Chapter 16: Of Heady Kisses and Favorite Daughters
Mr. Darcy woke up with a renewed sense of hope and a giddiness that he could scarcely hide. Lizzie loved him. When she asked him to kiss her, he was shocked. Not that she would boldly request it like that, but that she plopped herself down on his lap. They had never been that close. He had to stop their kissing soon enough from overstimulation. He had to explain to her that as much as he would rather continue with their activities, he did not want to anticipate their vows.
His relationship with her father was strained, to say the least, and he did not want to worsen it. Lizzie had reluctantly agreed. She curled against him, still on his lap, and soon fell asleep. He placed her on her bed and covered her. He wanted nothing more than to hold her all night, but his remaining propriety chided that it was not a good idea for what little remained of his self-control. He dressed for work and knocked on Lizzie's door. They walked arm in arm to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's room. The doctor was coming up the hall.
"Good Morning, Dr. Allen."
"Good Morning, Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth," he smiled.
"Punctual as always," Mr. Darcy nodded. He stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Mrs. Bennet opened it. Her eyes were red and watery, but she greeted them warmly and ushered them in. Mr. Darcy tried not to frown. He had a particular ability to tell when a man had caused a woman's tears.
A footman followed them. The doctor had them try three different ways to pull him up to check for any pain. The spoons were to remain, but the doctor carefully wrapped a scarf around them to keep them from hurting Mr. Bennet in case of any jostling. Mr. Bennet seemed to be on his best behavior. He had nothing to say more than 'yes' and 'no' to the doctor. He seemed a bit scared.
When he found himself on the ground floor and in the dining room, seeing a table full of delicious food, his mood improved slightly. When he started to be fed by Mrs. Bennet, he was annoyed not to be able to do it himself, but he did not complain. Lizzie ate quickly. She wanted to be ready. Mr. Darcy merely grabbed a couple of apples, a pastry, and after quickly downing his coffee, he rushed out to make sure the ramps were placed.
Mr. Bennet was glad his fingers had been responding better since the doctor ordered exercise for his arms. He clutched to the arms of the chair for dear life when he saw the steep ramps. He was so relieved when he reached solid ground that if he had been physically able, he would have kissed it. He expected Mrs. Bennet to push his chair, but Lizzie told her to check on Mrs. Gardiner instead. Mr. Darcy bowed to her, took Zeus' reins, and galloped away toward the area where the hard work due to the floods still ensued.
They were quiet for the first five minutes. Lizzie stopped by a bench. She was so glad a footman was watching from a distance in case something happened to her father.
"Fine day, is it not?"
"Lizzie… You know I do not like small talk. Out with it, child."
"I do not know where to start."
"I do. I find myself disappointed in you for the first time. Fine carriages, a large estate, riches beyond imagination… that is all it took for Mr. Darcy to sweep you off your feet?"
Lizzie stopped walking, "I never thought you respected me so little. I could not care less for his fortune. He is a good man regardless of his riches."
"I never thought you could be fooled like this."
"Mr. Darcy could marry anyone he chose to marry, and he wants to marry me."
"Of course, he could marry anyone he wanted. You could not. Do you not see the absurdity of this situation? For a man that rich to even contemplate marrying so below his station is ridiculous. You will never be accepted by his family or the ton. You will end your days in some cottage minding your daughters while he lives a grand life with his mistresses, publicly humiliating you. Did you ever stop to think why he is still not married? He is much older than most single men."
"Oh, you do not want to go there, father. William has had the responsibilities of a father since he was fifteen and of an estate owner since he was eighteen. He could have turned out to be a horrible man who uses his money to stomp over people and do whatever he pleases! Instead, he has lived a life of duty, of responsibility, of self-control."
"The rich know not about self-control. A marriage between you would be absurd. He would end up despising your opinionated, wild ways, and you would end up resenting his seriousness and sour disposition, not to mention his arrogance."
"Do you really want to talk about absurdity? How about you lying for years to Mama and all of us, telling us you did the best you could but that the estate could not produce more?!"
"What would you know about the pain of losing property, Elizabeth?"
"What?!"
"You are to be owned by your husband. You are property. Whether you end up being owned by Mr. Darcy or not, nothing will ever be yours. Why would I want to work hard so that Mr. Collins can enjoy the fruits of years of my hard labor?"
