A Hasty Decision

by Wynne Mabry

  It was tempting to think of running away in the meantime, but he knew that a crisis had been reached. Everything had to be faced, and it was better to do so while Georgiana was away. The less she had to endure, the better.

  His peaceful holiday was shattered now. He tried to keep reading, but his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of what was to come. From about 7:00, he started listening for the sound of carriages in the street. Several went by without stopping, and then came one which did. He got up and walked over to the window, and in doing so he heard the voice of a neighbour.

  He sat down again, but not with much relief. She would be here eventually. If not today, then tomorrow or the one after. Or perhaps next week. He would just as soon not wait that long. Better to get it over with than to suffer the unpleasant expectation.

  At 8:00, he went to dine on his own, and by 9:00, he felt confident that nobody was arriving today. At 10:00, he startled upon hearing another carriage stop near his window, but it was his neighbours again. At 11:00 he went to bed, thinking that he would need a holiday to recover from another such day as this one.

  Insulted in the Worst Possible Way

  “You are not yet engaged?” was the first thing which Mrs. Bennet had said to Elizabeth when her daughters had visited at Longbourn soon after their arrival. “I thought you would have found somebody by now.”

  “It has only been a few months,” Jane said on her sister’s behalf.

  “That is plenty of time,” Mrs. Bennet countered. “Perhaps you are being too offhand with the gentlemen, Lizzy. You never had Lydia’s easy way of flirting with them. You must try harder to show your interest.”

  “I have no intention of becoming a flirt,” Elizabeth said. “The very idea is repugnant to me. And I am not trying to get a husband either. That is not my way of doing things.”

  “I hope you are not being too particular. Tell me that you have not been turning down offers.” Elizabeth and Jane looked awkwardly at each other, but fortunately, their mother kept talking without waiting for an answer. “It was all very well for you to refuse Mr. Collins, although that seemed like a foolish thing to do at the time, but if you mean to go on in that way, I do not know what will become of you.”

  “She will stay with us, Mama,” Jane said.

  “Well, I am glad somebody wants to have her, for it seems she will not make any effort to get herself a husband. And who knows if Mary will ever do any better. She will not trouble herself to be agreeable to the gentlemen either.”

  This complaint was followed by a story of Mary’s offhandedness at the last assembly, which gave Elizabeth a reprieve from worrying that her mother would outright ask if she had refused any other proposals. If an answer to that question was required, she would not lie, but she very much wanted to avoid revealing that information. Aside from the commotion it would cause, there was the gentlemen’s privacy to consider as well.

  They had all dined together in the evening, and afterwards, Mrs. Bennet had said a few more things on the subject, even in the presence of Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley, which was uncomfortable. Fortunately, she had not repeated that perilous question, but Elizabeth was very glad that Mr. Darcy had not come to Netherfield. With her mother’s lack of discretion, he probably would have heard some of this conversation, which would have caused him discomfort as well.

  The next day, she suffered an even greater discomfort, and it was caused by his aunt. Instead of going to collect Anne after her unsatisfactory conversation with her nephew, Lady Catherine had decided to go to Netherfield and deal personally with the adulteress before turning her mind to sorting out her daughter’s marriage.

  On arriving there, she was informed that Miss Elizabeth had walked to Longbourn that morning, but the others were all in the drawing room. Disregarding the fact that her niece was one of those others, as Anne had reported to her, Lady Catherine declined to be presented and made her way directly to Longbourn.

  Elizabeth was astonished when their visitor was announced. She could not think of any reason for Lady Catherine to call upon them. Presumably she had been passing through the area and stopped at Netherfield to visit with her niece, but it was strange that she had come to Longbourn as well, especially after her cold behaviour at the Darcy’s ball.

  She was obviously not happy to be there either. Her manner was unfriendly, and she made some discourteous remarks about the house. Mrs. Bennet was too gratified by having such an illustrious visitor to mind the incivility of this, but Elizabeth kept wondering what the purpose of the visit could be. This fault-finding was in keeping with the lady’s character, to be sure, but it was puzzling that she had gone so far out of her way to criticise the home of people so insignificant to her.

  Her purpose was made apparent when she requested Elizabeth’s company for a turn about the garden. She wanted a private conversation, and it was not likely to be a pleasant one. Elizabeth went outside with the expectation of having her patience tried, but she was still not prepared for what was to come.

  “You will not be in any doubt of the reason for my journey here,” Lady Catherine said.

  “Actually, I am quite puzzled by it,” Elizabeth replied.

  “Do not play innocent with me, Miss Bennet. Your conscience must be telling you why I have come. Or can you be entirely without shame?”

  “I am at a complete loss to know what you are talking about. I have done nothing of which to be ashamed.” She really had not. Nobody could know her feelings, and she had never acted upon them, nor would she.

  “You will not get away with lying to me. I know everything.”

  “I do not. Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me what I am supposed to have done.”

  “Insolent girl. I know that you are nothing but a brazen hussy. Do you deny having formed an illicit connection with my nephew?”

