“My nephew lies.”
As haughty and self-serving as Mr. Darcy seemed, Elizabeth wouldn’t label him a liar. Perhaps Lady Catherine bluffed? After all, what better way to cause Miss Bingley to give up than to state that the object of her affection was already engaged? Looking the red-faced, arrogant woman before them up and down, Elizabeth decided that Lady Catherine de Bourgh was not above lying.Besides which, were the engagement real, Lady Catherine would not be here, bargaining, would she?
“Even if your nephew lies, he has not done so to me.”
Lady Catherine’s teeth ground together, reminding Elizabeth of Fitzwilliam. “Five hundred.”
“It would take five thousand,” Miss Bingley cast back.
“Enough,” the earl roared. “We do not bargain, especially not with the likes of these. We will pay each strumpet a thousand pounds. Miss Bingley will agree never to seek a union with Darcy, and Miss Elizabeth will do the same in regards to Richard, and we will depart. We can be back to civilization before supper.”
Elizabeth’s heart squeezed. Surely the earl’s willingness to pay meant that Fitzwilliam held her in affection? Tempering her elation, she said, “Absolutely not.”
The earl studied her for a long moment. “Two thousand each is our final offer, and you will not care for the consequences of refusing me.” He leaned forward, brow furrowed and hard eyes full of menace. “You will be accepted nowhere in London. None will receive you. Your prospects, and those of your sisters, for I hear you have an egregious many, will be ruined.”
Elizabeth matched his glare. “Save your threats, for my reply will not change.”
“You should agree.”
Startled by Miss Bingley’s low words, Elizabeth turned to her. “I should agree?”
Miss Bingley shrugged at her before returning her attention to Lady Catherine. “I will accept two thousand pounds in exchange for my word that I will not pursue a union with Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth shook her head. She’d truly thought Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy held affection for one another, yet he might besecretly engaged and she was agreeing to take money over his love.
Lady Catherine snorted. “Your word? I think not. You will sign.” She held out a hand.
The earl produced several folded pages, passing two to her ladyship as he observed, “We will need her guardian’s signature as well. Do not let her wriggle out of this.”
“I am of age,” Miss Bingley said stiffly.
“A strumpet and on the shelf?” Lady Catherine sniffed. “I do not know what Darcy is thinking.”
Miss Bingley turned narrowed eyes on her.
“We will make a note that she assured us of her majority,” the earl said. “She can sign that as well. Any court would side with you.”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows shot up. As if this farce would ever end in a trial.
“I will sign that as well, for another five hundred.” Miss Bingley said with unconcealed annoyance.
Lady Catherine glowered at her for a long moment. “Call for pen and ink. Once you sign stating that you will not pursue Darcy, we will fill in the amount you are being compensated, and I will sign.”
Miss Bingley’s mouth twitched. “We will fill in the amount first, and you will sign, and then I will, or I am adding another five hundred.”
“Very well,” Lady Catherine snapped. “We are agreed.”
“Yes, we are,” Miss Bingley said firmly.
Lady Catherine cast a smirk at the earl. “You see, Henry? I told you I would see it done.”
Ignoring her, the earl demanded, “And you?” of Elizabeth, rattling the pages he still held.
“I will not sign,” Elizabeth said firmly.
“Accept the money,” Miss Bingley urged. “Agree not to pursue Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
The other woman had taken leave of her senses. “I will not.”
