Implacable Resentment

by Jann Rowland

  Elizabeth made a face at the mere thought. “Certainly not. And I imagine he would not allow me to be there either, not after my most recent bout of infamous behavior.”

  Though he turned to her with concern written upon his brow, Mr. Darcy caught her mischievous grin and subsided, no doubt spared of his thoughts of chastising her for her family’s failings.

  “My uncle and aunt told me to go to their townhouse should I need to. I could simply stay there until their return from Ireland.”

  Mr. Darcy frowned. “Surely it would not be proper for you to stay at your uncle’s house without a guardian present.”

  “I do not think I have another choice,” replied Elizabeth gently. “I have no other relations with whom I may stay other than my aunt and Uncle Philips in Meryton, and I am certain that staying there would not be at all comfortable. It is far too near to Longbourn, and as my mother is close to her sister, the situation would be difficult for my aunt.”

  Though he only nodded his head, albeit reluctantly, Mr. Darcy was clearly in thought, and Elizabeth was certain that he had some idea of what might be done, though he was not any more forthcoming at that moment. Elizabeth was content to allow him to ruminate on the subject, happy as she was to simply be in his company.

  “Perhaps we can discuss this at a later time,” said Mr. Darcy after a pause. Elizabeth had been content to simply walk in his company, the silence between them being a very comfortable sort. “I may have an idea, but the matter is not urgent at present.”

  It was some time later when Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth finally parted. The time they spent together on the back lanes out of sight of prying eyes allowed Elizabeth to regain her equilibrium, and because of that, she felt that she was once more able to face Mr. Collins, content in the knowledge that he might soon be removed from the position of being her husband.

  Chapter XXV

  Happiness was a state that Fitzwilliam Darcy was not able to attribute to his life in a typical sense. Though he was not unhappy, he had often found himself in the past to be more characterized by such words as dutiful, diligent, or content. Blessed with a large estate and many holdings besides, Darcy was well aware that his position was one to be envied. But all of these things did not necessarily equate to happiness, which was a fact that Darcy had only recently understood.

  Thus, it was with a great level of anticipation that Darcy awaited the opportunity to pay his addresses to Miss Elizabeth. She was, in short, a breath of fresh air—and one he desperately needed in his rather staid and serious life. She had her own demons to conquer, as did anyone. But she would emerge stronger once she had conquered her trials. And Darcy did not doubt that she would be a good influence on Georgiana as well. His sister would certainly benefit from the presence of a sister in her life.

  Elizabeth—for he could not now think of her in any other terms than by her Christian name—was already a captivating young woman, but he was certain that she wanted only the right influence and situation in life to blossom into a truly exceptional woman. Darcy meant to provide her with everything he had in order for her to grow into what she was meant to be. The only thing which was required was for the church to declare her current married status null and void.

  After leaving Elizabeth close to the edge of the woods and watching her as she made her way back to the parsonage, Darcy returned to Rosings, his feelings awash with a mixture of contentment and impatience. His return to the estate, however, soon erased all such happy thoughts.

  He could hear her long before he was actually in her presence, an occurrence which was not at all uncommon on account of the loudness of the woman’s voice. It was something he should have anticipated, he thought, knowing of Collins’s inability to keep anything from his patroness. But the fact that the man would so quickly scurry to Lady Catherine with his tales of woe and the word of his “betrayal” at the hands of his wife showed a weakness of character which was truly contemptible.

  “She is in quite the state, Darcy,” warned Fitzwilliam when Darcy had entered the house. “She is insistent that she will go to the parsonage directly and instruct Mrs. Collins to cease her ‘unseemly display,’ as she terms it.”

  “That is amusing, coming from Aunt Catherine,” said Darcy with no little measure of scorn.

  “As true as that statement is, you may wish to moderate your words,” said Fitzwilliam, “if you wish to stay close to Mrs. Collins until she is free from that little parson.”

