Chapter 14 #2
Elizabeth nodded and performed the introduction before she turned to address the room.
“You should all know Jane’s supposition is entirely wrong,” she stated clearly.
“There was no impropriety leading to my marriage, nor did I ‘capture’ my husband in any nefarious way. We met at my uncle’s house shortly after I arrived in London.
We courted, which I told you about in my letters, and fell in love.
We did marry quickly because it was convenient for my husband, who had business in the north.
He did not want to leave me behind when he travelled.
Charlotte, I apologise you walked into such a scene, but I hope you will speak the truth should anyone else seek to darken my reputation by spreading lies after we depart from Longbourn. ”
“Of course, Eliza, and even had I not heard this directly from you, I already knew it from your letters. It was obvious from those that this was a love match, and it is written on both of your faces. Love has made you even more beautiful, my friend,” Charlotte exclaimed.
The two ladies hugged tightly, and Charlotte invited the Darcys to visit Lucas Lodge before leaving the area.
“I doubt my husband will be willing to remain at Longbourn much longer after this scene,” Elizabeth whispered back.”I cannot promise a visit, but we will try. I will invite you to London or our estate once we are settled.”
Charlotte acknowledged her friend’s whispered words and then addressed the entire group again.
“I did not mean to intrude on Eliza’s homecoming as I know it must, by necessity, be brief.
I look forward to continuing to receive your letters, my friend, and I wish you every happiness in your marriage.
Mr. Darcy, it was very nice to meet you, and I hope to encounter you again.
But if not, I know dear Lizzy will write to me frequently. ”
After those words of farewell, Charlotte made her way from the house, leaving its occupants sitting and staring at the visiting Darcys.
Fitzwilliam still struggled to control his anger at his wife’s mother and sister.
Seeing this, Elizabeth rose to her feet, and her husband rose with her.
“Papa, Mama, it was pleasant to see you for a few minutes, but it is painfully obvious I am as unwelcome here as I always have been. Given the letters I received from my mother and elder sister, I hesitated to even bother with my planned visit since Jane had already mentioned such terrible allegations in her letter, along with offering her insincere congratulations on my marriage. I am still astonished the sister I once considered a friend could voice such grievous accusations. I can only hope her bitterness, stemming from my marriage, has not driven her to spread such lies in Meryton. Of course, when no babe arrives in eight months, it will become obvious it was a lie. However, it would still stain our reputations, especially were these suppositions to make their way to London, where my husband’s name is known. ”
Mr. Bennet stared at his daughter, answering after a moment’s reflection. “As this is the first I have heard these allegations, I would hope they have not been spread beyond this parlour. I will do my best to counter any rumours mentioned in town if I hear of them,” he said diffidently.
“How will you do that, Papa, when you so rarely leave your study to venture into town?” Elizabeth countered, still upset at the callous treatment from her family.
“What motivation does Jane or Mama have to keep quiet about this matter? I am fortunate it was Charlotte who visited, as I know she will not speak of what she heard, but what of the servants who may have heard Mama and Jane spouting this nonsense? What will keep Kitty or Lydia from sharing what they have heard with the neighbours?”
“Young lady,” Mr. Bennet began, drawing himself up in indignation at being addressed so by his daughter, “who do you think you are to speak to me in such a way.”
“I am Mrs. Darcy, sir, and I will not allow my husband’s name to be slandered and dragged through the mud by thoughtless speculation of jealous and bitter women,” she retorted before taking her husband’s hand and leading him toward the door.
“By the way, now that I am married, I am entitled to receive one hundred pounds per annum during your lifetime. Please ensure my husband receives these funds each quarter. You can forward them to Mr. Gardiner when you send Mary’s portion to her, and he will ensure my husband receives his due. ”
Mr. Bennet sputtered in his anger at being reminded of his obligation to his daughters, having already begun to make plans to use those funds for his own purposes.
He had his eye on some books the bookseller in St Albans had managed to acquire but needed the funds from both Elizabeth’s and Mary’s portions to purchase them.
To learn they were expected was a great disappointment to him.
He wondered how he could avoid sending the funds but thought since his new son-in-law was a barrister, Darcy could make things difficult if he did not do as required.
When his daughters were in London, he had never before sent funds for their care, but he suddenly remembered something about this in the papers he had signed regarding transferring Mary’s guardianship to the Gardiners.
