Chapter 39
Keaton House
Drawing Room
Elizabeth was seated comfortably on the couch close to the fire, bracing herself for the upcoming conversation. Her beloved Fitzwilliam was a bulwark of strength beside her; he had seated himself between her and the door in a gesture that plainly showed his willingness and intention to protect her.
The tableau in the room was quiet, with the sort of stillness that occurred before a storm broke.
Though there were several gentlemen in the room, Clara was the only other lady present.
Jane did not relish confrontation and had gone to dine at Hurst House with her beloved Charles.
Thankfully, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had more or less graciously embraced the engagement.
Georgiana, likewise, was safely at home at Darcy House with Mrs. Annesley and unequivocally ‘not home’ to any visitors.
She did not like raised voices, and considering that Lady Catherine would be in attendance, at least one raised voice seemed certain, as she could rarely bring herself to speak at a reasonable volume even in the best of circumstances.
Judging from the sudden commotion in the hall, the storm was rapidly approaching.
Elizabeth braced herself as the drawing room door opened and the Keatons' butler stepped inside, followed by a familiar woman, a slightly familiar gentleman, and another gentleman who was entirely unknown to Elizabeth.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Lord Matlock, and Colonel Fitzwilliam,” the butler announced and withdrew.
Everyone in the room rose except for an elderly man of some seventy years, who remained in his seat by the fire, with one foot resting on a stool.
“Will you not introduce your relations, Mr. Darcy?” Lord Keaton asked, and Darcy said, “Of course. Your Grace, Lord Ivesley, Lady Keaton, Lord Keaton, Miss Bennet, my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her brother, Lord Matlock, and Matlock’s second son, Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, His Grace, the Duke of Salford, his elder son, the Marquis of Stoken, the Marquis’s daughter, the Countess of Keaton, her husband, the Earl of Keaton, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. ”
The ladies and gentlemen exchanged curtsies and bows, and Elizabeth, when she straightened, was heartened by the obvious bewilderment on the face of their older visitors, and the knowing smile on Colonel Fitzwilliam’s face.
Elizabeth knew that the colonel was a good friend of Darcy’s and that he had been informed by hasty letter on this very day of their plans. She was grateful for his support.
“My apologies for not rising, Matlock,” the duke said with a regal nod. “I fear my gout is rather bad these days.”
“I understand entirely,” the earl said. His manners were, of course, perfect, but Elizabeth could tell that he was mightily confused by the situation.
“Please do sit down, all of you,” the countess said and turned a smile on Lady Catherine. “Will you not sit down across from my grandfather near the fire? It is rather a cold day, is it not?”
“Yes,” Lady Catherine said. Her brown eyes were wide, and her expression was blank, and Elizabeth suppressed a grin as Darcy gently drew her down onto the settee next to him.
“Matlock,” the duke said once everyone had settled themselves appropriately, “I understand that last night Lady Catherine insulted Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who is an old friend of the family.”
The earl looked shocked at this direct attack and cast an indignant look on his sister before he said, “I do not think Lady Catherine insulted her exactly…”
“Darcy!” the duke said irascibly, sitting up a little and wincing as he jarred his foot. “What was it that your aunt called Miss Elizabeth?”
“A strumpet and a harlot, sir,” Darcy said concisely
The duke turned an icy gaze on Lady Catherine, who looked more stuffed than alive now, and said, “I believe those are insults. Would you not agree, Matlock?”
“Indeed, I do agree, your grace,” the earl said meekly. He paused, cleared his throat, and then said, “It seems that my sister, and by extension I, have misunderstood the situation.”
The duke turned an irritable look on Matlock and said, “Indeed, you did. Now, I am too old to waste any more time on this matter. I have known Sir Thomas Bennet for more than a decade and have warm memories of my visit, along with my son Ivesley and granddaughter Clara, to their estate on Emerald Island, which I understand is now owned by Miss Elizabeth. That is where I first met her and her younger sister, Miss Mary. I find astronomy fascinating, you see. Clara and Miss Elizabeth have been close friends for many years, and it is repugnant and insulting that Lady Catherine, a mere baronet’s wife, would try to interfere with Darcy’s approval of a lovely, intelligent, clever lady like Miss Elizabeth. Is that clear?”
“It is,” Matlock said quickly, and turned a furious gaze on his sister. “Catherine, I think it is time for us to leave.”
Lady Catherine opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, closed it again, and then rose to her feet.
“Good day to you all,” she said in a gravelly tone.
“Richard?” the earl said, looking at his son, who had not moved.