  Darcy only grunted as he removed his outer garments. It was time to go into the sitting room and try to prevent his aunt from making a spectacle of herself, slim though the likelihood of success seemed.

  “Thus far, I have only been able to get a garbled message of what exactly had occurred,” continued Fitzwilliam as he waited. “Do you care to share?”

  “Mr. Forbes returned this morning.” He had shared everything with Fitzwilliam and knew that his cousin would understand the significance of that piece of intelligence.

  Fitzwilliam nodded. “I take it, then, that the news is good for Mrs. Collins?”

  “The hearing is set for Tuesday in Westerham,” replied Darcy shortly. “Given what I know myself, I suspect the chances are very good that the marriage will be struck down.”

  “Very good,” said Fitzwilliam. “But I would caution you to keep your head about you. The dragon lady will make Mrs. Collins’s life miserable if she detects any hint of your admiration.”

  With a glare at his cousin—Fitzwilliam should have been aware that Darcy would never forget himself in such a manner—Darcy turned and entered the room in which his aunt was still loudly pontificating. To her side sat Anne, who appeared to be the unfortunate recipient of her mother’s diatribe, though she bore it with a patience that Darcy envied. Still, he supposed that Anne was largely inured to Lady Catherine due to years of constant proximity. Not for the first time, Darcy considered what might be done to ease Anne’s situation. It could not be comfortable to continually live with such a woman.

  “Darcy!” boomed Lady Catherine when she spied him entering the room. “It is well that you have come. We must take thought concerning what is to be done about that . . . scheming little piece of baggage.”

  Directing a bland yet even expression at his aunt, Darcy replied, “I am afraid I have not the pleasure of understanding you, aunt.”

  A wave met his words. “That is because you were once again gallivanting all over the estate rather than attending us as you should. Had you been here, you would have understood the wrong which Mrs. Collins is even now perpetuating upon her poor husband and indeed upon the entire community.”

  “A great wrong?” asked Darcy with a raised eyebrow.

  “The stupid girl has sued for an annulment—and after all Mr. Collins did to give her insignificant family notice and heal the breach. I, in my Christian generosity, advised him to do such a thing, and this is how she repays us both!”

  “An annulment?” queried Darcy with a lazy lack of interest.

  “You are dull today, Darcy!” snapped Lady Catherine. “Pay attention!”

  “If you would explain the situation, then perhaps I would understand,” said Darcy. Secretly, he was amused by his aunt’s displeasure. She was not in the habit of tolerating disappointment or being gainsaid in any fashion, and this business with the wife of her parson must be severely taxing on one who was intent upon having her own way. Yes, Darcy was enjoying this very much.

  In response, Lady Catherine glared at him, but evidently recalling her view on the paramount importance of keeping his good will, she swallowed her pique. It was another thing to which she was unaccustomed.

  “Mr. Collins has just been here to visit me,” said Lady Catherine. “It seems that his wife has been bearing stories of her mistreatment at the hands of her husband and father and has requested an annulment from the church, though I doubt it shall be granted. Somehow—and I know not how—she has managed to prevail on them to hear her case.”

  “And Mr. Collin
s was here to pour out his sorrows on your benevolence?”

  Lady Catherine completely missed the sarcasm in Darcy’s tone. “To whom should he turn if not me? I advise him most particularly on everything, I assure you, and I have found him to be a good pupil, if a little ponderous.”

  By Darcy’s side, Fitzwilliam covered a laugh with a cough, but Lady Catherine, though she did glare at him, made no comment, preferring to stay on the topic of her parson.

  “This infamous behavior is not to be borne! The girl should be grateful for the attention he paid her. Of course, part of the blame must belong to Mr. Collins for choosing her. Mrs. Collins is a pretty sort of girl, I suppose, and she seems to be quite intelligent, but her impertinence is of an uncommon sort, and she appears to think too well of herself.

  “Regardless, I shall depart to the parsonage posthaste to make my sentiments known to her. She must be prevailed upon to cease this unseemly business immediately and to retract her ungenerous attempt to annul her marriage.”

