author's note: thank you for the reviews on the previous chapter. you're lovely. again i think i might have grown myself a few grey hairs writing this chapter, on some days writing just seems so much harder than on others. but anyway, here comes part four in which things are again discussed and darcy suffers more mood swings than a prima donna with a bad case of pms..

Part 4

Later, Darcy paced angrily about his bedchamber. How could he have made such an enormous lapse of judgment? How could he have let himself to be so blinded by a passing fancy for a woman? But Elizabeth was no passing fancy, even in his angered state he had to admit that. He could not say exactly what she was, but she certainly had the most unsettling habit of making him act in such unexpected ways that he barely recognized himself. It seemed that these days, every time he was in her company, he lost control over himself, in one manner or another. Deuced woman!

He had always taken pride in his rationality and good judgment. He had always thought himself able to look at every situation objectively and to make decisions that were guided by reason rather than the whims of his heart. Hell, until a few weeks ago, he had not even known that his heart was capable of any sort of whims. Moreover, he had always been known to be honest to a fault, yet here he was, tangled in a web of lies he himself had woven.

It was with a feeling of growing remorse that he took in the situation in which he suddenly found himself. He would have to marry Elizabeth, of that he had no doubt. It was true that he had compromised her and his sense of honour would allow for now other solution. Should he try and make his escape from the situation now, his own reputation would probably not be damaged overmuch. But to Elizabeth and her sisters the consequences could be devastating. No, he could not do that to her, even if the only alternative course was to force her into a marriage she did not wish.

The thought made him miserable. The happy images of Elizabeth's laughter filling the hallways of his home were replaced by bleak and desolate ones where they would spend the rest of their days chained together against their will. She would grow bitter, the light disappearing from her eyes and he would never know the felicity of a happy marriage. And then his indignation rose once again. How could she not see him for the man he was? What was it that she had said? Your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. He was nothing like that, to be sure! Perhaps a bit reserved, but who would not be in the company of strangers? Conceited? Arrogant? Certainly not! If he did think himself a cut above Elizabeth's relations and Bingley's other neighbours, it was only natural and just. Admitting it did not make him conceited, did it?

His thoughts were interrupted by a quick knock on the door. Without waiting to be asked, Bingley marched in, an uncharacteristically exasperated look on his face.

"Finally I have found you! By Jove, Darcy, if I did not know better I would think you have been hiding from me!"

"Bingley." Darcy replied evenly, prefering not to admit that he had been doing just that. Bingley seemed unusually agitated and he did not know what to make of it.

"Now out with it, man! What is this talk about your engagement to Miss Elizabeth? And do not tell me it is true that you have been secretly engaged, for I did not believe that ridiculous fabrication for one minute!"

Darcy, taken aback by the vehemence of his usually docile friend, took a moment to reply.

"What makes you say that?"

"Oh, do not be obtuse, it does not suit you! Miss Elizabeth cannot stand the sight of you, anyone with eyes can see that! And it is no wonder, after how you have behaved since we arrived here! Did you think for a moment that I would believe it that the two of you are suddenly engaged? I wonder that her family did, I would have thought that anyone would have seen right through such a blatant..."

Darcy swallowed audibly and Bingley stopped mid-sentence, no doubt realizing that his friend's face had grown several shades paler in a matter of moments. Feeling suddenly nauseous, Darcy could barely ask:

"You- you knew she disliked me?"

"How could I not? I do not think that, save for yesterday morning, I have ever seen you and Miss Elizabeth agree on anything! You are always arguing and..." Darcy watched as realization slowly dawned on his friend's face. "Good God, Darcy, do not tell me you did not know?"

Darcy said nothing but the answer was written all over his face. How was it that he had completely managed to ignore something that was apparently plainly there for everyone else to see? He, who had always prided himself to be an astute observer of other people's characters? Suddenly, Darcy thought of Miss Bennet and the advice he had been planning on giving to Bingley before everything began. Was it possible that he had been wrong there as well? He had obviously throroughly misinterpreted the behaviour of one sister, was it possible that he had been mistaken with the other as well? He felt ashamed. Who was he to decide what was best for his friend when it was painstakingly obvious that he did not even know what was best for himself?

