A/N: In this story, I expand the term 'compromise' beyond the traditional Romance Story definition to include cases where one makes deliberate, unforced compromises in their choice of marriage partners. Do you marry for love or money, contentment, or excitement? Who gets a chance to marry at all? Obvious examples include Charlotte, who married a stupid but eligible man just to have her own home. I would argue that Jane marrying a feckless weasel who defers to his sisters and friend easily counts as well, and who knows what compromise Anne de Bourgh will have to make after canon.
Add to that the inherent compromises of the courtship process. Is Jane too demure and Charlotte to mercenary? Is Lizzy's teasing a feature or a bug? Should she compromise her personality by toning it down to find a match? Should a woman marry a rich man they can tolerate but who will support her family; or a poor man she is in love with who can barely pay the rent?
I have no idea if I will expand beyond these definitions for 'compromise', but I'm pretty sure I have at least one more. We'll see. I have 8 stories outlined so far, and two much longer traditional compromise stories that I might fold into this series if there is enough interest.
Wade
A/N: Jane finds herself in an unusual meeting while in London with a three item agenda. Of course, the word 'agenda' wasn't really a thing until 1882, but roll with it. This story is about double the size of the first two.
Wade
When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, Aunt Gardiner spoke more on the subject. "It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane," said she. "I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent."
"An excellent consolation in its way," said Elizabeth, "but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before."
"But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as often applied to feelings which arise from a half-hour's acquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violent was Mr. Bingley's love?"
"I never saw a more promising inclination; he was growing quite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?"
"Oh, yes!–of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately. It had better have happened to you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she would be prevailed upon to go back with us? Change of scene might be of service–and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as anything."
Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded of her sister's ready acquiescence.
P&P Chapter 25
27 February 1812, Gardiner Warehouse, Cheapside
"Come in, Jane… come in."
Jane Bennet entered her uncle's office somewhat sceptically. She had visited often in the four months spent in London with her Gardiner relatives; as well as the many visits over the years with or without her sister Elizabeth. She ran errands for her aunt at least weekly, and she spent a day or two helping her uncle clean and organise every year. The office itself was not particularly alarming—but something about her uncle's countenance seemed suspicious, even by Jane Bennet standards.
The young lady had just spent two months with her relatives trying to overcome a recent heartbreak without having to listen to her mother blather on about it all day every day. She tried to meet with Mr Bingley via his sisters but that simply added humiliation to heartbreak, accomplishing less than nothing. With those thoughts distracting her, Jane entered the office cautiously.
Mr Gardiner, being a well-established and experienced businessman understood her reticence, so he set about reducing her nervousness. "Be not alarmed, my dear. You are safe enough, but I have a scheme I would like you to consider. I prefer nobody, including your aunt, be made aware of the suggestion. If you demur, it never happened."
Feeling even more sheepish, Jane asked, "What sort of scheme, Uncle?"
"A bit of a departure from the usual rules of propriety. It is nothing scandalous, mind you—but unusual enough I wanted you to make the final decision. You are two and twenty, so a woman grown. It is high time you had the right and responsibilities for your actions. If nothing else, the day's novelty might distract you from your woes for a time."
"I presume you will explain?"
"Of course," he said, then thought about it a moment while pointing to a chair in front of his desk.
Jane had sat in the chair for many hours during her visits, so she did not feel in any danger… yet.
Gardiner asked, "Are you familiar with my meeting room?" pointing his thumb back to a door at the rear of the office.
"Not particularly."
"Unsurprising… I do not speak of it often, and the door is usually locked. I am a tradesman and feel not the slightest shame in it. However, there are certain members of so-called polite society—most notably members of the ton or peerage—who have reason to conduct business with me, but do not wish to be seen conducting business in Cheapside. They prefer to pretend all their income comes from rents and acceptable investments. That room has a hidden entrance that allows secret access through a tunnel from a street over. I can have a half-dozen men in for a meeting with nobody inside or outside the warehouse the wiser."
"How does that affect me, Uncle?" she said with a look of pure perplexity.
"Because I have a man there who desires a confidential conversation with you."
"WITH ME," she gasped.
Gardiner did not react to her outburst, having expected it. He ruefully reflected that he had at least one niece who would not have panicked, but Jane was not among them. He gave her a moment to get her bearings, waiting patiently for the inevitable question.
"I suppose the two questions of note are 'what is a confidential conversation?' and 'why me?'," she said nervously.
Glad to see his niece was not likely to be excessive missish, he replied calmly.
"A confidential conversation is like a private conversation without any implications. It simply means the discussion will not be shared or reported outside the room. Even I shall not be privy to it."
"All right," she said, nodding to show she was at least following him.
"As for 'why me', it is because the gentleman wants to speak with you specifically and has gone to some effort to arrange it without risking either of your reputations.
"So, he is a gentleman?" she asked nervously.
"Yes… though do not get your hopes up about it being Mr Bingley or another suitor. He is a gentleman you have never met and are unlikely to meet again."
Jane frowned, "May I presume you investigated him to insure there is nothing untoward?"
"With me you can make such an assumption. With other men you should ask."
She nodded several times thoughtfully. "All right… tell me about this confidential gentleman."
Feeling it had gone better than he expected, Mr Gardiner briefly outlined the identity of his guest, and what he had done to investigate his bona fides.
Jane eventually decided to proceed, so Gardiner led her for the formidable introduction.
Gardiner did not have all day to mess about, so he made an abbreviated introduction as they entered the room. "Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam—please be known to each other. Colonel, Jane is my niece, the eldest daughter of my younger sister who is mistress to a small estate in Hertfordshire. Jane, Colonel Fitzwilliam is the second son of the Earl of Matlock."
Bows and curtsies were exchanged as he continued with almost no pause. "This meeting is at your request, sir. I will be in the next room out of earshot and expect the door to remain open. Otherwise, the two of you are full grown and can decide what to say to each other without my interference. All I ask is you do not test my forbearance."
With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Jane astonished and the colonel chuckling. Gardiner returned a moment later with a tea service, then left for good.
Reverting to long-engrained habit, Jane prepared the refreshments while wondering what the colonel would do if he revered to long-engrained habits. She thought that since he was a soldier, she probably did not want to know.
They munched and sipped in nervous anticipation for a few minutes before Fitzwilliam finally began. "Miss Bennet, I thank you for agreeing to speak with me. I realise this is somewhat unorthodox."