  Though he knew it was fruitless, Darcy would not allow his aunt to impose herself upon Elizabeth without his making an attempt at opposition.

  “Lady Catherine, have you considered the fact that if the church is investigating the matter, then perhaps something is amiss?”

  An imperious glare met his question. “It does not signify. The marriage has been solemnized, and she should accept her fate with dignity.”

  “If Mr. Collins is found to have behaved badly, should he not be held accountable for his actions? And as for Mr. Bennet, I have met the man, and I was by no means impressed with him. I suggest you allow the church to handle the matter without involving yourself, as it is not, after all, truly your concern.”

  “I would not consider myself attentive to all things within my domain if I did that.”

  “Then perhaps you should consider the fact that it will reflect badly upon you if it is found that Mr. Collins’s behavior was not beyond reproach. You installed him in Hunsford and sent him to his cousin to look for a bride, after all.”

  Unfortunately, Darcy’s words had the opposite effect from the one that he was intending. Upon hearing his words, Lady Catherine became even more displeased, and she immediately stood, directing her servants to bring the carriage around.

  “I will repair immediately to the parsonage and deal with this directly. Mrs. Collins must be brought to see reason!”

  Nothing Darcy said from that moment on made any impression upon Lady Catherine’s determination to insert herself into the affairs of her parson, so Darcy insisted upon accompanying her when she left. And after speaking briefly with Fitzwilliam and obtaining his agreement that he would stay with Anne, Darcy entered the coach with Lady Catherine and settled in for the short journey to the parsonage. His aunt eyed him with a trace of a frown as he regarded her blandly.

  “Darcy, you take a rather unseemly interest in the affairs of my parson.”

  On the contrary, thought Darcy, I care nothing for the affairs of your parson. On the other hand, I have a great interest in the affairs of the young lady with whom he claims to be joined in matrimony.

  But Darcy was determined not to be cowed by his cantankerous relation. “And you do not?”

  “Mr. Collins is my parson, installed in the living that is in my power to give,” said Lady Catherine, a trace of heat entering her voice. “Thus, his concerns are my concerns.”

  “And some would say that you are taking an excessive level of interest in this matter.”

  Lady Catherine threw up her hands. “This is not your concern, Darcy. You had best stay at Rosings and get on with the business of deciding on a wedding date with Anne.”

  “I will not even grace that statement with a response, given the words which passed between us when I last left Rosings.”

  Through narrowed eyes, Lady Catherine glared at him, but her disapproval was interrupted by their arrival at the parsonage. With one last huff, the lady disembarked from the carriage without even waiting for him to step down and assist her. Darcy was grateful, as he felt inclined to throttle the woman already!

  Lady Catherine marched into the parsonage, where she sent the maid scurrying with a glare and entered the parlor without being introduced. Darcy, who followed behind her, noted immediately that Elizabeth sat in a chair and that Mr. Collins, who had not, for once, been watching the road for his patroness, appeared to be sitting close to her and speaking intently to her. That she was uncomfortable was evident, but knowing her ability to withstand her husband, Darcy schooled his features to neutrality and resolved to be patient.

  “Lady Catherine!” exclaimed Mr. Collins as he rose and executed a hasty bow. “I welcome you to my humble abode, and I must express my great regret on not greeting you at the door as is your right as my noble patroness. I was just—”

  “Yes, yes, Mr. Collins,” snapped Lady Catherine as she sat in the high-backed chair which she usually used when at the parsonage. She gave the appearance of holding court, and Darcy was certain that such was her design, not only for the purpose of cowing her voluble parson, but also for the purpose of intimidating Elizabeth. “I have come directly to speak with your wife, and I will not be persuaded from my purpose. For the nonce, you will be silent while I have words with her.”

  The parson sank to his chair in an instant, but a smug sort of smirk played about his mouth as he glanced in a superior manner at his wife. Elizabeth, for her part, appeared to be less than impressed by the show of displeasure directed at her.

