A Wife for Mr. Darcy

God to separate us .
Love, Will
    Darcy called for his manservant. “Ask Rogers to send that by express rider and make sure that it goes out today.” Well satisfied with the results, Darcy sat back in his chair and, after thinking about the contents of the letter, decided that he was rather good at this business of writing love letters. He only hoped Elizabeth would agree.

As soon as Sir John Montford entered the parlor, he took the same chair his daughter occupied whenever she visited the Darcy townhouse. Remembering Georgiana’s comment about Miss Montford’s nose pointing toward the street, Darcy looked to see if it was a family trait. It wasn’t. But with such important business at hand, he had to chuckle to himself at the ridiculousness of thinking about someone’s nose at such a moment, but his amusement was short-lived, as his thoughts were interrupted by Sir John’s gruff voice.
    “I assume you know why I am here?”
    Darcy nodded, although he wasn’t quite sure what he was agreeing with.
    “Darcy, I know your father was a liberal man, but he would not approve. I daresay he would not approve. You have gone too far.”
    “You object to my politics?” Darcy asked.
    “You know I do, and that is the seed that bore this rotten fruit. If it weren’t for your liberal notions, all of this Whig nonsense about Catholic emancipation and expanding the franchise and God only knows what else, you would never have treated my daughter the way you did.”
    Darcy was not happy with his performance regarding Letitia, but he did not think he had mistreated her. And what on earth did Catholic emancipation and expanding the franchise have to do with anything? He almost wanted to laugh. He would have to make it a point to visit the House of Lords when Lord John Montford made his maiden speech. It should prove interesting.
    “First, it was this Bingley fellow. Letitia told me you thought he was a gentleman. Well, let me set the record straight; he is not a gentleman. Nor are his sisters.” A flustered Sir John added, “You know what I mean.”
    Darcy sighed in relief. At least now he understood what his transgression was: his association with his lower-class friends.
    “Think of what your revolutionary ideas have done to your sister. To encourage my daughter to associate with people of such low rank, and then to learn that this Mrs. Garner would also be attending—the wife of a coffee broker—a man who earns his living by prowling the docks and negotiating prices. He is nothing more than a glorified peddler.”
    “Forgive me, Sir John. I have not had an opportunity to speak with my sister, so I am not sure what you are referring to.”
    “The tea, man. The tea. Miss Darcy came to my home yesterday for the purpose of inviting Letitia to tea. Fortunately, she mentioned the names of the guests to my daughter’s companion, who immediately informed me. I find your sister blameless in all this. But I must warn you, Darcy, her association with these people will affect her pursuit of a marriage partner. She will find offers scarce if this continues.”
    “I appreciate your concern for Georgiana. However, I am her guardian, and I will do what I think is best for her,” Darcy said through gritted teeth. “By the way, my grandmother was a Catholic.”
    Sir John noted the change in Darcy’s voice and knew he had strayed from the matter at hand. He moderated his tone, as he had no wish to offend a Darcy, especially since it was an association with the Darcy family that he had been after in the first place.
    “I want no hard feelings between us, Darcy. However, I must ask that you stop seeing my daughter. She was not brought up to…”
    “I understand your concerns, Sir John,” Darcy said, interrupting, “and if I have hurt your daughter in any way, it was not intentionally done. May I ask that you convey to Miss Montford my wishes for her health and happiness?” Darcy stood up to let Sir John know the conversation had come to an end.
    “I thank you for taking this so agreeably. But a word of advice. Your idea of a courtship is rather unconventional. Coming and going, disappearing for weeks at a time, no letters. That will not win you the affection of any lady. I tell you this since your father was a friend of mine, and I am sure he would have given you the same advice.”
    Darcy nodded his head but said nothing, and rang for Rogers to see his visitor to the door. After watching a hackney take the odious man