Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face.
“We cannot allow this wedding to proceed.”
The words seemed to ring in her ears.
Mary spoke again, cautiously now. “But the settlements have been signed. The license has been purchased.”
“Yes,” Mr. Bennet said grimly. “And that, unfortunately, limits my options considerably. Particularly as your mother would have my head if she suspected the least interference.”
“Then what are we to do?”
“Be quiet, child, and let me think.”
The room fell silent.
Elizabeth’s thoughts whirled in her head like a storm.Why?
Her father had liked Darcy. They had played chess together, debated books together, shared quiet laughter over Lydia’s absurdities.
Why now? Why today, the day before the wedding? What has changed?
Inside the study, Mr. Bennet exhaled slowly. “Elizabeth cannot remain in Meryton. She must leave, go someplace far away, where Darcy cannot find her.”
“But… but how shall we persuade her to go?”
“We shall notpersuadeher.”
A chill ran down Elizabeth’s spine at her father’s words.
“We will wait until she is asleep,” Mr. Bennet said. “Then we will take her away.”
“Take her… away?”
“Yes, tonight. While she sleeps.”
Elizabeth’s fingers dug into the wall.
“You mean, we will kidnap her?” Mary sounded uncertain. “But… how will we explain it?”
“I will tell them she begged me to allow her to leave. Said she could not face Mr. Darcy. Said she did not truly love him.”
“Where will she go?”
There was a long pause, then Mr. Bennet said, “I have not yet figured that out.”
Mary was silent for a moment, then she said, almost eagerly, “We could take her to Surrey. To Mr. Collins.”
Elizabeth’s breath caught. Darcy would not think to look for her there. Her vision swam.
“But Mr. Darcy might find her there…” Mary added, a note of doubt creeping in. “What if he remembers the connection and thinks to search for her.”
“He could do nothing if she were already married to someone else.”
“Married?”
“A soldier, perhaps,” Mr. Bennet continued slowly. “Or some tenant farmer.”
Mary latched onto the idea. “Yes, that would work. Mr. Collins could read the banns and perform the ceremony. Oh… but what if she protests? Refuses to say her vows?”
