Chapter 16
“Where is that harlot Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” Lady Catherine screamed, resembling a harridan more than the widow of a baronet.
Collins followed behind his patroness looking smug, at least until he was knocked flat on his back and the footman Edward held him down with his booted foot. “Your Ladyship,” Collins squeaked, but his cry was ignored as his patroness lumbered forward screaming like a banshee.
“Johnson, bring Sir William. We have a trespasser.” The footman nodded and rushed away to Lucas Lodge. “Did my master not inform you what would happen to you if you set foot on Bennet land again?”
“Let me up! I am here in the company of Lady Catherine de Bourgh! As she brought me, I am here by her authority,” Collins blustered from the flat of his back.
“Edward, have Smithers help you to lock that in the coal cellar,” Hill instructed, then followed the trail of invectives coming from the woman who had barged into the house while the two footmen dragged the protesting parson away.
Lady Catherine heard voices within a room and slammed open the door as she made her way into the drawing room. “Where is that slut who is using her arts and allurements to entrap my daughter’s betrothed?”
“Do you think everyone sinks as low as you did, Catherine, when you compromised poor Sir Lewis after no one offered for you in your fifth season?” Lady Elaine stated calmly, amused at the surprise on her sister-in-law’s face when what she had said claimed the lady’s attention.
Lady Catherine froze, for the last thing she expected to see was the Countess of Matlock seated in the drawing room talking to a younger woman.
“Lady Elaine, is this Mr. Collins’ exalted patroness who he worships like God Almighty?
” Charlotte asked pleasantly and Lady Elaine nodded, her smile unchecked.
Unnoticed so far, the three younger girls stared in slack-jawed surprise at the uncouth display from an elderly woman, a Lady, and Lord Matlock’s sister at that.
“You three go upstairs, for there is no reason for you to have to witness such behaviour, not even if such were performed in public by actors. Even the lower classes of our society have better manners.”
The three girls exited with all speed before Lady Catherine could react. “Who are you to talk to me thusly? Do you know who I am?” Lady Catherine tried to recover, and addressed Charlotte, choosing to ignore her sister-in-law’s words.
“Your relatives have informed me about you, so I know exactly who you are, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. You are a woman with no sense, only bluster. You are ignorant and without accomplishments and believe that being the widow of a baronet and daughter of an earl somehow makes you above the rules of decorum and decency in society. You have proven you have less manners than a worker at the docks, as you entered a home uninvited, and did not have the decency to knock,” Charlotte replied calmly, her eyes unwavering and keeping Lady Catherine focused on herself.
“I have never been thusly insulted in the whole of my life!” Lady Catherine was shaking with anger.
“Oh do shut up, Catty!” Lady Catherine heard the voice belonging to the one person in the world she was afraid of, as he was executor of her husband’s will.
“R-Reggie, what are you doing here?” Lady Catherine asked carefully as she turned around to find her brother, accompanied by a man who was unknown to her. Both were obviously angry, and it was only then she noticed her parson had deserted her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the six walkers neared the coach, they heard a series of sneezes from within. Darcy opened the door to reveal his cousin Anne, shivering from the cold while Mrs. Jenkinson sat by doing nothing but waiting.
“Anne, let me help you out. Mrs. Jenkinson, why was my cousin left outside in the cold?” Darcy demanded.
“Her ladyship ordered we wait in the carriage and gave me no further instruction,” Mrs. Jenkinson replied.
“Are you senseless, or do you only care what my aunt says when you can see my cousin suffers?” Andrew was angry. The lady, obviously another sycophant employed by his aunt, blanched at the Viscount’s rebuke.
Andrew and Darcy helped their shivering cousin from the conveyance. “Jane and I will help her up to our bed chamber. There is a blazing fire already lit to warm the room and blankets as well,” Elizabeth stated. She and Jane each took one of Miss de Bourgh’s arms and escorted her upstairs.
“T-thank y-you s-so m-much,” Anne managed between shivers.
“My father is here, Mrs. Jenkinson; and he will hear of your neglect. If I were you, I would be ready to seek a new position without a character!” Richard growled with anger as he slammed the carriage door closed, leaving the frightened woman sitting within.
As the group was about to enter, Mr. Collins was dragged out of the front door by two bulky footmen. “Edward, did that man dare to enter our home after my father warned him away?” Jane asked.
