February 11, 2014 - I'm going to date these notes so down the road you have better feel for when the chapters are posted. Part of the reason I'm posting this here is for some much needed encouragement. It's been a few years since I've been able to post a new completed story. I've been working on something and posting it on my personal website but it's just a rough draft and real life has been very insistent on monopolizing my attention. I'm hoping that posting my old stuff here will help motivate me to finish the darn thing.
In case you were curious, I plan on posting on Mondays and Thursdays and there are 20 chapters plus an epilogue. Oh, and I am using the UK English dictionary for spell check. Yes, I am an American, so I'm sure there are some incorrect usages in here but it is what it is. I did spend a year living in the East Midlands of England.
So, now that you've read the first chapter (which is probably the weakest part of the story) it's time to start to learn more about the main characters. Darcy, as you can probably guess, has had a very difficult time of it and his sister's death has deeply affected him. There are times later in the story that I didn't like him very much. However, in the end his good principles will prevail. He always understands that actions speak louder than words.
Now on with the story...
Chapter Two
Jane had sufficiently recovered by Saturday that Elizabeth, desiring nothing more than a return to Longbourn, urged her to request the carriage from Mr. Bingley. He, in turn, expressed such doubt about the fullness of her recovery and concern for her comfort that Jane yielded to his pleas and consented to remain at Netherfield for one more night. Thus, it was not until after services on Sunday that the eldest Miss Bennets returned to their family.
Jane, as was her wont, was happy to be back among those she loved and knew best. Her regard for Mr. Bingley was undiminished, but despite her proximity to him during the previous five days, her illness had denied substantive discourse with him. Mrs. Bennet had been too clever; her scheme had effected Jane's residence in Mr. Bingley's house, but the nature of that residency precluded any noteworthy advancement toward fulfilling the dearest desire of her affectionate maternal heart. Jane had learned little more about the gentleman than that he was hospitable toward unexpected guests – and whatever information she could derive second-hand from Elizabeth's observations of him. Mr. Bingley had learned little more about the lady than that she suffered prettily in silence – and whatever information he could glean second-hand from Elizabeth. Jane remained uncertain of the degree of his regard and of the reasonableness of hers.
Elizabeth was delighted to remove from Netherfield and thankful to be spared further insincere civility from her reluctant hostess. Miss Bingley thought too little of her and too well of herself to make any genuine effort toward friendship. Mrs. Hurst was little better, and Mr. Hurst was often asleep. Only Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were pleasant; Mr. Bingley because of his nature, Mr. Darcy because of his familiarity with the party. Elizabeth quickly discerned how his manner improved when among his intimate friends. His continued politeness toward herself astonished her. She was of little consequence compared to such a great man, yet his manner toward her was as his social equal. It was all quite surprising, and, she admitted, more than a little puzzling.
Darcy was relieved that Elizabeth was no longer in residence. That he was attracted to her in the most basic of ways astonished him, but did not cloud his judgment. He saw how well she comported herself and was confident that, with a little instruction, she would fare well in his circle of society. In short order, his mind was made up; he was ready to speak to her. He believed his heart was not engaged. If it were, he knew he would have had to avoid her.
Love was out of the question.
On the morning after the Bennet sisters departed Netherfield, Darcy ate an early and solitary breakfast and was out of the house before anyone else had come downstairs. He needed time to compose himself. He ordered his horse readied and was soon racing through the fields trying to work off his nervousness. Darcy had learned in the course of their conversations that Elizabeth liked to take walks in the mornings. He was confident that, after nearly a week of attending Jane, she would wish to resume her rambles as soon as may be. He determined the best place to wait for her would be just outside Longbourn's grounds. If she did not come that way within an hour, he would call at the house.
Darcy preferred his present course. A clandestine meeting, although unorthodox, would afford more time and privacy to discuss his offer and the reasons behind it. He was no fool; Elizabeth might accept without questioning him, but he sincerely doubted she would. That thirst for the truth, and the integrity it portended, was one reason he was making his offer in the first place. It was all very much like a business decision. In any agreement, there must always be negotiations. He expected no less today.
Within twenty minutes, his wait was rewarded. Elizabeth appeared. Thankfully, she was alone.
