by Jann Rowland
Then Lady Catherine glanced around, before fixing her gaze once again on Elizabeth. “I do not see Miss Bennet,” said the lady, speaking to her sister, though she did not look away. “Has she returned to her aunt’s house as she ought? If so, why is Miss Elizabeth still here?”
“Jane has been invited to spend the day with Mr. Bingley’s sister,” said Lady Anne in a tone of longsuffering. “As I have said before, I shall not surrender my guests’ company until I must.”
Lady Catherine sniffed with disdain. “At least she can keep the other social climber company today.”
“It was his married sister who invited Jane,” replied Lady Anne, her tone suggesting her sister leave the subject be. “If you are referring to Miss Bingley, she has not been at Darcy house much of late.”
“Then my warnings seem to have done the trick,” replied Lady Catherine. “If only all those who seek to interfere would have similar epiphanies.”
Though it was clear Mr. Darcy, Lady Anne, and Georgiana—and even Anne—were annoyed with Lady Catherine’s constant harping on the subject, the lady’s words amused Elizabeth rather than offended her. After the weeks she had spent in the lady’s time, Elizabeth was inured to her ways. If the lady knew her daughter had declared she would not marry Mr. Darcy, she would lose all interest in Elizabeth in favor of working on Anne. Then again, it would be, no doubt, Elizabeth’s presence which caused such insubordination, so she would not escape condemnation.
“Catherine, I understand you have been assisting Susan in her preparations for the ball,” said Lady Anne in a clear attempt to distract her sister. “How are they proceeding?”
“Oh, excellently, of course,” replied Lady Catherine. “Though I find Susan’s taste in these matters is sometimes bland, I have exquisite judgment and am able to guide her in the proper direction.”
Lady Catherine continued to speak at length, her comments describing the preparations punctuated by frequent exclamations of how she had arranged this set of flowers or that candelabra. The self-congratulations were stifling, as evidenced by Lady Anne’s expression of practiced patience. The rest of the room ignored the lady to carry on their own conversations, though Elizabeth was grateful her host had taken the lady’s attention to herself.
“Tell me, Anne,” said Georgiana, grinning at her cousin, “is Aunt Susan’s taste truly as horrendous as Aunt Catherine claims?”
Though Colonel Fitzwilliam snorted, Anne returned Georgiana’s grin and said: “For myself, I find that Aunt Susan’s arrangements are lovely. Of course, Mother makes her suggestions and Aunt Susan humors her, but on no less than three occasions, I have seen matters returned to the way they were before Mother meddled. She cannot see it, for my mother cannot imagine anyone would think she could do better than accept her every command without question.”
The group laughed, even Mr. Darcy, who was more often exasperated with his aunt than amused. This drew the two ladies’ attention, Lady Anne’s smile indicating understanding what they were discussing. Lady Catherine, however, scowled and shot them all a pointed look.
“Raucous laughter is for the lower classes. I should not wonder at your lack of restraint given the company you keep, but let your control not escape you again.”
“On the contrary, Aunt Catherine,” said Darcy, “Anne made a jest, and we all laughed quietly. There was nothing raucous about it.”
Lady Catherine returned a sniff and turned her attention back to Lady Anne. Grins abounded between the rest of the company, but they altered their attention to other matters.
The visit continued in this vein for some time, Elizabeth enjoying her time with the rest of the company. In time she forgot all about Lady Catherine in favor of what was happening around her, and as such, did not note how the lady was behaving. When Mr. Darcy made some innocuous comment to her—Elizabeth could not even remember what it was moments after he made it—the lady once again made her presence known.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
The tightness her voice informed Elizabeth the lady was not at all happy, and Elizabeth, not knowing what might have angered her, gave the lady her attention. “Yes, Lady Catherine?”
“I believe it is time you removed yourself from Darcy’s presence and ceased to importune him with your attempts to distract him.”
“I have no notion of what you speak,” said Elizabeth. “Though you may think I have attempted it, I have made no attempt to distract, or even to bring his attention to me. Mr. Darcy is not even sitting beside me, for Georgiana is between us.”
