Nobody spoke for what felt like an eternity. Then Lydia shrieked with laughter. “You announced your own engagement without actually being engaged?” She clapped her hands together. “That is the most wonderfully outrageous thing I have ever heard!”
“It is in fact brilliant,” Effie said. “Like something from a novel. The heroine rescues the hero from scheming villains.”
“It is not brilliant,” Elizabeth interrupted. “It is a disaster. The news spread throughout the entire party, as you well know, and beyond. Now Mr Darcy and I are trapped in a fiction that has become fact, and I have no notion how to extract us from it.”
Mrs Bennet had gone very still, her usual animation suspended. When she finally spoke, her voice held unusual gravity. “Lizzy, tell me you did not fabricate an engagement before dozens of witnesses.”
“I did. And Mr Darcy confirmed it rather than expose my lie publicly.”
All heads turned towards the gentleman in question. He met their collective scrutiny with remarkable equanimity. “Miss Bennet’s intervention, however misguided, was well-intentioned.”
“Well-intentioned or not, it has created an impossible complication.” Aunt Ahearn wrung her hands in visible distress. “If the truth were to emerge that the engagement was fabricated, the scandal would be catastrophic. Elizabeth would be ruined. The dishonour would damage her sisters’ prospects and reflect poorly upon our entire family.”
“Hence why we gathered you here,” Mr Darcy said smoothly. “To seek counsel on how best to proceed.”
Mrs Bennet recovered her voice with renewed vigour. “There is only one sensible course. You must marry immediately. Before anyone questions the arrangement andthe gossip turns malicious. Before this becomes worse than it already is.”
“Mama…”
“Do not ‘Mama’ me, Lizzy. You have compromised yourself and a gentleman of considerable standing. Marriage is the only honourable solution.” She pressed her hand to her forehead dramatically. “What will people say if you do not wed? What will this do to Jane’s chances? To Kitty’s? To Lydia’s? Oh, it worries me immensely to think about it!”
“Sister, please calm yourself.” Aunt Ahearn rose, crossing to her sibling. “Hysteria serves no purpose.”
“Hysteria? My daughter has thrown herself at a wealthy man in public, and you call my concern hysteria?”
“I did not throw myself at anyone,” Elizabeth responded, indignation flaring.
“You announced an engagement that did not exist!” Mrs Bennet’s voice rose. “If that is not throwing oneself, I do not know what is!”
The room erupted into cacophony. Lydia and Effie whispered excitedly to each other. Kitty attempted to interject various observations that no one acknowledged. Mrs Bennet continued her lamentations whilst Aunt Ahearn tried unsuccessfully to moderate her sister’s distress.
Mr Darcy remained stationed near the bookshelf throughout this domestic chaos, observing the scene with an expression Elizabeth tried to decipher. Alarm? Resignation?
Perhaps a mixture of both. This was, she mused with sinking dread, the family he would inherit should they proceed with matrimony. The Bennets in all their unrestrained, undignified glory.
Jane caught her eye and mouthed, “It will be fine.”
But would it? She no longer possessed any certainty about what would or would not be fine.
“Ladies.” Mr Darcy’s voice cut through the noise without being raised. The sheer authority in his tone commanded immediate silence. “If I might offer an observation?”
The silence held, tension crackling through it.
“Mrs Bennet is correct. Marriage is the most prudent course available to us.” He addressed the room at large, but his gaze settled on Elizabeth. “Attempting to dissolve the understanding now would create greater scandal than proceeding with the union. Miss Bennet’s entire future depends upon our handling this matter with discretion and honour.”
“But surely—” Elizabeth started, desperation making her voice tremble.
“I should like to speak with Miss Bennet privately,” he continued, still holding her gaze. “If you would all excuse us?”
Mrs Bennet opened her mouth to likely protest propriety, but Aunt Ahearn laid a restraining hand on her arm. The family began filing out, some reluctant and concerned, others relieved to escape the tension.
Lydia paused at the door, turning back with a mischievous grin. “How romantic! A private conference between the betrothed.” She winked at them before Wilhelmina firmly steered her into the corridor.
The door clicked shut, leaving them alone.
Elizabeth remained by the fireplace, her hands gripping the mantel edge. “You need not do this. Theremustbe some alternative to forcing you into an unwanted match.”
“Unwanted? What makes you believe I find the prospect unwanted?”
