Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
A few days later, Colonel Fitzwilliam departed to rejoin his regiment, but not before dispatching letters to several former soldiers, offering them positions as guards for Elizabeth and Georgiana.
On the day of the colonel's departure, all three Darcys made a trip into Lambton. The outing served a dual purpose. Elizabeth had the opportunity to meet many of the town's residents, quickly winning them over with her warmth and kindness, while also visiting the dressmaker to acquire the necessities she had left behind at Longbourn.
Strolling through Lambton, Darcy pointed out a few shops he frequented, the small church on the edge of town, and the village green where locals gathered. Georgiana remained close to Elizabeth, speaking with pride about the villagers she had known since childhood.
The dressmaker's shop, tucked between the bakery and the general store, was charming, with wide windows displaying various fabrics. Inside, Mrs. Simmons, the dressmaker, warmly greeted Elizabeth and promptly began measuring her and showing her fabrics suitable for both daywear and evening gowns. Darcy remained nearby, offering his thoughts sparingly while Georgiana eagerly gave her opinions on the various choices.
Once the fitting was completed—and far more dresses ordered than Elizabeth felt entirely comfortable with—the trio visited a few more shops to procure other small necessities for Elizabeth, including gloves, ribbons, and a bonnet, before stopping for tea at the local inn. While there, Darcy engaged in easy conversation with the innkeeper and with the villagers who stopped by the greet him.
Elizabeth observed her husband with pride, noting how frequently a pleased smile graced his face whenever he spoke of their recent marriage. She thought back to when they first met, recalling the uncertainty that had once accompanied the role thrust upon him too soon. Now, he carried himself with assured confidence, fully embodying the master of Pemberley. The sight stirred a rush of love—and perhaps something deeper—within her.
Other than their brief trip into the village, the rest of the days passed peacefully at Pemberley. Elizabeth met with Mrs. Reynolds to discuss ways to improve household efficiency and the well-being of the servants and tenants. The new mistress took great interest in the daily operations of the house, offering suggestions that were practical and kind, further endearing herself to the servants. Darcy, meanwhile, took her on leisurely rides around the estate, introducing her to the tenants. Many recognised her from her visit four years prior and were delighted to see that the warm-hearted young woman was now there permanently.
This tranquillity lasted for just over a week. Before long, a flurry of letters began arriving from London, most offering congratulations on Darcy's marriage, which had been announced in The Times as per his instructions. While some expressed surprise at the suddenness of the union, they assumed it was a favourable match. However, others were less kind. Certain correspondents hinted at less flattering reasons for the hurried wedding, suggesting that an heir for Pemberley might already be on the way.
Elizabeth quickly realised that while her husband had a few close friends who truly knew him and supported his decisions, there were many more who thrived on gossip. Lacking any concrete facts, these individuals were only too willing to fabricate their own tales, eager to seize upon any scandal or speculation to feed their curiosity. It was a sobering glimpse into the nature of society, and she found herself more grateful than ever for the genuine love and trust between her and Darcy.
WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 1811
On Wednesday, a little over a week after Elizabeth's arrival at Pemberley, she sat in the library, jotting down lists of matters requiring her attention. The peaceful quiet was interrupted when the butler entered, his expression grave.
“Madam," he began, "Lady Catherine de Bourgh has arrived and is demanding to meet with the master." His eyes flicked nervously towards Elizabeth, clearly uncomfortable. “She has also demanded a bed chamber for the night and is insisting that Mr. Darcy's trunks be packed so he may accompany her back to Rosings—where he is, according to her, to marry Miss de Bourgh." He paused, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Additionally, she has commanded that any 'interlopers' be removed from the house immediately.”
Elizabeth stared at the butler for a moment, her lips twitching upward as she struggled to contain her amusement. Her eyebrows rose in disbelief as the absurdity of the demands sank in. "Is that so?" she said with a wry smile. "Well, since Mr. Darcy is legally wed to me, I very much doubt he will comply with his aunt's dictates. I presume I am the 'interloper' to be cast out of Pemberley?" she added, the amusement now fully evident in her voice.
Before the butler could respond, a sharp voice cut through the room. "Of course, you are the interloper, Elizabeth Bennet!" Lady Catherine de Bourgh snapped, storming into the library with regal indignation. Her eyes blazed with fury as she assessed Elizabeth, clearly irritated by her composed manner. The older woman's nostrils flared, her jaw clenched tightly, and her posture was stiff with contempt, as if every fibre of her being revolted at the sight before her.
"How dare you drag my nephew down to your level and force him to elope with you?" she continued, her voice rising with barely restrained rage. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, pointing an accusatory finger at Elizabeth. "I cannot imagine how you managed to ensnare him so swiftly after meeting him again, but he would never have done such a disgraceful thing without your manipulation! You have made him the laughing stock of all England, tainting our family name with your scandalous behaviour." Lady Catherine's face flushed with anger, her words laced with venom, as if each accusation could strike Elizabeth down.
