Chapter 2
Library
Longbourn
Early
The library at Longbourn was a comfortable room, with tightly fitted windows and hundreds of books.
It was, at the moment, also warm thanks to the fire crackling in the grate.
Its lone occupant was grateful for the heat, though he wished he was still in his cozy bed above stairs.
Alas, he had been unable to sleep more than a few hours the previous night.
The catastrophic news that Elizabeth’s engagement was at an end had caused him to lie awake for hours, staring into the darkness.
At six o’clock, Bennet had decided that he would be somewhat happier in the library than in his bedchamber, so he had dressed and made his way downstairs, whereupon he had started the fire and picked up one of Shakespeare’s more cheerful plays.
He had not yet read a word, though.
He wondered whether there would be fires in Marshalsea to warm him.
He swallowed as a wave of nausea overwhelmed him. He was going to be locked up in debtors’ prison, far from his comfortable library and his books. Given the immense debt he owed to Mr. Stirling, he would probably die there.
Tears started in his eyes, and he hastily brushed them away. If only there was something he could do, something he could sell! But if he sold every book in the library, it would not be enough, and in any case, the books belonged to the estate, not to him, its current master.
The door to the library opened, and his butler entered.
“A Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam wish to see you, sir.”
Bennet turned an irritable look toward Mr. Hill. “Did they say what it was about?”
“They wished to speak of the unfortunate events at the assembly last night.”
Bennet scowled. One of these men must have been the idiot who had compromised Lizzy, resulting in the end of the engagement which would have saved Bennet from debtors’ prison.
“Bring them in,” he rasped.
“Yes, sir.”
The pair of gentlemen entered the room only two minutes later. Bennet was sufficiently depressed and exhausted, and yes, angry, that he did not bother to rise, but merely gestured toward two chairs near him.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” he said and even managed a sardonic smile as he continued. “I confess to being rather surprised at your arrival at such an early hour.”
“I felt it was necessary,” the taller of the gentlemen said. “Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr. Darcy, and this is my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“And I am Mr. Bennet, of course. Sit down and tell me how I may serve you.”
The two men obediently took seats across from the master of the house, with Mr. Darcy opposite Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam at his right.
“Mr. Bennet,” Darcy said, “I assume you are aware of a most unfortunate event at the assembly last night.”
Bennet suddenly could not bear to sit anymore.
He stood up, walked over to a brandy bottle, and poured himself a glass.
He considered asking his guests if they also wanted some, but he decided against it.
It was expensive brandy, and thanks to Mr. Darcy, he would soon be drinking foul water instead of expensive liquor.
“I am aware,” he said, turning toward his guests and taking a long sip of brandy.
“Because of the compromise, your second daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, was informed by her former betrothed that he was ending the engagement.”
This statement prompted Bennet to take another gulp of brandy, and he relished the burn.
“Yes,” he rasped.
Darcy looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam, who looked back and nodded once.
“Given that it was my clumsiness that resulted in this difficult situation,” Mr. Darcy said, “I wish to ask for the hand of your daughter Elizabeth in marriage, Mr. Bennet.”
Bennet had been pouring the remains of the alcohol down his throat, and this statement so surprised him that he choked and then coughed ten times in succession, causing his eyes to flood with tears.
When his vision cleared, he observed both men on their feet, looking concerned.
“Are you well, Mr. Bennet?” Darcy asked, his forehead creased.
“Yes, erm, yes, I am well enough, thank you,” Bennet said, tottering over his chair and lowering himself into the seat. “Please, do sit down again.”
They did, and Bennet stared at Darcy. He was young and very handsome, Mr. Darcy, and dressed finely, though not extravagantly. Since that he was Bingley’s friend, presumably he was a gentleman. Indeed, he must be a gentleman. That was something, at least.
“That is kind of you,” he said. His thoughts were moving sluggishly, which was no great surprise given the worry and lack of sleep, but it was kind, very much so, and honorable for Darcy to agree to marry Elizabeth for a mere accident.
“Very kind,” he repeated. He cleared his throat and said, “She has no fortune, you know. I do not know whether you are able to afford a wife without a dowry.”
Darcy leaned forward a little. “I can. My estate of Pemberley in Derbyshire is worth ten thousand pounds a year, so it is of no matter at all that Miss Elizabeth has no fortune.”
The breath seized in Mr. Bennet’s throat. Ten thousand pounds a year. Ten thousand pounds…
“I will, of course, settle a reasonable sum on Miss Elizabeth as my bride,” Darcy said.
Mr. Bennet actually pinched himself to make certain he was not dreaming. It seemed far too good to be true, that Lizzy had a new suitor, and one who was not old but young and good-looking and honorable.
“I accept your suggestion, Mr. Darcy, though of course Elizabeth will need to agree.”
“Naturally,” Darcy said with a nod, though his expression was confident.
Bennet was less confident. The only reason that Elizabeth had agreed to Mr. Stirling’s offer was because of the debt which would soon see Mr. Bennet in Marshalsea.
