Fate and Consequences

by Linda Wells

  Jane looked from one to the other. “Lizzy!”

  She patted her arm as she walked past. Darcy quickly caught up to her, and took her hand to place on his arm. “Oh Jane, we are engaged!”

  He smiled and leaned down. “Well, not officially.”

  Elizabeth glanced up. “So you were toying with me?”

  Darcy kissed her hand. “Not at all, my love. We just need your father’s sanction, remember?”

  “Well, after he sees our faces, I have a feeling he will have no choice but to grant it.”

  His eyes widened. “You mean I have compromised you?”

  She laughed. “I believe, Mr. Darcy that you have!”

  He joined her laughter. “So I have.”

  They had by then joined Bingley and Georgiana. The two men eyed each other, one with raised brows and a smile, the other with a challenge. Georgiana looked at her brother with confusion, then to Elizabeth and gasped. “William!” Elizabeth took a firm hold of Georgiana’s arm and they entered the house. When they reached the door to Mr. Bennet’s bookroom Darcy and Elizabeth paused while the others continued on.

  She fussed with his coat and tie, arranged his hair and he stood, taking in her activity and smiling warmly down at her, his eyes twinkling. “Am I presentable, Miss Elizabeth?”

  She brushed off some imaginary lint and looked up. “You will do, sir.” He laughed.

  The sound of the door opening startled them both. “Mr. Darcy, are you ever going to knock or shall I sit here listening to your courting all day?” Mr. Bennet stood looking at the suddenly silent and guilty pair. He took in the appearance of the two, noting the blushed cheeks and more significantly, the blushed lips.

  He stared at Elizabeth with a look of surprise and she met his gaze unashamedly. “I will just go in and see to Georgiana. If you have any need of me, please call.” She nodded to her father, smiled warmly at Darcy and turned to disappear down the hall.

  The two men stared after her and Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. “Will you come in, sir?” Darcy nodded and drawing a breath, entered the room.

  Chapter 15

  “Mr. Darcy?” Indicating the chair placed in front of his desk, Mr. Bennet settled into his own, and resting his elbows on the arms, laced his fingers and regarded the young man before him. Darcy’s face was unreadable. Mr. Bennet did not know him well enough, but to one who did, seeing the slow flexing of his fingers, the lifting and twist of his chin and the periodic bite of his lower lip, the evidence of his discomfort would have been clear. Mr. Bennet had the upper hand in this interview, and he meant to keep it as long as possible. The men sat in silence until Mr. Bennet made the first move.

  “Well, Mr. Darcy, you requested this meeting. To what do I owe this honour? Last night you assured me you were not coming to announce that you have fallen in love with my daughter by reading her letters to your sister.”

  Darcy nodded. “That is quite correct, sir, although, I have had the distinct privilege to have read each letter that Georgiana received from Miss Elizabeth, and I am grateful that she has found such a caring friend.” Mr. Bennet bent his head, knowing the meaning behind the man’s sincere words. Darcy began searching for the way to tell Elizabeth’s father that he had broken the rules of propriety by writing to her when Mr. Bennet spoke.

  “Mr. Darcy. It was an amusing conjecture of mine that perhaps you had in fact exchanged some sort of friendly correspondence with Lizzy, perhaps added a line or two to your sister’s letters, and perhaps she would do the same to her own for your benefit. I came to this conclusion after observing the surprising behaviour you displayed last night. You were acting as a man with a firm interest in my daughter. Your dancing with her almost to the exclusion of all other ladies, your obviously protective reaction to the approach of Mr. Lucas, and your vigil on the edge of the dance floor whenever she was engaged with another man made you a fascinating study.” Darcy’s eyes never wavered from Mr. Bennet; he waited for the coup de grâce. “However entertaining my surmises were, the unquestionable evidence of a far deeper relationship is clearly displayed on your, and I am shocked to say, my daughter’s face. Sir, I am well within my rights to demand an explanation from you, and much more. My Lizzy is a good girl, and I am at a loss to understand what is clearly a willing, and I assume long-term, breach in propriety by her, with you. I do hope that this is the subject you wished to address with me today, sir, as I will entertain no other.”

