Chapter Ten

Elizabeth

U ncle Gardiner came down the stairs and walked towards her, taking her hands in his. "It is all arranged. You are to be married."

"No..." she whispered, although she knew that this had been the desirable outcome.

"I am so sorry, Elizabeth, but I am afraid this is what it must be. You and he must be married, but he has assured me that it would be a marriage of convenience only. A marriage in name only, you understand?"

She narrowed her eyes, indicating her confusion. Her uncle's brow broke out in a sweat before he noisily cleared his throat.

"You need not... That is to say, an heir is not required." His cheeks flushed while Elizabeth's stomach turned, for she hadn't even thought about that part of things. While it was a relief that she'd not be expected to share a bed with this man she so strongly disliked, she wondered just why this was. Wasn't that the purpose of a marriage?

"But then why does he want to marry if not to have an heir?"

Uncle Gardiner let go of her hands and shrugged. "Come, let us walk in the garden. I will explain everything to you." He motioned for the front door and they stepped through.

Once out, the cool breeze provided some relief, for her entire body had been running hot with anger and despair. They stepped onto the gravel path and made their way towards the lake.

"Mr Darcy," her uncle started, "understands that the situation has made it so that you face ruination. He understands that by marrying you, he can save you and your family, and he also understands that it is beneficial for him. You see, Mr Darcy has somewhat removed himself from society, and he requires someone to represent Pemberley to the world.

"Represent Pemberley?" she asked, not understanding.

"The home used to be open in the summers for tours. Mr Darcy and before him, his mother would greet visitors. Your aunt told me Pemberley used to be the pinnacle of northern hospitality under their guidance. It brought many a visitor to Lambton as well. The Darcys used to host wonderful dinners here for all the influential people in town as well. They would have an annual ball to raise funds for the local charitable organizations. All of this came to a halt after the fire." He glanced up at the house. The burned-out shell was hidden from view from this angle and Elizabeth could almost picture Pemberley as it had been long ago.

"And what does that have to do with me?" she asked.

"And Mr Darcy would like to see these activities to take place once more, although he does not wish to participate in them. That would fall to you," he said, his tone sombre.

"He wishes to marry me so that I can host his balls," she asked, while somewhere in the distance, birds chirped in the trees as if this day was a happy one, and not the one that would mark the end of her life as she had always known it.

"Pemberley was always known as one of the most magnificent estates in the north. Reopening it would be beneficial to the town, the tenants. Of course, there would be other duties. You would have to get to know all the tenants. The master, or mistress, of Pemberley is expected to attend certain events. Weddings, picnics, celebrations."

"And I am to fulfil that role as well?" she said slowly, beginning to see what this all meant. "I am to give up my life, my hopes, and my dreams to become mistress of a place that is in ruins. Who even would come to view it, looking as it does not? Only those with a morbid curiosity, and I do not think I should like to entertain those."

"No, of course not. Not as it is now, however, Mr Darcy will begin repairs shortly. It will be a process during which you will get to know the property and its tenants. Elizabeth, I know this is not what you wished for, but sometimes in life, we cannot get the things we want, and we must make do with the opportunities presented to us. You know your parents sent me here to make this arrangement for you, and I was glad to do it because I cherish you. I wish for you to be happy and marry a man you adore, but it cannot be helped."

Elizabeth knew he spoke the truth. She might be angry at the situation but she also understood the reality in which they lived.

"What was your impression of Mr Darcy? Did he behave as he did when we saw him the night of the storm?" Tension crept into her shoulders as she awaited the answer, hoping that the more positive picture painted by the housekeeper would turn out to be the truth.

"He was certainly unpleasant when first we met him, but this time he struck me as a reasonable man. Your aunt tells me when he was a younger man, before the fire, he was very pleasant. Bingley says the same."

"And yet, look at how he treated Mr Bingley," she said with a sigh. "I know it matters little how he is, what kind of man—he might as well be as ill-tempered as the Prince Regent himself. I'd still have to marry him."

"Elizabeth," her uncle started.

She shook her head. "I understand what I must do. When are we to be married? I would love my parents to—"

"I have arranged it all. I will return to Longbourn in the morrow and ensure that the banns are read there. Mr Darcy will arrange for the same here. I will go over everything with your father face-to-face. I will ensure your mother packs your belongings and that you receive a proper wedding trousseau. Mr Darcy does not request a dowry and instead asked for a monthly stipend to be provided to you by your father. Then I, and the rest of the family will come here in a month's time for the wedding."