"Spare me! You have NOT worked hard! You barely ever talk to your tenants at all. Were it not for Mama and us always caring for them, they would have already left!"
"I see you have been talking to your perfect Mr. Darcy about his perfect estate management!"
"Well, Papa, you may not like it, but it is true. You have eyes. Look around you! You can hate Mr. Darcy all you want, but objectively, his methods are effective. Nothing is crumbling. No tenants have a cross word to say about him. His staff have only praise for him."
"You believed that he works with the farmers? I bet he does not get off his horse the whole time and only shouts orders."
Lizzie turned and motioned to the footman, who rushed to them.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth?"
"Could you please procure the planks? It seems we will have to venture further away."
"Right away, Miss," he turned and whistled.
"What planks? Elizabeth, what is going on?"
"I will take you to the tenants, and you will see for yourself. I already saw him covered ribs deep in mud from pulling out sheep that got trapped in the floods, but you need to interrogate tenants and see how they live, so that is what we are going to do."
Mr. Bennet was equally frustrated and impressed. Mr. Darcy was indeed diligent to a fault. The lands were very well distributed, the crops looked plentiful, and the animals he could see from afar looked healthy and well-fed. He felt like he had been given the royal treatment. Two footmen and two stablehands created a road for the wheels of his chair using the planks Lizzie requested so he could move beyond the most manicured roads.
"You, over there, come here, please."
The farmer looked confused but came toward them. "Yes, sir?"
"Lizzie, those gooseberries look delicious. Do you mind getting me some?"
She sighed, "Of course, but behave."
Mr. Bennet was officially running out of ideas. Every single person, from the steward to the farmers, their wives, and even their children, everyone only had good things to say about Mr. Darcy. He had helped them when they got sick. He had fixed their transport. He had sent some young men to London and sponsored their studies. He had loaned them money when the elements stalled or damaged crops or animal production. All merchants loved him because he provided a lot of business and paid promptly each month.
His horses were prized and exceptionally well taken care of… Not even a small bit of his house looked in need of repairs, and that was saying something for such a vast, ancient building. He would have to pay close attention to everyone now. Where was everyone else sleeping? Most importantly, where was Elizabeth sleeping? And where was Mr. Darcy sleeping? How close were they? Had there been any impropriety? He hoped not. He would hate to see himself cornered into having to consent to marry her off to him in a rush.
When Mr. Darcy returned from the fields, he was dusty, sweaty, and partially insulted when his footmen, who had been on plank duty, informed him about the line of conversation Mr. Bennet took with tenants of all ages. He took the stairs two at a time. He only stopped to see Miss Mary making the most of her additional instruction while Gigi studied new pieces. Mrs. Gardiner was knitting on an armchair next to the wheelchair. He smiled at the woman who looked at the state of his clothes and mouthed, 'Rough day, sir?' He chuckled, nodded, and left to bathe. He wanted to give Lizzie the ring, but he could not do it looking or smelling like he did.
Once he was dressed and clean, his valet told him that Richard was waiting for him in his study and that it was important. Mr. Darcy frowned but went downstairs regardless. He found Richard pacing. He immediately feared the worst.
"Please tell me they are not sending you to the front, Richard."
Richard jumped, "You startled me. No, no. I just… I need to talk to you."
"Tell me."
"But first, I need you to promise you will not laugh at me."
Darcy frowned and blinked repeatedly.
"It is just that what I need your advice on may sound completely insane to you, mockery worthy. I do not think I can handle that right now."
Darcy nodded, "You seem very upset. I have never mocked you about anything serious. You know that I will help you in any way I can."
"I was hoping you would say that, but also dreading it," Richard rubbed his hands over his face.
"Well, that makes no sense. Please explain."
Richard sat down on the edge of the chair, "How deranged would you think me if I said I have started considering Miss Bennet as a potential wife?"
Darcy's jaw fell slightly, but he said nothing and motioned with his hand for Richard to carry on.
Richard jumped up and started to pace again, "I know I am only a second son. I understand her family's financial situation is not the best. But everything I have learned about her personality and skills has made me more interested in her. I have been chastising myself because a woman like that deserves better… Someone more like you, like Bingley even."
Richard missed when Darcy rolled his eyes hard.
