Page 166 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“You may rely on my discretion. Ah, here comes Mr. Green with my glass of punch.”

Lizzy withdrew, moving toward her mother’s side where she waited for her next dance partner to claim her.

*

When the door to his bookroom opened, Mr. Bennet looked up from his correspondence at Hill.

“Sir, Mr. Darcy of Pemberley House has arrived to see you,” their butler said.

Surprised, Mr. Bennet set aside his quill and nodded. “Send him in.”

Hill bowed and left, returning almost immediately with the guest. Mr. Darcy strode inside, hatless and gloveless. Hill left, closing the door behind him. Mr. Bennet rose, came around the desk, and spread his hands.

“Mr. Darcy, good evening. This is a pleasant surprise.”

“Thank you, sir,” Darcy said, nodding. “Pray, call me Darcy.”

“Of course. Would you care to join me in a glass of whiskey?” Mr. Bennet asked, moving toward a side table where a drinks tray sat.

“Thank you,” Darcy said.

“Please, sit,” Mr. Bennet said, waving vaguely at the two chairs flanking the unlit fireplace. “Amazingly warm for this time of year, is it not?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. Bennet turned around with two glasses in hand to see that Darcy had sat in the righthand chair. He gave him the whiskey, set his own down on the small table between them, and brought the lamp from the desk and placed it on the mantel.

“There, now we can see ourselves converse,” he said, settling into his chair and picking up his whiskey. He raised his glass, saying, “To your good health.”

“And to yours, sir,” Darcy replied.

After taking a sip, pausing to appreciate its flavor, Mr. Bennet said, “Now, what brings you on a visit tonight when you should be at the assembly?”

Darcy put his glass down before answering. “Sir, I have come here to ask for your permission to pay my addresses to your daughter.”

Mr. Bennet blinked. “My daughter? Which one?”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Darcy explained. “We have professed our love for each other and are desirous of marrying.”

Mr. Bennet removed his spectacles and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Am I correct in recalling that Pemberley House is in Derbyshire?”

“It is, sir.”

“So far away,” Mr. Bennet whispered.

“The distance can be covered in two days with a well-sprung chaise and multiple horse changes. Though, three days is a more comfortable ride,” Darcy informed him.

“What of Lizzy’s animals? Are you prepared to have your home overrun with them?”

“I plan to have a menagerie built for her,” Darcy said.

He is smiling, now. Will he do, I wonder, for my dearest girl? I do not wish her to be so far from me. Is there nothing I can say to dissuade him?

“And what of Clover?” Mr. Bennet asked, thinking this one ton obstacle to Mr. Darcy’s happiness might be one ton too many.

“I will hire an experienced drover.”

Damn.