Chapter 3.26
A large, elegant carriage halted next to them, and from it, three ladies and two gentlemen climbed down.
One of the ladies, of particular beauty and elegance, stepped forward.
“Georgiana! How nice to see you! And Mrs. Darcy. I am Lady Amelia Rushford, we were introduced at the theatre last month. I do not imagine you remember me. You met so many new people that surely you must have forgotten most of them. I imagine you are not accustomed to making so many new acquaintances in one evening. You have probably not met so many people in your entire life.”
Georgiana curtsied, embarrassed by such an approach. Elizabeth’s eyebrow rose in challenge.
“Your ladyship’s worry is appreciated, but I do remember everyone I have met. I have an excellent memory.”
“Well good for you,” the lady said with scorn, measuring Elizabeth critically with her gaze. “Is this the little brat you took from Madame Claudette? It is rather strange to show yourself with her in public.”
Elizabeth’s patience vanished.
“Why would it be strange to show myself with a lovely girl who is part of our family?”
“Part of your family? For heaven’s sake! Surely you are not aware of the etiquette. A lady of consequence cannot be seen in public with people below her. But again, you must be unaware of such rules, since you yourself were part of their set until recently.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks burning. She breathed deeply to calm herself, noticing Emily’s frightened face, hiding behind Sarah. Before she had time to reply, she heard Georgiana burst out.
“Why are you so mean, Lady Amelia? Why do you say such nasty things? You are always so pleasant in public, and now I am seeing a side of you that appals me! You had the good luck to be born into a good family, you did not earn it through your own merit, and neither did I. We are not above anyone! Our birth was God’s gift to us.
Now, we must prove we deserve this gift by behaving with kindness and generosity! ”
Lady Amelia was stunned and paled in anger.
“Georgiana, how dare you speak to me in such a manner? Your manners have lowered lately. Since your brother married, obviously!”
“I completely disagree! My life has only improved since my brother married! And every day I spend with my sister, I understand why my brother chose her, above everyone else!”
“How dare you!?” Lady Amelia cried.
“How dare you?” Elizabeth asked, stepping forward to protect Georgiana. “We have not approached you, nor bothered you, and we would have been happy not to have spoken to you at all! It was you who chose to stop only to offend us!”
At that moment, one of the lady’s male companions placed himself between them.
“Come now ladies, surely you are not going to argue in the middle of the park over a little bastard. I have already had my share of fighting with Darcy over her. It seems your husband has won this one, madam,” he said with a large grin and an oily voice.
“With my husband?” Elizabeth asked, puzzled.
“Yes. What a coincidence to meet you here today. I confess that I was disappointed to lose an argument against Darcy. But now that I see the little brat, there is not much of her, I must say.”
Elizabeth and Georgiana glanced at each other, one red with anger, the other pale with distress.
“Come, Lord Walford. There is no use in us staying any longer,” Lady Amelia said.
Elizabeth’s anger put a lump in her throat.
“Sarah, please take Emily and go ahead. I will join you shortly. Georgiana, you should go with them.”
“No, indeed, I would rather stay,” Miss Darcy replied decidedly, while the maid and the girl walked away, glancing back repeatedly.
The man laughed.
“It seems Darcy had a keen interest in this girl, which is somewhat surprising. Knowing Darcy, one must wonder about the nature of his interest. This must be the advantage of marrying someone below your situation in life: you need not explain anything, and your spouse cannot demand any explanation regarding who you bring into your house.”
They laughed, while Georgiana seemed unable to breathe.
Elizabeth, however, found her voice and her anger was stronger than ever. She looked straight at the party and with a calm yet severe voice, spoke boldly.
“Since we have not been properly introduced, I am uncertain who I am talking to. However, such a manner of address is highly ungentlemanly. I am not sure what you mean to imply regarding Mr. Darcy’s interest. Saving a persecuted child was my decision, Emily is under my protection, and Mr. Darcy has done nothing but to indulge me.
There is no other interest. He is an honourable man, with a generous nature and flawless character.
Unlike others, Mr. Darcy has no ulterior motives. ”
“Mrs. Darcy, have you just accused Lord Walford of not being a gentleman after you shamelessly scolded me? This is outrageous!” Lady Amelia interjected again.
“Such behaviour is not acceptable even in the country, I am sure of that! Lady Catherine de Bourgh warned us about such displays of impropriety. Surely you will never be accepted in our circles!”
“Mrs. Darcy will be excused for the moment,” the man continued.
“I do I admire a fierce lady, and I found your tone more appealing than appalling. But you must keep in mind that my position—as well as Lady Amelia’s—are above your husband’s and you owe us respect!
You might not be accustomed to the genteel manners and the social scale that is carefully respected in the ton! ”
“Indeed! I am an Earl’s daughter, and Lord Walford and the marquis are among the oldest and most noble peers in London,” the lady claimed.
“It was not my intention to sound rude,” Elizabeth replied. “However, you left me little choice, since you both attacked us in the presence of Miss Darcy and a young child!”
