Chapter 22
Darcy was alone in the Netherfield library, looking absently at a book and a box of jewels.
It was a set of gold and rubies — a necklace, earrings and bracelet — that had been left by his mother for his future wife.
He planned to give it to Elizabeth prior to the wedding, so she could decide whether she wished to wear it.
He smiled just thinking of her. She had looked more beautiful than ever last evening, and her eyes had been sparkling with mirth.
She had said that she had missed him, and her sweet teasing, as well as her glances, had given him hope that it was true.
He found it hard to believe that only one day separated him from the moment she would be his wife.
Whilst he was in London, the image of their life together had become clearer, and he could not believe that he had previously considered such a marriage unsuitable.
Sharing the news of his engagement with his family had been as daunting as he expected.
Georgiana had been surprised, even fearful, but in the end, she had accepted it.
Darcy knew he still had to tell Elizabeth about the failed elopement in Ramsgate.
He had not found the right moment for such a confession yet, but he would.
With the scoundrel removed from their lives, he could wait a little longer.
Wickham had been shipped — like useless merchandise — the day before Darcy returned to Longbourn.
He was at peace with his actions, and he could enjoy his felicity without further interruptions in that regard.
He expected other interruptions though, as soon as he was married.
Lord and Lady Matlock had been stunned and had raised many objections to his engagement, which he had dismissed calmly and decidedly.
In truth, the admiral had been helpful, since he had taken upon himself the burden of arguing with the Matlocks, as Colonel Fitzwilliam had revealed.
Being fond of the Matlocks and valuing their affection, Darcy hoped for their acceptance, in order to avoid a breach between them.
He did not want to choose between them and Elizabeth, but if he had to do it, his choice was easy.
He had visited them once after the announcement, and they had still been upset, still trying to change his mind, but their arguments were less vehement.
His greatest concern was Lady Catherine, to whom he had sent a letter two days prior to his return to Hertfordshire.
He had contemplated the notion of going to Kent and telling her in person, allowing her the opportunity to unleash her anger; but time had been short, and he could not afford to waste two days, so an express had seemed like the best choice.
He had not received a reply before he left, but he expected to find one waiting for him on his desk.
The colonel’s decision to attend the wedding did not surprise Darcy; he had always received his cousin’s friendship and support. His other cousin, the viscount, had said he would like to attend too, but he had other urgent business — something that Darcy easily understood.
After the wedding, he and Elizabeth would travel to London immediately.
The colonel and the admiral were uncertain whether they would join them — in another carriage, as the admiral made clear — or would stay a few more days to keep Bingley company.
Poor Bingley had no support from his sisters, and he was struggling with the decision to propose to Miss Jane Bennet.
The admiral teased him that with Darcy marrying Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet would be in town often and would surely draw the attention and admiration of many eligible men.
Netherfield was peaceful that morning. After breakfast, Bingley had taken Colonel Fitzwilliam to Meryton to introduce him to Colonel Forster, and the admiral had withdrawn to his room to rest until Mr Bennet and his daughters arrived.
Darcy was amused by how exhilarated he felt at the notion of seeing Elizabeth again.
The fluttering in his stomach was something he had never felt before.
Darcy’s peaceful reflection was interrupted by the sound of a carriage, and he assumed Bingley and the colonel had returned.
He placed the box of jewels in his pocket, as he wanted Elizabeth to be the first to see them.
He also noticed that, lost in his thoughts, he had allowed the fire to die down, and he placed two more logs on it, then went in search of his friends.
When he opened the door, he found himself face-to-face with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, of all people, glaring at him. His moment of stupefaction allowed her time to push past him and enter, waving her cane.
“Lady Catherine? What are you doing here?” he enquired in dismay.
“You know too well what I am doing here, Darcy! I have searched for you throughout London, and Georgiana said she did not know where you were! That girl has turned out to be as dishonest and disrespectful as you! Luckily, my brother told me you were already here, signing your death sentence! I have come to try to save you, before it is too late!”
