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She is magnificent. Despite his anxiety over the situation, Darcy could not prevent a swell of pride.
Bennet was as still as a statue for a moment. Then he reared back. “Absolutely not! Have you forgotten that we all know he is a difficult, unpleasant sort of man with the devil’s own pride? I will not give my daughter to such a man.”
“But—”
“Not under any circumstances! And certainly not under these!” he thundered.
Elizabeth’s face had grown quite pale, and Darcy studied it carefully for future reference. This was how she appeared when she was hot with anger. “I am not yours to give,” she said through clenched teeth. “I am my own.”
Bennet blinked. He struck Darcy as the kind of father who rarely exerted his authority in the family. Apparently, he had not expected such defiance from his daughter. More the fool he.
He grabbed Elizabeth by the upper arm, tugging her toward the door. “We may discuss your authority on the way home to Longbourn.”
She pulled her arm from his grasp and backed away, wide-eyed like a cornered animal. Darcy realized he was on his feet, apparently ready to defend her even from her own father.
“I do not wish to return to Hertfordshire as of yet,” she said.
“I will not permit you to remain here,” Bennet said in a low voice. “Your uncle will not keep you if I say no.”
Elizabeth started, her eyes darting from her father to her uncle. But then she muttered, “Very well.”
Darcy’s heart sank. Given time he might be able to win her affection, but once she was at Longbourn, her family could forbid her to see him.
Her father nodded approvingly. “I am pleased you have seen rea—”
“I am not finished,” Elizabeth spoke over him. “If I may not stay at Gracechurch Street, I will remove myself to Darcy House to visit my friend Miss Darcy.”
Stunned silence followed this pronouncement.
Elizabeth turned her fierce stare on Darcy. “If I am welcome, Mr. Darcy?”
Inwardly, Darcy was dancing with joy at the prospect, although the anger in her face was a bit alarming.
“Of course,” he responded immediately, thinking through the ramifications. Would Mrs. Annesley be a sufficient chaperone for both Elizabeth and Georgiana? Should he ask his aunt to visit as well?
“I assume you have secured a special license?” she asked.
This is unexpected. Darcy’s heart beat faster. “Y-Yes, I have,” he stammered. Events were proceeding at an alarming speed, and it was somewhat disconcerting not to be the one putting them in motion. But he had no interest in objecting; he would get what he wanted.
“We could be married tomorrow,” she said in flat voice, looking at her father.
Darcy’s eyes widened. Perhaps he would not need Mrs. Annesley after all. “Indeed,” he responded, trying to not to smile.
Bennet regarded Darcy with narrowed eyes. “You would actually marry her tomorrow?”
Darcy was getting tired of answering this question. “I have a special license, and the priest at the parish church is available to perform the ceremony.” He folded his arms over his chest, boldly returning the other man’s gaze. He did not like the way Bennet had questioned his honor, but even worse, he had upset Elizabeth.
Bennet’s eyes traveled back to his daughter, who stared at her father, tightlipped and defiant. For a long moment nobody said anything. Finally, Bennet threw his arms in the air. “Very well. If you wish to remain at Gracechurch Street, then remain!” he growled, throwing himself back on the sofa. “But I shall remain as well.”
Elizabeth’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, Papa. I would prefer to have some time to consider Mr. Darcy’s offer.”
Darcy quelled a pang of disappointment, telling himself it would be worth the wait if they could marry with her family’s approval.
Now that much of the tension had leaked from the room, Bennet eyed Darcy with half a smile. “Are you certain you want her, Darcy? You see what a troublesome creature she can be.”
Darcy’s eyes remained fixed on Elizabeth’s face as he responded. “Indeed, I am quite certain. I long for nothing more in the world.”
She smiled at him, and his heart stopped.
