Chapter Fourteen
Darcy had been distracted all day as his servants prepared Darcy House to receive its guests for the musicale.
He made myriad decisions about chair placement and flower arrangements and ensured the performers would have everything they required.
But all the while, he reminded himself of his resolve regarding Elizabeth.
He could not allow his attraction to her to overcome his better judgment again.
He would keep his distance; there would be no more kissing.
By the evening, Darcy House was ready. Everything was so polished that even the floors gleamed. The chandeliers were alight with dozens of candles. Flower arrangements adorned nearly every table. The chairs in the music room were aligned with perfect precision.
Darcy stood in the front hall. Footmen were positioned near the entrance to open the door and assist guests with their outer garments.
If only my life could be that orderly.
Georgiana had arrived from Pemberley the previous day. She planned to play a solo piece on the pianoforte and participate in a quartet with her friends. The second half of the program would feature a well-known Italian singer.
His sister displayed some nervousness. Darcy feared she would be nearly paralyzed by anxiety but was pleased to find it was not the case.
She assured him she had practiced everything with her music master and was quite confident about her exhibition.
Apparently, much to his surprise, she was maturing.
Elizabeth was a vision of loveliness in a yellow gown when she arrived. Darcy had to restrain himself to a kiss on the hand when he desperately wanted to embrace her. Her introduction to Georgiana proceeded smoothly, and soon they conversed like old friends. He could not help being pleased.
Aunt Catherine’s arrival, however, presented a potential problem for him.
Well, a potential disaster. She had swept through the entrance, with Mr. Collins scrambling in her wake like a pet pug.
Her chin was preemptively lifted, making it that much easier for her to judge the inferiority of the other guests.
Darcy moved quickly to intercept her; abandoned to her own devices, she would insult Elizabeth and harangue Georgiana. He took a deep breath. “Aunt, I am so happy you could join us.”
“Of course you are,” she responded.
Darcy stifled the impulse to roll his eyes.
Her gaze swept over Elizabeth, where she conversed with Georgiana at the other end of the hallway. “I suppose you are still engaged to that chit.” Collins likewise eyed her disapprovingly.
Darcy clenched his jaw against the impulse to respond to her rudeness in kind. “Naturally. It would be dishonorable to break my promise to her.”
“Promise! It hardly signifies when she drew you in with her arts and allurements.”
“She did not—”
His aunt interrupted him. “Fortunately, we can rectify the situation tonight. Anne will arrive shortly.”
Darcy must have misheard. “Anne? But she is visiting relatives in the North.”
“She was, but her visit concluded some days ago, and she has traveled south. I invited her to visit me in Town before she continues to Kent. She may stay as long as a fortnight,” his aunt said triumphantly. Behind her, Collins grinned.
Darcy managed not to groan. No doubt his aunt would take every opportunity to throw them together throughout that fortnight.
Damnation! This is what Darcy had hoped to avoid.
Now I will be forced to tell Anne personally that I am not inclined to marry her.
Darcy did not suppose his cousin would be distraught at the intelligence, but she was inscrutable.
And nothing could prevent it from being an awkward and uncomfortable scene.
His aunt leaned close to Darcy and spoke in a low voice. “I did not mention to Anne your little ‘adventure’ with the country miss. Naturally, once you behold Anne, you will realize she is the superior choice.” Behind her, Collins bobbed his head in agreement.
The idea was ridiculous. Anne was waif-like and sickly. A strong breeze might knock her down. “That will not happen,” Darcy said firmly.
At that moment Elizabeth and Georgiana joined them. His aunt nodded perfunctorily to Elizabeth and then stepped away to greet Georgiana.
“You look ready to burst into flames,” Elizabeth murmured to him.
There was no reason to conceal anything from her. “My aunt has engineered it so that my cousin Anne will be attending tonight’s event. Apparently, she has returned from her sojourn to the North.”
Elizabeth’s brows furrowed. “But what does she hope to accomplish in company? She cannot possibly expect you to throw me over and offer for your cousin during a musicale! Although…that would be an excellent plot for a farce.”
“She may hope for just that,” Darcy said darkly. “She certainly wishes to discompose me in my own house.”
“How Machiavellian of her.”
Darcy chuckled. “I do not believe Machiavelli advocated being crude and obvious. My aunt has not told Anne about our engagement.” Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth. “Yes. She will force me to perform that office.”