“Lady Catherine, I am sorry you took so much trouble and travelled so far in such weather. You must be tired. Please take a seat, and I shall order some tea while we speak calmly. May I ask, where is Anne?”
“I do not need tea!” the lady shouted. “And yes, I took the trouble to come and see with my own eyes how it is possible that you could have lost your mind! Anne remained in town, as she was exhausted by the journey from Kent. How ironic that you remember Anne now, since you cast her off in order to satisfy some passing desires that have made you forget about your family and your duty!”
“Lady Catherine, I beg you to mind your words if you want to continue this conversation,” Darcy replied, barely holding his temper.
“Mind my words? Why would I, when you have not minded your actions?”
“I assure you, I have carefully pondered my actions, which you seem incapable of doing. I still insist on continuing this conversation in a civil tone or ending it now.”
“You pondered your actions? Wandering in the woods with a country nobody? Is this what you do now? Why not hire a courtesan, as all men do? And to now marry her? No man in his right mind would do that! She tricked you and trapped you, so you were forced to marry her, like the biggest fool!”
“Catherine? What on earth are you doing here? And why are you yelling? You woke me and the entire manor!”
The admiral was staring at them from the door, then he entered, still looking at the lady in shock.
“Well, well, you are here too. Of course you are! Nothing bad ever happened in this family without you being involved! Thank God you have been on the sea for thirty years, or else, God knows, you would have ruined this family!”
“I am pleased to see you too, Catherine,” the admiral replied with mockery. “I have not seen you in three years now, but you have not changed a bit. You are still handsome and still irrational.”
“Oh, shut your mouth! I have nothing to say to you! Darcy, we must speak, now! You cannot possibly do something so imprudent! I am sure you can pay the Bennets a reasonable amount of money and break this dreadful engagement. I am sure that woman used some arts and allurements to make you lose your mind. Mr Collins told me she is not to be trusted! Her mother tried to marry her to Mr Collins first, but he was wise enough to choose better! Can my own nephew be more of a fool than my clergyman?”
“You have said enough, madam!” Darcy replied harshly.
“I shall leave you now before I say or do something I shall truly regret. As for breaking my engagement, why would I do that, when I had to work so hard for it? I had to propose to Miss Bennet twice, since she rejected me the first time, and I had to use all my powers of persuasion to convince her! She is truly the most remarkable woman I have ever met and the only one I have ever wanted to marry.”
At that, Lady Catherine’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she seemed to struggle for air; she sat on a chair, blinking and gulping, while the two men watched her.
“You…you…” she mumbled, then stood up shakily.
“You are worse than your father! Much worse! He polluted the shades of Pemberley with his mistress, and you want to place an unworthy nobody there to take your mother’s place!
Anne would turn in her grave. She would die again if she could see her son’s horrible betrayal. ”
The lady was suffocating with rage, while Darcy listened with horror and dismay.
“Excuse me?” he shouted. “How dare you accuse my father and insult his memory? This is despicable, even from you! You will leave this very moment! I have nothing else to say to you. Yes, my poor mother would certainly turn in her grave if she could see you!”
“Not so hasty, young man! I still have much to tell you! I hoped you would be different, that you had inherited the Fitzwilliams’ sense of duty and honour, and Anne’s discretion and decency.
But you are all your father! He should have been grateful that she married him, and grovelled at her feet!
Instead, he had no scruples in deceiving her.
She was ill, and he still left her with child, which caused her to die!
And all the while he kept another woman for his pleasure! ”
Lady Catherine’s tirade — long, loud, and barely understandable — devastated and defeated Darcy. He felt his strength ebb away and looked at the admiral, who was standing in silence, waiting for a retaliation that did not come. The woman continued, even angrier, pointing her cane at the admiral.
“Yes, ask him, he knows too well what I am talking about! But at least George was clever enough to keep one woman for what she was meant for and marry the right one. Why not marry Anne and do the same with this country nobody, as any man would do? I am sure you will be tired of her after a couple of months!”