“Might I speak to Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy asked courteously, “or will she still be abed?”
Bennet hesitated. Elizabeth likely was still in bed, but she could be summoned by a maid. She always dressed quickly, but before she came down, Bennet probably needed to reveal the truth about the debt.
“I will call her shortly,” he said aloud, passing a hand over his face, “but before I do, I need to tell you some details about my circumstances.”
Darcy frowned and waited.
“I am in twelve thousand pounds of debt to Mr. Stirling, Elizabeth’s former betrothed,” Bennet said.
He glanced over to the brandy bottle but made the deliberate choice not to pour himself more.
He needed a clear head. “Stirling agreed to forgive the debt in return for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, but now that the engagement is at an end, I think it almost certain that he will have me imprisoned in Marshalsea. ”
Silence fell for a full minute. Bennet found, to his shame, that his eyes were filled with tears again. He was not a brave man, not at all, and he was terrified.
“Where did the debt come from?” Colonel Fitzwilliam finally asked.
Bennet lifted an arm to surreptitiously wipe his eyes and then turned toward the younger men.
“My younger brother, dead almost ten years now, incurred the debt. He was a gambler and a spendthrift, and when he got into so much trouble that the debtors’ prison was the only possibility, I borrowed money to save him. ”
“Why did you not pay it off in the last decade?” Darcy asked.
Bennet shook his head sadly. “Because I was a fool. I have only been paying the interest and a tiny amount of principal every year. You see, my wife likes to spend money, and I have a large family. The company holding the debt did not pressure me to increase my payments, and I more or less ignored the dangers. Then Mr. Stirling acquired the debt and informed me that he was calling it in. I spend every penny of Longbourn’s income, and I could not find anyone else to borrow the money from to pay off Stirling.
I thought I was destined for Marshalsea until Stirling agreed to forgive the debt in return for marrying Elizabeth. ”
Silence fell again, and then Darcy said, “If what you tell me is true, I will pay the debt, sir.”
He turned, and stared, and felt his jaw drop.
“You will?” he whispered.
“Yes,” Darcy said, straightening his back, “though I hope you understand that I wish to look over the situation before doing so. That is to say, I am pleased to pay off a debt left by a dead relation, but if you are lying to me and the debt is from your own foolish behavior, well, I have no intention of rescuing a fool.”
Bennet’s eyes were filled again, but now the tears were ones of relief and shocked gratitude.
“I have no fears on that score,” he said. “I confess I do not know what to say, Mr. Darcy, except thank you.”
Darcy nodded. “Of course. Now, perhaps I can speak to Miss Elizabeth?”
Bennet hesitated and then said, “In thinking it over, sir, I believe it would be a kindness if you would allow me to explain the situation to Elizabeth first. She has, along with her mother and sisters, been extremely anxious about my possible fate in Marshalsea. I will tell her of our meeting, and then perhaps you could come back later? That is, I do not wish to look a gift horse in the mouth, so if you insist on speaking to my daughter immediately, of course I will…”
“I will wait,” Darcy said, rising to his feet, and his cousin stood up as well. “Please send me a message when Miss Elizabeth is available to speak of our wedding.”
“I will,” Bennet said, standing up and holding out his hand. “I must thank you most profoundly. You are a very honorable man.”
“You are welcome,” Darcy said, shaking the proffered hand heartily.
Bennet escorted the pair to the front door and bid them farewell, and then he retreated to the library again.
By the very grace of God, and the generosity of Fitzwilliam Darcy, he was saved from Marshalsea.
He was saved.
***
Library
Longbourn
Two Hours Later
Elizabeth stared at her father, her eyes narrowed. “Mr. Darcy will pay off the debt?”
Mr. Bennet regarded his second daughter with a mixture of shame and confidence.
On the one hand, he knew that this entire situation was unfair to his Lizzy.
She had not asked to be Mr. Stirling’s choice of bride.
She had not wished to be compromised by Mr. Darcy at the assembly.
And now, she was being asked, once again, to marry an unknown man, and one who had also insulted her the previous evening.
“Yes,” he said simply. He shook his head and said, “I know it is not fair to you, my dear, not at all, but given the situation…”
“I will marry Mr. Darcy,” she interrupted. “I will marry him, Father.”
He stood up now, walked over to her, and bent down to plant a kiss on her dark head. “Thank you, my dear. I know it is a sacrifice, but you are saving us all, you know.”
She looked up at him, and there were tears in her eyes. “I understand, Father. And truly, I prefer Mr. Darcy to Mr. Stirling more than you could know.”
This was, Bennet reflected, no great surprise.
Stirling was only a year younger than Bennet himself, so far too old for Elizabeth.
Moreover, Mr. Darcy was very handsome and wealthy.
Of course, the man had also insulted Elizabeth’s looks, which boded ill, but given Mr. Darcy’s honor in offering for her hand and promise to take care of the debt, well, Bennet hoped and prayed that he would be a decent husband.