Chapter 1.21 #2
“Yes, I am. I am fully resolved to act in that manner which, in my own opinion, will constitute my happiness and Mr Darcy’s. And now, your ladyship can have nothing further to say. You have insulted me in every possible manner. I must beg to be excused; I must return to Georgiana.”
She rose as she spoke, and Lady Catherine also rose, following her.
“You refuse, then, to oblige me. But depend upon it: I shall carry my point. I still have influence in town. You will feel my anger and my disdain! And do not believe you can dismiss me. I shall not leave my nephew’s house! I shall return to my niece’s room if I desire to do so.”
“Lady Catherine! Mr Darcy has asked me to remain here while he is away and to act as mistress of this house! All the servants have been informed of my future position. The only will they will answer to is mine. Do not force me to ask the servants to show you out of the house!”
“You would not dare!”
“I most certainly would! I shall not allow you to disturb Georgiana any further! You may remain in the house and even demand a room. You are Mr Darcy’s close relative, and you are entitled to be well received in his house, but you will not be allowed to offend anyone.
It is your ladyship’s choice. Now, if you will excuse me… ”
Elizabeth tried to open the door, but Lady Catherine, suffocated by anger and revolting against such a manner of address, pulled the door open forcefully and left the room in a great hurry.
At that moment, Molly entered with refreshments and hot water for tea. Lady Catherine’s sudden appearance took her by surprise, as did the lady’s shoving her brusquely out of the way. The impact made Molly lose her grip on the tray and she dropped it, spilling the scalding hot water on herself.
“Clumsy girl! With such a future mistress, no wonder the servants cannot stand on their feet.”
Lady Catherine left the house angrier than she had ever been. Meanwhile, the pain of her unfortunate accident had made Molly faint, and Elizabeth hurried to her side, offering as much help as she could.
Only later, when Molly, with all her clothes quickly removed, had been put into bed and a note for the doctor had been sent, did Elizabeth return to Georgiana’s room.
She found her future sister in deep shock: her entire body trembled violently, her face was frighteningly pale, and her eyes stared blankly.
Neither Elizabeth nor Mrs Annesley managed to extract a coherent answer from her, not even an hour later when the family doctor arrived.
It took all of Elizabeth’s calm and diplomacy to explain to the doctor what had induced such a state in his patient, but she did not completely succeed.
With a reproachful expression on his face, he demanded that everyone leave the room so he could examine Miss Darcy properly and completely.
∞∞∞
Lady Matlock’s day had been very pleasant so far.
She was content that she had received favourable responses to every invitation to the ball and that everything was progressing to her liking.
She cast a quick glance at her husband, who was reading in his favourite armchair, his brows frowning in concentration.
The earl had not voiced another objection nor did she insist on changing his opinion regarding Darcy’s engagement.
She had no doubt that he would eventually come to see things her way. He always did.
Her pleasant day took an unfortunate turn only a few moments later when Lady Catherine de Bourgh—barely announced—entered the drawing room.
More than fifteen minutes had passed before Lady Catherine ended her tirade of disapproval towards Elizabeth Bennet’s despicable character and scandalous behaviour.
All this time, the earl’s eyes rested occasionally upon his wife’s face, reading her reactions, so he knew what to expect when his sister—her reprimand complete—waited for Lord and Lady Matlock to join her in disapproving Elizabeth and opposing the unthinkable marriage.
“So, Catherine,” said Lady Ellen with deceptive calm, “let me see whether I understand you correctly. You suddenly appeared at the door of Darcy’s house and hurried upstairs to express your opinion about Miss Elizabeth? And all of this you did while you were in Georgiana’s room?”
“Yes, I most certainly did, for it was there that I found the impertinent girl. She was ashamed, I suppose, because she demanded that we move downstairs so Georgiana could not hear us. I told her what I wanted to say; she could not doubt my opinion.”
“Catherine, how was Georgiana faring throughout this episode?”
“Georgiana? She was doing well enough, I suppose, though I could not understand why she was still in bed. But I had no time to inquire, and she was as silent as ever.”
“And where is Anne? Did she remain in Kent?”
“No, indeed. She is in the carriage.”
Lady Matlock favoured her sister-in-law with a stern, icy glare and then turned her eyes to the earl.
