***
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A bothersome rapping came at the door and Darcy tilted his head as he responded, “Yes?”
“Mr. Darcy, may I come inside?” the servant girl called.
“Yes, please make haste,” he muttered, watching intently as the door sprung open. The servant girl, whom Darcy knew to be called Adelaide Hughes stepped just inside the room.
“Good day, Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine de Borough and Miss Anne de Borough have just arrived. They are patiently awaiting you in the parlor,” Adelaide informed him with a proper curtsy as she finished her speech.
“Indeed, thank you, Hughes. Please notify Lady Catherine and Miss de Borough that I shall be just a few moments.” He pursed his lips slightly as Hughes gave a nod and turned to leave the room.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Darcy. I shall do so straight away,” Hughes remarked softly over her shoulder.
Darcy sighed as soon as she disappeared from his eyesight. I have surely found myself in a predicament now, he thought. Was it not enough that he was already suffering profusely merely from the slight possibility that Miss Bennet would soon accept the engagement proposal that Archibald Bingley had been planning for her? In fact, he was not even certain that she had not already. The knowledge that Lady Catherine and her daughter were waiting to pounce upon him – in the most ladylike ways possible, of course – made him cringe. Nevertheless, it did not cease to appall him just how far some women would reach in an effort to secure a proper and prosperous marriage. Darcy was starting to feel like finding a wife suitable for him was more of a chore than he had initially presumed it to be.
I cannot understand why she simply will not take no for an answer and save herself the humiliation of once again refusing a rejection – one might assume them both mad with their reluctance! He pondered in agitation. Realizing he had dallied as long as he possibly could. Darcy coughed slightly to clear his throat and arose from his seat. The heavy echo of his boots was all he could hear as he moved to exit the room.
***
“Darcy!” Lady Catherine’s eyes expanded with a wild delight that Darcy had not been expecting. “Oh, beloved nephew, how have you been?”
“Good afternoon, Aunt,” he glanced to Anne seated with a poised posture and pleasant smile gracing her countenance. “Good evening, Miss de Borough, ” he added.
“Oh, Darcy, please. Must you be so formal with your cousin?” Lady Catherine asked.
“I only mean to regard her with the same respect I would any young lady who came to call upon my house” Darcy mumbled.
“Well, as you know, Anne is not just any young lady,” Catherine said pointedly. Darcy tilted his head – reserving his tongue as his mind dashed to his previous worries. Here she goes yet again – she is incessant! Just as he suspected, Lady Catherine continued, “Anne is at the prime stage for marriage, Darcy. We have been curious as to why you have not yet chosen to pursue your engagement?”
Darcy glanced at Anne whose eyes immediately fluttered to the floor. With a deep inward breath, Darcy readied to issue a response but a soft rapping disrupted him from speech as Adelaide once again appeared before the three of them. “Pardon, milord and ladies, but it seems Mr. Collins has come to call, as has Charlotte.”
“Mr. Collins? Please, show them into the drawing room and alert them that I shall be there straightaway. Thank you, Hughes.” Feeling pardoned of the burden of continuing the irritating discussion with which his aunt and cousin had initiated, Darcy felt relieved at his luck.
***
The next day, as life would have it, brought Darcy the opportunity to flee from his Aunt’s discussion yet again. And, with Mr. Collins’ visit the night before he knew that she and Anne would find hospitality in town by calling upon the various persons with whom she had formerly acquainted herself. However, it seemed that just the opposite happened and the very subject of Darcy’s deepest thoughts, Elizabeth Bennet, became a tangible person to the one individual he had hoped she would not yet cross paths with; Lady Catherine de Borough.
Rap. Rap. Rap.
“Good day?” Mrs. Bennet’s face came to the door as she peered at the callers standing on her front step. With a furrowed brow she tilted her head, “Who comes to call?” she asked curiously.
“Good day, Mrs. Bennet of Longbourn, I presume?” Lady Catherine’s graceful smile peered back at the matriarch of the household.
“Indeed, good day, Miss?”
