“Not had a chance! He has walked with me almost daily –” She stopped herself as realization dawned on her. “Was he courting me? All those times he walked me back to the parsonage, I thought it was just perverse fate,” she said quietly, confused wonder in her voice. “How could I have missed it?”

“We often do not see that which we do not wish to see,” he said.

Elizabeth laid her head on her father’s shoulder, exhaustion overcoming her. Disbelief coloring her voice, she asked, “Father, do you actually think I could be happy with Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes, I think you could. You are not built for low spirits. Your liveliness will brighten his disposition and his greater information and position in the world will feed your mind in ways you never imagined. Picture it, Lizzy, quiet evenings spent in front of the fire with a good book, the man beside you would be quiet and reading his own tome, not blathering on about insipid topics,” he chuckled while Elizabeth smiled weakly. “Intelligent discourse, travel, elegant company. Mr. Darcy will make a good companion in time, I think. You may have to train him a bit, but if anyone can do it, it is you.”

Silent tears tracked down her cheeks as she realized her father was deadly serious and would not support her refusal. But still, she had to ask.

“What will happen if I refuse him?” She felt her father stiffen. “Will you throw me from Longbourn? Will I be forced to find employment or take refuge with whatever relatives will take me in? Will Mr. Darcy seek revenge for his humiliation?”

“I would never throw you out, my dearest daughter, and I do not believe Mr. Darcy is the kind to seek revenge on a lady for nothing but refusing his suit. However, he is a powerful man and I would not actively seek to anger him.”

“Do I have a choice?” she asked in a small voice.

“There is always a choice, Elizabeth. But I beseech you to listen to your father. I know what’s best, and I have lived longer in this world than you. A woman without protection is in a precarious position. I would not like to see it happen to you, my most beloved child. Please, accept Mr. Darcy when he asks you in the morning. Write to him while you are away and come to know him without prejudice. Open yourself to the possibility of caring for him and respect the man that he is. He will take good care of you and look after your mother and sisters. That is not to be taken lightly.”

“Why will we need protection, Papa?” she asked so quietly he almost didn’t hear her.

He stroked her hair and said quietly, “No one knows what the future holds, my dear.” He kissed the top of her head and asked, “Will you marry Mr. Darcy?”