Page 35 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
“Let us not get carried away. Miatharan’s do not have harems. We find our soul mate and stick.” He glanced over at the two empty glasses sitting on top of the drink table. “Add another glass and the three of us can toast your upcoming nuptials.”
“Let me, Darcy.” Richard poured out three glasses of brandy and joined them by the fireplace. He raised his glass in a toast. “To Miss Elizabeth and Darcy. May their marriage be long and fruitful.”
All three men drank and then Mr. Bennet settled back into his chair.
“Which one of you wove the protective spell about the house?”
Darcy sputtered into his drink. It appeared Mr. Bennet was the master of abstract segues.
“I did, sir.”
“Nicely done, however, when you lay the spell, don’t attach it to the home. You must weave it around the edges of the property. Too close, and your enemies can still use human means to harm you inside the house. If they are stayed at the garden gate, so to speak, the risk is reduced to your loved ones and gives you time to react.”
“I would think you would have personal knowledge of that,” came the quiet voice of Richard.
Bennet assessed him carefully. “Aye. My family learned the hard way. Who knows what might have happened if my father had extended our magical borders beyond our private rooms? Robespierre knew what had to be done to succeed in his evil quest. I must admit, I’d not laid a protective spell on Longbourn. England seems peaceful enough, but the world is changing at a frantic pace and common decency is becoming a rare commodity.” He shifted in his chair and faced Darcy again. “Why the protective spell?”
Richard and Darcy exchanged glances.
“I needed to protect Elizabeth from Mr. Wickham.”
“Mr. Wickham!” Bennet straightened in his seat. “Is he Miatharan as well?”
“No, but he is a practitioner of the dark arts and hates me with a passion.” Darcy grimaced thinking of how Wickham’s quest for revenge nearly succeeded with Georgiana. “I worried he might discover my regard for your daughter and turn his anger toward her in an effort to hurt me.”
“Mr. Darcy, I can say this with the utmost confidence, no one in Meryton believes you hold my second eldest daughter in high regard. In fact, you do not hold any of the Bennet family in high esteem.” He held Darcy’s gaze. “Please correct me if I’m wrong.”
“You are not wrong - Please hear me out - You also not correct.”
“Enlighten me.”
“I love Elizabeth and have from the first night I saw her in Meryton−”
Bennet snorted.
“He did.” Richard interjected. “Although at the time I did not know which lady caught his attention, he clearly told me to watch Wickham because of his fear she’d be harmed.”
“Very well,” Bennet huffed. “You were entranced by Lizzy.”
“I also greatly admire your eldest daughter, Miss Bennet and have told Bingley to marry her as fast as humanly possible.” His shoulders relaxed somewhat as Bennet nodded in agreement. “In fact, Bingley is here in London to release his sister’s dowry to her own management and secure a ring so that he may propose when he returns to Netherfield Park.”
“Well, that ties things all up in a bright package, doesn’t it?” Bennet smirked at both men’s discomfort. “You admire my eldest daughters and despise the rest of us. Won’t this make for merry times when the families gather for all sorts of festivities and christenings.”
“Sir, you are deliberately misunderstanding me - much like your daughter, I might add.”
“You do know my daughter well,” Bennet barked out a short, hard laugh. “I’m glad to know my little Lizzy doesn’t give you any quarter. If you earn her regard, she’ll be a fierce partner in life.”
“I believe I have earned her regard. We had a productive conversation when she first arrived.”
He needn’t add the conversation quickly devolved into passionate love making. No father wanted to hear how his little girl was deflowered outside the bonds of matrimony. In fact, if he and Elizabeth had daughters, he might construct a high tower and only allow them out for family meals. His mind stuttered to a stop. If he and Elizabeth had daughters. She might, at this very moment, be carrying their child. It was imperative they marry immediately.
“Mr. Bennet,” he began, “I request the honor of marrying your daughter Elizabeth. I can have my lawyers draw up a settlement and bring it to Longbourn in two days time.”
“You know I can’t refuse as Lizzy is your soul mate.” Bennet smiled at an amusing thought, “Mrs. Bennet will be wild about this. Prepare yourself for a multitude of effusions and vapors. She’ll demand an engagement of at least six months to order all the lace and fripperies she deems necessary for a successful marriage ceremony. In fact, bring Mr. Bingley along for the ride. You can have a double ceremony with him and Jane.”
Darcy lowered his glass. What he had to say was going to be difficult, but necessary.
“I believe I should marry Elizabeth immediately.”