  “Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Mrs. Collins?” demanded Lady Catherine after a moment.

  “As you have not stated the purpose for your visit, I cannot comment about something of which I have no knowledge.”

  Silently, Darcy commended her for her fortitude, but his aunt’s countenance merely became more severe.

  “Mrs. Collins, do you not know who I am?”

  “I am very well aware of who you are, your ladyship.”

  “Then you must know that I am not to be trifled with. You are perfectly well aware of the reason for my visit, yet you attempt to obfuscate in a manner which offends me and injures the respectability of your husband.”

  “There is no obfuscation, your ladyship,” replied Elizabeth. Though she kept her calm temper, Darcy was certain that she was privately annoyed by the lady’s impertinence. “Yes, I may have an inkling of what has brought you here today, but I would not dare to assume. I would much prefer to wait until you have stated your purpose before speaking.”

  “It seems you would indeed dare to assume much!” cried Lady Catherine. “But I shall deal with you later.” She turned her demanding gaze toward Mr. Collins, who, though a moment earlier was caught up in the smugness and certainty of his common opinion with that of his patroness, now fairly cowered under the weight of her glare.

  “Mr. Collins, I am most displeased, both with you, and with your improper wife. I sent you to Hertfordshire to acquire a wife—a simple and straightforward task. I instructed you on exactly the type of woman you should choose for the position, and yet you have returned with a woman who is not only unsuitable, but is almost the exact opposite of every trait I instructed you to search for. How could you allow yourself to be imposed upon by this Mr. Bennet to marry his most unworthy daughter?”

  The poor man—if he could be termed such—did not appear to know what to do or how to act, and no words came forth from his normally garrulous mouth. But as usual, Lady Catherine did not require a response, for after she had reprimanded the parson, she turned her attention back to Elizabeth.

  “Now, Mrs. Collins, I have come to the parsonage this morning with the resolve of having my wishes carried out, and I am determined that it shall be so. Regardless of my conviction that you are completely unsuited to be the parson’s wife in this parish, your marriage has been sanctioned, and I must insist that you cease this unseemly display.”

  “I have conducted myself exactly as I should, Lady Catherine,” replied Elizabeth
. Darcy could only applaud her bravery once again. “As for the matter of this marriage, I am not certain what Mr. Collins has told you. But if you would listen to what exactly happened in Hertfordshire, I am certain you would agree that I was used quite ill by my father and by Mr. Collins.”

  “I have no need to hear of it!” cried Lady Catherine. “The marriage has been solemnized, and though I have no desire for you to be wife of my parson, I have decided, in my Christian generosity, to extend this olive branch to you and allow you to remain. But I must insist upon the assurance of your good behavior.”

  “The marriage has not been solemnized,” said Elizabeth. “The fact that there is a hearing scheduled should be an indication of that.”

  Lady Catherine glared at Elizabeth, and though Darcy thought to intervene, he was silenced by a glance from the young woman in question. It seemed to say that he had best hold his tongue, as she was more than capable of dealing with his aunt, and though the protective streak in Darcy had been aroused, he decided it would be best if he abided by her wishes.

  “I will not be gainsaid! You will oblige me!”

  “I will not. The church will decide whether Mr. Collins has acted correctly in this matter.”

  “Mrs. Collins, I am shocked indeed at this behavior. I had come here, thinking to find a reasonable young woman, and yet I find a child. I am not in the habit of brooking disappointment, I assure you. I shall be resolute to my purpose until you give me the agreement I desire.”

  “Then I must pity you, madam, for I shall never give it! You had best cease to importune me on the subject.”

  Jumping to her feet, Lady Catherine loomed over Elizabeth as a summer storm cloud hovers over the ground below. “I insist!”

  This time, however, Elizabeth did not deign to respond. Instead, she simply sat there looking up at the lady, and though it was obvious that Lady Catherine was trying her patience, it was equally evident that she was not moved in the slightest by this display of anger.