Chapter 8
The next few days passed in reflections and speculations, in which Elizabeth found no satisfactory answers.
While she told her aunt — and kept repeating to herself — that a change of plans would be convenient to her, Elizabeth could not soothe her anxiety.
She was somehow relieved that Mr Darcy had no time to tell his friends and family of their engagement, so their marriage was still secret and uncertain.
She observed that Mr Gardiner was more thoughtful than usual and assumed it might be related to Mr Darcy’s sudden departure. She attempted to ask for more details, but Mr Gardiner mentioned privacy and kindly refused any further disclosure.
“Does Mr Darcy travel often, Uncle?”
“Yes, rather often. Besides Pemberley, he has three other smaller estates, which all require close supervision in order to improve their income. And he helps his aunt with her estate finances, too, so he has to travel to Rosings Park, in Kent, at the very least twice a year.”
“Rosings Park? Mr Darcy mentioned a cousin called Anne de Bourgh. I assume it is her mother’s — Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s — residence.”
“It is. How do you know her?”
“I have never met the lady, of course, but I have heard enough — too much! — about her. Papa’s cousin, Mr Collins, worships Lady Catherine and mentions her name in every other sentence.
This is entirely too diverting. Papa would be so pleased to hear of it.
Lady Catherine expected me to marry her clergyman — she encouraged him to come to Hertfordshire for that purpose.
Instead, she might find me married to her nephew.
Her response to the news — as well as Mr Collins’s! — will be something to remember.”
“I have only met Lady Catherine twice, but she is neither entertaining nor pleasant. She is a vindicative, vexatious, and demanding woman much too aware of her own importance. The late Mr Darcy struggled to tolerate her and avoided her as much as possible once Lady Anne died.”
“She is Lord Matlock’s sister, is she not?”
“Yes. And the late Lady Anne’s.”
“Do you know why Mr Darcy did not choose to marry his cousin Anne? At least she would not be a complete stranger.”
“I do know. Lady Catherine fought to impose her will on this matter for at least ten years. She proclaimed Lady Anne wished her son and Miss de Bourgh to marry and even consented to a peculiar engagement between the two cousins while they were in their cradles, but that was never confirmed, nor wanted, by the two.”
“Mr Darcy marrying me will certainly not be received well by his aunt.”
“Indeed not. But Mr Darcy does not need his aunt’s approval. As I said, he still hopes for a real marriage some time in the future, and his sisterly affection for Miss de Bourgh would prevent that.”
“Nothing seems easy with Mr Darcy and his family,” Elizabeth concluded.
“True, my dear. But that could easily apply to your family too.”
“That, I cannot deny, Uncle.”
Later in the evening, a letter arrived from Jane, which Elizabeth opened with eager anticipation. Despite the constant conflicts with her stepmother, Elizabeth still missed her family and her home, so any news was received with great pleasure.
After the usual affectionate greetings and assurances that the entire family was in good health, a few details about their neighbours, Meryton, and the militia regiment encamped there, Elizabeth finally reached the informative part.
Dearest Lizzy, besides your extraordinary engagement to Mr Darcy — which took all of us by utter surprise — another equally unexpected event has occurred.
Last Monday, Mr Collins returned to Longbourn without apparent reason.
However, three days ago we learnt that he is engaged to marry Charlotte Lucas!
Can you believe it? I knew they had met a few times at local gatherings, but I never suspected any partiality on either side.
I might sound selfish, but I confess I am relieved.
I was afraid that, after your rejection, Mama would encourage him to court me.
However, Sir William’s title seemed more attractive to Mr Collins and induced him to propose.
I fear Charlotte is not in love, nor does she hold him in any particular affection — how could she, since she hardly knows him?
But she seems content and told me repeatedly that she greatly anticipates having her own house.
Mama was vexed, and her response was rather unkind, as she insisted on reminding everyone — including Mr Collins!
— that you will marry someone much better.
I fear Mr Collins and the Lucases were all offended, but you know Mama — she usually says what she thinks, sometimes even before she thinks, without much consideration for the feelings of others.
