Chapter 17
Matthew Andrews de la Garza travelled to Longbourn, reflecting upon how much his life had changed in such a short time.
Ever since he met Jane, he had known both constant joy and unease.
Joy because he had fallen in love with such a wonderful woman; unease because of the uncertainty of the future, especially now that his mother's family was pursuing him.
He knew that his father and sister were right and that he ought to tell Jane everything.
But how could he do so without revealing his greatest secret?
How could he tell the woman he loved that she was about to marry a man who still had not overcome the trauma of his childhood without making her believe that there was something wrong with him?
He would feel more at ease if he told her everything after they were married. He did not wish to burden Jane with such worries. He knew there would be time enough to tell her his story. For the present, he wished only to enjoy the happiness of being with the only woman he had ever loved.
Matthew had fallen asleep, but about a mile before reaching Longbourn, he awoke to the sound of people talking and laughing.
Leaning out of the carriage window, he saw a young lady chatting animatedly with an officer much older than herself.
The moment they noticed the carriage, they both attempted to compose themselves and behave more decorously.
Matthew had never understood men who sought the company of girls so much younger than themselves.
The officer appeared to be several years older than he was.
When he finally reached Longbourn, he soon found himself standing in the parlour, handing his card to the butler.
Mr Bennet was reading one of the latest books he had purchased when the card was brought to him.
He was expecting an antiquarian bookseller, hoping to acquire a first edition of one of the most important historical works ever published in England.
It would cost him a small fortune, but he believed such a treasure deserved any price.
Besides, with Elizabeth away from home, there was no one to restrain his spending.
A few minutes later, Mr Bennet received Matthew in his study.
"Mr Andrews, thank you for coming. Did you bring me the book? Let me tell you that I shall not buy it unless I have the opportunity to examine it first."
"I am sorry, Mr Bennet, but I do not understand. I have not come about a book, but to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage. I wish to marry Miss Jane Bennet."
Matthew was deliberately direct. Mr Gardiner had advised him not to allow Mr Bennet to make a sport of him.
Mr Bennet was surprised by the announcement, but after a few seconds, he recovered from the shock and decided to amuse himself at the newcomer's expense.
"Well, I certainly did not expect this. Still, I suppose someone was bound to ask for the hand of one of my daughters sooner or later.
I confess I had always imagined that Jane would marry a wealthy but elderly tradesman, not a young gentleman like yourself.
She is pretty enough, but she has no dowry, which means that no man with any ambition would think of marrying her. "
Mr Bennet continued to speak of Jane in such an unfeeling manner that Matthew interrupted him before he lost his temper and said something he might later regret.
"Do you have any objections to my proposal?
I have brought several references, should you wish to know more about me.
In addition, I have two letters—one from Mr Gardiner, an old friend of my father, and the other from Lady Campbell.
Both can attest to my character and financial circumstances.
I assure you that my wife will never want for anything. "
Mr Bennet accepted the documents and glanced through them until something caught his attention.
"Are you the son of James Andrews?"
"Yes, sir," Matthew replied simply.
"What a remarkable surprise! Your father must be the finest authority on international business law in all of England. Never, in my wildest dreams, could I have imagined that timid Jane would capture the heart of an intelligent man like you."
"The only thing that is clear to me, Mr Bennet, is that you know your daughter very little."
Matthew had spent only a few minutes in the gentleman's company, yet he had already come to dislike him.
"Perhaps you are right about that—just one more question.
None of my daughters has a dowry, and my cousin will inherit my estate.
If I were to die, would you be able to take care of my wife and my unmarried daughters?
The truth is that they are little more than a collection of silly women, and I doubt any of them will ever marry.
Except for Lizzy, of course. I am sure she will find employment with some wealthy family.
The others, especially my wife, will need help. "
Mr Bennet assumed that, as a member of the Andrews family, Matthew must be wealthy, but he wanted to make certain.
"Yes, I would never allow my wife's family to suffer," he replied, before adding, "I have had the pleasure of getting to know Miss Mary and Miss Kitty, and I do not share your opinion of them."
