Chapter 28 #2
Jane smiled. “Nothing could be more natural than for you to be beloved.”
“And nothing is more natural than my teasing him about it whenever I choose.”
“So long as you are both happy.”
Jane’s husband was not affectionate, her mother-in-law kept a hand in her household, and she weaned one child and then immediately was in that way again. “Are you happy, Jane?”
She gave a serene smile. “Of course! I have healthy children and the approval of my family. It is everything I wanted. You, I daresay, need a husband who grants you a little more independence than is typical, who freely admits that he loves you. But a large family, a steady husband, and a comfortable home are what I need to be happy.”
The door was then thrown open, and Colonel Fitzwilliam entered with a tall, large woman, with strongly marked features. There was a similarity in her face to Darcy and Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam introduced her as Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Her ladyship made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head and sat without saying a word. Elizabeth mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam’s name to Jane, who met him graciously, though no request of introduction came from Lady Catherine.
After sitting a moment in silence, she said stiffly, “I should be glad to speak with you without the presence of your sister.” While Elizabeth hesitated from surprise, she continued, “From your sister’s appearance, I suspect her to be breeding. That gown no longer flatters her wider shape.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam winced, and Elizabeth would have told her ladyship she had no right to send Jane away nor speak to her in that manner, but Jane said her children wanted her at home and asked Elizabeth to call for her carriage.
“Oh, your sister keeps a carriage? I thought her poor like you, since your uncles and brother-in-law are in trade.”
As she left, Jane gave her a serious look that told Elizabeth to keep her temper.
If anyone knew about keeping her patience around an overbearing woman, it was Jane.
However, Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was insolent.
She asked after Colonel Fitzwilliam’s health, and he continued their conversation with an expression of apology.
“I understand that I will have the pleasure of seeing you tomorrow at my father’s house. My mother enjoyed meeting you. I hear she has planned a party to intro—”
“I am not here because I approve of your union,” Lady Catherine began as though no one else had been speaking. “I know it is irremediable, but had I known of its arrangement, I would have refused my consent.”
“Your consent was not required, madam.”
Lady Catherine seemed astonished at receiving such an answer. “You trapped a man in a moment of infatuation, and I came here to see if you were ashamed of your conduct. My nephew was in mourning, and you made him forget what he owed to himself and his family.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam braced his hands on the armrests. “Mrs Darcy did not draw Darcy in, I assure—”
She again spoke over the colonel. “I am also here because it appears—to my great shock—that you are to be noticed by Darcy’s family and friends. Not to wait upon a bride is remiss, and I am attentive to matters of decorum. However, if I had my way, your name would never be mentioned by any of us.”
“The party Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother will give for us tomorrow will make it rather difficult for you to avoid hearing me called ‘Mrs Darcy.’”
Elizabeth could hardly keep from smiling at the look of affront on her ladyship’s face.
“If Darcy chose to give his hand elsewhere than to my daughter, he would have looked for a lady possessed of more accomplishments and connexions than you can boast, had he not been distressed by grief. I can hardly credit the idea that my nephew is sincerely fond of you.”
“Darcy is the last man in the world who would give any woman the idea of his feeling for her more than he really does,” Elizabeth quickly said.
Her ladyship frowned, and then looked sharply at what Elizabeth was wearing. “It is an insult to Miss Darcy that a woman so wholly unconnected to this family wear jewellery set with her hair.”
Elizabeth took a steadying breath rather than tell Lady Catherine how she loved Georgiana to the literal end of her life.
“I accepted Darcy’s family as my own the moment we exchanged vows.
He, too, has a sincere attachment to mine.
” At least, he loved Lydia and her mother for her sake, and was coming to appreciate Jane and her boys.
“There is no one nearer to Darcy than me. Not only do I deserve to be treated as his family, I am honoured to show my respect to that dear departed girl.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked so sympathetic that she averted her eyes to look at her brooch and avoid her ladyship seeing her grief.
“Lady Catherine came today to acquaint herself with you before my mother’s party,” he said with forced cheer.
