“What? All of them?” Lord Pippinworth cried, his voice nearly drowned out by the surprised exclamations from the crowd.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Lord Henry cried. “This is a misunderstanding. I would never—”
“As you say, your lordship,” Elizabeth addressed Lord Pippinworth as if the viscount had not spoken. The three women nodded their agreement. “Sarah is a minister’s daughter whom Lord Henry compromised in Kent; he offered her marriage four years ago to make amends. Coincidentally, Mary found herself in much the same situation three years ago in Sussex. He married her but lived with her only a few months before disappearing. Gwendolyn was a shop girl whom Lord Henry married most recently.” All three women stared implacably at the viscount.
Lord Henry scoffed. “I have no idea what Miss Bennet is about. I admit I know these women, but I did not marry them. This woman and Darcy have some kind of vendetta against me—they seek to ruin my good name.”
People in the little crowd were looking at each other, wondering if he could be right. Many of the onlookers regarded Lord Henry sympathetically. Damn, the man could be persuasive. How would they counter this? The women could testify, but that would pit their words against the viscount’s. And their story was a fantastical one. They had made so much progress; could it all fall apart now? He gave Elizabeth a despairing look, but her eyes were on…Anne de Bourgh?
Anne stepped forward, holding up a few pieces of paper, and spoke in a surprisingly clear voice. “I have in my possession letters from clergymen at three parish churches confirming that Lord Henry’s three marriages are all recorded in their church’s registries. Apparently his lordship bribed the right people so that his duplicity would not be discovered.” This began another round of exclamations among the onlookers; now expressions directed at Lord Henry were decidedly less friendly.
“Thank you, Miss de Bourgh.” Elizabeth smiled at Anne, who returned to her thunderstruck mother.
“Furthermore,” Elizabeth continued, glaring directly at the viscount, “you made me an offer of marriage, which I must decline—again. I believe you have a surfeit of wives as it is.”
Lord Pippinworth took a step forward, his eyes darting from the women to Lord Henry and back again. “This-this is quite shocking! Henry, how could you—?”
“I support all the women!” Lord Henry cried. “They want for nothing. They have not been ill-treated.”
Elizabeth snorted. “They have been compromised, lied to, and taken advantage of. You have ruined their lives!”
Darcy stepped in. “And you attempted to do the same to Miss Bennet. But she confounded your scheme by refusing your offer of marriage.” The small crowd in the doorway nodded in agreement, murmuring about Elizabeth’s wisdom in refusing the viscount.
Lord Pippinworth cleared his throat. “Then there is the matter of bigamy. You do know bigamy is against the law, Henry? They might allow it in some Far Eastern countries, but it is illegal in England!”
Lord Henry stared at Lord Pippinworth in horror for a long moment. Without warning, he turned and raced for the door. But the doorway was now so crowded with curious onlookers that many bodies blocked his way. Lord Henry was manhandled back into the library and pushed into a chair.
Lord Pippinworth loomed over him. “I shall send for the magistrate. This is a very serious matter.” Lord Henry shrank down in the chair and said nothing.
Darcy cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should bind him until the magistrate arrives. We would not want him to make another attempt at escape.”
“An excellent idea,” Lord Pippinworth boomed and immediately sent a young man to the stable for some rope. He then approached the three Mrs. Carsons. “I apologize for the behavior of this reprobate, ladies. I will personally ensure that you obtain the divorces you require and that you will be provided for.”
“Thank you, sir,” Sarah Carson responded. The other women nodded appreciatively.
“And Miss Bennet.” The man turned to Elizabeth. “You are to be commended for having the greatness of mind to recognize this snake for what he is.” Elizabeth merely nodded her thanks.
The gathering had dissolved into many small knots of people discussing this shocking turn of events in the most animated tones. Lady Mary, the viscount’s aunt, emerged from the crowd and approached Elizabeth. “I owe you the deepest apologies, Miss Elizabeth, for not believing your account of the events in the drawing room.” She cast a scathing look at Lord Henry. “It is now apparent that neither I nor anybody else should ever have believed a word my nephew told us.” She took one of Elizabeth’s hands and patted it comfortingly. “Will you forgive me?”
Elizabeth’s cheeks were deeply flushed. “Of course, Lady Mary. All is forgiven and forgotten.”
As Elizabeth continued to speak with Lady Mary, Darcy scanned the crowd for some Bennets but saw only Jane. If anyone owed Elizabeth an apology, it was her own family. Hopefully they would relay it in private.
Lady Mary was now looming over her still-bound nephew and castigating him for his perfidies. Lord Pippinworth took her place, clasping Elizabeth’s hands in his. “Miss Bennet, I have ensured everyone is aware of Lord Henry’s admission that he lied about compromising your virtue. Anyone who claims otherwise may answer to me!”
