Page 45 of Bella Darcy is on the Run

"It has everything to do with her! Mama had no fortune. Longbourn was entailed away. Grandmama Bennet was..." Bella hesitated, for even in death there were certain things one ought not to say of one's grandmother. "Well, she was hardly an example of gently-bred decorum. And Aunt Lydia had already run away with Wickham. She told me all about it," Bella continued. "Your family must have thought you had run mad."

"Well that is hardly here nor there. Your mother was and is my superior in every way that matters." Her father shook his head as if trying to settle some internal disagreement. "I knew your mother's character. I had known her for many months by the time we became engaged. I knew her intelligence, her principles and the goodness of her heart. You have known Captain Harwood for scarcely more than a week."

"A period of time in which I have spent many hours in his company and learnt a great deal about his character."

"Bella..."

Bella ignored him and went on. "You always told us that Mama made you a better man. That you admired her because she challenged you and refused to be impressed by Pemberley or your consequence. Why is it admirable when you choose someone for their character rather than their fortune, but foolish when I might wish to do the same?"

"I am not saying Captain Harwood is beneath you."

"You are doing a very fine impression of it."

"I am saying that marriage to you would require enormous changes to his life, just as marriage to him might require changes to yours. Those are matters that ought to be considered with rather more care than either of you appears capable of exercising at present."

They both turned at the sound of hurried footsteps beyond the corridor and a door opening and closing. Her mother appeared a moment later, eyes wide and her mouth set in an unhappy line. "And what, exactly, is going on here? It appears to me that you have both decided to conduct a private family conversation in the middle of a public part of the house, and by now every member of this household, from the scullery maid to my sister and her friends taking tea just there," she said, indicating the parlour with a tilt of her head, "has enjoyed a very fine show."

"My love, I..."

Her mother held up one hand. "I think you have both said quite enough. Fitzwilliam, I shall attend you in the study in five minutes. Bella, you are to rest for the remainder of the day, and I shall accompany you to your room at once."

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elizabeth accompanied her daughter to her room and saw her settled with Clara assigned to watch over her, then returned to the study. William stood at the window in an attitude that she had observed many times during their marriage. It usually meant he was working through some complex problem. She closed the door behind her.

"What did you say to him?"

William turned. "Good morning to you too, my love."

"I have already had a good morning. I drank two cups of excellent coffee, ate a hot roll and discovered that my eldest daughter remains alive and contained within the house despite making it her personal mission to place herself in danger at every turn. Then, just as I was considering a walk for pleasure, rather than to scour the locale for one of our missing children, I find you two arguing in the hall like fishwives. I noted the good captain left very quickly after your interview. So I ask again, what did you say to him?"

Darcy's shoulders dropped a little. "Nothing that any father would not have asked."

"William."

He sighed and turned back to the window. "I asked him about his intentions. I asked what his position with the Customs service involved and what he intended to do now this investigation was at an end. I asked about his family and his circumstances."

"And his fortune."

"Yes, Elizabeth, his fortune. Our daughter will inherit one of the largest estates in Derbyshire. I hardly think it unreasonable to enquire whether the man we found kissing her in the street has a sixpence to his name."

She went to him then and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her cheek against the planes of his back. She felt him stiffen and then soften beneath her arms. "William, you dear man, you do remember the circumstances of our own connection?"

"Of course I do," he grumbled. "And if I did not, our daughter has harped on about them at some length. I know, I know. I am a hypocrite. But is it not usual for a father to want the very best for his children, Elizabeth?"

She rubbed slow circles against his rib cage. "It is very usual, but we will have achieved nothing and learnt nothing from this whole escapade if we think that trying to contain our daughter more closely will bring a resolution to the whole business. The tighter we constrain her, the harder she will press against it, and I would not be at all surprised if I woke one morning and found her gone again. Frankly, that is not acceptable. I cannot go through that again. I cannot watch you go through that again. Would it not be wise to take a gentler approach?"

He turned in her arms and gathered her to him, causing her to chuckle a little as he sat in the desk chair and brought her with him so that she was cradled in his lap. He rested his cheek against her hair and let out a long sigh.

"What should I do? Have the marriage settlement drawn up? They have known each other but a few days and we know almost nothing about him. He said he has a nest egg and can keep her in moderate comfort until she comes into her inheritance. What does that mean? Will she be living in some little house on the dockside where she spends her days scrubbing floors? I cannot see her in that life."

"You are catastrophising, my dear. He appears to be a gentleman and he has proved himself to be of good character. I have spoken to Lydia and he is very well respected in the neighbourhood."

"Good character?" her husband exclaimed, almost causing her to fall from his lap before he gathered her close once more. When he spoke again his voice was lower. "He took liberties with our daughter in broad daylight and we have absolutely no idea what happened when they were confined together. And a reference from Lydia of all people. I hardly think that speaks of good character."

"You have kissed me on many a public path, my love."

"Yes, but only once we were engaged or married. And in any event, it was always a quiet country path and I checked that no one was about," he grumbled.