Chapter Fourteen
It didn’t surprise Darcy when his Aunt Catherine sent an express saying she required both accommodations at Netherfield Park and a reply sent immediately confirming them.
Darcy endeavored to phrase this demand more politely, even though he knew the Bingleys would agree regardless of the level of tact.
It did surprise him that, when his aunt arrived, she demanded he come out and join her in going to Goldfinch Cottage, rather than coming in to refresh, but he nonetheless obeyed.
He went even though he had no notion if any of the Bennets would be home because, with Lady Catherine, the merits of an idea had little influence over how steadfast she would remain once she settled on one.
Obedience, rather than discussion, was always simpler, and to be employed in cases where the outcome didn’t truly matter.
He climbed into the carriage and settled into the backward facing seat before dipping his head in greeting. “Aunt Catherine. You look well.”
“As well as can be expected, harrying about the countryside searching for this Miss Bennet.” She used the lion head topping her cane to rap on the ceiling, signaling to the driver to move.
“Your man knows where to go?”
“You included Miss Bennet’s directions in your letter.”
Darcy supposed he had. He’d written in terrible haste, directly following the search of Miss Bingley’s room, his thoughts full of worry for Elizabeth rather than on writing.
“This seems a worthy enough estate,” Lady Catherine observed as they headed down Netherfield’s drive. “Am I to be subjected to Miss Bingley while residing there?”
“Miss Bingley was removed to London immediately following the wedding breakfast.”
“London? Is that not a reward for her sort?”
Darcy wondered to which sort his aunt referred, but suspected asking would only lead to argument. “She will not be permitted to leave the Hursts’ townhome for at least a month and will receive no callers.”
“Harrumph.”
“She seemed quite distraught over the idea.”
“Good.” Lady Catherine studied him, her gaze oddly unnerving. “It is odd to me that Miss Bingley should act with such pointless malice.”
“It is,” Darcy agreed, for he felt the same. Miss Bingley’s actions seemed somewhat mad, especially for a woman who normally endeavored to exceed the expected level of decorum, and to impress with her sophistication. “Miss Bingley dislikes Miss Bennet.”
“The dislike must be extreme for her to act as she did.” Lady Catherine continued to watch him.
“It also strikes me as odd that you remain in Netherfield when the Bingleys are newly wedded and must wish to reside alone for a time, and the remainder of the party you came out to the country with has returned to town.”
“I am aware of being a poor guest.” Darcy endeavored to keep his tone even. Lady Catherine always had much to say on the behavior of others. “I intend to remain only until this matter with Miss Bennet and the will is sorted.”
“I cannot see why it’s any of your responsibility or concern.”
Having no suitable reply to that, Darcy changed the conversation to talk of the Murphys and the work they were doing for Mr. Bennet, both at Goldfinch Cottage and in the homes of his tenants.
Lady Catherine, a far more proficient landlord than her brother the Earl or his heir, the Right Honorable Viscount Wilmington, could generally be distracted by such topics, so Darcy left out no detail.
That discussion continued until they reached Goldfinch Cottage and were shown into the small parlor where Elizabeth waited alone, much to Darcy’s relief and pleasure.
She stood when they entered, coming forward to greet his aunt and then permitting Lady Catherine to occupy the lone sofa.
His aunt sat, skirt a dark sea around her and hands resting atop the lion’s head on her cane, and studied Elizabeth.
Elizabeth offered tea and was refused, and she and Darcy settled into the two chairs by the crackling fireplace.
He couldn’t help but notice that a purple and green bruise wrapped the side of her left hand and to recall gently touching that hand when he examined it.
“I am sorry you find so few of us at home, Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth said.
“My mother and youngest two sisters took the carriage to make calls, my sister Mary went to Lucas Lodge to make use of their pianoforte, and my father rode out to view some carpentry work being done in the tenant cottages.” She cast Darcy a smile. “Mr. Darcy kindly lent us his men.”
“Yes.” Lady Catherine gave Darcy another of her disconcerting, assessing looks. “How kind of my nephew.”
“I apologize as well for the confusion you’ve endured and for not reaching out to you sooner. Mr. Collins didn’t inform anyone that he’d posted one of the wills. We assumed both copies burned in the fire.”
