started a fire with the scant firewood left near the hearth and broke up a few old chairs to add to it. There was a horse blanket in the barn that I spread over an old straw mattress. Then I wrapped her in both my coats.”
The way the man stared, William was unsure whether Elizabeth’s father was impressed with his ingenuity or still very irritated with him. Finally he spoke.
“I suppose you know that Mrs. Bennet is already demanding that you marry Elizabeth?”
Bingley turned to stare at his friend. Noticing his friend’s wide eyes and shocked expression, William addressed him. “I will deal with this, Charles.”
Mr. Bennet studied both men, wondering what in the world they were speaking of and was totally unprepared for what William said next.
“Were it possible, I would gladly marry your daughter, but I am afraid that circumstances prevent me from doing so. However, Bingley and I have discussed the situation and feel there is no need for alarm. No one at Netherfield knows I was out all night, thanks to Charles’ quick thinking. He tries never to let his sisters know anything that may promote gossip, especially about me. Thus, he informed the servants this morning that he had admitted me to the house late last night and that I would be in my room all day and was not to be disturbed. His sisters are to be informed of the same tale once they awaken.
“I was readying to bring Miss Elizabeth home when Charles found us, and we made quick work of getting here. You have apparently not had time to let anyone know that your daughter was missing, thus only you and your family are aware of the impropriety. Therefore, if you tell no one and your servants are trustworthy, there will be no scandal. I shall follow Charles back to Netherfield, where he will assist me in slipping into the house via a back stairwell and then into my room. There will be no compromise and no need to marry.”
Elizabeth’s father considered all that William had said before responding. “This plan just might work. I trust my servants explicitly—they love my Lizzy and would do nothing to harm her. I will have to make sure that my wife does not ruin it with her loose tongue, however. Now, would you kindly answer one question for me?”
William’s jaw tightened and he grimaced, knowing what was to come.
“You have stated that you would gladly marry Elizabeth if you could. I assume from the way that you observed her at the ball and from your pronouncement, that you are fond of her.” He waited but William’s only response was to study his shoes. “Might I ask why it is not possible for you to marry her?”
“I am already married.”
Mr. Bennet came to his feet, his face now crimson with anger. “You… you are married! You have apparently pursued my daughter the whole time you have been in Meryton, first at the bookshop and then at the ball, and you are already married?”
William stood now, his voice rising. “I never pursued Eliz… Miss Elizabeth!”
Bingley jumped to his feet interjecting, “This is ridiculous! I know Darcy well enough to know he would never dishonour your daughter, or any other woman for that matter, nor would he knowingly raise their expectations. Frankly, sir, you have no idea what this man has had to endure in the past two years.”
The older man’s glare swung between Bingley and William. “Then I suppose one of you should enlighten me, as we shall not leave this library until you do! As her father, I see things a great deal differently than the two of you, and I demand an explanation this instant!”
“I am not in the habit of discussing my private concerns,” William answered, his voice eerily flat.
Bingley interrupted impatiently, “This is not the time to be restrained, Darcy. He thinks you are a cad of the worst kind! At least tell him that you have never lived with that woman, that she is your wife in name only!”
With Charles’ disclosure, Mr. Bennet sat back down, his anger
The way the man stared, William was unsure whether Elizabeth’s father was impressed with his ingenuity or still very irritated with him. Finally he spoke.
“I suppose you know that Mrs. Bennet is already demanding that you marry Elizabeth?”
Bingley turned to stare at his friend. Noticing his friend’s wide eyes and shocked expression, William addressed him. “I will deal with this, Charles.”
Mr. Bennet studied both men, wondering what in the world they were speaking of and was totally unprepared for what William said next.
“Were it possible, I would gladly marry your daughter, but I am afraid that circumstances prevent me from doing so. However, Bingley and I have discussed the situation and feel there is no need for alarm. No one at Netherfield knows I was out all night, thanks to Charles’ quick thinking. He tries never to let his sisters know anything that may promote gossip, especially about me. Thus, he informed the servants this morning that he had admitted me to the house late last night and that I would be in my room all day and was not to be disturbed. His sisters are to be informed of the same tale once they awaken.
“I was readying to bring Miss Elizabeth home when Charles found us, and we made quick work of getting here. You have apparently not had time to let anyone know that your daughter was missing, thus only you and your family are aware of the impropriety. Therefore, if you tell no one and your servants are trustworthy, there will be no scandal. I shall follow Charles back to Netherfield, where he will assist me in slipping into the house via a back stairwell and then into my room. There will be no compromise and no need to marry.”
Elizabeth’s father considered all that William had said before responding. “This plan just might work. I trust my servants explicitly—they love my Lizzy and would do nothing to harm her. I will have to make sure that my wife does not ruin it with her loose tongue, however. Now, would you kindly answer one question for me?”
William’s jaw tightened and he grimaced, knowing what was to come.
“You have stated that you would gladly marry Elizabeth if you could. I assume from the way that you observed her at the ball and from your pronouncement, that you are fond of her.” He waited but William’s only response was to study his shoes. “Might I ask why it is not possible for you to marry her?”
“I am already married.”
Mr. Bennet came to his feet, his face now crimson with anger. “You… you are married! You have apparently pursued my daughter the whole time you have been in Meryton, first at the bookshop and then at the ball, and you are already married?”
William stood now, his voice rising. “I never pursued Eliz… Miss Elizabeth!”
Bingley jumped to his feet interjecting, “This is ridiculous! I know Darcy well enough to know he would never dishonour your daughter, or any other woman for that matter, nor would he knowingly raise their expectations. Frankly, sir, you have no idea what this man has had to endure in the past two years.”
The older man’s glare swung between Bingley and William. “Then I suppose one of you should enlighten me, as we shall not leave this library until you do! As her father, I see things a great deal differently than the two of you, and I demand an explanation this instant!”
“I am not in the habit of discussing my private concerns,” William answered, his voice eerily flat.
Bingley interrupted impatiently, “This is not the time to be restrained, Darcy. He thinks you are a cad of the worst kind! At least tell him that you have never lived with that woman, that she is your wife in name only!”
With Charles’ disclosure, Mr. Bennet sat back down, his anger
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