“Mr. Bennet, I intended to do this properly, but I am afraid I reacted to Mr. Wickham’s actions toward your daughter rather forcefully,” Darcy explained. “I … I love Elizabeth most dearly and seeing her being importuned by that cad affected me deeply. I have known him too long to trust him ever to do the decent thing and was worried for Elizabeth when I saw him standing so close to her. When he put his hands on her, I was incensed.” He took a deep breath. “Mr. Bennet, I most humbly request your daughter’s hand in marriage. I will care for her for the rest of my life and ensure she has everything she wants and needs. I have the marriage settlement already at Netherfield whenever you would like to look at it.”
“You are assuming I will give my permission, sir.”
“You will not?” Elizabeth and Darcy asked in unison, their voices showing their surprise.
“Elizabeth, you have always hated this man. Why would you suddenly agree to his proposal? Did he compromise you in any way?”
“No!” she cried. “He would never compromise me. I told you, I have come to care for him. I love him, and I want to be his wife.” She looked at Darcy as she said this and noted his quick, indrawn breath at her declaration of love. “Yes, he offended me at our first meeting, but I have forgiven him. I agreed to marry him because I want to marry him, and I find myself rather thrilled at the prospect of being his wife.”
“Because of what he has?” her father persisted.
“Papa! No! Of course not.” Elizabeth fumed. “How could you believe that of me?”
Again, casting a look between the two, he stood straighter and said, “You reach your majority in October. You may marry him when you no longer need my consent, if you still want to at that time.”
“I do not understand why you are refusing your consent, sir, and I cannot believe you truly think me so mercenary,” Elizabeth said, tears filling her eyes.
He glared at both of them. “Elizabeth, leave us and allow me to speak to your suitor privately.”
She stared at her father with the same defiant look before turning on her heel to leave. Before she did, she turned to Darcy and mouthed, “I love you.”
Darcy smiled at her gently, bringing her hand to his lips for a kiss and mouthing, “I love you, too,” just before she shut the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Darcy turned to Mr. Bennet, his face transformed into his expressionless mask. “Is there anything I might do to convince you of my devotion to your daughter and gain your permission for us to wed sooner? Or to win your blessing and consent? I know it will pain Elizabeth to marry without either.”
“I doubt you will marry my daughter. You will grow bored and forget her,” Bennet stated baldly. “You are no longer welcome at Longbourn and may not contact my daughter again. You may not pass her any notes or messages, and if I find you are using your friend for that purpose, I will expel him from Longbourn as well.”
“I willnotgrow bored, and I will marry no other,” Darcy persisted, resisting the temptation to show the affront he felt. “Will you tell her of your decree, or will you attempt to persuade her I have deserted her when I leave the area? What will you do about Wickham’s assault on her in your own home? How will you ensure no further harm comes to her after what has happened today?”
“None of that is your concern, young man,” Bennet said coldly. “What happens to my daughter is of little consequence to you until October, and that is only if you bother to return. What does it matter what I tell her of your leaving the area? She does not care for you!”
Elizabeth burst into the room, having not shut the door fully to listen. “I do care for him!” she cried. “I love him. Why are you so insistent that I not marry him? I do not understand.” Elizabeth was in tears, and Darcy reached out to draw her into his arms once again.
“You want to marry him?” Bennet demanded, moving from behind his desk to pull her away from him. “You refused your cousin a few months ago when he proposed. How did you come to agree to marry this disagreeable man? He will just take what he wants from you and leave you high in the belly with his brat.”
“What have I done to make you think I am as dishonourable as you suggest? How can you believe your daughter is capable of surrendering herself to me or any man in such a way?” Darcy demanded.
“I know your type, sir. You think you can have anything you want because you are so wealthy, but you cannot have my daughter,” Bennet roared.
“What might I do to convince you of my worthiness?” Darcy asked, trying to remain reasonable.
“Leave Hertfordshire and not return.”
“I cannot do that. If you insist, I will leave Longbourn, but I will return with a licence in hand on Elizabeth’s birthday. We will marry that same day—that is, if you are agreeable, Elizabeth.”
“I would marry you today if I could do so without my father’s consent,” Elizabeth said, her chin high as she defied her father. “I hate the thought of you going away for months, but if we must be parted so we might marry on the seventh of October, then so be it.”
Her eyes shone with love for him, and forgetting her father was in the room, Darcy took her hand. “I will be here on the morning of the seventh, love, licence in hand, unless I hear from you or your father sooner.”
Bennet stood and once again ordered Darcy out of his home. Ignoring him, Elizabeth kept hold of Darcy’s hand and escorted him to the front door, where, in sight of her father, she kissed him full on the lips before telling him goodbye. She whispered that he should meet her at the bookstore later that afternoon.
After Darcy left,Elizabeth ignored her father’s attempts to speak to her and walked directly into the drawing room. She let Mr. Bingley know his friend had returned to Netherfield before sitting and joining them. Her father sent Mrs. Hill twice to request her presence in his study, but she ignored both summons, retiring to her room after Bingley left.
After luncheon, Kitty and Lydia decided to go to Meryton to find out what happened to Mr. Wickham. No one in the drawing room had heard the commotion in the hall, and Bingley had kept his word and not mentioned what happened. They only knew Wickham had excused himself from their company andnever returned. Elizabeth and Jane accompanied them so that Elizabeth could meet with Darcy unbeknownst to everyone else.
Darcy was waiting for Elizabeth in the bookstore when she and Jane arrived. Jane remained with her as a chaperone while they spoke in the corner, where a small sitting area was arranged.
