by Lauren King
“I am going to have myself a sharp, quick-thinking wife in six and ten days.” Darcy smiles and then leans in to kiss Elizabeth’s lips again. “I think all of that will work. Anne and Lady Catherine will die of shame and embarrassment when they find out that Archbishop Peters knows of their mendacious ways. I better go ask my Godfather if he will do this for me, then. Afterwards, I will contact my Uncle, my Aunt, and Richard. We will all be back here no later than three o’clock so we all can get settled and prepare for Anne’s arrival. Will you explain everything to your Aunt and keep everyone away from the drawing room?” Darcy asks eagerly.
“Yes, I will inform them right after you leave. Darling, please remember not to have your carriage or that of your Uncle’s waiting out front. We do not want Lady Catherine or Miss de Bourgh to recognize them and then not go through with this plan and possibly ruin your reputation some other way that we cannot anticipate or undo.” Elizabeth reminds William carefully.
“Yes, I will remember that. You are very clever; you think of everything.” Darcy hugs and kisses Elizabeth’s delectable lips some more before leaving. “I will be back at three o’clock.”
Archbishop Peters, Lord and Lady Matlock, and Richard are all shocked when they hear Darcy’s story about Anne. They all agree to go through with the plan to expose Anne and Lady Catherine.
Elizabeth explains everything to Mrs. Gardiner and Jane. They gasp at the wickedness and at how far Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh are willing to go in order to get rid of Elizabeth and have William marry Miss de Bourgh. Elizabeth requests that everybody be out of sight by two o’clock so she can limit as much embarrassment for William’s family as possible.
Darcy arrives back at the Gardiner’s residence with the other four witnesses at half past two o’clock and everybody goes over the plan again. She shows them where they will hide. Darcy decides to hide behind the large sofa at the opposite end of the drawing room’s entrance door. He will sit on the floor bent over. Archbishop Peters and Lord Matlock will each hide behind a bay window. Richard and Lady Matlock will hide in Mr. Gardiner’s study until after Anne and Elizabeth enters the drawing room. Afterwards, they will come to stand just outside of the drawing room door to listen in.
“Miss Anne de Bourgh, Miss Elizabeth.” Mildred announces with quiet curiosity.
“Good afternoon, Miss de Bourgh. Thank you Mildred; that will be all.” Elizabeth moves directly to the drawing room door to show that she is making certain that the housemaid has left. She, furtively, leaves the door slightly ajar. Elizabeth stands with her back next to the drawing room door as she gazes at Miss de Bourgh.
“Well, Miss de Bourgh, thank you for being punctual. Let us get this underway. Do you have the ten thousand pounds that you offered me?” Elizabeth inquires dispassionately.
“I do – all ten thousand pounds. When are you going to break it off with Darcy? And what are you going to say so that he will believe you?” Anne questions bluntly.
“Is the money in the bag that you hold there, Miss de Bourgh?” Elizabeth feigns interest in the money to assure Miss de Bourgh that she wants the money.
“Yes; here.” Anne places the black bag onto the side table next to where Elizabeth stands. “All ten thousand pounds are inside. All the notes are in 100 pounds. There should be 100 notes in there, in two bundles. Are you going to count it all?”
“How very convenient of the bank; it will make my counting easier and faster.” Elizabeth opens the bag and takes out one bundle at a time and pretends to start counting silently; however, in reality, she is thinking over what she will say to have Miss de Bourgh confess.
“You will be glad to hear that I have already broken it off with William earlier because of an argument we had yesterday. I built up that argument and told him that I can no longer tolerate him. I told him that I do not love him, and I do not wish to continue with our engagement because he was a brute for yelling at me. He is a gentleman, so he was very offended when I said that he abused me abominably.” Elizabeth pretends to resume counting casually and then without looking at Miss de Bourgh she says, “He is starting to lose interest in me already, anyways. Is that how gentlemen of the first circles act, Miss de Bourgh? Being in the first circles yourself, your Mother must have taught you how to deal with such a husband.”
