Page 60 of The Widower of Pemberley

Mr. Darcy planned to kill a man. He was accusing her of consorting with his enemies. He was deeply suspicious. What would it mean for their marriage if he continued in this way?

He had locked one wife up for a week.

Elizabeth closed her eyes. Her breathing was rapid.

Was Jane right?

Was it too dangerous to trust herself to this man?

Her hands felt numb.

She wanted to marry Mr. Darcy—and not for his fortune. She wanted to trust him.

Emily buried her head in Elizabeth’s neck, crying, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said as she squeezed Emily and stared at the girl’s hair, “I met Mr. Wickham last night at a card party hosted by Mrs. Phillips. I heard his name for the first time yesterday afternoon. He told me he came to Hertfordshire to enrol in the regiment. Once I realised he was an enemy of yours, I sought to avoid conversation with him. When you saw us in the hall, I was in the process of ordering him from the premises. Any contrivance was not mine. Likely his presence was coincidence. From his behaviour when you two met, I do not think that he would have voluntarily entered a neighbourhood with you in it. This is the whole of my acquaintance with Mr. Wickham.”

Mr. Darcy’s face was solemn.

She could detect very little change in his mask as she delivered her explanation.

No one spoke.

Then Emily turned in Elizabeth’s arms and looked at her father. “Did you really throw Mama from the balcony?”

“No, sweetling.”

“But Uncle George said you did.”

“He lied,” Mr. Darcy said quietly. “It was, as you have been told, an accident. He is no longer our friend. Do not refer to him again as your uncle.”

The girl contemplated this. Then she returned to a previous question: “What’s a cuckold?”

“That will be explained to you when you are older. Go to Georgie. I have important matters to discuss with Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet.”

“No! No! No!” Emily turned and wrapped her arms around Elizabeth. “Don’t let him take me!”

“Lord, must I have you spanked?” Mr. Darcy asked. “I shall if you do not cease these tricks and tantrums. I have tolerated enough.”

Emily sobbed.

Elizabeth held the girl tight.

Her sister was right.

There were worse things than suffering in poverty with Jane. “If you mean to marry me, if you mean to make me Emily’s mother, I shall have your oath that you will never harm her or anychildren you have with me because they are too desperate to be near you.”

There was something wild and lost in Mr. Darcy’s eyes when he looked at her. A look of pain, like Elizabeth remembered in the eyes of a beloved dog after he had become terribly ill and needed to be put down.

He held his arms out to Emily, but the girl wrapped herself tightly around Elizabeth and refused to let go.

“And what will happen if you die tomorrow?” Elizabeth then asked. Poor Emily! Poor Georgiana!

“Papa can’t die! Papa can’t! He said he wouldn’t!” Emily cried.

Elizabeth felt sick and stupid. She should not have said such a thing in front of Emily. But maybe it was for the best that the girl knew her father meant to fight a bloody duel.

Mr. Darcy’s face hardened. “You need not be concerned upon that matter, madam. We shall marry this evening, after the settlement has been signed.Yourpecuniary interests and that of your sister and the rest of your family will be well protected before I give Mr. Wickham the chance to shoot at me. I have destroyed your chances with Mr. Collins, and so I know what my duty is.”