Darcy, Knight Errant (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse)

31. Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

Darcy had never been one for confrontation. He preferred to manage things by talking them out with people and convincing them of a better action. The idea of using force to control others, like his father did, never appealed to him. Despite that, Darcy felt like he would have to restrain himself in the coming confrontation.

Mr. Porter, the man Mr. Bennet owed money to, graciously permitted Darcy to accompany Sir William to Longbourn with him. Both gentlemen knew that Darcy had a strong interest in the well-being of the Bennet family. He only hoped that he could maintain a cool head if Mr. Bennet behaved badly or insulted Elizabeth.

Looking over at Elizabeth, who sat next to him in the carriage, he was reassured to see her smile as they made their way up the Longbourn drive. Elizabeth had insisted on coming with him and confronting her mother after he dealt with her father. She would stay with the carriage and wait until her father was taken away. He did not want her to have to be around the man if he could help it.

Taking a deep breath, he hopped down from the carriage but gazed back at Elizabeth. Still smiling, she said, “Take down the lion and ye shall get another token of my affection.”

Darcy appreciated she was attempting to inject some humor into such a tense situation. Dipping into an excessive bow, Darcy answered, “It shall be as my lady wishes.”

Turning around, Darcy positioned himself alongside the other gentlemen, and together they were led into the house by Mrs. Hill. Darcy exchanged a smile with the helpful lady who had been his informant, silently indicating the direction of Mr. Bennet’s study. It was time to face the inevitable confrontation.

Mr. Porter did not knock when he reached Mr. Bennet’s study. He simply opened the door and marched in. With a disgruntled eye, Mr. Bennet looked up from his pages and glared at them all. He couldn’t help but complain, “Not only did you disregard my housekeeper, but you also didn’t have the courtesy to knock.” Having said his fill, Mr. Bennet ignored them and turned back to the book he was studying.

Speaking up first, Sir William said, “Bennet, I believe you should listen to what these men have to say. If you do not, it will only get worse for you.” This only earned Sir William a huff and a roll of his eyes.

Next, Mr. Porter stepped forward and his hard voice broke the silence, saying, “You may not recognize me, but my name is Mr. Porter. Two years ago, you borrowed a large sum of money from me in order to make a purchase. It has now been four months since you have made a payment. Per our agreement, I have come to demand the payment of the reminder of the loan in full, along with the accumulated interest and additional fees for nonpayment.”

Looking up from the book on his desk, Mr. Bennet began to look uneasy. After closing his book, he directed his attention towards them, puffing up his chest in a manner reminiscent of a rooster’s attempt to intimidate its rivals. His voice dripping with condescension, Mr. Bennet said, “Mr. Porter, if you will recall, I did inform you that I would recommence payments once the situation at Longbourn normalized. I am currently looking for a new steward as my last one left recently, but I am sure that once I find a new steward, things will improve, and I should be able to resume some form of payment after harvest.”

Mr. Porter flicked at a remnant of lint on his coat, seemingly unfazed by Mr. Bennet’s attitude, before explaining, “You may request something, Mr. Bennet, that is your right, but I do not have to grant that request. I told you when we struck our bargain that I would come to collect the entire amount if you missed payment for more than three months in a row.”

“But I am a landowner,” Mr. Bennet declared proudly. “Surely you can trust me to keep my word, and I have told you that I will pay you when my funds become available.” His voice had turned to a whine as he tried to reason with Mr. Porter.

Shaking his head, Mr. Porter said, “I have known too many landowners, Mr. Bennet, to ever trust one again. You are just another man who has extended himself too far and I want my money. Pay now or face the consequences.”

Fluttering his hands about the desk, Mr. Bennet came to rest on the book that he had been reading when they had come into the room. With a sigh, he said, “I do not have the money you want. My coffers are bare, and I will most likely need to sell something just to keep us afloat until after the harvest. But I can offer you the books I used your money to buy.”

“What use do I have with a bunch of old books? I am a man of business, not barter. Either give me the twelve hundred pounds that you owe me, or I will have you taken to debtor’s prison.” Mr. Porter watched the color leach out of Mr. Bennet for a moment before adding, “I am not all bad, though. I will give you the choice of Coldbath Fields Prison, King’s Bench Prison, and Marshalsea Prison. Which do you prefer?”

