Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. “I thought you insisted we were to marry in London.”
“Between Lady Matlock and your great-aunt, it has been decided that you should marry out of the public eye. Even were we to attempt a semi-private ceremony in London, gossip would spread with remarkable speed. It is better that you be presented in Town as Darcy’s wife. That will discourage fortune hunters from imagining they may attempt to carry you off. I had not considered such dangers before, but after the incident with Wickham, I judged it unwise to leave you exposed to men of that character.”
At the mention of Wickham, Darcy’s expression hardened for a fleeting moment before he mastered it.
“Alhough,” the earl continued more lightly, “I suspect any gentleman foolish enough to attempt such a scheme would soon regret the decision—particularly given the protection that has been arranged for your care. Still, I prefer not to test the matter and will allow you to enter Society as a matron.”
Once the arrangements were settled with surprising ease, Darcy rose, eager to secure a few moments alone with Elizabeth.
“It is a fine day, despite the cold. Might anyone care to take a walk in the gardens?”
Elizabeth agreed at once, and soon the engaged couple, together with Richard and Georgiana, were walking beneath the winter sky. For several minutes Richard remained inconveniently close, much to Darcy’s private irritation and his cousin’s obvious amusement. At last, however, his cousin allowed a natural distance to grow between the pairs.
As soon as the others were out of earshot, Elizabeth turned to Darcy.
“William,” she said softly, “I have had an idea, and I would know your thoughts.”
His expression warmed. “I cannot imagine a subject on which I would refuse to hear you.”
“It concerns Netherfield.”
His brows lifted slightly in question.
“In truth,” she continued, “once we are married, I shall have no need of it. We shall have Pemberley, and Granfield Park?—”
“And my investments,” he added lightly. “Including a small farm in Scotland. Several leased farms and a few other small properties.”
She blinked at him in surprise, her expression quickly softening into reflection. “Then we have even more reason to do something about Netherfield. We do not require another estate to occupy our time and attention.”
He watched her closely now, wondering what she might be thinking.
“What do you propose?”
“That we offer it to your cousin.”
“As a gift?”
She shook her head at once. “He would refuse it. Pride would not allow him to accept such generosity, and I would not wound him in attempting to do him good. But I would see him settled. Secure. Particularly if?—”
“If he marries your cousin Jane,” Darcy finished quietly.
A faint colour touched her cheeks, but she did not look away. “If he marries Jane.”
A fierce warmth rose in him then—not merely affection, but admiration—that she should willingly part with her inheritance for the security of both their cousins.
“I spoke with Richard recently,” Darcy said, lowering his voice. He glanced about, but no one stood nearby. “He has saved part of his pay and invested it wisely—not enough to purchase an estate outright, but enough to begin. If we sell Netherfield to him at fair value, he could place a substantial sum in earnest, with the remainder repaid from the estate’s income in annual instalments, with proper interest.”
Her face brightened at his quick agreement to her plan.
“If Grandpapa intends a gift towards Jane’s dowry,” she added, “it may be applied towards the purchase without Richard ever feeling indebted to either of us. He cannot refuse a gift from my grandfather.”
Darcy reached for her hand, his thumb brushing lightly across her knuckles.
“I am glad,” he said softly, “that we think so much alike. I am pleased that we have come to an agreement on this matter so easily.”
“As am I.”
“I will speak to Richard later.”
