Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
T wo days later, the large caravan set out from London. Darcy’s carriage was followed by Lord Matlock’s and Sir Henry’s. During the carriage ride, when she was alone with Darcy and Richard, Georgiana learned that Wickham was in Meryton, and that he was to be punished for his deeds, and removed from good society.
“Must Miss Elizabeth know? What will she think of me?” Georgiana panicked.
“Sister, Wickham told her many falsehoods about both of us, nothing ruinous ,” Darcy assured her, “but nothing pleasant either. It was obvious that he was attempting to use her, seduce her young sister, and at least two other girls, and cheat the merchants of Meryton out of a great sum of money. I found it necessary to confide the matter to her, considering that she and her sister were at such a risk from him. I assure you, I never would have done so if I was not entirely sure of Miss Elizabeth, and I am not speaking as a lovesick boy. You will understand when you meet her. She is entirely to be trusted, and a truly supportive and caring friend. She will lend you courage, I am certain of it.”
Georgiana was unsure of many things, but she trusted her brother, and hoped for the very best. If William thought the young lady was splendid, then she must be.
Later that afternoon, when the caravan had deposited Mr Bennet at Longbourn, they continued to Netherfield, and concluded their journey. Miss Bingley, exalted at hosting the foreign secretary and his wife, was determined to use this opportunity to show Mr Darcy’s titled family why she and not Eliza Bennet, was the perfect wife for their relation. Caroline felt certain that once she had obtained the friendship of Lady Matlock – which she was confident she would do in short order – that the lady would know how to detach her nephew from that harlot’s claws. If not, Caroline had invited another who would certainly shake the scheming trollop from Mr Darcy.
Lady Matlock and Lady Priscilla were both pleasant as Miss Bingley, her sister, and her sister’s husband were presented to them, and Miss Bingley showed them both to their rooms personally. Everyone was installed in their apartments and situated, and by mutual agreement, met in the drawing room before dinner.
They learned that evening that Miss Bingley would not give up Mr Darcy without a fight. By the time they arrived downstairs, she had already accosted him in the hallway upstairs, and Richard had vowed not to leave him alone in the house. The moment the men arrived in the drawing room, she attached herself to Darcy’s arm, and spent the night batting her lashes and cooing at him. Because everyone at the table was a higher rank than Caroline, the lady actually exerted herself to be friendly, which all of them appreciated, though her attentions were cloying.
The next day Miss Bingley showed her determination again not to give up on Mr Darcy. For the first time since arriving in Meryton, she insisted upon being included when the party called upon Longbourn, and it quickly became obvious that it was not due to her ladyship’s presence, but rather a determination not to allow Eliza Bennet a single moment alone with Mr Darcy. “I do not know what you mean, Charles, of course I wish to call upon dear Jane. I have been so kept up with preparing for your surprise house party, we have not seen a soul since you left for town!”
Mr Bennet very much enjoyed watching his wife’s panic upon meeting the foreign secretary and his countess in her drawing room. Rarely was Frances Bennet rendered speechless, but on this occasion, she was entirely bereft of conversation, watching her daughter Elizabeth and her family being acknowledged so kindly by Mr Darcy’s noble relations. Lady Matlock quickly put Mrs Bennet at ease, though the sensation still did not render that lady particularly loquacious. Mr Bennet invited Lord Matlock and Sir Maulver to join him in his study, while Mr Bingley acquainted Lady Priscilla better with Jane, Mary, and Mr Collins. Richard undertook to distract the younger ladies with stories from the front, and Georgiana attempted to become familiar with Elizabeth, however, Miss Bingley sought to prevent such endeavours. The lady barely had time to make a pest of herself, however, when there was a great deal of shouting from the hall.
“Out of my way! Out, I say! Where is my nephew? Where is my brother! I demand to speak with Darcy! Where is my brother, Lord Matlock? I was told at Netherfield that they are here, and I will see them at once!” shouted a woman's voice from the hall. Darcy and Richard’s brows raised in astonishment. Lady Priscilla and Lady Matlock both covered their eyes in embarrassment, and Georgiana and Mr Collins both went white with terror as the ruckus drew closer, and the drawing room door burst open.
“Darcy! Where is she? Where is this scheming jezebel who dares to aspire to my sister’s place? To my daughter Anne’s place!” shrieked the madwoman who had pushed Mrs Hill aside and forced her way into the room. She pointed her cane at Jane. “Is it you?”
“Lady Catherine cease this at once! Mr Collins, is this your doing?” Darcy barked.
“Y-y-you cured me of meddling in your af-f-fairs the very day we were introduced, Mr D-darcy, I assure you,” stammered Collins.
“You! You knew about this, Mr Collins! I had to be informed by someone named Miss Bingley, whoever that is!” shouted Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
“Caroline!” gasped Bingley.