“Oh,” Lady Catherine gave a genteel curtsy and smiled, “Heaven sakes, I have gotten ahead of myself. Please accept my sincerest apologies. I am Lady Catherine de Borough.”
“Oh, Lady de Borough. Is your nephew that considerate gentleman, Mr. Darcy?” she asked.
“Indeed, and I have come to visit him exclusively but having heard so much about your household, I simply had to come pay a visit. I hope my calling upon you has not disrupted your day somehow.” Lady Catherine stated, waving toward her accompanying daughter, “Please, meet my daughter Anne de Borough, she and Mr. Darcy are engaged,” Catherine said with a widespread grin. Mrs. Bennet’s eyes widened slightly, but realizing she had still not invited the two ladies inside she gave a curt nod and opened the door wider.
“Oh, I had no idea Mr. Darcy was betrothed. How delightful to meet you both. Please, do come inside. Would either of you care for some tea?” she asked.
“Oh, please. That would be wonderful, Mrs. Bennet. How gracious of you,” Lady Catherine said, stepping inside.
“Please, follow me to the library and I shall prepare the tea while you wait. I am positive Mr. Bennet and my daughters will be most pleased to meet you both,” Mrs. Bennet offered.
“That sounds most pleasant, Mrs. Bennet. What a gracious and warm hostess you make,” Lady Catherine stated as she and Anne followed just behind Mrs. Bennet.
“Very well, please be seated and I shall have one of my daughters and my husband come to greet you,” Mrs. Bennet said with a wave. Lady Catherine took a seat at the edge of a long chaise lounge with Anne choosing to sit as close as possible to her mother. Glancing around the library, they both smiled as Mrs. Bennet closed the doors with a curt nod, “I shall return with your tea promptly.”
***
“Lizzy?” Mrs. Bennet’s anxious voice echoed through the door of Elizabeth’s room rousing her from her worried thoughts.
“Yes?” she replied, “What is it, Mother?” Mrs. Bennet opened the door and peeked her head inside.
“There is a Lady Catherine de Borough who has come to call upon the Longbourn house. Did you know that Mr. Darcy was already engaged?” she asked curiously. Elizabeth’s eyebrows lifted in unison, a surprised and shocked expression overtaking her countenance.
“What? No, that is absurd. How could we not have already known such a thing?” Elizabeth asked in confusion.
“It is just as I suspected then. How very strange. Nevertheless, we should be proper hostesses. Lady Catherine’s reputation for decorum and propriety far proceeds her,” Mrs. Bennet insisted in a hurried tone.
“Mother, I scarcely know either of these ladies. Surely, Jane or some other would be more suited to entertaining someone of such high stature,” Elizabeth protested.
“Lizzy, there is no room for debate upon this subject. We have guests and we simply cannot be rude to them,” Mrs. Bennet stated sternly. Elizabeth sighed.
“Well, I find it horribly unbelievable that Mr. Darcy would jeopardize himself by aiding me and omitting such an imperative aspect of his life. Why would a man with ties to such persons do such a thing?” Elizabeth asked. Mrs. Bennet sighed – her eyes darting from her daughter toward the floor – a sign of her annoyance.
“Lizzy, please, is it not possible for you to bide your tongue in this instance and at least try to be presentable? If not for your own sake, for the sakes of your sisters and the rest of our house?” Mrs. Bennet asked. Elizabeth sighed with a horrified and exasperated exhalation.
“Oh, Mother, you will never cease to
amaze me. Fine, I shall go entertain these ladies. It has become obvious you will never stop your complaints until I acquiesce,” Elizabeth muttered experatedly.
***
Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth both strode into the library to find Lady Catherine and her daughter seated looking the part of proper aristocrats if ever Elizabeth had seen them.
“Good day, Lady Catherine,” Mr. Bennet began, bowing slightly as he peered to her daughter. “Good day, Miss de Borough, he greeted the younger woman. “Please meet my daughter, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth regarded Lady Catherine with a curt nod and a bow of her own.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady and Miss de Borough,” Elizabeth demured. “Welcome to Longbourn.”
