Chapter 8
It is a truth universally acknowledged that household gossip always travels the quickest through the mouths of the servants. Without her legs at her disposal, Anne had long relied on Mrs. Jenkinson to be her eyes and ears as to what went on in and around Rosings Park.
“You won’t believe what has happened this morning!” Jenkinson told her once they were in the park for Anne’s daily constitutional.
Anne guessed it to do with the developments of the previous night.
A footman passing near Lady Catherine’s study during the party overheard an argument from within and gathered enough to discern that Darcy had attempted to call off his engagement, but Lady Catherine would not hear of it.
Her Ladyship then employed Mr. Collins to attempt to trick Miss Bennet into returning to Hertfordshire on the premise of her father being ill, but his ruse was discovered.
The Hunsford maid had whispered the news of all this to the Rosings kitchen maid when the latter delivered a present of buttermilk from Her Ladyship early that morning, and it had traveled up the ranks to Anne’s ears by way of the maid who tended her fires in the morning.
Lady Catherine couldn’t have taken it well to learn that her scheme had failed.
Anne did not have to wait to hear what Lady Catherine’s response had been.
“Her Ladyship is no longer welcome at the parsonage,” Jenkinson said with glee. “Mrs. Collins threw her out after she violently attacked Miss Bennet!”
Anne looked up at her companion in shock. “Goodness, is she all right?”
“Not to worry, Miss Bennet is made of stern stuff– or so Mrs. Perry tells me. I passed her in the lane when I was returning from Thompson’s Mercantile and she told me everything.
Lady Catherine attempted to bribe Miss Bennet with a large sum–four thousand pounds, if you can believe–if she would leave Kent and never speak to Mr. Darcy again.
When Miss Bennet refused, Lady Catherine’s patience wore thin and she began to verbally and physically abuse her until Mrs. Collins intervened. ”
Anne shook her head. “I never would have thought my mother capable of such cruelty, nor of lowering herself to such a level. Four-thousand pounds! Are you certain? That is no small dowry for a lady of Miss Bennet’s stature.
I applaud Miss Bennet’s integrity for refusing it.
A lesser person might have capitulated to the temptation under such an offer. ”
Jenkinson nodded. “Either her pride is very great, or her love for Mr. Darcy is such that she is willing to throw off any immediate pecuniary advantage and pin all her hopes on marrying him, in spite of it all.”
Anne’s eyes widened. “What do you know of her love for my cousin Darcy?” She had said nothing to her companion of her suspicions, or of the broken engagement between Darcy and Miss Bennet.
Although they were alone on the garden path, Jenkinson leaned closer. “I saw them together in the garden last night, under the folly.” She motioned to the large rotunda that was the centerpiece of the garden display. “They were engaged in a passionate embrace.”
Anne gasped, a playful smile crossing her face. “Jenkinson, you fiend! Shame on you for spying on them.”
Jenkinson shrugged. “I did not intend to intrude on their interlude. I came to scope out a place for you to watch the fireworks display and happened to bear witness to their confession. Do not fret; I did not make myself known to them. Unfortunately, I was not the only one in the garden. I caught Collins in the shrubbery. He was purposely spying on them, no doubt on Her Ladyship’s orders, the toad! ”
“He so faithfully does her bidding,” Anne grumbled. “He courts her favor in the hopes she will give him Garbutt’s living when the man croaks.”
“Which could be any day now, from the looks of things,” Jenkinson put in. “I saw how much he coughed at dinner and luncheon the other day. Is he not living on borrowed time? The man must be a hundred and four!”
Anne laughed. “No doubt Toadface will swoop in on the living before the man is cold in his grave, if Mother will permit him. It is in her gift.”
“Surely there must be some other worthless fellow she could give it to,” Jenkinson said with an air of disgust. “Are we to have the same fat sack preside over both our local parishes?”
Anne gave a wry grimace. “We can hope that Mr. Collins hires an able curate to preach at Hunsford and keeps himself at Westerham. I already know he covets the parsonage there, so I can take comfort in the notion that he would no longer be our neighbor if he succeeds.”
Their discussion was interrupted by a tall figure striding across the lawn towards them.
“Cousin Darcy,” Anne greeted, extending her hand towards him.
Darcy bowed his head slightly upon reaching them. “Cousin Anne, I hope I might have a few moments to speak with you alone. Mrs. Jenkinson will not mind if I steal you from her for the remainder of your constitutional.”
“Certainly not,” Mrs. Jenkinson said, stepping back and allowing him to take over pushing Anne’s bath chair. She made her way towards the house as Darcy and Anne continued further up the path.
Darcy’s tone was serious as he began. “I have something to say, which may be difficult to hear. You are aware, I am certain, that my feelings for you extend no more than that platonic regard of a familial nature, which I have always held for you.
“I had intended to do my duty and uphold the promise I had made to wed you and care for you all your life. However, I find that my heart is compelled elsewhere. I know I have no right to ask it, but I beg you to release me from our betrothal and I–”
Anne could hold it in no more, the sheer joy welling up in her threatening to burst forth most inappropriately in laughter. She managed to contain herself enough to interrupt him. “Say no more, please! I do not wish for this union any more than you do, and am quite happy to release you from it.
“Also, I am aware of your feelings for this other.
Your interest in her has not gone unnoticed by me, nor am I unaware of your prior engagement to her.
I know that you spoke to my mother and that she has threatened to sue you for breach of contract if you do not follow through with marrying me, but please do not fear on that account; she has no real power there.
“My reputation would be in greater tatters if she were to sue; as it is, people would hardly suppose you to take advantage of me in my present condition.” She gestured to her useless legs to make her point.
“I feel you could easily cry off, stating the claim that you fear I may be unable to provide you with the necessary heir to your estate and could do so with little stain on either of our reputations.”
Darcy sucked in a breath. “Your reputation, dear cousin, is something I have considered. And while you may so easily dismiss it, I do fear for your sake that there will be some talk, given how public our engagement has been made, and with the wedding fast approaching, people may wonder why I chose to wait so long to cry off—or why I agreed to enter the betrothal to begin with. I would not wish your honor to be called into question.”
“Then perhaps you might provide them with a greater scandal,” Anne said without blinking. “Marry your Miss Bennet, and do so hastily. Make me your jilted bride. People will look to me in sympathy for it, but you will weather the scandal, I am sure.”
Darcy repeated her statement, mulling it over in his mind. “Make you my jilted bride. Yes…Thank you, Cousin Anne.” A broad smile crossed his face. “You have solved my predicament of what to do.”
Anne grinned like a Cheshire cat. Her mother would be enraged, but she would have no recourse if Darcy and his lady-love eloped.