Chapter Eleven
T he next several days proceeded in much the same manner. Lady Catherine continued to try to force Mr. Darcy to spend time with Anne, and each day saw Mr. Darcy and the Colonel coming to tea and spending the better part of an hour in lively conversation with Elizabeth at the parsonage.
After Mr. Darcy and the Colonel had – again! – come to tea and had – again! – left the parsonage upon hearing that the master of the house was soon expected, Mr. Collins entered the house, wild-eyed.
“Mrs. Collins, Lady Catherine has informed me that Mr. Darcy has refused to propose to her daughter, and it is all the fault of Cousin Elizabeth!”
Elizabeth spoke from the parlour door. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Collins, I was coming to speak with Charlotte and could not help but overhear you.”
Mr. Collins swung around to face his fair cousin. “Cousin Elizabeth, Lady Catherine has asked that you make arrangements to leave Hunsford as soon as may be.”
Elizabeth stared at him, shocked. “But I have done nothing wrong!”
“It does not matter. You must write to your father and have him send a carriage for you as soon as may be.”
“Very well, Mr. Collins.” Elizabeth turned away from him and ran upstairs, ignoring Charlotte calling after her. Elizabeth could see that nothing she could say would change the situation. Her holiday had turned sour, and there was nothing to do but to go home. She would send a message to Papa immediately, requesting that the carriage be sent for her.
***
Mr. Darcy reflected on his situation as he and the Colonel returned to Rosings. He had spent over a week trying to placate Aunt Catherine by spending time with Anne. Unfortunately, the more he saw of Anne, the more he was certain that she could never be the mistress of Pemberley. This decision would injure his mother, and knowing that grieved him deeply.
He knew that his obsession – and yes, his feelings deserved that word! – with Miss Bennet was not helping matters. Or perhaps it was helping matters, for Miss Bennet was Anne’s direct opposite in every way. Where Anne was sullen, Miss Bennet was sunny. Where Anne was dull, Miss Bennet was witty. Where Anne was weak, Miss Bennet was strong. Miss Bennet seemed to him to be a perfect wife for himself and a perfect mistress for Pemberley.
But would his obsession stand the test of time? If he had met her in Meryton, visiting Bingley as he had intended, would he have been interested in her? If he had met her in London, where she would be compared with the glittering ladies of the ton , would he still have found her irresistible? Was she only special in comparison with Anne de Bourgh? He could not know, and until he was certain, he could not advance their relationship.
Perhaps he should return to London and wait; once she was back in Meryton, he could see her there while visiting Bingley. Now that was a promising notion!
“Tomorrow we leave for London, Richard,” he told his cousin. “I have given Aunt Catherine the time she asked for, but it is enough.”
“I agree; but what of Miss Bennet?”
“I will wait at Darcy House until she returns to Meryton.”
“Ah, and then visit Bingley. Excellent notion.”
“Will you accompany me?”
“To London, yes, but no further. I am bound to return to my regiment and would prefer to spend some time with my parents before doing so.”
“I will be sorry to lose your company.”
“And I yours, but there it is.”
“Let us go downstairs and inform Lady Catherine of our decision,” Mr. Darcy said. As they entered the house, Mr. Darcy heard a familiar voice. He froze.
“Darcy? What is wrong?” the Colonel asked.
“My mother is here, doubtless at our aunt’s request. And doubtless that is why Aunt Catherine cajoled me to spend more time here, knowing it would take several days for my mother to arrive.” Mr. Darcy’s tone was icy.
Richard swore under his breath. “Darcy, you cannot give in to your mother. Your entire happiness depends upon it.”
“I know it now. I did not before we came here, but now I am certain that you are correct.” Jaw tight, face grim, Mr. Darcy walked into the drawing room, with Richard right behind him. “Hello, Mother.” His voice was cold as he looked at his parent, perfectly coiffed and dressed in the latest London fashion, with one of the many Darcy family necklaces fastened about her slim throat.
“Hello, Fitzwilliam,” Lady Anne said. “Heavens, what a face to show to your mother, who has traveled many long hours to be here with you!”
