The Red Chrysanthemum

by Linda Beutler

  “My acquaintance with Mr Darcy is a year old, Lady Catherine, as you are perfectly well aware, during which time he mentioned me to his sister on numerous occasions. He introduced me to Miss Darcy this summer while I was visiting in Lambton with my aunt and uncle, and after spending some time together, we suited each other well enough for her to invite me to spend the month of August at Pemberley. Georgiana asked her brother if she might correspond with me. I did not initiate the communication.”

  Much of this was news to Lady Catherine, and she turned white with fury. “Yes, but you did not stay the entirety of the month, did you? Or anywhere near it! I know it all! That you had to leave to address the waywardness of your youngest sister, that she was interrupted in an elopement with the nefarious George Wickham. Their marriage has been a patched up business, handled by your uncle in trade. How is this to be borne? Could the son of a steward come to be called brother by Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy?”

  Elizabeth was seething but relieved that Lady Catherine, in fact, did not “know it all.” However, she raised a question Elizabeth had been privately considering. How can Mr Darcy, no matter the degree of his inclination for me, reconcile himself to Wickham’s attachment to my family? How could he countenance it? His consideration towards my family has been generous indeed, but surely he will balk at making a more intimate connection. It was not a subject Elizabeth cared to debate with Lady Catherine.

  That her ladyship was so visibly and loudly angry helped Elizabeth to maintain her equanimity, and she drew in a deep, calming breath.

  Lady Catherine continued. “It astounds me that Fitzwilliam has gone against my wishes to enter into an engagement with you and has not sought my council. He forgets he is already engaged to my daughter.”

  “Mr Darcy has always behaved as a man of honour with complete, if sometimes uncomfortable, honesty. If he believed himself engaged to your daughter, he would never make an offer to me.”

  “Their engagement is of a peculiar kind. It was the fondest wish of his mother and me that they should marry. We spoke of it from Anne’s infancy. You should be ashamed to break not only Anne’s heart but mine, too; I was your generous hostess in the spring, and you defile the memory of Darcy’s sainted mother.”

  “You bring up a subject that was of some concern to Miss Darcy, Lady Catherine. She applied to Colonel Fitzwilliam for the particulars, and he wrote that Mr Darcy’s father was adamantly against the match because of Anne’s poor health. Before her father died, Georgiana overheard him warning the younger Mr Darcy against it. The colonel also informed Miss Darcy that your daughter would not look favourably upon a proposal but did not tell you because she never believed it would occur and wished to avoid conflict. She does not love her Cousin Darcy, it seems.”

  “Insolent girl! That you should presume to know my daughter’s heart better than I! This is not to be tolerated.”

  “Surely, even you must own you are not a lady with whom anyone would care to disagree if avoiding a dispute were at all possible.”

  “Hold your tongue, girl. I will not be distracted from my purpose. I give you no permission to marry my nephew and would have you renounce him and end your engagement. My character is not at issue here.”

  “Oh, yes, it most certainly is, Lady Catherine. You have done nothing to entice me to confide in you. You are everything that is irrational. You may not realize you have lessened your influence by appearing so continually unreasonable. But your behaviour to Mr Darcy is a family matter and none of my concern. If Mr Darcy is accustomed to your meddling in his life; that is his choice, but you have no connection to me.”

  “Miss Bennet, I find you obstinate and ungrateful. You will never make any man a proper wife by being so outspoken.”

  “Ungrateful? You were thanked amply and properly for your kindness to me in Kent. By dining several times at Rosings, I had no notion of being made permanently beholden to you, or I would most certainly have declined the invitations. I am sorry to speak so, but there it is.”

  “Cease this impertinence, Miss Bennet, for I have met with your type before. You have seduced him. His sense of honour demands he marry you. Are you with child?” Lady Catherine lowered her voice and hissed the final question like a stage villain.

  Elizabeth stared. She narrowed her eyes as she lifted her chin and set her shoulders. Her voice stayed even, her elocution precise. “You have insulted me in every possible way. I am a gentleman’s daughter and a maiden. If it will comfort you, let me say I have reason to believe that whatever his feelings for me may be, Mr Darcy is not likely to propose.” Elizabeth just stopped herself from saying, “propose again.”

