The Companion

by Jann Rowland

  That evening, Elizabeth and Anne ordered trays from the kitchen, rather than attend Lady Catherine at the dinner table, an action Elizabeth thought would bring the lady’s anger down upon them again. But there was no such response, and they soon learned that Lady Catherine herself had also ordered a tray to her room.

  “She has been in her rooms all day?” asked Anne of Laura when the latter made the communication concerning the dinner trays.

  “That is what her abigail has informed me,” replied Laura. “She went there soon after . . . your argument and has not emerged since.”

  “Has she given any orders to the housekeeper or butler?”

  Laura shook her head. “None of which I am aware.” The maid paused, seemingly hesitant, but Anne in a kindly voice, prompted her to speak. “It is simply so very surprising that you would choose to confront your mother in this way. If she decides to order the footmen to remove Miss Bennet from the house, there is nothing you can do to prevent it. The loyalty of the servants is all on Lady Catherine’s side, though many have some sympathy for you.”

  “I know,” said Anne. “I shall take steps to prevent that. But I cannot imagine my mother so lost to decency as to descend to such violence. She likes to get her way very much, but she knows what response would come should she do such a thing. Miss Bennet’s father would be incensed, and as he’s connected to Mr. Collins, she must tread carefully.”

  “As you say, mum,” said the maid. Then she curtseyed and went about her duties again.

  Anne turned to Elizabeth with a raised eyebrow. “What say you, Elizabeth?”

  In truth, Elizabeth was not quite certain how to account for Lady Catherine’s behavior, and her response echoed that uncertainty. “Your mother is not reacting in the way I would have thought. I almost expected her to simply call in her burliest footman and have me deposited on the front steps, barring the door behind.”

  “That would have been as likely an outcome as any.”

  For a moment, Elizabeth felt cross—if Anne had expected such a response, it seemed like she was playing a little cavalierly with Elizabeth’s safety. But Elizabeth knew that Anne had meant no such thing, and she decided to make no comment about it.

  “Though I hesitate to paint your mother with so harsh a brush, it is possible that she is nothing more than a bully, one who oppresses the weak, but cannot stand when faced with someone who will not cower before her.”

  At first Anne winced at Elizabeth’s description, but soon she became contemplative, and she turned a considering eye on Elizabeth. “That is perhaps it, but I cannot imagine it will last for long. She might hesitate to use a footman to evict you from the house, but there is one of whom she could make use.”

  “And yet, Mr. Collins’s behavior was startling,” replied Elizabeth. “I would have thought he would bluster and rant, parroting your mother’s words and demands. But he simply sat there and watched, and for a time, I thought he might actually contradict her.”

  “Perhaps we may work on him,” said Anne. “What say you to a ride on my phaeton tomorrow, with a stop at the parsonage? It is possible we could ensure his neutrality on the matter before my mother makes her demands.”

  “I am certainly willing,” replied Elizabeth, thinking it would be a relief to escape the house for a time.

  But it was not to be. When they went to the front door the next morning, they were met by the footman who normally accompanied them, and though Anne requested he open the door, he stood in sullen silence, looking at them.

  “I am sorry, Miss de Bourgh,” replied Baines, and Elizabeth thought the man truly was apologetic. “I have been given strict orders that you are not to leave the house, and your phaeton is off limits. Furthermore, if Miss Bennet . . .” His eye darted to Elizabeth and he paused. “Should Miss Bennet leave the house, she is not to be admitted again.”

  Anne regarded him, causing the man to squirm. “You are aware there are many doors to Rosings. My mother cannot guard them all.”

  A nod was his response, but he looked at Anne, swallowed hard, and said: “The stable hands have received orders concerning your phaeton. No one will risk their positions by preparing it for you. I apologize, Miss de Bourgh, but I am afraid that your desire to drive today will not be gratified.”

  Though reluctant, it appeared Anne was not insensible to the futility of railing against Baines, a man who was likely in fear of losing his own position. “Very well. Thank you for informing us of this, Baines. I understand the difficult position in which this places you and all the staff.”