“And why, I wonder, has my mother traveled these many long hours?” Mr. Darcy asked, frostily.
“Why, to see you and my sister, of course. And my nephew! Come, Richard, give your Aunt Anne a kiss.”
Stone-faced and silent, Colonel Fitzwilliam stooped to kiss his aunt’s proffered cheek.
“There, that is better. Have you no kiss for your mother, Fitzwilliam?”
Mr. Darcy approached his mother and kissed her quickly. “You left Georgiana?” he asked, tautly.
“Georgiana is fine,” Lady Anne waved her hand, unconcerned. “Mrs. Reynolds is with her.”
When Anne de Bourgh entered the room, Lady Anne called to her, smiling, “And there is my namesake!”
“Aunt Anne, how lovely of you to visit us!” Anne de Bourgh threw Mr. Darcy a sly look as she bent to kiss her aunt’s cheek.
“And how are you and my son here getting along?” Lady Anne enquired.
As Anne de Bourgh opened her mouth, Mr. Darcy interjected, “Oh, Anne and I get along well enough. But it is my opinion that she and I have seen quite enough of one another, and Richard and I plan to depart for London on the morrow.”
His mother looked at him for a long moment. “And the matter of which we spoke before you left Pemberley?”
“Has been resolved to my own satisfaction, though I suspect not to the satisfaction of everyone in this room.”
Lady Catherine thumped her stick on the floor angrily. “Can we not speak plainly? Darcy refuses to marry Anne!”
Lady Anne took a handkerchief from her sleeve and used it to dab at her eyes. “Fitzwilliam, you assured me…”
Mr. Darcy knelt at his mother’s feet and took her hands in his own. “Mother, you know I love you dearly. But I cannot condemn myself to a life of unhappiness and I cannot understand how you could want that for me. But more importantly, I cannot condemn Pemberley.”
“Condemn Pemberley? Whatever can you mean?”
“Mother, for all of Anne’s amiable qualities, she is in no way capable of being the mistress of Pemberley. Surely, surely , you must know that.”
“But I will be there to help her!”
“You cannot always be there, Mother.”
“Of course I will!” the lady insisted.
“Mother, by God’s grace, you will have many years before you. But you know, you must know, that someday you will no longer be with us, and long before that there must be a new mistress of Pemberley.”
His mother stared at him. “You wish to replace me?!”
“Mother, you have always known that I would marry and that there would be a new mistress of the estate!” Mr. Darcy felt increasingly confused.
Lady Anne rose to her feet, head held high. “I will go to my room now, Sister.”
Lady Catherine and Anne de Bourgh also rose; all three ladies left the drawing room as Mr. Darcy stared after them, baffled. “Richard, what just happened here?”
Richard said, “Perhaps it is your mother’s fear of death? I cannot tell!”
“But that is insanity!”
“I am sorry, Darcy. There is no easy path forward for you.”
Mr. Darcy said, “I knew my mother did not want to relinquish her role; heavens, she has yet to move out of the mistress’ quarters at Pemberley! But I never realised –“
The Colonel broke in. “Your mother is still in her old rooms at Pemberley? I did not know that.”
“Yes, and at Darcy House as well.”
“Well, that must be deuced awkward, if you are occupying the master’s bedroom!”
“I have not yet moved into the master’s rooms in either Pemberley or Darcy House, for that exact reason.”
Richard stared at Mr. Darcy in disbelief, but his cousin could only look away.
***
In Lady Anne’s room, the three ladies conferred.
“What of this Miss Bennet that you wrote me about?” Lady Anne demanded.
“He visits her daily, under the guise of talking with her about his friend Bingley.”
“His friend Bingley? What has Miss Bennet to do with Charles Bingley?”
“Bingley is married to Miss Bennet’s elder sister.”
“Truly? Well, that is odd. In any case, Anne, do you think if not for Miss Bennet, my son would have proposed to you?”
“Of course; what other reason could there possibly be?” that young lady replied.
“I would like to meet this Miss Bennet for myself.”
“I will arrange it,” Lady Catherine promised.