Alright, so this is Mr. Bennet's POV at the beginning, and a little in the middle, hope it reads okay!
Thank you all so much for reviewing! This next chapter is thankfully longer then the last.
The next update won't be until Friday, maybe even Saturday.
Enjoy!
Mr. Bennet was silently thanking every god known to man. He did not wish to marry his favorite daughter to his idiotic cousin, but after Mr. Collins had spread the tale through Meryton, he had little choice but to consent.
He knew he was missing several key factors in this story, but he was content to let them slide for now. He knew his daughter was in no way compromised, nor was she lying about Collins attacking her. His daughter had looked fearful when he told her of her marriage to Mr. Collins. When Mr. Darcy had applied for her hand, he saw many emotions, but there was no fear, no hatred.
As a loving father, faced with an impossible task, he chose the lesser of two evils.
"Then it is settled. You will be married as soon as a license is procured. Mr. Darcy, if I could speak with you in my study" He wished to speak to him at once. "Elizabeth, you as well." He turned to Mr. Collins, who was seething. He was suddenly, overwhelmingly glad he had not picked the parson.
"Mr. Collins, have you a problem?" He inquired. The parson calmed his features to display disdain instead of anger.
"I am truly scandalized by my cousins wanton behavior. I believe I shall take my leave of your presence immediately!" He stated in an overly zealous matter. Collins made sure the other men heard, he noted.
"Mr. Bennet, I must speak with Mr. Collins immediately. Perhaps Miss Bennet can use this time to freshen up" Mr. Darcy stated, glaring at the now shaking parson. He nodded in consent.
"Of course. Mr. Henry, Mr. Hill, Sir Lucas, I thank you for you search efforts. I believe it would best if we all retired for the night." He told them in dismissal. Mr. Hill nodded and headed back to the stables. He was a trust worthy employee, Hill would keep this quiet, he was sure of it.
"Ah, well, must be back to Lady Lucas" Sir Lucas bowed. He would surely tell his wife, and by sunset, the whole village would be aware of Lizzy's nuptials.
"Mr. Bennet, are my services no longer needed?" Mr. Henry asked him, his voice low so that only Mr. Darcy and he would hear. Mr. Henry was a well liked magistrate. He respected the Bennet family, having started off as a squire to Mr. Philips in the village, he had come to know the young Bennet ladies quite well. He was an elder brother of sorts.
"I am sure Mr. Darcy will handle it" He replied, looking to the younger man. Mr. Henry arched a brow.
"That I shall" Mr. Darcy murmured, glaring at the parson.
"Very well, this conversation never took place then" And with that, Mr. Henry was off on his horse.
"Mr. Darcy, I shall await you in my study" He stated, taking Lizzy gently by the arm and leading her inside.
"All shall be well. Make haste darling" He whispered as Mrs. Hill led her up the stairs. His little Lizzy was pale, visibly shaking, and covered in muck. His heart was breaking.
DPOV
He glared at the sniveling man beneath him. His bug eyes were wide in fear, and he trembled in his boots. Darcy took pleasure in seeing the man before him act as thus. He deserved it, and more, for what he made Miss Elizabeth feel.
"Mr. Darcy, I-" The man had puffed out his chest. Before he could say another word, Darcy had struck him in the nose. Blood poured from the broken mess.
"Do not dare speak another word," Darcy hissed. "You are to listen, and listen well. I know what you have done. Believe me when I say this, if I thought it would bring Miss Elizabeth any pleasure at all, you would be lying dead on the ground"
Mr. Collins whimpered.
"But I know it would only cause her more pain. You are a pathetic excuse of a man. You will leave Longbourne as soon as possible. I do not care how; I do not care at all. I am going to write to my Aunt, and inform her of your behavior here in Hertfordshire. You will be dismissed. You will sign over all rights to Longbourne to myself, for no price. You will do all of this, or I will find you, and I will dispose of you. Is that clear Mr. Collins?" He growled.
"Yes, of course" Collins mumbled, blood clogging his words.
"You will remain here on the lawn. Your trunk will be sent out. You are to leave immediately. Am I completely clear Mr. Collins?"
He nodded.
"Enclosed in the letter to my Aunt will be the papers to sign over your right to inherit Longbourne. You will sign it, and send it express to Netherfield."
The odious man coughed on his blood, but nodded nonetheless.
"If I hear any reports of such behavior again from you, I will find you. If you do not comply with my rules, I will find you. If you so much as sneeze upon a maiden, I will find you Mr. Collins." Were his parting words. He turned quickly on his heel and walked into the house. Mrs. Hill appeared a second later.
"Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet awaits you in his study" She told him, gesturing for him to follow. Mr. Bennet was pacing by the fireplace.
"Mr. Collins is outside. You will have his belongings sent out?" Mr. Darcy questioned first. Mr. Bennet nodded.
"Mrs. Hill, see to it that Mr. Collins receives his belongings on the lawn. You need not pack them, have a stable boy toss them out the window" Mr. Bennet said. The woman nodded and left them.
"We have much to discuss Mr. Darcy" Mr. Bennet started. He walked over to his desk, and picked up a bottle of a whiskey. Without asking, he pouring two cups, passing one to Darcy, who gladly swallowed the burning liquid.
"We should wait for Miss Elizabeth" Darcy told him. Mr. Bennet.
"She will be down soon." Was his reply.
There was a brief moment of silence as each man thought things over. Mr. Bennet finally broke it.
"You are aware that she has no dowry," He stated. Darcy nodded.
"It is of no consequence" Darcy replied.
"We have relations in Cheapside, cousins in trade. Mrs. Bennet's whole family in fact," He informed him.
"Miss Elizabeth is the daughter of a gentleman, I am a gentleman, we are equal in status Mr. Bennet" Mr. Darcy found himself saying. Had you asked him earlier in the day, his response would have been quite different.
"The ton will talk"
"I care not what the Ton thinks. As you are aware, I am not the most sociable of gentlemen"
A knock sounded at the door.
"Enter" Mr. Bennet called. Miss Elizabeth walked in timidly, her eyes downcast. Freshly clean, she looked even worse. The bruise on her cheek was in stark contrast to her pale skin. She had dozens of red scratches across her cheeks as well, and on her hands.
"Papa, Mr. Darcy" She said, curtsying. They both bowed in response.
"Come, sit by the fire Lizzy" Mr. Bennet led her to the armchair. She perched lightly on the edge. "Drag the chair closer Mr. Darcy, I daresay you two were in the rain long enough to catch cold, warm yourself. Mr. Darcy, you're clothing is still quite soaked, here take this seat" He offered him the wooden one closer to the fire, and closer to Lizzy.
"Thank you sir" Mr. Darcy replied. The fire was soothing.
"Now, I want the full story Elizabeth" Mr. Bennet stated, sitting in his own chair. "Start from the walk"