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“Somehow I am not finding that part of your story hard to believe, Mr. Fenton,” Mr. Bennet said dryly. “Lizzy, am I to take it that you find Mr. Darcy’s kisses welcome while Mr. Fenton’s are unwelcome?”
Darcy dropped his arms around Elizabeth, but did not move away from her. Blushing, she replied, “Yes, Papa.” She grasped the back of a chair for support.
Mr. Bennet turned back to Fenton, who had finally dragged himself up from the floor with the aid of a chair. ?
??Well, I am afraid it is a hopeless business, Mr. Fenton. She does not prefer your kisses.”
“But, but – It is highly improper – He should not be – They are not engaged! They should—” spluttered Fenton.
Mr. Bennet shot the couple a sharp look, then turned back to Fenton. “Yes, well, be that as it may, I think it is time for you to depart.” Firmly, Mr. Bennet took the other man by the elbow and ushered him from the room, ignoring Fenton’s torrent of indignant protests. Elizabeth hoped his exclamations were not enough to draw her mother from upstairs, knowing her presence would only worsen the situation.
Once Mr. Bennet had exited the room, Darcy immediately resumed his embrace of Elizabeth. “Are you all right, beloved? I am sorry I did not come sooner. If I had known—!”
“I am fine.” She wiped her hand across her mouth. “If I could only wipe the memory of that kiss from my mind! Uggh!”
“Perhaps we can replace it with a better memory.”
He touched his lips gently to hers for a moment, but she pulled reluctantly away. “We had better not. We are in enough trouble.” Elizabeth felt herself blushing again.
Mr. Bennet returned to the room, his expression stormy and not even vaguely amused. “Mr. Darcy, would you be so kind as to join me in my library?” The extreme politeness of his phrasing only underscored his anger.
“Yes, sir.” Darcy started toward the door.
“I am coming as well,” Elizabeth declared. Both men regarded her in surprise. “Do I not have a right to be present?”
“Lizzy—” Her father said in exasperation.
“Oh, the subject of your discussion does not concern me?” She said with asperity.
Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes, but Darcy shrugged. “She does make a fair point.” Her father’s eyes flashed with anger for a moment, but then he shrugged in acquiescence.
Once in the library, Mr. Bennet seated himself behind his desk and the others took chairs opposite him. To the casual observer, he might appear calm, but Elizabeth noticed he was fairly trembling with anger. Given his recent trouble with Lydia, Elizabeth could hardly blame him. She now wished that she and Darcy had been more discreet, but she could hardly have anticipated Fenton’s actions.
“I sincerely apologize for creating a scene in your house. It was not my intention,” Darcy said at once.
Mr. Bennet shifted uneasily in his chair. “Yes, well, I appreciate your defense of Elizabeth’s honor, but – “He skewered Darcy with an angry glare. “—I am not certain you can be entrusted with the care of her reputation either. I want to know your intentions to my daughter, sir.”
Darcy’s reply was calm, but Elizabeth noticed a muscle in his jaw clench as he struggled to control his agitation. “My intentions are honorable.”
Mr. Bennet stood and started pacing behind his desk. “Truly, sir, I find that hard to credit!” Darcy started a little at this insult, but said nothing. “I have been waiting for you to declare your intentions – to ask for permission to court Lizzy or marry her, but you have not taken the opportunity. You compromised her reputation in France, but seem to exhibit no concern about it. And now I find out that you have been kissing her in my garden! While I am grateful for your efforts on Lydia’s behalf, that hardly gives you permission to—”
“Mr. Bennet—” Darcy began, but the other man was on a roll.
“And you, Lizzy!” He rounded on his daughter. “I thought you had more sense than Lydia! What do you think you are about, allowing these kinds of attentions? When word gets out about your sojourn in France and your behavior here, any remaining shreds of respectability our family enjoys will be completely destroyed! And, believe me, they will learn of it one way or another! Do you think our friend Fenton will keep quiet for long? Bingley will withdraw his offer for Jane. Kitty and Mary will never make respectable marriages!” His anger was so ferocious that Elizabeth found herself drawing back from him instinctively.
“Mr. Bennet!” Darcy’s commanding voice compelled Elizabeth’s father to shift his attention. “It is true that we have been concealing something from you. But I have a good reason why I could not seek your permission to marry Elizabeth—”
“Because you are already promised to your cousin?” Mr. Bennet said with a low growl.
“No!” Darcy replied firmly. “It is because—” Darcy swallowed convulsively. “Because, Elizabeth and I are already married. We were married in France.”
For the second time that day, Mr. Bennet stared at Darcy with his mouth agape. Then he sought his chair with one hand, sinking into it while staring at Darcy and Elizabeth. “How…How...?” He repeated weakly. Then he took a deep breath and seemed to find his voice. “How dare you? How dare you!” He shouted, pounding his fist on the desk.
“Are you telling me her reputation was already so thoroughly compromised that—?” Suddenly all the fire went out of him and he collapsed further into his chair. He beheld Elizabeth sadly. “That must be it. For I know you have always disliked this man. Forgive me, Elizabeth, your uncle and I have failed you.”
“No, Papa!” Elizabeth blushed with equal measures of anger and mortification. “Mr. Darcy would never – he was a perfect gentleman.” She was struck by an odd desire to comfort her father even as he glared at her. “No one has failed me. I made this decision of my own free will.”
Mr. Bennet was shaking his head, apparently heedless to Elizabeth’s words. Then his expression grew even more horror-stricken as he turned to Elizabeth. “Is it that you are with child?”
