Chapter 8 #2
Elizabeth scrutinised the lady in return, amused that she perfectly fitted the image created in her mind by Mr Collins and Mr Gardiner.
The reason for the lady’s hasty and obviously angry appearance was evident, albeit hardly believable, and Elizabeth anticipated a rude confrontation; her spirits immediately rose to the occasion, and the pounding headache all but disappeared.
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Catherine, although I am at a loss as to the reason for the trouble you took to call on me. In regard to a private conference, we must ask Mrs Gardiner’s approval.”
“Well?” Lady Catherine pointed her chin in her host’s direction, and Mrs Gardiner seemed hesitant.
“Elizabeth? Would you agree to speak to Lady Catherine alone?”
“Of course, Aunt. How could I refuse Mr Collins’s noble patroness? It is quite a privilege.”
Lady Catherine looked more pleased than offended by the response, causing Elizabeth to smile.
“Elizabeth, you may escort Lady Catherine to the library. I shall send the children upstairs to the nursery and then come and join you.”
Keeping her smile, Elizabeth invited Lady Catherine to follow her and closed the library door behind them. The lady refused to remove her coat, sit, or accept any offered refreshments.
“I have no time for pleasantries, Miss Bennet. This is not a social call. Surely you cannot pretend to be ignorant of the reason for my journey hither.”
“It is not my habit to pretend. I just speak my mind, Lady Catherine. I do suspect why I have the honour of seeing you here, but I fail to see the purpose of this impromptu visit.”
“Miss Bennet, I should warn you that I am not to be trifled with. A report of a most alarming and appalling nature was brought to my attention and, while at first it seemed a horrible farce, I fear it might be true! The purpose of this conversation is to demand that you free my nephew from the cunning trap he has fallen into, enticed by your arts and allurements. I assume your uncle, who has deceived my nephew into trusting him for years now and influenced many of his decisions, is no stranger to this outrageous scheme!”
Elizabeth remained calm, keeping her smile.
“Although your ladyship’s statement is rather ambiguous, I shall guess that you are displeased with Mr Darcy’s proposal and our engagement.”
“Displeased? I am outraged! Appalled, as anybody who hears such monstrous news would be! Engaged? When? How? My nephew — and anybody else! — has never made any mention of you! How was he persuaded to propose to you?” The lady’s voice grew louder and angrier, but Elizabeth remained composed.
“Miss Bennet, sincerity and frankness are the strongest and most famed traits of my character, and this is how you will find me in such a moment, when I make my sentiments known to you. There cannot be any reasonable reason for such a hasty and unforeseen engagement. You must have done something, forced him somehow, perhaps compromised his reputation in some way and induced him to propose to you. Are you with child?”
Stunned, Elizabeth flushed with affront and consternation. “Excuse me? How dare you insult me when you know nothing of your nephew’s plans and actions? I realise I made a mistake agreeing to this ridiculous conversation. Any further discussions you should have with your nephew.”
“This is not to be borne! Miss Bennet, I insist on you telling me what happened? When did you meet him? When did he make you an offer of marriage?”
“Did your reports not contain such details? Was your source so unreliable?”
“Do not be impertinent, Miss Bennet! I have every reason to act as I do since I am nearly his closest relative and he is already engaged to my daughter! He could not have proposed to you if he retained the use of his reason!”
“He is engaged to your daughter? Indeed. Then you assert Mr Darcy is nothing but a dishonourable rascal who proposed to another woman while betrothed to his cousin? This is a serious fault of character indeed,” Elizabeth replied with sarcasm.
“You are nothing but an insolent country nobody, Miss Bennet! You must know — your uncle must have informed you! — that their engagement is of a peculiar nature! They have been destined for each other since they were in their cradles, and their union was my greatest desire as well as his mother’s.”
“I anticipate discussing this matter with Mr Darcy himself, Lady Catherine, and I shall request he explain your accusations. I wonder how pleased he will be when he finds out about your intervention.”
“I do not accuse him — I accuse you! I am sure a moment of infatuation or some unscrupulous scheme has made him forget what he owes to himself and his family. You have probably drawn him in.”
“If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it,” Elizabeth responded, still smiling.
“In truth, Lady Catherine, do you insist on continuing this ridiculous argument? You must know we cannot reach an agreement. Mr Darcy proposed to me and — I am sure he will confirm this — he insisted and persuaded me for a few days before I accepted. I dare say Mr Darcy’s life would be greatly affected — perhaps ruined — if I change my mind and refuse to marry him. You should be grateful to me, really.”
Lady Catherine turned red, her eyes widened, and she almost suffocated with rage.
“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language, and I shall not allow you to spread lies about my nephew! I am entitled to protect him and to know all his concerns. You are just an insolent, arrogant girl of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unconnected to our family! I heard your mother is dead, so your lack of education and character is no surprise. But I did not expect you to be lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy!”
Elizabeth was shocked by such a statement, and all her composure vanished. Anger was slowly overwhelming her, and she struggled to keep control of her voice.
“You can now have nothing further to say,” she answered resentfully.
“You have insulted me in every possible method, even stooping so low as to mention my late mother. This is something I cannot allow of anyone, especially an ill-mannered, shameless stranger who descended upon our house for some foolish reason of her own. I must ask you to leave or I shall!”
“Not so hasty! You must hear what I have to say! Your alliance will be a disgrace. Your name will never even be mentioned by any of us. You may have some money, but money does not give you any value! You will always be a nothing and a nobody to all honourable people in London.”
“Is that so, Lady Catherine? These are heavy misfortunes, indeed. However, for the moment, I am certainly the most important person to your nephew, one whom he would do anything to marry. This thought alone, together with your ridiculous rage, gives me such extraordinary sources of happiness that I have no cause to repine accepting him.”
At that, Lady Catherine choked; she coughed and fought for breath for several seconds, staring at Elizabeth in disbelief.
“Our conference has ended, Lady Catherine. For the rest, you should apply to your nephew directly.”
“Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished by your outrageous manners. But do not deceive yourself into believing you have won our confrontation!”
“I do not consider it a confrontation but an ill-judged application for a lost cause. Did you truly believe you would intimidate me into breaking an engagement and calling off a wedding simply to comply with your demands? You have widely mistaken my character if you did. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I can only guess. But for my part, this will be the first and last time you importune me in such a way.”
“Then you are resolved to have him?”
“Mr Darcy is resolved to have me, and I am resolved to act in a manner which will constitute my happiness. I accept advice and interference in my life from very few people, and your ladyship is certainly not one of them.”
“And this is your true opinion! Very well. I shall know how to act. I have enough influence to ruin your life and your uncle’s business, and I shall not hesitate to use it — you may depend upon it!”
“Adding threats to your previous rudeness makes your situation look only more desperate but does not affect me. I shall leave you now, Lady Catherine. A servant will see you out,” Elizabeth concluded, then quit the library.
With the door open, she heard Lady Catherine still speaking and her footsteps following her.
Mrs Gardiner made a timely appearance — she had likely listened to their quarrel through the door — and politely but decidedly bade Lady Catherine farewell.
Outside the house, the lady stood still for a moment, as if she had decided how to act, then entered the carriage and yelled something to the coachman.
“Lizzy? Are you well, dearest?” Mrs Gardiner called softly.
“Very well, thank you, Aunt. I just need a moment to rest, if you do not mind,” she replied, then proceeded upstairs.