  Lady Catherine closed her eyes and yielded a great sigh. “You are not engaged to him?” Her angry eyes brightened.

  “No, I am not.”

  “And will you agree never to enter into such an engagement? Should his senses utterly abandon him — should he make his addresses to you — will you promise me to refuse him?”

  “I shall not. I shall make no promise of the kind to someone so wholly unconnected to me.”

  “You are resolved to have him?”

  “I have said no such thing. You are not entitled to know my heart, and all your attempts to intimidate me will not induce me to be explicit. I am confirmed to act only in a manner which, in my opinion, will contribute to my future happiness.”

  “You leave me no choice, Miss Bennet, but to appeal to my nephew in your stead. He left London yesterday afternoon, and I was told he has arrived at an estate near here, a place called Netherfield. It is let to his friend Bingley. Do you know of it?”

  The news that Darcy was in the neighbourhood caused Elizabeth’s colour to rise from pale resentment to embarrassed blush. It was too much. Exasperation erupted as self-control failed her with this fresh evidence of Lady Catherine’s absurdity. “Of course I do! It is the next estate north. Have your coachman receive directions from our housekeeper. Our conversation is finished, Lady Catherine.”

  “That will be utterly satisfying to me, Miss Bennet. I want nothing more than to remove myself from your company with all possible haste. You are headstrong, unfeeling and imprudent. If I can prevail upon my nephew to make the promises you will not, I shall take him back to Darcy House this very afternoon.”

  “If your nephew can be swayed by your ridiculous pride and boundless prejudice, by your conceit and your uncivil manners, then he is not the man I thought him, and he will be no loss to me. But I have come to trust he is a better man than you believe him to be. Indeed, your ladyship, Fitzwilliam Darcy is the best man I have ever known.”

  Lady Catherine gave Elizabeth one last haughty look from head to toe. “I am most seriously displeased. You may be assured you will receive no further invitations from the Hunsford vicarage.”

  “I shall bear the deprivation tolerably well, I expect. Art a balmpot — tow’d woman!”

  Both women turned to the stone arch with the intention of quitting the walled garden as quickly as possible, only to see the silhouette of a tall, well-formed gentleman in riding attire giving the appearance of being possessed by a towering rage, which, upon translating Elizabeth’s last words, turned to laughter.

  Elizabeth froze. How long has he been there? What has he heard? I should not have retaliated. He will never forgive me for insulting his aunt.

  Lady Catherine’s response was quite the opposite of Elizabeth’s upon seeing her nephew. She sallied past her opponent, flying to Darcy as if to attack him. He stepped forward and harshly grasped his aunt’s elbow, catching her by surprise and wheeling her around. He nearly dragged her the ten feet to the nearest bench and pushed her down upon it as if she were a child caught in the midst of a tantrum. Darcy moved to place himself between his aunt and Elizabeth. Lady Catherine started to open her mouth but Darcy silenced her with a warning finger and a threatening glare. He turned to Elizabeth. He was trying to quell his amusement. Where did she learn the Derby dialect?

  “Please excuse me
, Miss Bennet. I once accused you of having unfortunate relations without acknowledging the considerable defects of members of my own family. You owe me no such favour, but please forgive my aunt for her uncivil behaviour. I know how it offends you. It offends me. One would think a lady of her rank would not importune a gentlewoman under any circumstances, let alone to accost her in the bosom of her own family. I am appalled to think of those things of which she has accused you.”

  Elizabeth’s chest constricted as it always did whenever Darcy appeared. She could not properly take in all she heard, so surprised was she at the direction of Darcy’s speech. His reference to the accusation of seduction sank in, and she coloured rather more profusely and felt a little dizzy.

  “Nephew…” Lady Catherine’s voice sputtered back to life.

  Darcy turned to her. “I have heard quite enough from you, Lady Catherine. Quite enough.”

  He turned back to Elizabeth. “I ask your forbearance, Miss Bennet; would you be so kind as to give my aunt and me a private moment? It pains me as a nephew to address my aunt as I must do, but I would not risk your having to hear anything further she may say, and I mean to defend you as I should have done the moment I heard so much as a syllable of this exchange.”

