“Beloved, how do ye feel? Ye were an unnatural blue colour when ye were returned to us.”
“Tired. Pray, do not trifle with me, Father. How bad is it?”
“I shall not lie to ye. I have gone over the ledgers time and again and each time another figure seems to be off. I cannot explain it. In a mere few days, we have lost over three quarters of our holdings.”
She sobbed then. Her life had been ripped away. If George's flock had not been destroyed, she could have married him, and they might have been able to save Longbourn. Even if they could not save her father's house, they still would have been able to care for him. But now, she had not the smallest hope. She brought both hands to her face; her heart felt like it had been shredded into tiny ribbons. She allowed herself to wallow in the despair, letting the emotion soak through her like being pushed into a pond on a cold, bleak winter’s day. She took a deep breath and pushed through the pain and heartache.
She had other matters to attend to.
“How did I come to be in my bed?”
“Ye do not recall?”
“Would I ask if I did?” Even in the direst of situations, she remained flippant.
“Quite right. High Lord Darcy was out horse riding and was unaware ye had gone missing. He found ye by chance at thy mother's grave.”
“How providential for him.” Oh, no! He had imposed a kiss on her the previous evening.
“He awaits below stairs for news of thy condition.”
“Ye may tell him that I am fine, and he may return to that from whence he came. Likely the pits of hell will take him back.”
“Elizabeth! That is a severe lack of gratitude on thy part. The man saved thy life and, even had he not, his station in life deserves a trifle more respect than ye have previously bestowed.”
She sighed heavily. “I cannot agree with ye, Papa. That man has a repugnant air about him. He has not acted well in the past, and I fear he has no good at all in him.”
“I am pained to hear ye say that.”
“Why ever so? Have ye not always taught me to speak the truth? I have no particular regard for the High Lord. I have no care for his station, and should I be set to swing for saying so, I should still not be sorry that I pronounced my truth.”
“Perhaps I was wrong in letting ye run so wild for so long.”
“Why would ye regret allowing me to have my own mind?”
“To lessen my own guilt in the matter, I suppose,” Papa replied almost absently. He patted her hand, flinching ever so slightly at the tattered knuckles.
Embarrassed, Elizabeth pulled her hand from his and slid it beneath the blanket.
“What guilt?”
He stared at her as though he had seen her for the first time. His grey eyes grew watery; he diverted his gaze to the window. Her father remained silent too long, and Elizabeth sighed impatiently.
“What guilt?” Her voice was hardly steady despite her forcefulness.
“I shall have to marry ye off for a bride-price, beloved.”
She shook her head even though it had been her one thought for the last several hours now. Her bright, happy future with George was gone and she herself had been a fool for ever retaining an expectation that she might live in bliss. Lower people made difficult choices every day and were better for the decisions; she would simply have to do the same. It was to save her family, her home. Her sacrifice was hardly in vain.
“I understand,” she whispered just as a realization flashed through her mind. “Is Lord Darcy aware of my being on the block?”
“I have not spoken of the matter with anybody but ye, my daughter, but I fear that if he becomes informed and makes the best offer for thy hand, I shall have no choice but to accept.”
“Ye cannot be serious! Ye would marry thy only child off to a man she despises to save thy own hide! That is deplorable behaviour, Father!”
“I like it not, either, child,” he said in a soft tone. “And ye will not speak to me in such a manner. I am still thy father and ye shall show me the proper respect. I shall tell Lord Darcy that ye have returned to thy former humour.”
With that, her father retreated, leaving Elizabeth to fume. Her whole life had unravelled in less that twelve hours. She had had the perfect life and now she was going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder like some prized sow. She loved Longbourn and all the people who depended on her father for their livelihoods, but she was not about to be their virgin sacrifice. She had plans! Hopes! Dreams!