"Unorthodox, yes, but if I am honest, I would say I welcome the change to my routine, which is admittedly not exceptional at the moment."
The colonel sat a moment trying to work out where to start, so he asked an innocuous question about how long she had been staying in London.
"I doubt you care about my travel and lodging, colonel, or the weather, or the state of the roads for that matter. If you must know, I have been in London since the New Year."
He nodded, and rather incongruously added, "Longer than I was led to believe," but did not expand.
They sipped their tea and took their biscuits.
After a time, Jane became frustrated. "Your meeting, colonel."
He toyed with his cup for a moment.
"Thank you, Miss Bennet. I have three items I would like to discuss with you. The first is relatively simple, but the last two… less so. Though we have only met, and you have no reason to trust me, I would humbly request the privilege of speaking honestly and openly without the restrictions of propriety—save the obvious, of course, that aside from the subject matter, I will act as a gentleman."
Astonished at the longest and most fraught opening lines she ever heard, Jane looked at him in confusion for a few minutes while he sat and watched nervously. Jane reckoned he knew he was pushing his luck, so if he had the slightest pretence of good sense (or at least self-preservation), he would know to give her a minute.
Jane thought through all the things that he was suggesting, along with what would happen to her reputation if he blabbed the conversation all about town.
She pondered for some time until a thought occurred to resolve the ambiguity. Having first hand knowledge of how damaging gossip could be, she had followed the rules assiduously all her life—all twenty-two years of it. Her compliance left her an inch from spinsterhood with a broken heart. Perhaps the rules were not all that effective?
"I presume you understand the risks you are asking me to take on an acquaintance of five minutes?"
"I do, and I wish I could relieve your concerns. The more pompous among us who read too many sermons will say things like 'a woman's reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful' or some such tripe. I despise the fact that women are held to a different standard than men, but I cannot change the world. All I can offer in defence is my honour as a gentleman, my guarantee of my silence; and of course, Mr Gardiner's assertion he will have me beat senseless if I mention this conversation outside this room."
Jane had no idea if her uncle actually made the threat or not, but it sounded like the sort of thing he was capable of. Perhaps, she could borrow a bit of her sister's style, and just be brave for once in her life (Elizabeth, not Lydia).
"You may proceed sir," she said with feelings of trepidation and anticipation.
The colonel pulled his chair an inch closer to the table.
"The first item is a rather unorthodox but innocuous request. I share guardianship of a sixteen-year-old cousin. Her mother died when she was young and her father when she was ten. She was always timid and shy, but her brother and I thought she would likely grow out of it. That said, her brother is also quite shy and never did, so perhaps we were being overly optimistic. My ward had a difficult and traumatic experience last summer which made her even more reticent. I am hoping I can encourage you, and perhaps your next younger sister, to befriend her. Perhaps you could meet her during your stay in London, and if you take to each other, you could continue a correspondence or visit her home. I am certain you would be good for her, and her friendship might do you some good as well. I am aware you have a plethora of sisters and lady friends already, but one more surely cannot be too onerous of a burden."
Jane stared at him in such shock that Lydia would accuse her of trying to catch flies. The entire idea was so preposterous she felt like she had to learn if the man was in earnest.
"Let me see if I understand correctly. You wish a woman you never met, to befriend a girl she has never met, over the possible objections of her other guardian who is not present… just because a man the first lady never met asked it of her."
"Yes, exactly," he said with a level of smugness she could not like, but he then gave a grin and continued with a manner that reminded Jane of Elizabeth, which set her a bit more at ease. This was a man her younger sister would take to instantly.
He continued, "I naturally understand this is not the usual way these things are done, but is it so very different from meeting me at an assembly, then bumping into me at Gunther's and being introduced to my ward?"
Jane had to think about that one for a time, and after some thought, she concluded the way people met in society was rather arbitrary. It seemed that somehow the colonel had learned more about her than she knew about him, which was not difficult since she knew absolutely nothing. She would obviously ask about his connection, but it seemed likely to be just one of those things. He probably had a mother or aunt who was involved in a charity or some such with Aunt Gardiner… or something equally obscure. She had seen worse, and in fact she knew the Bingleys only because they happened to rent an estate adjacent to her father's (not that she wanted to dwell on that topic).
"I suppose it is not especially unusual. I have witnessed more elaborate schemes with less altruistic motives often enough," she said, slightly wringing her hands surreptitiously. "I will, of course, wish to understand how you came to be aware of me."
"Of course, my lady. It will all become clear in a few minutes."
Jane did not care for his overt flirtatiousness, mainly because she had been enduring some flavour of it (exacerbated by her mother's effusions), for as long as she could remember—but she did not feel like fighting that battle just yet.
"Does your ward have a name?"
"Miss Georgiana Darcy."
Jane gasped, started trying to speak a couple of times, and finally blurted out, "That is unexpected. I suppose I now comprehend how you know about me, but —" then she trailed off, wondering why Mr Darcy was not here.
"Darcy is my cousin, and yes, I did learn about you from him… partially. If you do not mind deferring that question for a moment, I will cover it in my second item."
Jane's head reeled. "My willingness may be a moot point. Mr Darcy looks down on my family, and I doubt very much that he will approve of your scheme."
"I assure you he will. Even if he did not, I am as much her guardian as he is. I generally defer to him, which has worked out well sometimes and not so well others. You need not worry about Darcy, and for what it is worth, I am certain he does not disapprove of your family. You may mistake his reserved manner for haughtiness, but he has nothing ill to say of you."
Jane noticed he started talking about 'your family' but changed to 'you' at the end. It did not take a genius to work out the colonel was not asserting a universal approbation of the Bennets. She ruefully thought that was a good sign, because if Mr Darcy did approve of her entire family, he would be blatantly stupid instead of just rude.
"I can assure you with some conviction Mr Darcy disapproves of more of my family than he approves… with good reason in some cases. In particular, he and my next younger sister, Elizabeth, can barely stand the sight of each other. I am tempted to hide the knives whenever they are in the same room."
Fitzwilliam sat back and stared. "Miss Elizabeth dislikes him?"
"She can barely tolerate him and believes the feeling mutual. I suppose he must not have talked about her."
"Oh, I assure you, he has. I did not get the idea she disliked him from his discourse."
"Well, she simply gives as good as she gets. She naturally never told him what she thinks. She believes at least one person in any conversation should have manners. Since he does not, it is left to her to pick up the yoke."