“‘E did, Miss Jane,” the footman answered. “Johnson ‘as gone ta’ call Sir William. Mr. ‘ill told us ta’ lock this in the coal cellar.”
Once the two footmen passed, dragging the snivelling Collins behind them, the three Bennet sisters assisted Miss de Bourgh up the stairs and into the warmth of Jane’s and Elizabeth’s shared bedchamber.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“The better question is why are you here, Catty?” Lord Matlock used the appellation he knew most galled his sister, since she considered it too undignified for her station in life. Before his furious sister could answer, his sons and nephew entered the drawing room.
Hoping to divert her brother, Lady Catherine blustered, “There you are, Fitzwilliam! You will do your duty and marry Anne today as your mother and her mother planned when you were in your cradles! I know it all! How that whore Miss Elizabeth…” Lady Catherine got no further.
“THAT IS ENOUGH!” Bennet was the first to react.
“You foul-mouthed termagant! How dare you push your way into my house, uninvited, and then dare to denigrate my daughter. If you were a man, I would call you out,” he announced, and his words caused her to take notice of all who had seen her so humiliated.
She began to see the thunderous visages of everyone in the room, all directed at her rather than at the whore, who had not yet been produced as she had demanded.
“As would I, Mr. Bennet,” Darcy agreed. “I am beyond tired of that well-worn lie you tell, Lady Catherine. After you came to Pemberley to exert your will while my father was ill, he wrote a letter to me and to Uncle Reggie, wherein he expressly delineates the lies you attempted to tell after my honoured mother passed away. Did you think everyone had a marriage like yours where the man you compromised wanted as little to do with you as possible?” Darcy advanced toward the officious woman, who shrank back in fear of his knowing so much.
Luckily for Lady Catherine, Darcy would never lift a hand to a female, although for the first time in his life, he came close to it.
“William speaks the truth, unlike you, Catty. Not only did Robert write to me, but he also refutes your lies in his will,” Lord Matlock backed up his nephew’s words.
“If you cared for your daughter, you would know neither I nor Anne wish to marry one another. Even if Anne were healthy enough to bear a child, which she is not, it would not alter our wishes. Instead, all you care about is finding a way to hold onto Rosings Park. It does not belong to you; it never has, even though you have been its mistress these last twenty years. Neither she nor I have any inclination toward a relationship beyond that of cousins,” Darcy declared, allowing his aunt to feel his palpable anger towards her as she cowered.
“Where is my parson? He told me all about Miss Elizabeth!” Lady Catherine tried to salvage some of her dignity.
“If Mr. Hill has done his duty, which I believe he has,” Charlotte related, “then that man is about to be arrested. I am sure he did not share with you he was enjoined from setting foot on my betrothed’s lands again, did he?
I am also certain he did not tell you of his despicable actions, which he claimed were by your authority.
Those actions led to letters being dispatched to the Bishop of Kent and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
I would be surprised if he is not defrocked before he is released from the Meryton gaol. ”
For once in her life Lady Catherine de Bourgh was speechless. “I have written to Cousin Charles in order to verify the veracity of the charges against your so-called parson,” Lady Matlock told her sister-in-law. Lady Matlock allowed her disdain for her sister-in-law free rein.
“Do you realise that two weeks ago, when Anne turned five and twenty, she became the mistress of Rosings Park?” Lord Matlock pointed out.
“I was waiting to hear from Anne, though I am sure you had her post intercepted by that lackey you employ as her companion.” Lady Catherine had the decency to look away as her brother hit the nail on the head.
“Father, Anne’s situation is something we wanted to discuss with you,” Andrew cut in as the perfect moment had presented itself. He related how they had discovered Anne in the freezing carriage with no blankets or warming bricks.
“Where is my niece now?” the Earl thundered as his sister cringed.
“The three Bennet sisters took her to a bedchamber with a fire to try and warm her as quickly as possible.
“Does your avarice know no bounds?” The Earl rounded on his sister. “Were you attempting to make your daughter sicker so she would not be able to claim her inheritance?” Lord Matlock thundered.
Just then Mary entered the drawing room. “Your Lordship, Miss de Bourgh is requesting the services of a solicitor,” Mary informed the Earl.
“We can have Mr. Phillips summoned,” Charlotte informed the Earl. “He is Thomas’ brother-in-law and the local solicitor.”