  Elizabeth lifted her chin and met his eyes. “I am completely capable, Mr Darcy, of defending myself — and you — if need be. Indeed, sir, I have rarely met anyone as easy to best in an argument as your aunt.”

  Darcy was facing Elizabeth and she again appeared as the majestic she-wolf who had defended Jane in Lambton. What thrilled him now was her defence of him and that she was willing to take his part. In a quieter situation, he would thoroughly consider the implications of her statement to Lady Catherine that he was the best man she had ever known — quite a pleasing change from her opinion in April. He smiled into her eyes.

  Elizabeth was ready to continue the argument with Lady Catherine or to storm away in a state of high dudgeon or even to yield the field of battle to him and watch them joust, but she was not prepared for Darcy’s smile. The charming dimples and warmth of his deep brown eyes dispelled her wrath and filled her with feelings of wonderment. He is not displeased with me. His looks admit that his regard is still in my favour. Has he come back for me? Is that why he is here?

  Elizabeth looked down at her hands for a long moment. “I find your forbearance with my behaviour towards your aunt quite miraculous, sir,” she said in a quieter voice. She curtsied to him, saying, “I shall leave you to it, Mr Darcy,” and left the garden with as much appearance of calm as she could summon.

  Once on the lawn, Elizabeth stopped. Her sense of propriety told her she ought to keep walking, but her heart was not so governable a creature. She stole to her right into the shrubbery of Lauristinus, thus skirting the lawn until she was at the arch between the dense leafy hedge and the wall.

  Darcy and his aunt were already engaged in their skirmish.

  “…and you have no right to say with whom Georgiana may correspond. And lastly, you have no influence over whom I shall marry.”

  “Darcy, you forget yourself, your position, your connections and the family. Think of the reckoning you will face.”

  “My family… Georgiana and Richard realize I must have a wife who will make me happy. They love me and are determined to be pleased by whoever pleases me. You appear to have no such regard for my future happiness.”

  “Could you be happy with a woman of such low connections, such little fortune and so many impertinent opinions? Please, Nephew, vow to me what she would not. Promise me you will never propose to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

  Elizabeth’s breathing stopped.

  Darcy glanced at the stone arch. Elizabeth could easily be just outside it, listening as he had done. It would serve me right if she is. Darcy levelled an implacable gaze upon his aunt and raised his voice so he would be heard without sounding heated. “I will not. I shall make no such promise.” He paused. “Lady Catherine, you have no idea how perfectly suited Miss Elizabeth Bennet is to be mistress of Pemberley. I myself have only recently learned how perfect. But I had been in love with her for quite some time before I knew that, in addition to being ideally suited to me, she is ideal for Pemberley.”

  Elizabeth’s head dropped, tears stinging her eyes. He is defending me. His aunt is right; I have been an ungrateful girl, but not to her, to him!

  “Darcy! I am ashamed of you. What of Anne?”

  “You are frank, Aunt; I shall join you. What of Anne? She should not be shackled with a husband who cannot love her, whose heart is forever lodged elsewhere. And I believe her affections lie with quite a different cousin.”

  “What nonsense is this?”

  “She has been quietly in love with Richard for many years. He cuts a much more dashing figure than I.”

  Lady Catherine sucked in her breath. “Why would she not confide in me? Her own mother?”

  “Why would she? You are not affectionate, you attribute to her talents she herself does not claim, and you have crushed any independence to which she ever aspired. She cannot trust her own mother to be kind.”

  Lady Catherine glared at him, the bile rising in her throat. “I am not here to speak of Anne. I am here to stop you from making a grave mistake, which you will rue for the rest of your life. How could such a one ever make you happy?”

  “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the only woman who ever has made me happy. She laughs at me. She has an independence of mind that is pleasing. She is intelligent, and although her education has not been conventional, it is extensive. I am convinced the tenants of Pemberley will love her, and while you may think yourself vastly superior to your own tenants at Rosings, the approbation of my tenants matters a great deal to me. If I do not marry Elizabeth Bennet, I will never marry.”

  Elizabeth blinked back tears.