Elizabeth, still seated where she had been before the invader arrived, met the lady's gaze unflinchingly. Her posture remained relaxed, but her eyes gleamed with a defiant fire, and a hint of humour tugged at the corners of her lips. "I believe you are the one to have arrived here uninvited, Lady Catherine, making demands you have no right to make. As I understand the word, that would make you the only interloper in Pemberley at present. Would you care for me to call some footmen to remove you from the house?" Elizabeth replied.
Lady Catherine's face flushed with anger, her jaw tightening as her fists clenched at her sides, as if preparing for battle. "This is my sister's house, and I am related to Fitzwilliam Darcy by blood! You are nothing to him—a nobody who should never have been permitted to set foot in this estate!"
Elizabeth’s eyes darkened, the humour in her expression vanishing. “I am bound to Fitzwilliam Darcy by love, as I have been for years, and now by marriage. Our union was solemnised in a church over a week ago, before God and witnesses. As the minister declared, ‘Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.’” Leaning forward slightly, she steadied her voice. “You cannot ‘sunder’ us now, Lady Catherine. Yet I cannot help but wonder—are you not, at least in part, responsible for keeping us apart all these years?”
Though her hand clenched tightly beneath the table, Elizabeth refused to show her nerves. She would face this woman with all the strength and dignity she could summon, unwilling to let Lady Catherine see her waver.
"I did what was necessary," Lady Catherine declared with a vehemence that made her voice shake. "My foolish nephew would have married you four years ago when you were but a child. The years, it seems, have done little to improve your behaviour, for you still have not risen to greet me as you should in the presence of your betters."
Elizabeth remained seated, her expression hardening further. When she still made no move to acknowledge Lady Catherine's demand for respect, the older woman huffed angrily and pressed on. "You will disgrace the Darcy name, as well as that of the Fitzwilliam line, which is inexorably linked to my nephew. Anne will never marry after being jilted by her cousin, for all of London knows she was to wed him. Once the news of Georgiana's near-elopement becomes public, no one in either family will dare show their face anywhere in London."
At the obvious threat, Elizabeth's face paled slightly. Before she could respond, a furious voice rang out from behind Lady Catherine. "What do you know of Georgiana's near-elopement, Aunt?" Darcy demanded, striding further into the room. His boots were still caked in mud from his hurried ride. He had remained concealed after entering, waiting to hear what his aunt would say, ensuring the door behind him was shut—something his aunt had failed to do upon her entry. He was grateful for his caution when he realised how freely she spoke.
Darcy’s face was flushed with anger, his eyes dark with barely controlled fury. "Only Richard and I—and the scoundrel who tried to manipulate a girl barely out of the schoolroom—know of that incident. So I ask you again, how is it that you have come by this information?"
Lady Catherine turned, momentarily caught off guard by her nephew's sudden entrance. She narrowed her eyes, her lips curling in disdain as she took in his appearance. "Fitzwilliam, what do you mean coming into the house in such a state? Has a week of living with this… hussy already destroyed whatever sense of decency you once possessed?" Her voice dripped with contempt as she gestured to his muddied boots and rumpled riding clothes.
Darcy's jaw clenched, and his fists tightened at his sides. "I am not here to discuss the state of my boots, Aunt, but rather the poison you seem intent on spreading within my home." His voice was dangerously low, barely masking the rage beneath his calm facade. "You will explain yourself, or I will have no choice but to remove you from my house."
Lady Catherine's eyes blazed with indignation. "Your house? You might be the master of Pemberley in name, but you forget that without the Fitzwilliam name, you are nothing! It is my duty to see that you are not ruined by this woman, this conniving schemer who tricked you into marriage! As for Georgiana, I have my ways of learning the truth—ways you would not comprehend!"
"You mean you manipulate events to suit your will, hoping to use the knowledge to control me," Darcy spat, his voice icy. "Richard found Wickham in Newcastle and uncovered the truth—that you were behind his attempt to ruin Georgiana and behind the lies that kept Elizabeth from me. While her father bears some blame for lying to us both, you blackmailed him into refusing my proposal."
He stepped closer, his eyes blazing with fury. "If you so much as whisper a word of Georgiana's past, I will ensure you are the one who cannot show her face in London. You will not drag my sister or my wife through the mud for your own purposes.”
Darcy's voice sharpened further as he continued. "I owe you and the Fitzwilliams nothing. I have told you many times that I would never marry Anne, but you refused to listen. You forget Anne is the rightful owner of Rosings even though you have so far kept her from her inheritance. When she finally claims it, you will be lucky to end up in the dower house—if she allows you even that much."