  Elizabeth looked at her accuser in horror. “Of course I deny it,” she cried. “I can assure you that there is no such connection between us.”

  “I do not believe you. My daughter tells me that there is.”

  “Your nephew will tell you that there is not.”

  “He already has, but I can see that his word is no longer to be trusted. The two of you are united in deceit as well as debauchery.”

  “We are only united in being innocent of this dreadful accusation.”

  “I know you are not innocent. His refusal to give you up made that evident.”

  Elizabeth heard this with astonishment. “You must have misunderstood him,” she cried. “He cannot have said such a thing.”

  “He did indeed.”

  “Then he was referring to something else. Not give up my friendship, I suppose. That must have been what he meant. As for our innocence, it is very easily proved. If you will not believe me, then consider the impossibility of any improper behaviour. I am living under Mr. Bingley’s roof, and he is very careful of my safety. I am always attended by servants if I go out alone, which I rarely do. My sister and I are almost constantly together.”

  “I think you protest too much. That is a clear sign of guilt.”

  “It is a clear sign of being greatly offended. You have insulted me in the worst possible way. I am only still standing here in the hope of clearing up a dreadful misunderstanding for the benefit of everybody involved. I do not know how Mrs. Darcy has conceived this idea, but as I have said, all the facts prove that it is not possible.”

  “Your so-called facts are highly questionable. Your sister’s chaperonage? She cannot be trusted. I know very well what your sisters are like. And the protection of a man who would marry into such a family? I have no regard for that.”

  “You seem to have no regard for the truth. That is what I have given you, but in turn, you have maligned my character and insulted my family. I have nothing more to say to you.”

  She turned to walk back to the house, but Lady Catherine grabbed her arm. “I am not done,” she cried. “I have come to insist that you will give him up. It will be for his own good a
nd yours. Think of the scandal there will be when your relationship becomes known.”

  Elizabeth wrenched her arm away. “I can only give you my word that there is nothing to give up.”

  “That is not the answer that I am seeking.”

  “This is absurd,” Elizabeth said angrily. “Very well then, since you persist in thinking the worst of me without any good reason, then I can only reply that I will give you no promise at all.”

  “You are determined to ruin him and yourself. But you will not have your way. He will not be able to marry you. I shall see to it. There will be no annulment.”

  “I had no idea that there might be,” Elizabeth replied in surprise. “You are presuming that I know all of Mr. Darcy’s personal business, which I really do not.”

  “You may not know of it, but you are the reason he wishes to dispose of my daughter.”

  Elizabeth hoped not. Mr. Darcy was not so unprincipled as to form such a plan, even though she could guess that he would like to marry her if he could. And guilty though she felt for it, she would want to marry him too. But she would never have thought of encouraging him to end his marriage just so that they could be together. And neither would he. She was not his reason. It was the state of his marriage which drove him to this.

  “Your silence is testament to your guilt,” Lady Catherine cried.

  “Merely my confoundment,” Elizabeth said. “You cannot know your own nephew if you think that he would act so wrongly. I am certain that he would not. You should have more confidence in his principles. And that really is my last word on the subject.”

  She hastily walked away before her arm could be grabbed again. There was no purpose to any continuation of this conversation. It was insulting that Lady Catherine had such a low opinion of her morals, and disturbing that Mrs. Darcy had formed such an idea, but nothing was to be done in the face of such stubborn refusal to believe the truth.

  A Trouble Shared

  Although Georgiana missed seeing her aunt, the servant announced that Lady Catherine de Bourgh had called for Miss Elizabeth and then asked for directions to Longbourn.

  “I suppose she must not be aware that I am here,” Georgiana said to Jane. “She was probably passing through the neighbourhood and decided to break her journey by paying a call upon Lizzy.”

  She could not convince herself of this though. Her aunt would not likely have left Rosings while she had visitors. Not unless there was an important reason. And what might that be? One awful possibility came to mind. What if Lady Catherine had come bearing news of a dreadful accident, which she had decided not to relate until Elizabeth was there to give comfort?

  For the next hour or so, Georgiana struggled to hide that she was feeling excessively worried. It was no use alarming her friends while all was still unknown, yet she was fairly certain that the worst of news was about to be delivered at any moment. She sat by the window, waiting to see her aunt’s carriage return, but instead she eventually saw Elizabeth walking up the drive. This was unexpected, but desperate to know what had happened, she went outside and hurried to meet up with her friend.

  “Did you see my aunt?” she cried out as soon as she was close enough to be heard. “Why did she come here. Has something happened to my brother? Tell me at once, Lizzy. Is he dead? Or maimed?”

  “No. It was nothing like that.” Elizabeth rushed forward and hugged her friend. “Calm yourself, my dear. Your brother has not come to any harm. I have seen Lady Catherine, but her errand was only to speak with me on a personal matter.”

  “He really is not hurt?”

  “No, I assure you that he is not.”

  “But then why was my aunt here? She would not have made the journey without a good reason. There must be something wrong.”

