“Anne, where are your manners? Sit down at once and hold your peace!” her ladyship insisted. “We have guests, and I will not have our dinner disrupted.”
“If I have your full attention now, Mama, I will sit down. But I am quite determined to have my say; I will not be put off. As for our guests, there is no reason they may not hear; it will be common knowledge soon enough anyway.”
“Good heavens, child! What are you about?” With unpleasantness clearly inescapable, her ladyship dismissed the servants with a wave of her hand.
Anne, head held high, slowly sat down. Never before had she betrayed the slightest resemblance to her mother in her person or style. Yet now, as she took full command of the room, it was clear that Anne had learnt more under that singular tutelage than her friends ever suspected.
A hushed anticipation stole over the company. Every eye focused on Miss de Bourgh.
Finally she spoke, more quietly this time but with unwavering assurance. “There has been a change of plans, Mama. I have broken off my engagement to Colonel Fitzwilliam and consented to marry Dr. Essex instead.” With this she smiled and reached across the table to take his offered hand.
Gasps of surprise rippled round the table amongst those previously unenlightened. They could hardly have been more shocked had the pheasant on the Dresden platter resurrected itself and flown out the window.
Though astonishing, the news did not strike Elizabeth as being necessarily unpleasant, depending upon how their friend Fitzwilliam bore it. A glance at his suspiciously sanguine countenance reassured her. Far from showing signs of distress, he appeared to be enjoying the proceedings immensely.
Lady Catherine, on the other hand, looked staggered, as if someone had struck her a physical blow. Staring at her daughter in disbelief, a full minute passed before her ladyship could recover her power of speech and mount a retaliatory strike. “What utter nonsense!” the great lady then barked out. “Why, the very idea is scandalous; every feeling revolts. Dr. Essex, unhand my daughter this instant! Anne, apologize to Colonel Fitzwilliam and our guests, and never speak another word about this madness again. Do you hear me?”
Anne remained impressively calm under this onslaught. “I hear you clearly enough, Mama, but I have not the smallest intention of yielding. I am of age, so there is nothing you can do to prevent me from marrying whomsoever I choose. If you accept my decision graciously, Dr. Essex and I will be married here at Hunsford church. If not, the ceremony will take place in London where he has been these three weeks acquiring a license. But I shall marry the man I love, Mama. Anything else, I now realize, would be impossibly perverse.”
“Well said, my dear,” was the simple praise Dr. Essex offered.
In truth, he and others in the room felt a powerful impulse to tender a standing ovation for the privilege of having witnessed the once-weak and cowering young woman declare her emancipation from her overbearing mother.
Lady Catherine, her left eye beginning to twitch, turned on the colonel. “Fitzwilliam, do something! You are the injured party here. Can you not make my daughter see reason?”
“I fear it is a hopeless business, your ladyship. She is determined to have her own way, and I am quite convinced that neither you nor I will be able to change her mind. You are correct about one thing, however. I am indeed the injured party, and, as such, I am entitled by law to compensation for my loss,” said the colonel, skillfully playing his small but crucial role in the family drama.
“Heaven and earth, Fitzwilliam! You would not bring a legal action against us, surely,” her ladyship implored, sinking still further.
“Lady Catherine, let us both carefully consider how we are to react to this surprising development. For my part, I am convinced that if you can find the charity to accept Anne’s choice, I will be persuaded by your good example to likewise forgive the offense without prejudice.”
“I see,” said her ladyship through tight lips as she grasped the implication of the colonel’s veiled threat. There would be no help for her from that quarter, clearly. On the contrary, her nephew appeared to be in league with the others to thwart her at every turn. She felt herself quite put upon, the victim of duplicity on every side.
Fitzwilliam diplomatically proposed that he and the Darcys withdraw, leaving the three principals to work out an understanding amongst themselves. Her ladyship had not the strength, and no one else the inclination, to resist his suggestion. Anne could spare her reinforcements, now that she had secured her victory. Darcy and Elizabeth were eager for further explanation from Fitzwilliam. As for Georgiana, no one other than Elizabeth had the least idea that the change of plans could have any material effect upon her. Miss Darcy carefully concealed her flutter of spirits and followed the others to the drawing room without a word.
“This is quite a turn of events, Fitzwilliam!” Darcy began when they were beyond the hearing of those sequestered in the dining room.
“I did promise that the evening would entertain,” said the colonel with a swagger in his step. “I trust it did not disappoint.”
“You bear your loss exceedingly well, Colonel. Are you truly so serene, or do you play a part for Anne’s sake?” Elizabeth asked.
“I am no player, I assure you. I must even admit to being a trifle relieved that things turned out as they have. I thank you for your concern, Elizabeth, but you must have no more apprehension on my account.”
“But how did all this come about?” Darcy enquired as they took seats close together in the drawing room. “Some clarification is in order.”
“And I shall be only too delighted to supply it,” said Fitzwilliam. “The situation has been building for some time, it seems, although I was in the dark about it myself until very recently. I only knew that Anne was unhappy, and, as the wedding grew closer, she became more so. I pleaded with her to tell me her troubles, and finally the truth came out Friday night after we returned from seeing you in London.