Lady Catherine waved that aside. “I had wondered why you would not answer my letters, but Darcy explained the rather odd situation. You should know that not only did Mr. Collins send me a copy of his will for safekeeping, he named me as executor. I have inspected the property Mr. Collins inherited from his father, who died a few months ago, apparently mourned by no one.”
Elizabeth blinked. “Property? I assumed Mr. Collins had left me a small sum of savings and his personal possessions.”
“I assure you, there is a property, but it’s of little use to you.
After his father’s death, Mr. Collins rented the house he inherited to a neighbor, who installed his son there.
I am negotiating selling the house and the adjoining land to them.
The neighbor has a valid three-year lease to both, which makes it difficult to sell to anyone else.
” Lady Catherine scowled. “They know as much and are unwilling to pay a reasonable price.”
Darcy watched Elizabeth digest this and hoped she wouldn’t feel anger.
By rights, his aunt should have consulted Elizabeth before beginning negotiations over selling what she’d inherited.
He could well imagine how he’d feel if someone sold a property out from under him, without his knowledge or consent.
Yet he supposed Lady Catherine’s decision was understandable, considering Elizabeth’s perceived lack of interest in the estate.
“Would the rent make keeping the property a better option?” Elizabeth asked.
Lady Catherine shook her head. “Mr. Collins did not negotiate well. If he had, I could sell the property to anyone, as the rent would make owning it worthwhile. Instead, the occupants are paying less than one could earn as income off the value of the property, if correctly invested, which is what I intend. You shall have the income from that investment only, as giving such a sum over to an unwedded young lady would be reprehensible.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth looked to Darcy.
As her inquiring expression seemed to invite it, he offered his opinion. “Assuming Mr. Collins negotiated that poorly, you are better off selling it to the renters if you can get a fair price. Waiting until the lease expires is an option, of course.”
“The property is also slightly over fifty miles from here,” Lady Catherine said. “Which would make it very difficult for you to manage, assuming you have the required skills.”
Elizabeth nodded, apparently taking no offense. “Thank you for handling this so well, especially in view of my lack of replies to you.”
“Certainly, I have and will continue to handle it well,” Lady Catherine said, sounding affronted.
“I admit I am not happy that I was the one who gave Mrs. Clegg the information about your inheriting, but I could hardly anticipate her actions. She wrote me about the picture. I responded by saying that you were the one to contact and that you could be reached by sending a letter to Mr. Darcy at Netherfield Park, who would forward it.” Lady Catherine went silent, leveling an expectant look on Elizabeth.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said readily. “It was impossible for you to predict the outcome with Mrs. Clegg.” She cast Darcy a bland look.
Lady Catherine peered at Elizabeth, and Darcy knew his aunt teetered on the edge of offense as she tried to decide on the impetus to Elizabeth’s uninformative expression.
Finally, Lady Catherine thumped the tip of her cane on the floor and said, “I would like to discuss how I may dispose of Mr. Collins’ personal property. ”
“Did he have much?” Elizabeth asked. “Is there anything that shouldn’t simply be given away to the members of his parish?
I have no desire for any keepsakes from him.
” She cast Darcy another look. “Mr. Darcy may have conveyed the information to you that I was not engaged to Mr. Collins and would not have accepted his offer of marriage.”
Lady Catherine raised ponderous eyebrows. “Are you suggesting that you renounce any claim on Mr. Collins’ estate? I advise against it.”
“Is there anyone other than Mrs. Clegg who might have a superior claim?” Elizabeth asked. “Does she have children, perhaps?”
“No. Mrs. Clegg is a widow. She had one child who died before his second birthday. Her husband’s family is paying her a small pension. She won’t starve, and Mr. Collins’ will specifically excludes her.”
Elizabeth looked down at her hand, cradled in her lap. “I don’t owe her anything then, particularly after her behavior to me.”
“As to other heirs, as far as my agent could determine, your father is the relative who would be next to inherit if Mrs. Clegg weren’t in the picture and there was no will,” Lady Catherine said.
“However, if you refuse the estate, the money won’t go to him.
It will go to me, since I am the contingent beneficiary, and I will not renounce my claim. ”
Elizabeth nodded, firmer now. “Then I will accept the estate.”