25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

April 14, 1812 Longbourn Elizabeth

T he carriage rocked and swayed as it trundled toward Meryton. Elizabeth and Charlotte had spent much of the ride engaged in their own concerns, Elizabeth with a book and Charlotte with her embroidery.

As they passed the sign marking five miles to Meryton, Charlotte tucked her work into her bag and Elizabeth followed suit with her book.

“Will your parents welcome you?” Knowing what she did about her friend’s disappointed hopes, Elizabeth wondered if the Lucases would be pleased at their eldest child’s premature return to the community.

Charlotte sighed. “It will be as it ever is when I am home. Mama will have tasks for me to complete and I will resume managing the household accounts. There will be disappointment that I have not secured a proposal, but I have felt their sentiments on the matter before.”

Elizabeth smiled sympathetically. “I wondered, Charlotte, if you would stand up with me.” She shifted. “I did not share Jane’s note with you, but it is not likely she will be in attendance. Please say that you will.”

Charlotte smiled a pleased smile. “Of course, Eliza. I would be happy to.”

A scant hour later, Charlotte and her trunks had been delivered to Lucas Lodge and the carriage continued to Longbourn. There was no one to greet them when they arrived, but that did not surprise Elizabeth. Her uncle had not bothered to send an express notifying her family of her arrival.

“Your mother and father will forgive me in light of your news.” Uncle Gardiner had patted her hand and bid her farewell before going to his warehouses.

The carriage door opened, and Mr. Darcy’s footman handed her down. Mr. Darcy stood beside the carriage and offered her his arm after her feet were firmly on the ground.

“See that Miss Bennet’s things are removed,” he commanded his servant. “The housekeeper or butler will direct you.”

Mr. Darcy escorted her to the door and inside Longbourn. Chatter could be heard coming from Mrs. Bennet’s parlor. Not ready to face her mother and sisters, especially with Mr. Darcy standing by and watching, she instead led the way to her father’s book room. Pushing the door open, she entered, Mr. Darcy following behind.

Her sight immediately fell on her father. He sat in his chair before his desk. As he stood up to greet them, Elizabeth stifled a gasp. His coat and clothing hung on his frame. His cheeks were sunken and his hands skeletal. He must have lost two stone! Almost instantly, her resolve to have her father interfere with her sham of a betrothal faltered. Jane’s accounts of their father’s ill health could not be discounted. How could she refuse Mr. Darcy, knowing that Mr. Collins would refuse to let her stay at Longbourn? And her mother… what if Mrs. Bennet held firm as she had since November last year and cast her out? For the first time, she had some inkling of Mrs. Bennet’s fears of the hedgerows.

Such mercenary, self-serving thoughts, Elizabeth thought miserably. How have I come to this point?

“Elizabeth! You are home early. And Mr. Darcy… I am surprised to see you sir.” Mr. Bennet shook a little where he stood. He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. “Please, sit. I shall do so and would hate to keep you standing.”

They settled themselves and Mr. Bennet asked, “What can I do for you? I assume that given your tandem intrusion of my sanctuary that you arrived together?”

His humor seems to be intact, Elizabeth noted. That was a good sign, though it did not change his physical condition.

“I have come to ask for Miss Bennet’s hand in marriage, sir.” Mr. Darcy replied politely. None of the haughty disdain colored his words.

“Have you now? Then you do find her tolerable. I thought you might.” Mr. Bennet chuckled, and it turned into a cough. He drank from a glass on his desk to settle it while Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy, wondering if he recognized his own words.

The man made no indication that he recalled his insult from all those months ago. “Indeed, sir, your daughter is one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance. Her wit, her vivacity, her compassion… these are only a few traits that I desire in my wife. Miss Bennet will be an excellent mistress of my homes, if I am so blessed to secure her hand and your consent.”

Mr. Bennet looked at Elizabeth. “What say you, my dear? Will you have this man? He is rich, I suppose, and you will have more fine carriages and jewels than Jane. But none of that would matter if it was not what you wanted.”

Elizabeth hesitated. Her father truly looked dreadful. How had none of her family seen it? Had Mr. Bennet hidden in his library to conceal his condition? New resolve took hold, and she gathered her courage. “It is, Papa,” she finally said. Her marriage to Mr. Darcy would ensure that her mother and sisters would not be destitute when their father died. Heaven knew that Mr. Collins still might turn the Bennets out of Longbourn when he inherited. By the look of it, that would be soon.

“When do you want this wedding to take place?” he asked.

“We wish to marry as soon as the banns have been called. There are still some season events in town that Elizabeth and I will attend. Lady de Bourgh has offered her sponsorship. She will not be presented this year, but I have many friends and acquaintances that will want an introduction.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips as Mr. Darcy once again spoke for her without asking. She did not object, however, for a long engagement seemed impossible if she wished to be married before her father passed.

