Chapter 6

6

E lizabeth was surprised her father had summoned her to his study, only to have Mr. Darcy avoid her eyes. She assumed that Mr. Darcy would have taken charge as was his wont, merely telling her father what needed to be done and then acting on his plan.

“Lizzy, please sit next to Mr. Darcy.” Once she had done so, he said, “Bingley rarely spoke about either of his sisters. What I learned from him was that he did not view either Lord Armstrong or Mr. Hurst with respect. Therefore, we need to discuss how to protect the children from the threat of Bingley’s brother-in-law. Before we do, I must know, do you personally feel safe in Mr. Darcy’s company?”

What? Why would her father ask such a thing? Her gaze snapped to Mr. Darcy’s profile. The furrows in his brow deepened, his eyes focused straight ahead, and if she could guess by the position of his jaw, she suspected he clenched his teeth tightly. It would have been a terrible blow to him to have his honor questioned.

She answered honestly. “He would never harm me, Papa. Of this, I am entirely convinced.” Looking back at her father, she wondered why he asked. What had the two men discussed? Why did her papa look indignant?

“Lizzy, two things cause my concern. First, Mr. Darcy schemed to prevent Jane from marrying Bingley and second, his insults to you at the assembly.” Her father tapped his finger on the desk with each point.

Inhaling deeply, she replied. “You are correct that Mr. Darcy acted against both Bingley and Jane’s best interests. Lest we forget, he must have regretted his actions because he later approached Charles with a confession and an apology, not knowing if either would be accepted. As we know their history, Bingley was unwilling to continue the friendship. Nevertheless, he wrote to Mr. Darcy days ago when he was desperate for aid. The only reason for this is that he never lost his trust in his friend. As to the latter issue, just as Mr. Darcy insulted me, I have done the same to him, denouncing him to my family and neighbors as the rudest, proudest, most arrogant man of my acquaintance, condemning him soundly.” She heard his teeth grind. Barely refraining from glancing at him, she continued. “Even though my actions were provoked, they were as unladylike as he had been ungentlemanly. You know me well, Papa. Because I reacted in the same manner, would you consider me to be a threat? Dangerous? Prone to cause harm? Always unkind?”

“Of course not.” He rubbed his chin. “I accept your clarification. Now that your character has been proven equally imperfect, Mr. Darcy, this leaves us with the issue of what to do about the twins. What do you have in mind?”

Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. “I intend to make it known that Miss Bennet, the nurses, Bingley’s valet, and the twins will travel to Pemberley, where they can be kept safe until I file for guardianship at the earliest possible moment. However, the truth is that we will head directly to London, where my man of business and attorneys will present the paperwork to the Court of Chancery. Since two males and a female are typically assigned as guardians, I am wondering if Bingley spoke to you or someone you know about serving in this position.”

“Yes, he did,” Elizabeth answered. “Throughout Jane’s pregnancy, we discussed this often. At first, Bingley suggested his brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, since neither he nor his wife had any children. Since the Hursts did not seem fond of young ones, Jane was concerned about the type of parents they would be if a baby were thrust upon them.Both Bingley and Jane asked me if I would serve as the godmother. However, since I had not yet reached my majority when we first discussed it, we did not know if this would be legally acceptable to the court. I am now of age. As well, I am related to the mother, but we know how little authority a mother has when it comes to her children.”

She was unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. Had Jane survived Bingley without a will, she would have had no rights at all.

Her father said, “They also asked me about being a guardian, but I gave them the same response as I gave you, that I do not believe I would be the best choice.”

Mr. Darcy ran his hands through his hair. “This complicates things. Bingley’s legal papers that are in his private box are complete but unsigned, which renders them void. At a glance, they name me, Miss Bennet, and you, sir, as Bingley’s desired guardians despite your deferral.”

Rubbing his face, her father’s shoulders dropped. “Then it will be up to the judge to decide my grandchildren’s future. Tell me, if you were that judge, would you approve a single man of fortune with a large estate, a young lady, and an old man as guardians to newborns, or would you choose a married couple with a title and estate, who also happen to be closely related to the father of said children? How would you rule?”

