Chapter Fifteen #4
In many ways, the letter brought Darcy relief, but he envied Bingley’s chance for happiness.
Bitterness and lost opportunities had marred his hopes.
If he had realized how much a refusal to dance at an assembly would change his life, he would have danced with Elizabeth the first time he met her.
He did not know whether he could live with all his regrets.
Survive with the profound ache of lost love.
Fitzwilliam called on him on Thursday, and they agreed to dine together on Saturday. “I want to know about the commission you purchased, Darcy. You were very secretive. I warn you—I will have the truth, Cousin.”
On Saturday afternoon, Darcy returned from an outing to discover his aunt’s chaise and four before Darcy House. “Mr. Darcy,” his butler approached privately, “although I told her you were not at home, Lady Catherine de Bourgh insisted on being admitted. She demanded, sir, to await your return.”
Darcy looked beyond Thacker’s shoulder to where Lady Catherine likely held court. It was a favorite maneuver of her ladyship—one of which Darcy was well aware. “You were correct to admit her, Thacker. Would you have tea brought to the drawing room?” he said with great indulgence.
“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy did not like uninvited guests to press his company.
His aunt knew his distaste for such intrusions upon his privacy.
He supposed something must be amiss. Could something have happened to Anne?
He prayed not. It would devastate Edward.
He strode into the drawing room expecting to find his aunt in tears.
Instead, she was agitated. “Aunt, what brings you to London? I was unaware of your plans to travel. Please tell me Cousin Anne has not taken ill again.”
Her ladyship ceased her pacing. “Darcy, you came at last. I am distressed—such an inconvenient situation!”
Not Anne. What supposed crisis could Lady Catherine have conjured for his attention this time? Irritated, Darcy said, “Aunt, I could possibly empathize with you if I knew of what you speak.”
“Then you have no knowledge of it? I suspected as not.” Her voice rose in volume with each subsequent phrase.
The tea arrived at that precise time. After his servant placed the tray on the table, Darcy waited until Thacker first poured the distraught Lady Catherine a cup and then prepared one for him.
He motioned Thacker’s withdrawal and waited for the servants to close the door before he began again, “Let us enjoy our tea, and then allow me the opportunity to ascertain what most disturbs you.”
Lady Catherine made to sip the tea, but her discomfort overwhelmed her, and she decidedly placed the saucer on the table to emphasize her agitation. “That girl!” His aunt spit out the words.
Darcy expected another of his aunt’s diatribes on Anne’s lack of social graces. It had been a constant disappointment to the vibrant Lady Catherine to deliver such a mouse of a girl, as was Anne de Bourgh. “What girl, madam?”
She declared, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, naturally!”
Darcy froze. Had he heard his aunt correctly? “Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” He attempted nonchalance. “What could Miss Elizabeth have to do with our family?” Just the mention of the lady’s name sent his heart pounding rapidly.
With disdain, Lady Catherine insisted, “She is an insincere young lady, one not to be given proper address!”
Darcy’s mind raced. About what could his aunt be speaking? “I thought Miss Elizabeth was a favorite, Aunt.”
Her ladyship snapped, “She most assuredly is not! Miss Elizabeth spreads scandalous falsehoods, and I have come to London to demand you deny her report.”
Darcy stood before forcing himself to walk casually to the mantelpiece so he might lean against it. “What falsehood has Miss Elizabeth spread which caused you such torment?”
Lady Catherine squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered with revulsion. “That girl,” she began again, “let it be known she intends to be united in marriage with you, Nephew.”
Darcy’s heart leapt at the words. He knew Elizabeth would never spread such a rumor. It was beyond her. “Are you confident, Aunt? Such actions appear from character of what I know of Miss Elizabeth. From whom did you hear this rumor?” He attempted to disguise his own turmoil.
“From Mr. Collins, naturally,” she exclaimed. “He is Miss Bennet’s cousin! I have it on his good authority, and I expect you to contradict this braggart publicly.”
“No one,” he started deliberately, “of any consequence will repeat such stories. The Lucases are a gossipy lot. These are only Collins’s assumptions, falsely based, I might add, on Mr. Bingley’s plans to marry Miss Elizabeth’s eldest sister.
