endured whatever degradations you must have undertaken in order to reassure Mr Goulding. I see nothing to forgive in your behaviour.”
She stood, forcing him to do likewise. Daringly, she placed her hand upon his shoulder.
“Oh, my dearest,” he said, pulling her firmly into his embrace. “I am more wildly in love with you each day. My former hesitation makes no sense at all to me. You possessed my every thought, but I felt so helpless to provide anything useful for your succour. What did I know about pleasing a woman worthy of being pleased?”
“You know a little, Mr Darcy. Every day I found a treasure, and with it, another reason to love you.”
She smiled, and he kissed into that smile—their mouths discovering, tasting, sharing, and learning. Elizabeth felt wholly new and radiantly happy.
It was only after she understood—by certain words and expressions of passionate affection—that he felt the same that she asked, “How did you make my father and Mr Goulding listen to you?”
He brushed a few stray locks away from her flushed cheek and raised a brow.
“After I read your letter, I composed one of my own, and sent it express to my uncle, who is the earl of Matlock. Fortunately, he is in town. I told him I was involved in some rather intense marital negotiations, and that I required a character.”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped. “A character? As though you were applying for a household position? Oh my goodness!”
It was his turn to shrug. “I supposed that a reference from an earl, especially one with my uncle’s excellent reputation, might mean a bit more to Mr Goulding than anything I could say in my defence. Unfortunately, I did not receive the earl’s response until it was almost too late. I nearly had to go to Haye-Park without it. I only had perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes to present my apologies to Mr Goulding and to assure him a hasty marriage was completely unnecessary. He agreed only to discuss the matter with your father after dinner.”
“Were you involved in that discussion?”
“Just to the extent that I repeated my apologies, reiterated the earl’s estimation of my trustworthiness, and stated my opinion that my own unpardonable behaviour had led to their arrangement.”
“But what about my father’s debt? Papa told me Mr Goulding had called in his markers, and he either had to repay him or compel Jane or I to marry him.”
“You had mentioned that there was another circumstance prohibiting your father’s refusal, and I deduced a debt of some sort must be the case. I did not mention it to them, because I should not have known of any of this. I only told them that you had confessed the engagement to me the night of the ball, and it lately had occurred to me that the haste involved was related to my visit to Haye-Park that same day. I added that if there was any other sort of obligation between them, I would advance the amount necessary to cover it. Possibly, it was this additional pledge that rendered your father, at least, somewhat sceptical of my explanations of my involvement,” Mr Darcy added wryly. “Neither of them was comfortable with speaking of the marriage as a requirement. If I had to guess, I would say ‘the debt’ was not one to be repaid in currency, but rather a debt of honour between friends.”
“A debt of honour? I suppose that makes more sense than some enormous monetary debt. I admit, it is difficult not to resent that he usedmeto repay it.”
“A father is accustomed to filial obedience. Like many men, I suppose he took it as his right that you fulfil any promises he made on your behalf.”
She sighed. “So, you had to deal with my father as well? I am sorry for that.” She imagined Mr Bennet had not kept secret his ill opinion of Mr Darcy.
“It was not so terrible.Someonehad already begun the work of repairing his impression of me. I have noted a rather sudden about-face, so to speak, in the neighbourhood’s sentiments towards Wickham and myself. Since I had told Bingley very little about my connexion to him, might I assume you had something to do with it?”
She shrugged. “I did not reveal much of what you told me, but it was enough to raise grave doubts as to his character. A flea in the ear of the right people ensured Mr Wickham would not be viewed as your benign victim, especially after the neighbourhood began making their own discoveries of him.”
He kissed her again. “Yet another error on my part. After our discussion of his perfidies, I, too, informed a few others. I came to the unhappy conclusion that you had been correct. I was practically taught to protect him, and I had not considered how my silence was a continuation of it. I explained to both Mr Goulding and your father the true history of the living, and produced Wickham’s release of all claims to it in exchange for payment. Once Mr Goulding was assured of my intent to protect the inhabitants of Haye-Park and ensure the estate’s continued health, he seemed content enough. I am certain they have some suspicions that I am not a disinterested party where you are concerned, however.”
“As you are not, I hope?”
“May I hope?” He held her face between his hands. Despite their size and strength, his touch was delicate and gentle. “May I go to your father?”
“Only if you wish to make me the happiest woman in the world—as the wife of Fitzwilliam Darcy must surely be.”
“On my honour, it will be my life’s mission to make it so,” he replied, and then their mouths searched for anything and everything, except for words.