“Where is Darcy? I thought he would have been home by now.” The colonel gave her a significant look that told her he had not wanted her to face Lady Catherine alone.
“I have a letter for him and hoped to speak with him privately.”
Elizabeth appreciated his attempts at politeness and distraction. “My husband had business with a lawyer, and then intended to go to his club. He has been gone all day, but I expect—”
“To be gone so long from his new wife demonstrates his lack of interest in you.” Lady Catherine looked pleased. “I wonder if my nephew is often from home to avoid you.”
“Indeed not! Darcy is always at home by this time, and I assure you, he is always happy about it!”
“Do not raise your voice to me! You and your upstart pretensions have ruined a respectable man.”
“No, she has not.”
They all turned to see Darcy at the door.
Elizabeth was used to his haughtier expressions, but his was now mixed with a forbidding look that she was glad she was not on the receiving end of.
He moved with his usual deliberation to her side, sat next to her, and held her hand while fixing his eyes on his aunt.
“Darcy, you must be sensible that as an only son and the representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life is most interesting to your relations. In the important concern of marriage, there was everything at stake—your own happiness, the credit of your name. You have made a—”
“A union that brings me happiness, and one that cannot be undone.”
“The world will censure and slight—”
“The world has too much sense to scorn my wife when she has intelligence, grace, and beauty in her favour, as well as my respect and affection.” His hand tightened around hers.
“Mrs Darcy’s character and reputation need no attestation.
” Darcy’s voice dropped. “Having spoken with my uncle, I understood that you had agreed to the appearance of accepting my marriage.”
“The public appearance shall be absolute,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “but in private, you and your wife shall hear me in silence.”
“No.” Darcy rose. “Elizabeth, would you call for her ladyship’s carriage? Your appearance of consent,” he said, turning to his aunt, “must be yielded in private as well as in public. Until such time, you will not to be received here or at Pemberley.”
Her ladyship was incensed while she walked to the door and insulted Darcy’s choice of a wife, lamented his disregard of his tacit understanding with her daughter, and proclaimed she would not speak to either of them again. Turning round, she added, “I am most seriously displeased!”
“I look forward to dining with you tomorrow, Aunt Cathy,” Elizabeth called.
The door was forcefully shut after her ladyship charged through it.
There had been a confidence lacking in her life since her father died and she became an unwanted spinster sister, and that Elizabeth would not have been able to manage a Mrs Cuthbert or a Lady Catherine.
Now, she was diverted by such nonsense, and it made her realise how long it had been since she felt that strength.
Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat. “I am sorry, Darcy. I delayed her coming until I thought your wife’s callers would have left and when you might be at home, but I did not imagine Lady Catherine would be so rude.”
Darcy ignored him and looked only at her. “Are you well?” He dropped his voice. “This confrontation has not strained your heart, has it?”
“I am not distressed at being accused of marrying above me, and only for your money.” She saw the tension in his shoulders.
“Ought I to have told her I only married you because you are good-looking?” Darcy merely laughed as his cheeks turned pink, so she turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“I had no notion as to his income when we married just as he had no notion as to how outspoken I am. Imagine our mutual surprise!”
“Somehow, I doubt that your outspokenness escaped Darcy’s notice,” the colonel said with a smile. “Darcy, if your wife can spare you, I have a matter of business that requires your time.”
Georgiana’s instrument was the only item they brought with them from Netherfield’s lodge.
Elizabeth was certain that every time her fingers touched the keys she would think of her sister, how she loved music, how she cared for the happiness of those she loved, and how her gentle spirit was at rest after months of intensifying pain.
At some point she realised that Darcy had entered.
“You need not fear your aunt distressed me,” she said when she finished.
“My heart is perfectly well. And if it was not, I suspect your cousin would have deflected any slings and arrows from Lady Catherine on my behalf. I suspect everyone else’s acceptance, or appearance of it, and your aunt’s affection for you will eventually lead her to seek a reconciliation. ”