Chapter 19

The household at Gracechurch was quiet when they arrived. After breakfast, the inhabitants had dispersed to their daily activities. The children were above stairs with their nanny, who was entertaining the youngest with coloured blocks while the older children worked at their lessons. Lydia and Captain Denny were sitting quietly in the parlour, having bid farewell to Mrs Charlton earlier that morning. She had decided to return to her own family now that her brother's affairs seemed to be in order, and had taken the post coach back to Brighton. The young couple were discussing their marriage plans, both desiring to have the matter concluded quickly so that Denny could return to his duties and his new wife could start her life as Mrs Denny. Mr Bennet took no interest in these matters: now that it was a settled thing that Lydia would marry Captain Denny, his main priority was to avoid any discussion of the arrangements. Instead, he had retreated to his host's study, where he quietly triumphed in the fact that Mr Darcy, for all his protestations of devotion the evening prior, had not bothered to return as promised to hear Mr Bennet's answer to his application for a courtship. It seemed that his ardour had quickly cooled in the face of a little discouragement. Well, good riddance. Things would be that much easier if Elizabeth found herself abandoned by her erstwhile suitor: she was not one to meekly suffer such an insult and still hold the man in affection - not like Jane, who still pined after that Bingley fellow months after he had so rudely left the neighbourhood!

Mr Bennet's reverie was broken by a knock on the study door. His disappointment that Gardiner had returned, probably wanting to reclaim the room, was not enough to dispel his self-congratulation at scaring off the high and mighty Mr Darcy: he called out a cheerful, "Come!" When the door opened, however, it was not Gardiner at all, but that selfsame Mr Darcy, with Elizabeth on his arm. The two entered confidently and took seats in front of the desk without waiting for his invitation to sit.

"Well, then, Lizzy," he quipped, "I see you have managed to find Mr Darcy and drag him here after all." Turning to Darcy, he added, "I suppose you have come for my answer, sir?"

"Not at all," Darcy replied calmly.

At Mr Bennet's quizzically raised eyebrow, he continued: "I no longer have any wish to enter into a courtship with your daughter, sir." He paused for a long moment, watching first confusion and then satisfaction displayed on his future father-in-law's features. Then, enjoying the drama of the moment perhaps a little too much, he explained: "This morning, Elizabeth did me the incomparable honour of agreeing to become my wife, and Mr Gardiner, under whose authority you had placed her, was kind enough to grand his blessing in your stead."

Bennet leapt to his feet and banged his fists on the desk in front of him. "Mr Gardiner gave his blessing? Mr Gardiner? What on earth gives you the impression that it was appropriate to speak to him when the lady's father was available and awaiting your visit? This is a fine bit of mummery, but it will not stand up, sir. I have not consented to any such match, and certainly will not."

Elizabeth placed a calming hand on Darcy's forearm, making sure her betrothed had his temper in hand, before addressing her father in stern tones: "Think carefully before you make any such declaration, sir. I will marry Mr Darcy. I have the consent of the man you had made my guardian when we left the house this morning. Mr Darcy is a man of great influence, and it would be foolhardy indeed to question his honour or to stand in the way of his plans in this matter. An engagement has been entered into and the settlement papers signed. You are legally bound, and it would be scandalous to attempt a breach of contract now.

"Of course, if this became a public scandal, it would damage the reputations of more than just yourself. All your daughters would suffer, but for myself and Lydia who would be safely out of your household. But perhaps that doesn't move you as much as it should? As a father, you have been rather careless of your daughters' futures, after all. But think on this, sir. If you risk my sisters' chances because you are determined to turn away a rich suitor for any one of us, my mother is hardly likely to forgive you quickly, or to leave you in peace in your book room. Not will my husband's lawyers. Nor will your heir, who will not wish to see a breach between his family and the nephew of his patron, the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

"You invite years of pain for yourself and your family if you attempt to deny our engagement, and all for nothing, for I will marry him the day I reach my majority in any case. So think, Papa," deliberately using her old, affectionate title for the first time since their difficult conversation the evening before. "Think carefully. Do not do this."

Mr Bennet had slowly resumed his seat as Elizabeth spoke. "How can there be settlement papers signed? Yesterday he was only speaking about a courtship! You must have planned this all along!"

