“I do not know. We were trapped in a house together with one bed, and perhaps you thought if you made out that you would marry me—”
“Did I touch you when we were under that blanket together? Did I attempt it once?”
“Well, no,” she said, her gaze flicking away from mine. “And besides, that bed was far too old and ravaged to be slept upon. So, this is why you’re here, then. Because you find me fetching.”
“I am here because I wish to do the right thing,” I said.
She lifted her gaze to mine again. “Oh?”
“Yes,” I said. “And because it doesn’t seem a hardship to be married to you, I suppose. I know you are not pleased with the prospect, however. I know you do not like me. But if I do not offer for you, you will suffer. Mr. Collins has already declined to marry any of you, and if I allow the world to think of you as ruined, some girl who went off with a man not her husband overnight, then maybe no one marries any of you, and maybe then—”
“I did not go off with you, you know.”
“I do know that,” I said.
“But people are saying this?”
“Miss Bennet, you did walk three miles in the mud before breakfast all alone—”
“ForJane,” she said.
“Well, people do not seem to think it’s entirely out of character for whatever reason,” I said.
She grimaced.
“Anyway, it sort of becomes the choice between two evils. I know you don’t wish to be married to me, but you must see that being married to me provides a better outcome for everyone, including yourself. You would be my wife. You would have an allowance. You would live with me. My house in the country is…” I looked around. “Larger than this.”
“Oh, truly? That is how you seek to convince me?”
“We do not have to…” I looked up, into the corner of the room. “We can wait for a while, about the business of children, if you wish to grow accustomed to me—”
“What?” she broke in.
“And it would be a boon to you, to your family, to your reputation, and you must know, you’re not the sort of person I should marry, and most women in your situation would be quite pleased with the offer, and—”
“You areunbelievable,” she said.
“I am only saying, you are in want of the kind of connections that being associated with me could bring you. You must know this.”
She laughed softly, under her breath, an incredulous sort of laugh.
“I know it was hideous to you, the idea of marrying me. I know you said you would never do it,” I said. “And I do not entirely know what about the prospect of it is so distasteful to you. But I think you must consider the larger picture, that is all.”
“And what is the larger picture for you? Why are you doing this?”
“I do what is expected of me,” I said.
Her lips parted as she regarded me. “I’m an obligation now.”
“Well,” I said, “I suppose, but you’re also an obligation with fine, bright eyes. I do… I…” I said it, feeling helpless, “I want you, Miss Bennet.”
She bit down on her bottom lip, her teeth digging into it. Her voice came out slightly breathy. “All right.”
I raised my eyebrows and waited. But when she said nothing more, simply gazed at me, worrying her teeth into the plump skin of her bottom lip, I finally said, “Was that an acceptance?”
“Yes,” she said. “I shall marry you, Mr. Darcy.”
I had to go and call the rest of the family back, because she could not get up from where she was seated with her hurt ankle.
