Chapter Twenty-Two
Elizabeth accompanied her daughter to her room and saw her settled with Clara assigned to watch over her, then returned to the study.
William stood at the window in an attitude that she had observed many times during their marriage.
It usually meant he was working through some complex problem. She closed the door behind her.
"What did you say to him?"
William turned. "Good morning to you too, my love."
"I have already had a good morning. I drank two cups of excellent coffee, ate a hot roll and discovered that my eldest daughter remains alive and contained within the house despite making it her personal mission to place herself in danger at every turn.
Then, just as I was considering a walk for pleasure, rather than to scour the locale for one of our missing children, I find you two arguing in the hall like fishwives.
I noted the good captain left very quickly after your interview.
So I ask again, what did you say to him? "
Darcy's shoulders dropped a little. "Nothing that any father would not have asked."
"William."
He sighed and turned back to the window. "I asked him about his intentions. I asked what his position with the Customs service involved and what he intended to do now this investigation was at an end. I asked about his family and his circumstances."
"And his fortune."
"Yes, Elizabeth, his fortune. Our daughter will inherit one of the largest estates in Derbyshire. I hardly think it unreasonable to enquire whether the man we found kissing her in the street has a sixpence to his name."
She went to him then and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her cheek against the planes of his back. She felt him stiffen and then soften beneath her arms. "William, you dear man, you do remember the circumstances of our own connection?"
"Of course I do," he grumbled. "And if I did not, our daughter has harped on about them at some length. I know, I know. I am a hypocrite. But is it not usual for a father to want the very best for his children, Elizabeth?"
She rubbed slow circles against his rib cage.
"It is very usual, but we will have achieved nothing and learnt nothing from this whole escapade if we think that trying to contain our daughter more closely will bring a resolution to the whole business.
The tighter we constrain her, the harder she will press against it, and I would not be at all surprised if I woke one morning and found her gone again.
Frankly, that is not acceptable. I cannot go through that again.
I cannot watch you go through that again.
Would it not be wise to take a gentler approach? "
He turned in her arms and gathered her to him, causing her to chuckle a little as he sat in the desk chair and brought her with him so that she was cradled in his lap. He rested his cheek against her hair and let out a long sigh.
"What should I do? Have the marriage settlement drawn up?
They have known each other but a few days and we know almost nothing about him.
He said he has a nest egg and can keep her in moderate comfort until she comes into her inheritance.
What does that mean? Will she be living in some little house on the dockside where she spends her days scrubbing floors? I cannot see her in that life."
"You are catastrophising, my dear. He appears to be a gentleman and he has proved himself to be of good character. I have spoken to Lydia and he is very well respected in the neighbourhood."
"Good character?" her husband exclaimed, almost causing her to fall from his lap before he gathered her close once more.
When he spoke again his voice was lower.
"He took liberties with our daughter in broad daylight and we have absolutely no idea what happened when they were confined together.
And a reference from Lydia of all people.
I hardly think that speaks of good character. "
"You have kissed me on many a public path, my love."
"Yes, but only once we were engaged or married. And in any event, it was always a quiet country path and I checked that no one was about," he grumbled.
She chuckled at him. "I think we should come to know the gentleman better.
They do not have to marry tomorrow. They do not have to marry at all, and perhaps once the shock of everything that has happened has worn off, they will discover that they are not suited.
But it is hardly as though we cannot afford to set them up in some comfort if it came to that. Or he could live at Pemberley."
"How have we jumped to him living at Pemberley?" William said with a great huff of breath.
"We have not. I am merely saying that we are in the privileged position of being able to ease the way for our daughters, and I very much doubt you would ever place Bella in circumstances in which she had to scrub the floor.
We cannot protect her from the world, William, or indeed from her own heart.
Do you remember what happened when we both tried to deny and hide our own feelings? "
"We were miserable."
"We were. And I would not have that for her. I am not saying he is the man she will marry, but there is clearly a connection between them, and he did save her life. That must count for something."
"Why do you always have to be so wise and reasonable? It is very vexing, my love."
She took his face in her hands and kissed him softly.
"I live to vex you, my love. And you look so very handsome when you are cross.
" She ran a gentle finger over the furrow that had formed between his brows, then kissed it lightly.
"Now let me talk to Bella, and you may have an apology to make to the good captain. "