Chapter 6 A Brother’s Visit
Elizabeth
Soon after our return to the house, Graham and Darcy left to take care of estate business. Whilst I played the pianoforte in the music room, Mrs. Reynolds approached me. I halted at the next measure.
“Excuse me, madam. I wanted to inform you that Lady Rebecca is suffering from a recurring ailment and expects to be confined to her room for the next couple of days.”
“Oh, I see.” She had begged off of church services that morning. “I presume you have seen to her comfort.”
“Yes. I brought her a draught for her pain.”
“Very good. Thank you.” What welcome news!
Mrs. Reynolds departed. I put away my music, grinning and humming a merry tune.
In the next moment, though, I covered my mouth and cringed.
How could I allow Lady Rebecca to affect me in such a negative way?
Am I so unfeeling as to rejoice at another woman’s infirmity?
No, I should go at once to Lady Rebecca and enquire if she needed anything further to soothe her symptoms.
Halfway up the staircase, my steps slowed. Once I had ensured Lady Rebecca’s well-being, it would behoove me to take advantage of her absence and seek out Lady Catherine. Yes, I should do that.
Thirty minutes later, having ascertained Lady Catherine’s location, I took Bennet to the library. We entered hand-in-hand and stopped before the forbidding lady, who sat perusing a London magazine. “Good day, Lady Catherine. I hope you have been comfortable here and have everything you need.”
“Humph.” She did not bother to look at us.
Well, I shall take that to mean, “Yes, thank you.” I took Bennet to the nearby sofa, and we sat together. “Perhaps you would like to observe Bennet’s progress with his letters.”
At this, Lady Catherine raised her sight from the magazine to scowl at me. “I do not know what sort of game you are playing, but you are wasting your time. Whatever you may do will have no effect on me.”
With effort, I resisted the urge to make a face at her.
“I do not take your meaning. It occurred to me that I might relieve your concerns for Bennet’s education whilst providing you an opportunity to become better acquainted with him.
” My son leaned upon me as he peeked at his stony-faced great-aunt.
Bending close to him, I gestured towards Lady Catherine. “Bennet, this lady is your great-aunt, and her name is Lady Catherine. Can you say, ‘Lady Catherine’?”
“Lady Cat-tin.” He beamed at me.
“Can you try again? I shall say it slower this time. Lady Cath-er-ine.”
“Lady Cat-ta-in.”
“Lady Cath-er-ine.”
“Lady Cat-ta-in.”
My hand covered his head, ruffling his dark, curly hair.
“You made an admirable attempt. Your great-aunt is a considerable lady with a substantial name to match.” I raised my sight to her.
“A few sounds are difficult for Bennet to pronounce, but he knows a great number of words already for his age and has memorised the names of every horse in the stables.”
She did not respond and returned her attention to the magazine.
From a nearby drawer, I removed a stack of cards marked with letters of the alphabet in random order and held each one in front of Bennet for him to specify.
My son named the letters correctly except for the B’s and D’s; he mixed those up about half the time.
After he named the final letter, I praised him for his fine performance.
With a frown, I glanced at Lady Catherine, who continued to disregard us.
Did she not take any interest in her great-nephew?
I pointed to my son’s bookshelf. “Bennet, shall you choose a book for me to read to you?” He climbed down from the sofa and grabbed one of his favourites from the special shelf installed for his use several months earlier.
It had been Fitzwilliam’s notion; he anticipated the three of us perusing books together in the library once our son had mastered reading.
My son placed the well-worn volume of Perrault’s Mother Goose Tales in my lap.
As I read aloud, he displayed every sign of being enraptured.
His eyes grew larger as the tale evolved, and his smile widened each time I altered my voice to portray the various characters in the stories.
At every turn of a page, he pointed to the characters depicted in the fanciful illustrations and called out their names.
After twenty minutes of reading, I instructed him to put his book back, and I stowed away the cards. We took our leave of Lady Catherine with Bennet demonstrating the bow he had been practicing of late.
Lady Catherine gave us a curt nod.
When we reached the second-floor landing, I leaned low toward Bennet. “You did very well, my dear. Your papa’s aunt is as tough as they come, but despite her show of imperviousness, I do not believe even she can resist your charms.”
