A Perilous Match

Chapter 11

“Y ou must simply form alliances, Fitzwilliam. Nothing else will suffice. Parliament is a cutthroat business, and if you have any hope of achieving success, you will need friends. Earl Grey is a natural choice, given that he is my dearest friend,” Uncle Matlock remarked, taking a sip of his tea.

“I shall take it under advisement,” Darcy replied, though the prospect of managing parliamentary duties, in addition to his current concerns, did not please him. Alas, it was his duty now. He knew that all would be much easier if he had a woman by his side who could provide both support and comfort, someone to challenge his mind and nourish his spirit—someone like Elizabeth.

Had he been foolish to propose marriage again after she had rebuked him so harshly? He did not think so, for her company in recent weeks had been soothing, a balm to his otherwise anxious mind.

From across the room, his cousin Richard winked at him, engaged in a game of cards with Lady Aspen and Georgiana. The house was indeed bustling with company this day, for in addition to Lady Aspen, Lord Aspen had also come calling. He was presently in the garden, entertaining Lady Matlock with a game of pall-mall alongside Phillip and Grandmama. It was a pleasant afternoon, though Darcy could not deny the weight of strain that still lingered upon his shoulders.

A knock at the door briefly roused the company before everyone returned to their pursuits.

“Lord Dorset,” the butler announced, “a caller for you. A Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” Lady Aspen echoed, her tone betraying her confusion. “Is that the young lady you mentioned to us, Georgiana?”

“Indeed, she has become a dear friend,” Georgiana responded with a nod. Darcy surmised his sister had something to do with this unexpected visit.

“Then why is she calling on Dorset?” Lady Aspen enquired, her curiosity piqued.

“I suppose I shall have to find out,” Darcy replied, rising from his seat with an effort to maintain composure, though he felt the perspiration beginning to form on his brow. Elizabeth was here. Here, at Darcy House.

He took a steadying breath, the faint scent of her perfume already lingering in the air. And then he saw her. Elizabeth stood in the hallway, bonnet in hand, her expression tinged with uncertainty. Her countenance spoke of hesitation, as though she were not entirely sure why she had come.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Darcy approached her and forced himself to speak.

“You have come. I am glad. May I take your arrival here as a sign that you have reflected upon my suggestion and have come to a conclusion?”

She wetted her lips, glancing briefly past him before he indicated the parlour, offering more privacy. He pulled the French doors shut behind them and turned to face her.

“I have,” she replied at once. “I have decided to accept your offer of marriage.”

Darcy felt as though he had taken flight, so elated was he by her words, but the clarity in her tone caused his heart to settle back to earth as she continued.

“But you must understand, my sentiments have not undergone a material change. I do not think of you as I did at Kent, of course, but my reasons for agreeing to your proposal are of a practical nature, not romantic.”

Darcy's initial expression of joy was soon tempered by the realisation of her words. Her heart had not changed. His delight gave way to a measured reserve, and he regarded her with an intensity that spoke of both his deep affection and his hope that, with time, her feelings might evolve.

“Miss Bennet,” he said softly, “I understand you have practical considerations for agreeing to this arrangement, but I do hope that in due time, your heart may warm towards me. I am resolved to provide you with a most comfortable life, and you are already aware of the high regard in which I hold you.”

“Sir, I am fully sensible of the honour you bestow upon me, and though I may not yet possess the warmth of feeling you deserve, I am determined to fulfil my role as your wife with all the affection and esteem you merit.”

He studied her for a moment longer, then nodded, his expression resolute. “Very well. I shall present myself to your father this very week to ask for your hand. It is my wish that we expedite the wedding, for there is a matter of some importance that requires your presence by my side. I am to make my debut in the House of Lords next month, and I would be honoured to have you there with me as my wife.”

Elizabeth appeared somewhat taken aback by the speed of his proposal but gave a measured nod. “I understand and I agree. We shall obtain a special licence and proceed accordingly. I trust you are able to make the necessary connections with the Archbishop of Canterbury?”