“My Mother has taught me to be a proper wife for Darcy. Darcy will not lose interest in me; I know how to keep him.” Anne responds smugly with an upturned proud face.
Elizabeth pretends to ask with surprise. “Do you mean your Mother knows of your relations with William? Lady Catherine seemed so deceivingly proper, righteous, and genteel; I would never have imagined that she would condone you having premarital relations with a man before you are married. That is incredible.” Elizabeth can detect that Miss de Bourgh is affronted and looks upset. Hopefully she will confess easily and soon. Elizabeth must goad her some more.
“I am not of the first circles but even I know that is not what proper young ladies are taught to do to catch a good gentleman husband.” Elizabeth feigns counting again before expressing her astonishment again. The notes make rustling noises as she counts. “I just cannot imagine that your Mother would allow that, but perhaps she was also relying on the fact that she could trick Mr. Darcy into marrying you anyways. Still…I would be afraid of losing my respectability and not being considered proper in the eyes of others around me.”
“I am a proper young lady! More proper than you! I am of the first circles. I do not have to flirt and play around with a gentleman to get him to marry me.” Anne spews heatedly.
Elizabeth daringly persists with her criticism. Miss de Bourgh is getting angrier at being considered ill-bred; she will confess soon. Elizabeth hurriedly asserts, “But Miss de Bourgh, you said you had intimate relations with Mr. Darcy and that is how you are going to force him to do his duty by you. If he is such a man, then I am glad that I have broken off our engagement. I will not offer myself like that to any man before I am married. You may have been able to do it, and it is very brave of you because your reputation could have been ruined; you could have ruined your entire family, too. I hope that he will marry you, now. You are brave to have had premarital relations with him.” Elizabeth emphasizes the premarital relations aspect, and then she unceremoniously resumes her counting again.
Anne angrily declares, “I did not! I would never have premarital relations with a man that is not my husband! I am no trollop! Of course, I would never have relations with Darcy before we are married. He would not respect me otherwise, but now he will marry me with you out of the way.” Anne becomes more vindicated with this announcement. She thinks on how foolish this Miss Elizabeth is to think that she is more righteous and more proper than Anne. Miss Elizabeth is nothing to her!
“Are you certain you did not have relations with William?” Elizabeth goads her further.
“I certainly did not! I was not raised as some common, promiscuous, low class wench.” Anne exclaims indignantly while frowning irately at Elizabeth.
“Thank God, you were not raised as such, Anne!” Darcy stands up and proclaims loudly and angrily. “How dare you utter such disgusting, repulsive lies about me?”
Darcy’s loud and surprising declaration startles both Elizabeth and Anne but especially Anne. Anne’s eyes go wide; her mouth is agape, her pallor is instant, and she sways a bit as if she may faint. At the same moment, the curtain of one of the windows is pushed aside and Archbishop Peters steps down from the window seat. Then, Lord Matlock does the same. Afterwards, the drawing room door opens up and Lady Matlock and Richard come in to stand across from Anne who is still rigid in shocked silence. Everyone is staring at Anne as she speechlessly sways.
Elizabeth throws the bundle of money back into its bag and closes it. She stares at Miss de Bourgh just as everyone is.
“How could you, Anne?” Lady Matlock questions most indignantly.
At this point, Anne looks over at Lady Matlock, and then she starts to slump. Both La
dy Matlock and Elizabeth swiftly come to help support her. They lead her to the sofa. Anne does not articulate a single word; instead, fear is clearly apparent on her pallid face.
“Henry, I think you should bring your sister in here and tell her that we know of what they had planned; it is all out in the open, even Archbishop Peters knows of their transgressions. She needs to attend to her daughter.” Lady Matlock states straightforwardly.
“Yes, I will retrieve her immediately. Is Anne alright?” Lord Matlock asks with some concern.