“Oh, William, my apologies.”
Darcy took her hand. “Do not apologize. You have saved me from an engagement to my cousin. I am exceedingly grateful.”
Her smile melted his heart. If only I could marry this woman!
Darcy chatted idly with Elizabeth as the last guests trickled in through the entrance. Her very presence helped to elevate his mood. He was not looking forward to living without her when they indeed separated. Fortunately, they had time.
Rather than settling herself in the music room with the other guests, Aunt Catherine remained in the hall, disturbing the arriving guests with her air of disdain. Collins was attached to her side like an extremely solicitous barnacle.
As the start of the musicale grew near, Darcy allowed himself to hope that his cousin might not appear at all. Perhaps the journey had fatigued her too much.
However, only two minutes before the event commenced, the footman opened the door to disclose Anne de Bourgh.
Darcy’s eyes widened. His cousin had gained weight, now appearing hale and sturdy.
Whatever her de Bourgh family had fed her obviously agreed with her.
Now it would take a hurricane to knock her over.
She wore a simple gown of sapphire blue.
His aunt could not have possibly chosen it; her tastes ran to highly ornamented pastels.
And she was on the arm of a young man Darcy did not know.
He vaguely recognized the older couple behind them as her paternal aunt and uncle.
Aunt Catherine had not mentioned that they would accompany Anne. Had she not known?
Oddly, everyone in the party appeared rather…grim. They all had the air of people determined to endure a disagreeable task. Darcy wanted to reassure them that the music really would be most enjoyable.
The party had barely entered the hall when Aunt Catherine cried out, “No!” She pointed to the young man escorting Anne. “No! He is not welcome here!” Striding toward the party, she shooed the man away as if he were an insect.
Then she glared at Anne’s aunt and uncle. “I instructed you quite clearly! I wrote to explain that she was not to have any contact with th-that man! I would not have allowed the visit otherwise.”
The uncle shook his head. “I made you no promises, Cathy.”
Cathy? Darcy raised an eyebrow.
“You must depart!” she insisted, gesturing to the young man. “Leave immediately!”
Darcy scrutinized him for signs that he might be a highwayman or pirate or (worse) a shopkeeper. But he was dressed quite appropriately, if not terribly fashionably.
“This is not your house, Mama,” Anne said through gritted teeth. “Refusing Hugh would be my cousin’s decision.”
Now every eye turned to Darcy—an actor thrust onto the stage without the benefit of a script. Ordinarily, he would have bowed to his aunt’s inclinations, but he was not in charity with her at the moment. And he was quite curious what unforgivable crime this man must have committed.
“He has done nothing to offend me,” Darcy noted. Behind him, Elizabeth muffled laughter. Darcy eyed the other man. “Your name, sir?”
“Hugh Donaldson.” The man executed a perfectly correct bow. “Thank you for having me as your guest.”
“You do not know what he is!” Aunt Catherine thundered to Darcy. “He had the audacity to ask for Anne’s hand! He is your rival.”
Rival? Rival! Darcy wanted to slap Donaldson on the back and offer him a glass of brandy. But he was not prepared to provoke his aunt quite that much.
“And you did not permit it?” Darcy asked her.
She glared at him. “His estate is worth merely two thousand a year! He is hardly suitable.”
“I take it that you have not given your consent?” Darcy asked mildly.
Elizabeth tittered.
“Of course not. She will be married to you!”
Anne lifted her chin. “I will not. The point is moot. I am already married to Hugh.”
Darcy and Elizabeth gasped in unison.
Aunt Catherine paled. “What nonsense! You cannot be married! There have been no banns read.”
Darcy knew what Anne would say seconds before she uttered it.
“We married in Scotland.” The defiant expression on his cousin’s face was a mirror of her mother’s.
A visit to Scotland would be an easy journey from her aunt and uncle’s estate. In Scotland, they could wed without banns or a license. Anne must have formed an attachment to Donaldson upon a previous visit. No wonder Aunt Catherine had been so eager for Darcy to propose.
Further down the hall, Georgiana made a soft noise of surprise. Unfortunately, it drew Aunt Catherine’s attention, providing a focus for her ire.
“Georgiana, why are you not preparing to perform?” she asked in her haughtiest voice.
Darcy’s sister blushed a deep red and cast her eyes down. She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. How dare his aunt vent her wrath on Georgiana when she had done nothing wrong?