Frustrated, Elizabeth wanted to strike something. For as much as she mourned Charles Bingley, she longed to knock some sense into him for not taking five minutes to have his signature witnessed on documents that would have protected his family. She had no doubt thatMr. Darcy would never let that happen.

Relaxing his fists at his side, Darcy stated, “Then we need to do whatever we can to strengthen our case. Perhaps your name should be added to my petition to the court, sir.”

Her father nodded before peering directly at Elizabeth. “Then I suggest that you two marry in haste.”

“Marry?” She could barely speak, for her heart had lodged in her throat. “Me, marry Mr. Darcy?”

With a twinkle in her father’s eye, he said, “Well, since I am legally wed to your mother, he is the only one still available.”

“Papa!” Elizabeth’s mind spun with speculations of what her life would be like as Mr. Darcy’s bride. Mr. Darcy, stiff as a board alongside her, showed no reaction except for an almost imperceivable twitch at his jaw. Was it irritation? Repugnance at the suggestion? Whatever it was, he said nothing, apparently awaiting her response.

Did he even want to marry her? Certainly, he would not ever offer without the care of the twins to consider. If he did agree, could she marry him? Of course, she would. For the sake of the children, she would walk on fire if the Court of Chancery required it. She would march down the aisle with her head held high and no regrets to protect Charlie and Clara. When Mr. Darcy continued to say nothing, she knew that he would do the same for the twins.

Weighing the pros and cons, Elizabeth decided that, in the end, the most pertinent question was whether they could live together without killing each other. Only time will tell.

Mr. Bennet wanted them to marry? The suggestion was not as much of a shock to him as it appeared to be to her. If he was honest, which he always was, he admitted to himself alone that the thought of having Elizabeth Bennet as his bride had already occurred to him on more than one occasion, most recently when he comforted her in the corridor of Netherfield Park.

From the look of horror on her face, she had never considered the possibility. How could that be? She was perceptive enough to recall that she was the only lady he asked to dance at Bingley’s ball. He asked on two other occasions as well. Apparently, Miss Bennet had not been coy when she refused.

What a dunce! Mr. Bennet had been correct about his daughter’s view of him. Blast and damnation!

“Yes, Papa. If Mr. Darcy is willing to have me attached to the Darcy name, then I will join him at the chapel immediately. We will do as he suggests: travel to London to seek legal guidance to present the best possible case to the court before Lord and Lady Armstrong cause any permanent damage to the twins.”

If only she looked happier with her decision. Was there nothing she found appealing about him? She would have all his wealth at her fingertips, a glorious estate in the country, a grand house in Town, the latest fashions, and the respect of the Darcy name. Was that not enticing enough?

He refrained from the loud sigh threatening to burst forth.

“Very well.” Darcy stood. “If I might have a moment to speak with Mrs. Bennet?”

Curious, both Elizabeth and her father gaped at him.

“Be my guest.” Mr. Bennet opened the door and then directed Darcy to the drawing room, where his wife sat staring out the window as if waiting for a visit from someone who would never arrive.

Kneeling in front of her, Darcy spoke softly, not wanting to startle her. “Mrs. Bennet, I find I am in dire need of your services.”

“Me?” Her hand went to her chest. Darcy saw another crumpled handkerchief in her fist, damp from her tears. Mr. Bennet had not overstated the condition of his wife.

“Yes, ma’am. I am sorry to tell you that there are individuals who aim to tear your grandchildren away from you. To protect your little Charlie and Clara from those who intend them harm, I will be marrying Miss Bennet as soon as we receive a common license from Meryton’s rector, which we hope will be this morning. What I…no, what we desperately need from you are your eyes and ears after we are gone.”

She perked slightly.

“You see, the former Miss Bingley wrote to Charles demanding any male child be delivered to her husband to be raised, not as a Bingley, not as your daughter’s son, but as his own.”

She huffed.

“He has no intention of taking little Clara.”

“Well, I never!” Mrs. Bennet grumbled .

“Madam, to accomplish this would mean breaking the bond between your grandson and granddaughter.”

