CHAPTER 33 Calling on Mrs. Philips
They were shown into a small parlour where Mrs. Philips received them with no little amount of surprise.
“Mr. Darcy! Mr. Bingley! How good of you to call. Congratulations on your betrothal to my nieces, by the way. Please, come in and sit.”
“We are very happy to be here,” said Darcy, earning a look of approval from Bingley. “We are soon to be relatives, after all, and thought we would take the opportunity to know you better.” He then turned to Bingley with raised eyebrows.
“Yes, indeed,” said Bingley. “And, to that end, we would like to have you to Netherfield for dinner tonight. Just family, of course. The Bennets and…several of Darcy’s relatives.”
Mrs. Philips looked surprised and turned her attention to Darcy who said, “Yes…ah, my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. And my uncle and aunt, the Earl and Countess of Matlock…just to name a few…”
“Lady Catherine…and an earl and countess…” said Mrs. Philips, with wide eyes.
“Indeed,” said Darcy.
While Bingley said, “About seven, say? We shall, of course, send a carriage for you and your husband.”
“Why thank you, sir!” said Mrs. Philips.
“Mr. Philips and I shall be happy to attend. And I am certain Fanny shall be pleased to have some diversion as well, poor thing. It is just a family party, after all, and not some big social event, and therefore still in keeping with her mourning.” Mrs. Philips fairly bounced in her seat.
“You know, I have never been in the presence of an earl and countess before and shall be envied by all the neighbourhood - Mrs. Long…and the Gouldings. And especially the Lucases. You do not know how in awe Sir William is over such august personages. In fact, I’ve a mind to tell Lady Lucas of this dinner when she comes to call later. You do not mind if I do so, do you?”
“No, not at all,” said Darcy. “We shall, after all, soon be relatives.”
Mrs. Philips smiled dreamily. “So true, Mr. Darcy, so true.”
Not long after that, the gentlemen took their leave, but not before seeing Lady Lucas crossing the street and heading towards Mrs. Philips’ home.
Darcy smiled to himself and wished he could have been there to see her reaction when Mrs. Philips told her about the dinner she was to attend at Netherfield.
Doubtless, she would relate the event to her husband… and others in the neighbourhood.
He turned to Bingley and said, “Why do you not ride to Longbourn and tell Miss Bennet of our plans? I, in turn, shall call on Mr. Philips in his office and attempt to gather information about Wickham’s debts.”
Bingley frowned. “But can I not help in paying them off? It seems to me that I have had all the easy responsibilities in this matter. Besides, I have already spoken to Mr. Philips and we have almost finished collecting the required information. But I do insist on helping with the payments.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “Please do not make me have this conversation again. I was forced to argue with Elizabeth’s other uncle over it just yesterday and do not wish to do so with you. In fact, you must consider it as payment for the months of anguish through which I put you and Miss Bennet.”
“That was as much my fault as it was yours,” said Bingley skeptically. “But I shan’t argue with you over it as you seem determined to have your way. But allow me to call on Mr. Philips. I shall see you back at Longbourn afterwards.”
They parted ways and Darcy was soon back at Longbourn where he found Mr. Gardiner in the drawing room, seated among the ladies of the house. Finally allowing himself a little respite from all his tasks, he settled into an armchair across from Elizabeth and regarded her uncle.
“Mr. Darcy, I am happy to see you again, though I did not think it would be so soon…and under such circumstances. I received the note you were kind enough to send this morning and have come here to attend my brother’s funeral.”
At this Fanny Bennet began to weep quietly as Mr. Gardiner put his arm around her shoulder.
“Yes,” murmured Darcy, “things must not have been easy…for your family.” He turned to Mrs. Bennet. “You have my deepest sympathies, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with her lacy handkerchief. “It has been difficult, as you say. Especially now that no one will call on us.”
“And they will not even greet us when we pass them on the street,” said Kitty Bennet, now also becoming tearful.
“Not a very Christian attitude at all,” said Mary grimly.
“You are right, Miss Mary,” said Darcy. “But perhaps we can offer you a little…respite from these troubles. I spoke with Bingley earlier, and we thought it a good idea to have a quiet family dinner at Netherfield this evening. Just family, of course - both yours…and mine.”
*****
Elizabeth sat across from her betrothed and wondered which family members he was referring to. She was about to ask him about it when Mrs. Bennet forestalled her.
“Your family, Mr. Darcy? Who do you mean?”
“Well, my sister Georgiana, for one. And others…whom you met at Rosings.”
“Rosings!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “You mean the earl and countess? Lady Catherine?”