He paused, his tone cutting. "While Pemberley might lack a title, it has made us wealthier than either Rosings or Matlock ever could imagine. My uncle may be a peer, but you have far less influence in London than you imagine."
Taken aback by Darcy's confrontation, Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists at her sides, the colour draining from her face as disbelief and indignation warred within her. "You insolent boy! How dare you speak to me in such a manner? I am your aunt, and I have always acted in your best interests. You have let this…this upstart woman manipulate you into defying me! You will come to regret this rebellion, Fitzwilliam. I have the power to ruin you and your precious wife."
"Think what you will, Lady Catherine, but if you utter even one negative word to anyone about my marriage or take any action to harm Georgiana's reputation, I will make this break in our family public," Darcy declared, his voice steady but laced with icy anger. He stepped closer, his posture tall and unwavering, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he glared at her. "From this point forward, I no longer recognise you as my aunt. I will support Anne when she makes a claim to Rosings."
His eyes narrowed, and he leant forward, a clear challenge in his stance. “Any insult you hurl at me or my family, I will answer tenfold. You have not set foot in London in over a decade, while there are many who know me and respect my name. I hold influence where you have none. A few well-placed words in the right ears would lead others to question your sanity, rendering any rumours you attempt to spread powerless, madam. My reputation for honesty far exceeds your own.”
With that, Darcy straightened, a look of disdain crossing his face. A silent challenge hung in the air between him and Lady Catherine, thick with tension. He crossed the room to his wife, offering his hand to help her stand. "Madam," he said, his tone cold and resolute as he addressed the angry woman behind him, "if you are not gone from this house in five minutes, I will have my servants toss you out the front door. Do not test me." Tucking Elizabeth's hand into his elbow, he turned to exit the room, deliberately ignoring Lady Catherine's furious presence.
Incensed by her nephew's willingness to sever ties, Lady Catherine shrieked her displeasure as she trailed after them. "You selfish boy! You would treat me this way because of that hoyden? That lightskirt? She is not worthy of you! Anne was to be your bride. Your mother promised me that our children would wed. You will ruin your name and your family for this woman! I will never forgive you for this outrageous behaviour. I will make sure you regret your defiance!"
Darcy paused as they entered the hallway, signalling to the footmen standing nearby that their assistance would be needed. He turned to face Lady Catherine, his eyes narrowed as he regarded the brazen woman yelling like a fishwife in his home. "Madam," he began, his voice cutting through her cries, "my mother wished for me to find love and would adore the woman who is now my wife. She avoided your company, except when absolutely necessary, because you had become a bitter, angry woman. I have warned you what will happen if you breathe a single negative word about my sister or my wife. If you wish to leave this house under your own power, you will do so now—without another word."
With that, Darcy turned once more, leading Elizabeth towards the stairs, his grip on her hand firm as they ascended to their quarters.
As soon as they entered their rooms, Darcy pulled Elizabeth into his arms, his expression a mix of concern and relief. "Forgive me, dearest. I ordered that she was not to be admitted, but I am not surprised she still managed to bully her way in. Are you well?" His voice was low and urgent, as he searched her face for any signs of distress.
Elizabeth pulled back slightly, their eyes locking as she steadied herself in his embrace. "I am well, my dear Fitzwilliam," she reassured him, her brow furrowing slightly. "The only thing that troubles me is her claim that she would ruin Georgiana. It does not concern me what society matrons may say about me, but I would hate to see Georgiana's reputation tarnished before she has a chance to show the world what a lovely young woman she is."
Darcy sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Elizabeth's head, resting his cheek there for a moment. "I do not believe she will succeed," he said, his voice muffled against her hair. "Richard will quietly let it be known that Lady Catherine is… unreliable. As I told her, it has been years since she has shown her face in London. Those she calls friends have either died or have not spoken to her for so long that they cannot know what she has become. Because of her claims that I was engaged to Anne, I have been forced to avoid corresponding with my cousin, but Richard does. He will assist Anne in claiming her inheritance, especially if Lady Catherine continues to be recalcitrant. Now that I am married, I can also do more to assist her. When we travel to London next month, we will make inquiries about how matters are at Rosings."
"So the colonel will lay the groundwork for Lady Catherine to be disbelieved and perhaps even declared mad if she follows through on any of her threats?" Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow as she considered the implications. Her lips curled into a wry smile. "It is sad, I suppose, but I cannot find it in myself to feel sorry for her. Not when she has done this to herself."
Darcy nodded in agreement, a flicker of anger still simmering in his eyes as he held her close, drawing strength from her presence. "She has caused lasting harm to all of us. It was because of her that we were separated for all these years, and it is because of her that Georgiana was almost stolen from us. Just as you cannot forgive your father for his part in our separation, I find I cannot forgive Lady Catherine, nor do I think we have heard the last from her."