“Husband, I shall give orders that Anne be taken care of. She must be exhausted after spending so much time on the roads. I shall also ask that rooms be prepared for Anne and for Catherine, as well. I trust you will treat this situation with proper and fair consideration and act accordingly. As for myself, I have an urgent call to make.”
“Ellen, you cannot possibly leave without even expressing your opinion.” Lady Catherine looked most displeased at her sister-in-law’s calm demeanour.
A tense pause followed, and the earl knew his wife was searching for the proper words.
“Catherine, do not force me to give you my opinion! I shall only say that I am sorry your excellent father wasted so much money on your education with so little evident success. He should have given the money to the poor, and he would have been a hundred times better rewarded.”
Before Lady Catherine managed to understand fully the meaning of her words, Lady Matlock proceeded out of the room, fetching her housekeeper, giving her short and precise orders, and then calling for her carriage.
Only inside the carriage, alone, her face red with indignation, did she allow her rage to burst forth in whispered words, which she would never admit knowing, much less speaking.
When Lady Matlock reached Darcy House, she was prepared to find evidence of her sister-in-law’s presence, but the situation was worse than she could have imagined.
Mrs Hamilton welcomed her with obvious gratitude and informed her without delay that the doctor was with Georgiana and that Miss Elizabeth was waiting in the parlour.
As Lady Matlock demanded straight and honest answers, the housekeeper related to her everything she had witnessed.
Mrs Hamilton obviously struggled to relate the conversation between Mr Darcy’s intended and his aunt.
With her every sentence, Lady Matlock’s countenance darkened, and she frowned, almost damaging her perfect features.
“Thank you, Mrs Hamilton. Now I shall see my niece.”
Mrs Hamilton was about to remind her that Georgiana was undergoing the doctor’s examination and was not to be disturbed when she realised that Lady Matlock’s direction was not towards the stairs but the parlour. She was going to see her other niece: Elizabeth.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth’s hands were trembling so that she could not control them.
She felt a chill engulfing her whole body, and her head spun painfully.
She was not thinking of her own injury, her own offence, but of poor Molly and most of all Georgiana.
Helpless, powerless to undo what had happened, alone in a house she did not know well, pained by the grief suffered by the innocent girls, she could not fight her tears any longer.
She noticed Lady Matlock’s presence only when the lady gently stroked her hair. “Elizabeth?”
She tried to wipe her tears before lifting her eyes to face the visitor, but Lady Matlock sat beside her, stroking her hair.
“Elizabeth, do not worry, dear. I am here now, and I shall help you make everything right, but please do not cry anymore. I do not want to see you affected by the foolish words thrown at you by an uncivil woman. You are too bright for that.”
When she finally dared to meet Lady Matlock’s eyes, Elizabeth could see an encouraging smile and a tenderness that had not been there until that moment. She forced herself to smile back and to dry her tears.
“Lady Ellen, I am so grateful you are here! Do you know Georgiana is unwell? The doctor is with her now.”
“I know, dear; Mrs Hamilton informed me. And you? How are you feeling?”
“Oh, do not worry about me; I am well. I am only worried for Georgiana. I do not know what happened to her. Mrs Annesley said that at first she cried a lot. But when I returned to her, she was in a most disturbing state. She did not say a word, did not even seem to hear us. She was trembling as though she had a high fever, and she was so pale. How will she bear that after her long illness? She is so weak still… What can we do?”
“Elizabeth, calm yourself, please. Here, I shall pour us each a glass of wine, and then we shall talk until the doctor has finished his examination.”
Her words brought Elizabeth to her senses, and she instantly rose to her feet. “No, please, allow me to do it. I shall return in a moment.”
She returned with two glasses of wine and handed one to Lady Matlock who took it and then invited Elizabeth to sit near her.
“And now, while we are waiting, I would like to hear everything that happened here. Mrs Hamilton has already informed me about some of it, but I want to hear the whole story from you. And please, do not hesitate to give me all the details so I shall know what must be done.”
Warmed by the wine and encouraged by Lady Matlock’s kindness, Elizabeth gained enough courage to relate her entire conversation with Lady Catherine. They were still talking in low voices half an hour later when the doctor returned to give them a complete report.