Chapter 5 #2
“Shall we ask your cousin the reason for this?” Elizabeth enquired, still looking at Colonel Fitzwilliam. “How is it that a man of sense and education, one who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?”
“I can answer your question without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble,” Fitzwilliam replied with a grin.
“I do not have the talent which many people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done,” Darcy explained.
To Elizabeth, it sounded like an attempt to justify bad behaviour so she was not willing to let him off so lightly.
“My fingers do not move over the keyboard in the masterly manner which I see so many do when they exhibit. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault. It is me who has not taken the time and trouble of practising.”
“You have a point,” Darcy conceded. “You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”
Lady Catherine, who evidently did not like not being the centre of attention, interrupted them. “Of what are you talking?” she called out rudely.
Elizabeth began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, standing near her Darcy nephew.
“Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s.
Anne would have been a delightful performer had her health allowed her to learn. ” Then she returned to her ‘throne’.
As Miss de Bourgh had not been seen, other than briefly that first time, Elizabeth was disappointed she could not see Mr Darcy with his cousin to try and get an inkling of what their marriage would be like. He certainly did not react with pleasure when his future mother-in-law praised her daughter.
Lady Catherine never stopped making nonsensical remarks about Elizabeth’s performance, mixing with them many equally inane instructions on execution and taste.
Elizabeth gave the impression of listening with forbearance and civility.
Thanks to Colonel Fitzwilliam requesting she continue to play, Elizabeth kept providing music until her Ladyship’s carriage was ready to return those residing there to the parsonage.
As the coach trundled towards the parsonage, Elizabeth could not imagine what Mr Darcy had been about.
For his part, Darcy was charmed by the banter he had shared with Miss Elizabeth. Notwithstanding his aunt’s rudeness, it had all gone very well. He looked forward to the morrow when he could walk with her again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Elizabeth walked out on Monday morning, much to her distaste, Mr Darcy was waiting for her in almost the same spot as he had the previous time.
It was a repeat of what had occurred that morning.
They exchanged greetings, and after requesting permission to walk with her, he offered Elizabeth his arm.
As much as she wanted to refuse his entreaty, politeness would not allow her to do so.
This time she did not initiate conversation.
If the insufferable man wanted silence, then that was what they would have.
For Darcy, it was thrilling being able to walk in companionable silence.
Then he remembered he had information to impart.
“Miss Bennet, my cousin’s parents, and possibly his brother should arrive later today.
It is possible I will be distracted and not able to walk while they are here,” he reported.
What was happening with Anne was family business so Darcy said nothing about it.
Knowing that Colonel Fitzwilliam’s parents were an earl and a countess, and his brother, a viscount, Elizabeth supposed they were more like Mr Darcy than the colonel which explained why those at Rosings Park would not be seen until the nobles left.
Their coming was a boon for Elizabeth if it meant that Mr Darcy would no longer be importuning her when she walked.
Darcy walked with Miss Elizabeth until they were once again in sight of the parsonage.
As he strode back towards Rosings Park’s manor house, Darcy lamented his inability to be articulate in Miss Elizabeth’s company.
He had asked how her family was multiple times.
Before he honoured her with a proposal, he needed to rehearse his words.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A little after eleven on Monday morning an elegant coach with a coat of arms on the doors came to a halt outside the Gardiners’ house. As a note had arrived earlier that morning to announce their coming, Edward Gardiner was home as well.
Jane recognised the man, Mr Carrington, and his two younger sisters she had met in the park. She assumed the older, fashionable couple were the parents.
“Gardiner, will you introduce your niece to us?” Paul Carrington requested.
“Jane, I know you met Viscount Hadlock, and Ladies Emily and Priscilla in Hyde Park. I present to you their parents, Lord Paul and Lady Edith Carrington, the Earl and Countess of Holder. “My Lord, my Ladies, my eldest niece, Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
Hadlock was pleased. Other than to arch an eyebrow when they were introduced with their titles, Miss Bennet did not react. There was no fawning, only, he suspected, a desire on her part to take him to task for his obfuscation.
“Please pardon the subterfuge, Miss Bennet,” Hadlock said contritely, “there are times when I just want to be seen as myself and not my title. I hope you understand.”
“It is not quite the same, but as I am more often than not judged based on my looks and not who I am, I do understand your motivation. There was no harm done; hence, it is easy to forgive you,” Jane replied.
“With my parents and your relatives present, I repeat that I stand ready to do what I must after I technically compromised you,” Hadlock reiterated.
“Lord Hadlock, I am not interested in marrying because of a nonsensical societal rule. When I marry it will be for respect, love, and felicity, nothing else,” Jane refused.
Lord and Lady Holder looked at one another.
Their son had told them of Miss Bennet’s refusal when she believed him to be Mr Carrington.
They were greatly impressed that now she knew of his title, Miss Bennet’s answer had been much as Jamey had reported it had been in the park.
If Jamey chose to pursue Miss Bennet, they would have no objections.
Before the Carringtons departed, Hadlock requested permission to call on Miss Bennet. She granted his request.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A little later Monday morning, after they had broken their fasts, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy called at the parsonage. Like the first time, the colonel, no longer sporting his regimentals, was all affability while his cousin, after an initial greeting sat staring at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth could not understand what Mr Darcy’s purpose in calling was. Surely he wanted to be as far away from her as she wanted to be from him?
After a half hour when the two men left, Elizabeth felt great relief. She hoped it would be the last time Mr Darcy darkened the parsonage’s door. He was beginning to grate on her nerves.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Lord Reggie and Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, along with their eldest son, Lord Hilldale arrived at Rosings Park in the early afternoon. They had the butler show them directly to the drawing room.
The last people Lady Catherine expected, or wanted, to see, had just walked into her drawing room.
Why were they here? They had no way of knowing about Anne.
She had made sure that no one was allowed near her daughter’s chambers, and all post was brought to her before being posted. Nothing had been sent to her brother.
“Reggie, Elaine, and Andrew, what brings you to my estate unannounced,” Lady Catherine blustered.
“Stop, Catty. We know all about Anne. I brought my physician with me, and he is examining Anne as we speak. Did you truly think, if you hid the truth from us, you would be able to keep an estate which is not yours by law?” Matlock demanded.
“I know not of what you speak.” Lady Catherine was confident the footman would not allow the doctor near Anne.
“Aunt Catherine, I saw Anne on Saturday and sent an express to my parents. William has also seen her, and the footman will not stop the physician, so your plan to hide Anne’s deteriorating health has failed,” Fitzwilliam revealed as he and William entered the drawing room.
“How dare you betray me in this fashion?” Lady Catherine shrieked. “This is the payment I receive for the notice I have shown you?”
“Enough!” Matlock boomed. “Richard, has there been an improvement since you changed Anne’s diet?
” He turned to his sister whose face had turned the colour of puce.
“Catty, holding your breath like you did when you were a girl will not change anything. You should have been the one to make the changes Richard did.”
“Aye, Father, she has gained a little more strength,” Fitzwilliam replied.
Lady Catherine shrank back as the fight went out of her. “I thought that I could make Anne get better by the force of my will, and if I did not see her like that, all would be well.”
“This is not easy. It is not right for a parent to lose a child,” Matlock said sympathetically.
“We will do whatever we are able to do, and if the inevitable comes to pass, we will all face it together. I know you are worried about the entail. When it is time to worry about that, then, together, we will do so.”
For the first time in many years, Lady Catherine de Bourgh cried.