The colonel leaned back in his chair and started rubbing his chin in deep thought. After a few minutes he started chuckling.
Jane leaned back, wondering what in the world the colonel was about. The conversation was the strangest one she could remember, but at least it was something different to spice up an otherwise dull and dreary month (or quarter, if she were being honest). She decided not to ask why he was chuckling.
He finally leaned forward and asked, "How about it, Miss Bennet? Can you overlook your dislike of my one cousin to befriend the other?"
"I never disliked Mr Darcy. He is certainly a reticent man, and made no effort to befriend anybody in Meryton, but he never specifically offended me."
The colonel assumed since the best she could come up with was an assertion Darcy had failed to offend the least offensive woman in Hertfordshire, Darcy probably made a right muddle of things… as usual.
"You will befriend her?"
"I will meet her, along with my sister Elizabeth if you like. She will be here in four days. Whether we become friends or not is beyond our control. We will become friendly, or we will not."
He slapped the table good naturedly. "Excellent! That is all I could ask. Shall we broach the second topic?"
Jane found herself nervous about the next topic. The first one was not all that shocking in the end… she was being asked by a mutual acquaintance to befriend another girl who sounded as if she needed it. It happened every day and there was nothing remarkable about it… save the obviously fraught way the colonel went about it. He could just as easily have called on them at Gracechurch Street in the usual way with far more propriety. That made her think that her proposed friendship with Miss Darcy, fraught as it was, would likely be considered not much more than appetiser for the conversation when all was said and done.
She was not entirely certain she was ready for the main course, but said, "You may proceed, colonel."
Fitzwilliam leaned back towards the table far more nervously than he had before and thought about what he would say. He had thought about it extensively before coming to Cheapside but never quite worked out a smooth way to begin. In frustration, he fell back on his own long-engrained habits and decided to launch a frontal attack and let his subsequent movements depend on enemy action.
"By some definitions, the second part will break my vow of not engaging in ungentlemanly conduct, because I need to speak to you of things said to me in assumed confidence. I can only mitigate the offense by saying the source of my discourse should have spoken to you directly, so my ungentlemanly conduct somewhat makes up for theirs—thus making it, in effect, gentlemanly."
Jane shook her head trying to work her way through his convoluted logic and eventually gave up and laughed good naturedly. "You assert your bad behaviour would have been unnecessary if these others behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner?"
"Exactly!"
"To be honest, my mother makes a mockery of the rules of propriety and ladylike behaviour just about every day, and my father would rather laugh at my sisters who do the same than correct them. I suppose I am accustomed to it, so you may as well proceed as not; though I must caution you that I am unconvinced two wrongs make a right."
She blushed at her forwardness. She had said nothing inaccurate, and nothing that Lizzy would not have said in the same situation… but it still made her uncomfortable.
"Probably not, but you can judge my actions when I have had my say."
"That seems fair."
The colonel took a deep breath, ready for the moment of truth. "I need to tell you several things about the Bingleys and the Darcys that will be hard to hear, but it will at least leave you understanding why I am here."
Jane shrugged, wishing he would just get on with it.
"I suppose the most important point is that Mr Bingley greatly esteems you, and when he told you he would return in a few days… he meant it. His sisters and Darcy returned to town and convinced him away from you."
"WHY would they do that?" she gasped in shock, then stared at the colonel daring him to answer.
When he hesitated, she added, "You are absolved of ungentlemanly behaviour. You have done me no wrong, so you may speak freely."
The colonel cleared his throat nervously. "His sisters, as you are no doubt aware, are rather… scheming… not to put too fine a point on it."
"That is what my sister Elizabeth thinks. For myself, I always try to give the benefit of the doubt. We grew up in a chaotic household, and each of us came up with our own strategies. Lizzy is far more cynical than I, so she saw the falseness right away. She called them the 'superior sisters' and it was not with approbation."
"Yes, kudos to her," he said with a chuckle. "They have an attitude commonly obtained from the expensive seminaries that take daughters of tradesmen. I quite like tradesmen myself and will circle back to that point—but they erroneously think they are above you in station, which is exactly backwards."
"Yes, yes, we all know that. Miss Bingley has her sights on Mr Darcy, though I think her chances of success are infinitesimal at best."
"They would have to improve to arrive there," he said with a lopsided grin that was not entirely unattractive.
"I am curious. Is Mr Bingley so weak-willed as to allow his sisters to dictate the whole course of his life? Even I with my rosy temperament noticed they push him around quite a lot, but I would think he would at least make that decision for himself."
The colonel looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Yes and no. I do not think his sisters could have managed the job without Darcy."
Jane sighed in resignation. "Mr Darcy never liked the Bennets, so that is hardly any surprise. Tell me… what excuse did Mr Darcy use to convince Mr Bingley away? Did he even need a reason, or was his word sufficient?"
"I wondered myself, so I… interrogated the two of them. I used standard army interrogation techniques, which lack finesse but usually produce results."
"Which is?"
"The basic stratagem involves a certain amount of brandy. Actually, any strong spirit will do but Darcy's brandy budget is effectively unlimited," he said with another grin.
Jane laughed a bit, starting to lose some of her nervousness, and she found herself starting to enjoy the colonel's Lizzy-like teasing. There was definitely something to be said for being done with Mr Bingley, and something liberating about having a man speak so openly with her. Such had not happened since she was a young girl, and she did not expect it to happen again until she was a matron, but for the moment, the feeling was—for want of a better word—intoxicating.
"Please proceed. What did the estimable Master of Pemberley have to say for himself?"
"He gave several reasons. You should hear him when he is in his cups… it is hilarious. At the height of his… indisposition… he said somewhat pompously… let us see, how did he put it: 'The situation of their mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by Mrs Bennet, the three youngest sisters, and occasionally even by Mr Bennet'."
He chuckled, vastly amused by his cousin's wordiness, and continued, "Apparently, decorum was a foreign concept, and he entirely forgot how badly some of our relations behave. He also noted the rather obvious practical drawbacks, such as the entailed estate, lack of fortune and connections, a good chance to end up supporting mother and sisters… that sort of thing."
Jane sighed in resignation. "It is hardly shocking he would object to my mother and sisters as anybody of sense and education would, but Mr Bingley had many weeks of exposure to them. Their behaviour could not be that much of a shock, and to be honest, Mr Bingley's tolerance for silliness seemed to greatly exceed Mr Darcy's, probably because his sisters have been training him in putting up with silliness since birth. Nothing Mr Darcy said was new?"
