Page 100 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
Mr. Bennet preceded his two eldest daughters into his study. The look of fear Jane gave Elizabeth nearly broke his heart, but they complied when he indicated that they were to take the two seats before his desk.
“I regret many of these last days. Your mother’s demand for silence does not extend into my study, Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet sighed in frustration when he received nothing from either of his daughters. “Come, you must yield here in this room where we have enjoyed so many hours of conversation together.”
“How can you speak of memories, sir?”
“I do not see my daughter in this woman before me. I see a soul-deep well of anger that might boil over at any provocation. You must find a way to accept it. I will allow you to attend the ball if you will, in turn, allow me to announce your engagement.”
“Then you can explain my absence.” Elizabeth stood to leave.
“You will have thishouse. You shall be able to manage him with very little effort. And you would be able to take care of your unmarried sisters and manage your mother when you are in charge.”
“You could have led with that, sir, and I might have considered more than his being the last man in the world I could be prevailed upon to marry. Now, I will be vocal in my denials of him, no matter how many times I am pressed. If you should force me through other means, your wife will be tossed from thishousebeforeyou are cold in your grave,” Elizabeth said with derision.
“I forbid that,” Mr. Bennet declared with a slam of his hand onto the desk.
Mr. Bennet knew immediate regret when Jane extended an arm in front of Elizabeth in a gesture of protection. His eldest daughter was angrier than he had imagined she was capable of.
“How interesting that you forbid something that will occur a minute after you are dead. Until then, I will make it my goal to anger his patroness at every turn, so he is miserable under her thumb.”
“Please, Elizabeth, let go of your bitterness.”
“Tell me why I was selected.”
“I may have selected, but I have since suggested Mary. Your mother will not allow the substitution and continues to insist it is who will be his wife in recompense for my failure to secure her well-being.”
“Because I am your favorite, I am to be sacrificed on the altar created from your sloth.”
“It sickens me to hear you claim it as such, but there is indeed nothing for your mother after I die. I throw myself on your mercy, Lizzy.”
“You claim I should have mercy when I am shown none?”
“You know I love you above all of my children. Ineedyou to always be here with me. Your disposition will make the situation tolerable enough. You, Elizabeth, can manage the estate, and we will always be able to enjoy our talks here in this room.”
“You steal my future because you refused to rouse yourself enough to see to hers? And for your mistakes, you allow her to take from me, the daughter she despises, any hope of happiness? You are equal in your miscalculations. No,”Elizabeth said, looking through the window to the outdoors forbidden to her above a week.
“Your mother does not despise you.”
“In that, you are wrong. The pleasure she took in slapping Elizabeth was malevolent,” Jane said with certainty.
“That is a heavy accusation, Jane. I did not observe any such expression.”
“Mary, Kitty, and I saw it,” Jane said, unrelenting.
“I regret it has come to this,” Mr. Bennet said with a heavy sigh. “Please, Elizabeth, agree to marry him. You will keep this house, and I need to know you are cared for. Your mother’s constant lamenting of my demise has at last forced me to consider what will happen when I am gone. I beg you to give me this peace of mind, Elizabeth. At least, you will find happiness in caring for your unwed sisters and having my company.”
“Because I amyouronly companion, you think I wish you to be the only one I also have in turn? That is despicable. And Mr. Collins is too ridiculous. Never will I agree to be his subjugate,” Elizabeth said in a monotone of accusation.
“In you, our discord is manifested. I cannot stand this façade you have created to dissuade him. And I cannot keep sending my cousin off on silly errands and the barest of excuses to avoid his seeing you as such.” Mr. Bennet opened his fist, his fingers languidly passing across the space before him, though in Elizabeth’s direction.
Mrs. Bennet called from the other side of the door, “You will make certain she accepts him, and she must do so soon. Given what he saw yesterday, I now fear Mr. Collins will not have Lizzy.”
“She is not wrong in that your plan might be working. At dinner, Mr. Collins looked at you with distaste. And your blatant disrespect of Lady Catherine was of great offence to my cousin.” Mr. Bennet’s eyes shifted away from the sight of his daughter.
“It was the perfect way to dissuade him,” Jane said, her head turned toward her sister when speaking words meant for Elizabeth in particular.
“Then he will give up his suit and, I hope, leave so that I can again walk out and speak with my sisters.” Elizabeth crossed her arms defensively.
“You mean for him to find another wife? That I cannot afford. So you force me to concede. Tell me, Lizzy, which of your sisters shall I foist him off on? Iwillsee them to the altar before the month is complete.”