“My great-uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, is well acquainted with the Archbishop and will be able to facilitate it.”

He noted the widening of her eyes as he spoke of his uncle and regretted mentioning it at once. She was, after all, a gentleman’s daughter, and such titled relations must seem rather daunting.

“I see,” she murmured, moistening her lips. “Will your family approve of me?”

“Whom I wed is of no concern of theirs, I assure you. However, I am certain my grandmother, in particular, will be delighted. I would introduce you to her now, but—”

“No, no. I did not wish to impose upon you for an introduction at this moment. I… I must be away, anyhow,” she said, placing her bonnet back on her head with some haste, and then, as quickly as she had arrived, she was gone again.

Securing her consent had been a much swifter affair than he had anticipated. Indeed, a part of him felt a sting of disappointment. His imagination had, on occasion, run away with him, and during such moments of reverie, he had pictured himself whirling her through the air in a manner reminiscent of the romantic novels his sister was so fond of.

***

Despite Elizabeth’s assurance that her acceptance of his proposal was grounded in practicality, and despite his awareness of the Bennet family’s financial predicament, Darcy could not deny the thrill of elation that stirred within him.

Elizabeth had agreed to marry him. How remarkable that a few short weeks could so utterly transform his world. When he had left her at Kent, he was certain he would never see her again, let alone gain her approval to marry him—and by special licence, no less.

Elizabeth Bennet would soon be his wife. The prospect filled him with a strange mixture of anxiety and hope. He knew the journey to winning her heart would be long and perhaps arduous, but he was determined. Surely, once she saw the depth of his affection, her feelings would soften towards him. Or so he fervently hoped.

But before any preparations could be made, there was the matter of informing his own family.

Darcy was not blind to the difficulties that might arise. He knew his good tidings would not be welcomed by all, yet he was confident of his grandmother’s support. With her on his side, he might navigate the disapproving tempers of others.

“What a brief visit that was,” Lady Aspen remarked as he re-entered the drawing room.

“It was,” Darcy agreed, “but by no means insignificant, for—” He paused, casting a glance at Richard, whose eyes widened in anticipation, a smile playing on his lips.

“Ha, cousin, I sense you have news to share with the family. Shall I gather them?”

Darcy took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. It would indeed be easier to address everyone at once, so he nodded.

Richard strode across the drawing room and into the music room, his voice echoing with amused authority. “The Marquess of Dorset has an announcement to make!”

He and Richard had been close from childhood; Darcy did not doubt that Richard already had an inkling of what he was about to declare.

“What is this? What announcement must you make?” his Uncle Matlock asked, raising an eyebrow with keen curiosity.

“With all due courtesy, if I may request your patience for a moment, you will soon know,” Darcy replied. His grandmother, Lady Matlock, and Phillip had entered the room, completing the family circle.

“This is most unusual, Fitzwilliam,” his grandmother said. “I was just about to win at pall mall. What is this matter of such urgency?”

“I understand,” Darcy said, “and I assure you, you may return to your game shortly. But I have an announcement to make that cannot wait.”

Phillip tilted his head, a hint of suspicion in his gaze. “Have you already formed an alliance within the House of Lords?”

“No, Phillip, nothing of that sort. The announcement I wish to make is that I have offered my hand in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she has graciously accepted. She is to be the Marchioness of Dorset. We are to be married, and I intend to secure a special licence so that the wedding may occur before my formal introduction to the House of Lords.”

“But we are in mourning!” Phillip exclaimed, his tone revealing the depth of his unease. “Grandmama, surely you must tell him this is not the time to wed.”

“Well,” his grandmother said, her gaze moving thoughtfully between her grandsons, “while it is true that we are in mourning, it can be argued that the late marquess and his heirs were but distant relations.”

“He was our uncle,” Phillip insisted, his complexion reddening alarmingly.