“Yes, at least…some of them. And of course Mr. and Mrs. Philips, whom we took the liberty of inviting.”
“So they are coming to Netherfield?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“I expect they will,” he replied, trusting that his family would fulfill his request once his letter reached them.
“Well then, thank you, Mr. Darcy. We shall be happy to see them again.”
“We never met them before,” said Kitty, pressing the last of her tears away and sharing a look with Mary. Elizabeth noticed that, since Lydia’s departure, her two sisters had become much closer.
“They shall be happy to make your acquaintance, Miss Catherine,” said Darcy.
“But, Brother,” said Mrs. Bennet, “as you have just arrived, will you not tell us a little more about Lydia? Has she become more sensible since this debacle? Is she at least regretful of her actions?”
Mr. Gardiner appeared troubled before saying, “I hope she has gained some sense since I departed. However, I saw none of it beforehand.”
“Oh, that selfish girl!” cried Mrs. Bennet who began to weep anew.
It was then that Bingley was shown into the room.
He was quickly introduced to Mr. Gardiner who took the opportunity to say, “Perhaps you young people would like to take a little air? I shall stay here and have a little tea with my sister.”
“So the earl and countess and Lady Catherine are all coming?” asked Elizabeth, when they strolled through Longbourn’s gardens half an hour later.
“I certainly hope so,” said Darcy. “I believe they will. And probably so will Richard, Anne, Diana and Georgie.”
“But the scandal of Lydia’s elopement?”
Darcy shrugged. “I believe their fear of scandal is far outweighed by their loyalty to family. And you and your family will now be theirs, so…”
“You wrote to them all this morning and invited them to come? You must have since you did not mention it earlier.”
“Yes, I did. For I did not wish to see you so downtrodden…and at such a difficult time.”
Elizabeth nodded, realising that he had performed yet another act of kindness for her. And she wished, more than ever, that she had more to offer him than just herself.
“What can I do for you, Darcy?” she asked finally. “I wish to do something for you as you have done for me. But I cannot think of anything.”
He frowned. “It is not a matter of checks and balances, Elizabeth. You should not even think of it.
“And you would not, if the shoe were on the other foot?”
“Well…perhaps. But I am the man, after all.”
“And that has nothing to do with it!” cried Elizabeth. “Now, tell me, what can I do for you?”
He gave her a small smile. “You could kiss me.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “That does not count, for I enjoyed it as well.”
Now he pulled her in and kissed her more deeply. Eventually he sighed as they began to walk again. “You know, we cannot marry for another six months.”
“Yes…I know.”
“And I must return to Pemberley, in the not too distant future.”
“Oh…” she said forlornly, wishing that he did not have to go, but refraining from saying so. For if she did, he might just stay, and end up jeopardising the whole crop system of Pemberley.
“It will be hard to leave you,” he said.
“I shall miss you, but…I suppose we have no choice. Jane is fortunate that her betrothed will only be three miles away.”
“Whereas we shall be a hundred and fifty miles apart,” he said. Then added, “I shall also have to return to London to witness Lydia’s wedding.”
“Oh, must you?”
“I am afraid I must, for I wish to leave nothing to chance.”
Elizabeth nodded, finding that there was yet another thing to admire about Darcy - that he not only took everything upon himself, but was also fastidious in seeing that it was carried out properly and completely. “When do you think you shall leave for Pemberley?”
“I should have been there by now but…Bingley and I wished to buy your mother a house in the area. I know that my aunt has prevented Mr. Collins from descending upon Longbourn but she cannot hold him off forever.”
“No, she probably cannot. But…it was very good of her to be so supportive of my mother when we first received the express from Longbourn. I never realised what a kindhearted person she was.”
Darcy grinned. “Do not let her hear you say that, for she takes great pride in being intimidating. But you are right, she has always loved me as a son. Particularly after my mother died. Perhaps that was why she wished for me to marry Anne. Although she did encourage me to visit you once she learned I was in love with you.”
“You told Lady Catherine you were in love with me?”
“I suppose I was so frantic that you were ill that I just let it slip out. I actually told her of my failed proposal.”
Elizabeth squeezed his arm and momentarily leaned her head against his shoulder. “I never knew you could be so impulsive.”
“I never knew it either.”
Elizabeth laughed. “And I thought Lady Catherine was coming to see me to tell me to give you up! That I would bring you down with my lack of dowry and low connections. But she was surprisingly kind, and I enjoyed my visit with her. Do you think she will come tonight?”
“I am not certain. But I feel that she will.”