“I suppose it was only natural that she should become terribly fond of Dr. Essex after all his kindness to her. She had no idea he returned her affection, however, and considered it an impossible match in any event. So Anne accepted her fate and consented to our engagement for much the same reasons that I did – a sense of family obligation, a desire to have things settled, and so forth.
Then, about a month ago, Dr. Essex declared himself. Improper, I know – to speak thus to a woman already engaged to another – yet I have not the heart to pass judgment upon him. With his encouragement, Anne began considering taking a stand for her own interests. Then, when she finally confessed the whole business to me, I gladly released her from our engagement, which cleared the way for what transpired tonight, my friends.”
“And I trust it is all for the best,” said Darcy.
Georgiana said nothing, her heart too full to risk any comment on the subject.
Elizabeth shook her head in wonder. “I can scarce believe it, though I have seen it with my own eyes – Anne standing up to her mother, daring her wrath, and her ladyship looking so completely devastated. I never thought to see the day when I might feel sorry for Lady Catherine, but I almost pity her now. She cannot have seen this coming. Still, do you really think she will give in to Anne’s demands, Fitzwilliam?”
“She has no very appealing alternative, as I believe she will soon discover.”
In the dining room, where heated negotiations continued, Anne and Dr. Essex held their ground with ready answers for all her ladyship’s objections and warnings. In the end, Lady Catherine admitted defeat and resigned herself to the inevitable. She even withdrew her threats of disinheritance when she considered that the scandal created by taking such a public step – and the legal action from Fitzwilliam it might provoke – would only increase her misery.
Managing the disaster as tastefully as possible then became her primary objective. Though a tempting solution, it seemed bad form to hold the wedding as originally planned, simply substituting one groom for the other as if no one woul
d remark the difference. It was finally settled that the thing would be accomplished as quickly and quietly as possible in London by use of the license Dr. Essex had already obtained. The details of the financial settlement could be handled in the same trip, and the newlyweds would return to Rosings as if nothing revolutionary had occurred. Indeed, as Dr. Essex had spent the majority of his time under that roof and in the company of the family for the previous twelve-month, to all outward appearances, that would be the case.
When the dining room summit concluded, Lady Catherine was in no humor for idle conversation or to otherwise linger in the company of persons who had witnessed her mortification at the hands of her own daughter. Giving the plausible excuse of a headache, she went directly to bed.
With the festivities over, the Darcys prepared to take their leave. Fitzwilliam, supposing his presence neither wanted nor needed at Rosings any longer, likewise ordered his carriage. Anne and Dr. Essex, arm in arm, saw their departing friends out.
“Our sincere congratulations,” said Darcy on the steps.
Georgiana added, “Yes, I wish you both every happiness.”
“That means a great deal to me … to us,” said Anne, smiling up at Dr. Essex.
“And you will all three come to the wedding?” he asked.
“We would not miss it for the world,” Elizabeth assured him.
Anne then turned to the colonel, laying a gentle hand on his arm. “Fitzwilliam, what can I say? I am forever in your debt.”
“Nonsense! Glad to be of service, my dear. My reward is seeing you made so happy. And I suppose I must confess some small satisfaction in beholding my aunt’s rather remarkable countenance as well.”
As the Darcys drove back to London, Elizabeth pondered the day’s extraordinary developments. For Lady Catherine, she felt some pity, but otherwise she could not regret what had transpired in the least. She rejoiced both in the happy outcome for the newly engaged couple, and in the fact that Colonel Fitzwilliam would not be settling for an arranged marriage after all. Most bewitching, however, was the question of what it all might mean for Georgiana’s prospects. Could there really be a chance of something developing between her and the colonel, or would the hope of that possibility, no matter how remote, only serve to muddy the waters, to confuse the issue and open old wounds to fresh pain? Georgiana, herself, had hardly said a word since the drama unfolded and, from her pensive aspect, Elizabeth could imagine that she had similar thoughts in contemplation.
Chapter 22
Preparing to Go
The weather turned uncommonly warm for early June, which might have been pleasant in the country with the amendment of fresh air and cooling breezes. Yet there were no such friendly modifying influences in town. The simmering heat only served to intensify the more unpleasant aspects of living in close quarters with so much humanity and horseflesh. If one dared open the windows in hopes of some relief from the stifling air indoors, one quickly closed them again against the noise and odors emanating from the streets.
For those who had the option of some place else to go, the advent of such conditions began turning thoughts toward getting out of town. Yet, with some significant social events still to come, it was too early for most people of fashion to seriously consider quitting London. For Darcy and Elizabeth, however, even Ascot and Henley could not tempt them to stay. The idea of returning to Pemberley was irresistible.
Elizabeth personally sent word to Charlotte Collins relating the gist of what had transpired at Rosings. The alteration of wedding arrangements notwithstanding, she encouraged her friend to come as originally scheduled and share their last week in town. In the meantime, Elizabeth meant to speak to Georgiana, in order to determine if Charlotte’s services would be required as chaperone or not.
