Chapter 16
“Richard!” Anne de Bourgh exclaimed, her pale face brightening with pleasure. “It is good to see you, Cousin.”
“Anne,” Richard returned affectionately, striding over to poke the fire. The flames obediently leaped higher, and he put an additional log on for good measure before continuing. “It is good to see you as well, though I confess to being surprised. Why are you here?”
Anne leaned closer to the fire gratefully and sighed. “Mother insisted that I come when we received word that Darcy was injured. Is he ... is he badly hurt?”
“No, he will be entirely well,” Richard responded, casting a reassuring look toward Georgiana.
“He was stabbed, but the cut was not a deep one, and the local apothecary, who knows his work, says he will be well in time. Darcy is rather tired, but that is to be expected. There was no reason to rush here in such a frenzy, but Lady Catherine is not always logical.”
Anne smiled weakly at this, though she was surprised. It was rare for anyone to openly criticize her mother in front of her, though she could not disagree with the colonel’s assessment of the lady.
“I am sorry that you were required to travel in haste for no reason,” Georgiana said softly.
The door opened at this juncture, and a maid bustled in with tea service.
Georgiana, feeling very grown up, poured tea for her cousins and was pleased when Anne’s face brightened a little.
There was nothing like hot tea on a cold day to perk one up.
“I am afraid,” Anne de Bourgh said after drinking a full cup, “that there is a definite reason why I am here. Mother is quite determined that Darcy and I wed immediately. She has arranged for a special license and intends for Mr. Collins to marry us as soon as possible.”
Shocked silence fell on the group before Georgiana, in a burst of courage, asked, “Do you wish to marry my brother now, Cousin Anne?”
Anne de Bourgh hesitated, looking first to Richard and then to Georgiana. Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana’s companion, had quietly excused herself when the colonel appeared, and she was thankful to be able to speak to her relatives in private.
“I suppose I should,” Anne said with obvious reluctance. “Darcy is a fine man and Pemberley a great estate. Mother says it is my duty to wed him to keep both Rosings and Pemberley in the family.”
“It is not your duty, Anne,” Richard urged. “Pemberley is estate enough for any man. If you do not wish to marry Darcy, you should not.”
The woman shrugged helplessly and tears filled her eyes. “I truly do not wish to marry at all, at least not now, with my health so indifferent, but I cannot stand against Mother. I cannot.”
A door slammed shut outside the parlor, and the threesome fell silent as Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s strident voice smote their ears.
“You will marry Anne, Darcy, you will! I insist upon it! It was your mother’s greatest wish, as well as my own! You shall not gainsay me in this! Darcy! Darcy! How dare you walk away from me! Darcy!”
Georgiana, who had turned her face toward the parlor door, looked back with an unladylike grin and said, “It appears that my brother is not amenable to marrying you, so you are quite safe, Anne.”
Anne smiled in delight for a moment, and then her face grew downcast, “I suppose I can trust Darcy to hold the line, but even if she truly accepts his decision, then what? She is determined that I shall marry a rich man with excellent connections and wealth. She may choose someone far worse for me.”
Richard Fitzwilliam reached out and took his cousin’s fragile hands in his own strong ones. “Do not worry, Anne. We will protect you from any horrible potential bridegrooms. I promise!”
***
“Do you wish to marry Charles by license?” Elizabeth asked Jane. “I know Mother thinks a license would be more elegant, but if you would prefer that the banns be called, I beg you to do as you wish.”
The latter, who was looking at the dresses in her wardrobe, said, “I do not wish to have the banns called, Lizzy. I hope to marry Charles very soon; indeed, I fear Mother will drive us both mad if we tarry too long. She has waited a very long time to see one of us married, but that does not mean I wish to spend the next few weeks obsessing over the wedding breakfast!”
Elizabeth chuckled. “I understand entirely. Mother prides herself on setting a good table and naturally desires your nuptials to be celebrated in the finest style, but I agree that she need not weary you with days upon days of planning. Of course, it will take a little time to have your wedding clothes made up.”
Jane shook her head with surprising decision. “No, Lizzy, I am quite resolved that Papa will not be forced to buy wedding garments for me. Charles is very wealthy, and you and the younger girls need my parents’ support far more than I do.”
Elizabeth shook her head and said dolefully, “Our mother will be most upset at that decision. She wishes to see you decked out in the finest of clothing.”
Jane reached into her wardrobe, carefully pulled out a soft yellow dress, and held it up to herself as she gazed into the mirror.
“This gown is quite new, Elizabeth, and I have only worn it twice. Perhaps we could arrange for Mrs. Hitchens to add some lace around the neck and along the hem and cuffs; that would make it look a little different but would not be nearly as expensive as a new gown.”
Her younger sister tilted her head and turned the neckline of her own dress over a little to display the connection of lace to fabric. “Yes, Jane, I quite agree, that would be lovely. You can see my own gown has lace attached at the neck and it is quite…”
She trailed off as she observed a look of horror on Jane’s expressive face. A second later, her eyes flicked to the mirror and she realized with dismay that an ugly bruise, in the shape of a hand, was now exposed on her left shoulder.
Elizabeth swallowed quickly and, berating herself inwardly, smoothed her garments appropriately so that the mottled flesh was no longer visible.
For a full minute, the two sisters gazed at one another and then Elizabeth said, “Jane, please forget you saw that.”
“I will not! Lizzy, you are injured! What happened? Who harmed you?”
