by Kara Louise
Elizabeth was rendered mute by the sight of the marriage certificate in Lady Catherine’s possession and the accusation against her.
Lady Catherine continued. “I demand to know how you have drawn him in!”
“If I had been the one to draw him in, I would be the last one to confess it.”
“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”
“Then to him you must apply!”
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied, “Unfortunately, he has left for Pemberley.”
Her voice became more deliberate and harsh. “Let me be rightly understood. This match to which you had the presumption to aspire is impossible! I want you to assure me that this is a falsehood! That this certificate is some sort of fabrication!”
Elizabeth looked at her, anger and confusion hindering her ability to comprehend all she was hearing. “I am sorry you took the trouble to come here and accuse me, your ladyship. It is not a falsehood. I did marry your nephew. I humbly suggest and fervently hope that you will accept it.”
Lady Catherine glared at Elizabeth, pointing to the certificate. “Accept it? You ask me to accept a marriage between my nephew and someone like you? Never! And who is this Captain Wendell?” she asked as he pointed to the certificate.
“He was the captain of the ship on which we were sailing, madam. He performed the marriage.”
The angry woman lifted one eyebrow in disdain and pounded her cane into the ground again for emphasis. “This is not to be borne! You stand there and tell me that my nephew has not only entered into a marital relationship with someone so decidedly beneath his notice, with little or no connections, but he did not even have the decency to marry in a church? Heaven forbid! What have you done to him? Have you no scruples, girl? How is it that you came to be married to him?”
Elizabeth fought the strongest impulse to retort back harshly to the woman, remembering she was now family. She closed her eyes, vainly wishing her husband was here.
“Answer my question! How is it that you came to be married to him on this ship?”
Elizabeth paled and calmed herself before she answered. “He made an offer and I accepted it. It is as simple as that.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes darkened. “I understand it was a marriage of a peculiar nature.”
Elizabeth started. “I am sorry, I do not know to what you are referring.”
“Do you not?” Taking in a deep breath, she began, “I understand that you were married with the intention that it would later be annulled.”
Elizabeth felt a tremor course through her. “Where did you hear that?”
“That does not matter. What matters is that I insist on knowing whether it is true!”
Elizabeth could not look upon her, wondering how she came to have this information.
“With all due respect, Lady Catherine, this is not something I wish to discuss.”
Lady Catherine persisted, ignoring her response. “On what basis was it to be annulled?”
Elizabeth straightened her shoulders. “Lady Catherine, I have answered all the questions I wish to answer. If you will excuse me!”
“I will have you know,” she countered, as she stepped in Elizabeth’s path, “that my nephew has been promised to my daughter since their birth. It was his mother’s design as well as mine! And now you expect me to simply ignore the fact that you and he were married, that you degraded him? Do you really believe that I can overlook your marriage to him when he marries my Anne, knowing he has been in an annulled marriage? You have no idea what this will do to my daughter! And what about Mr. Collins? Does he know that the woman he plans to marry has had a marriage annulled?”
“Mr. Collins?” Elizabeth could not believe she was bringing him into their conversation and realized that Lady Catherine assumed their marriage would be annulled if it had not already been.
“The disgrace of it all! First I receive a letter from my clergyman informing me that he is planning to ask for your hand in marriage. Naturally I was pleased that he had found someone to marry. Then, to my horror, this is placed in my hand, and I find that not only is the object of his intention already married, but she is married to my nephew!”
“Please, Lady Catherine, you must understand. I never intended to marry Mr. Collins. In fact, I refused his proposal.”
“You refused his proposal? Who do you think you are, you unpolished country girl, to aspire to keep my nephew yoked to you? Heaven and earth—of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted? Insolent girl! Tell me, has my nephew annulled this marriage?” Lady Catherine asked in a commanding voice.
“I would beseech you to apply to Mr. Darcy for that answer!” Elizabeth replied, her voice edged with the turmoil building up inside her.
“Do you know to whom you are talking? I insist on you telling me! Tell me, once and for all, has my nephew annulled the marriage?”
Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment’s deliberation and refusing to be intimidated by this woman, “No, he has not, nor does he intend to. I love him and he loves me!”
Elizabeth watched as Lady Catherine’s face grew red with rage. “Not annulled! Obstinate, headstrong girl! You cannot even know what marriage to my nephew requires!”
“I beg to differ, madam.”
Suddenly, a gleam appeared in Lady Catherine’s eyes and a cruel smile etched her face. She leaned in closely to Elizabeth. “Ah yes. Now I fully understand.” Her bulging eyes narrowed. “He had planned all along to annul the marriage. For whatever reason, you married with the intent that it would be annulled.” She nodded to herself as she let her mind speculate. “It must have been platonic. He must have determined to keep things chaste so he could easily annul it.”
Elizabeth watched a harshness sweep over the woman’s face as she raised her voice. “But you tricked him! In a moment of weakness, you tricked him into succumbing to your enticing wiles… and now he feels he must honour the marriage.”