Darcy watched as the man who had hurt his Elizabeth struggled, his mouth opening and closing in a futile attempt to speak. Despite the scene, Darcy found himself incapable of mustering any sympathy. If Mr. Bennet had had some sympathy for his daughter all those months ago, things might have been different, but they weren’t.

Mr. Porter snapped and the hulking men that Mr. Porter had brought with him entered the confined space, making it feel much smaller with all their bulk. When Mr. Bennet still did not manage to say anything, Mr. Porter’s expression turned hard, saying, “Do not make this more difficult on yourself than it must be. I can either have these men drag you out of your home like a criminal or if you cooperate, I will allow you to have a bag packed so that you have a few necessities to take with you.”

Mr. Bennet turned to his old friend with a look of panic on his face, exclaiming, “William, you are the magistrate for Meryton. You cannot allow him to treat me this way.”

Shaking his head, Sir William said, “I am here because I am the magistrate, and he has every right to take you away for nonpayment. He has all the paperwork in order to forcefully remove you if you refuse to cooperate with him.” Drawing closer, he placed his hand on Mr. Bennet’s shoulder and said, “I would do what they ask, my friend.”

It seemed as if Mr. Bennet deflated at his friend’s words. His assurance that nothing could touch him bled from him, along with the color in his face. It did not take long for the butler to be asked to pack a small back with a change of clothes and some toiletries. All the while, there was a tense standoff in the study as Mr. Bennet gathered books to his chest.

It was when he was handed the small bag of his things, and he was trying to stow away as many of his precious tomes as he could, that Mr. Bennet realized just who Mr. Darcy was. He stood completely still, his gaze fixed on Darcy, as if he held the key to his only chance at salvation. As a meaty hand with scarred knuckles clamped down on his shoulder, Mr. Bennet said, “Mr. Darcy, you would have the money to pay off my debt.” With a desperate tone, he tried to draw closer and pleaded, “Please, you know my family. You know I am a gentleman, pay this man and we can come up with some sort of agreement.”

As Mr. Bennet tried to draw closer to Darcy, he was held back by Mr. Porter’s man. Which was probably a good thing because Darcy knew that his answer would not be well received. Looking at the desperate man before him begging for help with disdain, he said, “You say you are a gentleman, but I see no evidence of it. A gentleman cares about the state of his tenants and servants. He wholeheartedly involves himself in his family’s affairs, going above and beyond to shield them from harm and prioritize their needs. I know for a fact that you are indolent and imperious, not to mention cruel. You derive humor from situations by sacrificing others, unconcerned about the harm caused as you laugh. No, sir, you are not a gentleman, and I will not help you.”

Furious at his words, Mr. Bennet tried to take a step forward but was prevented from doing so. “Then why are you here?” he demanded.

“I have a vested interest in protecting your family, or rather, your daughters. I know you cannot be trusted to act as a parent should and I promised Bingley his new sisters would be taken care of while he was away.”

“You should be grateful, Mr. Bennet,” explained Mr. Porter as he directed his men to take Mr. Bennet out of the house. “Mr. Darcy was the one who gave you an extra month. He did not want your being dragged off to debtor’s prison to ruin his friend’s wedding.”

Mr. Porter’s words seemed to be some sort of tipping point for Mr. Bennet because he struggled in earnest. Because of his indolence, he lacked the physical strength required to escape or pose any threat to his guards. Mr. Bennet’s futile struggles were almost amusing to witness, and if Darcy had possessed even a fraction of his father-in-law’s humor, he would have found it hilarious.

Opting for a respite from the carriage, Elizabeth sought refuge on a bench in the shade, biding her time until William emerged with her father. Standing at attention nearby were Gregson and Reed, her two large footmen. They would stay with her until William returned and even then, they would be nearby in case there was a need.

Over the months away from Longbourn, she had come to know both men, and their presence brought her comfort as she waited. Between William and her two footmen, she felt safe, regardless of what happened with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. So when Mr. Bennet was pulled out of Longbourn kicking and screaming, it did not surprise Elizabeth that Gregson took a step closer to her while Reed moved between her and Mr. Bennet.

The movement caught Mr. Bennet’s attention, causing his already roused anger to focus on her. He shouted, “What are you doing here? It has been over six months. By now, you should have found some way to support yourself.” Casting his gaze around, he couldn’t help but notice the seething anger in Mr. Darcy’s expression, prompting him to mock, “Did you bring your mistress when you came to my home, Mr. Darcy? And you said I wasn’t a gentleman.”