“He was, indeed. But unlike your father, and Fitzwilliam’s father, he was not my son, having been born from my dear husband’s first marriage. He was merely my stepson, and only a half-uncle by blood to both you and Fitzwilliam.”

“This is mere semantics, Grandmama. He was my uncle.”

“Nobody is disputing that,” Darcy said, acutely aware of Phillip’s close bond with their late uncle. “I am simply pointing out that mourning for an uncle—half-uncle, at that—is not observed with the same rigor as it would be for a closer relation. Moreover, I believe it is advantageous for the estate to see the marriage take place before my introduction to the House of Lords. Stability is what is needed.”

Phillip seemed ready to argue further, but to Darcy’s surprise, it was his Uncle Matlock who spoke next.

“Phillip, we are related only by marriage, so perhaps you can take this as advice from a peer rather than from a relation. I find myself in full agreement with Fitzwilliam. The Marquessate of Dorset has been gravely unsettled by the death of the late marquess and his heirs. What is needed now is stability. A wife will signal to society that the line will continue, and this assurance will make Fitzwilliam’s position in the House of Lords much easier to establish.”

“Indeed, your uncle would undoubtedly have wished to know that his line was secure,” Matlock continued.

“Of course he would have,” Phillip admitted. “But this? This is entirely disrespectful. And this woman? You might as well be marrying a commoner!”

This caught Lady Aspen’s attention. “A commoner? My dear cousin, is that correct? Surely you are not marrying beneath your station?”

“Elizabeth is no commoner,” Darcy replied quickly. “Her father is a gentleman who owns an estate in Hertfordshire. She is a gentleman’s daughter.”

“Hertfordshire?” His grandmother said, narrowing her eyes before a smile spread across her face. “Where not you promenading with one such young lady? What a delightful young woman. I would have taken her for a lady by her manners. But she is a gentleman’s daughter?”

“Yes, Grandmama she is. I have known her for some time. I intended to marry her sooner, but circumstances intervened, and then my uncle’s death.”

His grandmother nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Had you made her an offer a few months ago, there would have been no question of your suitability—both being of the same rank. I see no reason for concern now. Lord Matlock, what say you?”

“I have heard of this young woman myself, although my questions were met with fierce attempts of evasion. I would have preferred to see Fitzwilliam married to someone of higher rank,” Matlock replied, “but I suppose it is practical to resolve the matter before he takes his seat in the House of Lords. There is nothing more distracting than having every eligible lady in society set her cap at a man when he is attempting to prove himself.”

“And you would know this, given you were a bachelor when you first joined the House of Lords,” his wife added.

“Father, I think you have managed to unsettle Mother,” Richard said with a smile.

Lord Matlock turned a little pale at this, but then his wife joined in the laughter.

“Lord Matlock is quite right. Every lady in the Ton sets her sights on a bachelor, especially if he’s titled. I was no exception. Fitzwilliam, if you believe the young lady will make a good marchioness, I doubt anyone will oppose you.”

“Are you quite certain?” Lady Aspen asked.

“He certainly sounds it, Cassandra,” her husband replied in a tone that brooked no argument.

“You cannot be serious. They do not possess a grand estate. The young lady has no brothers. There are only five daughters, and the estate is entailed away from them, hardly the pedigree one would hope for in the Marchioness of Dorset,” Phillip glared at Darcy.

This statement elicited some suppressed gasps, but Richard quickly interjected.

“The estate is indeed entailed, but it is to my own Aunt Catherine’s vicar. I am certain that once Aunt Catherine hears that her nephew has intentions towards Miss Bennet, she will intercede and ensure that the entailment is broken. Do you not agree, Uncle?”

Matlock nodded. “Yes, under these circumstances, I am confident my sister will do what is right and encourage her vicar to break the entailment, thereby removing the stain upon the Bennet family.”

“Catherine will be disappointed, she had her heart set on Fitzwilliam marrying Anne,” Lady Matlock said then.