  A sense of relief fell over him, but he again spoke. “The staff is . . . We are all beholden to your mother for our positions, and she pays us well for our loyalty. But do not think that we are insensible to your plight.”

  Anne nodded, and the two girls turned from the door, where they were witness to the insolent sneer given them by one Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who stood at the top of the main stairway watching them. Elizabeth expected sparks to once again fly between them, but Anne merely sniffed and glided away, Elizabeth following behind. She thought she heard an irritated huff from the great lady but could not be certain.

  It was to the music room that Anne led them, and when they had entered, Anne requested some music. Elizabeth was only too happy to oblige, and for a while, she lost herself in the playing and forget the troubles present in the house. For a time, Anne was introspective, as if attempting to determine what was to be done. Elizabeth only continued to play.

  After a time, Anne rose and approached Elizabeth, a smile lighting her face. “Thank you for serenading me, Elizabeth, with your wonderful playing. If you do not mind, I believe I would now like to take a turn at it.”

  Uncertain, Elizabeth regarded her friend. “Do you think that is a good idea? Your mother may walk in through the door at any time.”

  “And what better way for her to learn that she will not control me than by seeing me play? She cannot complain that I am exerting myself too much, nor can she claim that it is beyond my strength, as I will already be seated at the instrument.”

  Though Elizabeth still did not agree with Anne’s intention, she ceded the seat and allowed Anne to sit. She began by running through some of the exercises that Elizabeth had taught her, and Elizabeth acknowledged that Anne was beginning to become quite adept at them. It might be time to introduce her to some more advanced techniques.

  When Anne began to play, Elizabeth fretted for a few moments, wondering if Lady Catherine would come walking through the door. She did not have long to wait.

  It could not be supposed the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh would enter a room by opening the door herself, and Elizabeth heard a muffled but imperious command, and soon after, the door opened. Anne kept playing, her fingers searching for the correct keys, and Elizabeth could not detect even a hint of hesitation. Taking her cue from Anne, Elizabeth kept her eyes on the hands of the performer, intent upon not appearing to dare the lady’s response. For a moment, Lady Catherine stood just inside the room, watching them.

  “Is there no depth to which you will not descend, Miss Bennet?”

  Elizabeth turned at the sound of the lady’s voice, which had been accusatory, but not so loud as Lady Catherine’s normal annoyance would be. “I am sorry, Lady Catherine I do not take your meaning.”

  “You know exactly to what I refer. I am aware of your attempts to ingratiate yourself with Anne, to improve your own situation at the expense of my relationship with her.”

  “Oh, do be silent, Mother,” said Anne, never hesitating as she continued through the piece, now for the second time.

  “You will not speak to me in such a way!”

  “It seems I must, as you will not hear sense if I do not. Elizabeth has been the best of friends to me. It seems as if you merely wish to control me, to make me do your bidding regardless of my opinion.”

  Lady Catherine’s visage darkened, but Anne was not finished. “Are you upset that I am
playing?”

  “You know it is beyond your strength.”

  Anne laughed. “It seems like it is not. Else I would not be sitting here.” Anne finished the piece and turned to Lady Catherine. “You may leave us, Mother. I would appreciate your absence, so that I may practice without interference.”

  Her nostrils flaring, Lady Catherine glared at Anne, and Elizabeth was certain she was about to make some caustic reply when she turned on her heel and marched from the room. It was perhaps fortunate that Lady Catherine was not one to open and close doors herself, for Elizabeth was certain the door would have slammed behind her otherwise.

  They were watched closely for the rest of the day, and though it often appeared as if they were alone, in truth Elizabeth was certain Lady Catherine was rarely far from them. They continued their usual activities, sometimes reading or talking in Anne’s room. Anne even insisted that they walk the halls of Rosings in order to make up for Elizabeth’s lack of exercise that morning.

