Chapter 3
Elizabeth glanced towards Darcy, who was now talking to a very joyful Bingley, his back to her. Moments later, her attention was alerted when she heard others expressing their wonder.
“Miss Bennet! Not in a hundred years did I expect to meet you here!” the colonel said. “Allow me to tell you that you look ravishing! Lord Alveston. I am glad to see you again. Congratulations! You are a fortunate man! Miss Bennet is truly a remarkable lady.”
Elizabeth smiled at him, as she used to in Kent, and curtseyed. “Colonel, you are always the perfect gentleman and always too generous with your compliments. I am glad to see you too.”
“Miss Bennet is engaged to your grandson? But I did not know he was even in town. Is he well enough? Engaged? How can that be?” Lady Catherine repeated, glancing from Lady Kendal to Lord Alveston in complete astonishment.
“I am well, thank you,” Lord Alveston answered from his chair in a light and amused voice, looking at Elizabeth and squeezing her hand.
“I was not aware you were so well acquainted with Miss Bennet,” Lady Kendal said, her eyebrow slightly raised in obvious displeasure.
“Miss Bennet is the cousin of my parson. He will inherit the Bennets’ home once the father dies. I was not aware you knew Miss Bennet at all,” Lady Catherine replied, throwing Elizabeth a sharp look.
“Well, I understand Mr Bennet is in perfect health. He might well survive us all,” Lady Kendal responded with mockery. “And Miss Bennet will have no reason to worry about her family’s future after she becomes Lady Alveston.”
“But… This is truly unbelievable. I feel it must be a joke,” Lady Catherine mumbled.
“Joke? What could you possibly mean?” Lady Kendal enquired with increasing displeasure.
“My sister is only surprised by the news, as we all are. I believe we have stayed in the way for too long,” Lord Matlock said, ending the argument. “Let us move on. Other guests are waiting to be greeted. Congratulations on your engagement, Lord Alveston, Miss Bennet.”
“Elizabeth, congratulations and I hope we shall speak more tonight,” Anne said, much to her mother’s disdain at such familiarity.
Georgiana seconded her best wishes, and Elizabeth replied with a nod and a smile.
Lady Catherine’s presence was a surprise to her too, but her ladyship’s rude disapproval, not as much.
For a moment, she wondered what Lady Catherine might have said if she had accepted Darcy’s proposal, but she quickly banished that disturbing thought.
As soon as the group stepped forward, Jane greeted them and began a pleasant conversation with Anne, Georgiana, the colonel, and the viscount. Bingley’s sisters joined them, embracing Georgiana with affection.
Lord and Lady Matlock, along with Lady Catherine, retired into a corner, sharing their astonishment.
“This is a nightmare,” Lady Catherine uttered.
“Miss Bennet, a country nobody from Hertfordshire? Married to Lord Alveston? What nonsense is this? She is an impertinent brat! I was worried that Richard was infatuated with her when he visited me last year. She was there too, you know. Just before Darcy finally proposed to Anne.”
“Catherine, for God’s sake lower your voice!
I am not sure what has upset you, but it is the height of disrespect to speak so to the hosts.
Why would you care who Lord Alveston marries?
You harped on for years about Darcy marrying Anne.
Now you want to marry off others to your liking? ” Lord Matlock whispered sharply.
“Do not speak to me in such a manner,” Lady Catherine whispered back.
“Then do not embarrass us all!”
“You two calm down,” Lady Matlock interjected. “It is surprising news, but I am glad to see Lord Alveston looking so well. Rumour had it that he was confined to his bed for years. And now he is ready to wed, God bless him.”
“But how did he meet a woman so below his situation in life? Could he not find a more suitable wife? Can you imagine all that fortune will belong to that country girl sooner or later?” Lady Catherine continued.
“And what is that to you? Did you expect it to be left to you?” her brother asked.
“Oh, stop making a fool of yourself,” Lady Catherine said through her teeth.
“Then you should do the same! Now excuse me, I am in desperate need of a drink.” The earl left them in a hurry but not before a last angry glare at his sister.
Lady Catherine, however, continued the conversation with Lady Matlock, nodding to her daughter Anne to join them.
Anne approached, arm-in-arm with Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam following them.
“What is it, Mama? I was just speaking to Jane. Mrs Bingley.”
“Jane? Elizabeth? What is this?” Lady Catherine interrupted her. “When did you become so friendly with the Bennet sisters? On first name terms with some country nobodies? And how do you know Mrs Bingley at all?”