“She is just shocked that her shameful offenses have been revealed and others know of them now.” Lady Matlock says irritably. “She will be fine after some rest.” Lady Matlock releases her hold on Anne to let her lean on the sofa cushion before saying, “I am so disappointed and shocked at you Anne. What you have done is inexcusable. Did your Mother put you up to this?” Lady Matlock frowns at her husband’s niece.
Elizabeth moves away from Miss de Bourgh with clear disgust and anger. Darcy goes to stand by Elizabeth as she looks at him adoringly but with some unease. She takes his arm for support. It is over; she was able to protect William, the love of her life. There will be some ramifications from this, but as long as William is not hurt in any way, then she can endure the consequences.
“Miss Anne de Bourgh, do you know who I am?” Archbishop Peters poses gently but firmly as he approaches the sofa.
Anne nods fearfully.
Archbishop Peters states calmly but with great dissatisfaction. “I am Archbishop Peters. I know of your Mother, and I am sorry to say that I am grievously disappointed that she has not guided you better to be a moral, virtuous person. She always sounded like she was an upright, proper, decent lady. Did she put you up to doing this, Miss de Bourgh?”
“I…I…Darcy…we never…” Anne starts crying; she covers her face in absolute shame.
“You lied about having relations with Darcy, Anne?” Lady Matlock confirms.
Still crying, Anne immediately nods her head vigorously in agreement without removing her hands from her face. At this moment, there is loud talking and rustling coming towards the drawing room.
“Keep your voice down, Catherine! Do you want the servants to hear about yours and Anne’s wicked ways?” Lord Matlock admonishes harshly.
“What have you done to my daughter?!” Lady Catherine cries out as she stands there regally glowering irately at Darcy and Elizabeth. When she sees Archbishop Peters, she slightly cringes – barely perceptible. She is not afraid of any man, but he is the Archbishop after all. “You are all brutes! Leave my daughter alone. I will expose you all to abusing a young, sick girl.”
“Stop your meaningless drivel INSTANTLY, Catherine!” Lord Matlock shouts out crossly. “You will do well to keep quiet so you will not expose your own shame and drag the rest of your relatives into the sewer with you. Do you know what Anne has claimed and has done to Miss Elizabeth? Did you put Anne up to announcing that she has had premarital relations with Darcy? You two were going to force him into marriage with Anne by ruining him? Did you not think that Anne’s reputation would also be ruined and then all of us will also be tied to her shame? Are you INSANE?!” Lord Matlock heatedly interrogates; he is rarely this incensed.
Lady Catherine stands stock-still. Her face is still haughty but otherwise unexpressive. Anne is quietly sniffling with her head in her hands in shame faced away from her mother.
“I have done nothing but try to save Darcy from a bad marriage that will affect all of us.” Lady Catherine responds arrogantly.
“You have done nothing?!” Lord Matlock’s voice booms again as he glares incredulously at his own sister. “You let your daughter proudly announce to a stranger that she has had premarital relations with a man! Are you mad? Are you so coveted of Pemberley and all that is the Darcy name that you will debase your daughter to this extent? Or are you so scared of being pushed into the Dowager’s house after Anne marries some other man who will not be as nice as Darcy? You are my own sister; you cannot be this…this immoral and unscrupulous. It is too…I do not even know the words to describe what you have become. Anne could have married a decent gentleman and not wasted her life hoping for Darcy when you both have been told time and time again that he is not interested in Anne. He only sees her as a cousin. That is all! Now, you two have degraded yourselves and our family name. I cannot and I will not be tied to you any further if any of this information ever gets out of this room; do you understand me, Catherine? Anne?” Lord Matlock demands severely, but both ladies remain quiet.
Anne is quiet because she is scared of her Mother. Lady Catherine is quiet because she is livid to be spoken to in this manner by anyone, especially in front of others.
“DO YOU TWO UNDERSTAND?!” Lord Matlock’s voice thunders over the silence and startles all the ladies – even the grand Lady Catherine startles slightly.
Anne sniffles and weeps concurrently while answering in a stuttering voice, “Ye…yes, Uncle.”
