Chapter Nine #2
It was at this point that Lord and Lady Morton were obliged to intervene, for the squabble had become the chief entertainment of all their guests.
Mrs. Ellison scolded Mr. Willoughby for humiliating her ward, and declared that she was taking Miss Grey home at once.
Mrs. Hatchard heartily apologized to the Mortons, and then approached Mrs. Jennings.
“I believe you must be the Bennets’ indulgent sponsor?
I am Evelyn Hatchard; I should like to know you better, madam. ”
Mrs. Hatchard adeptly maneuvered Mrs. Jennings away from the fracas, and Jane let out a sigh of relief. But Lady Allen had begun a fresh wave of lectures for her nephew, and she had a few choice words for Elizabeth, as well.
Mr. Darcy had observed this scene in silent, seething indignation while offering Jane support until she could stand properly on her own, but now he swept in and came to Elizabeth’s defense.
“Lady Allen, I believe my mother spoke of an acquaintance with you – Lady Anne Darcy of Pemberley. But I had thought you to be a reasonable and generous sort of woman, who would not continue making a spectacle at a festive celebration, even after our hosts have asked you to desist. The young ladies you are accosting are particular friends of my sister, and as they have no male guardian present, I must consider them as under my protection.”
He stepped forward, towering over the hunched old woman, who had the temerity to glare back at him. “I have every right to address my nephew as I see fit, and if he wishes to remain my heir, he will hear me!”
“But you do not have the right to ruin a good party,” Elizabeth said with a defiant smile.
“Insolent girl! And you would make love to the cousin and the sister of such a person, John? Hear me now, you will do as you are told, for you know what is at stake.”
Mr. Willoughby again let his gaze linger on Jane before tearing it away as if it physically pained him.
His countenance hardened as he joined Mr. Darcy in staring down Lady Allen.
“Madam, at present, I care a hundred times more for explaining myself to Miss Bennet than for retaining your good opinion.”
“You do not know what you are saying, John!”
“I am entirely sensible of it; I have thought as much for many months now. I will not be bullied any longer.” Mr. Willoughby turned back to Jane and extended his hand to her. “Please, Miss Bennet. Dance with me, and allow me to explain – although I still do not understand….”
As Lady Allen finally retreated, Colonel Brandon joined them, looking ready to murder Mr. Willoughby, and Elizabeth glanced between the two men with bloodthirsty glee. Mr. Darcy offered her his arm. “Miss Elizabeth, I hope you will still dance the supper set with me.”
Jane could see an angry retort forming on Elizabeth’s lips, and she hastened to interject.
“Lizzy, I hope Mr. Darcy shall tell you about a very interesting conversation we had. I told him that after the recent impression Mr. Bingley’s sisters have made on me, I am pleased to hear that Mr. Bingley will likely remain at Netherfield. ”
Elizabeth furrowed her brows, her lips parting into a wide o. “What?”
“Please, Lizzy,” Jane repeated, and she smiled when Elizabeth tentatively accepted Mr. Darcy’s arm. He led her sister away, leaving Jane with Mr. Willoughby and the colonel. Jane had no idea what to do next.
Colonel Brandon said nothing, but stared murderously at Mr. Willoughby, perfectly aware of his intimidating aspect.
Mr. Willoughby took a step backward. “Sir, I daresay I should like a word with you as much as you may desire one with me – but if you would allow me to first speak with Miss Bennet, I hope to achieve a greater degree of clarity before I seek you out.”
“I will find you,” the colonel snarled. “During the meal, we will ask the Mortons for use of a private room to speak. Enjoy the dance; it may be your last.” The colonel turned and bowed tersely to Jane before stalking away.
And then Jane and Mr. Willoughby were left alone together. For a moment, neither of them spoke. He stared at her as though he had just been stripped and beaten in the street, and Jane was moved by his appearance. “Can it really be only a misunderstanding, sir?”
“It is more than that; I must have wounded your cousin deeply to provoke such language from your sister, and I will not deny that I deserve it. But I should like to account for myself, if you will hear me. Will you dance with me, Miss Bennet?”
The sight of him extending his hand with such trepidation tore at Jane’s heart, but she did not take his hand. “I promised my aunt that I would rest if my ankle began to feel uncomfortable, but I will sit with you and hear what you have to say, so long as she is present with us.”
He had come to her side and offered her his arm for support before she had finished her sentence, and Jane took it, breathing a sigh of relief as she shifted her weight.