“If you do not mind, I will stay for dinner. I wish to know Miss Elizabeth better,” the colonel said cheerfully.
Matlock sighed and nodded. “As you wish.”
Elizabeth watched as the pair left the room, waited until the door had closed behind them, and then turned toward the Duke.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said.
“It is my pleasure, my dear,” the duke replied with a soft smile on his wrinkled countenance. “I have long admired you a great deal and would be pleased to see you comfortably settled with an honorable young man.”
She felt herself blush at these words, and she turned to observe Darcy gazing at her with obvious adoration in his dark eyes.
“I entirely agree with you,” she said, smiling brightly.
***
Drawing Room
Hurst House
London
After dinner
Jane absently took a sip of tea as she glanced at her two female companions.
She knew that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had initially looked down on the Bennets, but that the family’s connection to the Keatons had tipped the scales in her favor as an appropriate bride for their brother.
Dinner had been very well cooked, and Charles’s sisters had been all that was charming and welcoming, which was a great relief, especially now, after dinner, with the gentlemen still in the dining room and the ladies in the drawing room.
This was all very well, but she could not help but worry about what was happening at Keaton House.
She felt a little guilty about running away from what might well be an unpleasant scene, but Elizabeth had firmly ordered her to join Charles at Hurst House, saying with truth that the fewer people present, the easier it would be for Lady Catherine to withdraw with some modicum of dignity.
Given how Lady Catherine had behaved the previous night at the Gardiners’ house, Jane was not certain that the mistress of Rosings was capable of behaving with some measure of decency, but she needed to trust Darcy and the Keatons to keep Elizabeth safe.
“…introduce you if you like,” Caroline Bingley finished, and Jane blinked in bewilderment and sighed.
“I am sorry, Caroline,” she said. “I fear my mind was wandering, and I did not hear you. Would you please repeat yourself?”
“Oh, that is quite all right. I daresay you have a great deal on your mind. I was asking whether you have decided where you will purchase your wedding attire. My own dressmaker, Mrs. Marshall, is truly gifted; far better, I am certain, than the woman in Meryton who makes up dresses. I would be pleased to introduce you to her if you like?”
Jane took a moment to inspect Caroline, who was dressed resplendently in an orange silk dress with a very fine tan shawl over her shoulders.
“Did you acquire your dress at Mrs. Marshall’s?” she asked. “It looks exceedingly well on you, Caroline.”
This was true enough. Caroline Bingley was a handsome woman and had a good eye for colors and textures. According to Charles, she also spent too much and regularly overdrew her quarterly allowance.
“She did,” Caroline said with a pleased smile.
“Well, she is most gifted,” Jane continued, “but I already have a dress for my wedding being made up by Madame Beaumont, the Countess of Keaton’s modiste.”
Caroline’s satisfaction gave way to a definite expression of envy. “Lady Keaton introduced you to Madame Beaumont?”
“Yes, she did, which was very gracious of her. Lady Keaton is exceptionally kind.”
Miss Bingley smiled, though her eyes remained calculating, and she said, “Do you visit the countess often, then?”
Jane frowned and said, “Oh, I am staying with the countess, along with Elizabeth. I am sorry. Did I fail to tell you that?”
Mrs. Hurst, who had been silently playing with her bracelets thus far, lifted her head and stared in surprise. “You are staying with the Countess of Keaton? Oh Jane, that is such an honor!”
“Thank you, yes,” Jane replied with a smile. “It is mostly because the countess is such close friends with Elizabeth, really. But yes, I am very grateful.”
“I am certain that dear Eliza is pleased as well,” Caroline declared. “Given that Elizabeth is mistress of an estate and is a friend to Lady Keaton, she might possibly win a very eligible gentleman or even, perhaps, an impoverished member of the minor nobility!”
Jane took another sip of tea to conceal her expression. She knew that Mr. Darcy was courting Elizabeth assiduously, but Caroline and Louisa did not know that. Should she speak of it? Caroline would be upset, of course…
“My dear Jane!” Caroline cried out, reaching out a hand and smiling coquettishly. “Is it possible that your sister is already being courted by an eligible young man? Pray do tell me all about it!”
At this moment, to Jane’s considerable relief, the beloved voice of her betrothed said, from the now open door into the dining room, “Elizabeth is being courted, Caroline, yes.”
Miss Bingley turned a beaming smile on her brother and said, “How wonderful for her? What is the name of the lucky gentleman?”
Charles deliberately made his way over to the sofa where Jane was sitting and then protectively lowered himself next to her, as his sister looked expectantly at him.
“His name is Fitzwilliam Darcy.”