"I just…" he sighed. "I have tried to convince myself that this is a stupid idea and that I could never marry her… And I was almost succeeding, but then I had a fit, and she did not run away… And when we were at dinner, I could have sworn that I heard my mother's voice say, 'What a good prospect for a wife!' It sounded so real I choked on my dessert!"
Darcy bit the inside of his cheeks not to laugh. He knew that if he were to burst out laughing, Richard would never trust him with something this delicate again. But then his brain seemed to go back over his cousin's statement. He had a fit.
"Richard, what kind of fit are we talking about?"
Richard blushed and pulled his hair back with both hands. "I have… fits."
"Meaning?"
"Miss Bennet called it panic."
"Panic?"
"When I go through strong negative emotions, it… It makes me see f-flashes… Flashes of things I have seen… Or done before."
Darcy frowned, "Things… during battle?"
Richard's face scrunched in apparent agony. He just nodded.
"How long has this been going on?"
"About a year… After the time I spent in… It does not matter. About a year…"
"What caused this most recent fit?"
"I thought M-Miss Bingley was g-going to s-stab you with the l-letter opener."
Mr. Darcy frowned, "I noticed you left the room. I did not see where you went."
"I went to the greenhouse… I... Please do not punch me."
Darcy's eyes widened, "What did you do?"
"I was somewhere else in my mind… I felt I was surrounded by enemies… Miss Bennet tapped my shoulder, and before I knew what I was doing, I had her in a chokehold."
"You what?!" Darcy jumped up.
"Nothing you can tell me will make me feel worse than seeing her hurt neck did."
"You hurt her neck?!"
"I would not have, but she already had the scratches."
"Bloody hell… Did someone see you? Did you compromise her, Richard?"
"No. I mean… I would have if someone had seen it because we were touching and alone. No one saw. And Miss Bennet… She yelled at me to unhand her. But then she left and returned with a basin of water with chunks of ice."
"Whatever for?"
"She said that she heard from a veteran, a friend of her father's, that distracting the senses was the best way to deal with… fits. It worked. She put my hands in the ice water and would not let me pull them out. My brain started to think about my freezing fingers and stopped getting flashes."
"Miss Bennet could still demand-"
"She will not," Richard's eyes softened as he said this. "She said she would not accuse me of compromising her… She… She said I deserved to marry whoever I chose freely. Of course, she does not know I am a second son."
Darcy sighed. "Richard, I-"
"I know what the odds are with my parents. They would be glad if she had a large dowry," Richard sighed, "Darcy, she is unlike anyone I have ever met… She said that my life has been one of duty over desire and that she respects that, so she will not accuse me of compromising her."
Mr. Darcy allowed himself a small smile at his cousin's expression. He knew that expression well. It was the same one that Lizzie caused on his face. "Richard… I will be your brother if you want to pursue Miss Bennet."
Richard blinked, "You would. I never thought about that."
"I could not ask for a better brother."
"But? Because there is a but coming, right?"
"No. None whatsoever. However, you said you wanted my advice. May I be blunt?"
"Yes."
"I think you and Miss Bennet could have a great life together... I do not think that Miss Bennet would be happy as the wife of a military man who is never home and may die any day of the week while he is in the front."
Richard sighed and looked down.
"I know your calling is the military, cousin. You have brought your country and your family great honor. I was never on board with your decision to enlist only because you are family, and I love you. I have seen how much hurt and trauma comes to men who fight for our country. You have always had my support, and this will be no different. My question would be… Are you done, Richard? Are you done fighting? Are you willing to lay down your weapons, compass, and maps? Would you be happy to instead fill your arms with a loving wife and children of your own? Would you be happy to become a landowner and live off your estate?"
Richard froze. He thought of all the horrors he had seen in battle and all the scars that littered his body. He thought of sleeping in muddy barracks, always afraid of attacks, eating horrible rations, not bathing for weeks… But then he saw a small cottage somewhere with children running around and playing while his arms encircled… Jane. He had seen that scene before, but the lady never had a face until now.
Darcy saw how his expression changed as he thought about his questions.
"I am ready to be a family man who dedicates himself to his wife, his children, and his lands."
Darcy smiled brightly, "Good. Do you think you can wait until I marry Miss Elizabeth? Court Miss Bennet for a few months? Maybe have a longer engagement?"
"I… Why?"
