Chapter 14
They were back in the small parlour before she knew it. Elizabeth sat quietly, clinging to Jane who was close beside her. A small selection of food was set out as a token wedding breakfast, and the others moved around the room, talking and eating quietly.
Not Mr Darcy, though. He had walked, slowly and painfully through to this room, and taken an upright chair near the window, where he sat, his face impassive. He had not spoken to her, or looked at her.
There was a disturbance outside, quiet at first, but then the voice, loud and stentorian, became obtrusive.
“Where is he? I will not be gainsaid.” The woman’s voice was belligerent and shrill.
Elizabeth glanced at her husband. Husband! No, she would not think of him in that way, not until she had to. Mr Darcy had an expression now. He was scowling fiercely, and the colonel looked from him to the door uncertainly.
But it was too late. A woman burst in and stood in the doorway. “Darcy! Tell me that what I have heard is untrue. It cannot be. I will not have it so. The shame and degradation!”
Elizabeth looked at her. At least something was happening on this otherwise silent day.
The woman was older than Mama by perhaps five or six years.
She was tall and bony, expensively dressed in heavy furs, and a tall, imposing bonnet of silk and feathers.
Her features showed lines of constant ill-temper and her eyes swung from Mr Darcy to the colonel and back again.
The colonel bent and a hasty murmured exchange took place, Mr Darcy looking thunderous.
The colonel strolled to the door. “Lady Catherine, your voice is, unfortunately, of the timbre to make Darcy unwell. You will not be able to speak to him today. And you are, of course, too late. The marriage is completed and nothing can be done. Please allow the footmen to escort you back to your coach. You may reach my parents’ house before dark. ”
“Married? To her?” The woman’s voice was outraged. Elizabeth was almost smiling. Lady Catherine. That meant she was Mr Collins's patroness. Undoubtedly, he had written to her, and no one had expected the matter to be so hurried; certainly not this lady, who was white with fury.
“Yes, indeed.” The colonel sounded almost jovial. “You will have to excuse my not introducing you; Darcy does not wish you to remain. Now, madam, I must insist that you leave here!”
The woman wasn’t about to leave quietly. “How could you, Darcy? You know your duty to my daughter …”
“Be silent, woman!” Mr Darcy’s sudden loss of control startled everyone. “Begone, as you have been told, lest I lose my temper completely.” His bellow showed that he had already lost it, and everyone froze, apart from Sir Charles, who hurried to his side.
The colonel took the opportunity to push Lady Catherine from the room and he could be heard speaking to someone in the corridor.
The housekeeper entered, and spoke to Elizabeth. “Permit me to show you and your family to your chamber, madam.” Her voice trembled slightly, and she seemed to be having difficulty not looking at the scowling man by the window.
Jane jumped to her feet, ever anxious to avoid the possibility of conflict, and tugged Elizabeth to stand, as well. As they prepared to leave the room, Mr Darcy spoke.
“Be prepared to depart at first light, madam.” It was the first time he had spoken to her that day, and he still had not said her new name. Not that I wish to acknowledge it, she thought angrily.
She did not answer him, merely dipping her head to indicate that she had heard, and held her head high as she followed Jane and Papa from the room.
Now she was alone. Elizabeth had been almost glad to farewell Jane and Papa, who seemed far more worried about her than she could accept with composure. At least she could now cry.
And he would not come to her tonight. If he could barely look at her, he would certainly not come to her. She was fortunate enough for that concession, at least.
She had this journey tomorrow to survive — would it be one day, or two? More? She did not know.
The ring was foreign on her hand. She looked down as she twisted it around her finger. It was too large for her, of course. No care had been taken in the purchase, she was sure. No attempt to find out what she would have preferred. No, it was probably the cheapest thing that could have been got.
She took a deep breath. There were things to be thought of, and she crossed the room to ring the bell.
She would ask for an early tray in this room and for a maid to assist her to get ready for bed.
Then the maid could repack the trunk ready to go down in the morning.
She had not slept the previous night; she might be tired enough to sleep once she was in bed in the darkness.
She had done what was needed to save her sisters. He had done what he must to protect his sister and his own reputation.
So, such is honour. She shivered as she stood at the window. I hope it does not destroy us both.