Elizabeth's thoughts were as far from Mr. Darcy as was possible. Her father had that morning informed the family of the imminent arrival of his cousin, a Mr. Collins. Based on his letter to Mr. Bennet announcing his visit, she felt that he surely must be an oddity. Her father certainly was curious to meet his heir. Thus, when she encountered Mr. Darcy, she was completed flustered.
"Mr. Darcy! Whatever are you doing here?"
"Enjoying a lovely autumn morning. May I walk with you?"
Elizabeth numbly nodded her consent and they took the path together, Darcy's horse left safely secured to a sapling. She clearly had not anticipated meeting anyone, certainly not this soon in her walk. But in a few moments, Elizabeth recovered her wits.
"Please excuse my earlier rudeness. It appears that this time it was I who did not speak with civility."
"Miss Bennet, following your gracious example from the night we first met, I, too, understand that you have a logical excuse for your words. I surprised you."
Elizabeth smiled at his gallantry. "You are too kind. I should like the opportunity to begin again. Mr. Darcy, what brings you so close to Longbourn this fine morning?"
"I was riding my horse and thought I might find you here. I hope you do not resent my interruption of your privacy."
"No sir, you only surprised me. I rarely encounter anyone on my walks."
"You forget, madam, that you made mention of your habit to me."
"I must have, sir, though it escapes me when. But here you are, so I must have betrayed myself to you."
"Miss Bennet, I admit that I purposely sought you out this morning. I have a matter of great importance of which I wish to speak to you."
"To me? What could be so important that you arrange this private conference?"
"Have you no guesses?"
Surely not that? Elizabeth's mind raced with possibilities.
"You know that I have recently come out of mourning for my sister. You must understand what a great loss this was to me. My mother died many years ago, and my father nearly five years ago. I became my sister's guardian only a year after I came of age. She was my only remaining family. I was inconsolable when I learned of her death."
"You must have been very close."
"As close as siblings can be who are so far apart in years. She was more than ten years my junior. She would have turned sixteen in February."
"Again let me express my deepest sympathies for your loss."
"I thank you, though earning your sympathy is not why I speak of this. When Georgiana died, I lost more than a sister. I lost the only other Darcy in my line. A cousin now stands to inherit the estate were I to die childless. For years I have resisted the efforts of the matchmaking mothers in England, preferring to remain in my single state. With Georgiana's death, I can no longer neglect my duty to produce an heir."
"I am sure you are acquainted with innumerable women who would be more than willing to become your bride."
"Yes, and none of them interests me in the least. I have long been the object of desire of the unmarried ladies in society. My wealth, my estate, and my connections are highly coveted. Also, there are those of my family who have long considered a match between my cousin Anne and me an inevitable eventuality. I must confess that I meditated on this possibility these past few months. However, Anne is of a sickly constitution, and I have serious concerns about her ability to have children at all. That is not a risk I wish to take."
"Why are you speaking to me of this?"
"There is only one reason, Miss Bennet. We have known each other for only one month, yet in this short time, I have become convinced that you are ideally suited to become Mrs.. Darcy. I have come today to offer my hand in marriage. I would be honoured if you would consent to become my wife."
Elizabeth had suspected such an offer almost since the beginning of their conversation; nevertheless, she was shocked speechless to hear it spoken aloud. Darcy had anticipated her astonishment and was undisturbed by her temporary lack of words.
Moments later, Elizabeth responded.
"I am aware of the very great honour you have bestowed on me, sir. I suppose the prudent thing would be to accept your offer immediately, and with gratitude. However, I am not yet willing to give you an answer, for I have many questions to ask you first."
"Very well, we have complete privacy."
"First and foremost, sir, why me?"
"I have told you, Miss Bennet. I believe you are ideally suited to become my wife. We get on well together. Surely you have noticed the ease with which we fall into conversation. I told you that I do not perform well to strangers, yet this shortcoming has never hindered me when I am around you."
"Mr. Darcy, let us be honest with each other. I suspect you know that I have no dowry to speak of, and I most certainly would bring no valuable connections into this marriage. I am very aware that, though I am the daughter of a gentleman, I am very much your social inferior."
"Since you have spoken honestly, I will reply in the same manner. It may be true that you would bring little dowry into this marriage. However, the money that was intended for my sister is at my disposal. I have come to consider that thirty thousand pounds as your own, and should you accept me, I will settle that amount on you."
Thirty thousand pounds!