“As you wish. May I ask my mother to join us, as well? She may be the only person present tonight who thinks well of me, and I might require her to vouch for my good character.”
“Very well; it appears they are already sitting together.” Jane gestured toward where the two women sat by the hearth, and Mr. Willoughby led her that way. Jane clung to his arm but did not look at him as they made their way to the place nearby where her aunt was speaking with Mrs. Hatchard.
Mr. Willoughby retrieved a footstool from some empty seating nearby, and as he placed it under Jane’s injured ankle, she explained herself to Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Hatchard.
“Aunt, allow me to present Mr. John Willoughby. Sir, my aunt, Mrs. Madeline Gardiner, who has lately come to stay with us at Mrs. Jennings’s home. Aunt, have you met Mrs. Hatchard already?”
“We have worked together in supporting the same charity for years,” Mrs. Hatchard said with a nervous smile.
Mr. Willoughby looked a little relieved at this. He seated himself beside his mother and waved over a footman bearing wine. He offered the ladies each a drink and immediately sipped at his own.
“Oh! You did not say, Aunt Madeline.”
“There are a great many Hatchards in London – I never thought…. Well, what do you wish to say, dearest?”
“As you know, Aunt, I was not aware of the identity of the man who aided me when in the thoroughfare three days ago, though I have just discovered that he is acquainted with Marianne.”
Mrs. Gardiner gasped. “You are that Willoughby?”
The gentleman nodded but allowed Jane to do the speaking. “Elizabeth has confronted him about the notice of his engagement that we saw in the paper this morning, and he says that his aunt posted the announcement without his knowledge or permission – he had not proposed to the lady.”
“Nor shall I,” he said.
Mrs. Gardiner frowned. “Yes, yes, Evelyn has told me this much, though we are both still bewildered. But what of Marianne? And what of Eliza Williams?”
“He wishes to give me an explanation for this, and I will hear him in your presence,” Jane said.
“Very well,” Mrs. Gardiner replied.
“I can give you an account of my dealings with your cousin, but after this I hope you may be the one to explain to me about Miss Williams,” Mr. Willoughby said.
Jane nodded, and he continued, running a hand through his hair with a look of torment.
He glanced around, but thankfully the crowd had lost interest in them.
Even so, he spoke softly, and Jane was grateful for his circumspection.
“I admired Marianne from the moment I met her; I have believed myself to be in love with her, and have since returning to London been heartily ashamed that I allowed myself the indulgence of believing a union between us might be possible.”
“Why should it not be?”
“Because Combe Magna is floundering,” he sighed.
“My first husband left John with the burden of decades of debts,” Mrs. Hatchard sighed.
“The estate might make a decent enough income to pay these debts off in a few years, though my late husband’s sister believes John will accomplish this faster if he is able to make some improvements to the estate and increase the land holdings. ”
“She fears that when I inherit Allenham, I will simply sell the place to bail out Combe Magna,” he added.
“When I met Marianne, I began to think that I may do the reverse, and sell Combe Magna to satisfy the debts, while building a life with Marianne near her relations. They might have even lived with us.”
“And this would not satisfy your aunt?”
“No, Miss Bennet. Neither she nor my father married for love, and she thinks it a foolish notion that I should wish to. I hoped that if she met Marianne, if she saw how well-suited we are…. But I made a miscalculation. One day, on a whim, I brought Marianne to see Allenham while my aunt was away. My aunt heard of it and was offended by my presumption. After that, and with all of Mrs. Jennings’s speculation, Lady Allen was resolved to disapprove of my dearest wish. ”
“That is unfortunate,” Mrs. Gardiner said with a hint of skepticism. “But can you not break with her, and do as you would – live modestly until the debts are satisfied, and Combe Magna is profitable once more?”
Jane wondered the very same thing. “Surely Marianne cares nothing for fortune, and after living in the reduced conditions of Barton Cottage….”
“I would only subject her to more of the same, and I fear our affection would sour in the years of economy we should face before I could support her as I ought to do. And then, there is something else….”
Mr. Willoughby looked sadly at his mother, who patted his hand. “My husband is not well. John has been helping with the bookshop since returning to London after his annual visit to Allenham, though I fear he is exhausting himself from this and the management of Combe Magna.”
“Oh, Evelyn, I am very sorry for you,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “But what of your husband’s relations? Are there not several brothers Hatchard?”