Mr Jefferson shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the ladies. “They had rope, Miss, and three or four sacks large enough to cover a person’s head. They had two horses still waiting over a slope to the north, and it looks as though a third horse was ridden away.”
“A kidnapping!” Lydia blurted. “But only horses enough to take one of us!”
Elizabeth watched Georgiana’s face drain even further and clasped the girl’s hand. “Mr Jefferson,” she turned back toward the man, “how could they have known that we would be found there today? None came after us as we drove, so they must have lain in ambush, waiting for a chance to take Miss Darcy when she was relatively unprotected. Who could have given them such information?”
“An investigation is being made as we speak, Miss Bennet. I have just spoken with Mrs Reynolds and Mr Hodges, and as yet the only servant of the house whose whereabouts cannot be accounted for is Mr O’Donnell.”
At this, Georgiana at last spoke. “It was Mr O’Donnell who ran to alert us to danger, though by such time it had already passed. He tried to come to our aid, Mr Jefferson.”
Jefferson lifted a brow. “I beg your pardon, Madam, but things may not be as they seem. As Miss Bennet has surmised, someone from the house must have been involved in the attempt, and naturally upon its failure, such a person would wish to appear innocent.”
“How can we know it was not someone from the stables, or even the gardens?” Elizabeth protested. “No secret was made of our destination, so many must have known. Mr O’Donnell does not have about him the air of a traitor to his mistress.”
The steward’s expression flashed with cynicism, and Elizabeth bristled, for she immediately understood the cause. Of course, he assumed that naïve young ladies would be deceived by a well-favoured footman! “Mr O’Donnell is relatively new at Pemberley, and his family has been in some distress. Many such find their loyalty to their employer less valuable than a full purse, Miss Bennet.”
The ladies shared an uncomfortable silence. The tall young footman had been a cheerful guardian these last weeks, often requesting duty near his mistress, assisting with the restoration of the library, taking extended shifts, standing escort at the slightest need—in short, offering services beyond his duties. He had seemed to Elizabeth and Lydia yet one more example of the graciousness of Pemberley, but now the seeds of suspicion left a bitter taste, casting all into doubt.
Elizabeth wetted her lips to speak, then thought better of it. Instead she gazed steadily at Georgiana, who was blinking as though she were about to faint. Her fingers tightened on Elizabeth’s hand, but she understood what was wanted of her clearly enough. She drew a breath, set her teeth, and rose to her feet. She glanced once to Elizabeth, meeting a smile of encouragement, then turned back to her steward. “Please carry on, Mr Jefferson. After each person has been questioned, please send both Mrs Reynolds and Mr Hodges to me, as well as Mr Williams from the stable, and Mr Bishop from the gardens.”
Jefferson bowed properly. “Yes, Miss Darcy. We will discover the truth, I promise.”
He had scarcely finished speaking when another footman appeared at the door and turned stoically to make his presentation. “Lady Catherine de Bourgh, ma’am.”
31
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Lady Catherine swept her gaze over the three girls, seemingly unsurprised at the identity of at least one of Georgiana Darcy’s guests. Her eyes narrowed faintly as she appraised Lydia, then settled once more upon her niece.
“Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth curtseyed, but she was ignored.
“Georgiana Darcy, I trust you have not entirely forgotten your manners, despite evidence to the contrary,” Lady Catherine spoke coolly, flicking another look toward Lydia.
Georgiana, still shaken by the events of the morning, seemed pale and drawn as she considered her aunt’s demand. Her mouth trembled, her eyes darting first to Elizabeth, and then Lydia. “I—forgive me, Aunt. May I present Miss Elizabeth’s sister, Mrs Lydia Wickham. She… she is here as my guest.”
The haughty brow lifted. “Wickham! I have heard of this woman. Kinswoman to my parson and wed to the dissolute son of a steward! A patched-up job indeed,” the cold eyes passed once more over Lydia’s form. “I am surprised at you, Georgiana Darcy, for receiving such a woman into your house. It proves that things are as bad here as I had feared. You may, of course, be forgiven your youth, but you, Miss Bennet,” she turned to Elizabeth, “you of age by now, are you not? Are you yet so naïve as to assume a fallen woman could associate with Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley? Or have you other motives in coming here?”