"That is a great deal of money and entirely unexpected. You are overly generous."
"It would provide you with your own income apart from any other monies granted in the settlements."
"Still, sir, I have no useful connections. You must know this!"
They had come to a place where a log lay next to the path. Darcy motioned for Elizabeth to sit while he walked a few steps away. She waited for his answer.
"I know, Miss Bennet," Darcy finally said, his back turned.
"Surely in a marriage such as you are suggesting, connections are a matter for consideration. Fortune may be dismissed if the subsequent connections are of value."
When Darcy finally turned back to face Elizabeth, there was conviction in his eyes.
"It is precisely your principled willingness to acknowledge your lack of connections that is so appealing to me. Any other woman of my acquaintance would have accepted me without delay, covetous of my fortune and position. Yet, here I am, needing to convince you. Is this not proof that I understand what I am doing? I do not want a wife whose only desire is to make a brilliant match, whose only interest is her social position. I do not want a wife who is always looking, thinking, speaking for my approbation alone. You are not that kind of woman. Such companionship is worth the loss of any 'valuable alliances' I may be forfeiting by making you my choice."
"Your determination is very much in your favour."
Elizabeth looked at the man before her. They both knew it would be foolish for her to reject him. He was offering more than she could have expected in an alliance, more than she could have imagined. She knew that at least one of the Bennet daughters must marry very well to assure them all of a future once their father was gone. And now it was only her consent that kept her from achieving that security for herself and for her family. She liked Mr. Darcy, but could she see herself married to him? Surely, there would be a cost.
"What of my family? Would they be lost to me?"
Darcy hesitated, and for the first time looked uncomfortable.
"I know you have great affection for your family. Your walk to Netherfield to attend your sister is proof. Miss Bennet is every bit the gentlewoman you are, and I hope that, in time, your younger sisters may prove their good breeding as well. I will not stand before you and lie. I hold dear the respect of the Darcy name, and I expect our marriage will be much spoken of in the drawing rooms in London. I cannot sanction an invitation for your mother or your younger sisters to visit us, until you have established yourself as Mrs.. Darcy. As for your father, I doubt he would want to stir from my library were he to join us in Town or at Pemberley. I know what I have just said may seem ungenerous of me. Please understand, I am not asking you to abandon your family. I am asking you to use your good sense and discretion when considering the appropriate time to entertain them."
Elizabeth winced at his depiction of her family. She held many of the same opinions as he on the behaviour of her younger siblings and her parents, yet hearing them voiced by someone so wholly unconnected to her was disconcerting. Had this been any other discussion, she would have been angry; but it was not. He was as brutally honest with her as she was with him. There was too much at stake for them both for anything less than candour.
Elizabeth sighed. "Though it pains me to hear you speak so of my family, you are not unreasonable in your observations. What you have said of my mother is equally true of my Aunt and Uncle Phillips. But you have yet to meet my Uncle and Aunt Gardiner. They are people of fashion, and my uncle is a man of intelligence, taste, and good manners. Though he may be in trade, I could never be ashamed of them, sir. Many who now call themselves gentlemen owe the foundation of their fortunes to trade."
A silence fell between them as Elizabeth further weighed her answer. She stood up and began to walk again.
"Miss Bennet?"
"Please, may we just walk now? You have given me much to think on."
Elizabeth's feet took her down the familiar paths; she was oblivious to the man next to her. After nearly a quarter hour's ramble, she suddenly became aware of his presence – her silent companion.
"I must once again apologise to you, Mr. Darcy. I have been ignoring you."
"On the contrary, you have been giving me your every thought." Elizabeth coloured. "Have you come to any conclusions?"
"Not as yet. Tell me, what would be expected of me as Mrs. Darcy?"
"Your duties would be much the same as any gentleman's wife, only on a greater scale than you are accustomed – mistress of my estates at Pemberley and my house in London. I have two very capable housekeepers who would aid you in the transition. You would be responsible for entertaining guests in the appropriate manner as well as organising any special events. You would, of course, visit my – our – tenants. The Darcys have always seen to the needs of those under our care. It is also my intention that you be presented at court, and that we be in London for the entirety of the season."
"I foresee many new dresses if that were the case." Darcy detected in this remark a glimmer of the return of Elizabeth's lively wit and answered accordingly.
"I would have you look the part of Mrs. Darcy."