  “Come, Elizabeth,” said Anne, laughing at Elizabeth’s consternation, “you were not able to walk this morning. Since my mother has decreed that you are not to be allowed back in should you depart, do you not feel the need to stretch your legs and gain whatever benefit you can?”

  “I much prefer it if I am able to walk outside,” groused Elizabeth.

  “Though the scenery in the house is not nearly so pleasant, I am certain it shall be enough today.”

  Reluctant though she was, Elizabeth allowed herself to be persuaded, and soon they had begun to walk, beginning from the far end of the wing in which the family apartments were situated, and through the halls toward the guest wing. Elizabeth walked, Anne holding her arm as if she was a gentleman walking his sweetheart, and for a moment they were silent, Elizabeth chewing her lip in thought.

  “This cannot continue for long, Anne,” said Elizabeth.

  “Being confined to the house?” asked Anne.

  “Yes. I do not mean that I cannot give up my walks for a few days, but this standoff between ourselves and your mother will eventually escalate, and someone will do or say something unforgiveable. We cannot continue this way forever.”

  “I know,” replied Anne simply. “Do not concern yourself—the matter will be resolved before long. Perhaps even this afternoon.”

  Utterly confused, Elizabeth turned and looked at the other woman, but Anne only smiled knowingly at her. “Just wait, Elizabeth. All will be well.”

  Elizabeth sensed that Anne would not share the reason for her confidence, and she was a little cross with her friend. There was little choice, however, so she allowed her protests to remain unspoken.

  They made their way down the stairs and through the lower halls of Rosings and walked the length of the halls several times. Knowing Anne had rarely walked, Elizabeth was concerned for her, even though their pace was slow. But her worries were proven groundless—Anne was as cheerful as ever, and she did not suffer any visible ill effects from their half hour walk. Elizabeth did notice Lady Catherine watching them a time or two, but the lady said nothing. Elizabeth might have thought the lady introspective, had she not known that she was completely incapable of that state.

  Of course, the short comments, snapped commands, or little insults did not stop. At times Lady Catherine barked at Anne, admonishing her to refrain from exceeding her strength or remember her capabilities. Anne either ignored her or returned her comments with calm rejoinders, which often consisted of nothing more than a statement that her interference was not welcome. More often, however, the target of Lady Catherine’s ire was Elizabeth, and her comments were not nearly so benign, nor so politely stated.

  They made it through until dinner that evening, and though Elizabeth was inclined to once again eat above stairs, Anne insisted upon their joining Lady Catherine in the dining room. “You have said you wished for my mother to accustom herself to the changes in my life. I will not hide from her, and neither shall you. She must learn that I will not be treated like a child any longer.

  “It will be nice once we have our home to ourselves again,” said Lady Catherine to Anne. They had sat at the table, Anne ensuring Elizabeth was to her side, thus placing herself between them, and Lady Catherine had spoken when she had given the order for dinner to be served.

  “To ourselves?” asked Anne, as she took a sip of her water. “I am certain I do not know to what you refer, Mother.”

  “Why, when Miss Bennet finally leaves our home, of course.” The steel in Lady Catherine’s eyes might have impaled Elizabeth, had she been able to fashion it into the right implement. “Then you and I may return to our previous comfortable ways.”

  Anne snorted, but she did not respond, drawing her mother’s pointed look. When it did not have any effect, Lady Catherine decided to ignore it.

  “I have placed ads in all the newspapers to find your new companion,” continued Lady Catherine in a conversational tone. “They will be required to travel here to be interviewed, of course, but for such a prestigious position, I cannot think it will be an inconvenience.” The lady paused. “It is unfortunate that I have already settled Miss Pope in with Lady Metcalf’s daughter—she would have been perfect for the position.”

  “I am happy to hear it, Mother,” said Anne, ignoring the bit about Miss Pope. Lady Catherine smiled in response, obviously thinking she was starting to persuade her daughter to her way of thinking. “However, please recall that I will not accept any woman as my companion whom I have not approved myself. Also, please remember that I will be her mistress—not you.”

