Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
After Papa and Mr. Bingley left the room, Lizzy braced herself for Mama to behave in a most vulgar fashion. Those fears were raised further when a servant announced the arrival of Lady Lucas and her two daughters.
“Oh no.”
“What is it, my love?” Fitz asked quietly so no one would hear them.
“You may wish to rescind your offer of marriage after today.”
“Never. You are mine,” he almost growled. “And, I am yours.”
She raised her eyes to his and a shiver of delight rippled through her at his possessive tone. A slight squeeze of their intertwined fingers hidden beneath the folds of her skirt told him she was in agreement.
“Never say I didn’t warn you. Mama will be in raptures over the news we expect once Papa and Mr. Bingley return. You may wish yourself to be anywhere but here during that time.”
“The only place I wish to be is my bedroom. With you. Naked.”
She gasped and her whole body tingled. Now she understood how history could be changed because of one person’s desire for another.
Even King Henry divorced his wife of almost twenty-five years in order to bed Anne Boleyn and altered the course of England’s history and religion.
What would Fitzwilliam Darcy do for her, or she for him?
“Lady Lucas, I am so glad you have come.” Mama greeted her friend. “Kitty, ring for Hill to bring more tea.”
“Yes, Mama.”
Rather than ring the bell, Kitty grabbed Maria Lucas by the hand and they both exited the room.
A few minutes later, Hill arrived with fresh tea and biscuits.
Lizzy knew Kitty had gone upstairs to join Lydia, and in their rooms the three girls would most likely sigh over all the handsome red-coated gentlemen they knew.
She held onto a faint hope that maybe some other young soldier, other than Wickham, would grab hold of their fancy.
“I had an interesting conversation with your father.”
She faced Fitzwilliam and saw that he was smiling. It was then she noticed he had a dimple. She determined to make him smile more often.
“It must have been a jolly conversation for you to be in such good humor.”
He pressed closer, the heat of his body transferring to hers.
“Why did you never tell me you were the daughter of a Viscount?”
“Firstly, I only discovered this news myself prior to Jane falling ill at Netherfield. Secondly, I believed my company was not welcome and even though I outranked all of you, I do not need to put on the airs of nobility to feel my worth.”
“God, I love you woman.”
“And I love you, my peasant fiancé.”
All eyes turned to them when Fitzwilliam laughed outright. They both straightened in their seat and tried to project a more acceptable picture of contentment.
“You must forgive them, Lady Lucas. I’m afraid the champagne has gone to their heads,” Mama explained. “Mr. Darcy and Lizzy are engaged. Isn’t that wonderful news.”
“That is wonderful news.” The pinched look on her closest neighbor’s face belied her words. Charlotte gave Lizzy a warm, yet knowing look. Lady Lucas opened her mouth to speak once more when Mama interrupted.
“And, I do believe we shall have more good news once Mr. Bennet returns with Mr. Bingley.”
“Mr. Bingley has returned to Netherfield Park?”
“Oh yes,” Mama fluttered her lace handkerchief in the air. “He and Mr. Darcy arrived soon after we broke our fast, so determined were they in their quest.”
“Quest?”
“Mr. Darcy spoke with Mr. Bennet immediately and now Mr. Bingley is having his turn. I believe my Jane will not end the day a single woman.”
“It seems we shall have a flurry of weddings in our small community,” Lady Lucas said, “which brings me to the reason for our visit this morning. Charlotte accepted a marriage proposal from Mr. Collins only yesterday.”
The man in discussion chose that moment to enter the room. He bypassed Lady Lucas and his betrothed, heading straight for Lizzy and Fitzwilliam.
“Sir,” he bowed low, “I demand you break this engagement at once.”
Fitzwilliam rose to his feet and glared at the distraught man who began to wring his hands.
“You demand?”
“Yes, you are betrothed to Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s daughter, Anne. I beg you, quit Longbourn and once you are no longer in the enticing sphere of my cousin, flee to Kent where your true betrothed awaits.”
“I have never asked any woman to be wife other than Miss Elizabeth.”
“I am sure, because you are in a fog of desire, you are unable to ascertain that you have been bewitched. Your lady aunt has spoken often of your engagement and how the two houses of Rosings and Pemberley will be united. My cousin must have seduced you with dark arts and allurements to tempt you from your road to happiness.”
“Desist!” Mr. Collins almost fell back as Fitzwilliam took a step toward him.