"What do I do for a month? Stay at the posting inn?" she asked, grateful for the reprieve, but understanding that it would only prolong her apprehension.

"No," he said and looked somewhat troubled. "Mr Darcy was quite insistent that he wishes for your aunt and you to stay here at Pemberley. He feels rather guilty about how she came to be injured. He has arranged for Maggie to take one of the guest chambers. His physician will tend to your aunt, there will be a maid available should she need any assistance with women's things. You are to move into your chamber tomorrow. I will see that you are settled before I depart."

Elizabeth felt as if the world was spinning off its axis. She was to stay here with her aunt, and her whole family was abandoning her. Well, this was a harsh judgement for they did not chose to leave. They had to go, she knew this. Still, with her uncle gone, and Jane and Charles about to depart, she'd be alone with only Aunt Gardiner for company.

? "Uncle, I do thank you for what you have done for me, you did not need to," she said as they turned and made their way back to the house she was now to call home.

"Of course I did. You are my family, I'd never let you down. I am only sorry I could not do more," he said and the genuine tone in his voice told her of his true regret. "Just try to see the good in it even if it's hard. You'll want for nothing. You'll have a lovely home and as mistress of Pemberley you can do much good in the world."

"Well," she replied while remaining as stoic as possible. "I suppose I..." The front door creaked open as they approached it, and she glanced up to see Mr Darcy standing there.

He looked at her, his jaw set and his hand curled around the door handle.

"Miss Bennet," he said stiffly while avoiding her eyes.

"Mr Darcy," she replied, looking past him as well.

"I should leave the two to talk for a few minutes," her uncle said before she could protest. He slipped away into the garden, and Mr Darcy descended the staircase. He was dressed in a fine suit and a green waistcoat with brass buttons. His hair was combed in such a way to cover some of the scars on the side of his face, but when he came closer, she saw the rugged, raised scars on his hand. He wore a signet ring, which reflected the sunlight. The ring that was the cause of her current predicament.

"I trust your uncle has informed you of our arrangement?" he asked, finally meeting her eyes. His were a greenish blue that might have been pretty to look at if they didn't carry such a glare.

"He has," she replied.

"Good. Very good. I hope the chambers I have selected for you will be suitable. They used to be my mother's. If there is anything you need, please speak to Mrs Potts and she will get you whatever is required. The same for your aunt, of course. You may also tell Mrs Potts what you prefer to take for meals and where you want to take them." This was the longest she and Mr Darcy had conversed thus far. She felt as if she were arranging lodgings at a posting inn rather than moving into the home that was going to be hers for the rest of her life.

"Thank you, sir, I shall speak to her," she said when a thought occurred to her. "You will not require me to dine with you?"

He looked at her as though she had asked the question in Greek and then looked away.

"I take my meals alone and will continue to do so in future, Miss Bennet. This is not an arrangement I was eager to make but it was explained to me that there are no alternatives, as I know you understand. We shall make the best of it. I will certainly try and I expect the same of you," he said.

Expect the same of her? Elizabeth wanted to tell him that she had no intention of fulfilling whatever expectations he had of her if they did not suit her. She knew she ought to be grateful that he was saving the family from ruination, but at the same time, if he hadn't been so unkind and downright horrid, none of this would have had to happen.

Then again, she need not have accosted him in the street either. That hadn't been proper and certainly not the behaviour of a well brought up lady. Yes, she had to admit it—she had caused much of this herself, and thus ought to hold her tongue.

"I do not like this situation any more than you, but I agree, we shall make the best of it," she said sullenly and he nodded.

"Right, well. If you need anything please do ask the servants, they will be available and have been instructed to fulfil any wish within reason. As for me, I prefer my time to be my own so, I would ask that I remain undisturbed."

The anger roared inside her again, not at the situation, but at his manner of speaking, as though she were an insect of some sort that had invaded his home and refused to be swatted. She inhaled through her nose and swallowed down the sharp replied forming on her lips. She would make the most of it as Uncle Gardiner had said. It wasn't her dream, no it was more akin to a nightmare. But she would make the best of it—she had to. There was quite literally no other option.