Page 12 of You Willfully Misunderstand Me

Darcy stood as well, trying to remind her to be quiet, as he put his hands up in defence, "I understand how extraordinary the proposal sounds."

"Extraordinary?" she repeated. "It is impossible!" Her whisper was sharp and poignant.

"Miss Bennet…” He paused, then started again, “Miss Bennet, I quite agree," he whispered louder.

"Sir, you ask me to deceive complete strangers; it is unconscionable. I will not," Elizabeth felt anger burning in her chest, and she began to consider the man and all his faults, as she had done in Kent.

"Please Miss Bennet. I only ask you to preserve your reputation," he let out an exasperated exhale.

"My reputation, sir,” she emphasized in a harsh whisper, “will hardly be improved by pretending to be your wife!"

She is not wrong, blast. Darcy knew it, yet he also knew that she was in an especially delicate position, and he was determined to protect her. “Miss Bennet, I assure you, it will be preserved."

Elizabeth stared at him, issuing her greatest scowl, yet met her gaze steadily.

He whispered again, "Please, you must consider that no respectable couple would travel together under these circumstances unless married. A husband and wife taking temporary residence at a family cottage excites no curiosity. An unmarried gentleman sheltering an unmarried lady, particularly after arriving together from England, invites endless conjecture."

She turned away, pressing one hand lightly against the back of the chair as though she required a moment to collect her thoughts. "I cannot believe we are having this conversation." A brief silence followed, during which Darcy watched her with a mixture of apprehension. Then she turned back toward him. "You are abominably proud, sir, if you think me so easilypersuaded that I would accept such an arrangement without question. Do you truly imagine that because you have wealth, influence, and a tendency to decide what is best for everyone around you, I should simply stand aside and allow you to determine the course of my life?"

Darcy lowered his gaze to the floor before him and exhaled slowly, as though conceding a point he had long known he could not win. "No," he admitted. "I have learned better than to expect that." The smallest hint of bitter amusement touched his expression, but it quickly faded as he continued. "But I must confess, Miss Bennet, that you willfully misunderstand me." His voice softened, not in frustration, but in earnestness. "Believe me, no one is more aware than I of the weight of what I am asking. If there existed another course that would preserve your good name while avoiding the difficulties before us, I would choose it without hesitation."

Elizabeth's thoughts raced, and her heart pounded harder than ever before. His proposal had been shocking, perhaps even more shocking than his first. It is improper, entirely, utterly improper and beyond anything she could have imagined that morning.

Yet beneath its absurdity lay an uncomfortable truth. To remain at the inn would place them under the constant observation of everyone who had traveled with them. Every hour would furnish new opportunities for speculation. Every explanation would require another.

She looked back at him, "And the caretaker?"

"They have served my family for many years, and I expect their loyalty as all my staff.”

"They would believe us?" she asked uncertainly, and still with a fire in her eyes that Darcy could hardly look away from.

Mr. Darcy hesitated only briefly, "They would have no reason not to."

Elizabeth gave a disbelieving laugh. "It appears, Mr. Darcy, that your solution requires me to become Mrs. Darcy before supper."

For the first time since their arrival, the corner of his mouth lifted, "I sincerely hope," he replied, "only until we can return to England. I am told the ship should set sail by tomorrow." His expression soon grew serious again. "I do not ask for your answer immediately. Indeed, I should prefer that you reject the proposal if you find another that better secures your comfort and your reputation."

For several moments neither spoke. The sounds of the common room drifted faintly through the walls, the clatter of dishes, subdued conversation, the occasional laugh of a traveler content to have reached his destination.How strange, Elizabeth reflected,that everyone beyond that door knew precisely where they belonged, while she alone seemed to have no place at all.

At length she sighed, "I dislike your proposal exceedingly."

"I expected nothing less," he replied quietly.

"To practice such a deception..." She shook her head. "I confess, I had believed you the last man who would ever recommend it. You have always struck me as one who values truth above convenience."

A shadow crossed his face, “I do. But, there are occasions, Miss Bennet, when two duties stand opposed to one another. I cannot preserve perfect honesty toward strangers without risking something infinitely more valuable, your reputation. Faced with those alternatives, I must choose the lesser wrong."

Elizabeth remained silent.

"I do not defend the deception," he continued. "Indeed, I dislike it as much as you do. But I would sooner bear the burden of an untruth than permit your good name to suffer through circumstances for which you bear no fault. I would ask no such thing," he added softly, "were I able to offer you any better course."

She lowered her eyes. And, finally said, "I think it borders on absurd."

"On that point," he said with the faintest smile, "we are entirely agreed."

Elizabeth could not suppress a reluctant smile of her own.

"And yet," she said softly, "I cannot think of a better alternative."