Darcy made an attempt at a smile, however difficult it was for him to produce one. “I…” Darcy’s heart raced as he searched for the right words. “I seem to have found myself in possession of a strong love and admiration for her, sir. Very strong.”
Elizabeth could not meet her father’s eyes. Darcy’s words, admitting his love for her to her father, made her heart swell, and she stole a glance at her father to behold his response.
Mr. Bennet stood up and alternated glances between the two. “You have piqued my curiosity, Mr. Darcy. I do not know whether I have a greater desire for you to pursue this line of conversation about my second eldest daughter or ask what you know of Wickham and my youngest daughter. But I shall leave it to you to continue.”
“Thank you, sir. If I may, I should prefer to begin with Wickham. We grew up together as boys as his father was my father’s steward. As he grew into adulthood, I saw him embrace some excessively improper behaviour and disagreeable habits.”
Darcy paused, wondering whether to mention Wickham’s deceitful scheme involving his sister, but when Mr. Bennet seemed to accept his words without question, he determined that revealing those painful circumstances was presently unnecessary.
“He had indicated an interest in being a clergyman, and before his early death my father secured a living for him. Wickham then refused the living, settling instead for a large sum of money. The greater part of that money was gambled away or wasted on reckless living.”
“Go on.”
“Unfortunately he is not a man to be trusted. He has lived his life trying to secure a fortune for himself doing as little as possible. He gambles, cheats, steals, extorts… does everything with purely selfish motives.”
“Your words do not instill in me any confidence that he is either suitable for my daughter or intent on marrying her. As I said before, I do not believe he is going to marry her! And from what you have said, I cannot see why you believe he will!”
“Because, Mr. Bennet, Wickham knows that by marrying Lydia, he is marrying into a family connection with a substantial amount of wealth.”
Mr. Bennet looked at him oddly. “You refer to Jane’s marriage to Mr. Bingley? Come, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley may have a good fortune, but certainly not enough to induce this type of man into marriage!”
“You are quite right in your assessment of what will induce Wickham, and no, it is not Bingley’s fortune.”
“Then whose fortune do you mean? Certainly you are not blind! Our family’s fortune could not elicit that type of inducement!”
Darcy came over to the desk, in front of Mr. Bennet, and stretched both hands out, planting them firmly on the desk.
“My fortune, Mr. Bennet.”
“Yours?” Mr. Bennet looked at him with bewilderment and promptly sat down.
“I told you that I have a strong… very strong admiration for your daughter.”
“Yes, and what exactly are you trying to tell me?” Mr. Bennet found himself struggling to maintain a steady demeanour. Glancing at Elizabeth and then back to Darcy, he asked, “Or is there something you would prefer to ask me?”
“With all due respect, sir, I wish I could have the honour of asking you what ought to be your due. But unfortunately, I cannot.”
Mr. Bennet eyed him suspiciously. “I do not take your meaning, Mr. Darcy. I repeat, sir, just what, exactly, are you trying to tell me?”
Darcy took a deep breath before answering. “Elizabeth and I are married, sir.”
Mr. Bennet narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. He tried to grasp the words he just heard, determining if he could have somehow misunderstood the words. Slowly, and most deliberately, he spoke. “Excuse me, Mr. Darcy, but I believe you just said that you and my daughter are married.”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
Mr. Bennet slowly stood up from his chair, bringing himself to eye level with Darcy. Elizabeth bolted from her chair, reaching out to her father in an attempt to calm him. “Lizzy? You married my Lizzy?” The indignation in his voice could not be mistaken.
“Papa, please…”
Darcy nodded, bracing himself for the anger he heard in Mr. Bennet’s voice and saw rising in his face.
Mr. Bennet pounded a fist down upon the desk. “How dare you come here and tell me that you and Lizzy are married! How can this be?”
“Mr. Bennet, if you will only allow me to explain!”
“Explain? Explain? What sort of explanation can there be?” He turned away, pulling a handkerchief out and wiping his brow. “My Lizzy!” Turning to his daughter, he cried, “All I ever wanted was your happiness, and now I discover you have married this man, whom I hardly know, without even informing me! Without ever asking for my consent?”
He turned back abruptly at Darcy, pointing his finger at him. “All right, young man, but it had better be an explanation that is to my satisfaction!”
“Sir,” beads of perspiration began to form on Darcy’s brow as he struggled to maintain his composure. “We were on the ship together going to America. Down in steerage, where Eliza… Miss Elizabeth was staying, they had doubled up the children in beds. When sickness broke out, Elizabeth charitably gave up her bed to a child and subsequently was left to sleep on the floor. She then took ill, herself. I had the only available bed on the ship so we had the captain marry us so she could sleep in that bed without any semblance of impropriety. We agreed that I would annul the marriage when I returned to England.”
“You agreed to enter the holy state of matrimony… on a ship… only to have it later annulled?” He slammed his fist on the desk. “I find it easier to understand Lydia running off as she did than what you just told me Elizabeth agreed to!”
“I was ill, Papa…”
His eyes glared at Darcy. “So you took advantage of my Lizzy when she was ill?”
“Sir, I never…” Darcy paused and turned to his wife. “Perhaps you had best leave while your father and I continue this conversation.”
“But…”
“Please,” Darcy’s eyes implored her.
“I shall be just outside the door.” Elizabeth gave pleading looks to both her husband and father before turning toward the door.
The two men watched as she exited and closed the door behind her. Darcy turned back to Mr. Bennet. The look in the older gentleman’s eyes and expression on his face were certainly not lost to Darcy’s understanding. He was angry, and Darcy regretted that his anger was compounded against him due to Lydia’s indiscretion. The possibility that Elizabeth had acted imprudently was overwhelming him. “Sir, I hope you will believe me when I say that I have behaved only in an honourable manner toward your daughter.”
Mr. Bennet was taken aback by this. “You expect me to believe that you spent all that time together in the same room and she remains as virtuous as when I escorted her onto the ship?”
Darcy felt all the approbation of her father weighed upon his answer. “Yes, sir.” Darcy closed his eyes as he fought off the imposing awkwardness that this discussion was creating within him. “I give you my word, sir.” Darcy managed to take in a few breaths to bolster his resolve. He continued, “Mr. Bennet, our marriage initially was one of convenience. However, while on the ship, I grew to love and admire your daughter but, regrettably, did not openly confess it due to my belief that she wished the marriage to be annulled. When we met again at Netherfield, I was delighted to discover that she returned my regard and, like myself, desired to keep our marriage intact. I want to assure you that our love for each other is strong and we desire nothing less than being able to openly acknowledge our marriage. I appeal to you, sir. We will do whatever you wish for us. Although I cannot ask for your permission to marry your daughter, I respect her beyond measure and would not wish to compromise her reputation without securing your blessing upon our marriage.” He held his breath, waiting for Mr. Bennet’s response.