"Because, as Miss Bennet's brother, I will settle a generous dowry for her so you can start a life together."
"Darcy, I-"
"Richard, you know that I make more money than I know what to do with. Gigi's dowry and the investments I have made in her name are strong and plentiful. My own investments are five times what they once were. I have reinvested everything."
"Yes, Darcy, but I did not-"
"I know you are a proud man. I know you did not talk to me so that I would throw money at your problem, Richard. But you are my family. I believe there are some reasonably sized estates nearby where you could start a life with Miss Bennet… That is, if she accepts, of course."
"Of course," Richard blushed.
"Just so you are aware... I would still be willing to gift you an estate so you can make your own fortune whether you marry someone else, cousin. Just as long as you leave the military. I do not like those fits, and I am very disappointed that you have not told me about them."
"I… I know… I am sorry, Darcy… I just… It is embarrassing. I have no control over myself. When Miss Bennet said I was a panicked colonel, I felt like she had dumped the cold water on my head."
Darcy chuckled, "I am sure she meant it in a nice way."
"She did."
"Well, all that is left then is to talk to Miss Bennet."
"Oh…" Richard blushed.
"You did not think I would do that for you, did you?"
"No. It is just that... I am not Bingley… I am not charming."
"Word of advice?"
"Yes?"
"Whatever Charles would do… Do the opposite."
"Noted."
"Could you do me a favor, Richard?"
"Name it."
"Please check on Onyx and Zeus for me while I send some letters. Onyx's spur wounds are almost entirely healed, but I may have tired Zeus a bit too much."
"Of course, I will take care of them."
Darcy nodded.
"Darce…"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"Of course. After all you have done for Gigi and me, helping you get the life you deserve is the least I can do if it is within my possibilities, and, fortunately for you, it is."
Richard gave Darcy a tight hug and left toward the stables.
As soon as Mr. Bennet had been brought back inside, the doctor ordered him to go back to bed. According to Dr. Allen's instructions, Jane was currently stretching his fingers and wrists. Mr. Bennet complained. It hurt. Jane persevered and ignored all his comments about how she would not need to be playing nurse to him had she caught herself a husband. Jane ground her teeth and did not respond.
Her father delighted in making people uncomfortable. He did not care if they were in public or not. The more the object of his amusement squirmed and shrunk, the more relentless he became. The only way to get him off your back was to fight back. Jane was convinced that this was the reason why Lizzie was his favorite. Lizzie could never resist the temptation to strike back. After a particularly loud complaint, Jane stared into his eyes so hard that he stopped squirming.
"Take care, Father; I can call Mr. Darcy to come help you with this instead. You would not want to thread your fingers between his own… Lest you start finding him attractive."
"Jane!" He grunted angrily. He was shocked at the venom in her words.
"After all, you seem to think women are left and right falling for Mr. Darcy at the slightest provocation just because of his wealth…"
"There is not much else to like about him," he narrowed his eyes at her.
"That is blatantly untrue, and you know it… or you would if you ever bothered to talk to him without trying to hate him more."
"Did he charm you too, Jane?" Mr. Bennet coughed, then smirked. "I already offered you instead of Lizzie. A woman like you would fit in his circle a lot better, but he was not moved from your sister."
Jane took a deep, slow breath to try to calm down, but it was futile. "You offered me? Like I am bait? Like I am leftover goods?"
"Please drop the offended tone. You have been out since you were fifteen and are now twenty-two… What does that tell you?"
Jane dropped his hands harshly. He winced but did not say anything. She took the ointment and placed it over the bedside table. She closed her eyes and allowed all the wretched pain, disappointment, and humiliation to wash over her. Her eyes filled with tears she refused to shed.
"It tells me that I have an indolent, irresponsible, careless father to whom I applied for help getting a suitable match and who never made so much as one real attempt to help. I know Lizzie is your favorite child, and I do not blame you. But you have four other daughters. Considering the family's precarious financial situation and the entailment, I think marrying off at least one of us would help lower your costs."
Mr. Bennet was so shocked by her scathing reply that he could not help but stare at her with wide eyes. Jane had never addressed him in such a way.
"Since all we have to offer beyond our looks and feminine skills is 1,000 pounds, it seems to me that a man of your education would understand the importance of helping us navigate the marriage mart in which you dropped us with such a poor set of allurements. Perhaps I am an old maid, but that is partially your fault."
