by Wendi Sotis
Elizabeth patted her hand. “I will remain, no matter what happens. Take heart! This cannot be as taxing as facing an abduction together.”
Elizabeth almost laughed when Ana’s expression communicated that this could be worse.
Opening the door to the parlour, Elizabeth walked through it. Ana followed close behind.
Lady Catherine was positioned precisely at the centre of a three-seater sofa. With her nose raised in the air and hands stretched out before her on the head of her cane, every joint in her body looked to be locked into place, as stiff as was possible. Though she was only the daughter of an earl, her manner was that of supreme royalty.
She was exactly as Elizabeth remembered her to be at her home in Kent, but there, in all of Rosings Park’s ostentatiousness, her comportment had seemed almost proper. In the comfortable surroundings of Longbourn, she looked a bit silly.
“Lady Catherine, it is so good of you to come for a visit.” Elizabeth curtsied, as did Ana.
Lady Catherine’s air changed to one of anger. “Georgiana Darcy! What is your brother thinking, leaving you here with this – this… ingrate?” She waved a hand at Elizabeth.
Ana paled so quickly and completely, Elizabeth thought her friend might faint. She took hold of Ana’s arm and led her to a chair a little off to one side and helped her sit, then stood directly across from Lady Catherine, so that the lady’s attention would be on her and not Ana.
“Excuse me, my lady, but to whom are you referring?”
“I am referring to you, Miss Bennet. You think because I live so far away in Kent that I should not know what you are up to, but I do. I know it all!”
Elizabeth clasped her hands before her. “I am at a disadvantage, Lady Catherine, for though you seem to think I understand you, I have no inkling of what you speak.”
Lady Catherine frowned. “A report of a most alarming nature reached me several days ago, saying you have met my nephew, Mr. Darcy, and you are determined to use your feminine wiles to lure him in.”
Elizabeth’s ire rose as well as her brows. The lady had done nothing but insult her since she entered the room.
“Of course, knowing a match between you is impossible — for he is engaged to my daughter — I laughed at the account,” said Lady Catherine.
“If such an event is impossible, I wonder you took the trouble of coming all this way.”
“Because, after thinking on it, I recalled that I suspected you had tried your best to get your hooks into my nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, while at the same moment, you were accepting my hospitality and that of Mr. Collins. From what I could see, the instant you found out he was not to inherit the earldom, you lost interest.”
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open for a moment before she recovered and snapped it shut. She glanced at Ana to see how she was feeling about all that her aunt was saying. Staring at Lady Catherine, the poor girl’s pallor had acquired a green tint, and her eyes were open so wide, Elizabeth thought they might pop out of her head. She returned her attention to Lady Catherine.
Lady Catherine continued, “Upon this recollection, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you. You will tell me now — has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?”
Elizabeth had been wrong — Ana’s eyes could open wider.
However, Elizabeth was certainly not about to confide in this woman. “Her ladyship has declared that to be impossible.”
“It ought to be, but as you tried with my other nephew, you may have used your arts and allurements, and in a moment of infatuation, he may have forgotten what he owes to himself and to all his family!”
“If I have, I should be the last person in the world to confess it.”
“I am unused to this lack of cooperation. Are you engaged to Mr. Darcy?”
“Madam, you may be Mr. Darcy’s relation, but you are nothing to me. I may not answer your ladyship’s questions with equal frankness. Your behaviour since my entering the room does not induce me to be explicit.”
Lady Catherine banged her cane on the floor in frustration. “I will not leave until you answer me! Are you engaged?”
There was a vibration of the windows that Elizabeth recognised, for it happened every time the front entrance door was closed. She could only imagine the reason her father had not joined them at breakfast was that he was not at home. She hoped this indicated his return and he would hear the ruckus in this room and enter. Soon.
He did not.
She would have to answer Lady Catherine if there was to be any hope she would leave her in peace. “I am not.”
Her ladyship seemed to accept that answer. “Will you promise never to enter into an engagement with Mr. Darcy?”
“I will not make that promise. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to choose his cousin as his wife, why is he not free to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may I not accept him?”
“Because if you married him, you would be censured, slighted, and despised by everyone connected with him. Your alliance would be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”
Elizabeth replied, “The wife of Mr. Darcy will have such extraordinary sources of happiness attached to her situation, that she would have no cause to object to these misfortunes.”
“You would pull him down! If you were sensible of your own good and the good of my niece and nephew, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you were brought up.”
“In marrying Mr. Darcy, I cannot see how I would be quitting that sphere. Mr. Darcy is a gentleman. I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far, we are equal.”
“And your mother’s family? Do not think me ignorant of your aunts’ and uncles’ positions in society. You have no regard for the honour of my nephew? Such connections will disgrace him before everybody.”
She heard the floor creak in the corridor. Her mother and sisters were probably out there listening. Goodness! She was surprised her mother had not burst into the room at the last statement.
“If their condition is not important to Mr. Darcy, it can mean nothing to you.”
“I will not leave this place until you voice the assurances I require. You will not accept a proposal of marriage from Mr. Darcy.”
