Chapter 45 Ceremony #2
At Lizzy's suggestion, Darcy brought them slowly down the hall to the study, giving Lizzy a chance to run ahead and wake her father from his nap. He was still looking a little bleary-eyed as they entered the room, but he struggled to his feet to deal with the formalities.
"I am exceedingly grateful for your invitation," Mrs. de Bourgh said after Darcy had introduced her and her son to Bennet.
At their host's invitation, they took the seats in the study occupied the day before by Richard and Charlotte and which had not yet been put away.
"With Lady Catherine being so angry, and tomorrow being Sunday, we hoped you would not mind if we traveled here directly upon receiving your invitation. "
"Not at all," said Bennet genially. "You are most welcome, and your arrival will give my wife something to think on aside from Colonel's Fitzwilliam's marriage this morning to the former Miss Lucas, daughter of our nearest neighbors, Sir William and Lady Lucas."
"The Colonel has married?" Both newcomers exclaimed in surprise, producing exactly the effect Darcy was certain Bennet had intended by his announcement.
"He has, indeed," Bennet confirmed. "It was a marriage I predicted some seven years ago, and it certainly took him long enough to get around to it.
His bride is a delightful woman - pretty and intelligent, not to mention strong-willed enough to help support our colonel as he turns his hand from soldiering to becoming master of an estate.
I know he and his father have been looking at purchasing one about the size of Longbourn for him for several years.
He will make a responsible estate owner, I believe. "
Darcy could tell that even though Sir Phillip and his mother were trusted allies, Bennet obviously felt it was best to skirt around the news about his grandfather and cousin. He agreed it was probably wise, so he would follow the older man's lead.
"I knew from Cousin Anne that Richard had someone he hoped to court and marry, but he mentioned nothing of the actual wedding when we met in Kent just a few days ago. Was this event as sudden as it seems to me?" Sir Phillip asked.
"It was sudden," Bennet agreed, "although long-awaited.
An express arrived yesterday, shortly after our colonel had asked Miss Lucas to marry him and gained the blessing of her father.
It contained news for which the best response seemed to marry at once, so he could take his new wife with him to London to resolve part of the problem it presented.
He was able to convince Sir William and Lady Lucas of the urgency of his request. And, so, we celebrated the wedding this morning.
By this time, they are enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Darcy's London home.
"Has anyone notified Lady Catherine?" Mrs. de Bourgh asked.
"Not yet," Bennet answered. "We all thought it was best not to fuel her rage by telling her at this time. Richard feels that she may soon receive other news that will impact her mood even more, although it would be best not to talk about that just now."
"As you wish," Mrs. de Bourgh said, seeming to understand that no slight was meant towards her or her son by the lack of information.
"How did my aunt react after Richard and I left the churchyard?" Darcy asked, both out of curiosity and to turn the subject.
Sir Phillip laughed. "She wanted to go racing off after you at top speed," he said, "but her men were not expecting the order, and the horses were tired and inclined to balk.
It took her several minutes to get going and by that time you had disappeared through the village.
She followed you, nonetheless, as fast as she could go. "
"We hoped she would, and we took a very circuitous route to mislead her and keep her from returning quickly." Darcy said. "That way, we thought that you would have a chance to warn Anne and her husband that her mother was aware of the wedding."
"We did," Mrs. de Bourgh confirmed, "although Phillip had a few words with the villagers who were still in the vicinity of the church before we headed to the wedding breakfast."
Sir Phillip grinned. "Most of the villagers are pleased with the Earl of Boxwell and his family.
They are good landlords to their tenants, and they treat the locals fairly and with respect.
I just mentioned to the biggest gossips among them that it might be best if Lady Catherine did not find out right away that her daughter had married Mr. Hanson.
The hint of intrigue appealed to them and after her performance in the churchyard they liked the idea of putting one over on her, as it were.
They promised to spread the word in the village to keep her in the dark. "
"It seems cruel," Darcy said over the sound of Bennet's chuckles, "but I am afraid it is well-deserved."
