Chapter 30
The next week passed in a flurry of activity for both Darcy and Elizabeth.
Darcy had spoken to his lawyers the very next day of the theatre visit and had been assured the settlement would be ready within a few days.
The whole week was then planned by Lady Matlock according to a regimented schedule for Elizabeth’s society introduction.
They had a good number of callers, curious about Elizabeth.
Word had got out that the Master of Pemberley was seen with an unknown lady of impeccable looks, while in the company of the Earl and Countess of Matlock and Lady Margaret.
Then there were a plethora of visits to the museums and art galleries that the countess had arranged.
Though the purpose of the visits was for Elizabeth to be seen in society, she genuinely enjoyed them for Darcy had accompanied her and from him she had learnt much about history and contemporary painters.
He had even gone ahead and purchased a few paintings that Elizabeth had admired.
As the week progressed the gossip columns were full of Elizabeth’s appearance in society, her beauty and grace.
The fact that Mr. Darcy appeared smitten with her had aroused the interest of the whole ton.
While many were surprised that the next Mrs. Darcy would be from such a humble background with modest connections, the approval of the Matlocks and Lady Margaret was enough to keep them satisfied.
With the town being in such an uproar, the news was sure to make its way to the country.
By the time the settlement papers were signed Lady Catherine was fuming with anger at Rosings.
She immediately set off to talk sense into her nephew and get rid of the interloper.
******
Lady Margaret had decided to throw a lavish dinner party for celebrating Darcy’s engagement and had come to Darcy House to discuss the details with her nephew.
With the engagement now formalised and the wedding imminent Darcy had decided to refurbish the family wing to welcome his bride, thus the house was in a chaotic uproar as Darcy tried to give his attention to Lady Margaret and oversee the work as needed.
It was in this confusion that Lady Catherine arrived and entered the drawing room precisely when Darcy had to step out to deal with some emergency regarding the wallpaper for the mistress’s chamber.
“Lady Catherine, please take a seat. I will arrange for refreshments and let Mr. Darcy know of your arrival.” The butler politely said.
“What is this God-forsaken noise? Has that girl converted this place to a warehouse?” Lady Catherine snapped.
“That is what happens when you arrive uninvited. The house is getting renovated, and you most certainly are in the way.” Lady Margaret spoke from her seat.
Having not realised her presence Lady Catherine turned towards her and curtsied. “Lady Margaret, what brings you here?”
“I should ask you the same. Seeing that I live twenty minutes away and not twenty miles, I am more justified in arriving without notice.”
“I need to speak to Darcy.” Lady Catherine stubbornly responded.
“That would be obvious from the fact that you are in his home. The question is, did you not send him notice of your arrival?”
Lady Margaret, though much younger, outranked Lady Catherine which had always been an annoyance to the formidable woman, “Some matters are too urgent to send notice.” She blustered.
“Of course. Is there any way I can be of assistance for Darcy will be gone for a while. He can be fastidious in his requirements as you are aware.” Lady Margaret offered almost certain as to the purpose of the older lady’s visit.
“I would have thought it would have concerned you as much as it did me for Darcy connecting himself to a low-born nobody would be as damaging to you as to me.” Lady Catherine grumbled.
“Miss Elizabeth is a gentleman’s daughter and a delightful lady. Darcy adores her and Georgiana also seems equally taken with her. Even your brother has agreed to the match though reluctantly. You cannot have any concerns when those of higher rank are sanguine.”
“Darcy is supposed to marry Anne, as you are well aware.” Lady Catherine seethed.
“Is he? All I know is, all of us Darcys would have vehemently opposed that marriage. Pemberley has always been dear to my husband and Anne is in no way fit to be its mistress. A grown woman who cannot speak two words in society can hardly bear the mantle which Lady Anne once bore. You yourself are a formidable woman and know well the deficiencies of your daughter. She will do well for some second son in need of a fortune but not the master of Pemberley.”