"That is where it gets interesting. You see, Darcy learned the neighbourhood had formed expectations, and at the ball, your mother carried on loud, long, and hard about how he was effectively 'captured' and only the date and the dress remained to be resolved. Even that would not have been the death knell for Darcy. The real coup de grace for him was your apparent indifference."
"EXCUSE ME!" she snapped in real annoyance.
"He claimed your countenance was so serene you appeared to look at Bingley the same as any other man. He concluded your heart was not easily touched, but your mother would probably force you."
Jane stood from the table in the biggest rage of her life and nearly screamed, "And this is his opinion of me! This is the estimation in which he holds me! I thank you for explaining it so fully, colonel. My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed!"
The colonel was not surprised by the outburst. To be honest, he would not have been shocked if she bashed him in the head with the convenient teapot. Darcy certainly would have with less provocation.
Her anger burned out quickly and she sat back down with a remorseful frown. "I think I understand. Mr Darcy thought the rest of my family had too little decorum, and I have too much!"
He chuckled. "That sums it up. Rather ironic when you get right down to it."
"Does Mr Darcy choose Mr Bingley's waistcoats for him as well."
Fitzwilliam chuckled. "Of course not… that would be excessive… his valet does!"
Jane burst out laughing and the tension in the room reduced enough to alleviate any concern about both participants bursting into flames. She wondered what she would feel after a night to think about it, but for the moment she only felt… relieved.
There was indeed something to be said for removing all doubt.
Jane checked the teapot and saw that it was still reasonably warm, then reflected that, while the conversation was fraught and difficult, they had only been at it for twenty minutes. She poured out again and spent a moment returning to Uncle Gardiner's office to report that they had not killed each other (yet) and steal more biscuits from his tea tray.
With refreshments in hand, she finally said, "All right, colonel. I thank you for your intelligence. I believe you had a third item?"
"I do, but the third overlaps the second in a way."
"I believe I can keep them straight in my mind."
"I hate to be disagreeable, but we will need to return to the subject of Mr Charles Bingley."
"If we must," she said, grimacing in distaste.
"Darcy and I have known him for about six years, and he has been a true friend to us in ways that you may find… perhaps offensive… perhaps not… but definitely ironic."
"I am intrigued."
"You see, Charles Bingley has a reputation in town of being in and out of love often, but the reason for it is he has the best sense of genuine attachments of any man I ever knew. If he knows a woman for a fortnight, he has a knack for understanding their attachment to their beaus. It is true for ladies he is paying attention to, but also any lady of his acquaintance, which as you well know, is any lady who has been present in an entertainment in common with him."
"He sounds mercenary," she said with a frown.
"Only because I am explaining it poorly. I came close to proposing to a lady who I was absolutely, dead-certain, was in love with me five years ago. He suggested caution, and she married another very quickly and produced a surprisingly large and healthy baby just six months after the wedding night, if you take my meaning."
"I am a maiden, but not stupid."
"He has done the same at least a dozen times. His accuracy is unerring. He never speaks against a lady like Darcy and his sisters did about you. He just urges caution if he feels uncertain. I can tell you of at least a dozen people he cautioned, who later learned he saved them from an imprudent marriage. Conversely, I could name another dozen where his apparent approval has hastened a happy match. He is particularly useful when two people refuse to be honest with each other because of the rules of propriety."
"So, you are telling me Mr Bingley's judgement is considered …"
"… impeccable," the colonel said.
Jane thought for some time before coming to the obvious question. "What did he think of me?"
"He approved of you… but —"
"But?"
"But he does not have enough faith in his own judgment to override Darcy's faith in his judgment. When Bingley first entered society, Darcy was very much the elder brother and helped him enormously. Bingley never quite escaped the habit of accepting his mentor's judgment, which to be fair, is usually excellent."
"How do you know Mr Darcy is not right? If I had proper feelings for Mr Bingley, should I not have obtained Mr Bingley's seal of approval?"
"You did! He just lacked the courage of his convictions."
"It sounds as if I take Mr Bingley's courage in his convictions and add a few coins I might have enough for a cup of tea," she said half impertinently and half morosely.
"That brings us to my third item."
Jane had almost forgotten they had a third item, so she just nodded in encouragement.
"Mr Bingley may not have faith in his analysis, but I do. My third item of the day is what I came here for. I would like your permission to court you!"
"Excuse me?"
"I would like to court you. To be specific, I would like to tell you right here and now what my situation is and what it will be, and if you are amenable, I would like to court you with an explicit goal of matrimony!"
"Explain yourself!"
The colonel leaned forward and reached across the table almost far enough to take Jane's hands but did not move the last foot.
"Life is full of compromises. I am the second son of an Earl, where the key word is 'second'. My brother is stout, has two stout boys, and I will no doubt live the rest of my life as the spare. I chose the army as a profession because somebody must do it, and it met my needs when I was younger, since I could not afford an estate and would find the law, or the clergy dull beyond belief. My family has expectations, but they are hard to meet without compromising myself to death. I have sought an heiress for the last decade for obvious reasons, but never found one I could imagine sitting to dinner with next month, let alone thirty years hence."
"Is your life full of Miss Bingleys?"
"Yes, mostly. In the ton, most are either slightly better or slightly worse. I could easily snag a daughter of a tradesman wanting to move up, but they usually want a level of comfort and prestige that exceeds what their dowries can procure. I just never found a woman that seemed like she fit with me."
"Methinks you are too fastidious," she said in some exasperation, entirely tired of listening to whingeing about prospects from the son of an Earl.
"Perhaps—but I have been close to burned too many times. My lot in life is not as miserable as Darcy's, but it is bad enough."
She scrunched her head at the idea of Mr Darcy having any sort of difficulty whatsoever in his life that was not self-inflicted, but she did not really feel like dealing with that gentleman. Lizzy spent enough time complaining about him for the entire family.
"You do realise I am poor as a church mouse? I have £50 per annum during my mother's life and £1,000 on her death."
"I do, but I recently started thinking differently. Nothing says I must live in society. Between prize money, my saved-up allowance and army pay, and a small inheritance I bought a small estate in Derbyshire. It is about half the size of your father's and in very bad condition. It will take a decade to match Longbourn's income, and another to double it. Now, let us assume I want to leave the army and live in this minor estate that requires a lot of hard work. What do I need?"