  “And you were calling here today to pay her your addresses? On this very day?” Lady Catherine appeared flabbergasted.

  Darcy did not wish to speak so candidly. “I came to call upon her, to let her know I am returned to Netherfield and Georgiana will be joining me soon. I must let her know I now have her father’s permission to call upon her.” He smiled to himself.

  “Clearly her arts and allurements have rendered you addlepated. She is a schemer, Darcy. Can you not see it? She is a mercenary of the worst type.”

  “Arts and allurements? Elizabeth Bennet? Mercenary? No, Lady Catherine, no. I have ample evidence, the nature of which I am not willing to confide, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet will not marry except for love. I am not wholly certain she loves me…” Elizabeth inhaled sharply behind her leafy screen. “…but I have reason to hope.”

  The day was breezy enough that Darcy did not hear the swish of leaves as Elizabeth, incapable of listening to anything more, made her way to the footpath leading south of Longbourn, skirting the holdings of its tenants. She began running, unable to contain her disturbance of mind. As she bolted down the lane, heedless of the workers in the fields scything hay and watching her progress, Charlotte’s long ago advice was hammering in her ears, “Leave him in no doubt, leave him in no doubt, leave him in no doubt…”

  Darcy continued. “You must leave, Lady Catherine. You have insulted Miss Bennet and angered me. You will not change her mind, nor have you any influence over mine. Return to Rosings and see to your daughter.”

  Darcy walked to the arch, peeking outside between the shrubs and the wall, expecting to see Elizabeth. On one side were his footprints. On the other, the damp earth revealed the fresh prints of petite boots. Darcy followed the evidence until it blended into dryer ground and was plain for only a few feet more.

  Lady Catherine came behind Darcy, watching him disappear into the hedge. She ‘tsked’ in disapproval and proceeded to her chaise and four. Faces bright with astonishment watched from the drawing room windows as Jane and Kitty saw Lady Catherine depart. Mr Bennet had retired to his bedroom above stairs, and although knowing nothing of what was said, was nonetheless highly diver
ted by what he could see, for he had the better view.

  Darcy thought it auspicious that, as he emerged onto the lane, the sun came out from behind the grey clouds that had been gathering. To the south in the distance across a field, the flash of a pink gown was sprinting down a slope. Elizabeth’s arms were flung above and behind her; her bonnet flew from its ribbons behind her raised hand.

  One of the men in the field spied Darcy, stood up and motioned in the direction Elizabeth had run. The Longbourn tenants were quite accustomed to seeing the second eldest Miss Bennet dashing down the lanes. Darcy chuckled and waved in thanks. He began running. He was not used to that form of exercise, but his facility with swordplay gave him endurance.

  At the end of a full quarter mile, Elizabeth’s disquieted spirits had dissipated, and she slowed. Soon she heard Darcy’s rapid steps behind her. Has he followed me? She swirled around. She laughed and gasped for breath, her eyes sparkling and turning quite amber in the autumn sun.

  Darcy’s inclination was to sweep her into his arms. Although her laughter encouraged him, he instead stopped before her and executed a deep formal bow. “Miss Bennet,” he huffed and laughed. “You have led me a merry chase, madam.” He thought her more beautiful than ever.

  She curtsied gracefully. “It was not my intention, Mr Darcy.”

  Elizabeth straightened, and they met each other’s eyes. Slowly, as they recalled all that had been said to Lady Catherine and realized what the other had likely overheard, both experienced the unusual sensation of timidity. Elizabeth looked down whilst Darcy’s eyes travelled across the fields.

  Elizabeth remembered the topic she most particularly wished to speak of with Mr Darcy, the topic that so occupied her thoughts since Lydia’s slip of the tongue.

  “Mr Darcy, I comprehend what I am about to say may disturb you, but it must be said. I consider it would be highly discourteous of me to know of the great service you have done my family as regards my poor sister and not express my gratitude. You do not wish it spoken of, but I am a selfish creature. For the sake of giving relief to my own feelings, I am willing to risk wounding yours. Ever since I have known of it, I have been most anxious to acknowledge how grateful I am. I have not told anyone else in the family, and so I must extend their gratitude for them.” Her courage ran out, silencing her.