“I will say this only once. I am not, have never been and never will be engaged to Anne de Bourgh. This is a fantasy dream concocted by my aunt. No matter how many times I tell her I will not marry her daughter, she persists. Only a fool would think I’d marry her.
” He towered over Mr. Collins. “Are you a fool, Mr. Collins?”
“We all know he’s a fool.”
All heads turned to the door to find Papa in the door frame, Mr. Bingley hovering behind.
“It was one of the main reasons I agreed to have the bumbling idiot stay within the walls of Longbourn for more than two days. He’s provided ample entertainment, but it will now come to an end.
” Papa proceeded into the room and took Mr. Collins by the arm.
He led him over to Charlotte and forced him to take her hand.
“You have chosen a wonderful woman for your future wife. Stop worrying what the great Lady Catherine will do, or say, and concentrate on building your own life.”
He turned his attention back to all gathered in the drawing room while Mr. Collins stood, mouth agape.
“Well... it seems anticlimactic now, but Mr. Bingley has requested the hand of my daughter Jane, and she has accepted.”
“Oh, I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing,” Mama cried into her handkerchief. “Two daughters to be married. I shall go quite distracted.”
Charlotte left Mr. Collins and moved toward Lizzy and Jane.
“I am so very happy for both of you.”
“And I would say the same for you, Charlotte if I believed you could be happy with such a man.” Lizzy couldn’t help herself. Surely her good friend knew him to be a fool.
“You know I am not the romantic sort. Unlike you.” Charlotte said with calm.
“All I seek is the protection of a good man and my own establishment. I worried that I’d become a burden upon my family, but when your mother said in passing that I would not refuse the attentions of a man like Mr. Collins if it meant I could have my own home, my own children, I knew if he offered, I’d accept. ”
“Oh, Charlotte!” Lizzy threw her arms around her good friend. “If this is truly your desire, then who am I to say you cannot find happiness?”
“I also give you my congratulations,” Jane added, having joined them alongside Mr. Bingley.
“Charlotte!” The imperious tone of Mr. Collins broke through their conversation. “We must leave for Lucas Lodge immediately. I will not have you in the same room as... as...” He faltered when Mr. Darcy glared and took a step toward him. “We must leave at once.”
Charlotte turned her attention back to her good friends and gave a slight shrug. “I must go, but know this. You have not lost my friendship and I will do my best to settle his ruffled feathers.”
She went to leave and turned back in surprise when Fitzwilliam touched her forearm.
“For what it’s worth, Mr. Collins is a lucky man. You are a lady worth knowing. If, at any time my aunt - or Mr. Collins - make your life at Hunsford unbearable, all you need do is send word. You have powerful friends, Miss Lucas, and are not alone.”
Her eyes filled with tears and it hit Lizzy hard how much Charlotte needed to hear that she was worthy.
“Mr. Darcy.” Charlotte gave them all a small curtsy. “I have confidence in my future, but thank you for the offer. I must now take my leave.”
~~oo0oo~~
The day following their engagements, Lizzy’s attention was drawn to the sound of a carriage and she watched as a chaise and four drove up the lawn.
It was too early in the morning for visitors, although Fitzwilliam was known to come by soon after breaking his fast, and the equipage did not belong to any of their surrounding neighbors.
Lizzy, who stood watching from Mama’s rose garden, wondered who it could be.
A large woman descended from the carriage, waving off the hand of her footman.
She clutched in her hand a heavy cane and looked around her.
Even from where she stood, Lizzy could see disdain dripping from every pore of her being.
At last the woman’s eyes lit upon Lizzy and she bore down on her like an advancing thunderstorm, stopping when she was but a few feet away.
Without any introduction, the older woman glared at her and barked out, “Are you Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
“I am,” she said giving her visitor a polite half curtsy, “although I have not the pleasure of knowing who you are.”
The woman banged her cane on the ground and glared down her nose.
“I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” she stated with an imperious tone, as though everyone should know who she was. With a wave of her arm toward the carriage, where Lizzy caught sight of a small hand on the window sash, she said, “And that is my daughter, Anne.”
Lizzy’s lips quirked in humor and she strove to keep her face calm. Inherently she knew Lady Catherine would not appreciate her twisted sense of humor. And, she was soon to be family. No need to dig trenches she couldn’t climb out of later.
“I am pleased to meet you, Lady Catherine.”
“You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, as to why I am here.”
“Indeed, you are mistaken. I do not.”