“You? Did your father offer you as the sacrificial lamb?”
She blinked. “Not my father.”
“Ah, your mother, then. Will your father support her?”
She shrugged. “He prides himself on being the mostdisagreeable partner in their marriage, so I cannot imagine him agreeing to the arrangement. Nevertheless, I will not reach my majority for another half year. There is little I can do other than run away to my uncle in London if my cousin insists. Besides, he likely is too tall, too handsome, and too hairy.”
He appreciated her attempt to find humor in the situation. It was one facet of her character that drew him to her.
“Do let us return to the subject at hand,” she said. “You are determined that you would never marry a quiet woman. What else?”
Determined to lighten the mood, he added, “I would never marry a fair-haired lady.”
“You would not? Someone as lovely as Jane would grace any man’s arm. Why would you reject someone like her because of her hair?”
He adored the puzzled look on her face.Oh, good lord!He admired her face. And her wit. And her smile. And her compassion.
Forcing himself to reply in the same manner, he said, “Could you imagine combining the color of my almost black hair with pale yellow? I suspect that any child born would have dullish brown hair. Also, although your sister has thicker hair than Georgiana, it is not as…ah, abundant as yours. Besides, your father’s hair is rather thin. I would not want to risk my progeny to tend toward baldness.”
Miss Elizabeth’s arms wrapped around her middle as she broke out in mirth. Once she regained control, she said, “Then we agree. We shall remain friends, aiding the other to find a mate who perfectly matches our requirements.Mine shall be the exact opposite of you and yours…” Her hand shot to her mouth.
“And mine?” His admiration had grown for Miss Elizabeth each time he was in her company. Imagining their potential children, even though it was done as a joke to lighten his mood, was suddenly desirable to him. Only that morning, he considered how pleasant it would be to go about his day with her by his side, forsaking all others, keeping only to her, so long as they both shall live.
“Miss Elizabeth, when you mentioned that your father’s cousin was ridiculous and that you did not want to be attached to him, I now wonder, what sort of man could you see yourself marrying?”
Her natural modesty moved her to look away from him. “Sir, it is painful not to have a choice and be under the control of those who look out for their interests rather than mine. Had I the ability to select my own mate, I would want a husband I can respect and admire, one I can have intelligent discussions with who wants to share our lives. I want to share the challenge of rearing children to be responsible and happy adults.” Her attention returned to him. “I want a man with whom I would love growing old beside.”
“I want the same.”
He crossed his arms thoughtfully rather than defensively. Was he really thinking about marriage, joining her life to his permanently?
Miss Elizabeth allowed him his silence while he mentally worked out how to proceed. During their daily discourse, she withheld nothing of her feelings or opinions from him. Already, she knew more of hiscircumstances than any other person. More of him. He needed to, again, speak freely.
“Miss Bennet, the only thing between myself and poverty is slightly over four thousand pounds. I have no debt. Yet, I no longer own a house.” He stopped in front of her, noted the confusion in her eyes, and then resumed pacing. “I would guess that your father’s income would be approximately two thousand a year. From that, he can support a wife and five grown daughters who are out in society. I calculate that the cost of running a smaller estate would be considerably less. With that said, the income from rents and harvests, if managed properly, could generate more from alternate sources.”
She tipped her head to the side as if to study his face. “I understand what you are saying, sir. What I do not know is why. Are you merely speaking your thoughts aloud?”
Standing directly in front of her, he said, “I am judicious in my habits. I have only been truly inebriated twice in my life, and I have already explained both times to you. I am not immoral. I do not gamble. Nor am I a cheat. I obey the law, and I am kind to older ladies and animals.”
“And Petey. You are kind to him.”
He smiled. “Yes, I cannot forget Petey.” Clearing his throat, he explained. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I thought we could meet regularly with impunity, that our being in company almost daily was harmless. Only a few minutes out of each day should impact neither of us. Yet, in my heart, I knew we were flirting with danger.”
“Flirting? Danger?” Elizabeth stepped back. “Beperfectly clear, Mr. Darcy. I do not flirt. Nor do you. What are you saying?”
Her whole body was taut.
Stepping forward, standing so close that he could see the golden flecks in her eyes, he said, “I begin each day excited for when we meet. I end each day thinking about what we might discuss the next day. In all that has gone bad in my life since Georgiana married Wickham, I am grateful that I am in Hertfordshire, in Meryton, on top of Oakham Mount, with you.”
“Oh!” Her eyes were as round as her mouth.
“Miss Elizabeth. I am on the brink of discerning my path for my future, and I cannot imagine being unable to discuss my plans with you routinely. Through our conversations we have held daily for the past weeks, I now understand that my value is far more than owning Pemberley. With or without the estate, I remain, Fitzwilliam Darcy, the son of my parents. Whatever I do in the days and years ahead, I am still me.”
“I am pleased to have been of service, sir.”
“My lady, I find that I never want to leave Hertfordshire without you. In all honesty, I do not know if what I am feeling is the first blush of affection, but my first thought each morning when I wake is of you. I hurry through my tasks until we meet. I regret the moment we part, immediately looking forward to when next I can see you again. With that in mind, would you be willing to avoid your father’s cousin and tie your life with mine, whereupon you will eventually have a houseful of hairy, medium-height, handsome children with me?”
A soft, wondering look crossed her features. She started to speak, stopped, then tried again. “Sir, with theinherent knowledge of my mother’s inclination to push her least favorite daughter into the arms of Longbourn’s heir and the simple fact that I would willingly spend every hour with you, I have decided.” Without hesitation, she said, “If you can bear having pitiful-looking children, then I suppose I can tolerate being wed to you.”