Darcy was finding it difficult to remain polite in the face of Mr Bennet's sullen opposition to his daughter's wishes, but he drew on all his innate reserve and capacity to mask his inner turmoil, and presented a calm and dignified facade. He knew Elizabeth could feel his tension through her hand, which remained on his arm, and drew some comfort from her spirited defence, but decided it was time to add his support to her arguments.

"Mr Bennet," he said, attempting to infuse his voice with a semblance of respect for the older gentleman, "When I left here yesterday, I admit I was unhappy with your reluctance to grant my request for a courtship, but I understood your stated desire to consult your daughter's feelings before making a decision which could affect her future so greatly. This morning, however, I was greatly disappointed to learn that it was your own feelings you valued above your daughter's. When Elizabeth asked me to meet her at Mr Gardiner's warehouse, I had little idea of being engaged before the morning was over, but you should know, sir, that your daughter is a force to be reckoned with. She gave me to understand that she would welcome a proposal, and far be it from me to refuse her anything that is in my power to bestow. In short, the moment seemed propitious and I proposed. Elizabeth accepted my hand. As it happened, Mr Gardiner had drawn up settlement papers just in case such an event should occur, since he could see the great affection that had developed between Elizabeth and myself while we were in Derbyshire. I was pleased to be able to pledge myself to your daughter in law as well as in my heart, and all that was required was a slight amendment to the sums." At Bennet's raised eyebrow, he added, "Upwards."

Bennet harrumphed. This was all too convenient. "Do you expect me to believe you did not plan this to deliberately avoid seeking my consent?"

"Believe it or not as you like, sir," was Darcy's crisp response. "It is the truth."

Elizabeth spoke up again: "I planned it, Papa. I do not apologise for having done so. You have forfeited my respect by your cruelty in this matter. It is bitter indeed to realise that the parent I have looked up to all my life is a man of such petty ambition, such limited imagination, that he chooses to retreat from the world rather than to extend his care and protection to those around him. So long as you disdain your family, you can expect your family to disdain you, and I am no different from my sisters and my mother in this. You cannot demand to play the father now, when you have made it perfectly clear you have no intention of acting as a father should. By your own words you entrusted me to Uncle Gardiner this morning. And he has proved more worthy of that trust than you have yourself."

Bennet might have been able to absorb this news had it been delivered by his brother-in-law, or even by the young gentleman sitting so calmly before him now, but to be so upbraided by his own daughter - the very daughter he had built all his hopes of future felicity on - it was too much. His face flushed with anger, he uttered words he would soon come to bitterly regret, but which in the moment seemed barely enough to express his outrage: "Begone from my sight, you ungrateful child. You are no daughter of mine! I never wish to set eyes on you again!"

Darcy surged to his feet and towered over the older man. "You are a fool, Mr Bennet," he said, "if you think Elizabeth will be swayed by such conduct as this. I am sorry for her sake that you choose not to mend your ways and learn to become the father she and her sisters deserve. But it is you that will be the poorer for it." Turning to Elizabeth, who had risen to her feet beside him, he gently took her arm. "Come, my love, let us leave this old fool to himself. There are others who will be happier with our news." So saying, he guided her gently from the room.

Elizabeth walked with a straight back and firm resolution until the study door was closed, whereupon she collapsed into Darcy's arms, shaking with the release of tension. "Even as I planned, I hoped that he would change his mind. He is a stubborn old man, and determined to be a lonely old man, for all that he has a large family around him. I might have been banished from his presence, but I will not abandon my sisters and mother, William."

"Nor would I expect you to, my dear. As Mrs Darcy, you will have ample resources to be of great assistance to them. We will visit Hertfordshire regularly, and you may invite them all to Pemberley as often as you wish. I meant it when I told your father he would be the loser by his intransigence, for while your mother and sisters will enjouy visiting our estate, it is Mr Bennet who would have most benefitted from discovering the Pemberley library!" This mild attempt at humour brought a small smile back to his beloved's face, and he was satisfied. "Now, let us join your sister and Captain Denny. Do you think they would agree to a double wedding?"

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