"What else?"
"When we have children, they will have the nannies and governesses you never had."
Thoughts of children sent Elizabeth's mind in another direction; she would be expected to share his bed. How did she feel about that? He was handsome. If she had to submit to her wifely duties, she knew she could do much worse.
Again they fell into an easy silence until emerging on a crest of a hill.
"Hertfordshire is a pleasant country," Darcy said. "Views like this only reinforce my good opinion."
"Derbyshire must be quite different."
"Yes. There is an untamed quality about it, a wildness that is exciting and at the same time comforting."
"How so?"
"It demonstrates that there is something bigger than man. Something beyond our ability and capacity to control. Nature in its primitive state is never static."
What an extraordinary answer. Almost as if spoken by a poet.
They stood together for many minutes, enjoying the view. On a cart path below, a lone farmer was driving a team of horses. The man seemed so far away from them. Elizabeth knew Darcy would be expecting an answer soon. To accept him meant a lifetime without want and security for her family, yet she knew she did not love him. Until today she had been careful to guard her heart from him. She had never considered that he would offer her anything more than friendship, and now he had offered marriage. She respected him, admired him, but was that a basis for marriage to him?
"Have you any more questions for me?"
He had told her all that she needed to know.
Elizabeth pondered everything they had discussed. How could she say yes? Yet each time she would start to form a refusal, something deep within her protested. She could not say no. Elizabeth glanced over at Darcy and began to imagine what her life would be like married to him. She smiled to herself thinking of the many discussions they already had and easily foreseeing a lifetime of mutual regard and stimulating conversation. Their lives together would be very different from her parents'.
Thus was her intended refusal transformed into an unexpected acceptance.
"I can only assume you would wish for a short engagement?" Elizabeth asked with the hint of a playful smile.
"Most men wish for a short betrothal, Miss Bennet. I must confess that I do as well. I alluded to this before, but there may be some very strong objections by my family. My uncle, the Earl, will not be pleased, nor will my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catherine is the mother of my cousin, Anne, of whom I spoke earlier. I would like for our marriage to take place soon, to lessen the prospect of interference from that quarter."
"I would not wish to come between you and your remaining family," Elizabeth stated with concern.
"Miss Bennet, that decision is mine."
"Yet as your wife, I would suffer the consequences if a breach were to occur."
"You speak as if that were a bad thing, madam. I am not so certain. My uncle and my aunt are too used to getting what they want. Frankly, I am tired of all their attempts to order my life. I am my own master and I will wed whom I choose!"
Elizabeth was impressed by the vehemence of his speech. He obviously was not overly bothered by the prospect of defying his family.
"Not all my family will react poorly to the news, Miss Bennet. There are those who will be happy for me. Only their opinion matters and I believe they will realize that you and I are a good match. I refuse to be concerned about the others."
Elizabeth thought his answer reasonable and that it was best to move the conversation forward. "And how soon would you wish to wed?"
"Within a month."
"You speak with some surety of my acceptance, Mr. Darcy. Has it occurred to you that perhaps I would say no?" She smiled. "I can see the answer on your face."
Her playfulness had made him hopeful. Darcy knelt before Elizabeth and took her hand in his.
"Are you prepared to answer me? Will you have me, Miss Bennet?"
He drew her hand to his lips, never taking his eyes off her face.
Elizabeth had no logical reason to reject him. It was true that he had not spoken of love or even tender affection, but the respect he had shown her in allowing her questioning boded well for a future with this man. She liked him, she admired his intelligence and his honesty, and they did get on well together. She believed he was right – they were a good match.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy, I will marry you, in one month's time, if that is your wish."
Darcy stood, never relinquishing her hand, which he kissed again. He turned it over and kissed her wrist, and then her palm. His eyes, only just a few minutes before filled with conviction, now shone with a possessive passion.
"Please call me Fitzwilliam when we are alone."
Elizabeth swallowed at the change in his demeanour.
"You may call me Elizabeth, then."
"Elizabeth." He leaned his head towards her and brushed his lips across hers.
Oh Lord! They both thought.
"I should go and speak to your father."
"And it would be best if you allowed me to go inside a few minutes in advance of your call. It would not be … conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the house should you be seen coming back with me." Darcy nodded in understanding.
