She did not know whether to feel anger—or gratitude.
Perhaps both.
Darcy’s voice, calm but firm, broke the moment.
“Forgive me if this seems indelicate,” he said, his gaze fixed on Mr. Bennet, “but the settlements drawn for Elizabeth were identical to those of Miss Bennet. What became of the funds her father provided?”
Mr. Bennet shifted.
For the first time, he looked—sheepish.
“They were… applied,” he said, not meeting Darcy’s eye.
“Applied?” Darcy repeated.
“To useful purposes,” Mr. Bennet amended, with faint defensiveness. “Books, for instance. A most excellent collection. Had I not purchased them, Elizabeth would hardly be as well-read—or as witty—as she is.”
Elizabeth lifted her gaze heavenward in exasperation. “Papa,” she chided.
He cleared his throat. “It would not have done to distinguish between you and your sisters. Questions would have been asked.”
“Other arrangements could have been made,” Darcy replied sternly.
Mr. Bennet lifted his hands in supplication. “I did the best I could.”
Darcy opened his mouth again, but Elizabeth pressed his hand lightly. He paused, then folded his fingers over hers, quieting without protest.
“And you, Aunt Catherine?” Richard asked, and all eyes shifted from Mr. Bennet to the grate lady on the large chair. “Is there anything else you feel should be added?”
Lady Catherine sighed. “Freddy was not wrong; my father would have had him killed. It is why I did not leave with him when he came to rescue me. I shall never forget the relief I felt when I saw his head through my bedroom window. It took all my strength to not follow him down that ladder, but I knew that if I left, we would have been found.”
“But if you were married properly…” Elizabeth began.
“No,” Lady Catherine said, shaking her head. “Ournotbeing married in the eyes of British law is part of what saved your father’s life. Had we actually been able to make it to Gretna Green, my father and brother would have simply had Freddy killed so I could be married off again to the highest bidder.”
“Now you see why I could not have you associated with the Fitzwilliam name,” Mr. Bennet said. “The risk was simply too great.”
“Be that as it may, it does not absolve you of your own guilt!” Elizabeth’s voice as harsh, and she broke into a small sob on her last word. “You could have talked to me, to Darcy, Perhaps even told us a bit of the truth. But to drug me? To try to kidnap me and force me into marriage with some stranger?”
She broke off, her shoulders heaving as her chest strained for air. Darcy rubbed her back soothingly, urging her to breathe, while he glared over at Mr. Bennet.
“Do not worry, son,” Mr. Bennet said in response. “You cannot hate me any more than I hate myself. Please, Lizzy, just know that I was doing it all for you.”
“No, you were doing it for yourself,” she shot back. “You broke my trust, Papa, and it may take years for me to be able to trust you again.”
Mr. Bennet’s shoulders slumped down even further. “I… I understand, my dear.”
“But that does not mean I cannot forgive you,” she added. “I do still love you, Papa. And I am extremely grateful for the person that I have become under your tutelage. I just… I will need some time.”
“Of course, Lizzy. And if you have any questions about any of it, please ask,” Mr. Bennet said. “I would love to talk more about Freddy.”
“As would I,” Lady Catherine added. “Mr. Bennet, I would like to hear more about Freddy’s childhood and the kind of man he was before I met him. If you do not have other accommodations, I suppose I could have a room prepared for you to stay the night.”
For the first time, Mr. Bennet raised his eyes and looked at Lady Catherine. “I thank you,” he said hoarsely.
“Do not thank her yet,” Richard said with a grin, “or else she will be even more insufferable than she usually is.”
Richard’s joke achieved its intended purpose in lightening the moment. All of a sudden, all of the emotions of the last several days washed over Elizabeth at once.