Jane chuckled, "You either need a woman with a large dowry that can be used to improve the estate, or the daughter of a minor country gentleman who knows how to run a house and live economically."
"Exactly!"
"And you think I can be that woman?"
"Certainly. I could go out and visit the country, meet various women, dance at assemblies, and so forth. You know how it works. In the end though, strange as it sounds, I would ask Bingley's opinion. I will not follow him like a puppy, but I would ask to help verify my own judgement. As it is, with no effort save pouring a great amount of Darcy's brandy down two lunkhead's throats, I found a woman I admire for more than her obvious beauty, who already has his approval. It may sound cowardly, but I have a hard time thinking of any easier way to get a promising start, and that is all society can really give any of us… a promising start. The rest is what we make of it."
Jane sat in stunned silence at the audacity of the suggestion. To think that she might get a new paramour simply because her old paramour lacked the courage of his convictions was not something she would have ever considered possible. In many ways it seemed disrespectful, but it was efficient.
The colonel was right about one thing. It could be a good start. She still needed a husband, and it might be as good a way to start as any, but the whole idea of starting the process all over again just seemed exhausting.
Jane sighed. "That is an interesting proposition. You have had the lion's share of the speaking, so may I comment on this hare-brained scheme?"
"By all means. I am happy to hear anything you have to say."
"I do appreciate the… neatness… of the solution, but do you know what my primary emotion at the moment is after all of these revelations?"
"I would not speculate."
"Allow me to enlighten you. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am TIRED! I am tired… tired… tired… tired… tired… tired. Tired of men who do not think for themselves. Tired of men who stop thinking the minute they see my supposedly handsome face. Tired of weaklings. Tired of my mother. Tired of my younger sisters and indolent father. Tired of expectations. Tired of the marriage mart. Tired of my admittedly poor prospects. Just plain exhausted."
He stared at her a moment and gave her what he hoped was an encouraging look.
"Seven years," she said in resignation. "Seven years I have been out in society. Seven years I have had my mother pushing me at every reasonably solvent man who has the poor sense to enter her sights so I can to 'save us from the hedgerows', but even that was just the last campaign. She has been telling me how my beauty and shining personality would attract a good match since the days when boys were nasty smelly creatures who put bugs down my dress."
"And now."
"In my present mood, they are mostly nasty smelly creatures who go around toying with women's affections."
He chuckled.
"Have you ever heard of a Donkey Mill, colonel? They are used for grinding grain. They have a big stone wheel on a frame harnessed to a donkey who pushes it around in circles: round, and round, and round. That is what my life feels like. Think of the stone wheel as my indecorous family, my supposed beauty that I have found more of a hinderance than a help, marital expectations, my indolent father, the dearth of men in my neighbourhood, the army's rapacious appetite for eligible men, my parents' unwillingness to consider tradesmen as marital prospects… you get the idea."
"I am seeing it in my mind."
"I am the donkey! For seven years, I pushed the wheel around in circles with not the slightest indication I would not have to push it until the end of time. Men fall into the hopper, only to be ground up and be scooped out later, each taking a piece of my heart with them."
The colonel took a chance and moved his hand across the table to rest it a half-inch from hers but did not feel like pushing his luck any farther. "I can see it."
"Mr Bingley was the first time I thought there was some chance I could escape the harness and walk to the river for a drink. It was the first time I had any real hope. Six weeks of hope out of seven years of trying amounts to pretty meagre rations."
"Well, I have been in a similar hopeless situation for the same seven years… except that the ones trying hardest to break my heart were doing it more in the literal sense than figurative," he said with a small chuckle, hoping to lift her maudlin mood a bit.
Jane laughed, and then wondered if it was bad form to laugh at the fact that she was whingeing about being out in Meryton society looking for a husband while people were trying to actually kill the colonel.
"None of that," he said. "It was meant to trigger light humour, not burning reflections. We have both been locked in society's cages for a long time."
"What is it you want, colonel."
"Just what I said. I want to court you, and in good time, I believe I want to marry you."
She let out a great heaving sigh. "I wonder if the little donkey understands every time the master says, 'just one more loop.' they are fooling?"
"You think I might be inconstant? Another Bingley?"
"To be honest, I must ask who are your friends? Who do you spend time with? Who are the men you respect? You are here doing your friend's dirty work, which says quite a lot for you but very little for them. Mr Bingley is weak as a kitten, while Mr Darcy is as interfering as my mother. Are these your heroes?"
He looked at her carefully and moved his hand very deliberately to just graze the side of her finger. It was a flirty move, and well outside the bounds of propriety, but he wanted to see if the lady was filled with implacable resentment, or if she might be up for one last turn of the wheel.
Jane sat still for some time thinking. It was certainly an unconventional start, and the man showed a certain flair, coupled with more than usual bravery. Could she be similarly brave?
She tried to imagine exposing the man to her parents and sisters and became despondent. Would anyone ever survive that gauntlet any better than the amiable Mr Bingley? How could this courtship proceed any better than the last dozen? The fact remained that any sensible man would never attach himself to a Bennet, but she could only marry a sensible man.
The conundrum left her tied in knots for several minutes until the solution appeared whole and complete in her head all at once.
Jane leaned forward and noticed his hand's proximity to her own. She was not quite brave enough to put her hand on top of his, but she did manage to push hers far enough for their fingers to touch and considered that sufficient.
She took a great breath and blew it out, then repeated before she was ready to speak. "Before I consider your suggestion, may I ask a question?"
"Of course!"
"What is your attitude about marriage vows?" she asked, then stared at him intently.
"They are sacrosanct," he said without pause. "Everyone occasionally fails in some small ways, but to me, upholding ALL the vows is the true test of a gentleman."
She nodded, more to herself than explicit acknowledgement, and thought for another minute or two before replying.
"That is my belief as well," she said thoughtfully.
She paused a moment more, and continued, "Half a mile west on Gracechurch Street there is a small church: Saint Anthony's. Are you familiar with it?"
"No, but I can be. Are you thinking of inviting me for services on Sunday?"
"Not quite," she said, then paused quite some time again.
"My sister, Elizabeth, will join me here next Thursday on the fourth to leave on the fifth to visit our cousin in Hunsford."
"I assume you know my aunt is —"
"Lady Catherine de Bourgh. We need not mention her. Our cousin is her rector, so we have heard all we need to ever hear on that subject. I just wanted you to be aware of her schedule."
