Chapter 28
DARCY ENTERED THE MORNING room with Bingley and stopped before the door closed behind them.
Lady Catherine sat beside the fire as though Netherfield belonged to her, with Anne near the window and Georgiana at her side.
Caroline occupied the chair nearest Lady Catherine, wearing the expression of a woman whose appeal had reached the proper authority.
Louisa looked less encouraged, while Hurst remained behind his newspaper, choosing the quieter inconvenience.
Georgiana rose. Darcy crossed the room to her before he greeted anyone else, and the strain in her face told him that the journey was not her choice.
“Georgiana.”
“I am glad to see you.”
Lady Catherine glared at him. “You should have been here to receive us.”
“I did not know you were coming.” Darcy turned to her. “Had I known, I would have advised against the journey.”
“Hoping for delay, which amounts to the same thing. I had no intention of allowing this matter to grow while you found reasons to conceal it.”
Bingley glanced from Lady Catherine to Darcy. “What matter?”
“The company your friend is keeping in Hertfordshire.”
“My company?” Bingley asked.
“Your judgment concerns me less than his, though I find little to praise in either.”
Caroline lowered her eyes, but satisfaction escaped in the curve of her mouth. Darcy saw it and understood that Lady Catherine had heard enough to strengthen every conclusion she had carried from Rosings.
He took the chair opposite his aunt. “You travelled from Kent to question my acquaintance with the Bennets.”
“I came because no one else appeared willing to act. Mr. Collins gave me an account of the family, and your letters supplied what his report lacked.”
Darcy’s attention returned to Georgiana. She held his gaze, though color rose into her face.
“She found impressions on blotting paper that a servant removed from my room.”
For a moment he said nothing. Georgiana had feared anger, but the restraint in his face proved worse than any display.
Lady Catherine lifted her chin. “I took nothing from Georgiana’s desk. Waste paper entered the servants’ hands, and I learned enough from it to recognize a danger to this family.”
“You searched discarded paper for traces of a private letter.”
“I examined what had already left her possession.”
“You used a servant to invade her privacy, then brought her here to give the intrusion consequence.”
“I brought her because she is your sister and has an interest in the choices you make.”
Georgiana’s hands tightened in her lap.
“My sister’s interest does not give you authority over her correspondence.”
“Do not turn this into an accusation against me. You wrote of a young woman whose family has neither sense nor restraint, whose sisters run after officers, and whose mother announces her ambitions before anyone who will listen. You have remained among them long enough for the neighborhood to remark upon it.”
“I wrote of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed at the missing apology. “You wrote of her with attention no sensible man would give to such a connection.”
“Then your quarrel is with my judgment, not hers.”
“Her conduct invited the judgment.”
“No.” The word carried through the room without force, and Caroline’s satisfaction faltered. “Miss Elizabeth has done nothing to deserve contempt from a woman she has never met.”
Lady Catherine turned toward Caroline. “Miss Bingley tells me the girl has made frequent use of this house.”
Caroline straightened. “Miss Eliza has called at Netherfield before, and she appears at ease here.”
“Because she is our guest,” Bingley said. “The Bennets have shown us every courtesy, and we have returned it.”
“Charles means that the neighborhood leaves little choice in such matters,” Caroline said.
“I mean nothing of the kind.”
Louisa set down her cup. “Miss Bennet and her sister called this morning to return our visit. There was nothing improper in it.”
Caroline looked at her sister. “I never said there was.”
“You implied it.”
Lady Catherine waved the difference aside. “Whether the girl forced an invitation or accepted one with too much readiness matters little. Darcy received her here.”
Hurst lowered the newspaper. “Receiving a caller has become grave business.”
“No one asked for your opinion,” Caroline said.
“As you said before.” He raised the paper again.
Darcy would have preferred Hurst’s silence, but the remark exposed the weakness beneath Lady Catherine’s certainty. She had travelled across two counties with no evidence beyond private praise, Collins’s vanity, and Caroline’s resentment.
Lady Catherine fixed Darcy with the look that had silenced tenants, clergymen, and half the families near Rosings. “I shall call at Longbourn.”
“No.”
The refusal startled Caroline more than Lady Catherine. Georgiana looked at her brother, then at their aunt.
“You forget yourself,” Lady Catherine said.
“I know what you intend. You will not enter Mr. Bennet’s house to insult his daughter.”
“I intend a civil visit.”
“You did not cross Hertfordshire to exchange pleasantries.”
Georgiana spoke before Lady Catherine could answer. “I would like to go.”
