Chapter 7 Bitter Remembrances
Pemberley
Lady Catherine
The sound of Bennet’s high-pitched yells drew me to the drawing-room window.
I pulled aside the curtain enough to give me an unobstructed view whilst I remained hidden behind the fabric.
Darcy and Elizabeth stood on either side of the child on a section of Pemberley’s lawns.
They took turns rolling a ball to the boy, who fumbled in his attempts to catch the toy and roll it back.
Their collie stood to the side, his body weight on his haunches, positioned to spring into action whenever Bennet sent the ball astray. On those occasions, the dog sprinted after the ball and carried it to Elizabeth or Darcy.
The sonorous, joyful sounds of Bennet’s laughter and the dog’s barks taunted my resolve. But I should not waver from my mission.
My nephew’s uncouth, undignified display of childish conduct provided yet another example of Elizabeth’s influence upon him.
She had turned him into a namby-pamby shadow of his former self.
Of course, to any objective observer, the three of them made a pretty picture, yet they would not exist but for the treacherous plot of a scheming mercenary.
Earlier, Elizabeth had invited me to accompany them to the lawn and sit on one of the chairs, but I had declined.
Her obvious attempts to gain my favour would never succeed.
What self-deluded arrogance the woman possessed—as if aught she did could make me forget the unrelenting injury done to Anne!
If I had known then what I know now, I could have prevented this disaster, and Darcy would be married to Anne instead of that strumpet.
I underestimated Elizabeth then. In an unrivalled show of generosity, I bestowed undue attention upon her—a deplorable mistake!
Memories flooded my mind of that fateful spring and the events that followed.
March 1812
Rosings Park Estate, Kent
Lady Catherine
I had been reading the latest copy of Ladies Monthly Museum in my sitting room when Anne entered, taking a seat beside me.
“Mother, I am now five-and-twenty. For as long as I can remember, you have told me that Darcy and I should marry one day. In the past, I accepted this as fact, but now I have my doubts.”
What was this? Anne had never expressed such uncertainty before. I set my magazine aside. “You may be assured that he will marry you. Lady Anne had wanted you to be his bride, and he will not go against his late mother's wishes.”
My daughter’s fingers gripped and twisted the fabric of her skirt.
“When Uncle George still lived, Darcy and I used to talk during his visits. We shared engaging conversations back then on the subjects of literature, history, and music. After his father’s death, he grew despondent for a time.
But even well past his mourning period, he ceased paying me anything but the bare minimum of attention.
If he intended to wed me, would he not spend time in my company? ”
I released a derisive laugh. “You have been reading too many romance novels. Why should Darcy need to spend time with you now when he will have the rest of his life to do so?”
“Very well. I guess you are correct.” Anne took her leave and slipped from the room.
Nevertheless, I could not return to my reading with the same calmness of temper as before.
Was Anne’s fear unfounded? It must be so!
The gossips remarked upon Darcy’s every move in London, so if he had ever shown an interest in any particular lady, I should have heard of it.
Other gentleman had dalliances with actresses and kept mistresses, but not Darcy.
He had given me no reason to doubt he would fulfil the plan his mother and I had conceived so long ago.
Still, having reached the age of seven-and-twenty, he ought to make the engagement with Anne official. I should suggest this to him when he came for Easter. By the end of summer, he and Anne would be married.
One Month Later
Rosings Park
Lady Catherine
My daughter and I had been reading in the library for half an hour before she closed her book and set it aside.
“Mother, did you notice Darcy’s unusual comportment last night?”
I lowered my book to my lap. “To what do you refer?”
“He was even more silent and austere than usual, yet he showed a singular interest in Miss Bennet. His eyes followed her throughout the evening.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Now you mention it, I thought it odd when Darcy followed Miss Bennet and Richard to the pianoforte.” I frowned.
Unbidden to my mind came a remembrance of the impertinent twist of Miss Bennet’s lips as she had responded to my inquiries at our first meeting.
At times, it had almost seemed as though the young woman had been making a joke at my expense.