The colonel instantly formed a plan that had a lot to recommend it.
"Do you suppose you could go with her to Hunsford? Darcy and I will be going there in a fortnight, and it might be a good chance to become better acquainted."
"Yes, under the watchful eye of your aunt and my idiot cousin. That should be so much better than my mother," she said with an almost unladylike sneer, followed by a fearsome frown.
The colonel looked confused. "What are you suggesting?"
She let out a big breath and stared at him with an intensity that made him want to crawl under the table.
"Next Thursday, Elizabeth and I will visit the church at ten o'clock."
"Are you suggesting I might coincidentally appear there at the same time to meet your sister? Perhaps, to allow her to take my measure?"
She stared at him hard again and licked her lips with obvious nervousness.
"Yes—but not the way you are probably thinking," she said in apparent nervousness. "If you appear there with a witness, a marriage contract I can understand, and a common license, I will marry you. I am of age, so I need no permission. If you apply for a common license this afternoon, we will have the required seven day wait."
Fitzwilliam sat in his chair stunned, completely unable to even speak.
Jane, meanwhile, jumped up from the table and quickly walked to the door.
Before she exited, she turned to speak.
"No more donkey wheel. I am DONE! We could study our respective characters for a twelvemonth, and we would not know any more than we do today. Let us see if you have the courage of your convictions. Ten o'clock. Do not be late."
With that, she walked out of the room, and then nearly sprinted through her uncle's office, while Fitzwilliam stared in amazement and confusion.
5 March 1812
"Jane, what are we doing here?" Elizabeth asked her sister as they crossed the threshold into the Gardiner family's church at the unheard-of hour of ten o'clock.
Elizabeth was full of curiosity about what they were doing and why. The trip was arranged with her uncharacteristically reticent sister the evening before. Jane was quite sly about getting the two of them to that location with, as far as Elizabeth could determine, an unseemly amount of stealth. Jane, the politest woman Elizabeth ever met, even managed to exclude Sir William and Maria Lucas from the excursion, through what a more cynical person might consider as subterfuge. Her Gardiner relatives were similarly excluded, but since her aunt and uncle led busy lives, it was no big surprise.
"I want you to meet someone who may or may not be here this morning," Jane said calmly.
Elizabeth had spent the walk over, along with a considerable portion of their dressing time in the morning, trying to eke out more information with little to show for it. Jane was silent as the tomb on the subject.
As they entered the church, Elizabeth noticed the rector near the front, which was unusual at that time of day, though not unheard of. Elizabeth glanced at Jane and saw she was expecting the man, so Elizabeth began to be suspicious he could be a person of interest. He was a moderately handsome man of around five and twenty, and probably quite eligible… or at least considerably more eligible than any other parson the Bennet sisters happened to know. However, that supposition was discarded with a quick look at her sister. Jane was always inscrutable, but not that inscrutable, and there was not even enough interest in the parson to excite Mrs Bennet.
Elizabeth looked around at the familiar chapel. It was empty save the Bennet sisters, the parson, and two older widows sitting in a pew conversing.
As Elizabeth scrunched her head in confusion, she looked at her elder sister intensely, so she had her eyes on Jane when the door opened. Jane looked momentarily startled, then collected herself quickly and turned around to see the visitors.
Two men entered and walked their way. The man in front appeared to be in a hurry, while the other lagged. The shadows around the door hid both men until one pulled in front and walked toward them with a big smile. The man who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Elizabeth liked him immediately, although she liked Mr Bingley immediately as well, so she suspected she might not be as discerning as she believed.
As the man walked, his smile widened broadly at the sight of Jane. "Miss Bennet, well met… and may I presume, Miss Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth looked at the man in confusion, wondering why in the world Jane had not been forthcoming about who they were meeting and why. There seemed little doubt this man was no clergyman. His bearing looked more military than anything else, though he was dressed as a gentleman in high quality clothes with an excellent fit.
As he approached and bowed to the ladies, Elizabeth finally became curious enough to look behind at his companion and gasped. "Mr Darcy!"
"Miss Elizabeth," that gentleman said with his usual grave manners. She thought he seemed startled to see her, but he quickly schooled his expression and hid it well. He gave a bow, which Elizabeth returned with a rather sloppy curtsey, but it would have to do.
Darcy looked to his companion. "Fitzwilliam, may I presume you have an explanation for dragging me hither?"
His companion looked chagrined by his rudeness, and Elizabeth was about to say something impertinent, when Mr Darcy continued.
"I beg your pardon… that was unaccountably rude," and much to her surprise, he looked rather handsomely contrite.
From that exchange, she concluded that, for the first time in the history of the world, she was in the same boat as Mr Darcy. They both seemed to be unwitting accomplices to something, and it appeared the other gentleman was no more forthcoming than Jane. Curiouser and curiouser!
Jane said, "Perhaps we should put first things first with introductions. Colonel, as you surmised, this is my sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Lizzy, this is Colonel Fitzwilliam, the second son of the Earl of Matlock… my intended."
"YOUR WHAT?"
"YOUR WHAT?"
Once again, Elizabeth found herself in the same boat with Mr Darcy, and was finding the experience most unusual. For certain, both had reacted in the only way any rational person would, but to choose the exact same phrase, with the same tone of voice, at exactly the same time was disconcerting.
Jane blithely carried on as if she was having yet another boring drawing room conversation. "My intended… although, if the Colonel maintains the courage of his convictions, he will be my husband within the hour."
The colonel, who had bowed to Elizabeth before Jane released her whirlwind turned to Jane and smiled. "I would not be here without my convictions."
Elizabeth was so thoroughly disconcerted she could not speak, so she watched Mr Darcy to see what he would do. She was certain she could count on him to throw some water on whatever fire Jane had unleashed to save her the trouble.
Mr Darcy started to speak several times, and Elizabeth almost thought she could see him trying out several angry retorts… and discarding each. For just a moment, Elizabeth thought she could see his thought processes in unguarded moments, and she found it fascinating. It was the first time she had seen any hint of emotion escape the man's legendary reticence (which to be honest, rivalled Jane's).
He finally said, "Are you both certain?"
Jane said, "I am," with a note of finality.
"I am here for that purpose," the colonel said.
"Would it be impertinent to ask how long you have known each other?"