“Oh, how gracious of you, Miss Bennet. My daughter and I were just looking over the expansiveness of your family library. I must say I am quite impressed with some of your volumes.” Lady Catherine proclaimed politely.
“Yes, father has worked diligently to ensure my sisters and I are in healthy supply of all the best works,” Elizabeth agreed. “Pardon my frankness, Lady Catherine, but may I ask why you chose to call upon Longbourn today?” she asked – her curiosity having piqued beyond containment. Lady Catherine glanced between her daughter and Mr. Bennet, but the elder gentleman remained silent as his daughter peered back at Lady Catherine intently.
“Well, I had heard so much about you from my beloved nephew. I am not sure if you are aware, but Mr. Darcy and my daughter,” she glanced at Anne, her lips spreading to form an impish grin as she continued to speak, “Well, Anne and Fitzwilliam have been engaged since childhood. It was always the hope of my sister and me, to see the estates tied and Anne has finally reached the proper age for marriage. In fact, we arrived in hopes of further discussion and arrangement of Darcy and Anne’s wedding.”
“That is most strange to learn, Lady Catherine, as it seems highly unlikely to me that Mr. Darcy would fail to mention such a pertinent aspect of his life. How was it that you came to speak of Longbourn and my family?” Elizabeth asked with a hint of suspicion in her tone.
“Oh, my. Miss Bennet, I am not quite sure why Mr. Darcy failed to announce such a thing, but I do hope such information has not become upsetting for you. I am certain that my nephew meant no harm when he assisted you from the lake after your fall. I assure you, however, that was all it was. Assistance from a kind gentleman. Did you presume it to be something further?” Lady Catherine asked. Elizabeth perked her brow and glanced toward Anne, her lips contorting softly as she considered her next words.
“Lady Catherine, I have presumed nothing about anyone. I just find it highly strange that any lady would call upon our simple household when surely a noblewoman has many others with whom she could occupy her time. I must say I am a bit surprised that you would come here simply to announce your daughter’s engagement.” Elizabeth’s tone held a hint of accusation as she looked upon the elder lady and her quiet daughter.
“Well, then I fully understand the source of your frustration, Miss Bennet. However, you can rest assured that I would never do such a thing. In fact, I had hoped to invite you and your sisters to Rosings for a proper dinner party,” Lady Catherine announced.
Elizabeth sighed softly, glancing toward her father and back to Miss de Borough, a sudden feeling of malaise flooding her stomach. “Pardon me, Lady Catherine, but I am feeling most ill.” Elizabeth rushed out of the room feeling completely humiliated. Of course, Mr. Darcy would be engaged already! And to think that I had considered our walks and conversations cherished. I am a complete and utter fool! She thought woefully. She moved quickly up the staircase and far away from the rueful eyes of her mother. The last thing she needed while feeling purely nauseated was to be chastised by her for absconding – and so uncouthly.
You are a complete and utter fool, Elizabeth Bennet! First for thinking you even had a remote possibility of earning Mr. Darcy’s affections and secondly, for presuming a man of his station had not already committed his heart.
Chapter Seven
The moments of her life had as of late been entirely unsettling and puzzling to Elizabeth. First, for the most obvious of reasons, why was she even slightly disgruntled at the knowledge of Darcy’s existing engagement? Why on earth such a thing even slightly bothered her made very little sense? She found the man to be completely vexing and entirely insalubrious when it came to his regard for her station, home and family. But that does not mean you did not slightly enjoy his company, she reminded herself as her boots crunched on the leaves that littered the pathway before her.
Once again, Elizabeth found comfort in a casual stroll through the forest that she adored from childhood. Secretly, she hoped that she would happen upon Darcy yet again – providing another interlude where the two could speak frankly with one another and settle her doubts. It seemed that with Lady Catherine’s announcement, there was little else she could do but confirm Mr. Darcy’s betrothal by asking him directly.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Elizabeth whirled around to glance up at the very man whom she hoped to meet.
“Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked.
“Good evening, Mr. Darcy. Fancy seeing you here now,” she declaimed.
“Miss Bennet, you and I both know we have been pursuing these talks and walks for some time now. There is no need to be hasty.” Darcy remarked.
