by Leenie Brown
Caroline’s head had dipped, and her cheeks grew rosy when he had secured her hand in his.
“I am also fortunate to have fallen for such a lovely lady as yourself.” His eyes smiled as much as his lips did.
To Darcy, it looked as if Sir Matthew was truly happy in his current situation.
“I think we will visit Mrs. Philips and Lady Lucas tomorrow.”
Dash’s head popped up almost as if he were as surprised as Darcy was at hearing Caroline say such a thing, but it was not Caroline’s words that had caught Dash’s attention. Nor was it Bingley’s entrance to the drawing room and his subsequent scooping up of Oliver that had caused Dash to grumble. There was a carriage on the drive.
“Were you expecting visitors?” Sir Matthew asked.
“No. But it could be any one of our neighbours. There are several who have not yet called.” Bingley stood expectantly in front of his chair, rather than sitting.
It was not very long before the noise of someone entering drifted up the stairs to the open door of the sitting room.
Dash was the first to move.
Darcy rushed after him, but he was not quick enough to catch him.
“Darcy, what is the meaning of this?” Lady Catherine waved at the dog who was sniffing her shoes. “I nearly fell! It is not a proper way to be greeted. Not at all. Go on with you. Leave me be,” she said to Dash, and Dash being the dog that he was, cocked his head to the side, looked up at her, and moved not an inch.
“Dash,” Darcy called. The beast removed his eyes from Lady Catherine to consider Darcy for a moment before ignoring him completely.
“It seems he likes you, Aunt Catherine.”
“Of all the things!” she huffed. “You know how I feel about animals in the house. Dogs are for hunting, not decoration.”
“Dash is anything but a decoration,” Darcy said with a laugh. “And he has yet to learn to hunt. I got him for Georgiana. He makes her happy.”
Lady Catherine’s right brow rose as her lips pursed and she looked down at Dash. “Well, then, I suppose I must like you. Now stand by and allow me to finish my ascent of these stairs.”
Dash plopped down on the step and did not move.
“I must say he obeys well when you speak correctly. I will teach you, Darcy. You are too soft. You always have been, but then, that is what I like about you.” She had reached the top of the stairs by the time she had finished her comments. “Come along,” she said to Dash, who immediately obeyed. “Anne is in town with her aunt. She is well. The cough never developed into anything of consequence.” She looked up and down the hall. “We must talk.”
“About what?” Darcy asked before making a move to lead her to the sitting room.
“I have heard tales about a betrothal. That cannot be. You were destined for Anne.”
Darcy sighed. “The study is this way.” He motioned down the hallway.
“I had a letter – well, no. That is not it precisely. Mrs. Collins had a letter. It contained some very unsettling news.”
Apparently, his aunt was not about to wait until they had reached the study before she had her say. Of course, that was not uncommon for his aunt. When she had business to discuss, it was discussed no matter where she might be in the house. Servants did not have ears in her world. At least, they did not if they wished to retain their position in her household.
“I had thought that Mrs. Collins’s mother must be mistaken. You could not possibly be betrothed to some young woman since we have been expecting you to offer for Anne for some time now.” She entered the study ahead of him and paused speaking long enough to give the room a thorough looking over before sighing with resignation that it would have to do and taking a seat.
“As I was saying, I knew it could not be true, but Mrs. Collins insisted it was. Well, I knew if anyone knew the truth it would be my brother, so we – Anne and I – went to London. You were not home, which caused me no little amount of trepidation, and then, well…” She shook her head and looked most dissatisfied. “My brother informed me that the rumors I had heard were not rumors at all.”
“They are not. I am betrothed.” Darcy unbuttoned his jacket and reclined in his chair.
“My brother will not support me, but I had to come place my case, as well as that of your very disheartened cousin, before you. How could you play her false?”
Darcy blinked. “Play Anne false?”
Lady Catherine nodded. “She has just finished sewing a cap for when she marries. This news came as quite a blow.”