"But your alarming lack of observational skills aside," Bingley continued, ignoring the glare his friend shot at him, "I still do not understand what made you act like you did? I mean, it is obvious you have been paying a great deal more attention to her than is your usual wont," Darcy cringed. When had Bingley become so observant? "But we both know how poorly you think of her family. I mean, you did not even find them suitable enough for me, so I hardly thought you would ever even consider connecting yourself to them!"

What? This was too much! Had Bingley suddenly become a mindreader? Darcy tried to interrupt, but Bingley just waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and continued:

"Oh, not to worry, I know all about your plans to separate me from Miss Bennet. Caroline told me yesterday, when she was desperately trying to convince me that we should all leave for London immediately. Quite frankly, old man, I am disappointed with you. But I can see how you could, in your twisted idea of caring, have been thinking that you were only acting in my best interest, so I suppose I will have to forgive you eventually," Bingley was smirking and Darcy could tell his friend was enjoying the situation rather too much for his liking. "But I still cannot fathom, what made you do it?"

Darcy felt utterly mortified. He had thought he had been conducting himself so surreptitiously, yet Bingley seemed to have seen right through him. And he was supposed to be the one to offer guidance to his friend, not the other way around! But Bingley deserved an answer so he grumbled reluctantly:

"I do not know."

And then, unexpectedly, it felt like some floodgate opened up inside him and he heard himself confessing the whole sordid tale to his friend, starting from the odd attraction he had felt to Elizabeth almost from the first moments of their acquaintance – Bingley snorted there, reminding him of the fact that on that first night at the assembly he had declared her to be no more than tolerable – trying to explain the sudden desperation that had come over him when Mrs. Bennet had announced Elizabeth's supposed engagement to her cousin and ending to the horrible row they had had just a few hours before. Darcy had always been a private man by nature and was surprised to discover the relief that came from sharing his troubles with a friendly ear. But what Bingley had to say after he had disclosed all was far from relieving:

"Well I say, Darcy, who would have thought that you would fall in love with Elizabeth Bennet!"

In love? Most definitely not! Darcy was adamant in his refusal of such nonsensical conclusions but later, when Bingley had left him, the thought continued to pester him. He was obviously mightily attracted to her. But in love? With a woman who had declared that she would rather be publicly humiliated than have people think she was in any way connected to him? He certainly hoped not.

But his talk with Bingley would not leave him alone. What had his friend said? Miss Elizabeth cannot stand the sight of you, anyone with eyes can see that. And it is no wonder, after how you have behaved since we arrived here. Was it true? Had he really behaved so poorly? Elizabeth certainly seemed to think so. He thought about the night of the assembly and the unfortunate comments he had made there. Was it possible that she had heard him? It would explain the groundwork to her opinions of him but was it not a bit unreasonable that she would have managed to build such an immoveable dislike as she seemed to possess towards him, merely based on a few imprudent words?

It most assuredly was. Darcy growled. Insufferable woman! And even more insufferable was how much he wanted her despite everything! There mere thought of her face, inches from his, her eyes flashing in anger, filled his head with all sorts of unwanted, inappropriate images. Darcy muttered a few choice curses. She had told him not to kiss her and he had promised her that he would not do so even should she wish it. But he was going to make damn sure that she would live to regret those words! He would marry her and show her how wrong she had been about him. When he was finished with her, Elizabeth Bennet would beg on her knees for him to kiss her!

But first he would talk to her father. He could only imagine how upset that gentleman would be with him, after everything that Elizabeth undoubtedly had told him. But if he knew what was best for his daughter, he would have to agree that marriage was the only option, despite what Elizabeth might have said. Undoubtedly, Mr. Bennet would be furious with him for having compromised his daughter, but Darcy was confident that it was nothing he could not handle. Determined, he got out of his room and walked to the door of the guestroom Elizabeth's father was residing in. Hoping he would find the gentleman alone, he swiftly knocked on the door. When he entered, he was met by a pair of curious eyes.

"Mr. Darcy. I was wondering when you would honour me with your presence."