“Charles, you said that Mr Darcy’s entire family was coming, I thought that also meant his aunt and cousin from Kent!” Miss Bingley said innocently. “I only sent an express to her to learn if there was anything special we must do to provide for Miss de Bourgh’s comfort!”
Bingley glared at his sister in disbelief as Lady Catherine continued to spew her venom. “I shall write to the Bishop of Kent! You are finished, Collins! Darcy! You will not set Anne aside! You have been engaged since your cradle! You cannot abandon her now!”
“You cannot take his living, Catherine, and you know it. Stop bullying your poor parson, and everyone else, too,” drawled Lord Matlock as the other gentlemen entered the room with him, followed by Richard, who had slipped out to escort his cousin Anne in from the carriage. The young woman was pale and thin, and looked as if a strong wind would carry her away. Elizabeth hurried to the young woman’s side. “I beg your pardon, but you must be Miss de Bourgh. I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Your cousin will introduce us properly sometime, I am certain, but first, you look exceedingly pale. Are you well? Is there aught that my family can provide that would aid your comfort?”
“I thank you for your kindness, Miss Bennet. A chair next to a warm fire and a hot cup of tea shall set me to rights, I am certain, but first, there is a conversation that my cousin and I must share with my mother that can no longer be delayed.” Miss de Bourgh looked at Darcy. “I am sorry I could not stop her, cousin, but let us have this out and be done with it.”
“Very well.” Darcy stood and looked at Bennet. “Mr Bennet, could my uncle and I borrow your breakfast room? I fear your study may be too small.” Mr Bennet consented swiftly, and Lord Matlock ushered his sister and his niece along after Mary, who guided them down the hall.
Darcy turned to Elizabeth and said, “Would you care to accompany us? The matter concerns you directly.”
Elizabeth smiled, “If we are to proceed, it is a good idea to see the worst our families can do, is it not?” Darcy agreed, and she took his arm as they followed the others to the breakfast room.
“Sit,” ordered Lord Matlock as he ordered the seating to his liking. He sat at the head of the table, his sister and her daughter to his right, and Darcy and Elizabeth to his left.
“What is that person doing here?” Lady Catherine objected as Darcy seated Elizabeth. “I will not discuss my private affairs before a stranger.”
“You were just screaming about your affairs before a room full of strangers, Cathy. These are Darcy’s private concerns as well. It is his choice if he chuses to involve Miss Elizabeth,” Lord Matlock admonished. “Sister, I am appalled that you dragged Anne from Kent in such a state.” He turned to his niece. “Are you well, my dear?”
“I am chilled, but I will be well when we have had this conversation, Uncle. You have my apologies, Miss Bennet. We ought to have done this long ago and saved you this embarrassment,” apologised Anne.
“Do not be troubled, Miss de Bourgh. Mr Darcy has explained the matter to me. I understand entirely,” Elizabeth assured her.
“Well I do not understand, Cathy,” snapped Lord Matlock. “Years ago, when George died, was the last time this came up properly, and was legally rejected when you attempted to force the matter. George Darcy was so against your daughter and his son marrying against their inclinations that he actually spoke of it in his last will and testament, as you are well aware. Darcy is not engaged to Anne. However, just under a year ago, you revived the matter, and have attempted to force it every way you know how. Don’t think I do not know of your attempt to bribe people at The Times . I pay them more than you do to block such attempts. In addition, they have an agreement not to publish any wedding announcement of Darcy’s unless he comes in and places it in person with the editor himself. So what is this all about? Do you need money? Why the sudden determination to force this again?”
Lady Catherine glared at Elizabeth and opened her mouth, when Lord Matlock interrupted her. “I swear to God, Cathy, if you claim one more time that there is a legitimate engagement between Darcy and Anne, I vow upon everything that I hold holy, I will have you housed in Bedlam. A public room .” Elizabeth was rather appalled by the terrifying threat.
“Mother, just tell them ,” demanded Anne.
Lady Catherine glared at her daughter. “You know nothing !” she hissed.
Anne sighed heavily. “Just because I am told nothing, does not mean that I know nothing,” she said disdainfully. “Mother is ill,” she informed her uncle. “I believe she is very gravely ill. I am told that she was informed that she would expire in a year, perhaps two, some few months ago.”
“Anne!” her mother gasped. “How dare you!”
“Mother, it is very private information, but if it is true, then the family must know of it eventually.” Anne looked at her uncle. “I do not know the nature of her malady, only that it is painful, and that she may only have a few short months left with us.”
Lady Catherine looked sadly at Darcy. “I do not know what to say,” he said to his aunt.
“Say you will marry Anne !” His aunt begged. “Darcy please. She will be taken advantage of. Someone will steal her fortune. You can protect her!”
“Mother, I am not going to marry Darcy, under any circumstances, even if he were to agree. Cousin, I forbid you to agree,” Anne said in an aside.