  “Nothing about which you need to worry.”

  “But I am worried. And I am sure that something is troubling you. You look terribly unsettled, Lizzy. There cannot have been anything good in your conversation. Was she unpleasant to you?”

  Elizabeth hesitated to answer.

  “What is it that you are not telling me?” Georgiana asked. “You must know that you can tell me anything.”

  “I did not want to burden you with this, but yes, she was unpleasant. Very much so, to be honest.”

  “Does it have anything to do with Anne? It must have. Is she is causing trouble again?”

  “Our conversation was to do with her, but I do not think I should tell you about it.”

  “Did she make some complaint about you? And then my aunt came hear to tell you off for it? They are both stupid if that was the case.”

  “It was something like that.”

  “I hope she did not say that you have been rude to her. I am quite willing to tell my aunt that it is really the other way around.”

  “If only it were that simple. I was accused of something far more serious.”

  “Do they think you stole something? If that is the case, I will tell them that you are much too honest.”

  “I am afraid the accusation was even more dreadful and shocking than that. I really did not want you to know of this, but I suppose it is better to tell you everything. It would not surprise me if you hear of it before long anyway, and you might as well be forewarned.”

  “I expect I will hear of it. Anne has little thought for discretion. She even argues with my brother in front of the servants.”

  “Well, I hope she never talks of this. It is too mortifying. For him as well as me. You must understand that he will be terribly embarrassed that such a thing has even been suggested.”

  “Is Anne jealous because he gets along with you so well? It is her own fault that he does not enjoy her company half as much as yours.”

  “The accusation was worse than that. It really is the most shocking thing to relate. Mrs. Darcy believes that I am your brother’s mistress.”

  “What!” Georgiana cried. “How stupid of her. This is absurd. You would never do such a thing, and neither would he.”

  “Thank you for that, my dear friend. I could not convince your aunt of my innocence. It is comforting that somebody has faith in my character.”

  “Everybody who knows you would feel the same way.”

  “Perhaps not everybody. Those who heard of Lydia’s disgraceful behaviour might well be thinking me just the same.”

  “Not if they have any sense. Apparently, my aunt does not. What did she hope to accomplish by coming here with such a horrendous accusation?”

  “Her purpose was to insist that I give him up.”

  “Oh, of course. She tends to believe that everybody will do as she dictates. I think that is how my brother got into an unhappy marriage in the first place. But how did you reply?”

  “I told her there was nothing to give up, but she would not believe me. She kept insisting, and unfortunately, I let my temper get the better of me. I told her that I could not give any answer then. I was not going to promise not to do something of which I am innocent because that would be like admitting guilt, but she took my refusal as a sign of it anyway.”

  “It sounds as though it was an impossible situation. I do not think there was anything you could have said to make it right.”

  “Neither do I, but unfortunately, she left still convinced of my guilt and depravity. And Mrs. Darcy is convinced of it as well. I am the cause of more trouble for your brother.”

  “You are not the cause. It is all Anne’s fault for thinking something so stupid in the first place.”

  “But I am not entirely innocent. I talk to him too often, and we get along so well. I should have considered that it was inadvisable to be friendly with him.”

  “Would you have him be friendless just because he has a nasty-minded wife?”

  “Well, no, but it is obvious that I am the particular problem. It really would be best for me to stay away from him. I must not go back to London.”

  “You must not do that, Lizzy. You always cheer him up more than anything. He needs friends like yo
u. And only think how it will look. It will be like admitting that you were guilty.”

  “I suppose it would. But what will happen if this story gets about?”

  “It will not. Anne will not say anything outside of the family, and neither will my aunt. They care too much about appearances to air their dirty laundry in public.”

  “You said she sometimes talks in front of the servants.”

  “That is because she thinks of them as being like furniture. She would never say anything in society.”

  “And the servants?”

  “Even if they know everything, they will not spread gossip. They are too loyal to my brother. Every one of them.”

  “I hope so. I do not want to be bringing trouble upon Jane and Charles either.”

  “If it came down to it, my cousin would vouch for you, and all his friends, and I am sure many more people would too. You are very popular, Lizzy, and with the ladies as well as the gentleman. Anne is not well liked at all. If there is any talk, we only have to tell the truth. We will be believed, and she will just be thought spiteful, which she is.”

  “There is a risk though.”

  “There is the same risk whether you are in London or not, and your absence will only cause speculation. Go back to London and hold your head up high. Do not let Anne dictate your choices and spoil things for all of us.”

  “No, I will not. You are right. I must discuss the situation with Charles of course. It is only right for him to know what trouble there might be, but if he does not object, then I shall return to London. A completely unfounded accusation is nothing compared to Lydia’s near scandal, and we weathered that.”

  The End of Hope

  Georgiana’s faith in the servants was quite justified. The butler gathered them together the next morning to discuss the importance of discretion. It was not a long conversation. Every member of Mr. Darcy’s staff, right down to the scullery maid and the boot boy, declared their fidelity to the master.