Chapter 12
Before leaving Longbourn that day, Darcy sought out Mr. Bennet in his bookroom.
“Mr. Darcy,” said the older man. “I thought you would be too busy courting my daughter to have much time for me.”
“It is about your daughter that I wish to consult with you.”
“Of course. Of course,” said Mr. Bennet. “Is there a problem with your courtship?”
“I cannot say at the moment,” said Darcy. “Whatever Miss Elizabeth is feeling, she has done an excellent job of keeping it to herself. No, I have come to speak with you about Mrs. Bennet.”
Mr. Bennet waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. “I cannot help you there. Mrs. Bennet will be Mrs. Bennet no matter what I say or do.”
Despite this discouraging remark, Darcy pressed on.
“Miss Elizabeth informed me that if she decides against me, she is concerned about her mother’s constant criticisms for years to come.
For a moment, when she explained this, I was afraid she would tell me to leave her alone.
However, she agreed that I could continue to call as long as you and I explained to Mrs. Bennet that she would be taken care of in the event of your death even if none of your daughters ever weds. ”
“Did you tell Elizabeth about our deal?” asked Mr. Bennet.
“No. I told her that she, her mother, and her sisters would be taken care of regardless of her decision, but I could not tell her how I knew such a thing. I believe my determination to allow her to make her own decision has softened her opinion of me significantly, though of course that was not my purpose in telling her.”
“So, somehow, without telling her why, you and I will have to convince Mrs. Bennet that she will be safe and comfortable even if I die next year,” said Mr. Bennet. “That sounds easy enough.” The note of sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.
“Perhaps you could tell her that you have come into a fortune unexpectedly, and you will be setting it aside for her,” said Darcy. “It is not the whole story, but it explains enough that it might set her mind at ease.”
“Her worry would be replaced by curiosity as to where it came from,” said Bennet. “I would still get no peace.”
“Would it help if you explained that you can give her the details in the new year?” asked Darcy. “After all, our contract is only valid until the twenty-seventh. After that, either Miss Elizabeth will be engaged to me or I will be gone, allowing you to explain how your wife will be taken care of.”
Mr. Bennet paused in thought. “I suppose that would work well enough to satisfy Elizabeth,” he said, “without causing me too much trouble.”
“Well, then. Would you prefer to discuss this with her now or when I come visit tomorrow?” asked Darcy.
Mr. Bennet sighed. “I suppose it is better to get this over with. I would rather not have it weighing on my mind for the next twenty-four hours.” He got up and went to fetch his wife.
Only a minute later Mr. and Mrs. Bennet returned together.
Once everyone was settled, Mr. Bennet said, “Mr. Darcy and I have some news for you as well as a request. I shall start with the request.” He looked to Mr. Darcy to continue.
Darcy said, “As you may have surmised, I am courting Miss Elizabeth with the intention of convincing her to marry me.”
Before he continued, Mrs. Bennet jumped up and clapped her hands together.
“Oh! I knew it. I just knew it. You coming here every day for a week, and practically the only one you speak to is Elizabeth. I wasn’t certain at first, you know.
After all, you didn’t seem to like her very much when you first met her, calling her merely tolerable and hinting that there must be something wrong with her if she was not dancing.
“However, I was almost certain you had changed your mind, though I don’t exactly know why.
She is certainly not as pretty as Jane or as lively as Lydia.
But I haven’t reached my age without realizing that every man has his own preferences.
Now, I am certain Elizabeth can be persuaded to accept your hand.
You need not worry on that front. She is as good as yours. ”
Though Mrs. Bennet’s flow of words showed no sign of stopping, Darcy felt a need to interrupt at this point. “That is precisely what I wish to avoid, Madam,” he managed to say.
“I don’t understand, Mr. Darcy,” she said, as an expression of genuine confusion spread over her face.
“Why would you wish to court her but not wish her to accept? It makes no sense.” Then her expression shifted to annoyance and anger.
“Unless you are being dishonorable. I assure you, Mr. Darcy, that all my girls are too good to fall for that sort of thing, even if you are as rich as Croesus.”
Darcy tried to get control of the conversation. He looked to Mr. Bennet for help, but that gentleman simply smiled slightly mockingly.
“No, Madam, I assure you, I am not being dishonorable,” said Darcy. “I truly wish to marry your daughter. However, what I object to is the idea of her being persuaded to accept me against her will. I only wish her to marry me if she truly wants to.”