“What is it? Cathy? What is it that ails you?” rasped Lord Matlock in shock.
Lady Catherine was quiet for a moment. “It is a tumour.”
“Cancer!” exclaimed Darcy. “Where is it?”
“I cannot speak of it with you,” Lady Catherine whispered, averting her eyes.
“Like Aunt Abigail, then?” asked Lord Matlock. Lady Catherine closed her eyes and nodded once, as if in great pain at the recollection.
“It seems to me that Miss de Bourgh must have her own opinions on this matter, but no one has asked her to share her feelings regarding why she does not wish to marry her cousin,” Elizabeth said gently.
Anne looked at her mother in sympathy. “There would be little point in attempting to protect me by marriage, when such a measure would certainly take my life, Mother. Darcy needs an heir.” When Lady Catherine did not reply, Anne spoke again, “I do not wish to die, Mother. I am unlikely to live to a great age, but I do not wish to die in childbirth. If you wish for Darcy to unite the fortunes, I could easily just give him Rosings Park, and possibly live another decade, if I am fortunate. I believe the estate ought to go to Richard, if anyone cared what I thought about that matter; Darcy has enough.”
“You will be kidnapped into marriage in under a fortnight when I am gone!” Lady Catherine insisted. “And who knows what abuses your husband might heap upon you then in order to speed your demise!”
“Are you suggesting that the House of Matlock is incapable of defending our own?” demanded Lord Matlock in outrage.
“I beg everyone’s pardon, but Miss de Bourgh does not need to be married to Mr Darcy in order to receive his protection, or even to live at Pemberley,” Elizabeth pointed out diplomatically. When they turned to her, she said, “I am not engaged to Mr Darcy, as we all well know, so it is not at all my place to issue invitations. However, he has confided in me that he cares deeply for Anne as his friend and cousin. I am certain that she would be welcome in any of his homes, to live with his family for as long as she chuses, once he is married.”
“As if you would allow such a thing if his wife was to be you,” Lady Catherine snarled.
“I am the second of five daughters,” Elizabeth replied evenly. “I am accustomed to the company of other women, and I am certain that I will miss my sisters dearly, should I move to Derbyshire, even with Miss Darcy’s company. I am used to the society of my village, and I hear that Pemberley is remote and rather isolated. I will surely have one or another of my sisters with me more often than not, and if my family must be welcome in any home I chuse to live in, so must my husband’s family be. I am told that Pemberley is a great house. I am certain we could move any number of relations in and never notice them from one day to the next if we chose not to. That is the purpose of such grand houses, is it not?”
“That is a sound plan, Cathy. Miss Elizabeth is right, Anne could not live with Darcy until he weds, but she could stay with me and Eleanor at Matlock or in London until that happy day arrives. She can stay indefinitely, although I believe the company of other young people might be good for her,” said Matlock. “It is time to set aside this obsession with Anne’s marriage. Trust your family to take care of her. She is one of our own, and none of us would allow a single hair on her head to be harmed. Please, do not waste what little time you have left in this manner, Sister.”
Lady Catherine seemed to deflate. “Are you well, Lady Catherine? Is there anything that I may provide for your comfort?” Elizabeth asked kindly.
“I am exceedingly tired,” Lady Catherine admitted. “Perhaps Anne and I could have that cup of tea by the fire, and then find ourselves rooms in the area. That Miss Bingley seemed to think I was invited to Netherfield, but I do not wish to presume.”
“There is plenty of room at Netherfield; I know Bingley would not begrudge you a bed,” said Darcy.
“Come into the drawing room, Lady Catherine. We shall see about that tea.” Elizabeth rose, and went around the table to take Lady Catherine’s arm as Lord Matlock offered his support to his niece. Elizabeth led the others back to the drawing room, where Lord Matlock introduced his sister to the Bennets.
Lady Catherine addressed Mrs Bennet, “Madam, please forgive my intrusion to your home. I was mistaken on a matter of grave importance, and I was wrong to encroach upon your peace. You have a lovely room here. It must be very pleasant of a spring morning.”
“Yes, it is, Lady Catherine, we are very fond of sitting here on such days,” Mrs Bennet finally found her voice. “We are planning a grand dinner for my daughter Mary’s engagement to your parson. Your family will join us, I do hope you will as well.”
“Mrs Bennet, may I offer Netherfield’s dining room?” offered Bingley. “Your party is getting rather large, and at Netherfield, you may invite the entire neighbourhood if you like. My sister Caroline will be very happy to allow you the management of our cook for the day, and will be glad to assist you with anything else you require. Right, Caroline ?”
Caroline heard the edge to her brother’s voice, and knew he had been pushed beyond his limits. “Very happy indeed, Mrs Bennet. I look forward to your visit, when you can tell me what you have planned.”