“I did not trick him, your ladyship. Your assumption is the furthest thing from the truth!” Elizabeth interjected, greatly affronted by the accusations and assumptions of this woman. She held on to the fabric of her dress with tight fists as she struggled to maintain her composure. “I would never do such a thing, and he was always the perfect gentleman.”
“So you are saying this marriage has never been consummated?”
Elizabeth gasped at her question. First she questioned her very morality and now she demanded to know the most intimate details of their marriage. She grasped her hands together tightly and softly answered, as a blush crept across her face, “I beg your pardon, Lady Catherine, but that is something that I refuse to answer.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed. “By the looks of you, I will assume it has not!” Suddenly, a rather pleased, sardonic smile came across her lips.
Elizabeth watched her as a great pain began building up inside of her.
Lady Catherine stood erect, straightening her bonnet and looking Elizabeth directly in the eye. “It is most apparent that you have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of his family and society?”
“Lady Catherine, it will not disgrace him in the eyes of anyone who is truly a friend. I have nothing more to add. I have said all that I wish to say to you on the matter.”
“It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends and make him the contempt of the world!”
“No principle has been violated by my marriage to Mr. Darcy!”
“And this is your final opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I
shall now know how to act. You need not worry whether my nephew annuls this marriage. I shall do it for him. I will make certain that it is annulled and that there will never be a trace of it having ever existed!” She raised a finger at Elizabeth. “And do not think… or hope… young lady, that you shall ever have any connection with my nephew again! I have influence and power that you could not even dream existed.”
Lady Catherine turned and stormed off, taking no leave of the distraught Elizabeth. She stood motionless: trying to grasp what had just happened, what she had just been told, and wondering what, if anything, she could do. With a wave of distress and unsteadiness threatening to consume her, she walked over to the bench that was nearby and collapsed onto it.
***
After spending the night in a small town, Darcy and Georgiana awoke early and began the half-day journey that would return them to Netherfield. He was eager to see Elizabeth again and for Georgiana to renew their short acquaintance. He only hoped Wickham had not done anything that could not be undone.
When they arrived, Darcy escorted Georgiana in and they were greeted by one of Netherfield’s servants. “It is good to have you back, Mr. Darcy. But I am sorry to say that you missed seeing your aunt, who stopped by earlier.”
“My aunt?” he exclaimed. “My aunt was here? Which aunt?”
“A Lady Catherine de Bourgh, sir.”
“Heavens! What was she doing here?”
“I am afraid I do not know. She inquired as to your whereabouts, and when we informed her you had left for Pemberley for a few days, she then inquired about Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s household and directions to it.”
Darcy’s heart stood still in shock as he heard these words. Very slowly, he asked, “How long ago was that, please?”
“No more than a few hours ago, sir.”
“Have one of Bingley’s horses, a fresh one, readied for me! I shall be down in a moment!” he said to the servant and then turned to Georgiana.
“Georgiana, I must go to Elizabeth. Do you mind if I leave you here?”
“Fitzwilliam, I shall find my way around, and I am sure Miss Bingley is somewhere and more than willing to assist me. You must go.”
Darcy leaned over and kissed her. “Thank you!”
“Go, brother,” she reassured him. “She may need your help more than I.”
Darcy gasped in a quick breath. “Thank you, Georgiana, but first, I must check my room!”
He turned toward the stairs and she followed him, along with Durnham. Darcy opened the drawer and saw that it contained only a book. Their marriage certificate was gone.
“What is it, sir? Did you discover something else missing?”
He dropped his head and then slowly nodded.
“What is it, Mr. Darcy? What is it that you find missing?” Durnham waited patiently until Darcy finally answered.
“Merely a piece of paper that, if placed in the wrong hands, could be to me merely a minor nuisance, but for a young lady, it could cause more serious distress.”
Durnham looked at him with a look of confusion in his eyes. “Sir, if it is not any of my business, I understand, but I am not sure I know what you mean.”
Darcy put up his hand to stay the conversation as he heard Bingley come upstairs.
“Darcy, I heard you and Georgiana had returned. Miss Bennet and I are visiting with my sisters in the sitting room if you wish to join us.”
“Thank you, no, Bingley. Georgiana will join you shortly, but I have an urgent errand I must attend to!”
“Certainly. But you can at least offer me your congratulations. Jane and I are to be married!”
Darcy reached out and grasped his friend’s hand. “Congratulations, Bingley, I know the two of you will be most happy.”
A grin spread across Bingley’s face as the two men shook hands.
“Must you be off so soon, Darcy? You have only just arrived!”
“Yes. I shall return as soon as possible. Please see to Georgiana for me.”
“I will, friend. And let me know if there is anything I can do.”
“Thank you, Bingley.”
Once Bingley left, Darcy looked back to Durnham. “I believe it is about time you know.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy?”
“Help me change into a clean shirt as quickly as you can and I will tell you.”