"M-My fault?! I introduced you to Mr. Bingley. You did not encourage his attention enough, and he left. That is on you."
"You know why I do not openly encourage men! Mr. Lucas broke my heart, and I was not looking forward to my hopes being thwarted again, but they were! Not once did you ask me how I felt! Not once did you care! You have never cared about me or my future because I was born a girl, not a boy, and I have been a disappointment to you ever since. I am sick and tired of you turning to me when you need someone malleable and obedient, largely ignoring me otherwise. Forget my request for help. I will figure it out on my own. I am an adult. When I find a match, I will not ask for your permission. I will only notify you that I am getting married so you can procure my dowry."
Mr. Bennet's face was red in fury, "I do not know what they have been feeding you here to make you think you can speak to me that way, but you are never to talk to me in that tone again! I am your father!"
"You do not get to pick and choose when you want to be a father. I am done!"
"Fine. Then, you will be done with me financially as well."
"What?!" Jane frowned.
"Let me disabuse you of your ignorance, Jane… Do you really think that an estate with five daughters wanting new dresses, bonnets, trims, shoes, and other frivolities has not exceeded our income for years?"
"No…" Jane paled, "You… You… YOU SPENT OUR DOWRIES!?"
"Not all of them. Yours and Mary's. It is not as if she is ever marrying, and we have wasted time and money on you. With your looks, we expected you to marry at twenty years old at the latest. You failed. Mary's dowry has been gone since before she was out, and what is left of yours is less than 200 pounds, so bear that in mind when trying to find a match."
"Who is next?" Jane spat.
"Kitty's… If I were to touch Lydia's, the rest of my life with your mother would be very unpleasant indeed."
"U-Unpleasant…" Jane felt her knees weaken, but her heart hardened. She walked to the door. Right before she left, she turned over her shoulder with the coldest tone anyone heard from her, "You are no father of mine. You are dead to me." She managed to keep her composure while she left the house and asked for a horse to be saddled for her. She put on Miss Darcy's riding clothes and left riding Hermes as hard as she could, a cloud of dust lifting behind her. She was so distracted that she did not see Colonel Fitzwilliam brushing Zeus, but he saw rivers of tears falling down her cheeks. As she took off, he rushed to follow in his horse.
Mrs. Bennet fled to the library after he once again yelled at her. Jane had wanted to go after her, but her mother insisted she saw her father instead. Lizzie thought she should return the book she loaned from the library. She walked to the corresponding shelf and heard sniffling from a darkened corner.
"Mama?"
"L-Lizzie,"
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing… I just… Your father is even less civil to me when sick."
"Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No, it will only make it worse."
"Would you like to move to a separate room?"
"I can ask Mr. Darcy if that is feasible."
"No, Lizzie. I do not want to harm your relationship with Mr. Darcy in any way."
"Mama, he will not mind."
"I am really glad you have found a good man," Mrs. Bennet patted her hand. "I thought all he had to recommend him was his money. But then he sat and talked to me for a long time. He was ever so kind and solicitous. He is very interested in you, Lizzie."
"So am I. He really is the best…"
"You love him, yes?"
"I do. I love him so much."
"I can tell he loves you too. It is in the way he looks at you. It is in how he speaks of you… How he cares for you… for us."
"And yet, papa seems to think I am only marrying him for his money."
"I tried to talk to him, Lizzie. I believe I made it worse."
"I think it would not have mattered. He is determined to hate Mr. Darcy," Lizzie looked down at the grounds through a window and saw Jane galloping away. It was not her usual spirited ride. She could tell her sister was not well.
"That does not matter. You will be of age soon, and he will have to accept it whether he wants to or not. Frankly, my dear, if I were you… and things get really bad, I would go to Gretna Green."
"Mama!" Lizzie blushed.
"I mean it… Was that Jane?"
"I think so… Is that Colonel Fitzwilliam? I will go find Mr. Darcy. Maybe something bad happened that we are not aware of…"
"What could it be? Jane was with your father."
"Oh no. He was in a spectacularly foul mood," Lizzie sighed as she rushed away.
"Lately, he is always in such a mood," Mrs. Bennet shrugged and sat down. She prayed that Jane would be alright. She would not go and ask Mr. Bennet what happened because she could not handle being yelled at again.