“It was I who spoke with Miss Elizabeth, Aunt,” added Darcy. “I apologize if you dislike it, but good manners dictate I must speak with everyone who is part of the company.”
Lady Catherine attempted to silence Mr. Darcy with a curt wave of her hand. “Since it seems to have escaped your notice—and that of my sister and everyone else—I shall remind you I am well acquainted with young ladies of Miss Elizabeth’s ilk. She is eager to capture a wealthy man and has set you in her sights. Do not think your ambition will ever be gratified, young lady, for I shall never allow it!”
“That is enough, Aunt,” said Mr. Darcy, rising to his feet. “Do not berate my mother’s guest, especially when she has done nothing to earn your ire.”
“It seems I must put her in her place, since you will not,” rejoined Lady Catherine.
Mr. Darcy gave a sigh of exasperation. “Then perhaps it would be best to take myself from your presence.”
“There is no need for that, Darcy. You should sit beside Anne, for she has not had your attention yet on this visit.”
“Perhaps if you behaved better, I would stay.” Lady Catherine’s tight glare of anger informed them all of her growing pique. “Before I depart, let me only say this: nothing between Anne and me has been decided, and you should know it will likely not end in a manner you wish.”
“I shall ensure it is,” exclaimed Lady Catherine.
“It is interesting to hear you say it, for I should like to know how you intend to manage it,” said Mr. Darcy. “I am my own man and not beholden to you—I need not propose to Anne if I do not desire it.”
“Then you will marry a penniless girl of low status?”
“I have said nothing of the kind,” replied Mr. Darcy. “But I should inform you that I—along with every other member of the family—am growing tired of your constant insistence on this matter. You will not browbeat me into doing what you wish, Aunt. Do not test me.
“You have my apologies, Anne,” said Darcy, bowing to his cousin. “It is not my intention to reject you or insinuate you are not fit to be my wife.”
“No offense taken, Darcy,” said Anne. “It has always been my understanding you may not make me an offer. I shall not be mortally offended should you choose not to.”
Mr. Darcy bowed and looked to his cousin. “Shall we retire for a time to my study, Fitzwilliam?”
“Of course, Darcy,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam. He rose and departed with the gentleman, though not before winking at Anne and grinning at Elizabeth.
Their departure, however, did not silence Lady Catherine. “This is all your fault!” growled the lady, gaining her feet and pointing one bony finger at Elizabeth. “If you would return to where you belong, Darcy would not be acting in so recalcitrant a manner.”
“That is enough, Catherine!” said Lady Anne, rising along with her sister. “If you cannot refrain from berating my guest, I will ask you to leave.”
“This Jezebel has bewitched you all!” cried Lady Catherine, spinning to confront her sister. “Send her back from whence she came, for I will not tolerate her presence any longer!”
“It is not for you to tolerate her,” said Lady Anne, calmness marking her demeanor. “Elizabeth is my guest, as I have told you several times. If you will not behave with civility to her, then you are not welcome in my home.”
“I never thought I would see the day when you would throw family over for those so unsuitable! What has happened to y
ou, Anne?”
“Nothing has ‘happened’ to me. It is you who have grown unreasonable, who have allowed this fantasy of yours to consume your every thought.”
“It is no fantasy!” screeched Lady Catherine, her voice most unladylike.
“Yes, it is,” replied Lady Anne. Her countenance might have been chiseled from rock. “Let me tell you here and now, Catherine, that I do not favor this match you have so often insisted upon and will defend my son’s right to choose his own wife. If he chooses Anne, then so be it. But I will not allow you to force him into it.”
“We shall see about that!”
Lady Catherine spun on her heel and stalked from the room, her voice echoing behind; “Come, Anne!”
Anne rose and shook her head while glaring after her mother. Lady Anne approached and embraced her niece. “I apologize for this, my dear. I did not intend to fight this battle today.”