“Perhaps, not in your eyes, but I do have a question for you, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth stated.
“Miss Bennet, I will permit you to ask me such a question after you have afforded me with an answer of my own. No sooner.”
“Is that so, Mr. Darcy? Well, then perhaps there is no need to carry this conversation any further,” Elizabeth replied. Darcy sighed and lowered his head slightly.
“Miss Bennet, is it true that you are already engaged?” Darcy inquired. Elizabeth’s mouth fell agape as she peered back up at him.
“Mr. Darcy, how dare you ask such a question. I believe it is you who should be addressing that question. Your aunt, Lady Catherine, and her daughter came to call upon Longbourn house. Imagine my family’s shock upon learning that you have been betrothed to Anne de Borough since her birth!” Elizabeth seethed.
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy inhaled sharply as he spoke, “I can completely understand that having strangers call upon your home to share such information to be very upsetting for you – and for that, I apologize. However, you must understand that I have no interest in marrying Anne de Borough. Not in the very least. I have rejected her several times and if not for my aunt’s insistence, I imagine that Anne would have already found herself another prospect, but Lady Catherine seems intent on uniting our two estates and such as posed quite a dilemma for me,” he admitted. Elizabeth tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she listened to his words.
With careful consideration, she began, “Mr. Darcy, if you believe that Mr. Bingley has already succeeded in seeking my hand for marriage I must notify you of the opposite. Mr. Bingley was never afforded the opportunity to even ask me, as I felt that opening such a delicate subject would be sorely painful for everyone involved. It was simply of no use for him to do so with such things to consider.” “It seems to me, Miss Bennet, that you have found yourself within the very same dilemma as I. How humorous to learn that we have both had the same misfortune befall us. Truly, you must understand that I was upset because of thinking you had already agreed to the very thing that would have caused me a lifelong heartache – and trust when I say this is in the fullness of honesty I am speaking,” Darcy stated. Elizabeth huffed slightly, feeling an uneasiness beginning to form within her stomach.
“Mr. Darcy, indeed it is true that we have had similar experiences these past few days, but I am quite certain that is the extent of our similarities. Surely, a gentleman like yourself would find Miss de Borough more favorable. I am but a simple and meager country girl. I am no noblewoman,” Elizabeth replied. Darcy sighed, slipping from his horse as he approached her.
“Miss Ben
net, though it is true that you may be, as you stated, a meager country girl, I find there are attributes of your personality that Anne de Borough is perfectly plain at by comparison. Be as it may that she is indeed a proper lady, I do not find any pleasure in her company. Surely, you must understand that poses a most uncomfortable situation when it comes to marriage.”
“I am not sure I understand what you mean, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said with a hint of nervousness to her voice.
“Let me see if there is a better way to explain my meaning, Miss Bennet,” Darcy began, hesitating briefly as he considered his words and thoughts cautiously. “There is a degree of companionship and amiable behavior that I feel is critical for a promising relationship. I have no desire for commitment with an agreeable wife, but rather a woman who appeals to my intellect. For lack of a better word, Miss de Borough is incredibly boring and I find her personality mirrors that of a gray day – utterly wearisome.”
“She did seem quite silent while she and her mother were calling upon us,” Elizabeth noted.
“There are other more delicate subjects with consideration to Anne de Borough, and I have never felt inclined to rise to take upon those burdens. Miss de Borough is a rather sickly sort,” Darcy remarked.
“Mr. Darcy, you do not owe me any further explanation. I simply...” Elizabeth trailed her words suddenly feeling a flush of humiliation at her forward behavior.
“Miss Bennet, in our time speaking I have repeatedly shown my foul side by ridiculing and offending you and your family several times. By now, it is only proper for me to apologize to you for such. I did not consider how ill presented my prejudices were toward you and the Longbourn household. Now, it seems that I have again offended your family, and yourself, by the actions of my own family members. For that, I cannot ask for forgiveness enough, but you are not out of bounds for asking such questions. My very being here now could be considered most improper, and yet, here I am. However, you have taught me a most valuable lesson.”
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