Lady Catherine
Once Elizabeth had left with the boy, I stretched my arms out, then reclined against the chair. Spared from that unasked for interruption, I should read in peace and solitude.
I turned my attention back to the article I had been reading before the intruders entered the library, but a small voice in the back of my head badgered me, preventing my making any progress.
For a few minutes here and there, Elizabeth and the child had provided a pleasant diversion.
Of course, anyone would enjoy the company of my charming great-nephew.
In contrast, Elizabeth is tolerable at best. It is amazing how much the boy favours Darcy in looks.
Although, even as a child, Darcy was always quiet and serious, unlike the sprightly and cheery Bennet.
It is clear the boy is quite intelligent too.
Moments later, I banished the perfidious voice. I had come to Pemberley for a specific purpose, and I should not be deterred from my goal.
A maid entered and handed me a note from Lady Rebecca. I skimmed the elegant handwriting. Fie, what did she mean by feigning illness? She had a task to fulfil! I crumpled up the paper and threw it upon the wooden floor. Well, she would have to answer to me at once.
Upon reaching the family wing, I stamped down the passage towards Lady Rebecca’s chamber.
The utter impudence of that woman! I gave her five hundred pounds upon our arrival at Pemberley as we had agreed.
How dared she shirk her duty to me? I pounded on the door with my walking stick. “It is I, Lady Catherine.”
Her abigail opened the door. “Pardon me, my lady, but—”
“You will leave now. I have important business to discuss with Lady Rebecca.”
The maid glanced back at her mistress.
“Very well. Do as she asks.” At Lady Rebecca’s lackadaisical response, the abigail hastened out to the passage.
I strode into the murky space, slamming the door behind me. The curtains had been drawn, allowing naught but tiny threads of light inside. Lady Rebecca reposed on the bed. I stopped before her. “What is the meaning of this? Are you truly ill?”
Her lower lip trembled. “Yes, I am in pain as is often the case for me on the first two days of my courses. The cramps are debilitating. I may need to remain in my room for a couple of days.”
“This is not to be borne! You ought to have turned my nephew’s head by now. Whatever you have been doing is insufficient. You must be bolder if you want to engage him.”
She took a laboured breath. “I disagree. As you witnessed, I tried being obvious in my attentions to Mr. Darcy for the first day or so. That method made him more distant with me. A subtle approach may be more effective. My plan is to desist from any physical contact. Instead, I shall ask him to explain how to keep the accounts and ledgers of an estate and show an interest in everything he says. That will provide a reason for sustained close companionship.”
Perhaps she had a valid point. Darcy had always been a singular gentleman.
“Yes, I think that might work. Make sure you flatter him often too. Men love compliments.” Still, she would be wasting two entire days shut up in her chamber!
In my frustration, a moan escaped me. “Is there nothing that can be done to make you well sooner?”
“No, in the past I have tried every known remedy.” Lady Rebecca pushed up on her elbows, raising the pillow behind her.
She pressed her hand against her abdomen and winced.
“Elizabeth Darcy bears no resemblance to the calculated, heartless woman you described. Rather, she appears to be a gracious person and a loving mother. She came in to see me earlier and showed me kindness that I did not deserve.”
My mouth wrenched downwards. Heaven deliver me from fools! “Her show of sympathy is no more than a sham. She is as cunning as a fox. That woman ruined my daughter’s life, and she must pay for that.” I glared at her. “Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” She whispered the word, her gaze averted.
I spun on my heel and left the room.
Graham
I followed Darcy into the stables. He went to a large stall occupied by a striking brown Welsh pony. He opened the door and gave the animal a close inspection.
To avoid alarming the creature, I watched from outside the stall. “Is this one intended for your boy?”
He patted the pony’s neck. “Yes. I wanted to ensure he arrived in good health. This stall has undergone repairs and has not been in use the past few months, so if my son visits the horses, he will not look here.”
Darcy left the stall and closed the door. “I expect the arrival of several family members on the nineteenth of September for Elizabeth and Bennet’s birthdays. My wife knows we are celebrating on that day, but she is not aware that her family members are coming.”
“I see. So you shall have more guests in addition to Lady Catherine, Lady Rebecca, and me.” That is certain to be interesting.
“Yes, the timing for my aunt’s visit is unfortunate.” He ran his fingers through his hair and turned towards me. “Is there a chance you will cut your holiday short and leave us before then?”