Colonel Fitzwilliam rode and rode hard after her. Miss Bennet seemed to be determined not to be caught up to. He was determined not to let her wander past property lines.
"Miss Bennet! Stop!"
Hermes and her impressively jumped over a wheelbarrow loaded with rocks. Richard had to swerve with his horse. She went on and jumped a fence. Richard prayed that Hermes was still afraid of crossing the river. Hermes slowed his speed as they neared it regardless of Miss Bennet's confused but insistent heel cues.
"Hermes! Why are you stopping?" She looked around them on the ground for a snake or anything dangerous but found nothing.
"Miss Bennet!"
She turned to leave, but he held onto Hermes' reins.
"Let go!" She yelled at him.
"I will, as soon as you tell me what got you crying like this and galloping as if the devil himself was chasing you."
"Sir, p-please! I want to be left a-alone!"
"Miss Bennet, I cannot leave you here alone. I am a gentleman. You are a damsel in distress, and-"
"I AM NOT IN DISTRESS! I AM SEETHING!" Jane roared. Her cheeks were as red as her eyes, and her hair was messed up by the wind.
Her rage shocked Richard so that he almost let go of the reins. Hell hath no fury indeed, he thought.
"I find that when I am seething, letting go of anger against the elements helps."
"What?!"
The colonel dismounted his horse, pulled them to a nearby tree by the reins, and tied them there.
"Come, Miss Bennet," he offered her his hand, and she dismounted angrily.
"Happy?"
"No. Come to this small pond in the river."
"Why?"
"Well, I do not recommend you punch tree trunks until you graduate from punching water…"
"What?"
"Yes, like this…" he went knee-deep, grimacing at the cold water, and started punching the water, making it splash around all over and soaking himself in the process. He stopped and saw Miss Bennet looking at him angrily but curiously. She exhaled loudly through her nose and approached him. She went into the water and started to imitate him. Except she was also screaming insults and growling at the water.
"You inconsiderate-"
Punch.
"Irresponsible!"
Punch.
"Self-serving!"
Punch.
"Monster!"
Punch.
"I hate you!"
Punch. Slap. The colonel had stopped his sympathy punches and frowned. Who had caused this level of distress?
"I hate you!"
Punch. Slap. Punch.
"You ruined my life!"
Jane punched the hardest here, and her fist went too deep. She hit the edge of a rock and yelled in pain, then proceeded to stomp on the rock with Miss Darcy's boots until she hurt her ankle as well, and she unceremoniously sat down on a larger rock, not caring if her riding clothes soaked through.
Richard crouched in front of her. Her hands were shaking, and blood was free-falling to the river. Richard pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her wound, ensuring it was snug. He brought her uninjured hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
"Miss Bennet, please… Let me help you. What happened? Who put you in this state?"
"I cannot speak of it, sir."
"You must. I am so concerned about you. Who do you hate? Who ruined your life, Miss Bennet?"
She sighed. Her eyes filled with fresh tears. She sniffed, "My father ruined my life… And that of my sisters and mother as well."
"I do not understand."
"I do not think I can explain… It hurts too much."
"Miss Bennet, please. You can be certain that I will not tell a soul. But this has you very affected. Telling someone may help."
Jane sobbed, "Can you promise not to treat me differently after I tell you?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because what my father did will change all our stations in life…"
The colonel frowned. "I promise… Let us talk in the orchard. There are comfortable benches there, and workers mean that we would not be alone..."
Jane nodded and took his arm after he loosened the reins from the tree.
"And now we have nothing… Or I should say… Some of us have nothing. Lydia and Lizzie are fine."
Richard was cradling his face with his hands. How could anyone be so… so…? He did not even have the right words. Darcy definitely would. Fuck.
"I should not be unkind. It is not their fault that they still have dowries. I suppose it is my fault for not having married yet. He essentially called me an old maid…"
Richard's face betrayed his disbelief and how insulted he was on her behalf, "Miss Bennet, I apologize if this is impertinent, but how old are you?"
"Twenty-two. I will turn twenty-three this year."
Richard wanted to punch Mr. Bennet... repeatedly. That was not a good way to start a relationship with a father-in-law. The more Jane had told him, the more he had uncharitable, unchristian thoughts that it would have been better if he died in his accident. The truth would have still been found out… but to hear such horrible things from his own lips…
"And now, my only hope is that Lizzie marries Mr. Darcy and wants to have me here to help her raise her children."
