Page 117 of May I Have the Pleasure
“Well… Itmightallow Fitzwilliam to finally abandon me and find a way to be happy. I do not believe anything short of me marrying another man that survives or my death, will release him. Perhaps I am being overly arrogant, but I cannot help but believe that his happiness is suspended. He is three and thirty, and he is just existing, notliving.”
“What about you? You are not living either. Is Darcy the only one that would have to give up the love of his life and try to start over, or would you be among that lot?”
“Yes, of course.”
“And Sofia may be in the same boat?”
“Yes.”
“So, you will either crush four people, save all four, or something in between.”
“Yes.”
“And it all depends on your decision—you and Prince Gustav anyway?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Elizabeth!How do you bear it? Is theretrulyno other way to escape?”
“I told you Prince Gustav is as smart as Fitzwilliam or me, and Sofia is in the same league.”
“Yes.”
“Three of the four smartest people I know have not found a way to untie the gordian knot. We havenot one but twosovereigns whose pride is on the line, and millions of pounds of wealth in the balance, not to mention the complexities of the marriage and inheritance.”
“Oh!”
“Also… monarchs have many ways to rid themselves of those that annoy them. I suspect if it were not a matter of pride toourPrince Regent, I would already be gone from the court to—well, best to not think about all the places the kingcouldsend me if he were not anxious to have me wed to his son. There are other ways for the crown to control my fortune.”
“Oh, Elizabeth.”
“I am sorry to put the burden of this knowledge on you. I once said our debts were all paid, and now I am piling more up.”
“I would have it no other way. Is there truly no hope?”
“There is always hope, but at the moment, faith is the only hope we have.”
“Does Fitzwilliam know any of this?”
“He most certainly does not, and you will not tell him!”
“I give my word. I will not tell my husband either.”
“Charlotte… I am… I am… I am searching with all my might to find a solution where we all can be happy, and I have only found a single option where there is the slightest chance weall couldbe happy… if our characters allow it… eventually.”
“I do not like the sound of this.”
“I imagine you do not like theeventuallypart of it?”
“Among others. You are frightening me. What is this perhaps least-terrible plan you will engage if you cannot find a better one?”
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“Lizzy?”
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“Lizzy!”