“Mama, Mrs Bingley and Miss Bennet came to Pemberley last summer. Mr Bingley is Darcy’s best friend, and his wife is considered a close friend too.
We liked both Jane and Elizabeth very much.
We spent quite some time together. They are not country nobodies at all,” Anne responded with surprising determination.
The colonel stepped forward.
“Anne and Georgiana enjoyed the Bennet sisters’ company very much, as we all did. I trust they have enough wit and reason to acknowledge the quality of someone they call a friend.”
“Well, I know you have been smitten with Miss Bennet since you were in Kent,” Lady Catherine said, and both Anne and Georgiana blushed.
“I was not smitten with anybody, but I willingly admit I have admired Miss Bennet since I first met her. I believe we should try to enjoy ourselves as much as we can instead of wasting time with gossip and debate, since we decided to attend this ball. Or do you already regret your choice, Lady Catherine?” the colonel asked with concealed mockery.
“I would like to find a chair, as I do not intend to dance,” Anne said.
“Me too,” Georgiana added, and the colonel offered each an arm, leading them towards a couple of comfortable chairs from where they could have a full view of the room.
Lord Alveston was still holding Elizabeth’s hand while talking to his grandmother and greeting other guests.
∞∞∞
Caught in a nightmare worse than any before, Darcy kept glancing at Elizabeth—and Lord Alveston holding her hand. His eyes were so wide and his face so tense that he was beginning not to be able to bear the light and the music.
He had to do something to wake up. She could not truly be engaged! He could not be there to celebrate her betrothal to another man.
Then again, why not? He was engaged too.
She had never wished for his good opinion, and she had already told him she would marry anyone else over him.
‘You were the last man in the world…’ Why should he be surprised if she married a man wealthier, with a better situation in life and likely more worthy of her admiration than him?
Everybody spoke about Lord Alveston’s poor health. Darcy did not know much about it, nor was he interested in finding out more details. She had chosen to marry him—that was enough to break the last unbroken piece of his heart.
He had to leave; he could not stay and pine for what was not his.
“Darcy, I am so happy to see you! I have called on you several times! When did you arrive in London?”
Bingley’s joyful and booming voice cut through his head like a blade. So much cheerfulness was unbearable.
“Only two days ago and we shall leave soon. I am glad to see you too, Bingley. I see Mrs Bingley looks lovely. I hope you are all well?”
“Yes, very well. When will you come and visit us? You have been dearly missed. Look, Jane is talking to Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh right now.”
“Yes, I see.” Darcy smiled bitterly. “I am afraid we do not have time for visits now, but I am sure other opportunities will arise soon.”
Bingley’s disappointment was apparent. “Darcy, I must ask, are you upset with any of us? Did one of the Bennets offend you? Or me? My sisters? You cannot deny that you have been avoiding us for more than a year now. Please let us know what the reason is so we may make amends.”
“Nonsense, Bingley, nobody has offended me. I am glad to see you all happy, that is all that matters.”
“But Darcy, what about you?” Bingley insisted.
“What about me, Bingley?”
“I have not seen you since we were at Pemberley. And the news about your engagement was a real shock to all of us. I heard you so many times declaring you would not marry Miss de Bourgh, then suddenly… And you left us so abruptly at Pemberley that I barely had time for a farewell.”
“Darcy’s engagement was a shock to us all,” Colonel Fitzwilliam interjected over Bingley’s shoulder.
“But not as much as Miss Bennet’s engagement to Lord Alveston!
Who in the world ever expected that? To be honest, I have not seen the earl in years.
I thought he was already… Well…he is a lucky man.
Although I fear he is not an ideal choice of husband for Miss Bennet. ”
“Richard, we have no right to speculate about this subject. It is not for us to judge who is an ideal choice for anybody,” Darcy interrupted him severely.
Bingley seemed uneasy, and the colonel reconsidered his words.
“You are right, indeed, Darcy. I am only saying that because I have always admired Miss Bennet.”
“Elizabeth’s engagement surprised all of us too,” Bingley admitted.
“And being among friends, we cannot deny it is a peculiar situation. But Lord Alveston and Lady Kendal are excellent people. We are so impressed by them! Elizabeth is very fond of them and they of her. It seems a good match from many points of view. As for her reasons—Elizabeth alone has made this decision. She is so bright that I do not doubt her choice.”
“Yes, it seems a good match. Miss Bennet is surely capable of making her own decisions.” Darcy said firmly, gazing at her. Bingley and the colonel stared at him confounded.