"Impertinent or not, I demand an answer," Elizabeth stated emphatically, once again surprised to find herself in full agreement with the Derbyshire gentleman.
The colonel said, "It depends on how you measure the length of the acquaintance," and then looked like he wished to drag out a question in the same teasing manner Elizabeth would.
Jane was blunter. "In elapsed time, this is the eighth day since we were introduced. As for time in company, we have been in conversation for ninety-three minutes."
Darcy struggled to say something, and while Elizabeth found it fascinating, she decided to ask the obvious question. "Why the haste? Is there a compromise involved?"
The colonel answered, "No compromise of any kind. Neither of our honours are engaged, and we are not obliged. Your uncle arranged a confidential conversation where we came to an amicable agreement… or at least, my intended laid down her terms and I accepted."
Elizabeth and Darcy found themselves looking at each other shaking their heads in confusion, and Elizabeth was once again more struck by their coincidence of mannerism than she was by the shocking description of Jane's courtship (if it could even be called that), mainly because the day was so astounding that even being on concordance with Mr Darcy was not surprising.
Jane said, "As to the idea of compromise, we have one with a very different meaning. Nearly all marriages are full of compromises of some sort. Do people marry for love or security? Was Charlotte wise, foolish, or resigned? Do you please yourself or your family? When you rejected Mr Collins were you being wise or selfish? And of course, there is the biggest compromise of all—how are two people supposed to learn enough about each other to commit their lives together, when propriety does not even allow them to have an unguarded conversation. Then of course, there is the fact that screeching mothers, indolent fathers, and ungovernable sisters can (and probably have), scared off suitors. For that matter, is it a compromise to marry someone you like even if you despise their family, as I would have been willing to do with Mr Bingley?"
Elizabeth was staring at Jane in fascination. "I had no idea you thought about it this deeply."
"I have been here with nothing to do but think for three months, Lizzy," she said wistfully.
The colonel saw Darcy winding himself up for something. "If you are trying to dissuade me Darcy, you can give it up. Unlike our mutual friend, I am not wet behind the ears. I have the courage of my convictions."
Elizabeth could not wait to see how Mr Darcy would react, so she watched him like a hawk.
Much to her surprise, he chuckled. "I would not dream of it. I would have better luck changing Miss Elizabeth's mind than yours, and even that is well beyond my capabilities."
Elizabeth just stared at him in open mouthed confusion, and then almost giggled like Lydia when he gave her a wink.
One thing was certain. Mr Darcy in London with his relatives may as well be a different man than the haughty and proud man she met in Hertfordshire.
"What made you decide on this… unconventional approach," she asked of Jane.
"It is a matter of needs and wants… or more likely needs, wants and beliefs. I need a good and honourable husband. I want a man I can love with all my heart. I believe I can have both, but I am at least certain of my needs."
After everyone stared at her in wonder for moment, Elizabeth said, "That is poetic Jane. Since I know the least among us about your intended, would you mind if I ask two questions. I obviously have no say in what you do, but they would set my mind at ease."
"Of course, Lizzy."
"Colonel, do you believe in wedding vows… ALL of them?"
The colonel gave Jane a wide smile and chuckled. "That is an excellent question. Your sister asked the same question in the same tone of voice. To answer, they are sacrosanct."
Elizabeth smiled, and continued, "Mr Darcy, is the colonel a good and honourable man?"
"The best I have ever known."
"I find myself entirely satisfied," she said with a thoroughly unexpected smile at Mr Darcy.
Jane said, "Shall we proceed?"
Darcy once again surprised Elizabeth by asking, "Fitzwilliam, I presume you brought a settlement. Is it your intention to sign for yourself Miss Bennet?"
Elizabeth was astonished by his ready acceptance of the match, even though she would have bet a month's allowance he helped drag Mr Bingley away from Jane.
"It is. I asked the colonel to make it simple enough to be understood by a layperson."
"Pray, tell me if I am being presumptuous, but would you allow me the privilege of acting in the place of elder-brother or uncle figure to look over the contract. I presume you have your own reasons for excluding your uncle and father from the process."
"I do," she said in a tone indicating the discussion was closed.
"Understood. I believe you are intelligent enough to understand it but if you would like to take advantage of my experience, I am at your disposal. I have been dealing with contracts for a decade, and there are some things that should be taken care of that are not obvious."
"Such as?"
"Such as making certain you and your children are well provided for if your husband predeceases you. Making sure any property correctly goes to your son, and what happens if you do not have one… that sort of thing. Much of it will be handled in your husband's will, but he can change that at any time. The marriage contract is your last chance to make certain the terms are proper before marriage."
Elizabeth stared at him in wonder, impressed by his generosity and astonished that he could say such a thing without haughtiness or offense.
Fitzwilliam said, "Perhaps you and Miss Elizabeth can look over the contract while Jane and I discuss the ceremony with the parson. This is Jane's parish, and she is of age, but we will need to verify it and give him the license. While we do that, the two of you can fill in the missing pieces."
Elizabeth asked, "What is missing?"
"Mostly her full name, the full name of her parents for reference and her dowry… if any."
Elizabeth started to speak but was interrupted by Darcy. "Her dowry is £7,500."
Both Bennet sisters gasped and stared.
Jane finally said, "That is incorrect, Mr Darcy. It is only £1,000 and that on my mother's death."
"Jane is right."
Darcy looked surprisingly (and smugly) sure of himself.
"Have you ever spoken to Mr Bennet on that specific subject… or any financial matter? I believe he despises fortune hunters. His estate has an income of over £2,000. Twenty-five years is ample time to amass a dowry of that size, especially when he has a very successful tradesman brother to offer investment advice, who could easily beat the four percents."
Elizabeth and Jane both looked shocked, but Jane finally said, "I am all astonishment! I suppose we shall celebrate our good fortune."
Fitzwilliam said, "I did not expect that, but will not turn my nose up at it. Shall we, my dear?"
Jane smiled at the easy endearment, while Elizabeth thought it sounded a bit more practiced than she would prefer. She had no doubts about the colonel, but Jane had been dealing with flirty men for years so it should not be an impediment.
Mr Darcy took the contract from the colonel, offered Elizabeth his arm and led her over to a table so they could look over the contract and fill in the missing pieces.
They started on the contract in good stead, and Mr Darcy explained the workings of it clearly and simply. She thought he really should be explaining it to Jane since it was her wedding, but she did have to admit she was better suited to the task. Jane would trust her word, but Elizabeth thought she would explain what she could anyway. She felt certain the parson would receive more than his usual fee, and unaccountably certain the extra would come from Mr Darcy.