Fortunately, I met Charlotte yesterday, and she was as kind to me as usual, so I apologised on Mama’s behalf and wished her all the best.
There was more in the letter, but that part affected Elizabeth greatly; Charlotte Lucas had been her reliable and wise friend since childhood, and although Charlotte lacked fortune as much as Elizabeth’s sisters, she had other qualities to be admired.
Undoubtedly, Mr Collins was not Charlotte’s equal and was neither rich, nor handsome, nor witty; he had nothing, in short, to recommend him.
He could offer Charlotte little but the security of a reasonably comfortable future, and yet, she had accepted him, even though he was almost a stranger to her and she knew he had first proposed to Elizabeth. She resolved to write to Charlotte.
After the first burst of indignation, though, Elizabeth’s reflections began to view the match from a different perspective.
She had no right to judge Charlotte, since she had done something similar; and, unlike Charlotte, she had not even been forced to accept a marriage of convenience, as she had enough money to live a desirable life on her own.
While Mr Darcy could not compare to Mr Collins in any way, the two situations were not that different: both she and Charlotte had agreed to marry a stranger for what could be perceived as questionable reasons.
While doubts began to overwhelm her again, Elizabeth picked up a pen to reply to Jane, asking her to convey to Charlotte her congratulations and best wishes, then put the letter aside.
New reasons for concern arose in her mind, as her stepmother had evidently disregarded any request for privacy about her marriage.
She became angry with her father for revealing the news, even though she had insisted upon secrecy.
Old resentment took hold of her anew. This was how her father had acted his entire life: well aware of his second wife’s faults and limitations, knowing he could hardly trust her with any important matters, he never censured her, never forbade her anything, and continued to share all sorts of details, which Mrs Bennet used in the worst possible way.
He sacrificed everything and everyone for his own contentment and peace.
Or, as before, he had just been negligent, and Mrs Bennet had either eavesdropped or brazenly searched through his correspondence.
Heavyhearted, Elizabeth had further proof that she had made the right decision to leave Longbourn.
If Mr Darcy returned on time and the wedding took place, the damage caused by the indiscretion would only be moderate.
But if his absence were prolonged and the wedding postponed or cancelled, the report about it would certainly spread throughout Hertfordshire and probably across half of London, placing her and Mr Darcy in the middle of a scandal.
The entire day and night, Elizabeth found little peace; the more she pondered upon the situation, the more reasons for concern she discovered — all adding to those unassuaged anxieties that had already weighed on her heart and her mind since she had accepted the contract.
***
The next morning, Elizabeth awoke with a headache.
The wedding was now fast approaching. By any calculation, Mr Darcy could not possibly travel to the North and return on time, regardless of his hopeful prediction.
The ceremony had to be either postponed or cancelled. She could not see any other choice.
Mr Gardiner went to his office early in the morning, and Mrs Gardiner was busy with the housekeeper, so Elizabeth remained in charge of her cousins.
Around noon, the sound of raised voices from the front entrance captured their attention, and the children immediately ran to see who it was.
Elizabeth followed them and found Mrs Gardiner welcoming a lady of middle years, elegantly dressed, wearing an air of utter superiority to match her tall figure.
“I am Mrs Gardiner, the mistress of this house. How may I help you, ma’am?”
“I am here to speak to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I was informed she is some sort of relative of yours. The daughter of a certain Mr Bennet from a place called Longbourn, in Hertfordshire.”
“Your information is accurate. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is my husband’s niece, and she is a guest in our house. May I ask the nature of your interest since you are obviously not acquainted with her or with us? Perhaps an introduction is in order since I do not know who you are.”
“I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I am here for the benefit of my nephew Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. I have come to settle an urgent matter that involves Miss Elizabeth Bennet!”
Elizabeth took a step forwards, while Mrs Gardiner glanced at her, clearly disconcerted. The children were still present and curious.
“I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” she said composedly.
Lady Catherine studied her from head to toe with narrow eyes and a grim countenance, saying coldly, “So you are. Miss Bennet, I request an immediate and private conference with you. Is there a secluded room in this house where children are not allowed?”