Mr. Collins exaggerates the situation. There is nothing for me to contradict. ”
“First the girl will not retract the rumors, and now you refuse to contradict them!” she lamented.
“Lady Catherine, did you speak to Miss Elizabeth?” He could not believe his aunt confronted Elizabeth with these accusations. Elizabeth must hate him for bringing such censure into her life!
“I have, sir. I am almost your nearest relative, and I will expunge your reputation even if you will not!” Her haughtiness showed her true disturbance.
Darcy gripped the mantelpiece for support. He must keep his aunt talking to know what occurred, but at the moment, he wished to drive the woman from his house. “May I ask what you so kindly told Miss Bennet?”
Pulling herself up in a prideful stance, Lady Catherine declared, “I confronted her, demanding Miss Elizabeth contradict the rumor she started. As one would expect, Miss Bennet feigned innocence, claiming my coming to Longbourn would only give merit to a rumor if it existed.”
Darcy smiled wryly. Elizabeth was not the type to take Lady Catherine’s attack as an absolute. “The lady makes a reasonable point, Lady Catherine.”
“Nonsense! I asked Miss Elizabeth if she could declare there was no foundation for the rumor, and that impertinent young lady told me I may ask questions which she may choose not to answer! Can you imagine such insolence?”
Imagining Elizabeth was his existence. Word of her brazen confrontation with his aunt prompted Darcy to stifle an ironic laugh. “Go on, your ladyship,” he encouraged, for he must know whether Elizabeth spoke positively of him or not.
Her expression settled in stubborn lines. “When I told her that as your aunt I had a right to know all your dearest concerns, Miss Bennet claimed I had no right to know hers.” Her ladyship warned, “Her arts and allurements are many. I fear you have succumbed to them, Nephew.”
Darcy could not respond. All of which he could think was although Elizabeth did not say she affected him, she refused to say she did not hold him in her regard.
“What else, Lady Catherine?” He attempted to control the chaos of his mind by steadying his voice and encouraging his aunt’s retelling of the events.
His aunt’s countenance flushed as the words tumbled easily from her lips.
“I reminded the impudent wisp of your engagement to my daughter and how it was your mother’s wish for it to be so, and I explained to Miss Elizabeth how as a young woman of inferior birth, she had no claim on a man of your standing.
I reminded her of propriety and delicacy. ”
Darcy gritted his teeth and bit the words as he said them, but, miraculously, he controlled his ever-building anger. “What was Miss Elizabeth’s answer?”
“The response reeked of more insolence! Miss Elizabeth said that although she had heard of your engagement to Anne, that fact would not keep her from marrying you if neither your honor nor inclination confined you to your cousin.” His aunt’s eyes narrowed in disapproval.
“Miss Elizabeth insisted that if you were to make another choice, and she should be that choice, she had the right to accept the proposal.”
Darcy’s breath came in short bursts. Elizabeth had not said she would accept his proposal, only she had the right to accept it.
Was there still hope for his suit? He had to know more.
He schooled his mind and his stance to appear in tune with Lady Catherine’s sentiments, but her ladyship waited not for his response.
“I told Miss Bennet such an alliance would bring her disgrace. She would never be recognized or accepted by your family and acquaintances. Obstinate, headstrong girl! Miss Bennet claimed being your wife would have its own attached happiness, and that happiness would be great enough to keep your wife from feeling any regret in her choice.”
Again, Darcy heard Elizabeth thought being married to him could bring a woman happiness.
Yet, would she think it possible to bring her happiness?
Hope took root. “I assume that was the end of this confrontation,” he added as a manipulation of his aunt’s ire.
Thankfully, she ignored his poorly disguised response.
“It most certainly was not! I reminded her of the noble lineage of your mother’s family and of your father’s honorable and ancient heritage. I told Miss Bennet if she were sensible of her own good, she would not wish to quit the sphere in which she was brought up.”
Darcy cringed with Lady Catherine’s lack of decorum. “Miss Elizabeth likely did not appreciate your bringing this to her attention,” he said hoarsely.
“The lady was livid! She insisted that by marrying you, she would not be quitting her sphere because she is a gentleman’s daughter.
” Lady Catherine’s excitement grew. “I had her there, Nephew! I had her there! I explained how I knew of her mother’s low connections, but she insisted if you did not object to her relations it was nothing to me. ”