Chapter 1.21
The ‘lady’ entered the room with a most ungracious air, followed by a disconcerted Mrs Hamilton and a worried Miles, so worried that he did not even notice that he had entered Georgiana’s room uninvited.
The guest cast a disdainful glance at Elizabeth and proceeded to the bed with a slight inclination of her head, sitting down without saying a word.
Struggling to speak, Georgiana managed to whisper, “Lady Catherine, what an unexpected surprise! We did not know you were in town. William departed for Kent this morning to visit you.”
“Really? How considerate of him to visit me. I wonder what his reason might have been. Perhaps it was to explain the fact that he has put himself and our family in a most dishonourable situation!”
The girl stared at her in shocked silence, her face white, incapable of any reply.
After a moment of silence, Lady Catherine stiffly addressed her niece.
“I see you are still in bed, though you do not seem ill anymore. And that lady sitting there, I suppose, is Miss Elizabeth Bennet? May I inquire what she is doing here? The servants informed me that she is staying in the house. Is this true?”
“Yes, Aunt, this is Miss Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is my aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Elizabeth is keeping me company while William is out of town.”
“It is an honour to meet you, Lady Catherine.” Elizabeth tried to sound as respectful and warmly polite as possible in order to diffuse the tension that was causing Georgiana such discomfort.
“Oh, I can hardly believe that you understand the notion of honour, Miss Bennet. I am sure you are merely surprised by my coming and do not know how to defend yourself.”
The direct attack took Elizabeth by complete surprise. “Lady Catherine, I must confess that I do not understand your meaning.”
“Do not try to fool me, young lady. You can be at no loss to understand the reason for my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience—if you possess either of these—must tell you why I have come. Or perhaps you entertained some daft hope that I would remain silent and allow you to trap my nephew into a dishonourable marriage.”
Elizabeth stared at her in astonishment, hardly able to believe her words or the tone in which they were voiced. She forced herself to remain calm, though her spirit and temper demanded a fierce reply to such an attack.
“Lady Catherine, I repeat that I do not understand your meaning about defending myself, for I do not know myself to be culpable of anything. As to your ladyship’s reason for paying this visit, I can easily guess its nature. Evidently, your ladyship is displeased with my engagement to Mr Darcy.”
“Displeased? When I heard the rumour two days ago, I thought it to be only the false report of a most alarming nature, but the situation now seems far more serious. I see you are already settled in his house and—no doubt—in his bed. Are you with child? Is that how you forced Darcy to marry you?”
As earnestly as Elizabeth tried to keep her composure, Lady Catherine’s last words made her face colour profusely, and the offence bestowed upon her left her breathless with indignation. She lifted her chin and cast a fierce gaze at her opponent.
“Lady Catherine, I shall not dignify that ludicrous accusation with an answer nor any other consideration. I suggest we continue this conversation outside of Georgiana’s room. She is not fully recovered, and I do not think this kind of talk is proper for her.”
“Miss Bennet,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “my character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and at such a moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. My niece must hear what I have to say to understand your scandalous entrapment and her brother’s inexcusable weakness!
Your arts and allurements drew him into this and have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. ”
As Elizabeth attempted to leave the room, Lady Catherine followed her, continuing even louder, her anger growing to the point that she could not maintain control of her own words.
“Let Georgiana know and be ashamed that her brother is no better than her father! He was equally weak and incapable of controlling his lust and carnal desires! Anne never would have died if her husband had given her the consideration of leaving her alone! He knew another pregnancy would be fatal for her; still he imposed himself upon her to satisfy his wanton desires. He murdered her for his own pleasures and for the selfish desire to have another child. And Darcy is even worse. He has lost his reason in a moment of infatuation and brought his mistress near his own sister.”
“Lady Catherine! I cannot imagine that your nephew would approve of your statements, but I shall certainly not tolerate further insults. And I shall not allow you to distress Georgiana a moment longer! Miles, show Lady Catherine to the drawing room immediately. Mrs Annesley, please see to Georgiana until I return.”
She saw Mrs Hamilton’s approving nod. She was the mistress of the house, and she was acting accordingly.
All the way to the drawing room, Lady Catherine loudly voiced her disapproval, but Elizabeth paid her no heed.
Feeling herself in complete control of the situation and maintaining a calm demeanour in the face of the elder lady’s wild rage, Elizabeth asked Mrs Hamilton to send a maid with refreshments as she continued her conversation with Lady Catherine.
“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such treatment and such language. I am almost the nearest relation Darcy has in the world and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”
“Is your ladyship complaining about my language? Was it I who offended everyone present? Was it I who offended your ladyship in any way? And as for being entitled to know Mr Darcy’s dearest concerns, if you had delayed this…
this visit only one day, you would have been in a position to ask him about each and every one of your concerns.
As it is, you have no other choice than to wait for his return if that is your wish. ”
“This is not to be borne! Miss Bennet, you ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. I insist on being satisfied. I know that it would be impossible for my nephew willingly to make the decision to marry you without some strong inducement. Has Darcy any reason to make you an offer of marriage?”
“He must have a very strong reason! Your ladyship has just declared otherwise to be impossible.”
“And can you declare that there is no foundation for suspecting something dishonest has occurred between you? Have you not been in his house many times? Have you not attempted to persuade him since he was in Hertfordshire? Did you not spend time alone with him in the wildwood, even going so far as to be caught in the rain? How can you defend yourself in this?”
“I have no intention of defending myself in anything, as neither my behaviour nor Mr Darcy’s requires any defence.
I was invited several times to Mr Darcy’s house for the purpose of visiting Georgiana and keeping her company as I am doing today, but your ladyship seems determined to find only dishonour and failure in other people’s manners and intentions. ”
“Well, then it is for the best. This match to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place though you believe yourself comfortably settled in the position of mistress of the house. Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Their union was planned while they were in their cradles; it was the favourite wish of his mother and me. And now, is a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance, and wholly unallied to the family to prevent it? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy?”
“Lady Catherine, might I suggest that you not raise the subject of propriety and delicacy at this moment?”
She could not help feeling satisfied at the astonished and offended expression on Lady Catherine’s face.
“I am well informed of your ladyship’s wishes as well as Mr Darcy’s opposition to them.
He confessed to me that he has the highest esteem for his cousin but never intended making her an offer of marriage.
The truth is that Mr Darcy is neither by honour nor by inclination bound to his cousin.
He made another choice, and his choice was in my favour. ”
“His choice was forced and is not acceptable! You cannot expect to be noticed by his family or friends if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us. Do not deceive yourself into believing that I shall ever back down. I shall not be dissuaded from my purpose. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.”
“That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable, but it will have no effect on me. I am afraid I am at a loss to understand what your ladyship’s real purpose is.”
“My purpose is to have this engagement broken and this marriage forgotten forever. And if you were sensible of your own good, and as honourable as you claim to be, if there is indeed no reason to force this alliance, you would see the wisdom of my demand.”
“I fail to see any kind of wisdom in your demand, Lady Catherine, and I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject.”
“Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous intended elopement.
And still you are selfishly resolved to have him and determined to ruin him in the face of all his friends, and make him contemptible to the world by forcing him to become the brother of such a girl and of the son of his father’s steward! ”