"I know it is," Sir Phillip said firmly. "You have not been there to see how she has treated Anne."
Darcy nodded. He knew Sir Phillip was correct.
"Did she return to the village for information?" Bennet asked.
"I was not there to see it, as we returned to our home after warning the Hansons, but I found out the next day that her horses had limped back into the village late the same afternoon after chasing Richard and Mr. Darcy as far as she could.
She made no attempt at courtesy and demanded information as to her daughter's whereabouts.
The villagers decided it would be amusing to tell her that her daughter had run off with the local carter's son.
Of course, he has no son, which made it even more amusing to them.
Those who did not wish to lie met her inquiries with silence.
By the time she returned to Rosings Park that night she was in a terrible state. "
Mrs. de Bourgh continued the story, "The following day, however, she sent someone to check the church register.
That, of course, told her agent the truth about Anne's husband and she did calm down somewhat when the report came back to her although clearly, she was still not pleased by any of that day's events.
" She looked at her son and indicated he should carry on.
"The servants may fear her too much to gossip in the village, but that has not stopped them cautiously talking among themselves this time.
The groom that Viscount Rand placed in her stables volunteered to carry the message she sent to evict us.
After he delivered his official message, he indicated I should follow him out so we could speak where our servants who might report to Lady Catherine could not hear.
He told me he had learned that right before she left to follow you and Anne, she sent an urgent message to someone in Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy.
He also reported that since she returned, she has been angry beyond anything anyone at Rosings Park has ever seen from her.
While she waited for her servant to return to Boxwell and check the register, she locked herself in and railed at the empty room, even screaming curses.
When she finally emerged, the maids had to clean up the remains of several delicate ornaments that had been thrown into the fireplace or at the walls.
She even broke a few of the mirrored tiles on the inner walls.
The word among the house servants is that she has disclaimed any relation to Anne, Richard or you, Mr. Darcy, saying you do not deserve her notice or consideration.
I doubt that will stop her from finding some form of revenge. "
"If anything, it will make her more determined," Bennet said, and both Mrs. de Bourgh and her son indicated their agreement.
"We may know to whom she sent that message," Darcy said. Between them, he, Bennet and Lizzy gave the bare bones of the attack by Wickham and what they had since learned about Collins.
"It is a good idea to have your men right there with Collins. He may not be very bright, but he is slavishly devoted to Lady Catherine and stubborn as any mule. If his orders are to marry Miss Elizabeth, he will turn himself inside out trying," Sir Phillip said as Darcy finished his explanation.
"I am hoping for another message from them later today with an update," Darcy began.
He stopped speaking when he heard Mrs. Bennet's voice coming from down the hall.
"It might be best if we talk again later.
You should probably both be presented to Mrs. Bennet now.
We would not want her to feel slighted by having guests of which she is not aware. "
"Thank you for volunteering to make the introductions," Bennet said to Darcy, obviously feeling like he had scored a point.
"I did walk into that, did I not?" Darcy said resignedly.
"I will help," Lizzy told him, “And Papa can return to his nap."
"First you must take your moves on the chessboard, so we do not end up having to do doubles again later," Bennet said, pointing Darcy to the miniature board.
Darcy quickly explained the tradition before making his move and Bennet's response.
Lizzy took hers after Sir Phillip, who thought it was an amusing way to play.
Mrs. de Bourgh liked the idea of the game and thought the chessboard was delightful, but she admitted she had no idea how to play and would have to pass up the opportunity.
"I am looking forward to meeting Mrs. Bennet, so I will not delay us with questions about the board or the game just now," she said. "However, Mr. Darcy, I may choose to corner you after dinner so you can tell me a little more about your father and what prompted him to order so delicate a set."
"I am your humble servant, madam," he said, offering her his arm, although he would have preferred to escort Lizzy. She walked behind them with Sir Phillip as they headed to the parlor where Mrs. Bennet could already be heard discussing the wedding ceremony with her other daughters.