But I dismissed the ridiculous notion—she would not have dared treat a lady so far above her with insolence.
“I allow that Miss Bennet is an attractive girl in a common sort of way, but I have no fears for Darcy where she is concerned. He knows his place in the world and would never be tempted by a woman so below himself.”
I tapped my lower lip. “Now, if Richard had sufficient wealth to marry where he liked, he might be vulnerable to her charms.”
“I am sure you are correct.” Anne provided a weak smile and resumed reading her book.
Months later, I received shocking intelligence from my clergyman, Mr. Collins. His father-in-law, Sir William, upon the engagement of the eldest Bennet sister to Darcy’s friend Mr. Bingley, had predicted an imminent match between Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet!
Despite the unlikelihood of this pronouncement, I left at once to confront Miss Bennet at her home.
To my dismay, she refused to satisfy my demand that she promise not to wed my nephew.
Next, I went to Darcy, and after an infuriating argument, left without any concession from him.
In desperation, I sought out my brother, Lord Matlock, but he refused to interfere, citing the sound judgment Darcy had demonstrated up to that point.
Before I left London, a letter arrived from Darcy confirming my worst fear.
In utter defeat, I went home and found my daughter in her sitting room. I stood before her, placing a fair portion of weight on my walking stick, and told her that despite my best efforts, Darcy had become engaged to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Anne uttered not a single word. She sobbed.
Each of her cries stabbed at my heart. I could do naught but hang my head in utter helplessness.
Were it not for the powerful loathing for Miss Elizabeth Bennet that rose within me, I might have collapsed.
Of course, the recriminating knowledge that I bore part of the responsibility for this outcome mingled with the hatred.
Indeed, as Anne peered up at me, blinking through her tears, did her eyes not impart an accusation?
Yes, my daughter blamed me. And why not? I had invited the enemy into my home.
Over the next few years, my quiet and reserved daughter became morose and pettish.
Moreover, her health took a turn for the worse.
She had ever been prone to colds, but she began to suffer from insomnia, frequent headaches, and pains throughout her body.
With Anne’s physical decline, her spirits sank even lower.
My daughter’s new symptoms puzzled Dr. Finch, the well-respected physician who had cared for Anne her entire life.
He could do naught but offer a tincture mixed with laudanum for her relief.
Anne’s resentment towards me endured, and she shunned my company.
Thus, I often spent time in town without her.
My miserable, brooding daughter made life at Rosings unbearable.
Present Day
Pemberley
Lady Catherine
With a jolt, I roused from my ruminations.
At Bennet’s frolicsome shout, my sight returned to the window.
I glowered at the three of them and hissed through my teeth.
They had no right to be so joyous with Anne in a state of misery!
Maybe I ought to have taken her to Pemberley after all.
My angry, sullen daughter’s presence may have dampened the Darcys’ happiness.
“They are a beautiful family, are they not?”
With a sharp intake of air, I dropped the curtain and stepped aside towards Mr. Graham, who gave me a proper bow.
I inclined my head. “One might say so.” My sight tarried upon the strikingly handsome man.
He could be useful in causing a rift between Elizabeth and my nephew.
I simpered at him. “Mrs. Darcy is an uncommon beauty. Do you not agree?”
His weight shifted, and his gaze rested upon me. “Yes, I do. Nevertheless, your statement surprises me. I should have predicted you to be the last person to compliment her.”
I shrugged. “Even from our first meeting I recognised her admirable attributes. Still, she is not an appropriate match for my nephew. She would be much better suited to a gentleman like you.”
His musical laugh filled the room. “I suspect your discerning statement contains an insult to myself.”
“Not at all. I merely meant that my nephew, who has noble connections, should have chosen a bride with comparable relations.”
A merry shriek emanating from out on the lawn caught Mr. Graham’s attention, and he gazed out the window. “And yet it is obvious that Darcy is delighted with his choice of a wife.”
My grip tightened around my walking stick as my vision inexorably drew back to the scene out of doors where a grinning Elizabeth ran across the grass after the ball. I should not rest until that woman felt the full weight of my vengeance.