Elizabeth saw the flared nostrils, the flash of rebellion in her sister’s eyes, but she shook her head faintly, then smiled at the lady. “My sister is respectably married to a lieutenant in the Regulars, my lady, who is not always at liberty to entertain his wife. As for my interests, they are certainly the same as yours, Lady Catherine—to attend and console Miss Darcy by whatever means I may. It was most considerate of your ladyship to have come so far to comfort her.”
The lady frowned. “Comfort her! Nonsense. She may be young, but she is the mistress of Pemberley. She must be advised and governed, not coddled! I suppose it was Fitzwilliam’s notion to supply her with impractical company, that she might be kept happily installed here at Pemberley without the benefit of proper female relations. Georgiana Darcy, where is your cousin? I would speak with him.”
“He is… why, Richard has gone—” she bit her lip and rolled her eyes toward her friends as she fumbled for an explanation.
“He is away on estate business, my lady,” Elizabeth interjected. “He will be delighted to see that your ladyship has arrived, for we expect his return at almost any moment.”
“So soon! That is well. I shall depend upon him to make certain arrangements. I seem to recall, Miss Bennet, that your father cannot long do without you. He must be wishing for your return.” The hawkish gaze leveled in satisfaction, and the corner of her mouth lifted, but then creased darkly when Elizabeth spoke again.
“Not at all, my lady. As a matter of fact, I had a letter from him recently, and he asked most specifically after Miss Darcy’s wellbeing. As a parent of young ladies and master of property himself, my father appreciates the difficulties of her position, and was pleased to think that our family might be of service.”
Lady Catherine’s frown deepened. “Of what true benefit can the burden of guests be at such a time? And who is looking to matters of the estate? I wonder at the wisdom of your guardian, Georgiana, leaving you all here without proper escort. How long has Fitzwilliam been away?”
“Some days, my lady,” Elizabeth answered quickly. It was no falsehood—it was merely imprecise. “Your ladyship may be assured that he was reluctant to take his leave, but that it was a matter of the greatest import, and in the interests of Miss Darcy.”
Lady Catherine’s gaze had turned to ice. “I was speaking to my niece, if you please, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth bit her lip, chastened. You are not helping Georgiana! She tilted her head slightly to offer a look of encouragement to the young girl, one which could not be perceived by her aunt. Georgiana was still quaking and had actually taken a step or two backward. She met Elizabeth’s eyes with an imploring look of her own.
Lady Catherine’s cane stabbed the carpet. “Now then, Georgiana Darcy, how long has your cousin been away, and whence did he go? I shall have a straight answer this time!”
Georgiana’s eyes had dropped to the floor, but she lifted them again to Elizabeth before replying. Elizabeth made a faint gesture with her hand, a motion drawing upward toward her heart. She tipped her chin and offered a dazzling smile, lifting her shoulders into a cheerful poise. Lydia seconded the hint with a noise that was part laugh, part cough, and some light came to Georgiana’s eyes. Elizabeth nodded and drew herself back, as Georgiana seemed to perceive her meaning.
The girl cleared her throat, then squared her posture in precisely
the same manner as she had seen Elizabeth do. When she spoke, her voice was light and easy, with no trace of distress. “He has been gone since he went away, Aunt, to the place where his business led, and he shall be back the moment we see his carriage.”
Lydia fairly snickered, and Georgiana’s cheeks were bright with both triumph and embarrassment. Elizabeth was rolling her eyes and smiling, but Lady Catherine was not amused.
“Impertinent girl! It is clear to me, Georgiana Darcy, that you want for discipline! Too long have you been left to your own follies,” here, the lady sent a chilling glare toward the Bennet sisters, “and I have thought little enough of that companion of yours. Her, I will dismiss forthwith. As for what is to be done with you, it is obvious that such liberty and unfettered privilege as you have been permitted has nearly ruined you. You shall accompany me to Rosings at once, where you will be reeducated properly and a suitable husband will be found before your respectability is permanently jeopardised.”