"Oh dear, I almost forgot. My cousin, a Mr. Collins, is arriving at Longbourn today and will be with us until Saturday next. It is good that you spoke to me before he arrived, Mr. … Fitzwilliam."
"It seems my timing is impeccable."
They had begun to make their way back to Longbourn when Elizabeth suddenly asked, "Did you say your aunt is Lady Catherine de Bourgh?"
"Yes, she lives at Rosings, near Hunsford in Kent."
"How astonishing!"
"Pray, enlighten me?"
"This is most singular. My cousin is your aunt's parson! He was quite effusive in his praise of her bounty and beneficence." Mr. Darcy stopped walking. "This displeases you?" she asked.
"I would rather your cousin not know of our understanding at this time. I do not wish news of our engagement to reach Lady Catherine before I am prepared to announce it to her myself. All the more reason we should not be seen coming back together."
"You spoke of her potential disapproval."
"It is not potential, it is certain. In my opinion, it would be best for both of us that the news be withheld for the immediate future. I will still speak with your father this morning, but I ask you tell no one until a time your father and I agree upon."
"This will leave even less time to prepare for the wedding."
"Is this too much to ask of you?"
"A small wedding is preferable."
"I shall travel to London, then, and have the settlements prepared. I will also procure a special licence. Then we can wed whenever and wherever we choose."
They began walking again, and soon Darcy's horse was in sight.
"I will call in half an hour."
"My father will be surprised."
"As much as you were?" Darcy teased, hesitantly. It felt good to tease again.
"Undoubtedly!"
Darcy waited a full half-hour before presenting his card to the butler, asking to see the master of the house. In a matter of minutes, Darcy was seated in front of Mr. Bennet's desk, its owner eyeing him in confusion. The two gentlemen made idle conversation until Mr. Bennet could no longer contain his curiosity.
"Mr. Darcy, what brings you to Longbourn this morning?"
"I have come with a request."
"I shall do all that is in my power to oblige you."
"Earlier today, I met with your daughter, Miss Elizabeth, and have asked for her hand in marriage. She has accepted me, and I have come to ask for your consent to our union."
Much as his daughter before him, Mr. Bennet was speechless for several moments.
"Lizzy accepted you?"
"Yes, sir. I met her this morning on a path outside Longbourn."
"A rather singular course of action."
"I knew of Miss Elizabeth predilection to walking out in the morning. I guessed that after so many days at Netherfield, she would be anxious to resume her habit."
"You took a risk that she would not be out today. It was a rather unconventional way to present your suit."
"I was prepared to come to Longbourn to request a private interview if I did not meet with her."
"I would have been more comfortable if you had." Darcy did not fail to note the agitation in Mr. Bennet's voice. Clearly he was not pleased.
"Point taken. However, my actions were guided by a desire to assure, to the best of my ability, our privacy."
"It is a wonder, considering your course of action this morning, that you did not seek her out while she still resided at Netherfield," Mr. Bennet said harshly.
"That was not something I would have done," Darcy replied, trying to soothe the irritated father of his intended. "An agreement between us would have necessitated her removal from Netherfield before Miss Bennet was well enough to return to Longbourn. I have too much respect for Miss Elizabeth to act in a manner that would so displease her. A day or two of waiting did not signify."
Mr. Bennet studied the man before him.
"Excuse me for a few minutes. I will return shortly."
Darcy knew that Mr. Bennet wanted to speak to Elizabeth. He would have done the same thing.
Mr. Bennet found Elizabeth in the breakfast room, thankfully alone. He closed the door behind him and Elizabeth could see a wistful look on his face. Involuntarily, she dropped her head and asked, "He is here?"
Her father knew he had lost her.
How can I refuse Elizabeth anything? He is her choice. How can I refuse Darcy? He is not the kind of man I would dare refuse anything he condescended to ask of me. But my Lizzy? Will she be happy in such a marriage? It is a condition greater than any I could ever dream as far as wealth and situation. There is only one reply I can give.
"Yes. I have just left your Mr. Darcy in my library. It is true, you have accepted him."
"Yes."
"Elizabeth," he said with tender affection and concern, "it is not too late to stop this. Are you sure you know what you are doing? I know your disposition. You could neither be happy nor respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband – unless you looked up to him as your superior."
"I do, Papa, I do esteem Mr. Darcy."