  The smile ran away from Lady Catherine’s face. “What are you saying, Anne? Of course, I will be her mistress. I will be paying her wages.”

  “Perhaps you will, but I will not relent. I have no desire to see you hire another Mrs. Jenkinson, a woman who has no care for my comfort beyond obeying your every whim.”

  “Anne!” barked Lady Catherine. “You will not speak to me in such a way! I am your nearest relation, and I have naught but your interests in mind.”

  For the first time since they had begun speaking, Anne turned to Lady Catherine, and whatever was in her eyes must have been unexpected, for Lady Catherine started at the sight.

  “No, Mother,” said Anne. “You have naught but your interests in mind. I am five and twenty, and for my entire life, I have been forced to live at your whim, to live at your pleasure. I will not do it any longer!”

  “Lady Catherine,” said Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent upon her to try to play peacemaker between mother and daughter, “I am certain you wish for the best for Anne. As a woman herself, should you not consider what makes her happy? She is five years my elder, and yet you treat her as if she were a child.”

  “Miss Bennet,” said Lady Catherine, her jaw working in her anger, “you will be silent and not speak another word. You are the cause of these difficulties, and I will not have you blowing the conflagration hotter. Gentleman’s daughter or not, I will have you carried kicking and screaming from this house if you say one more word.”

  “Clearly, I was correct, Elizabeth,” said Anne, rising from the table and fixing a pointed glare on her mother. “It is pointless to attempt to reason with her, for she is far too set in her ways. Come, let us return to my room. I shall have the housekeeper bring us our dinner.”

  “You will go to bed hungry if you step out that door!” screeched Lady Catherine.

  “Then so be it.” Anne turned a pitiless glare on Lady Catherine. “I cannot begin to tell me how much you disgust me, Mother. You are far worse a tyrant than Bonaparte ever could be!”

  And the two ladies departed, leaving Lady Catherine sitting alone at the table. Elizabeth managed to obtain one more glance at her, and what she saw nearly set her to shivering. This could not continue much longer, for if it did, she would be worried for Anne’s safety, not to mention her own.

  It was the next day when the situation finally came to a head. Elizabeth and Anne had managed to b
reak their fast the next morning by arriving for breakfast long before the lady usually descended. Later they walked the halls again until Lady Catherine made her appearance and retreated to Anne’s room when the lady was once again present.

  When they were once again within Anne’s room, they amused themselves for a time, reading to each other from a book of sonnets Elizabeth had brought with her from home. Unfortunately, it was not long before Anne became bored with the activity, and, closing the book, she rose and began to pace the room.

  “Perhaps we should simply go to the stables, saddle two horses, and make for London.”

  “I hardly think we could do that, Anne,” replied Elizabeth. “I can ride, but I am not practiced, and you have never been atop a horse. Besides, I had understood you did not wish to go to London.”

  “I think these past days have changed my mind,” muttered Anne. Then she gestured imperiously for Elizabeth to rise. “Come, Elizabeth, we have not danced for some days. I would like to continue my lessons.”

  Uncertain, Elizabeth rose to her feet. “Are you certain that is wise?”

  “I am not certain anything is wise, but if I do not have something else on which to think, I shall go mad.”

  Sighing, Elizabeth stepped forward. At this point, it was unlikely the situation could be made worse. They stepped together and Elizabeth began humming music which she had often heard used in the Boulanger, and the girls stepped together. And for a time, Elizabeth forgot the strain the past days and simply enjoy times when they had been more carefree.

  Then disaster struck, of course. Lady Catherine walked into the room.

  “What is the meaning of this?” demanded the lady. “What other subversive things have you been teaching my daughter? Do you not remember me telling you that she was incapable of such exertions?”

  “Stop it, Mother!” cried Anne. “I am doing it. How can you possibly say that I cannot, when I have been these past weeks?”