When they got to the section about the dowry, Darcy blithely filled in the figure.
Elizabeth said, "You are a surprisingly good liar, sir. I would not have expected it."
He stopped writing and stared at her, content to look expectantly for the rest of whatever she had to say.
She laughed. "Come, come, Mr Darcy. I am not censuring you. The number is rather… calculated. Five thousand would not be enough to help your cousin all that much, and he would find ten suspicious. Aside from that, I would bet a month's allowance you have never spoken to my father about anything of substance, let alone dowries."
"Why did you say nothing?"
"You are lying through your teeth, but your motives are both altruistic and to my sister's benefit. At some level both Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam will work it out sooner or later, but by then the deed will be done and they will have the choice of whingeing about it, accepting it gracefully, or more likely pretending they never worked it out."
He chuckled.
"Asking a bunch of embarrassing questions was a surprisingly good strategy. Asking them implies you did so without saying it. I admire the efficacy of the technique."
Darcy grumbled, "Disguise of every sort is my abhorrence, but sometimes exceptions must be made. As to the technique, I am loathe to admit it, but I observed it from the most skilled and prolific liar I ever met. He is even good enough to fool both my father and you, which is saying something."
Elizabeth gasped, stammered a minute, and finally said, "I am not certain whether to be flattered or offended. Are you implying that a mutual acquaintance is not to be trusted?"
"I am saying it outright and wishing I said it in November when the intelligence was due."
"If I asked you to be specific, or offer proof, could you?"
"Of course."
"Well then, that is settled. I will assume everything I heard from that quarter is an outright lie. I suppose if I tried to sketch your character now, there would be far less reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either."
He smiled, and she had to admit that it gave his countenance a new and surprisingly pleasing aspect. It suddenly occurred to her that she had a lot less to be unhappy with the man about. She had to go all the way back to 'tolerable, but not handsome enough' to maintain her disapprobation, and even that in hindsight sounded more like a man having a bad night than habitual incivility.
With a sigh, they turned back to the contract.
By the time Jane and Fitzwilliam returned, Jane asked, "Is it sound, Lizzy?"
"You should ask Mr Darcy to explain it."
"I will another day, but if both you and Mr Darcy are satisfied, I will be as well. When you marry a trustworthy man, no contract is required."
Darcy said, "The contract is more to control people other than your husband, but your point is well taken."
"Shall we?" Fitzwilliam asked, and they went up to begin the ceremony.
Elizabeth found it slightly sad that Jane did not have a new dress, a wedding breakfast, any flowers, or a father to walk her down the aisle… but she did think it was the perfect metaphor for the way they were raised. Mr Darcy offered his services and Jane accepted.
A half-hour later, Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam were pronounced man and wife in the usual traditions, the registry was signed, and the four friends were standing around working out what to do.
Darcy said, "Fitzwilliam, I beg you to tell me you planned to spend the wedding night and as long as you choose in my home? I will happily vacate it for a few weeks."
Elizabeth smiled at the generous offer.
"I hoped for it, but would not presume, so I have contingencies."
"I would consider it a stain on my honour if you went anywhere else," Darcy said with a wry grin.
Mr Fitzwilliam wisely looked to Mrs Fitzwilliam, who nodded in agreement.
Darcy continued, "You will need to get to work on your estate soon. Take my carriage. I will ride or take my curricle to Rosings as planned and tell Lady Catherine about your marriage. That should be entertaining," he said with a chuckle that thoroughly surprised Elizabeth. Amiable Darcy was forcing her to redraw her sketch almost by the minute.
Fitzwilliam chuckled, "I suppose we can dispense with all the manly and tedious arguing about your generosity."
"Consider your pride assuaged. I will even take care of gathering Mrs Fitzwilliam's dowry for you if you like. I have access to your bank to deposit it."
"I would appreciate it," Fitzwilliam said.
Now that Miss Bennet was Mrs Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth said, "And I will take care of notifying our parents if you like, Jane."
Jane let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, would you Lizzy! You know it will be exasperating. It might be ideal if you neglect to give her our direction for a while."
"Consider it done!" she said with a huge smile.
Darcy turned and to Elizabeth. "The earlier discussion with Mrs Fitzwilliam has made me think about needs and wants. Would you be willing to comment on my conclusions, Miss Bennet?"
Elizabeth smiled, "I suppose I am Miss Bennet now. That will take some getting used to. I am at your disposal, Mr Darcy."
"Very well. Here is what I have concluded after observing this highly successful endeavour. First off, I should obviously pay rapt attention to Mrs Fitzwilliam's wisdom in future."
"Very sensible," Jane said with a laugh.
Elizabeth noticed the looks Jane and the colonel were exchanging and thought they should probably move things along before one of them burst into flames.
Darcy continued. "After carefully observing Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam, I have discerned my needs and wants. Would you like to hear them?"
"I am all eagerness," Elizabeth said, and the sentiment was echoed by Jane.
Darcy looked carefully at Elizabeth with a subtle smile.
"I need for you—Miss Elizabeth Bennet—to sooner or later fall violently in love with me with all your heart and soul, much like your sister will do with my cousin quite soon. I want to make a clean copy of my mother's marriage contract, then abscond with your uncle, presuming he has permission, to sign for you to St George in Hanover Square where I can buy a license from the local bishop and pay the bond to avoid the seven-day wait. With that scheme, I could marry you at around four o'clock this afternoon."
Elizabeth stared at the man in complete stupefaction, blinked several times, then looked back and forth between Mr Darcy, the colonel and Jane with her mouth hanging open.
The colonel eventually broke the silence. "If you ask your two questions you had earlier, you will get the same answers, sister. You will never, as long as you live, meet a better man than Darcy."
She turned to Jane, who said, "Mr Darcy left off belief, Lizzy. You need to decide if you believe in him, and nobody can answer that question but you. I suppose you should add bravery as well, because it takes that to jump off a cliff as your Mr Darcy is suggesting."
She looked back and forth, and finally said, "My Mr Darcy… my Mr Darcy… an interesting turn of phrase. Can I trust you with my heart, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy?"
He gave her a smile that melted her inside. "I hope so! I am already trusting you with mine."
She thought for a few minutes, and finally said, "Let us fetch my uncle. Our witnesses have pressing business to attend this evening."