  Darcy steeled himself. It would be uncomfortable, but the opening to tell the truth had been given. “Mr. Bennet, indeed, this is precisely the subject I wished to speak about.” He gathered his thoughts, and while doing so, unconsciously reached into his coat pocket and drew out the worn ribbon. He entwined it in his fingers and felt better. “Sir, when my sister and I met Miss Elizabeth, it was at a moment of great pain in our lives. She brought my sister a little comfort and agreed to a correspondence with her. I did indeed add a line to the first letter, thanking her for her care.” He wrapped the ribbon around his index finger and unwrapped it again, all the while staring at Mr. Bennet, who glanced at the man’s occupation with interest. “I would now like to acknowledge that I too derived comfort from Miss Elizabeth’s letters and began to write to her myself. What began as a light banter became a friendship, and has grown, sir, into a very deep regard.”

  He took a deep breath and met Mr. Bennet’s eye. “I have fallen in love with Miss Elizabeth, sir. I regard the past three months of letters that we have shared as a courtship I could not have dreamed of ever having. I honestly never hoped to find a wife, let alone love, but sir, the opportunity to know your daughter through letters has been the greatest gift of my life. A courtship performed within the recognized bounds of propriety would have left me trying to make small conversation in a crowded drawing room. I am of no use in such a situation, and would have failed miserably. In our letters we were able to … express ourselves without fear. I believe that I know Miss Elizabeth better now than I would in a year of tea and polite conversation.” He swallowed. “It is for this reason that yesterday morning, when I went riding and came upon Miss Elizabeth on her walk, I could not hold back. I had intended to ask her for a courtship upon my arrival at Netherfield, but finally seeing her, and witnessing that she shared my feelings, I offered her my hand, and she accepted. We are engaged to be married.” He blew out a breath and released the ribbon that was so tightly wound on his finger he could no longer feel sensation. He watched Mr. Bennet digest the declaration. “Sir, I realize that some sort of courtship would be desirable for appearance’s sake, but I also wish to tell you that Miss Elizabeth and I are agreed that we would like to marry as soon as possible.”

  “Are you?” Mr. Bennet said sardonically. He was both appalled and relieved with Darcy’s confession. A forced marriage, not that he would have demanded one, was not required. He thought that he knew Lizzy, but the plain truth was that she hid this secret so well, that he had no idea she was losing her heart gradually to a man he knew next to nothing about. “Mr. Darcy. For the moment, I will set aside the breach of propriety that led you and Lizzy to this juncture and address the most pertinent matter. You have asked my daughter to be your wife?”

  Darcy sat up straight. “Yes sir and she has accepted me.”

  “I know little of you, sir.”

  Darcy relaxed. This was a subject that would only make him worthy. “My father passed five years ago, and at that time I became the master of Pemberley, our estate in Derbyshire. My income from the estate is ten thousand a year, but I have a great many more investments and properties, and my total income is nearly twice that sum. I also own a house in town. Miss Elizabeth will have an excellent settlement sir; I am not miserly or mean; she and our children will want for nothing. She will never fear for her future.” Mr. Bennet surmised Darcy was rich, but he did not anticipate this.

  “That is quite impressive and welcome news, Mr. Darcy. And although my daughter’s financial situation is naturally of great importance, I value
far more her happiness. She has told you that she loves you?”

  Darcy nodded; a small smile and look of pride crossed his face. “She has.”

  Mr. Bennet noted how it changed the man. He regretted what he was about to say. “Love sir, is an extraordinary gift. Are you sure that this is not some passing fancy?”

  Darcy’s expression changed to one of concern. “Mr. Bennet, I assure you, this is not the work of a moment. Already we have endured a time of doubt and pain between us, and it has only made our mutual conviction stronger.”

  Mr. Bennet had an inkling of what he referred to and let that pass for the moment. “And sir, what do you think my daughter’s reception would be in society?”

  Darcy sighed. “I have no interest in participating in society, sir. They have proven their worth lacking.”

  “Your sister has been shunned.”

  It took a moment for that statement to sink in, but when it did, Darcy’s eyes widened and he sat up. “What do you know of my sister?”