Durnham quickly drew out one of Darcy’s shirts. As the valet began attending to Darcy, he explained, “I just confirmed that the most valuable item missing from the drawer was a marriage certificate.”
Durnham eyed him with a look of sheer astonishment. “Whose marriage certificate, sir?” he asked his master warily.
Darcy remained silent for a few moments. “Mine.”
His reply rendered Durnham dumbfounded. “Excuse me, sir, but when did you get married and just whom did you marry?”
“It was on Pemberley’s Promise on the crossing to America.” Darcy looked up at Durnham. “I took your advice, Durnham, and secured myself a wife. I married Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Durnham’s eyes closed as he tried to take in all this information. “Go on, sir.”
Darcy enlightened Durnham as to the events that led up to their marriage. Durnham was completely astounded. “But sir, in all these months, I have never seen a marriage certificate.”
Darcy looked over to him, very much aware that Durnham’s first response was not surprise that Darcy had secretly married a woman, but that he had not discovered it himself. Durnham was loyal, to be sure, and had always prided himself on knowing all about his master. This was one time Darcy’s actions had eluded him.
“That is partly because I kept it in the dresser next to my bed either under a book or hidden in the book. I knew that you never check that drawer and felt it was safe to keep it there.”
Durnham stood up. “Could it have been misplaced, do you think? I beg your pardon, but why would anyone take a marriage certificate?”
“To possibly extort some money… possibly exact some revenge on me.”
Suddenly Durnham caught on. “Wickham?”
“Without a doubt!” Darcy stated emphatically as Durnham finished dressing him.
As he rushed downstairs, he told Durnham. “I am not sure when I will return. Please take note of any talk that is being circulated among the staff. Oh, and please apprise Winston of the situation. I do not want him to be caught off guard if indeed rumours are circulating.”
“Yes, sir!” Durnham watched Darcy leave, and then went to the kitchen to see if there was anything to be found out from the servants there.
The horse was ready when Darcy stepped outside. He rode as fast as he could to Longbourn, hoping he was not too late, and that his fears were not confirmed.
When the horse pulled up to Longbourn, he slid off of it even before it came to a stop. He threw the reins over a post and hurried to the front door.
He knocked impatiently and was admitted by a middle-aged woman.
“My name is Fitzwilliam Darcy. My aunt is Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I understand she may have been here.” He held his breath as he waited for her response, hoping she would tell him his aunt had not come by.
The woman nodded. “She was here, sir, but left quite a while ago.”
He let out his breath as his heart quickened. “Did she talk to anyone?”
“Yes, sir. She asked for Miss Elizabeth. They stepped outside to talk. I believe Miss Elizabeth is still out there, off to the side of the house. At least, she has not returned.”
Darcy nodded gratefully and ran off in the direction she pointed. He heard Elizabeth before he saw her; she was sobbing, curled up on the bench, her head buried in her hands.
Darcy’s worst fears were realized.
“Elizabeth…”
Elizabeth slowly lifted her head, and upon seeing Darcy, another wave of grief swept over her.
“Elizabeth, please, tell me what happened.”
It was a while before she was able to say anything. She did not wish
him to see her this way and attempted to regain her composure before she began speaking.
“Your aunt came by. Lady Catherine. She… she has our certificate of marriage.”
Darcy closed his eyes in anger.
“Did she say how she came to have it in her possession?” Darcy asked.
Elizabeth answered, shaking from distress, “Only that a close family friend brought it to her.”
Darcy angrily raked his hand through his hair and softly cursed. “I should have known!”
“But who was it?”
Darcy reached out and took her hand. “I believe it was an old family acquaintance, the son of my father’s steward, thinking he could extort some money for it. Considering that my aunt now has it, I believe he must have been successful. He most likely asked for some sort of payment before he turned it over and then possibly even more to keep quiet about it.”
Elizabeth looked up at him, wondering what he was trying to say. “I do not understand.”
He squeezed her hand more tightly. “Elizabeth, I am not sure about all the details. I feel terrible that I did not discover it gone the night of the ball. If I had, all this most likely would not have happened.”
“She was so very angry!”
Darcy sat down next to Elizabeth, putting his arm around her shoulder and brushing his lips up to her hair. “I am greatly sorrowed that you had to endure her wrath, my dearest Elizabeth. Tell me what happened? What did she say to you?”
“She said that if you did not annul the marriage, she would!” Elizabeth nestled her head against his chest, allowing herself to feel the strength and assurance that his mere presence gave her, yet with tears welling up in her eyes. “Can she really do that?”
Darcy’s eyes closed. “She has no say over my life, over my affairs.” He grasped one of Elizabeth’s hands. “She may have intended it to be an idle threat meant to cause you undue distress. I am more concerned that she brought this upon you than I believe that she can actually annul our marriage.”
Elizabeth turned her head and it fell against Darcy’s chest. “I would do anything to ensure she does not succeed. I never wanted the marriage annulled, William. Never! I wish I had not left the room that night on the ship. I…”