Page 70 of Mr. Darcy's Complex Courtship

“No.” Mr. Bennet stepped around the desk to confront me. “You may be a wealthy, important man, but this ismydomain. I gave you the opportunity to marry my daughter if you waited, and you bungled your chance. You will not toy with her feelings again.”

With a slow inhalation, I attempted to contain my outrage. “You mistake me, sir. I have the utmost respect for Miss Bennet. My primary object is to ensure her happiness and well-being.”

“If that has been your goal, then you have failed. From what I have seen, you have brought her misery!” Mr. Bennet removed his spectacles and tossed them upon the desk. “I do not know what occurred between the two of you, and I do not care to know. But my daughter returned home a shadow of her former self. Now, thank the stars, her former vigour is making a slow return.She is free of you, and so she will remain.” He rang the servants’ bell.

His words rent through me, and my ready retort died on my tongue. I hadhurtElizabeth. In my mind’s eye, I had a clear picture of her running from me that day at the Gardiners’ house. I had attributed her haste to her eagerness to escape the uncomfortable situation. Afterwards, I remained too consumed by my own misery to entertain other explanations. Since my conversation with Miles, the magnitude of my blunder had become overt.

Hill opened the door. “Yes, sir?”

“Mr. Darcy is leaving. Show him out.”

“Wait, please.” I could not leave like this—not without seeing Elizabeth! I sought a penitent tone. “I deeply regret having caused Miss Bennet distress. If you would allow me to apologise to her, I am certain—”

“No,Iwill see to Lizzy’s happiness now, and you will not go near her.” He raised a hand to Hill, who passed me my hat and coat.

“If you please, Mr. Darcy, you must come with me now.”

I trudged from the room, following Hill in a dismal haze. In the courtyard, a young stable boy brought my stallion, Regal, to me. I stroked my horse’s neck and stared into his dark eyes. What should I do now? Could Mr. Bennet have the right of it? I loved Elizabeth—Ineededher. But did Ideserveher?

Regal poked his nose in my chest, jolting me from my bleak rumination. I should not quit the area until I had spoken to Elizabeth. This time, I should leave no room for misunderstanding. I should stay at the Huntsman in Meryton tonight and find Elizabeth on her morning walk tomorrow.

Longbourn

Elizabeth

I knocked on the study door and entered at my father’s invitation. “You asked to see me, Papa?”

“Indeed, yes.” He pointed to the chair. “Have a seat.”

When I complied, the alarming flush tinting his complexion drew my notice. “Papa, your face is quite red. Do you have a fever?”

“No, no. I am well.” He indicated an empty glass. “My brandy is to blame—I indulged in a dram a moment ago.”

“I see.”

“Have you finishedEpistles on Women?”

“No, I have not.” At my reply, his grey eyebrows crimped together. I shuffled my feet upon the red-and-gold Turkish carpet. I had not mentioned my writing to anyone yet. Would Papa disapprove, or perhaps mock my efforts? “After I read the introduction, a new…um…project distracted me.”

“Oh? What is this venture?”

“I am composing a story—a novel, a…romance.” The last word came out in an undertone.

“This is a surprise since you have never before mentioned an interest in writing.”

“I began on a whim. My work may lack merit, but the process is both exacting and rewarding.”

“I commend you for this ambitious project. You are clever enough to excel at any endeavour you set your mind to do.”

My breath rushed out. “Thank you, Papa.”

He paused in a tense attitude. “Is this story of yours based upon yourself and Mr. Darcy?”

“No, the plot is entirely fiction—no characters or situations will resemble actual people or events in my life.” I bit the inside of my mouth. Whilst I had spoken the truth, the male protagonist in my story, though disparate in physical traits, shared many intrinsic qualities with Mr. Darcy.Hestill dominated my thoughts day and night.

“That is a wise choice.” He adjusted his weight to the right, propping his elbow upon the chair. “Your revelation makes my plan all the more fitting.”

“What plan is that?”

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