Chapter Fifteen
Wildewoode Manor, Surrey
Elizabeth and William, and Kitty and Mr. Bingley, walked in pairs, arm in arm as they returned from the Solstice fair in Markby.
Miss Annesley and Mr. Chasuble trailed behind them, making conveniently indolent chaperones.
Elizabeth wondered how they might act if they knew the plan she and William were about to undertake together.
She had thoroughly enjoyed herself with the man she was soon to call husband; the fair would go on until sunset, and she was sorry they could not stay longer.
They had gotten their fortunes told, played games with some of the villagers and other local families whom Elizabeth supposed would soon become her acquaintance, and had even had their faces painted.
Elizabeth’s face was adored with small, intricate brushstrokes from her eyes to her chin, jutting out along her cheekbones to form beautiful butterfly wings.
Kitty had gotten her face painted as a cat – a very regal feline who resembled Duchess.
Mr. Bingley was painted as a frog, promising to turn into a prince if Kitty would kiss him.
William had let the artist decide, and the exuberant young man had styled him as a fox; Elizabeth assured him it was most becoming amidst his many laments that he appeared ridiculous.
It was early afternoon when they reached the manor, and Mr. Chasuble importuned Miss Annesley to sit in the library and advise him on a matter of grammar in the coming Sunday’s sermon.
Mr. Bingley declared he was famished, and called for luncheon to be served in the parlor as William made a droll face at his friend commanding the servants.
Elizabeth was a little peckish after being out of doors in the heat, but she felt a pressing sense of urgency to begin the journey ahead.
She was entreated to take a little substance before travelling, and though she saw the wisdom in it, she was anxious as she ate.
William appeared perfectly at ease, and she gave him a smile of gratitude as she considered how much she admired the way his steady reserve in such moments as this had a pleasantly calming effect on her.
She began to relax, and even took Kitty’s part in beseeching William to be reasonable when Mr. Bingley declared that Mr. Chasuble had consented to host him at the vicarage for a week or two, until William returned from his journey north.
“Surely you did not tell him about the elopement!"
“Of course not, Darcy – Worthing – but I shall never get used to your new name! I am not a simpleton, old chap. I only said you were travelling north. I should never lie to a clergyman, though this is not the first time I have omitted a little truth.”
“Brilliant,” William drawled.
“Come now, I shall be perfectly respectable while I am Mr. Chasuble’s guest. Really, he seems so eager for company that I daresay I am doing him a favor! And I shall not trespass on Kitty’s studies, nor disoblige Miss Annesley in any way. The vicar would not permit it!”
“What if it were only for a few days ,William?” Elizabeth told him her scheme to stop at Pemberley along their return journey from Scotland.
“It shall be one less night at an inn, and I am sure we will be perfectly welcome. I have only visited there once since Richard took over the management of the estate, but the housekeeper Mrs. Reynolds has known me since I was four years old, and always doted on me during my annual visits. We might stay a while there – I have written to Rebecca, and when she can no longer conceal my flight from Mamma, she is to inform them all that they might also journey thither, if they wish to be reconciled.”
“And what if they intercept us?”
“Rebecca will get word to me, if that happens.” Elizabeth gazed down at her plate, losing her appetite as she again thought of the concerns for her family that had cost her so much sleep.
“I must hope they shall wish to reconcile. I understand that my choices could put my cousin and sister’s reputations at risk, but I thought it would be a means of explaining my absence.
Surely nobody but the servants who rather fear Mamma will know I have left home, and my family will have no reason to say anything – and every reason to conceal it.
If my relations journey to Pemberley, nobody outside the family need know I am not amongst their party.
And then, I might introduce Jane and Kitty – if you will permit her to join us there. ”
“Oh, yes! I am quite beside myself to meet Jane – you have painted her as a paragon of virtue, but I hope she is a little silly.”
Elizabeth laughed. “She is in love, Kitty – of course she is!”
“And what is Pemberley like? Is it a very grand house? It sounds formidable.”
“It is both – indeed, it is the finest house I have ever seen. It is just the sort of place my dear Aunt Anne seems most herself; there is such natural beauty, and the house is perfect in its elegance. William has seen it – he must agree that he is a lucky man indeed, that my cousin Richard chose to court Jane and not me, for I might have been tempted to please my Mamma, and become mistress of such a place.”