"What? Why?"
"I have been out since I was fifteen, sir… That is seven, almost eight years of failure to get married."
"So?"
"I am not a man, sir. The older I get, the less likely anyone will take an interest in me."
"You are twenty-two, Miss Bennet, not forty."
"Be that as it may… Before, I thought I had a dowry, albeit a small one. Now I have nothing."
The Colonel sighed. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth were walking their way with Miss Darcy after dismounting a phaeton. "I know the situation seems very dire and that you may not be at all inclined to do anything like this, but if I were to ask to court you, would you say yes?"
"What?!"
"I… I was going to ask you before you galloped away. I was in the stables, but you did not see me…"
"You cannot be serious."
"I am."
"After everything I just told you? I do not understand."
"Miss Bennet, everything I learn about you as a person makes me like you more. You are unlike any other woman I have ever met. I find myself looking forward to our conversations and our rides. You are a magnificent woman, and I would like a chance to further our acquaintance in that direction…"
Jane blinked in disbelief.
"I understand that my timing could not be worse. You do not have to respond right away. Think about it. We can talk about specifics tomorrow."
Jane blinked again but said nothing.
"Miss Bennet?"
"I would like to continue our conversation tomorrow," she blushed and looked down at her lap.
He smiled, "I look forward to it."
"Richard!" Miss Darcy rushed to them. "What happened? We were ever so worried about you two! Dear Lord, did you fall into the pond? You are both soaked!"
"Jane!" Lizzie wrapped a thick blanket around her as Darcy did the same to Richard.
"What is the meaning of this, Richard?"
"I… Do not be upset at him, I-" Jane began.
"Miss Bennet, please. No need to cover for me. I am a grown man. I was trying to show her a trick I learned on my horse. My horse did not like it, threw me into the pond, and Miss Bennet was kind enough to pull me out. Her foot slipped on one mossy rock, and when she tried to hold onto something, she gripped a sharp edge and cut her hand."
"Oh no! Richard! What were you thinking?! Come Miss Bennet we will have you warm in no time…" Miss Darcy rubbed her hands in between her own.
Jane was shocked. He had taken all the blame for her actions. She smiled shyly at him in gratitude, and Lizzie and Miss Darcy pulled her toward the nearby phaeton.
Richard made to follow them, but Darcy's iron grip on his elbow stopped him.
"Are you out of your senses?"
"Darcy… That is not what happened. What happened was not for me to tell Miss Elizabeth… let alone Georgi."
"What?"
"They will need to have a family meeting to discuss something Miss Bennet just discovered."
"What did she discover?"
"Darcy, I promised not to tell."
"Richard. That is my future wife's family. Tell. Me. Immediately."
The colonel took Darcy's handkerchief and put it in front of his mouth, "Bite this. You will yell and scare the ladies otherwise."
Darcy frowned but did as he was told. Richard had only ever told him that once before, and it was very warranted. He stuffed the piece of cloth in his mouth, grimacing at the sensation.
Richard pulled him closer and whispered in his ear. "Miss Bennet had a fight with Mr. Bennet. Apparently, he spent the dowries of two of his daughters and is on his way to spending a third one. Miss Mary's dowry was the first to be spent because he is convinced she will never marry. Miss Bennet's was the second one. There are less than two hundred pounds left… The next one will be Miss Catherine's. He does not seem to have touched Miss Elizabeth's or some Miss Lydia's yet, but… he probably will. One thousand pounds each can only go so far…."
Darcy was glad he had listened to Richard. He screamed in a rage until he was red in the face, and barely a sound made it out. When he tired, he pulled out the now soggy, crumpled cloth. "You know I am not a violent man… But right now, I could kill him with my bare hands."
"You and me both... I hope I do not see him. I actually am a violent man."
"Let us go. You two need to change. We will deal with this disaster tomorrow. My lawyer is arriving in the afternoon, and he can help us figure out what legal recourses they have."
"This is a nightmare, Darce."
"It is, but I will not be moved from Elizabeth."
"Nor I from Jane. She agreed to discuss the specifics of a courtship between us tomorrow."
"I am glad she agreed... Let us go before Gigi comes back to find us."