Darcy doubted that very much. Anne had no desire to be Mrs. Darcy. Of that, Darcy was rather certain.
“I do apologize for your disappointment, but it is not I who has played my cousin false, madame. I believe that grievous sin falls to you.”
“To me? Of all the… I dare say it does not!”
“You are the only one who has ever spoken to her about marrying me. I know for a fact that I have never mentioned it. I have done nothing to engage her affections. I have been very careful to be as circumspect as can be around my cousin.”
Lady Catherine scowled. “You were kind to her.”
“As I should be. We are relations.” His words only deepened his aunt’s scowl. “Nothing you say will move me.” It was best to just end this argument before it began. “I am marrying Elizabeth Bennet.”
“What is she compared to you?” Lady Catherine grumbled, stirring Darcy’s ire.
“She is my life, my heart, my everything, and I will not abide one ill word to be spoken against her. If you wish to retain your relationship with me, you will measure your words carefully.”
“Love,” she muttered. “Young people these days think love is of utmost importance. Foolish notions. Marriage is an alliance.”
“I will not disagree with you.”
Lady Catherine’s mouth dropped open. It was clearly not the response she expected.
“Love can be a foolish thing, but do not dismiss something merely because it appears foolish. For love is not weak. It is not easily overcome.” He knew full well how difficult it had been to try to overcome his love for Elizabeth – indeed, how foolish he had been to think he could overcome his love for Elizabeth. “And marriage is most assuredly an alliance. Between two hearts.”
“That is not my meaning.”
“I am well aware of that fact. I will not be moved.”
“You are as stubborn as an old goat just like your uncle!” she cried. “What am I to do with Anne?”
Darcy shook his head. “I do not know.”
Lady Catherine sighed and patted Dash’s head, which was propped on her knee.
Darcy rose. “You will stay for at least the night, will you not?”
“Well, I am not returning to London at this hour of the day!”
“Then, it would be best if I were to introduce you to our host and hostess.” Darcy stood at the door with his hand on the doorknob. “You will not disparage them.”
Lady Catherine lifted her chin. “It goes without saying.”
“Not a foul word about my betrothal will leave your lips?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she pouted very much like a petulant child would.
“Not a foul word,” Darcy repeated.
His aunt’s features relaxed as she affixed a smile on her lips. “It goes without saying. I am, of course, delighted for you.”
Her voice was dripping with contempt, but it would have to do.
“Since I have your word.” Darcy opened the door.
“You would not do this to me, would you?”
The softly spoken comment was met with a bark.
“That is a good boy,” Lady Catherine whispered.
Darcy sighed and shook his head. Apparently, if a person were in the least bit difficult, his dog would befriend them and follow them to the gates of hell and back if asked.
Chapter 7
“I trust you slept well, Aunt Catherine?” Darcy looked up from the paper he was reading.
; “Quite,” she said as she took a seat to break her fast as she always did with a cup of tea, an egg, and a dry piece of toast.
Darcy had seen to it that the footmen assigned to the breakfast room were aware of his aunt’s desires. She would not be toasting her own bread, nor did she expect to have to ask to be served.
“That cat,” Lady Catherine’s eyes followed Oliver as he slinked around the room, “has stolen my bracelet twice. He is not to be trusted.”
“He also likes to pounce upon the table,” Darcy cautioned. “However, I do believe you will be safe with Dash at your side. Oliver has yet to warm to Dash.”
“Where is your sister?”
“She will likely be down soon. I believe she is expecting callers within the hour.”
Hopefully, his aunt could be gone before the Bennets arrived. He did not need a repeat of last evening. It had been a struggle for him to endure his aunt’s cutting, veiled remarks which did a poor job of disguising her displeasure even if they did not fall on the side of being disparaging — or, more precisely, they had ceased to fall on the side of being disparaging after Darcy had asked Bingley if the empty room above the stable might be readied. That had caused Lady Catherine to hold her tongue long enough for them to all retire for the night. However, this morning, there were no demeaning accommodations to use as a deterrent to his aunt’s words. She could be sent away, but likely not before she could do some damage.