  Mr. Bennet opened a drawer, drawing out the muddy envelope. “This letter arrived today in the morning post. The direction was unclear and I opened and read it. It was meant for you.” He held it out and Darcy took it, already knowing what it was. He stared at the letter. “Will you not read it?” Mr. Bennet asked, watching Darcy caress the paper.

  He shook his head. “I waited so long to receive this.” He swallowed, his eyes suddenly filled with emotion, and he stood to walk to the window and look out at the drive.

  If Mr. Bennet had any doubt of the man’s affection for Elizabeth, it was now erased. “Mr. Darcy.” There was no response. He stood and laid a hand on Darcy’s shoulder. “Son, I understand more than you can know the pain and consequences of a sister’s compromise.” Darcy turned to him.

  “My own sister, just a girl of fourteen at the time, allowed herself to be seduced by a boy who worked in the stables. He was nineteen, and knew what he was about. The tryst was discovered when my sister presented with a pregnancy. She was sent away to Scotland, never to return. To this day, her name is not spoken and my own daughters know nothing of her existence.” He returned to his chair. Darcy remained standing. “Our family was deeply affected by the scandal. My mother was never the same, my father gave himself to drink and I am sure it hastened their deaths. The young lady I loved could not tolerate the shame and did not support me. I lost her to another. Then, one night at an assembly; I danced with Fanny Gardiner. She was very pretty, but silly, entertaining enough for a dance.” He closed his eyes. “I have never been an accomplished dancer. I turned wrong and stepped on her gown, tearing it. Her father saw an opportunity to attach his daughter to a gentleman and demanded that I marry her. Fanny had no objections; she wished to be the mistress of an estate, instead of the wife of a tradesman, as she expected to be. My parents said that the family could not bear another scandal and I found myself married to a woman I can barely abide within a month.”

  Darcy resumed his seat, sitting forward and listening intently. “I regret my marriage daily, Mr. Darcy. The only saving grace is my daughters, particularly my Lizzy.” His eyes were now teary. “I swore that she would never suffer my fate. She would choose her future. If she has chosen you, then so be it, but I will not have her life begin with the taint of scandal lingering over her. You will not marry her right away, no matter the reasons. You will have to endure a courtship and engagement period. I will have no whispers follow her. Do you understand me, sir? Given your sister’s experience, I imagine you should.”

  They sat staring at each other. Darcy realized anew how fortunate he was to have Elizabeth love him, and not abandon him when she learned of the scandal. “I will not lie and say that I like this news, but I do understand completely, sir.” He swallowed. “How long must we wait? I had hoped to bring my wife home in time for Christmas.”

  “That is under three months away.” Mr. Bennet said unhappily.

  Darcy nodded, feeling his heart sink. “Yes, I know, but the roads to Derbyshire very quickly become difficult to navigate, and I wanted us safely home before …”

  Mr. Bennet waved him off impatiently. “Mr. Darcy, you are not concerned of the roads. You wish to have your wife. The evidence was clear on your faces when I opened my study door.” He calmed. “Before you made your unexpected proposal, what was your original plan?”

  “We were to court openly for a month then announce the engagement, and marry at the end of November.” He said it quickly, hoping for approval.

  Mr. Bennet closed his eyes and remained silent, feeling Darcy’s eyes bore into him he looked up. “I will approve this on certain conditions.” Darcy leaned forward. “Your displays of affection must be restrained.”

  Darcy closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes sir.” He opened them again. “Is that all?”

  Mr. Bennet nodded. “I think that will be challenging enough for you.”

  Darcy let out a long breath. “That is true.” The men’s eyes met and they both smiled, sharing the common knowledge. “Sir, I would like to teach Miss Elizabeth to ride. Mr. Bingley has a pony in his stable which I believe would be suitable for her. With your permission …”

  Mr. Bennet regarded the hopeful expression in the man’s eyes. “You are aware of my daughter’s poor success with the activity?”

  He smiled. “She has alluded to it.”

  Mr. Bennet laughed. “Well, if you are willing to try, I give you leave.”

  Darcy smiled. “Thank you, sir!”

  Mr. Bennet smiled and stood, Darcy rising with him. They walked to the door and Mr. Bennet extended his hand. “I will speak to Lizzy about this later, but I believe that it is safe to say, welcome to the family, Son. You have my blessing and consent.”