“Lady Margaret, Anne knows her duties and I assure you she is quite capable of carrying them out. She is sickly just like her namesake, nothing more.”
“Do not insult Lady Anne, she was never sickly but suffered greatly from bearing children. Even in her weakest moment she had a keen intelligence and sharp judgement. Not a single piece of silver would move from the house without her knowledge and there was no tenant or servant who did not respect her. Can you say the same for your daughter?”
“You mean to tell me that Elizabeth Bennet with no dowry and connections to trade is the appropriate lady.” Lady Catherine was fuming as she argued.
“Her situation and connections are unfortunate, I will not deny that, but Darcy has enough of both. She has the required pluck and mettle to establish herself in society. I am sure you are aware, for I hear she was a frequent guest in your house during her sojourn in Kent.” Lady Margaret calmly responded.
“I am shocked that you dismiss my daughter who is descended from a noble bloodline in favour of a nobody.” Before Lady Margaret could respond, Colonel Fitzwilliam walked in. Seeing the two ladies, he bowed and then said. “I got Darcy’s express and came as soon as possible.”
“I am surprised that Darcy remembered to send for you, he has been distracted lately.” Lady Margaret responded with a mischievous smile to Lady Catherine’s annoyance.
“Aunt Catherine, did Darcy summon you also?” Colonel Fitzwilliam innocently questioned though he had immediately understood his aunt’s motives.
“I am here because someone needs to talk sense. Darcy cannot marry a girl who is a cousin of my parson and whom he also rejected.”
“Is that what Mr. Collins is claiming that he rejected Miss Elizabeth, for his wife assured me that he had been rejected multiple times by Miss Bennet before he fixed his affections on her.”
At Lady Margaret’s curious expression, he explained. “I was just surprised when I came to know that Miss Bennet had four sisters, all unmarried and Mr. Collins, the heir to their estate, had not been encouraged to choose a bride from amongst them.”
“She obviously was aiming much higher.” Lady Catherine responded sulkily.
“Whether she was or not hardly matters for Darcy prefers her and will marry her and even if he did not, I would make it my life’s mission that Anne did not end up as his wife.
You are aware of the influence I have on my brother and Lord Matlock will not want His Grace’s opposition.
” Saying this Lady Margaret finally stood up.
“Colonel, I think you should escort your aunt to Matlock House. I will let Darcy know of her arrival in town once he is back.”
Thus, a disgruntled Lady Catherine arrived at the Matlock townhouse only to find Elizabeth sitting with Georgiana and Lady Matlock discussing wedding plans.
They were a merry part, and all the cheer and laughter incensed the lady who immediately walked out without speaking a single word and departed for Kent.
She did not make her way to town for another two years until the Viscount finally married; and did not speak to Darcy till the next heir of Pemberley was born.
Another person who heard about Darcy's impending engagement was Mr. Wickham. He had continued to court Miss Prudence in Brighton after Lydia's departure. The same heiress whose disapproval of Wickham's attention towards Lydia had caused the whole debacle with the youngest Miss Bennet.
He had even convinced her to elope with him if her guardian did not provide his consent.
Somehow the girl's guardian had gained knowledge of his debts to the local merchants and had offered him a thousand pounds to disappear from Brighton and from his charge's life.
Wickham had initially considered the offer not worth his time, especially compared to Miss Prudence's dowry of twenty thousand pounds.
Then he had heard about Darcy and Miss Elizabeth and quickly decided that disappearing may well be a wise choice as Darcy was known to hold grudges.
He had heard that Miss Lydia was greatly altered after her accident and her vision had suffered.
Now that she was to be Darcy's sister by marriage he would not put it past the man to avenge her.
Thus, he accepted the generous offer from Miss Prudence's guardian on the condition that a passage for him was arranged to the Americas.
Wickham left the country before Elizabeth and Darcy's engagement had made it to the London papers.