“Well, that is an odd way to go about it,” said Mrs. Bennet. “But rest assured. If that is what you wish, I shall make certain Elizabeth sees reason enough to want to marry you.”
“Mrs. Bennet,” Darcy said sternly, “I beg you not to attempt to persuade Miss Elizabeth in any way whatsoever. If there is any convincing to do, I will do it.”
“But…” she said.
“Peace, Mrs. Bennet,” said Mr. Bennet. “I know you are concerned for your future. You see a wealthy young man interested in one of you daughters, and you cannot let him slip away, especially after Mr. Bingley left Jane in such a way not so long ago. However, you must see that Mr. Darcy wishes to court Elizabeth, not you. You must stay out of it.”
“But…” she tried to say again.
“I will add,” said Mr. Bennet, “that you need no longer fear for your future. No matter what happens, you will have fifteen thousand pounds to support yourself and any remaining daughters in the event of my passing. And if that is far enough in the future, that amount may be significantly more.”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes grew wide. “Mr. Bennet, where did you come by such a sum? My jointure is only five thousand. How did you increase it so quickly?”
“I cannot tell you that at the moment, though I will have more information for you next year,” he said. “Nevertheless, I swear on my own mother’s grave that it is true. Since your own future is secure, you must give Elizabeth the freedom to decide on her future.”
“Is that why you allowed Elizabeth to decline Mr. Collins even though you promised you would force her to accept him?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“Yes, that is it exactly,” said Mr. Bennet. “Since I could not tell you where your new fortune came from, I did not explain at the time. Now, however, since it seems as though you are heading down the same incorrect path once again, I find it necessary to intervene.”
“So, you wish me to not say anything on the subject?” asked Mrs. Bennet. “Am I supposed to just sit back and pretend that nothing is happening right under my very nose?”
“That is exactly what you are supposed to do,” said Mr. Bennet. “Let Elizabeth make her own decision.”
Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth as if to say something, but she closed it again without uttering a word.
It was as if she was attempting to understand a very confusing concept.
Darcy supposed that wasn’t far from the truth.
The lady didn’t seem to understand the idea that she was not the center of her daughters’ lives.
“Let me also be rightly understood,” said Mr. Bennet. “If Elizabeth declines Mr. Darcy’s proposal when he does make it, you are not to say a single word about it. You will not complain for days, weeks, or years on end about how Elizabeth could have saved you all if she had only accepted him.”
“I don’t understand,” said Mrs. Bennet. “You want me to ignore their courtship. Then if it doesn’t go to plan simply because Lizzy is stubborn and hardheaded, you want me to refrain from correcting her? Isn’t it the role of a mother to teach her daughters how to behave?”
Mr. Darcy decided to intervene. “Mrs. Bennet, it is clear to me that you love your daughters and want what is best for them. You are an excellent mother in that way. However, if Elizabeth thought that you would berate her for years on end should she decide against me, she would not even give me a chance to change her mind. She would send me on my way simply to prevent you from having the chance to berate her.”
Mrs. Bennet looked confused again. “I don’t understand,” she said.
Mr. Bennet took up the explanation. “You know how you have treated Elizabeth ever since she declined Mr. Collins’ proposal, berating her multiple times every day and blaming her for every little discomfort and nervous fit you experience.
Do you expect her to be willing to risk the possibility that such treatment will last for years on end?
“She has told Mr. Darcy directly that if you cannot promise to allow her freedom of choice, she will no longer allow him to court her. Therefore, Mrs. Bennet, I must have your solemn promise that, no matter what nervous fits you might suffer, you will stay out of this both now and in whatever future comes to pass.”
Mrs. Bennet looked back and forth between the gentlemen. “Are you absolutely certain, even if none of my girls ever get married, that we will all be provided for?”
“I am certain,” said Mr. Bennet.
“Then I will leave well enough alone,” said Mrs. Bennet. “I promise.” She turned to Mr. Darcy. “I do hope you can convince Lizzy, though. I know it sounds as if I am being mercenary, but I don’t think Elizabeth will be happy without some attention to fortune.”
“I will do my best, Madam,” said Darcy with a bow. “It is my dearest wish that Miss Elizabeth be as happy as she can be for all her days.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said.
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