Elizabeth gulped and said tremulously, “Truly, my dear, it is better that … oh Jane…”
Jane took a step forward, scowling dangerously. “Elizabeth, I must know. If someone hurt you, you must tell Father!”
“I did,” Elizabeth assured her. “Father knows all about it. Please do not concern yourself.”
Tears sprang into Jane’s beautiful eyes. “Concern myself? My dear sister, you were attacked by someone and did not even tell me! I am terrified for you, for me, for all of our sisters. What if this vile individual assaults you again?”
“He is dead, Jane,” Elizabeth said, her face set hard in anger. “It was George Wickham who injured me, and Mr. Darcy who rescued me from disaster.”
***
“Richard, I have no idea why you are here instead of in London, but I can only be grateful,” Lady Catherine said as she stalked up and down the drawing room, her face flushed with outrage. “You must make Darcy see reason! He must marry Anne!”
Richard Fitzwilliam was a congenial man.
He was also a colonel in the Regulars with a remarkable ability to manage both the men under him and his superior officers above him.
He had promised Anne that he would find a way to keep her safe from an unwanted marriage, and the first step was to manipulate Lady Catherine.
“He is not required to marry our mutual cousin,” the colonel said precisely. “No marriage documents have been signed.”
The lady’s already protuberant eyes bulged out more in fury. “By honor, Darcy is promised to my daughter. The entire family has been united in their approval of their union since they were in their cradles.”
Richard did not bother to argue, though Darcy was three years older than Anne, and thus they had not both occupied cradles at the same time.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair, tapping his lips thoughtfully.
“I wonder...” he said, and trailed off dramatically.
“What do you wonder? Out with it, Fitzwilliam!”
“I wonder if perhaps Anne and Darcy have not spent enough time together?” he suggested. “They are both rather quiet, and perhaps Darcy is concerned that they will not deal well together because of that.”
“Nonsense! We are not peasants, to concern ourselves with love and affection! Furthermore, as you well know, Darcy spends several weeks at Rosings every spring! He certainly has interacted with Anne more than I ever did before I married Sir Lewis!”
Richard again withheld comment. Without a doubt, Sir Lewis de Bourgh had married Lady Catherine because the lady was the wealthy daughter of an earl.
He did not remember much about his uncle, who had died a full decade ago, but the man had been quiet, self-effacing, and entirely under the rule of his imperious and strong willed wife.
“If you do not mind me saying so, it is an exceptional man who notices Anne when in your company, dear aunt,” he pointed out gravely. “You have such a remarkable presence that most of us mere mortals fade into the background.”
This was the sort of overt flattery that would disgust most people, but Lady Catherine merely smiled in a self-satisfied way and said, “That is true enough. But again, it matters not. We are not living in the pages of a romance novel! Darcy is marrying Anne to unite two great estates, not because he loves her or she loves him! You must convince him to do his duty!”
Colonel Fitzwilliam pursed his lips thoughtfully and shook his head. “I know Darcy very well, and at the moment he is quite determined that he will not marry our mutual cousin.”
The lady opened her mouth, prepared to burst into outraged speech, but held her silence when Richard held out a restraining hand and continued, “Anne is a most remarkable woman, and as the heiress of Rosings, no man could possibly want more. Darcy is, I suspect, somewhat off balance due to his recent brush with death. I do beg you not to concern yourself. If I may make a suggestion…”
He trailed off again deliberately and was rewarded when his aunt huffed and said, “Well, out with it! What is your suggestion, Fitzwilliam?”
“I have no doubt that Darcy will return to London as soon as his arm is healed. I will accompany him and Georgiana, and, I suggest, Anne as well. She can stay with Lady Matlock in London, and she and Darcy will doubtless spend significant time together as Georgiana is also staying with my mother. I will speak to both of them about the match; I believe both of my cousins trust my judgment. Of course, I defer to your superior knowledge of your daughter; do you think her health is sufficient to permit her to stay with Lady Matlock? Since the Season is months away, my mother will not be entertaining heavily.”
He forced himself to gaze into his aunt’s face, his eyes limpid with honesty and innocence. He had not lied, of course; he would speak to both Darcy and Anne, and encourage them to avoid a marriage that neither desired.
Lady Catherine never liked ideas that were not her own, but this appeal to her wisdom could not but please her.
She cogitated for a full minute and then nodded majestically.
“Yes, that is an excellent plan. Without question, you are correct; Darcy’s fight with the steward’s son has temporarily deranged him.
Very well, I will inform Anne that she will accompany you back to London.
I trust you to take good care of her, Fitzwilliam! ”
“It will be my honor,” the colonel said with a bow.
“I will send Mrs. Jenkinson, Anne’s companion, to Matlock House as soon as I return to Rosings,” Lady Catherine continued. “She was running a fever when we left, and thus I did not think it wise to bring her with us, but she will be better by now.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam suppressed a grin. It was so very like his aunt to think she could order someone to feel better.
“I hope she is entirely recovered,” he agreed.
The lady nodded in a distracted manner, her eyes on the spiral mouldings which decorated the edges of the ceiling.
“I will leave early on Monday,” she said after a moment. “There is no reason for me to stay here, and as you say, Darcy finds it difficult to consider Anne’s delightful nature in my presence. But I must deal with Mr. Collins’s problem. I will see you at dinner, Colonel.”
“Yes, dear aunt,” the colonel responded with a bow. He wondered who Mr. Collins was and what problem Lady Catherine needed to solve, but he would not ask. He was pleased with the results of this interview, and it would be best to leave well alone.