“It was inevitable,” replied Anne, showing a wan smile. “I am not offended. If William should propose—and I am convinced he will not,” Anne paused and shot a grin at Elizabeth, “I shall reject him. For the moment, however, I shall refrain from informing my mother of that fact.”
“That is for the best,” said Lady Anne.
With that, the younger woman departed, leaving Elizabeth with Lady Anne and Georgiana. Before Elizabeth could even think of saying a word, Lady Anne turned to her and spoke:
“Do not even think to offer a word of apology, Elizabeth. No one other than Catherine is at fault for our argument.”
“Thank you, Lady Anne,” said Elizabeth, mustering a wan smile. “Since I did nothing to provoke her displeasure—other than my very presence—I had not thought to offer an apology. I will note that Lady Catherine is correct to a certain extent—it is my presence which provokes her displeasure.”
“That is her problem,” was Lady Anne’s short reply. “Whether she considers you at fault is not at issue; Catherine has no right to berate guests in my house.”
“This confrontation was inevitable, Elizabeth,” said Georgiana. “Now we may be free of Catherine’s presence for a time.”
“My brother can control her if need be,” added Lady Anne. “If it causes a schism in the family, it will be on her head.”
“If you do not mind,” said Elizabeth, “these events and talk of breaks in families have left me fatigued. I believe I shall return to my room.”
“Come, Elizabeth,” said Georgiana, looping their arms together, “I shall accompany you thither. I believe I would benefit from a rest as well.”
With a few more words intended to comfort, Lady Anne allowed them to depart. Elizabeth did not wish to think on the matter anymore—she wished for nothing more than to lie down and lose herself in sleep for a time. This was unlikely, she knew, for her mind would work the matter over until she grew frustrated. But perhaps Georgiana’s presence would distract her.
Chapter XV
To the relief of the Darcy family, they did not see Lady Catherine for the next few days. As they were days leading up to the Fitzwilliam ball, each of them knew they would be required to endure her that night, but the distance allowed them to shore up their defenses for her next offensive.
No one was more relieved than Elizabeth. Though she had thought her courage had been sufficient to ignore the lady’s disapproval, Elizabeth realized in those days free of her presence that she had become tense and irritable. When the threat of Lady Catherine’s constant criticism was removed, she returned to her usual optimistic demeanor, a relief in more ways than one.
Dear Jane, not being present for the event, was not aware of exactly what had happened, though being an intelligent woman, she could well guess. “Lady Catherine has, indeed, behaved badly, Elizabeth,” said she when Elizabeth related the confrontation to her. “But I suppose we must excuse her, for she is seeing the dream of her daughter being married to Mr. Darcy die before her very eyes.”
Trust Jane to excuse the inexcusable; Elizabeth was not about to argue with her sister. “I suppose we must do so, though I cannot be easy with her continued censure.”
Jane smiled, grasping Elizabeth’s hand and squeezing it with affection. “I cannot imagine it is affecting you as much as you suggest, Lizzy. If it is, I must wonder where my indomitable sister is, the sister who allows nothing to intimidate her.”
“She is still here, Jane,” said Elizabeth, giving her sister an affectionate embrace. “There are times, however, when even she finds Lady Catherine too much to endure.”
The disadvantage of the lady’s absence was her inability to be in Anne de Bourgh’s company. Elizabeth did not expect her new friend would come to Darcy house, not with Lady Catherine’s current anger with its residents—if Anne extended any measure of friendship to Elizabeth, her mother would become exceedingly angry, making matters difficult for Anne. Elizabeth was uncertain how the situation might be improved, for having come to know Anne, she was not willing to give up her acquaintance. Now, however, was not the time to push Lady Catherine any further.
On the other hand, the state of affairs between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth continued to improve, unsurprising given the absence of the major limiting factor against their greater understanding. While Elizabeth had come no closer to clarity regarding her own feelings for the gentleman, at least she was able to see him with eyes unclouded by misunderstanding. With his declaration during their walk in the park, she now knew he was interested in her, though she could not predict how the matter would end. As a result, she looked on him with the eyes of a woman welcoming a suitor and was surprised to discover that notion was not as onerous as it might have seemed only a few months before.
