Page 43 of Compromise & Consequence
“And that is…?”
“I have youandmy daughter under the same roof and can keep a watchful eye.”
Richard could not help himself. He laughed.
“I appreciate a watchful father and set myself up for your caprice and humor when I asked if you could point me in the direction of the beauty I saw walking in Meryton.”
“Without even trying, Jane makes mortal men forget to breathe. As her father, I must look out for her because she has the uncanny ability to see only good in everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“Yes, everyone. When I tell her of Wickham’s misdeeds, which I will because I do not hide the ugly side of life from my daughters, she will try to find redemption in his behavior andactions.”
“With Wickham, that is an impossibility.”
“Not for Jane. She truly is exceptional.” Bennet assessed him carefully, then began speaking again. “Do you know Mr. Bingley and his sisters?” Richard could not help but grimace when he replied that he did. “Then you know Miss Bingley holds herself above many people, even those higher ranked in society.”
“I do.”
“And you know if the opportunity presents itself, and she knows there is no direct societal fallout for her behavior, she will abuse the person or persons she thinks below her station.”
“Again, I am aware.”
“Then, let me reveal a facet of Jane’s personality. Miss Bingley wrote a scathing letter to her – I am supposedly unaware of this letter – whereupon, she told my daughter any correspondence sent to her would be burned and if Miss Bingley saw Jane on the street, she would give her the cut direct.”
“She said that? In a letter?”
“Yes, she did. I am a gentleman and a substantial landowner. As such, Jane is above Miss Bingley who does not even have one foot out of the ditch of trade. However, I digress. Jane, heartbroken over the abandonment of Mr. Bingley and blatant disrespect displayed by Miss Bingley, still holds them in high regard and wishes them nothing but future happiness.”
“I am humbled by her act of forgiveness. Would that there were more people like her in this world.”
“Now you see why I protect her. I could do nothing for Elizabeth as circumstances dictated what had to happen, and she is a different woman. Like her father, her courage always rises when faced with the trials of life and she does not see everything as warm and fuzzy. She and Jane are opposite sidesof a coin.”
“Darcy may not appreciate his wife now, but your niece is the perfect woman for him. I will tell you I think he held her in some regard before the compromise.”
“I disagree with that notion.”
“You would because you do not know his character. I have known him since we were boys running about catching frogs and learning how to ride horses together.” Richard finished his coffee and then pushed his chair back from the table.
“He told me he danced with her at the ball at Netherfield.”
“He danced with others, colonel. There is nothing earth-shaking in that fact.”
“No, Mr. Bennet,” Richard explained. “He danced with the sister of a friend who was his host and therefore duty called for him to honor her with one set. Elizabeth was the only lady outside his intimate circle he danced with. Darcyneverdances at balls. He does not want to raise the expectation of desperate mothers and their daughters, yet he asked your niece to dance.”
Bennet now leaned back in his chair.
“He asked her to dance before that night.”
“He did?”
Richard could not hold in his look of surprise.
“At a gathering at Sir William’s, and Lizzy told us he asked her to dance a reel at Netherfield Park.”
“My God! He is in love with her!”
“She declined both times.”