Darcy felt suddenly uncomfortable. Was the old man teasing him? With a carefully composed expression, he bowed his head a little.

"Mr. Bennet."

"There, there," Mr. Bennet replied, amusement twinkling in his eyes, "I can see I have not entirely lost my wits, despite what my wife seems to think. You are just as grave as I remembered you. With the way my wife has been going on about how besotted you are with my Lizzy, one would have thought that my memories concerning your person would have been entirely inaccurate."

Darcy adjusted his neckcloth uneasily. Indeed, he was being teased. And he did not like it one bit.

"Sir, I believe we need to discuss the situation between myself and your daughter."

To Darcy's surprise, Mr. Bennet chuckled.

"Oh yes, the situation. Are you having second thoughts, young man? I would not blame you, for you are about to have the silliest mother-in-law in all of England."

What? What was the man talking about? And how could he say such a thing about his own wife? Not that he disagreed. Unsure of where the discussion was headed, Darcy replied curtly:

"No, sir. I am not."

"There now, no need to be offended. I know it seems very untoward of me to have entirely forgot our earlier conversation about the matter, but you have nothing to worry about. Elizabeth has explained everything to me."

Darcy bit his lip to keep his jaw from dropping. This was not going at all how he had expected. What on Earth had Elizabeth said to her father? Mr. Bennet seemed not to notice his confusion, for he continued as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"I am a little miffed about the scene in the library, of course, but I do still remember – albeit very distantly – what it was like to be a young man wildly in love, so I do not blame you overmuch. Just try to control your ardour until after the wedding, if you can? I am sure it will not be too long a wait, I assume you would prefer a short engagement?"

Darcy cleared his throat, completely taken aback by the turn the conversation had taken. A young man wildly in love?

"Yes, sir, a short engagement would indeed be preferable to me. But do you not think that your daughter..."

"Oh, not to worry, sir. My Elizabeth is much less prone to care about the fineries of life than most girls her age, a simple wedding will do. I believe a month would be more than enough for the arrangements to be made. Her mother on the other hand..."

Darcy swallowed. A month. In a month he would be married. The thought did not seem nearly as daunting as he had expected. Sure, his future wife despised the sight of him, but he was determined to change that.

"A month would do admirably."

And there it was, it was done. In a little more than four weeks he and Elizabeth would be married. Only time would tell what would become of it.

Darcy noticed that Mr. Bennet looked very tired all of a sudden.

"Forgive me, sir, I have taken too much of your time. You must rest, I will leave you now."

"Oh, not to worry, it is nothing like that." The older man smiled but this time Darcy could not detect any signs of mirth. "You must forgive me, I am an old man and extremely set in my ways. Though I knew it would happen eventually, I must confess I am loathe to part with my favourite daughter."

Darcy was a little perplexed. He would have imagined that any father would be thrilled to marry his daughter off to a man of his standing, let alone someone in Mr. Bennet's position. Yet the old man seemed genuinely unhappy.

"I assure you, sir, your daughter will be well taken care of, she will never want for nothing."

"Yes, yes. But as I said before, my Elizabeth was never one to concern herself with the material side of life. I am sure she would have been happy to marry you even had you not a penny in your pocket. Although I must admit, I was surprised to hear her profess her attachment to you," Here Darcy blanched, momentarily sure that the older man was indeed out of his wits. "for I had been rather convinced that if anything, she disliked you exceedingly. But I suppose I am not the best judge of a young woman's heart. Indeed, she has convinced me of your mutual affection, so you see, I am not worried that my daughter will not be loved and taken care of as she ought to. I could not have parted with her if I was. I am, selfish that I am, merely sad to lose her company."

Darcy looked at Elizabeth's father carefully. Here seemed to be a man genuinely disinterested in the fact that his daughter would be marrying one of the most sought-after bachelors in the country. He did not want for Darcy's fortune. He did not care about the prestige of his name. He merely wished for someone who could make his daughter happy. His favourite daughter.

Darcy did not know what to say. He fervently hoped that Mr. Bennet would never know what Elizabeth really thought of her suitor. The old man was trusting him with the happiness of his daughter. It suddenly seemed very important that he should live up to that trust.