Page 67 of To Win Her Affections

“Lizzy,” said Mr. Gardiner, “I believe this is your tale to tell.”

Puzzled, Mr. Bennet turned to her. There was no reason for delay, so Elizabeth spoke up at once. “When we were in Derbyshire, we met someone known to us, Papa.”

“Who was it?” asked Mr. Bennet, not understanding.

“Mr. Darcy,” replied Elizabeth, her father’s eyes widening in response. “If you recall, his estate is in Derbyshire, not far distant from Lambton.”

“Does your wife not speak of Lambton often?” asked Mr. Bennet, not so much from curiosity as an effort to regain his balance.

“She does,” agreed Mr. Gardiner.

“That is curious, but I wonder what it has to do with the situation with Lydia.” Then Mr. Bennet’s eyes widened. “Did not Mr. Darcy have a prior acquaintance with Mr. Wickham? I recall Wickham speaking of it to excess.”

“Yes, Papa,” said Elizabeth.

“That is all interesting, but Mr. Darcy can have nothing to do with this business with Lydia.” There was in Mr. Bennet’s eyes a certain measure of anger that Elizabeth had seen but rarely. “Do you mean to say that you spoke to Mr. Darcy, of all men, about our troubles?”

“Before you judge,” said Uncle Gardiner, “You should listen to what Lizzy has to say.”

A protest hovered on the tip of his tongue, but Mr. Bennet held it in and turned an expectant look on Elizabeth, one she took as sufficient inducement to speak.

“Papa, Mr. Darcy is not so unconnected with this business as you might suppose. He has resolved to call Mr. Wickham to account; he claims he should have done it before. The most critical point, however, is that Mr. Darcy proposed to me in Derbyshire. I accepted.”

“Accepted?” blurted Mr. Bennet. “Lizzy, do I hear you correctly? After refusing Mr. Collins, a man none of us respected, you turned to Mr. Darcy, of all men, and accepted his proposal?”

“Yes, Papa, I have.”

“And you should reconsider your opinion of Mr. Darcy, Bennet,” said Mr. Gardiner. “The man was nothing but civil and gracious to Madeleine and me when we were in Derbyshire.”

Mr. Bennet, however, shook his head, appearing disquieted. “Lizzy, let me advise you against it. Have not you always despised the man? Did he not insult you at your first meeting? Better to live a life of penury than with a man you cannot respect, even if he can give you possessions and position aplenty.”

“Papa,” chided Elizabeth, “do you suppose that I of all women would accept Mr. Darcy for his wealth?”

“Did you not?” asked Mr. Bennet. “Or did you sell yourself to him to obtain his assistance in this business with Lydia? What am I to think of a man who throws himself into another family’s disgrace under such circumstances?”

It was not an unreasonable assumption, though the accusation stung. Elizabeth knew her father was not speaking from pride or hurt, but from genuine concern that she, the most beloved of all his children, might end in an intolerable situation with the man he imagined Mr. Darcy to be. When he saw her expression, her father softened a little and took her hand.

“Elizabeth, I do not speak this way to offend or accuse you, but because of my concern. I would not have you unhappy in life, my dear.”

“It appears I have gone about this in a most backwards manner, Papa,” said Elizabeth. “Please listen, and I shall tell you what happened in Derbyshire—then you will understand.”

Dubious though he was, Mr. Bennet agreed, and Elizabeth spun her tale, though maintaining brevity because of the hour. While she spoke, Mr. Gardiner’s housekeeper and a maid entered with their dinner, but Elizabeth paid no attention to it until she finished speaking. Mr. Bennet listened, intent on her tale, and the longer she spoke, the more his opposition softened, though his chagrin appeared to grow in equal measure. When she finished, Elizabeth focused on her dinner while her father sat back and considered everything she had said.

“That is most curious, Lizzy,” said Mr. Bennet, wonder coloring his voice. “When you departed, you were so set against Mr. Darcy—to see you so altered is a shock, even given what you have experienced.”

“I was not set against him, Papa,” said Elizabeth. “Not when I departed for Derbyshire. I simply had not spoken of him. After my return from Kent, I had many weeks to reconsider my opinion.”

Mr. Bennet shook his head. “That confounds me more than anything else—Mr. Darcy proposed to you in Kent while you stayed with my foolish cousin. It appears we have all misjudged the man.”

“No one more than me,” replied Elizabeth, feeling the weight of her error in judgment.

Though he nodded, Mr. Bennet turned to Mr. Gardiner, who had remained silent while she spoke. “Do you have anything to add? You must remember Lizzy’s opinion from Christmas.”

“I do,” replied Mr. Gardiner. “If you recall, Madeleine and I never made Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance—until we came across him in Derbyshire, we never knew him.

“What I can tell you,” continued her uncle, “is that Madeleine and I both noticed Mr. Darcy’s affection for Lizzy within moments of making his acquaintance. It was clear in the way he greeted her, sought her out, and deferred to her. He presents the very picture of a man in love.”

Mr. Bennet snorted, though he did not protest. “Then he has changed a great deal—the Mr. Darcy I remember from November was proud and aloof. He paid no attention . . .”