“I believe I have had enough of balls and parties for a lifetime,” said Georgiana one day when they were all together in the sitting-room.
“It is interesting to hear you say that,” said Elizabeth, laughter in her tone. “As a member of society, you can expect to experience this every year during the season.”
“Do not remind me,” was Georgiana’s sour reply. Elizabeth thought her manner was more than a little melodramatic, as did Lady Anne, who watched her daughter, fondness evident in her slight smile and steady gaze. “I know not how those who take delight in the season do it every year, for it is exhausting.”
“And yet, your aunt’s ball is approaching,” said Lady Anne.
“I have no wish to offend Aunt Susan,” replied Georgiana. “But I hope for the next few days we may avoid similar events, for I have tired of them.”
Lady Anne glanced around the room, saying: “Yes, it seems to me we would all welcome a respite. Perhaps we may stay at home and refuse all invitations leading up to Susan’s ball.”
“There is also a new exhibit at the Royal Academy of the Arts,” said Mr. Darcy. “Perhaps an outing to a museum would be welcome after the recent drudgery of parties and the like.”
They all laughed at Mr. Darcy’s choice of words. “Only you would call parties ‘drudgery,’ William,” said his mother with a fond shake of her head.
“It was not I who complained of our recent activities,” was his mild reply. “Though I will own I agree with Georgiana’s assessment.”
“Then shall we?” asked Lady Anne, looking at the rest of those present. “We may go tomorrow if you all wish it. Other than that one outing, we may stay at home.”
The company all agreed, and thus their plans were made. The following day, they assembled to go thither, and they soon made their way to the Darcy carriage for the short journey to Piccadilly. It was unfathomable that an outing of this nature could be contemplated without Mr. Bingley’s presence, and Elizabeth knew Jane had informed him of their plans during his visit to the house the previous day. Mr. Bingley waiting for them when they arrived was not a surprise—what was unexpected was the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, and another man to whom Elizabeth had not been introduced.
The gentleman was soon introduced to them—his name was Mr. Powell, though his connection to the
Bingley party was not vouchsafed to Elizabeth. When he stepped up and offered his arm to Miss Bingley, she thought it possible that he may be an intimate of the woman’s, possibly even a suitor, though she had heard nothing of the matter and the scene in the park had been too recent for a formal connection to have formed. As Mr. Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth at the same time, while offering his other to his mother—Georgiana found herself escorted by Mr. Bingley—Elizabeth put the matter out of her thoughts.
As a party, they walked through the academy, looking at this painting or debating that sculpture. The building was large, far larger than they could see in the space of a day. After the activities of recent days, however, it was a welcome break, a breath of fresh air to people who had begun to find ballrooms and dining rooms of town stifling. Of course, not all of them felt that way.
“Oh, you find the pace of the season not to your taste, do you?” asked Miss Bingley in that superior tone of hers when she overheard Elizabeth make some comment about the welcome distraction of the day. The way the woman glanced at Mr. Darcy and sneered suggested she knew something he did not. “Well,” continued she, her tone condescending, “I suppose there is something to be said for training and lineage to prepare one for such activities. Perhaps a return to the country would be advisable, for the ‘hectic’ nature of the season, as you call it, will not trouble you there.”
“I did not say I cannot cope with the pace of the season,” said Elizabeth, her amusement, she thought, easily seen despite her best efforts to suppress it. “I only observed that a break from the busyness of the season is welcome occasionally.”
“And I agree,” said Mr. Darcy, interjecting when Miss Bingley would have responded, no doubt with some other veiled criticism. “I am not fond of most of the events we attend, so a respite is most welcome.”
Even Mr. Darcy’s words in support did not seem to prevent Miss Bingley’s response, but the tug on her hand by the gentleman escorting her did the trick. Elizabeth noted his quiet words to her as they walked away, and she wondered if he was annoyed by her nastiness, though she could not determine that as they were facing away. A glance at Mr. Darcy showed him considering the same subject, for he glanced at her and grinned.