“Is there no meat in this house?”
“You do not eat meat for breakfast,” Darcy said, peering up once again from his paper.
“You,” she called to one of the footmen, “fetch me a small bit of ham if there is any.” She turned her attention back to scraping the darkest crumbs from her toast. “Georgiana seems in good spirits.”
“She is.”
“Is there news of Richard in the paper?”
“Nothing in particular,” Darcy replied.
“She is recovering well, then?”
“Georgiana?”
“Yes, of course, of whom else might I be speaking?” Lady Catherine cut her toast into four pieces as a plate with a slice of ham was placed on the table next to her. “Ah, that is just the thing. I was about to despair of anything proper being available in this place.” She waved her knife in a circle in the air as she said this place.
“Netherfield is a fine estate and is run well. Mrs. Nichols is an excellent housekeeper, and Mr. Barrett excels at his post as well.”
Lady Catherine pursed her lips and shook her head. “The servants can only be as good as their master, and their master,” she waved her knife in the direction of the footmen, “knows little of how a master of an estate should conduct himself. No separation after the meal!”
“There was little need of separating,” Darcy repeated what he had told her last night when she had voiced her displeasure over the neglect of proper decorum.
“There is always a need.” She had finished cutting the ham into small pieces and, reaching over to take a fork from Darcy’s place setting, she speared a morsel and fed it to Dash.
“He is not to be fed from the table!” Darcy cried.
“He is hungry. Just look at his eyes.”
“He is a trickster,” Darcy replied.
“He is a hungry trickster. Are you not?” Lady Catherine said to Dash as she fed him a second piece of ham. “That is all for the moment. I must eat my egg, and then you shall have some more.”
“Good morning,” Georgiana greeted as she entered the room.
“Your brother said you are expecting guests.”
“I am expecting friends,” Georgiana corrected.
“Friends? Here?”
Georgiana nodded as she accepted a cup of tea. “Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty, and Miss Mary promised to accompany their sisters to Netherfield today. There is a piece of music we wish to play and a dance to practice. I must be ready for my come out next season, you know.”
“Indeed, you must.” Lady Catherine scrutinized Georgiana as she ate the egg she had told Dash she was going to eat.
Dash pawed at her chair leg but returned to sitting attentively when Lady Catherine gave him a stern look before returning her attention to her niece.
Her brow arched, and her lips curled into a small smirk.
“Do you wish for your carriage to be readied?” Darcy asked. He did not like the calculating look on his aunt’s face.
She shook her head. “I assume Miss Elizabeth Bennet is one of these young ladies’ sisters?”
“Yes,” Georgiana replied with a smile. “They are very pleasant.”
Lady Catherine’s right brow rose, imperiously this time, as her chin lifted.
“Your carriage?” Darcy tried once again.
“I will call for it when I am ready.” She speared another piece of ham for Dash. “I think it would be best if I met this Miss Elizabeth since my brother has not yet exerted himself to do so.”
“You will behave,” Darcy cautioned.
“Perfectly,” Lady Catherine said, lifting her cup to take a sip of tea. “Good morning, Sir Matthew, Miss Bingley.”
She was being altogether too pleasant, and it made Darcy excessively uneasy, for Darcy knew that his aunt was rarely pleasant without a reason – or rather, a scheme to put in play. However, she gave no indication as to what the scheme might be while she and Dash finished their breakfast.
Upon leaving the breakfast room, Darcy sought out Mr. Barrett.
“Have Lady Catherine’s carriage ready at a moment’s notice,” he instructed.
He needed to be prepared. He had warned his aunt that he would brook no disparagement of his betrothed, and while he did not fully expect her to blatantly ignore him, he also did not entirely trust her.