“Well, my dear, what have you decided?” she asked upon finding Georgiana alone in the sitting room two days after their visit to Rosings. “Are you ready to return to Pemberley with your brother and myself, or do you wish to stay longer in town? I imagine that the recent incident may have caused some uncertainty.”
“Oh, Elizabeth, is this not the most incredible turn of events? I have thought of little else since. I know I should not let my feelings run away with me, but I cannot seem to help it.”
“You are still in love with Fitzwilliam then.”
“Until the other day, I had nearly convinced myself that those feelings were dead, or at least dying. Now they have sprung back to life, and I wonder if there might still be a chance for us. I cannot abandon that dream so long as there is hope; I could never marry somebody else until I know for certain there is not. So, you see, it is impossible for me to return to Derbyshire and face Mr. Sanditon at present.”
“Of course. Take as much time as you like, by all means. Yet you needn’t be afraid to come home whenever you wish, even if you have no answer for Mr. Sanditon. Remember, dear, this is undoubtedly the most important decision you will ever make. Promise me you will not allow anything or anybody to rush you into a choice that you may regret the rest of your life.”
Georgiana gave her promise, and the conversation turned to less serious subjects. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Darcy joined them. “What do the two of you have your heads together about this morning?” he asked.
“Your sister was just telling me that she wishes to stay on here for a while longer instead of returning to Pemberley with us,” said Elizabeth. “You have no objection, do you, my dear?”
“Not if proper arrangements can be made. I will not consent to any compromise of safety or decorum, Georgiana, but I think prudent precautions are within our reach. Fitzwilliam is remaining in town for some time, I believe, and I know he would willingly serve as your guardian. Then, if Mrs. Collins can be persuaded to act as chaperone, I will be satisfied.”
“I mentioned the possibility to Charlotte in my letter,” said Elizabeth, “and she responded quite enthusiastically. I believe she is not only disposed to agree to the office, but very much looking forward to the prospect.”
Later that night, Darcy revisited the subject. “I confess that I am surprised at Georgiana wanting to remain in London,” he said to his wife when they were alone. “She hardly seems to have enjoyed her time here so much as to wish to extend it.”
“Like other young ladies, I imagine she would sooner go to another ball or party than not.”
“Yes, but as for making any progress toward the real, if unstated, object of the season, this trip must be a disappointment. No suitor has captured her fancy, it seems, and the one she unintentionally attached to herself brought her more pain than pleasure. Where is the incentive to continue the trial? Would she not be more comfortable at home with us?”
“True, her first season has not lived up to expectations, though that disappointment may in part explain her wanting to stay,” suggested Elizabeth. “Georgiana must not be ready to relinquish the hope of a larger success if she will but persevere a little longer. You must admit she stands more chance of romance here than in the limited society of the country.”
“Certainly. And I make no doubt you comprehend these things far better than I do, Lizzy. In any case, I suppose Georgiana must be allowed to make her own decisions, as you are so fond of reminding me. Still, I shall not be quite easy until she is back at Pemberley with us.”
“I know you cannot help worrying over your sister whenever she is out of your sight, but let me relieve you of one possible source of anxiety. I have had a letter from Jane today saying that Mr. Wickham is safely back at Heatheridge now. So you need not fear that he will work any mischief here after we are gone. How fortunate that we never met up with him, by chance or otherwise, whilst he was in town.”
Mr. Darcy grew grave at the mention of Wickham’s name and made no reply to the news.
~*~
“I have been thinking, Elizabeth,” said Darcy next morning, “that we should close out our London season with some sort of gathering here to say good-bye to our friends.”
“A fine ide
a! A cozy dinner party would be just the thing. Do not you agree?”
They settled all the particulars between them and issued invitations at once to Colonel Fitzwilliam and several other close friends. Miss Bingley and the Hursts were also included, more out of civility than anticipated pleasure. By the day in question, Charlotte would be with them as well.
All but three persons promptly accepted the invitation. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were obliged to decline due to a prior engagement, and Henry Heywood claimed that an unspecified misfortune would prevent his attending. Since his failed proposal, he and Georgiana had met briefly twice with reasonable composure, and the initial awkwardness between the families was quickly overcome. Still, it was hardly surprising that Henry would choose to forgo the distress of so soon spending an entire evening in Georgiana’s presence. His choice to absent himself happily coincided with the young lady’s preference in the matter.
Mrs. Collins arrived safely from Hertfordshire on the day expected, delivered thence by her father’s carriage. Elizabeth received her warmly and showed her to the bedchamber that had been prepared for her use. “I hope you will be comfortable here,” she told her friend.
“I am sure I shall. It is a most agreeable room – quite lovely in fact,” remarked Charlotte as she looked about the large, tastefully appointed apartment.
“I am glad you like it, for you may be here some weeks, that is if you are still willing to act as chaperone. Georgiana has decided to stay a while longer in town after all. But if you had rather not ...”
“Nonsense, Lizzy. Nothing would please me more. It will be a delightful novelty for me to spend some time in London, accompanying Miss Darcy to her excellent affairs. And I daresay such a sweet-tempered girl cannot be a difficult charge.”
The Darcys of Pemberley Page 16