“I think my reckless daughter—the youngest one—thought to run off with that man, and Lizzy convinced you to help her recover her. And when you learnt it wasyoursister who eloped, Lizzy went along with you to continue the ruse to save her. But you did not make it in time, and then you found yourself in Scotland not decorously accompanying your sister and her friend, but alone with a single woman. The only way to save your reputations was to marry Lizzy.”
Darcy exhaled slowly. He could not lie to Elizabeth’s father; he would lose all integrity. “We made it to Scotland in time, but my sister would not leave him. We had to marry to protect our families.”
“And why would Lizzy want to prevent your sister’s marriage so badly? Not only did she not want Lydia to marry him, but she wanted to stop your sister as well. Surely it would have been easier to let an undesirable marriage happen than go through with this wild chase.”
That told him what sort of father Mr Bennet truly was. “Mr Wickham is guilty of nearly every vice imaginable save for violence,” he said, trying to keep himself calm. “My sister will have neither a long nor a happy life.”
Mr Bennet leant forward, giving him a hard look. “And now my daughter is in a union where she cannot love and esteem her partner. My own marriage was folly, as you can no doubt see, and I wanted my little Lizzy to have better.”
Darcy set his jaw, his patience drawing to a close. “I have no reason to assume Elizabeth and I cannot respect one another for the rest of our lives. I promised your daughter to provide for her, and to not crush her spirit. We decided to move forward in friendship, not bitterness. As for anything else regarding my marriage, I will keep the circumstances ofits formation and everything that comes after private. She trusts in my character, even if you do not.”
Again, the look of sardonic amusement crossed Mr Bennet’s face, as though everything that crossed his path was something he could make sport of. “I admit to a great deal of curiosity about your character, but I did not come to take your measure. I came to ask you to allow Lizzy to come home.”
His heart revolted. “You want me to desert my wife?”
“Would you not allow the same for your sister if that scoundrel would agree?” Mr Bennet opened his hands in a placating gesture. “Not that you are a scoundrel, Mr Darcy, so you may keep that blazing look to yourself. But since you did not choose one another, why not let her spend most of her time apart from you?”
“Like Hades and Persephone?” he cried, appalled. If this man was not Elizabeth’s father, he would throw him out.
“I would not liken you to the devil, Mr Darcy. Only to a man who is in a marriage neither of you wants.”
“A separation would cause the sort of talk we are trying to avoid. Our goal with our marriage was to preserve both of our reputations, and your other daughters’ as well. Living apart from my wife would provoke more rumours.”
“Perhaps after the town talk has ended, you would be more inclined to send her home. I would hate for her to seek comfort outside your marriage and discredit both of you. Any gossip about an impulsive marriage will be nothing compared to consequences of a public affair. Through her own foolishness, Lizzy is under your power now. So I ask you to let me put the question to her.”
Darcy struggled to not show how offended he was. Mr Bennet assumed his own daughter would be unfaithful and lose all the claims to reputation their marriage had given her.
It was quite a leap from being forced into a union to forsaking their wedding vows. But Elizabeth had lost the power of choice over her own fate the moment she took off at a run for the mail coach. Would she want to part from him if her father took her back? They could never fully separate their lives, but would she remove herself from his care and company if she had the chance?
A sense of distress settled in his chest, tightening around his heart. He did not want to live apart from her, but he would not force her to do anything.
“I am not the sort of man to restrict and control my wife. Elizabeth should be home within an hour if you would like to wait,” he said, rising to leave. “I am wanted elsewhere, but the library is yours.” He was not in a state of mind for this man’s company any longer.
Mr Bennet bowed his head. “With a book I am regardless of time.”
Elizabeth thought usingthe carriage to go such a short distance as Bond Street was wasteful, but Darcy had offered it as a courtesy due to Mrs Darcy. She preferred to walk, but for the meanwhile, she would concede. She was here to give the impression she was a valued wife after all, and driving in her husband’s carriage was expected. As the carriage left Berkeley Square to enter Charles Street to return her home, Elizabeth noticed a young woman in a cloak watching the carriage.
She had a second thought and spun round to look behind her. It was Georgiana. When they stopped, the footman handed her down, and Elizabeth let go of his hand and hurried up the street. Upon seeing her, Georgiana shrunk back and turned the corner.
“Georgiana, wait!”
She stopped when Elizabeth had rounded the corner and was out of view of the carriage. She was alone; there was no sign of Wickham near the square. They had money to leave Scotland, but where were they lodging? What kind of situation did they have? Elizabeth’s hope soared that Georgiana had come to her senses and would leave him.
“Georgiana, do you want to come?—”
“You should call me Mrs Wickham,” she said with a proud smile. “And I must congratulate you in person. I had no notion you were fond of my brother. I wish you happy.”
Did she truly not understand why she and Darcy had to marry? She swallowed her frustration and asked, “You are still glad, then, that you married Wickham?” Georgiana’s face fell at her critical tone, and Elizabeth softened her expression. She would get nowhere with her by being judgmental. “Come inside with me and tell me how you are.”
“Is my brother there?” Elizabeth said she assumed he was. “Then no. He will not see me if I stay with Wickham.”
“Then I cannot see you, either, out of respect for him and because I agree with his opinion on your husband.”
“Fitzwilliam will not help me—butyoucan, Lizzy.” Georgiana clutched her hand. “Wickham and I have scarcely any money.”
Elizabeth gently pulled her hand from her friend’s. “I will not convince your brother to release your fortune. Wickham may sue him and move through the courts.”
“Butyoucan still help me,” she insisted. “You would not forsake your friend.”