“I understand.” Lady Catherine replies with evident loathing while looking away from everyone.
Darcy turns towards Lady Catherine and with clear fury and repugnance on his face he starkly announces, “I will speak to you for the last time. You and Anne are a disgrace. You two are lying, revolting women; no wonder you are mother and daughter. I am ashamed to be related to you. I cut all my ties with the both of you. I will no longer recognize or acknowledge you two anywhere. If I ever hear of this abhorrent information even being hinted at, then you will bear the responsibility and feel the full force of the Darcy name. Do you think I would stand idly by for you to ruin my reputation or that of my betrothed’s? You are a dishonor to the Fitzwilliam name and you disgust me! You two are no ladies!” Darcy glares unfalteringly and intently at Lady Catherine.
Lady Catherine is angry but is impassive as William lectures her. Elizabeth can still decipher the very minute manifestations of shame from Lady Catherine’s face. Who would not be ashamed and mortified when such severe declarations are heaped upon them directly? It is probably worse for Lady Catherine because she has belittled people of lower ranks for being immoral, yet here she is being exactly that. To have Archbishop Peters witness this shame, could not get any worse for someone who thinks so highly of themselves such as Lady Catherine. To have this delicate and detrimental subject matter voiced openly like common fodder is degrading, indeed. Elizabeth ventures to think that Lady Catherine could not help but feel some shame. She would have to be a fence post in order not to feel humiliation and indignity with something like this.
“Uncle, they need to be removed from here immediately. I will not tolerate them any longer.” Darcy urges reasonably. “Richard, will you please remove their bag of money, too.”
“I understand, Darcy.” Lord Matlock responds and then turns to Lady Catherine to grimly say, “Catherine, please retrieve your money bag, your daughter, and guide her out to your carriage. You may stay overnight at Matlock House and leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Come, Anne. We do not belong in Cheapside.” Lady Catherine announces haughtily as she walks out and Anne timidly follows behind her with her head bent in humiliation.
“Yet, you come here willingly and eagerly two days in a row doing the most despicable thing for others to see.” Lord Matlock responds sarcastically. Lord and Lady Matlock walk behind Lady Catherine and Anne to assure that they get into their carriage with no other problems.
Darcy expresses his discomfiture. “Godfather Nicolas, I thank you for your assistance, your understanding, and for witnessing this situation although I am fully mortified.”
“Darcy, you did nothing wrong; you were wronged. You showed restraint to those who have hurt you and your betrothed. No one could ask for more. I will pray that Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh find their way back to morality and rectitude.” Archbishop Peters states composedly and sympathetically. “I am glad I could help. You are a good man, Darcy.” Archbishop responds forthrightly.
Darcy nod
s in acceptance of his Godfather’s support and comprehension. “Sir, my carriage will take you home.”
Elizabeth is exceedingly proud to hear and to know that William is well regarded by many. After all the appreciation is conveyed and farewells relayed, Elizabeth and Darcy are left alone in the drawing room.
Darcy comes to embrace Elizabeth tightly. His poor betrothed has been attacked twice in two days by his own relatives. Has she not endured enough of her own family problems?
“I love you so very much, dearest.” Darcy kisses Elizabeth’s lips fondly and then says, “I am sorry that this has happened to you. I am sorry that I was not able to shield you from my crazy relatives.”
“You cannot be with me every hour of every day. These were rare circumstances from desperate people. Thank you for loving me so much.” Elizabeth responds warmly and considerately. Her love for him is great; she fears losing him.
“I could not love anyone more.” Darcy kisses Elizabeth’s lips again but hesitantly pulls away because they are alone in drawing room without any chaperone. He does not want any cause for talk by the servants. “Lizzy, maybe you should go and inform your Aunt and Jane that the situation is over and my family has left so they can move about their home freely.”
“Alright, darling. I will call for tea and some light sandwiches to hold us over until dinner. Will you stay for dinner?” Elizabeth asks contently.