He would have to reread the copies his brother Phillips had given him.
While Charlotte had been in the room, Mrs. Bennet had not visibly reacted to anything said, but as soon as she realised her daughter and new son were leaving, she immediately rose to her feet.
“You cannot leave, Lizzy,” she yelled at the couple’s backs as she followed them into the hallway.
“You must remain so I may take you around on my visits. Your aunt has planned several teas and other gatherings so we might introduce your husband to the neighbourhood.”
Elizabeth turned from where she stood by the front door.
A servant had already handed her and her husband their outerwear and were preparing to leave the house.
“We have both told you we cannot stay for these events, Mama. And why would we stay where we are so clearly not wanted? You only want to parade me around to your friends and brag about having a daughter married, and neither my husband nor I desire such treatment. Perhaps we might come again after our wedding trip and could stay long enough for one evening’s entertainment, but I cannot be certain.
My husband’s mother may have plans for us by then, as she hopes we return to town before the Season ends.
Of course, our return hinges on my husband’s business in the north and how long that takes. ”
“What is this mysterious ‘business’ preventing you from remaining here?” Mrs. Bennet probed.
“You keep saying ‘business’ like it is something important. I do not see anything more important than visiting your family, especially when you were so unkind as to marry from London. I was not given any of the privileges I should have had as the mother-of-the-bride, as I was not even informed about the wedding until after it had occurred.” Her voice became increasingly petulant as she spoke and rose in volume.
“You have no compassion on my poor nerves!”
“Madam, you were not included in the plans as you laughed at the very thought of my having a suitor when you were informed of it. When I wrote to tell you I was being courted, you failed to respond to such news, and my sisters told me of the frequent derogatory comments you made that it could not last as ‘I had little to attract or keep a man’s attention’.
I wrote to you several times when I first went to London, and you never responded to a single letter until I sent the letter announcing my marriage.
Then you wrote, but only to complain I did not allow you to plan the event or help me with my trousseau, and then insisted we change our plans entirely to suit your desires.
You have shown little concern for me except when you can show me off now that I am married.
Do you see anything wrong with the clothing my mother-in-law or aunt helped me to obtain?
Have you ever known Aunt Gardiner to steer me wrong when you sent me to her to obtain clothing, as you did not want to bother arguing with me about the clothing I would choose?
“Yes, Mama, I have heard and seen those words you have written of me in the past. I know you regularly sent me to London to get me out of your sight when you were angry with me. I know how you banished me to the dower house to stay with my grandmother for the first six years of my life and how frequently I stayed all day with Grandmama before she passed to avoid your anger for some reason or another. Forgive me if I do not wish to subject myself to your insincere crowing over having a married daughter, especially when that daughter is the one you have always proclaimed as your least favourite.”
“Well, I never,” the matron exclaimed, sitting heavily in the chair in the hall and calling for the housekeeper to bring her the smelling salts.
“Exactly, Mama,” Elizabeth retorted before stepping out of the open door, “you never.”
Fitzwilliam watched his wife depart the house but could not resist getting the final word and showing this woman exactly what she had cast aside.
“While my wife said she may be willing to return as a favour to you, her mother, who she honours simply because you bear that title, I owe you no such respect. I doubt we will return to Meryton at all, and I can assure you we will never spend a night in this house when my wife is treated in this way,” Fitzwilliam added.
“Thus far, my wife has chosen not to reveal all to you, but I will so you might know exactly what your daughter has gained and recognise what you will never benefit from. We are travelling north to investigate two estates, one of which will become ours, as a part of a legacy from my grandfather, the former Earl of Matlock. The house we have in town is borrowed from my uncle, the current Earl of Matlock, and will be available for my use whenever we are in town, at least until we lease or purchase one of our own. My mother, Lady Anne Darcy, has been far more of a mother to my wife in the month since they met than you have ever been. If I have my way, we will never cross the threshold of this house again, but because my wife is such a kind and forgiving woman, I doubt I will be able to convince her of that. We may, therefore, return for a visit, but I will not relent on my decision to never sleep in this house. And I would not expect my wife ever to invite you to visit us at any of our homes, wherever they may be.”
Mrs. Bennet affected a slump as the force of these words struck her, but as it was evident from the flush on her cheeks, she was angry, not faint, Fitzwilliam ignored her behaviours and followed his wife out the door.