Page 94 of The Slipper Scandal
He should leave, he knew. There was nothing to be gained by lingering, yet he found himself reluctant to depart. The marriage articles he had prepared were safe in Abernathy’s study, where he had asked them to be placed upon his arrival. He had intended to present them to Elizabeth today, another step towards formalizing their arrangement. Now, he wondered if they might serve a different purpose.
A movement in the entrance hall caught his attention. Mr. Bennet had emerged from the library, looking weary but somewhat composed. Making a swift decision, Darcy stepped into the hall.
"Mr. Bennet," he called, "might I have a word with you in private?"
Elizabeth's father regarded him with a sort of grim surprise, then gestured back towards the library. "By all means, Mr. Darcy. Abernathy has just been called away on business, so we shall have the room to ourselves."
Darcy called for the papers to be brought to him in the library and then joined Mr. Bennet there.
The library was a handsome chamber, its walls lined with well-maintained volumes, a fire burning low in the grate. Mr. Bennet settled into a chair near the hearth, gesturing for Darcy to take the one opposite.
"I must apologise again for my display earlier," Mr. Bennet began, his voice heavy with regret. "It was most improper."
"There is no need for an apology to me," Darcy replied, though in truth, he had been greatly disturbed by the exchange.
Mr. Bennet's smile was rueful. "You are generous, sir. I suspect my daughter will be less forgiving."
"She fears our circumstances will lead us down a similar path to yours."
The older man's expression darkened. "Ah. I see my wife is not the only one who has been indiscreet about the circumstances of our marriage."
Darcy wanted to wring the man’s neck for implying that his daughter was the one who had acted badly. His voice grew sharp as he replied. “Elizabeth told me only what was necessary for me to understand her concern. It was you and your wife who chose to lay out the full account in my presence not half an hour ago.”
Mr. Bennet's gaze was assessing. "I begin to think we have done you a service. Now you see where a forced marriage leads. And yet you persist in your suit. Why?”
The man’s question was neither bitter nor heated, only curious, and it was one that Darcy had asked himself repeatedly since understanding Elizabeth's reluctance. "Because I believe our situation is fundamentally different," he replied at last. "Your marriage began with an obligation, yes, but so too did your resentment of that obligation. I find that I cannot resent the circumstances that have brought Elizabeth into my life."
"A noble sentiment," Mr. Bennet observed, "but one that may not endure."
Darcy considered the possibility but shook his head. “I cannot say what will come. Only God knows that. But I am determined to ensure that should Elizabeth do me the honour of accepting my hand, she need never doubt her value to me, nor have reason to regret her choice."
He reached into his coat and withdrew the marriage articles, placing them on the small table between them. "I intended for Abernathy to sign these in your stead, but as you are here now, you can do it."
Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow but made no move to take the documents. "I have no doubt of your generosity, Mr. Darcy. You have behaved most honourably in all of this. However, I suspect Lizzy requires more than financial security."
"Her independence," Darcy said immediately, having already anticipated this. "You will find provisions for that as well. A separate allowance under her sole control, regardless of my approval or disapproval of her expenditures. Protection for Longbourn and its inhabitants for the duration of your lifetime and Mrs. Bennet's. And know, sir, that if Elizabeth wishes it, we shall sponsor her sisters one at a time in society so that they may have more choice in whom they wed, if they wish to wed at all."
Mr. Bennet's brows lifted in surprise. "You are thorough.”
"I have money enough." Darcy met and held Mr. Bennet’s gaze. "Elizabeth's happiness is my foremost concern." He left unsaid that Mrs. Bennet’s happiness ought also to have been her husband’s.
A peculiar, rueful smile played at the corners of Mr. Bennet's mouth. "Believe it or not, Mr. Darcy, I am your supporter. Have been from the first. I only wished to be sure, you know. My Lizzy is not an ordinary girl, and she could not be happy with an ordinary man."
Darcy was not impressed. But before he could respond, there was a soft knock at the door. Mr. Abernathy reappeared, looking apologetic.
“Forgive the interruption," he said, "but Darcy, your cousin has sent a message.” He handed it over.
It was from Fitzwilliam.You may want to come back. Milton has taken it upon himself to reorganize your wine cellar.He is threatening to label your wines by mood rather than vintage.
If Darcy did not return, he knew he would find his Malmsey shelved under “melancholy resolve” or his 1805 claret marked as “wistful, with hints of betrayal.”
He sighed and rose from his chair, turning to address Mr. Bennet. "I will take my leave, sir. But I hope we might continue our conversation tomorrow.AfterI have a private meeting with your daughter, to ascertain her desires."
Mr. Bennet nodded, gesturing to the marriage articles that still lay on the table. "I shall review these in the meantime. They will make for interesting reading, I am sure."
On his return, Darcy found Fitzwilliam and Milton comfortably installed in his study, each with a glass of wine, an open bottle on the sideboard, and the fire blazing.
“I see you have made yourselves at home,” Darcy observed drily.