“And I shall never make that promise, madam. I am resolved to act in whatever manner I decide will ensure my own happiness.”
The door opened behind her, but Elizabeth refused to break the glare she aimed at Lady Catherine.
“I see you are determined to ruin him, and his sister,” she gestured wildly.
Elizabeth froze. Had the rumours from Wickham’s letters already spread? What other ruin could she mean?
Lady Catherine continued, “Yes, you will ruin them both in the eyes of all his friends, cause them to become objects of contempt for being associated with you. Your ambition will bring scandal upon my own daughter once his abandonment of her is made public. I am most seriously displeased.”
“That is quite enough, Aunt.” Mr. Darcy’s voice boomed from behind her.
Oh! It had been Mr. Darcy lingering in the corridor, not her mother and sisters. How much had he heard?
Mr. Darcy placed a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I apologize, Miss Elizabeth, for my aunt’s crass manners. I believe that if anything stains our reputations, it shall be the manner in which my relation has treated you today.”
He turned to his aunt and stepped forward as if he were placing himself between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine. “I have told you time and time again that Anne and I will not marry. Your own daughter has told you, as well. If anyone would bring scandal upon Anne, it is you, Aunt. You have never believed us. Instead, you have spread the falsehood of our engagement far and wide. If shame comes to her, it is your doing, not mine, and definitely not Miss Elizabeth’s.”
Lady Catherine rose from the sofa and arranged her features into a softer expression. “But Darcy, you and Anne are formed for each other. Your mot
her and I arranged your marriage whilst she was still in her cradle.” She glared again at Elizabeth. “Instead, you would marry a woman with no family, connections, or fortune? It is not to be endured.”
“Anyone who would hold the station of Miss Elizabeth’s family against her would be people with whom I have no wish to associate. This subject is none of your affair.”
“But I am almost your nearest relation—”
“I am my own man. I will make my own decisions, especially about whom I will share every day of the remainder of my life. You have no say.”
Ana was suddenly at her brother’s side, standing tall. She turned and smiled slightly at Elizabeth, then her demeanour took on a regal attitude as she turned to face her aunt.
Mr. Darcy continued, “I imagine you have insulted Miss Elizabeth in every possible way and are no longer welcome at Longbourn. If you would like to refresh yourself before returning to Kent, I will escort you to Netherfield Park, though I warn you, I will not allow any further discussion of this subject.”
Lady Catherine harrumphed. “I will not lower myself to step foot inside another residence in Hertfordshire, ever again. Not for the rest of my life. I know how I shall act. When you realise your error and wish to apologize, nephew, you may find me at my brother’s residence in London. He will make certain this whim of infatuation shall never come to fruition.”
“Again, you have said enough, Aunt. It is time for you to leave.”
Ana stepped away from her brother and threaded her arm through Elizabeth’s.
Lady Catherine brushed past Elizabeth, bumping into her, but Elizabeth stood firm.
Mr. Darcy glanced at his sister and then met and held Elizabeth’s gaze. “I shall see her off and return to you directly.”
After he left, her mother and sisters rushed into the room.
Goodness! What a day this has been. Could she not have a few moments to recover from that horrid scene?
“What did Lady Catherine want with you, Lizzy?” Lydia asked. “We could not understand what she said, but does she always speak so loudly?”
Ana nodded.
“I am sure she was passing through and wanted to let us know that the Collinses were well,” said her mother. “It was prodigiously civil of her to stop in to see you.”
Elizabeth did not answer. Lady Catherine had not been civil in word or action. But the mention of the Collinses made her realise that it must have been Mr. Collins who reported back to Lady Catherine that Mr. Darcy was interested in her.
It seemed the entire family had gone into the sitting room to see Lady Catherine’s carriage sitting in the yard while that lady had been in here scolding her. Her mother was now complimenting Lady Catherine’s horses, equipage, and the superior liveries of her driver and footmen.
Jane entered the room, wearing the most joyous smile Elizabeth had ever seen. “While you were in with Lady Catherine, I left the room for a moment. Mr. Bingley followed me into the corridor and proposed, Lizzy! He is in the bookroom with Papa at this very moment. Oh, how shall I bear so much happiness?”
Elizabeth’s distress melted away at such happy news. “Oh, Jane!”
She moved to hug her sister, but Jane said, “Careful, Lizzy. Mama does not know yet. I thought it would be best to wait until we had Papa’s permission first.”
Elizabeth nodded. Taking Jane’s hand, she gave it a light squeeze. “You and your Mr. Bingley are a perfect match. I am so happy for you.”
Ana added her congratulations, then looked at Elizabeth with a considerable amount of anticipation.
Oh, why had she brought Ana in with her to see Lady Catherine? After all that Ana heard Elizabeth say, she must expect Elizabeth to tell her brother that she had changed her mind. However, the situation had not changed… if the subject of Wickham’s letters got out, she still might be ruined. She would not pull Ana and Mr. Darcy down with her.
She heard her father’s and Mr. Bingley’s voices in the corridor, then the sound of the front door closing again.
“Mr. Bennet,” Elizabeth heard Mr. Darcy say, “May I speak to you for a moment, please?”