“Thank you, your lordship,” Elizabeth said.
“It is the least I could do after you revealed his duplicity to the world! Three wives! Just imagine.” He shook his head sadly. “You have done England quite a service today.”
Elizabeth blushed even more deeply. “I had help. Miss de Bourgh provided valuable assistance.”
The lord nodded approvingly. “Quite a clever girl.”
“And Mr. Darcy facilitated much of this,” Elizabeth continued.
Releasing Elizabeth’s hand, Lord Pippinworth clapped Darcy on the back. “Well done, Darcy!”
Darcy shook his head. “I must give credit where credit is due. Miss Elizabeth did the hard work.”
Lord Pippinworth looked from Darcy to Elizabeth and back, his eyes narrowed. Then he chuckled knowingly at Darcy. “Yes, indeed, it is important to give credit where it is due. That is the way to woo her!”
Darcy knew he was blushing as the lord walked away laughing.
***
Mr. Darcy and the lord recruited a couple of sturdy men to strong-arm the viscount out of the library and into the kitchen to await the pleasure of the magistrate. Elizabeth watched him go with a tremendous sense of relief; the man and his lies had ruled her life for months. Now the fight was over. Lord Henry’s perfidy had been made public. Elizabeth’s name had been cleared before enough witnesses that there would never be a doubt about her virtue.
She felt lighter than she had in a long time but also a little unmoored. What should she do now? The last few months of her life had been entirely directed by Lord Henry and his actions. Now she was free to resume the life she had led before his interference. There was nothing to bar her from returning to Longbourn, and she would certainly be pleased to spend time with Jane and her father. Her mother and other sisters, however, were a different matter. She did not blame them for believing the viscount’s lies; it was in the nature of their characters. But she was hurt by their lack of faith in both her morality and her honesty, and she was not eager to share a roof with them.
Members of her family were interspersed throughout the crowd. Lydia and Kitty appeared bemused by the entire event and were loudly asking questions of anyone who would listen. Her mother declared that she knew about Elizabeth’s innocence all along. Her father and Jane were far less vocal but were wreathed with smiles as they spoke to people about Elizabeth’s vindication.
In fact, all around Elizabeth people talked with great animation about the stunning events of the ball. They laughed, drank punch, and milled about. Elizabeth stood, solitary and silent and unmoving—wondering what would become of her. Mr. Darcy certainly had mentioned plans for their future, but what if he had changed his mind? What if he had been thoroughly disgusted with the Bennets once again and wanted nothing to do with her? She could hardly blame him. Or what if he realized he had not felt love for her so much as pity?
Lord Pippinworth and Mr. Darcy had returned to the library and were talking like old friends by the time they reached Elizabeth. “The magistrate will need to speak with me; would you be so kind as to accompany us?” the lord asked Mr. Darcy. “You could give a full accounting of everything you have learned.”
“I can visit him tomorrow,” Mr. Darcy replied. “But I have more pressing business tonight.” His eyes were on Elizabeth. Why is he watching me?
“At this time of night?” Lord Pippinworth exclaimed.
“It is extremely urgent,” Mr. Darcy assured the other man.
The lord’s eyes followed Mr. Darcy’s and then widened. “Oh! Very good. I see.” Lord Pippinworth gave Elizabeth a benevolent smile.
I wish he would explain it to me, Elizabeth thought. It was as if the two men were speaking in code.
Mr. Darcy took two steps toward her. With one eyebrow raised, he had an expectant look in his eye, but Elizabeth was entirely mystified. His eyes caught and held hers; she could look nowhere else.
Then he got down on one knee. There were gasps from the assembled onlookers. All conversation ceased, and all eyes were on them.
“Miss Bennet, now that your name has been cleared, I am hoping there are no other objections to our union. I esteem you. I admire you. I love you. I beg you to be my wife.” His expression was somber.
Does he fear I will refuse him again?
Was that why he has made this proposal in public?
She could not let him dwell in an agony of ignorance for one more moment. “Mr. Darcy, I would be honored to be your wife.”
Mr. Darcy’s smile was blinding as he instantly sprang to his feet, enveloping her in his embrace. Elizabeth scarcely had time to draw breath before he kissed her. The onlookers gasped and giggled at this breach of decorum.
Her mother’s voice floated above the hubbub. “Oh! Oh! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought? Ten thousand a year. Who would have thought?”
Darcy’s lips released hers, but he still held her, his mouth hovering near her ear. He huffed a little laugh at her mother’s exclamations. “Yes, indeed, Elizabeth, who would have thought?” Then he kissed her again.