"Your lively talents place you in danger of an unequal marriage if you do not. Please, Lizzy, I could not bear the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life."
Elizabeth could hear the dejection in her father's gentle voice and went to stand in his embrace.
"Mr. Darcy is a good man. I like him and greatly admire him. I know we have not known each other for long, but he has never been anything but respectful of me and of my feelings. It did not, and does not, matter to him that we are not equal in society. We even spoke of this when he offered. Believe me, he has thought this through thoroughly and has answered my reservations. Indeed, there is no reason for me to reject him."
"You say you like him. Do you feel any affection for him?"
Elizabeth remembered their briefest of kisses and smiled coyly. "I believe there is something of that sort. Father, I know this is a decision of the intellect and not of the heart. I understand this. However, we have do get along well together. Is this not a good foundation for understanding and contentment?"
"I had hoped your romantic sensibilities would prevail."
Elizabeth looked up and smiled at his dry remark.
"A woman should not dare believe she is the heroine of a novel."
"A father can hope. I see you have made up your mind. Let us return to your young man. Forgive an old man his nostalgia."
"I would not have you any other way."
"You might have warned me he was coming."
"And spoil the shock?"
Darcy was looking at the titles of some of the books in the room when Mr. Bennet returned with Elizabeth on his arm. Mr. Bennet walked to the gentleman and took Elizabeth's hand and placed it in his.
"You have my consent and blessing to wed. Take care of her, son, she is my greatest treasure." Mr. Bennet's voice quivered.
"I will, sir. Thank you."
Mr. Bennet, in an effort to gain his composure, walked to his desk and sat down.
"I suppose you are like most young men and are anxious to marry with all haste."
"Papa, when I accepted Mr. Darcy's proposal, I agreed to marry him within the month."
"A month?" Mr. Bennet blanched at so short a time left with his favourite but bravely quipped, "Your mother will not be pleased."
"If I may interrupt, Miss Elizabeth said you are expecting your cousin, Mr. Collins, who by amazing coincidence, is also the parson to my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh."
"Lady Catherine is your aunt?"
"She is my late mother's sister."
"Mr. Collins will be most happy to make your acquaintance. I expect he will be overjoyed that his cousin will be married to the nephew of his esteemed patroness."
"Yet my aunt will not. I believe the man is to be here until Saturday next?"
"That is his intention."
"I am hesitant to announce the betrothal while your cousin is at Longbourn. I expect that he would write to my aunt at the earliest opportunity. It had been my intention to leave for Town tomorrow to meet with my solicitor, to secure a license, and to speak with my family. I wish to tell them myself. I do not foresee returning before the end of the week, and it would be ungenerous of me to insist that the announcement of our engagement come only three weeks before the wedding. To give Miss Elizabeth the four that I promised to provide would place the ceremony right before Christmas. This would be unfair to your entire family. Thus, I believe six weeks until the wedding is a more reasonable date. That is, if it meets with your approval."
"I do agree to this. I can understand Mr. Darcy's desire to relate our news to his closest relations in person."
"I am uncomfortable keeping this between only the three of us."
Darcy pulled a ring off his finger and handed it to Mr. Bennet.
"A sign of my pledge. This ring was my father's and his father's before that."
Mr. Bennet nodded his acquiescence.
"Very well, the wedding will be in six weeks. Is Longbourn Church acceptable?"
"I have no objections. I would prefer a quiet ceremony."
"As would I, Papa."
"I will speak to the parson as soon as you return, Mr. Darcy. The rest of the arrangements will be left to Elizabeth and my wife. Since you have postponed the wedding until after Christmas, I wish to extend you an invitation to spend that day at Longbourn."
"As long as my presence is not required in Town, I will come."
"Good, a little folly will do you some good. Have you any further items to discuss with me?"
"I should like to discuss elements of the settlement I shall ask my solicitor to draw up when I am in Town."
"Lizzy, this is your signal to leave us."
"One more matter before I go. Mr. Darcy, will you allow me to tell Jane of our understanding?"
"My eldest is the soul of discretion, she barely allows her own feelings to show, let alone betray a confidence."
"I see no harm after your assurance of her secrecy."
"Thank you. And now I will leave you to your business. Good day, Mr. Darcy, Papa."
Ok, I admit it. I adore comments. My ego thanks you in advance. Until Thursday, then.