“This is unacceptable!” Mrs. Bennet sat erect. “They would not do this, would they?”

“Assuredly, they would.”

“Then, what are you asking of me, Mr. Darcy, for I simply cannot imagine why you would need me, why anyone would need me.”

“You will be a very important part of our pursuit of justice, Mrs. Bennet. My attorneys and I will need reports of the activities of Lord and Lady Armstrong as well as the Hursts. We need to know who arrives at Netherfield Park, where they go, who they see, when they leave, and when and if they return. Mrs. Bennet, we will need this information since your husband, daughter, and I envision a lengthy and expensive legal battle to gain guardianship of the children as well as the authority to administer Bingley and Jane’s estate. You have connections that I suspect you are unaware of, useful connections in the community that will provide exactly what we need. For example, are you aware that your housekeeper and Netherfield’s housekeeper are good friends?”

“They are sisters. Hill is two years older than Maude Nicholls.” Mrs. Bennet’s finger tapped her chin as her tears dried up. “And the nephew of our butler works at the stables at Netherfield Park. Additionally, our upstairs maid has a cousin who was employed as a personal maid to Jane. Her name is Abigail. I am certain that she knows more about the happenings in the house than Jane did.”

“This is very good. It appears that you understand your assignment well, Mrs. Bennet. I will leave funds with your husband for the paper and postage you will need for your daily reports. Pray, do not hesitate to send them often since even the smallest piece of information could be helpful.”

She patted the hand he had resting on his knee. “You really are going to marry our Lizzy? And you will take good care of my grandchildren?”

“I make you this solemn promise today, Mrs. Bennet, that I will do everything within my power to see your family healthy and happy.”

She leaped to her feet, her shoulders back, her chin determined. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I have been too afraid to see the children since I feared I could not cope with loving them completely and having them ripped away from me. While you three are at the chapel, I will become acquainted with my grandchildren.”

Elizabeth asked, “You do not want to attend my wedding?”

On her way out the door, her mother cupped her daughter’s cheek. “I love you dearly, Elizabeth Rose, but no child can possibly compete with the affection a grandmother has for her grandchildren. Go now. Do not be late for your own wedding.”

He had no idea how Elizabeth felt about it, but Darcy knew when he had been dismissed. Mr. Bennet chuckled as he watched his wife walk away. It was one more piece of evidence that Darcy’s judgments of the family were skewed by his proud arrogance, just as, according to Elizabeth’s father, she thought of him.

He barely stopped himself from slapping his forehead with his palm. “I am afraid that in the discussion about the wedding, I forgot about an equally important task. Since this next Sunday is the second one since their birth, the twins need to be christened. We should all be at the chapel. Mrs. Bennet will see her daughter wed after all. ”

In the scramble of everyone getting ready, he found it interesting to see that Mrs. Bennet held Charlie even as Mr. Bennet had Clara wrapped tightly in his arms. How quickly they slipped into the role of grandparents.

Darcy offered his arm to his reluctant bride-to-be. He had got so much wrong from his earlier stay in Hertfordshire. It was incumbent upon him now, for the sake of his existing family, for Bingley’s babies, and for Elizabeth, that he finally got something right.

They did not make it out the front door before he realized he missed a significant step.

“Mr. Bennet, would you allow Miss Bennet and me privacy to discuss an important matter? I promise that only a few minutes will be needed.”

“Of course.”

He followed her into the bookroom, closing the door behind them.

“Miss Bennet, Elizabeth, would you be willing to enter a truce for the babies’ sakes?”

Without hesitation, she agreed.

“Do you willingly accept my offer of marriage?”

Her brow arched as his heartbeat quickened.

“But you made no offer of marriage, sir.”

He felt the heat rush to his cheeks as his eyes dropped to the floor. Regaining control of his turbulent emotions, he asked, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will you marry me?”

She grinned, drawing him in like a moth to a flame. “I will.”

This time, when he offered his arm, she readily accepted. Within the next hour, he would gain a wife, two infants, two wet nurses, and Bingley’s valet. He could not have been happier.