Georgiana emitted a small squeak of dismay, her eyes bulging as her former spark of bravado flickered and died. Elizabeth caught her hand, which had lifted defensively, but it was irreverent Lydia who dared to answer.
“What a good joke!” she snorted. “As if she had any authority over you! Don’t listen to a word of it, Georgiana, for the colonel himself said none but he could force you to do anything until you came of age. You are not dependent upon Lady Catherine! I see now why she is so high on Mr Collins, for he—”
“Is perfectly suited for his post, of course!” Elizabeth interrupted. “Lydia, dear, I fear the sun has got to your head today. Oughtn’t you to lie down and rest?”
Lydia stuck a fist into her hip. “Come, Lizzy, you thought him as ridiculous as we all did. It is a jolly good thing you refused to marry him. Think if you had to live at Rosings like poor Charlotte!”
Lady Catherine was aghast and quivering with rage. “You—you vile creature!” She extended one weathered, thin finger toward Lydia, and Elizabeth could have sworn that the woman would soon begin to spit fire.
“Begone, Jezebel! Out of my sight at once! You may be assured that I shall denounce your entire family in all decent society. Your name shall never be mentioned in Town, and as for your marriage, I know it all! How much did your uncle pay to hush up the matter of your infamous elopement, and where is that shameful son of a steward now? A fine bargain he made of it all! Foolish girl, you have no place here, polluting the very shades of Pemberley, of all places! That I should live to see my sister’s child sully herself by association with a shameless harlot!”
“And these are the manners of a noblewoman?” Elizabeth asked. Her tones were quiet, but her cheeks were hot, her colour high. Lady Catherine’s high-handedness she could bear, but her thoughtless command over Georgiana and her insults—however well-deserved—to her own sister brought the iron out in her blood.
Lady Catherine whirled upon her. “I have not done with you, Elizabeth Bennet! How you managed to insinuate yourself into my niece’s favour I know not, but I have my suspicions. You wanted my nephew for yourself, though he was sworn to Anne. Oh, yes, I am not blind! I saw how he admired your charms, but thank heaven he was a man of enough sense to deny such devious arts! When your allurements failed to secure him in life, you imposed yourself on his sister, knowing that she had not the wisdom to resist you!”
“That shows what you know,” grumbled an insulted Lydia. “Lizzy, trying to attract Mr Darcy’s notice? She would sooner have danced with his horse, but it was jolly fun watching Miss Bingl—”
“Lydia, please!” hissed her sister. Elizabeth jerked her head toward the door, and Lydia, dropping her crossed arms in a huff, simply marched out of the room without a backward glance toward the noblewoman.
Lady Catherine was left with open mouth, staring after Lydia’s unceremonious departure. “I-i-insolent girl! That creature shall not remain a single moment longer in my sister’s home to corrupt her daughter! Where is the footman? I shall want her things packed this moment! She may go wherever will receive her, and you, Miss Bennet, shall follow!”
Tears were streaming down Georgiana’s face, and she was beginning to gasp helplessly, all the while imploring Elizabeth with stricken eyes to say something—anything. Elizabeth cringed in her heart. She had not desired to usurp Georgiana’s authority, tenuous as it was, but if she did nothing at all, the girl would never find the courage to resist her aunt’s wishes. The results could be worse than inconvenient or embarrassing—if none rose to defend Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam did not return before Lady Catherine had her way, the consequences for her would be life-altering. This, her conscience reminded her, this is why the colonel asked for you, and you gave your promise!
“Lady Catherine,” she heard herself answer haltingly, “perhaps my sister speaks out of turn, and her manners are in need of improvement, but she is my sister and the daughter of a gentleman, not to mention an officer’s wife who is nearing her first confinement. As such, I shall ask that your ladyship will refrain from speaking ill of her and threatening to cast her out of a home that is not your own. Pemberley belongs to Miss Darcy, and my sister and I shall remain or depart at her pleasure, not yours.”
