Truth about Mr. Darcy

come to ask me something particular about my Lizzy?”

“Yes, sir, I have, but I hesitate to tell you there appears to be a slight… impediment.” Darcy watched uneasily as Mr. Bennet’s eyebrows retreated into his hairline.

“An impediment, did you say? I do not suppose you would care to enlighten me, Mr. Darcy, by telling me precisely what this impediment is and why it should affect your making my daughter an offer of marriage this morning?”

“It is precisely that, Mr. Bennet. I have already made Miss Elizabeth an offer of marriage not more than a fortnight ago, and she has refused me. She has, however, granted her consent to allow me the privilege of courting her, and I now respectfully ask you for yours until such a time as I am able to persuade her to reconsider.”

Mr. Bennet leaned forward. “Let me rightly understand you, Mr. Darcy. You proposed to Elizabeth two weeks ago?”

“Yes.”

“And she has refused you?”

“Yes.”

“And, in spite of her refusal of your hand, she is willing to allow you to pay court to her in the meantime?”

“Yes.”

“Extraordinary!” Mr. Bennet steepled his fingers and sat silently in thought for several minutes before addressing Darcy with a stern look. “Can you give me one reason, after the display I witnessed at the Netherfield ball, why I should not force Elizabeth to accept you today, regardless of what her current wishes might be? Before you answer me, I will remind you that your conduct was not witnessed only by me, but also by her mother, her elder sister, her cousin, Mr. Bingley, and his family, and God only knows how many of our other well-intentioned, gossiping neighbors.”

“I do not wish for Miss Elizabeth to be forced to marry me. It is not what she wants, nor is it what I would wish for her.”

Elizabeth’s father was incredulous. “Not what she wants? Not what you would wish for her? That is not good enough for me, Mr. Darcy! Both of you should have been responsible enough to have taken the consequences of such actions into account before you chose to behave so in public! You can think whatever you like, sir, but it is obvious from what I saw that my daughter is far from averse to your attentions. As a matter of fact, she seems to favor you with an astonishing familiarity I cannot help but find disturbing under the circumstances. So I am sure that, in light of this pointed observation, neither of you will remain unhappy for very long after you have entered into matrimony as soon as possible.”

Darcy was at a loss. He knew not what to do nor how to convince this man he could not possibly marry his favorite daughter without her declaration of love. He soon realized, however, any further assurances of the vehemence of his love for Elizabeth and his desire for the preservation of her happiness and her wishes would not aid him in the least. He clearly needed another approach. Deep in thought, he ran the back of his hand across his lips. “Sir, may I speak plainly?”

Mr. Bennet sighed and nodded curtly.

Darcy strode to the window and back several times before he finally said, “I will marry Miss Elizabeth, you have my word, both as a gentleman and as the master of Pemberley, Mr. Bennet, but I do ask that you reconsider and indulge your daughter’s desire for a formal courtship. Announcing an impending wedding between us at this time would succeed only in adding fuel to any local gossip that may arise. However, should it, instead, become publicly known that there already exists between us a prior courtship—which there most certainly does—then, perhaps continuing in this vein for several months or so might be a better option than announcing an engagement. It will give Miss Elizabeth the time she desires to come to better know her heart, not to mention it will very likely provide ample time for any idle talk and speculation to die down, as well.”

Mr. Bennet glared at him as Darcy placed his hands upon the desk. “Mr. Bennet, because I am not unacquainted with the fervency of your attachment to your daughter and her very great affection for you, I must now ask you to consider whether forcing such a life-altering, permanent arrangement upon her in such a manner could truly prove to be beneficial. Miss Elizabeth will surely feel resentment toward both you and me over such a course of action. And I feel I need not point out that resentment is hardly an element that can be construed as conducive, either to marital felicity or to familial harmony. Forgive me, sir, but I find it very difficult to believe you would truly wish to force such an unwelcome fate upon your favorite daughter.”

Mr. Bennet observed Darcy in irritated silence. Touche, Mr. Darcy, he thought bitterly and with no little resentment of his own. As much as he hated to admit it, this arrogant young man had known precisely how to carry his point with him. No, Mr. Bennet would certainly not wish to be the one to cause his Lizzy any unhappiness in life. Indeed, bringing misery to his favorite daughter had always been something he had studiously avoided, although, with such a woman as Mrs. Bennet for a mother, sometimes some measure of misery could not be helped. Mr. Bennet thought long and hard about his own unequal marriage and ran his hand over his tired eyes. If Darcy’s conjectures are correct, then perhaps I might, even yet, be able to spare Lizzy this displeasure… if only for a little while longer.

Mr. Bennet had had enough dealings with Darcy to know he was an intelligent, honorable man, but that did not mean he was happy about this turn of events. Drumming his fingers upon his desk, he finally sighed in resignation. “Very well,” he grumbled.

Darcy exhaled and took a seat in one of the two chairs across the desk from Elizabeth’s father. “Thank you, sir.”

“Yes, well, what else can I say? I fear I am only too familiar with the consequences of marrying in haste. I would not wish that upon my Lizzy or her future children, not even with a man I know to be as honorable and intelligent as you. I yield to you, sir. Elizabeth shall have two months in which to become better acquainted with you, but I must caution you not to misinterpret my ruling, Mr. Darcy. Should any scandalous gossip result from your unguarded behavior, stemming either from the ball or from some future incident, I will be forced to take action and insist upon my daughter accepting you whether or not she has acquired the feelings you desire for her to have.”

Darcy extended his hand to Mr. Bennet, who clasped it firmly in his. It was at that moment that Mrs. Bennet burst into the room.

“Oh, Mr. Bennet! We are all in an uproar! You must come immediately and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins!”

Darcy visibly paled. “In God’s name, whatever for?” he demanded.

Mr. Bennet looked in astonishment, first at his guest, then at his wife. It was short-lived, however, as expectancy intervened. Without a doubt, the situation promised some unanticipated amusement for him, and he settled in comfortably. “Forgive me, Mrs. Bennet, but I do not have the pleasure of understanding you. To what are you referring?”

Mrs. Bennet was clearly exasperated. “To Mr. Collins and Lizzy! Lizzy has declared she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say he will not have Lizzy!”

“Thank God for that!” Darcy muttered under his breath and, with relief, fell back into his chair.

Mr. Bennet looked thoughtfully at his wife. “Let me rightly understand you, Mrs. Bennet. Am I correct it is your wish that Lizzy accept Mr. Collins?”

“Yes. I insist you make her marry him.”

“Very well.” Here, Mr. Bennet turned to Darcy. “I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, we seem to have stumbled upon yet another impediment, so to speak.” He enjoyed seeing the look of alarm that had transformed Darcy’s usual calm demeanor into one of absolute horror.

Darcy could hardly believe what he was hearing, his shock apparent as he protested loudly, “An impediment! Mr. Bennet, you cannot seriously be considering—?”

“For Heaven’s sake!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. “What does Mr. Darcy have to do with Mr. Collins and Lizzy?”

“Well, nothing with Mr. Collins, to be sure,” replied her husband evenly, “but, as I have just granted Mr. Darcy my consent to court Lizzy for the purpose of marriage, I would imagine he might have a few words he would like to interject on the subject.” Mr. Bennet looked back at his wife, quite pleased with himself.