"This time, I am the one who must say that you do not know them at all," Mr Bennet replied with a laugh. He found that he rather liked Matthew.
"I do not believe that. On the contrary, I am convinced the opposite is true. It is you who do not know them—or perhaps you have never taken the trouble to know them better."
Matthew knew that Jane was of age and could marry without her father's consent, so he cared little for Mr Bennet's opinion. After hearing him speak, he knew he could never respect the man.
Mr Bennet disliked Matthew's defiant attitude, but since he could not prevent Jane from marrying him, he decided to bring the conversation to a close.
"Very well. You have my permission to marry Jane."
"I appreciate your time and the courtesy of receiving me. Unfortunately, I must return to London this very day," Matthew said, wishing to leave as soon as possible.
At that very moment, an idea occurred to Mr Bennet.
"Please allow me to introduce you to my wife. While you are talking with her, I shall write two letters—one to my brother-in-law and the other to Lady Campbell. Would you be so kind as to deliver them for me? You will only have to postpone your departure for about half an hour."
"Of course. I shall be happy to do so."
They went to the drawing room, where Mrs Bennet was with her sister, Mrs Phillips.
Mr Bennet introduced Matthew as Jane's betrothed.
Both ladies were astonished, but once they had recovered from their initial surprise, they immediately began questioning him.
Mr Bennet retired to his study, leaving poor Matthew to deal with the uncomfortable situation as best he could.
Mrs Bennet was not pleased with Jane's choice.
She had sent her to London in the hope of encouraging Mr Bingley to propose, only for her daughter to become engaged to another man instead.
From Matthew's answers, she gathered that he was wealthy.
He was also young and remarkably handsome.
Even so, she did not like him because, although he seemed kind-hearted, he did not appear to be a man who could easily be influenced.
She had imagined Jane would marry Mr Bingley and live at Netherfield.
Then she could manage them both as she pleased, perhaps even live with them herself after Mr Bennet's death.
"Mr Andrews, besides your house in London, do you own any other property?" Mrs Bennet asked.
"No, madam. I am a businessman, and my life is in London."
Matthew answered each of Mrs Bennet's indiscreet questions as patiently as he could, but at last his patience was exhausted.
"Mrs Bennet, Mrs Phillips, it has been a pleasure meeting you both, but I must be going. I hope to see you again soon."
"We hope so as well, Mr Andrews," Mrs Bennet replied with a gracious smile. "It has been a pleasure making your acquaintance, and we look forward to welcoming you again before long."
"Indeed we do," Mrs Phillips added warmly. "We wish you a safe journey back to London."
Just then, Mr Bennet appeared and handed him the two letters.
As Matthew was about to leave the drawing room, the young lady he had seen in the village entered, accompanied by several officers.
"Mama, I invited some friends to dinner. I hope you do not mind."
The moment she noticed Matthew, she added flirtatiously, "Are we expecting another guest?"
Lydia could scarcely believe her good fortune. She would be surrounded by men. Besides, the newcomer was the handsomest man she had ever seen.
"It is good that you are finally here, my dear Lydia. Allow me to introduce you to Mr Andrews, Jane's future husband."
Mrs Bennet continued speaking, but Lydia scarcely listened. Jane was going to marry before she did—and to a handsome young man.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lydia," Matthew said politely.
Jane's sister provoked in him much the same reaction as Mr Bennet had. Yet he was even more astonished when he caught sight of the scoundrel Wickham in the home of his future wife. Mrs Bennet introduced him to the officers, and Wickham pretended not to know him.
As discreetly as he could, Matthew approached him and said, "Be careful what you do, Wickham. I assure you, you do not want me for an enemy."
"Mr Andrews de la Garza, if you will excuse me, I should like to speak with your future mother-in-law."
Wickham was not in the least intimidated by Matthew's warning. On the contrary, he immediately began devising a way to profit from the Bennets' new connections. With Lady Campbell as their aunt and Andrews de la Garza as a future brother-in-law, the Bennet ladies could no longer be considered poor.
Mr Bennet accompanied Matthew to the door, and Matthew took the opportunity to warn him.