“Mr. Bennet,” Darcy said, “I have offered to marry Elizabeth because it is my duty after I killed her husband. And she is very much in need of care.”
Thatwas a notion that Elizabeth rather disagreed with. She was fully capable of caring for herself.
“What a pagan notion.” Papa frowned. “You cannot possibly be a sensible person.”
“Papa,” Elizabeth said warningly. Though what Papa said was almost the same as what Elizabeth had said to Mr. Darcy herself when he made the offer.
“I disapprove of duels,” Papa said. “I imagine you must disapprove of them as well. You wish to punish yourself. Relieve your guilt. But still, surely you cannot think that this is a sound basis for choosing the partner of your future life.”
“I promised my father that I would care for Mr. Wickham. On the day that my father died I made that promise. I failed to do so while he was alive—I could not in truth, due to the deficiencies of his character. But now I have an opportunity to fulfil that promise. Mr. Bennet, I am glad to meet you. I know from what Elizabeth has told me that you have shown care and concern for her. What you have said now that you have come here shows that as well. I beg you to believe that I will do everything to see her happy, to see her cared for, and to see her children flourishing. I…I…” Darcy opened and closed one of his fists. “There is nothing I wish more than that opportunity. Please give us your blessing.”
Papa stared at him. “Well, well, well.”
In turn Darcy met his eyes firmly, without any flinching.
Elizabeth hoped, for Darcy’s sake, since it mattered to him, that Papa would give his blessing. That would make Mr. Darcy happy. For her own part…
“Oh, Papa,” Elizabeth said, “I am glad to see you. I have missed you.”
“Well of course.” Papa smiled at her.
George overcame his shyness and came up to Papa, “Are you really Mama’s Papa?”
“I am, young man,” Papa picked George up easily, despite the boy’s large size. “That makes me your grandpapa. Do you remember me? We met once before, when you were still a small squalling thing.”
“No.” George said solemnly.
Papa laughed.
“Did you know,” George said, “Mr. Darcy is going to be my papa now? I never had one. Or I can’t remember. But he did kill my father in a duel. And my father pinked him—Mr. Darcy still can’t stand well. Mama said I can only call him Papa Darcy after they marry.”
“I see,” Papa said slowly to the boy.
“Did you bring me a present?”
Papa laughed in reply.
“Mr. Darcy has bought me lots of toy soldiers, and animals, and books, and he likes to read my books to me, and he has been teaching me to sound out letters. Do you like to read books?”
“Very much so.”
“Mama likes to read too!— I don’t mind that Mr. Darcy killed my father. After all, having a father who died in a duel is nearly as good as having a papa, but it will be even better when Mr. Darcy is Papa Darcy.”
“I see.” Papa now looked at Mr. Darcy with his keen eyes. “I begin to perceive that you have not simply appealed to what mercenary instincts my daughter might have, nor to her delight in the idea of participation in pagan ritual.”
“Papa, I am not delighted by that—well, only a little.” Elizabeth looked at Darcy. She suddenly had a little anxiety that Papa’s insistence that she only meant to marry him for money would have made him unhappy.
Darcy still studied Papa, with that serious expression of his. Noticing her looking at him, he looked to her, and made a small, reassuring gesture.
Elizabeth relaxed. She set Emily down and let out a long breath.
“I see,” Papa said. “So, I see. And you want my blessing, Mr. Darcy?—but no matter that George likes you,” he put the child down. “Now dear boy, I didnotthink to bring you a present, but that was a terrible oversight. It is late today for such plans, but what do you think of going out to buy some books tomorrow?—oh, I see, you still haveMother Goose. I gave that book to you, did you know?”
“I love that book! It is my favorite.”
“Well, of course,” Papa replied smiling at the boy.
“It was the only book I had, before Mr. Darcy bought me more.”