  Darcy shook his hand gratefully. “Thank you sir, I will treasure her always.”

  Mr. Bennet nodded. “See that you do.” The men walked out of the bookroom together towards the drawing room where the ladies and Bingley were gathered. Arriving in the doorway, Darcy’s smile was erased upon seeing Elizabeth sitting on a small sofa with John Lucas beside her.

  Elizabeth saw the crease in his brow and smiled at him. His eyes asked if she was well, and the almost imperceptible nod reassured him enough to relax. His body had been poised to rescue her if necessary. Mr. Bennet did not wish to announce their courtship until he had spoken to Elizabeth, but Darcy was no longer comfortable with the delay. “Mr. Bennet, could we tell our news?” He said softly.

  A small smile played on Mr. Bennet’s lips. “Anxious to assert your territory, Mr. Darcy?” The light of amusement returned to his eyes.

  Darcy met his gaze, feeling anything but amused. “Sir, I am very much aware of Mr. Lucas’ desires.”

  “Relax sir; she is in no danger of being wooed from you here in her home. I suggest that you take a seat, and meet your future family.” Darcy entered the room and took an empty chair next to Elizabeth’s end of the sofa.

  “Is everything settled?” She whispered, leaning towards him.

  He smiled slightly and leaned closer to her. “Your father will speak to you. He has given his consent, but we must wait.” The disappointment that crossed her face went a long way to relieving his own distress, and it was all he could do not to take her hand in his. His fingers began to move when he caught the raised brows on Mr. Bennet’s face and sighed.

  “Mr. Darcy, I do believe that you need a new ribbon.” Elizabeth smiled looking at the sad bit of satin in his hand.

  He looked down and smiled at her. “I did not even realize I was holding it.” He tucked it back in his pocket. “I needed you with me.” She blushed. John watched but could not hear the quiet exchange, and felt the need to interrupt.

  “Mr. Darcy, I was just asking Mr. Bingley if you might like to join a party for a day of sport.”

  Darcy looked at him appraisingly. “Shooting? Yes, that is something I looked forward to doing while staying at Netherfield. I am afraid that the ladies will not always wish for our company.”

/>   He glanced at Elizabeth who raised a brow. “What ladies do you refer to, Mr. Darcy? Surely Miss Bingley would welcome your company at any time.”

  A loud cough was heard from Bingley as he choked on a biscuit.

  Darcy turned towards him. “Are you quite well, Bingley?”

  He took a long sip of tea and regained his composure. “Yes, quite.” Georgiana watched the bantering exchange with fascination.

  “Of course, perhaps you could take her along; she would be quite useful carrying the birds.” Elizabeth suggested.

  Darcy pursed his lips. “No, thank you Miss Elizabeth, although I am sure that Miss Bingley is very accomplished, I doubt that her education included the skills of a good hound.”

  “I beg to differ, Darcy, she is very accomplished at rooting out the eligible men in any parlour.” Bingley smiled at him then turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth, my sister will be delighted to know that we have spoken of her in her absence.”

  She laughed. “As you are not leaping to her defence, I have a feeling that she was kind enough to speak of me in mine?”

  Bingley’s smile widened. “Ah, you are a very clever woman! I thought that of you when we first met, and now it is proven true. You are as clever as you are lovely.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “And you are a golden-tongued charmer, Mr. Bingley!”

  Darcy watched the exchange with increasing unease. He did not at all like how easily Bingley brought out Elizabeth’s teasing nature. “Bingley …” He glowered at him, and all he received in return was a raised brow.

  John watched Darcy’s obvious jealousy increase, and wondered if he had another man to fight for Elizabeth’s affections. Unfortunately for him, his half hour of visiting had neared its end, as he had not been invited to stay longer, he must depart. He was determined to show himself to be just as polite and gracious as Darcy. He rose. “Mrs. Bennet, I believe that I should be taking my leave. I will be sure to tell my mother of your acceptance of her invitation, and yours as well, Mr. Bingley. We look forward to seeing you all at Lucas Lodge next Wednesday.” He turned and bowed formally to Elizabeth. “Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth. It has been a very great pleasure to again enjoy your company.”