“I beg your pardon, dear aunt, but I had no intention to marry Anne and I do think that the entire family knows this. I know that members of the Fitzwilliam family had voiced such hopes of late,” he glanced at his uncle he swallowed and looked away. “But it was not going to happen then and it most certainly will not happen now.”

“Miss Anne would not have been a suitable marchioness either, given her poor health,” Phillip chimed in. “But how can we be sure that the Bennet family is of good reputation? I thought you deemed them unsuitable for your friend Bingley and prevented an engagement between him and this Miss Bennet’s elder sister.”

Once again, the eyes of the family darted about. Why was Phillip so determined to oppose this union? Then it came to Darcy. Phillip had been very close to their uncle and had taken an interest in the Marquessate’s affair for some while, acting on their uncle’s behalf. While Phillip had never shown any interest in the title itself, he’d always been concerned about the family legacy—and Darcy had to assume his cousin’s desire to carry on the line successfully outweigh his love for his cousin. A circumstance that befell many in their circles.

“Fitzwilliam, the more I hear about this, the less wise it seems,” Lady Aspen declared. Then again, he knew that she had always harboured hopes of her younger sister Eleanora, for him.

“But Fitzwilliam has since recognised his mistake and done all he can to reconcile Jane Bennet and Mr Bingley,” Georgiana spoke up. “And besides, I can personally vouch for the Bennet family. They are an upstanding family. I recently called on Miss Bennet’s uncle in Cheapside, and his home is splendidly appointed, with numerous servants.”

“Mr Gardiner, Miss Bennet’s uncle, is a prosperous businessman,” Richard added. “Her aunt, Mrs Gardiner, hails from Lambton and was known to both of Fitzwilliam’s parents.”

Darcy could not have been more grateful for the support of his sister and cousin. “Mrs Gardiner’s father was the record at Lambton, Mr Drummond.”

“Drummond?” His uncle said. “I remember him well, he gave a splendid sermon one Christmas Eve when we called on your parents, Fitzwilliam. Do you remember?” He asked, his direction addressed to his wife.

“I do, a very honourable family. And the husband? Gardiner, you say?” His aunt asked.

“Gardiner?” his grandmother chimed in. “Is he involved in textiles? I believe he owns several warehouses. Quite respectable. And what of the other relations?” she enquired, turning her gaze to Darcy.

He felt a pang of anxiety as he struggled to recall the rest of Elizabeth’s family. Then, an idea struck him.

“Her uncle is a solicitor, as was her grandfather.”

“It is always advantageous to have relations acquainted with the law,” his grandmother observed with approval. Yet Darcy suspected that had Phillip been the one proposing marriage to someone of such modest connections, she would not have been so supportive. While she was fond of Phillip, Darcy knew he had always held a slightly higher place in her affections—a fact for which he was particularly grateful today.

“Well, setting aside all material concerns, I thought she appeared quite fond of you when I saw you together recently. Even Norfolk remarked on it, and he never takes note of such things. I believe this marriage should proceed, and without delay. I shall write to Norfolk immediately and request a special licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury. Well done, Fitzwilliam. I am delighted for you.”

Darcy breathed a deep sigh of relief. He had intended to ask his grandmother to assist with the special licence later, but her willingness to undertake it herself was a burden lifted from his shoulders. As he looked around the room, he noted that most of his relations seemed genuinely pleased for him, with the notable exceptions of Cassandra Aspen and Phillip. His cousin Frederick, as usual, remained silent. And his Uncle Matlock? As Darcy watched him, he saw the conniving old man’s mind already racing with the possibilities this match could present to him. He had no doubt that in short order Mr Gardiner would receive a visit from his uncle regarding a business arrangement.

For if nothing else, Lord Matlock had a keen nose for business as well as politics, and if he could not unite the Darcy family with the Fitzwilliams due to a certain Miss Bennet’s presence, he would most certainly find a way to tie the Fitzwilliams into the Bennet family by way of business.