Mr. Bingley entered the room. He was so distracted, heading directly to Jane’s side, that he left the door open. His expression was too elated to have received anything but an affirmative answer to his seeking permission from their father to marry his eldest daughter. Both Elizabeth and Ana congratulated him quietly.
“Where is my father?” Jane asked. “We should allow him to tell the rest of the family, should we not?”
Mr. Bingley answered, “He will join us soon. Darcy detained him in the corridor.”
Being close to the door, with the door open, Elizabeth now realised she could hear them. She should not listen, but she could not help herself. She had missed part of their conversation, but with some effort to focus, Elizabeth was able to hear Mr. Darcy say, “…I believe that is what is behind her refusal of my offer earlier today. With your permission, sir, my intention is to speak to her about it again.”
Her father chuckled. “Well, that saves me the trouble of making the rather grand speech I prepared while you were gone. You have my permission.”
Mr. Darcy answered, “Thank you, sir.”
“You wish to do it now?” her father asked.
“Yes, please.”
“It has been a day for proposals. I will call her out of the room,” her father answered with a chuckle.
Briefly, she wondered if Mr. Darcy knew about Jane and Mr. Bingley or if he thought her father meant his offer earlier in the day in his comment.
Jane put a hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Lizzy! You suddenly became so pale. What is wrong?”
Ana was in conversation with Mr. Bingley, so Elizabeth pulled Jane to the side. “Oh, Jane. I just overheard… and yes, I know I should not have listened on purpose, but I did. Mr. Darcy is going to ask me again to marry him.”
Her father walked in, his gaze searching the room, looking for her, she assumed. She hid behind Jane.
Jane said, “Dearest Lizzy, you love him. I know you do.”
Elizabeth nodded. “You are correct.”
Jane shook her head. “Then, I do not understand. I must admit, Lizzy, I heard what you said to Lady Catherine, as did Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Bingley went to Papa, I came to join you all. I found Mr. Darcy. He had just entered the house and was in the entry hall outside this room, struggling to remove his coat without assistance. Eventually, he threw his hat and coat on the floor and rushed into the room. In the meantime, you and Lady Catherine were speaking so loudly, I am afraid that I could hear what you said even though I was further away from the door than he was. I am certain Mr. Darcy knows exactly how you feel, as well. You said you would not refuse him because you wished to secure your own happiness. It could not have been plainer.”
“I did say that, but Jane, I meant only if these happenings with Wickham pass by without ruining my reputation. Of course, I was not about to explain that to Lady Catherine.”
Jane shook her head. “But you love him. You have always insisted you would marry for love or not at all.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I have always wished to marry a man I love with my whole heart, and I am certain Mr. Darcy is that man. I feel, deep within my soul, I will love him forever. But please, Jane, do not leave me alone with him. Not yet. I must wait and see what happens first. If he asks me now, I will have to say no.” Tears pricked her eyelids. “I am sure if I refuse him twice, he will never ask again.”
Jane gasped and nodded. “Now I see. I will do my best to remain with you, dearest.”
Jane shifted her weight to her other foot, moving half a step to the side, exposing Elizabeth to their father.
Elizabeth whispered, “Oh, no.”
He approached, just as she feared. “Lizzy, come with me, please.”
Elizabeth forced a smile, glanced at Jane, and met her father’s gaze. “I thought you had something to announce to Mama and our sisters.”
“That wi
ll have to wait until later. Come.”
Elizabeth felt her shoulders slump.
Jane made to join them, but her father said, “No, not you, Jane.”
Jane looked at Elizabeth with a helpless expression.
“It is fine, Jane,” she said softly. “I guess this is something I cannot avoid, after all.”
Once out in the corridor, her father closed the door behind them. He took her unbandaged hand in his. “Lizzy, I well know that you are the kind of person who puts everyone else’s well-being before your own.”
“I believe you are thinking of Jane, Papa.”
He shook his head. “Jane is happy when those around her are happy, it is true, and she will do what she must to keep it that way, but that is for her own comfort as well as theirs. In contrast, you strive to achieve others’ contentment, often at the expense of your own pleasure. Other than giving up your daily walks, of course.” He winked. “But when it comes to anything important, you will do almost anything for others.”
When she opened her mouth to argue, he put up a hand, halting her. “There is no denying that it has always been your way.”
She blinked away the tears that had pooled in her eyes.
“Now, then, I ask you to think of what is about to happen in the following manner, my Lizzy. Your family may have an odd way of displaying it, but we all wish to see you happy. However, right now…” He hesitated. “No, I must not mince words. Elizabeth, not only are you putting yourself in a wretched state, but also, at this very moment, I cannot think of anyone at Longbourn or Netherfield to whom your stubborn selflessness is not producing acute distress.”
Her father lowered his chin and stared at her for a moment before continuing. “I have watched you and Darcy every time you are together. When you look at him, the change in your appearance is striking. It is as if someone ignited a lantern in the darkest part of the night. It is the same for him when he looks upon you.” He squeezed her hand. “I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy. Please, for my sake, if for no one else’s, do not sacrifice a life filled with joy because of something that may never come to pass.”