Darcy turned to her. “Georgiana.”
“I met Miss Elizabeth when we arrived, but we had no chance to speak. I would rather know her than hear more reports.”
Lady Catherine’s mouth tightened. “You know enough.”
“You and Mr. Collins have made your opinions clear. I want to form my own.”
The request cost her effort, yet she did not withdraw it. Darcy understood that refusing would leave Georgiana at Netherfield under Caroline’s curiosity, while agreeing meant taking her into Lady Catherine’s confrontation at Longbourn. Neither choice pleased him.
“If we go,” he said, “we go as guests. No one will question Miss Elizabeth about matters that do not concern them.”
Lady Catherine gave him a look of disbelief. “You presume to set terms for my conduct?”
“In this matter, yes.”
Bingley moved toward the bell. “I shall order the carriage. I mean to accompany you.”
Caroline rose. “Charles, Lady Catherine cannot wish to descend upon Longbourn with half the household.”
“I am not half the household.”
“You are the master of Netherfield, which makes your presence conspicuous.”
“Then it will spare our neighbors the fear of offending me.”
Louisa covered a smile with her cup. Lady Catherine appeared ready to object, but Bingley had already crossed to the bell, and Darcy suspected she preferred his presence to any delay.
The party reached Longbourn in the early afternoon.
Lady Catherine had insisted upon leaving Netherfield before luncheon, declaring that country families kept irregular hours and might receive callers at any time.
Mrs. Bennet proved the wisdom of the claim by welcoming them with equal measures of astonishment and delight, though the delight belonged more to the carriage, servants, and title than to Lady Catherine.
“My lady, this is an honor beyond anything we could have expected. Had we known, Hill would have prepared the drawing room, though she keeps it in excellent order, and I would have sent for my daughters. Jane and Lizzy have only returned from Netherfield, and Mary is with her music, while Kitty and Lydia are upstairs, which may be just as well because Lydia speaks before she considers who might hear her.”
Lady Catherine looked around the room. “I see.”
Bennet entered from the library and bowed. “Lady Catherine. Longbourn has survived many surprises, but few arrive with four horses.”
“I wished to speak with your family.”
“That explains the horses less than you might suppose.”
Mrs. Bennet shot him a warning glance and called for Jane and Elizabeth.
Darcy took a place near Georgiana, conscious that his presence had drawn Elizabeth’s attention when she entered.
Jane greeted Bingley with warmth and welcomed Georgiana and Anne as though Lady Catherine had not come to examine them.
Elizabeth curtsied to Lady Catherine. “Your ladyship.”
“We have met.”
“At Netherfield, yes.”
Lady Catherine appeared displeased that Elizabeth required no reminder. “Your cousin serves as rector of Hunsford.”
“He does.”
“Mr. Collins speaks with gratitude of my guidance.”
“He speaks of little else,” Bennet said, and Darcy caught the beginning of a smile before he turned away.
Lady Catherine did not. “Gratitude is a virtue too seldom found among young people.”
“Mr. Collins has preserved enough for several families.”
Mrs. Bennet began to tell Lady Catherine how fortunate Charlotte Lucas had been to secure a husband with a living, a patroness, and future prospects at Longbourn.
Bennet allowed the account to continue until Lady Catherine’s questions turned toward the estate, the entail, and the management of five daughters with no male heir.
Elizabeth saw Georgiana’s discomfort before Mrs. Bennet could ask whether she played, sang, drew, or expected to marry. She moved nearer and addressed her in a lower voice.
“I hope the journey did not tire you.”
“No. We left early.”
“My mother believes every journey demands food, blankets, and a report of the roads. Lady Catherine appears to have survived without our assistance.”
Georgiana glanced toward her aunt. “She prepares for most difficulties before they occur.”
“And several that never do.”
A smile appeared, which Georgiana made no attempt to hide. Darcy, caught in Lady Catherine’s questions about Bingley’s lease, saw the change and lost the thread of the inquiry. Elizabeth noticed that as well, though she gave no sign beyond turning her attention back to Georgiana.
The outer door opened, and a moment later Hill came to the drawing-room door. “Miss Elizabeth, Sarah has come from the north pasture. Tom says she is waiting in the yard.”
“I shall see to her.” Elizabeth looked at Georgiana. “Would you care to come? You saw her at Netherfield, but she was busy inspecting your carriage.”
“I would.”
Lady Catherine broke off her question. “Georgiana has no need to leave the room for a dog.”
“I should like to see her,” Georgiana said.