Chapter 11 #2
Bennet assessed him carefully. “Aye. My family learned the hard way. Who knows what might have happened if my father had extended our magical borders beyond our private rooms? Robespierre knew what had to be done to succeed in his evil quest. I must admit, I’d not laid a protective spell on Longbourn.
England seems peaceful enough, but the world is changing at a frantic pace and common decency is becoming a rare commodity.
” He shifted in his chair and faced Darcy again. “Why the protective spell?”
Richard and Darcy exchanged glances.
“I needed to protect Elizabeth from Mr. Wickham.”
“Mr. Wickham!” Bennet straightened in his seat. “Is he Miatharan as well?”
“No, but he is a practitioner of the dark arts and hates me with a passion.” Darcy grimaced thinking of how Wickham’s quest for revenge nearly succeeded with Georgiana. “I worried he might discover my regard for your daughter and turn his anger toward her in an effort to hurt me.”
“Mr. Darcy, I can say this with the utmost confidence, no one in Meryton believes you hold my second eldest daughter in high regard. In fact, you do not hold any of the Bennet family in high esteem.” He held Darcy’s gaze. “Please correct me if I’m wrong.”
“You are not wrong - Please hear me out - You also not correct.”
“Enlighten me.”
“I love Elizabeth and have from the first night I saw her in Meryton?”
Bennet snorted.
“He did.” Richard interjected. “Although at the time I did not know which lady caught his attention, he clearly told me to watch Wickham because of his fear she’d be harmed.”
“Very well,” Bennet huffed. “You were entranced by Lizzy.”
“I also greatly admire your eldest daughter, Miss Bennet and have told Bingley to marry her as fast as humanly possible.” His shoulders relaxed somewhat as Bennet nodded in agreement.
“In fact, Bingley is here in London to release his sister’s dowry to her own management and secure a ring so that he may propose when he returns to Netherfield Park. ”
“Well, that ties things all up in a bright package, doesn’t it?” Bennet smirked at both men’s discomfort. “You admire my eldest daughters and despise the rest of us. Won’t this make for merry times when the families gather for all sorts of festivities and christenings.”
“Sir, you are deliberately misunderstanding me - much like your daughter, I might add.”
“You do know my daughter well,” Bennet barked out a short, hard laugh. “I’m glad to know my little Lizzy doesn’t give you any quarter. If you earn her regard, she’ll be a fierce partner in life.”
“I believe I have earned her regard. We had a productive conversation when she first arrived.”
He needn’t add the conversation quickly devolved into passionate love making.
No father wanted to hear how his little girl was deflowered outside the bonds of matrimony.
In fact, if he and Elizabeth had daughters, he might construct a high tower and only allow them out for family meals.
His mind stuttered to a stop. If he and Elizabeth had daughters.
She might, at this very moment, be carrying their child.
It was imperative they marry immediately.
“Mr. Bennet,” he began, “I request the honor of marrying your daughter Elizabeth. I can have my lawyers draw up a settlement and bring it to Longbourn in two days time.”
“You know I can’t refuse as Lizzy is your soul mate.
” Bennet smiled at an amusing thought, “Mrs. Bennet will be wild about this. Prepare yourself for a multitude of effusions and vapors. She’ll demand an engagement of at least six months to order all the lace and fripperies she deems necessary for a successful marriage ceremony.
In fact, bring Mr. Bingley along for the ride.
You can have a double ceremony with him and Jane. ”
Darcy lowered his glass. What he had to say was going to be difficult, but necessary.
“I believe I should marry Elizabeth immediately.”
“Is there a reason for the rush, other than your soul mark?” Mr. Bennet placed his glass on the small table between them, a dark fury crossing his face.
“Yes, I’ve been hopelessly compromised and we should marry tomorrow, at the latest,” came a melodious voice from the doorway.
“Elizabeth?”
“Lizzy?”
“Miss Bennet?”
All three men spoke at once and swiveled to find Elizabeth framed within the door, fully dressed, her hair looking as though she was ready for morning tea.
~~oo0oo~~
Mr. Bennet was the first to react. He rose to his feet, crossed over to his daughter and gathered her in a tight hug.
You are well, Lizzy? He didn’t force you? You know how these great men?
No, Papa, he didn’t force me. Mr. Darcy is an honorable man.
