“You never wanted anything to do with my family. I know how you looked down on them when you were in Hertfordshire last autumn, but I thought you had changed, had accepted them because you loved me. But all this time, you meant to do this, did you not? You hoped for exactly this situation when you loaned my father the money,” she questioned.
“Perhaps I did, Elizabeth, though your father has proved incapable of acting in his family’s best interest. Are you surprised? You have said before that he is indolent. I think him not only indolent but irresponsible. I am amazed that you turned out so well, given your influences growing up,” he said.
“What exactly does that mean, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth questioned, her voice entirely too calm, but Darcy did not recognise the dangerous note in her voice.
“You are well-behaved and intelligent, unlike the rest of your sisters. Lydia and Kitty are lacking in propriety and sense, and while Jane and Mary have some of those traits, neither compare to you,” Darcy said. “I am just sometimes surprised that given how you grew up, you emerged as you did.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath, attempting to cool the anger she felt building. “I am uncertain whether to be insulted, annoyed, or angry at your proclamations. Perhaps I am all three, but you, Mr Darcy, are infuriating. How dare you say such things about my family? I could say much about Lady Catherine and how ill-bred she is, and she is the daughter of an Earl. She quite literally attempted to ruin my reputation, and her actions could have led to my injury or even death, yet I have never spoken against her as you have my family. They at least have never actually caused harm to a person.”
Darcy stared at Elizabeth. “I am Infuriating? For speaking the truth?”
Elizabeth glared back at him. “I think it is best I leave now before I say something I will truly regret. I will not cut off contact with my family, despite any edicts you attempt to make saying otherwise.” With that, Elizabeth stomped from the room, leaving the door open behind her and Darcy with a dumbstruck look on his face.”
Unwilling to speak to anyone about this conflict—Jane would likely make excuses for all involved, and Lady Matlock would no doubt side with her nephew—Elizabeth escaped to the park to walk off her anger.
Darcy remainedin his study until Richard wandered in a short time later. “What is wrong, cousin? You and your lovely wife have an argument?”
“We did,” Darcy answered, his expression still blank. He was still replaying the argument with his wife and trying to figure out what went wrong.
Richard laughed. “What did you fight about?” he asked.
“Her family,” he replied. Richard was aware of those problems within the Bennet family and how Darcy had rescued them.
“Let me guess, you made some ill-advised comment about her family, and she blew up at you,” Richard guessed.
“Yes, I mean, I think so,” Darcy said.
“And, in your infinite wisdom, you decided what would happen instead of talking it out with your bride?” Richard guessed again.
“Yes,” Darcy groaned. “I am an idiot, Richard. I have sat here trying to figure out exactly what happened, and it is that simple. Had anyone spoken to me about my family in the way I spoke about hers, I would have been upset as well. And I think I insulted her without even meaning to.”
“Of course you did, Darcy,” Richard chuckled. “Elizabeth has been very good for you, but you have always been convinced of your own superiority. You and Elizabeth have agreed on mostthings, and I would hazard a guess this is the first time you have disagreed about something.”
“We have disagreed before, but this is the first time I have attempted to insist on my way,” he admitted. “I reminded her of her promise to obey.”
Richard laughed outright at that. “You are a bigger idiot than I thought, cousin.”
Darcy hung his head. “How do I make it up to her?”
“Jewellery?” Richard suggested.
“Elizabeth would not be impressed with jewellery. I need to find her first; have you seen her?” Darcy asked.
“I thought I saw her walking outside,” Richard replied. “She looked angry, which is why I assumed you had done or said something stupid.”
“Thanks a lot, cousin,” Darcy drawled as he made his way towards the study door.
“I know it was only a matter of time,” he replied to Darcy’s back
It tookDarcy quite a while to find his wife, and he had to ask several servants if they had seen her. After a futile search of the park, he returned inside and found his wife in the sitting room that connected their chambers.
By this time, Elizabeth’s anger cooled somewhat, leaving her feeling defeated and upset. She was dressed in a nightgown, and there was evidence of tears on her face.
Darcy slowly approached and knelt in front of her. “I am so sorry, my love,” he began softly. “I did not mean what I said about you or about your family. I do not think your sisters are beyond redemption, nor do I truly believe we should throw your father in Marshaelsea or cut your family off. I was a fool to think that I knew best or to think I could handle this without speaking to you.”
Elizabeth looked down at where he knelt in front of her. He had reached out to take her hands, but drew them back, uncertain of his reception, so she moved her hand towards his. Immediately, he took her hand in his.
“I am sorry as well, William. I hate that my family brought all this mess to your door. I did not know my father had done all of this or that he allowed you to marry me only because he believed you would pay his debts. I am so sorry.” She began to sob and collapsed into his chest.