Mr. Bennet regarded her knowingly, raising a brow at her expression. “If you wish it, so it shall be,” he said quietly. “Shall we inform Mrs. Bennet?”

They stood and Mr. Bennet offered his arm to Elizabeth. She took it, allowing him to subtly lean on her as they walked. She leaned her head close so that she could whisper in his ear. “I will have an explanation from you when Mr. Darcy departs, sir.” Her father merely patted her hand in reply and said nothing.

They entered the parlor to find Mrs. Bennet, Kitty, and Mary conversing. “My dear,” her father said, calling attention to the three of them standing just inside the doorway. “I have an announcement to make.”

Mrs. Bennet looked at Elizabeth and huffed, turning her head away sharply. “Speak then, husband, so that we might return to our conversation.”

“It pleases me to inform you that Mr. Darcy has just this day asked for our Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. I have granted him my consent. They will be married as soon as the banns have been called.”

That gained Mrs. Bennet’s attention. “Lizzy, married to Mr. Darcy?” She looked at the aforementioned gentleman to seek confirmation and Mr. Darcy obliged her with a polite nod.

“Less than a month to plan a wedding! Of course, Elizabeth would do such a thing to her mama. I already conceded to Mr. Collins’s wishes.” She turned to Mr. Darcy. “You, sir, are very kind to offer for my most headstrong child. I prevail upon you to convince her to give me more time to arrange a wedding that befits a man of your station.”

“On the contrary, Mrs. Bennet, it is I who wishes to be married as soon as the banns are called.” Mr. Darcy spoke evenly with just a hint of disdain. “As Mrs. Darcy, Elizabeth will need to be seen in town. The best time to do that is during the season, which is happening now.”

Mrs. Bennet huffed but did not argue. “I shall set to work immediately, then,” she said, frowning.

The front door slammed, and Lydia exploded into the room behind Elizabeth and the gentlemen. “Mama! You will never guess what Maria Lucas just told me!” She noted her sister standing there and said, “Oh, hello Lizzy! You will want to hear this for it concerns your favorite.”

Lydia turned back to her mother. “Mr. Wickham has been arrested! Maria says that Mr. Long caught the gentleman purloining his emerald cravat pin. They searched his quarters and found a lot of the missing things from Meryton. I did not believe Maria, of course, not at first. But I went to the cell they are keeping him in, and he is there in irons. Can you believe it? Surely, someone must have framed him.”

“And, in consequence of his ‘deplorable behavior,’ Miss King’s uncle has declared their engagement ended and taken her off to Liverpool.” Lydia ended her speech by flopping herself onto the settee and folding her arms.

The silent room erupted in squawks from Mrs. Bennet and Kitty. Mary said something about a man breaking the commandments, and the cacophony continued until Mr. Bennet called for silence.

“It seems I must send a note to Colonel Forster,” he said. “If our missing items can be reclaimed, I wish to know when and where we might do so.”

“Mr. Wickham seemed like such a kind and amiable man,” Mama lamented. “How could he do such a thing?”

“He is being framed; I know it!” Lydia’s protests rose about the rest of the voices in the room. “Such a handsome man could never behave in such a way.”

“Mr. Wickham is adept at making friends, Miss Lydia, but less able to keep them.” Mr. Darcy’s words silenced Lydia, and she gaped at him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.

“Mr. Darcy has proposed to Lizzy,” Kitty chimed in.

Lydia laughed. “What a good joke! After thinking her only tolerable! Tell us, Lizzy, did he compromise you?”

“Enough, child. Go to your room.” Mr. Bennet’s sharp rebuke was unexpected; he so rarely tried to correct his youngest daughter.

Lydia’s jaw dropped open in shock, and she started to protest. She seemed to think better of it, though, and she closed her mouth, stood up, and flounced from the room.

“Elizabeth, see Mr. Darcy to the door if he is going, or show him to a guest room if he is staying,” Mr. Bennet said wearily. “We can speak after.” He turned and walked slowly from the room. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy trailed after, leaving her mother discussing with her sisters what must be done to prepare for their wedding.

Once they were safely away from the parlor, Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy. “Will you be staying, sir? You have spent four hours in the saddle already. You must be tired.”

He shook his head. “I believe I will return to London tonight. We have but twenty days until our wedding, and I must see to preparing your chambers at Darcy House, along with finalizing the marriage settlement. I shall bring the finished documents ready to sign when I return.”

“And when might we expect you?” she asked. “Will you take a room at the inn in Meryton?”

“It will be at least a week before I come. Bingley will have returned to town. I plan to ask him if I can use Netherfield. It is large enough to house me and any family.”