Elizabeth was certain that the only thing holding William back from taking action before her was the distance between him and Mr. Bennet. Fueled by her long-standing anger, she launched a rapid attack on Mr. Bennet, catching everyone off guard as she delivered a resounding slap across his face. He attempted to retaliate but was held fast by the guards at his sides.

“Never again,” she warned Mr. Bennet, her eyes blazing with anger, “will you dare to malign my husband! While you may have felt inclined to condemn me, William is the most remarkable man I have ever known, and I won’t tolerate any insinuations against his character.”

Fury burned in his eyes as he shouted, “Husband? You cannot marry him. I forbid it! I told you, you are meant for my cousin, the buffoon.”

Coming to stand beside her, his hand on the small of her back, William said, “Once Elizabeth was of age, she could marry anyone she chose. You are the buffoon if you ever thought to bind any of your daughters to that man, let alone someone as brilliant as Elizabeth.” Turning to Mr. Porter, he said, “No one wants to hear what he is liabel to spew. Might he be gagged as well as bound for his journey?”

Offering his arm, William smiled down at Elizabeth and they both ignored the man who she once thought of as her father. They walked toward Longbourn as he was bound and gagged and shackled and thrown in the back of a cart. Elizabeth nodded to both Mr. Porter and Sir William as she walked. She paid no attention to Mr. Bennet’s muffled complaints as she walked away, leaving him behind. Mrs. Bennet was her next opponent, and it was time to confront her.

Elizabeth’s grip on William’s hand tightened as she crossed the threshold of her childhood home, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions and the familiarity of the surroundings. Breathing through her rising anxiety, Elizabeth attempted to focus on what she knew was going well. Mary, Kitty and Lydia had gone to visit Charlotte and Maria Lucas, so they were not present for Mr. Bennet’s downfall. Nor would they be present for her coming confrontation with Mrs. Bennet.

They had made their way into the main portion of the house when Mrs. Hill came around the corner and, seeing Elizabeth, she burst into tears. Hurrying to the woman who had done so much for her in the course of her life, Elizabeth embraced her as she cried, “Oh, Miss Elizabeth, I am so sorry. I wish that I could have done something to protect you from your parents all that time ago. I worried endlessly until I discovered that Mr. Darcy and his sister had been keeping you safe.” Leaning back, Elizabeth said, “No, I am sorry. I thought about telling you that I was leaving, but I did not want to make you lie to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.”

Wiping her face with the corner of her apron, Mrs. Hill said, “Oh pish. I would lie for you in a heartbeat. Those people are not worth the respect their position deserves.” Pausing, she tilted her head and said, “Now stand back and let me take a look at you.”

Nodding, Mrs. Hill smiled, and Elizabeth asked, “Do I meet with your approval?”

She smiled first at Elizabeth, her eyes sparkling with warmth, and then turned her attention to William, a playful grin on her face. “It seems that being married to Mr. Darcy has certainly done you a bit of good,” she remarked teasingly.

With a slight blush coloring her cheeks, Elizabeth met William’s eyes and spoke with unwavering conviction, “I don’t mean to diminish Mr. Hill, but I honestly believe that my William is the embodiment of goodness and chivalry and the absolute best husband any girl could hope for.”

“Feeling such admiration and love for one’s husband is a rare gift, Miss Elizabeth. You are indeed a lucky woman,” imparted Mrs. Hill. Then, becoming serious, she said, “I suppose you are here to deal with Mrs. Bennet.”

Elizabeth nodded, asking, “Do you know where she might be?”

Mrs. Hill grumbled disapprovingly, “She is lazing about in her sitting room. She quite over did it yesterday with all her effusions of joy.”

Elizabeth could quite imagine how Mrs. Bennet had behaved, exclaiming her good fortune to have Jane married so well. Not that the woman cared about the fact that Mr. Bingley was a good man who loved her daughter. No, she only noted his wealth and her daughter’s pin money. Elizabeth sighed and met William’s gaze, realizing they couldn’t delay any longer.

Before they left in search of Mrs. Bennet, William explained, “Mr. Bennet is gone and should not be back anytime soon, if ever. I have already petitioned the courts about common recovery and to give me control over Longbourn due to the circumstances. Regardless if you need help or would even just like to relocate, please feel free to reach out to me.”

As she nodded in agreement, she reassured Mr. Darcy, saying, “I will do that. You just take care of my girl there,” her words filled with trust.

Gazing down at Elizabeth, he replied, “I could do nothing else.”