“I apologise to Miss Darcy, but I could not care less about that brat. To me, this situation is closed. You may keep her as long as you like,” Lord Walford said. “However, in the future, you must keep in mind the social scale and your required behaviour!”
Elizabeth had no patience or consideration left and she answered sharply.
“I am well aware of the social scale, as well as social status. And I am relieved by your present lack of interest in Emily. What I find hard to understand is why a young unmarried gentleman would have any interest in taking a young girl into his house and paying for her company. Is this appropriate among the gentlemen of London society? Perhaps Lady Amelia should ask her father’s opinion, as I shall ask for Lord and Lady Matlock’s. ”
The earl and the other man remained frozen in disbelief, then their expressions changed immediately. Dark and foreboding, they looked at each other, then at the women near them, before turning to Elizabeth.
Lord Walford stepped closer and grabbed her arm while he said through his teeth, “I am not sure what you are implying, madam, but you should guard your impertinence! Such implications might be above what you are used to handling. And what do you accuse me of? Did your husband not pay for the girl too?”
“Release my arm and do not make a fool of yourself even further, Lord Walford,” Elizabeth replied disdainfully.
He did so, and Elizabeth threw him a meaningful glance.
“My husband paid for the services of someone who helped the child, jeopardising her own well-being. It was a generous act of mercy! Is it the same in your case? I was informed that there are several other children that reside in your house. I would imagine they are all your legitimate relatives? Nieces and nephews, I hear? There must be many siblings and cousins in your family!”
“What on earth are you saying?” Lady Amelia interfered angrily.
“You should ask Lord Walford, I am sure he will enlighten you. We must leave now before more improper things are said,” Elizabeth concluded. “I thank you for the lesson regarding the superiority of peers and the social scale of the ton.”
She turned towards Georgiana while the others watched them, astounded. Elizabeth took her sister’s arm, but before they took a single step, they froze in surprise as they saw Darcy almost running towards them.
“Walford, step away from my wife or I shall rip you apart,” he thundered when he was close enough. Even more, he approached further and pushed Lord Walford back.
“Mr. Darcy, have you lost your mind? This is hardly proper behaviour from you! Did your wife take your mind completely?” Lady Amelia cried.
Darcy glared at her. “I wonder if Lord Rushford, your father, approves of your companion, madam. As for my manners, there is no need for you to worry, I shall display them in front of you as rarely as possible.”
“Mr. Darcy, there is no need for further argument,” Elizabeth said gently, touching her husband’s arm. “All is well now. Lord Walford just informed me that for him, the entire matter with Emily is closed for good.”
“Indeed there is no need for such wild manners,” Lord Walford declared, taking another step back.
Darcy looked at his wife, at his sister, then at the others. He quickly understood there had been a distressing fight that he should worry about, but Elizabeth and Georgiana’s pleading gazes induced him to overlook his impulse.
“All is well,” Elizabeth repeated, smiling and taking his arm.
With a last glance, Darcy turned his back and offered Georgiana the other arm, then strode hastily away from the party that remained to stare after them in complete disbelief.
Lord Walford and his cousin exchanged a quick look, mumbling an explanation about the peculiar conversation with Darcy and his wife.
Even if the ladies understood only part of the argument, they quickly ignored it, since it was decided all the blame fell on Mrs. Darcy.
After a brief chat, they concluded that Mr. Darcy must have lost his mind to marry a woman with such a complete lack of manners and wild behaviour and that she would surely bring him to ruin soon.
∞∞∞
Darcy was so furious that he was oblivious to the speed of his steps—too fast for the ladies who had to almost run to keep pace with him.
He felt he was suffocating from anger and could hardly fight the temptation to return and confront Walford.
When they entered the house, Georgiana said with a trembling voice and averted eyes, “Forgive me, I must go to my room for a while.”
“Dearest, are you unwell?” Elizabeth enquired.
“No…I am well, thank you. I will be fine, I just need to rest a little.”
The girl departed in haste, without allowing time for more questions.
Darcy helped his wife take off her coat and bonnet.
“I will rip Walford apart!” he bellowed.
“Fitzwilliam, please! Let us calm down.”
“I am calm, Elizabeth. I am frightening calm! I was enraged when I saw you talking to that scoundrel. But now I am calm, and I am pondering what to do next.”
“Please promise me you will not do anything to…”
Their private chat was interrupted by Miles, announcing that Lady Matlock and Colonel Fitzwilliam were waiting in the drawing-room.
“My aunt and cousin? Now?” Darcy replied, puzzled.
“Yes, sir. They arrived minutes after you left.”
“Very well, we will join them shortly,” Darcy concluded, exchanging a glance with his wife.
“Miles, is Emily well?” Elizabeth asked.
“I believe so, ma’am. She is downstairs with Sarah, having some milk and biscuits.”
“Thank you. Please let them know I will come and talk to them soon,” she said, taking her husband’s arm to attend their guest.