“You have no idea how frightened I was, daughter, when I saw you shimmer out of sight and knew not where you’d gone.”
“You saw?”
“How could I miss you from my window. You stomped back and forth several times and then - poof! - you disappeared in a glorious sparkle of light. I’d never seen the like.”
“Papa, how you exaggerate. Surely you’ve seen other Miatharan’s transport before.”
“Aye, but never with great flashes of silver lighting up the night air. If it hadn’t been so frightening, I would have said it was beautiful.”
Darcy watched father and daughter discuss her transporting and remembered that when in high emotion, Elizabeth’s eyes displayed shards of silver around the pupils.
Although he’d never heard of such a phenomenon before, he knew all of this was connected to her magic.
She was, indeed, a rare bird for lack of a better description.
Bennet led Elizabeth to the fireplace. Darcy vacated his chair, allowing Elizabeth to sit and Mr. Bennet reclaimed his previous seat. Darcy moved to stand beside Richard.
“How did you know where to find me, Papa?”
“I know Colonel Fitzwilliam is the Earl of Matlock’s son, which is why I’ve been avoiding most of the local entertainments these past few months.
I’d met the Colonel when he was a young lad and did not want him remembering who or what I am.
When you disappeared, he was the only person I could ask for help.
” He gave Richard a polite nod of acknowledgment.
“We were discussing where you could have gone when Mr. Darcy reached out to the Colonel and we transported here immediately.”
“I am glad you are here, Papa. I’ve tried to return to Longbourn, but cannot.”
“Hmmm...,” was all her father said. He walked a few feet away before turning back to face her. “What were you thinking before you transported here?”
“I...,” she blushed deep red and couldn’t look at Fitzwilliam. “I was quite angry with Mr. Darcy, thinking he’d driven Mr. Bingley away from Jane.”
Bennet nodded his head as she spoke. “This is common. You don’t have enough experience with your powers yet to fully transport on demand. Your anger must have been a sight to behold if it dropped you right into Mr. Darcy’s house when you had no idea where he lived.”
“We were both surprised, Papa. I have since tempered my anger and have been assured by Mr. Darcy that he had in fact encouraged Mr. Bingley to pursue Jane.”
“I would say that if you have been compromised, you anger most definitely has been tempered, although I might have wished you’d held onto it, and other things, a bit longer.”
Elizabeth flushed deep red at her father’s censure. Fitzwilliam felt obliged to step in and make amends.
“I will apply for a Special License in the morning, the Archbishop owes my family a few favors, and we can marry tomorrow afternoon?”
“Not so fast, Mr. Darcy.” Bennet held up his hand.
“I’ve given permission but this will not be a rushed affair regardless of how you’ve comported yourself this evening.
” He shot angry looks at both him and Elizabeth.
“We shall post the banns and you will marry from Longbourn chapel in front of friends and family and if a blessed event occurs prior to the requisite nine months... well, you won’t be the first couple who anticipated their vows.
You will have an abbreviated courtship and keep the gossip down to a low murmur. ”
“Papa! I’m not afraid to stand up to the gossips. My courage always rises whenever someone tries to subvert it.”
“I may not be able to undo what has transpired tonight, daughter, but I will have you behave in a more virtuous manner from now on. I have three more daughters to marry off. There will be no more unexpected dalliances.”
“Yes, Papa,” Elizabeth meekly said.
“Mr. Bennet,” Fitzwilliam spoke up, then hesitated and looked toward Richard. Lizzy knew they were communicating. Richard nodded and Fitzwilliam continued. “I don’t believe we should post the banns?”
“You, sir, are not yet her husband and I can still refuse permission!”
“Sir! I have a valid reason for not wanting the banns read and it is for the very safety of your daughter that I ask for this concession.”
Lizzy watched in horror as the two men she loved most in the world raised their voices in anger. Papa she understood, but why was Fitzwilliam balking at reading the banns?
“Mr. Bennet,” Richard intervened as the voice of reason. “We believe your daughter’s life would be endangered if it was made public that she was engaged to Darcy.”
“Wouldn’t her life be equally endangered after they’re married as well.”
“Well...” Richard ran a hand around his neck in frustration and looked to Darcy.
“I can see that I must explain my reasons more fully. Please have a seat, this could take some time,” Fitzwilliam said and waited for them to resume their seats.