~*~*~
“So, you are the young woman who has finally turned Darcy’s head?” Lady Catherine said after Darcy had made all the introductions when the Bennets arrived a quarter hour later.
“I suppose I am,” Elizabeth replied.
“You are pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“There are a lot of you.”
“Aunt,” Darcy growled.
“It is a fact. I do not think I have seen five daughters all at once in one room,” she said in defense of her comment.
“How is your father?” Bingley asked.
“He was in his study with a book when we left,” Elizabeth replied.
“He seems more comfortable each day,” Jane added.
“I am glad to hear it,” Bingley said.
“Is your father not well?” Lady Catherine arranged herself in a chair that was close to the sofa on which Georgiana and the three youngest Bennets sat.
“Have you not heard?” Lydia asked as she scratched Dash’s head. “He fell when touring Darcy House and broke his leg.”
The information was met with a gasp of surprise from Lady Catherine.
“Dash tripped him,” Darcy added.
“Dash did?”
The question was said with a great deal of surprise that Dash could ever do such a thing. Apparently, it did not matter that the animal had tried to do the very same thing to her yesterday on her arrival. Darcy thought to mention such to her, but it would likely not do any good.
“You really need to take him in hand, Darcy. One cannot have one’s animal injuring people.”
“I agree.”
“As you should,” Lady Catherine added.
“He has been learning to behave better,” Lydia assured Lady Catherine. “He listens particularly well to Colonel Fitzwilliam and me. Actually,” Lydia tipped her head, “that is not true. Dash listens well to me.”
“Oh,” was all Lady Catherine had to say in reply.
Lydia gasped. “I nearly forgot.” She pulled a letter from her reticule. “I have had another letter.” She rose and crossed to give the missive to Darcy. “Do not read the last paragraph,” she whispered.
“Why is she giving you her mail?” Lady Catherine demanded.
; “It is from his cousin,” Lydia replied.
Darcy cringed at the admission. Lydia was far too trusting.
“Which cousin?”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, my lady,” Lydia said before resuming her seat.
“Fitzwilliam is writing to you?”
Darcy groaned.
“He has her father’s permission,” he interjected.
“How old are you?”
“Aunt,” Darcy cautioned with a pointed look.
“I must know what sort of lady has captured my nephew’s interest.”
“I will be sixteen in April, my lady.”
“Sixteen?” Shock suffused Lady Catherine’s features. “And your father encourages this?” She waved at the missive Darcy held. “You are out before your sisters are married?”
“Elizabeth and Jane shall marry before me.” Lydia looked at Darcy, confusion etched in her features.
“Things are not done now as they once were,” Darcy added with a small smile for Lydia.
“I should say not!” Lady Catherine cried. Then, with a huff — a very displeased huff — she rearranged herself in her chair as if keeping to her seat were a great trial. “Marrying where you choose, rather than thinking of your family.” She shook her head. “My brother might approve of you choosing as you have, Darcy, but I am certain he will not approve of her for his son!” Completely overcome and not being able to resist her restlessness a moment longer, she rose from her place.
“Why would he not?” Lydia asked.
“Why would he not?” Lady Catherine’s eyebrows rose high, and she looked at Lydia as if the girl was the stupidest person she had ever met. “You ask why an earl would not approve of a lady of little means whose mother is from trade? Have you no sense of propriety?”
“He loves me,” Lydia said above Dash’s growl.
“You are not good enough for him,” Lady Catherine snapped.
Dash positioned himself in front of Lydia and barked, startling Lady Catherine.
Lydia rose, arms folded, and eyes flashing. “I think that if Colonel Fitzwilliam is intelligent enough to lead a division of men, he is capable of choosing whom he wishes to marry,” she spat.
“It is not done. The son of an earl marrying someone with ties to trade?” She shook her head. “The world has turned on its head. Darcy marrying beneath his sphere? A tradesman’s son becoming a gentleman? A baronet marrying a tradesman’s daughter? It is not proper.”