She nodded. “Will you bring Georgiana?”

He smiled. “I did not tell her of the engagement yet. I wanted to wait until I spoke with your father. She will be enormously pleased. She speaks of you in her letters to me.”

“We have so slight an acquaintance!” Her surprise showed. “Does she truly think so highly of me already?”

“Yes, my sister has never met a lady that wished to be her friend with no other strings or caveats attached. Her school fellows sought her company for the connection, and she has been wounded by those who value her fortune over her person.” He scowled. “Thankfully, it will no longer be unwise to bring her to Meryton.” These last words were whispered, and Elizabeth bristled. Did he wish to shield his sister from their country manners? Haughty, arrogant man.

He took her hand and bowed over it, kissing the back. “Farewell, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” he said before donning his hat and departing.

She watched him go, wondering at his callousness. How could he show so little feeling for the man who used to be his friend? Mr. Wickham now sat in a cell, waiting for his punishment for theft. Who but Mr. Darcy put him in such a desperate situation?

She shook her head at her own thoughts. How she wished to completely blame Mr. Darcy for all Mr. Wickham’s woes, but she could not. The latter gentleman’s actions were his own responsibility. Stealing from the very people who opened their homes to him and the other militia officers could not be explained away. Still, she wondered how Mr. Wickham would have fared if Mr. Darcy had not withheld the Kympton living from him.

A memory tickled her thoughts, and she recalled encountering the man on the path to Longbourn before Jane married. Had he been in the midst of thievery then? His presence he had explained away, but now she wondered if his first Longbourn theft had been that day.

“Elizabeth.” Mr. Bennet stood in the doorway of his book room. “Come.”

She obeyed, closing the door behind her. He moved slowly, seating himself in his chair. She followed, taking the same chair she had occupied just a half an hour before.

“Now, tell me, child. Do you really mean to accept Mr. Darcy? The man cannot look at a woman but to find a blemish.” He took a drink from his glass. “He spoke very well while he was here. I did not see the same disdain I remember from last autumn.”

Elizabeth did not answer. She watched her father’s hand shake as he sat the glass down. “What has happened to you, Papa?” she asked quietly.

He frowned. “We are not speaking of me, child. If you do not wish to marry Mr. Darcy, simply say so. I shall withdraw my consent.”

She shook her head. “Do not prevaricate, Father. You look dreadful!”

“Thank you for that fair assessment, Elizabeth,” he replied sardonically.

“Stop! Please, answer me. Are you ill?” Her voice shook, and tears threatened. He cannot be dying. It is not possible.

He sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “Mr. Jones cannot decipher what is wrong with me. The food I eat does not agree with my stomach. My sleep is rarely restful. There is pain in my joints and in my back. I have tried tinctures and tonics, plasters and tisanes. Nothing helps.”

“Mama does not know?”

He shook his head. “She is cheerfully oblivious. I appear at meals, and if she needs me, she sees me here. I daresay she has not troubled herself to notice.” He paused and sipped his drink again. “Elizabeth, you must not marry for my sake. If you cannot esteem and respect your partner in life, marriage will prove to be a sore trial. It would be nothing for me to withdraw my consent if I knew it to be what you truly desired.”

“How can you say such a thing? How can I not take your health into account as I make my decision?” She spoke animatedly, gesturing to his frail figure as she spoke.

“You would not be without should I pass on. Jane is married to Mr. Collins. She will not see you cast into the cold.”

She sighed sadly. “Oh, Papa.” She spent the next half an hour telling him all that Jane and Charlotte had told her. She spoke of Mr. Collins and his edict that Jane cease communicating with her, and of Mama’s letter to her sister. He sat silently, though his expression became more distressed as she spoke.

“But what of my brother and sister in London?” he asked weakly.

“I cannot prevail upon my aunt and uncle on a permanent basis. Their family is growing, and while my uncle’s income is comfortable, I do not think it could sustain another adult long term. It is better if I have my own home to manage. Besides, it would prick my pride to be a dependent relation.” Elizabeth fell silent, waiting for him to respond.

“If you are certain, if you are set on this course, I will not gainsay you. I hope you are prepared for this life, Lizzy. A woman is powerless against her husband’s will. I will not be able to protect you if you find yourself in an untenable position.” He smiled sadly.

“My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me. I will be well.” She rose and came around the desk, hugging him about the shoulders. “I love you, Papa.”

“I love you, too, my dear. It pleases me that I shall be able to give you away.” He kissed her cheek. “I am sorry that Jane will not be here.”

“The circumstances are what they are now. I am only sorry she married the fool.” Elizabeth kissed his cheek and departed, making her way to her room for some solitude and quiet reflection.