her all her life.
“Sir,” he said sympathetically, “I know it seems a dramatic change in the lives of both Elizabeth and yourself, but Derbyshire is not that far removed from Hertfordshire.”
Mr. Bennet sighed, more than a little surprised at Darcy’s empathy, and said, “I thank you for that reminder. Lizzy is my favourite daughter, and I shall miss her company.”
“I had surmised that. You are certainly welcome any time you feel the desire to visit.”
“I shall now be sentenced to abide alone in a household of silly females.” Mr. Bennet immediately wished he could unsay the words. He did not know this man well enough for humour.
But Darcy only nodded. “I do indeed commiserate with your situation, sir, but perhaps you now see why I fell in love with Elizabeth. I, too, needed someone to talk with besides my own sister.”
Mr. Bennet was well aware that Darcy controlled his fortune; indeed, virtually his first knowledge of the man was the information that he had ten thousand a year. But he now realized that Darcy’s immediate family must consist only of himself and his sister.
His face must have shown his surprise and confusion, and Darcy said, “Yes, it is just my sister and myself; both our parents have passed on. But Georgiana is rather shy and is, in any case, only sixteen and thus untutored in the ways of the world. The assistance of your daughter may well be invaluable in her life, as well as filling the void in mine.”
“Only sixteen?” Mr. Bennet said in surprise. “And I take it that she is in your charge?”
“Under my father’s will, I share her guardianship with my cousin Fitzwilliam. But he is often elsewhere due to his military duties, so I usually fill that role by myself.”
“For how long, if I may ask?”
“It is now five years since my good father died. My mother died some eleven years before that, giving birth to Georgiana. My father…well, he was a good man but was not…comfortable…with children. As a result, I have had much of the care of Georgiana for…some years even before he died.”
“For so long! And at such an age? Why, you cannot be thirty, even now.”
“I am eight and twenty. I was just twelve when my mother died.”
“And Lizzy is barely twenty. Perhaps she is too young for you?” Mr. Bennet surprised himself by managing a sly smile, which drew a tight smile from Darcy.
“She is admirably sensible for her age, sir. I am sorry I cannot alleviate your situation. I need her as much or more than you.”
He looked directly at Mr. Bennet and said softly, “I love her, sir. I do not think I could live without her. Loving her as you do, I hope you can understand my feelings and her value to me.”
Despite himself, Mr. Bennet could not help but be touched by this unexpected revelation from a man renowned for his reserve and aloofness. Clearly, he had unexpected depths, and Mr. Bennet discreetly tried to swallow the knot suddenly forming in his throat.
Finally, he managed to say, “That would seem to be as far as we can go at the moment, Mr. Darcy. Except…perhaps it would be best if I gave you a note for my brother Gardiner. He lives on Gracechurch Street in east London, and I shall let him know I have given my approval to the marriage and that you will be bringing all three girls back to Longbourn instead of our previous plan. Please pardon me for a minute…”
Mr. Bennet quickly wrote a note and, after a moment’s thought, wrote another one. He folded and sealed both notes and addressed them.
“Here is a note to my brother, along with his address, and here is another for Lizzy. You can include her note in your express, if you would be so good, and I would be obliged if you would send the other to my brother Gardiner when you return.”
Darcy nodded and accepted them, then stood as Mr. Bennet rose and held out his hand.
“I am not sure whether I should thank you for such unexpected news, but I do wish you and Lizzy all happiness in the
“Sir,” he said sympathetically, “I know it seems a dramatic change in the lives of both Elizabeth and yourself, but Derbyshire is not that far removed from Hertfordshire.”
Mr. Bennet sighed, more than a little surprised at Darcy’s empathy, and said, “I thank you for that reminder. Lizzy is my favourite daughter, and I shall miss her company.”
“I had surmised that. You are certainly welcome any time you feel the desire to visit.”
“I shall now be sentenced to abide alone in a household of silly females.” Mr. Bennet immediately wished he could unsay the words. He did not know this man well enough for humour.
But Darcy only nodded. “I do indeed commiserate with your situation, sir, but perhaps you now see why I fell in love with Elizabeth. I, too, needed someone to talk with besides my own sister.”
Mr. Bennet was well aware that Darcy controlled his fortune; indeed, virtually his first knowledge of the man was the information that he had ten thousand a year. But he now realized that Darcy’s immediate family must consist only of himself and his sister.
His face must have shown his surprise and confusion, and Darcy said, “Yes, it is just my sister and myself; both our parents have passed on. But Georgiana is rather shy and is, in any case, only sixteen and thus untutored in the ways of the world. The assistance of your daughter may well be invaluable in her life, as well as filling the void in mine.”
“Only sixteen?” Mr. Bennet said in surprise. “And I take it that she is in your charge?”
“Under my father’s will, I share her guardianship with my cousin Fitzwilliam. But he is often elsewhere due to his military duties, so I usually fill that role by myself.”
“For how long, if I may ask?”
“It is now five years since my good father died. My mother died some eleven years before that, giving birth to Georgiana. My father…well, he was a good man but was not…comfortable…with children. As a result, I have had much of the care of Georgiana for…some years even before he died.”
“For so long! And at such an age? Why, you cannot be thirty, even now.”
“I am eight and twenty. I was just twelve when my mother died.”
“And Lizzy is barely twenty. Perhaps she is too young for you?” Mr. Bennet surprised himself by managing a sly smile, which drew a tight smile from Darcy.
“She is admirably sensible for her age, sir. I am sorry I cannot alleviate your situation. I need her as much or more than you.”
He looked directly at Mr. Bennet and said softly, “I love her, sir. I do not think I could live without her. Loving her as you do, I hope you can understand my feelings and her value to me.”
Despite himself, Mr. Bennet could not help but be touched by this unexpected revelation from a man renowned for his reserve and aloofness. Clearly, he had unexpected depths, and Mr. Bennet discreetly tried to swallow the knot suddenly forming in his throat.
Finally, he managed to say, “That would seem to be as far as we can go at the moment, Mr. Darcy. Except…perhaps it would be best if I gave you a note for my brother Gardiner. He lives on Gracechurch Street in east London, and I shall let him know I have given my approval to the marriage and that you will be bringing all three girls back to Longbourn instead of our previous plan. Please pardon me for a minute…”
Mr. Bennet quickly wrote a note and, after a moment’s thought, wrote another one. He folded and sealed both notes and addressed them.
“Here is a note to my brother, along with his address, and here is another for Lizzy. You can include her note in your express, if you would be so good, and I would be obliged if you would send the other to my brother Gardiner when you return.”
Darcy nodded and accepted them, then stood as Mr. Bennet rose and held out his hand.
“I am not sure whether I should thank you for such unexpected news, but I do wish you and Lizzy all happiness in the
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