Lady Catherine gaped wordlessly at Elizabeth for several seconds, then bore down again upon her niece. “Georgiana Darcy, do you hear this woman? She would deny me my place as your guardian and impose her company upon you in your time of mourning! This is precisely why young ladies must not be left without their guardians, for vultures such as these are like to take advantage of your naïveté! It is unpardonable that your own relations were not consulted in the choosing of your friendships. They have not even the proper connections—one uncle in trade and another an attorney! Do you realise the scandal when knowledge of this reaches London?”
“I….” Georgiana wetted her lips and her eyes skipped between her seething aunt and the woman who had become nearly a sister to her. “I w-want them h-here, Aunt,” she whispered.
The lady fairly growled, tsking and shaking her head. “You want! Hear you nothing I have said, Georgiana Darcy? These… women… they have no place here! You are a Darcy of Pemberley, and as such, these women are not even of your same sphere!”
“It is generally considered rude to speak before someone as though they are not present,” Elizabeth murmured.
“What was that?”
Elizabeth had clasped her hands behind her back and was gazing complacently toward the ceiling. She smiled faintly, causing Lady Catherine to step near in demand for answer. Elizabeth was happy to comply.
“It seems, Lady Catherine, that you take particular exception to my presence. I find that fact regrettable, but I would suggest that berating Miss Darcy regarding my invitation here shall profit her nothing. Pray, let us speak reasonably together, so that her best interests may be served.”
“Speak reasonably! Do you expect me to believe you have interests at heart other than your own?”
“Lady Catherine, had it not been for my sincere regard and affection for Miss Darcy, I would have remained happily in Hertfordshire. To there I would be pleased to return and resume my own life, but I have a duty to the Darcy family.”
The lady paused, her lips still opened to speak, but her gaze had turned quizzical. “A duty? Apart from the gratitude that must be natural for the condescension shown you by my niece, you are not indebted to the family, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth caught her lower lip between her teeth and met Georgiana’s wondering gaze. “I am afraid there is more, my lady. Mr Darcy was… uncommonly good to my own family. For reasons that must now remain purely his own, I learned after his death that he had exerted himself on behalf of my relations. Most of them will never know to whom they are indebted, but I am aware of his actions. I shall never repay his unmerited kindness, but I would cherish his sister as dearly as if she were my own, both for his sake and for hers.”
Lady Catherine stared witheringly at Elizabeth, as t
hough trying to determine her sincerity. “Miss Bennet, you must be aware that your company can hardly be considered a credit to my niece in better society.”
“I have been told as much, my lady, though such awareness often fails me. Certainly, a woman with an uncle such as mine should have better known her place, but I am afraid I have nothing but the highest regard for my uncle. As such, I suffer a lamentable lack of humility for my circumstances, but it is to my benefit that my esteemed cousin took care to enlighten me regarding my own consequence during my sojourn in Kent.”
“Miss Bennet, I can see that one year has wrought no great improvement in your address. You still speak with decided freedom and impertinence.”
“A failing which,” Elizabeth smiled, “Miss Darcy’s example cannot help but remedy in time. I believe your ladyship once before remarked upon my lack of a governess, but Miss Darcy’s manners are the soul of propriety. I think I have much to learn from her manner.”
The lady almost grunted. “More often I find that the mannerly and genteel are corrupted by uncouth fellowship.”
Elizabeth permitted herself a smile. “Perhaps that is not entirely to Miss Darcy’s detriment, my lady. Is she not the mistress of Pemberley, and shall she not remain so, regardless of marriage or widowhood? I should be sorry indeed if she comes into her inheritance without having first learnt to disarm insult and pressure from those who would seek to influence her for their own gain. Surely your ladyship is a perfect example of a woman who knows how to carry her own will without the benefit of a husband to manage her affairs for her.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I had the benefit of wise counselors and the very best education a young lady may receive, Miss Bennet. My niece’s situation has been dismally unsatisfactory.”
“Naturally, her education is not within my purview, but I trust your ladyship will take up the matter with Colonel Fitzwilliam upon his return. I understand that he alone may direct matters pertaining to the estate and Miss Darcy, save those arrangements specifically delegated to others for the time when he was to be away.”
These Dreams: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 36