Kitty let out a sigh of fascination. “Jane must be an angel, to be chosen over you, Lizzy, and to become mistress of such an estate.”
“It is only until my cousin comes of age, but yes, she is very lucky she happened to fall in love with the current master of Pemberley.” Elizabeth gave William a saucy wink. He bristled, though his eyes shone with mirth, and Mr. Bingley gave him a playful nudge.
“I can escort Kitty to Pemberley. I have always wished for Richard to invite me there – I have hinted at it enough! Ah, Caroline will be mad with envy!”
“I have not yet given Kitty permission.” William hastily held up his hands in defense at Elizabeth and Kitty’s immediate protestations. “But, I do give my consent – if Miss Annesley rides with her in the carriage. Bingley, you must go on horseback, or ride with the driver.”
“What if it rains?”
William and Mr. Bingley continued their playful squabbling until a maid entered to refresh their lemonade. Mrs. Lane followed behind the girl, bearing a letter for Elizabeth. “This came for you while you were at the fair, Miss Bennet.”
The housekeeper sought William’s permission to allow most of the servants the rest of the day off so that they might also attend the fair, and he gave his assent.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth stared down at the letter with a sense of dread.
She recognized the ostentatious flourishes of Rebecca's penmanship, and she opened the letter with trembling hands.
It was just what she feared – this was their agreed upon signal of warning that Elizabeth was found out.
“Mrs. Lane, when did this arrive? What time?”
“About two o’clock, or a little after.”
“Thank you. Perhaps you might bring my traveling cases downstairs? You are very kind, Mrs. Lane.”
The housekeeper bobbed into a curtsey and left the room, and Elizabeth glanced anxiously at the clock – it was already past five.
She rose so swiftly she nearly sent her chair flying backward.
“We must go at once. William, you must make the carriage ready immediately, and have your trunk brought down. We must go before Lady Catherine arrives.”
“Very well, let us make haste,” he agreed.
Mr. Bingley laughed. “And for Heaven’s sake, wash your faces! You will frighten everyone who sees you when you freshen your horses, or they shall collect you and carry you off to Bedlam.”
But there was no time. Mrs. Lane returned to the parlor with a look of abject terror in her eyes as she announced three visitors.
Lady Catherine swept into the room looking ready to murder the first person who spoke.
Behind her was Elizabeth’s chastened-looking cousin Richard, and her astonishingly irate sister. “Lizzy, how could you?”
Lady Catherine held up a hand to silence her daughter – likely forevermore her decidedly favorite daughter.
She stared at them with chilling rage as she allowed the silence to grow oppressive.
She had always had a way of commanding a room, though Elizabeth was far from appreciating that quality in her mother at present.
William finally stepped forward and bowed, and Mr. Bingley followed suit. “Welcome to my home, Lady Catherine.”
“Is this your home? I thought I had unaccountably arrived at a menagerie, or perhaps the circus.”
Elizabeth could not bear to let William face her mother alone; she moved to stand by his side and took his hand in hers. “We went to the village fair, Mamma. I met the people who will be my neighbors after William and I are married.”
At Elizabeth’s use of her betrothed’s Christian name, Jane narrowed her eyes. Richard raised his brows. Lady Catherine strode further into the room, gesturing with her walking stick to a nearby chair. “Come and sit here, Elizabeth, while I have a word with this young man.”
Instead, Elizabeth resumed her nearby seat beside the window. “I am perfectly comfortable where I am, Mamma.” She did her best to appear dignified despite the face paint she and her companions still wore.
Lady Catherine moved closer to William, standing between him and Elizabeth.
“I will be removing my daughter from this house one way or another, sir, though I suggest you do her this one courtesy, and persuade her to come with me willingly. She will not like for your final glimpse of her to take place while she is slung over my nephew’s shoulder. ”
Elizabeth looked imploringly at her cousin; she could not account for why he was not defending his friend. “Richard….”
“Not a word from you, Elizabeth! And you, sir, must now consider your connection with my daughter to be irrevocably severed. In this, as indeed in all points, I am firm.”
“I am going to marry Elizabeth, your ladyship. I love her, and I can provide her a comfortable and happy life.”
“Mamma, this might all be hushed up, if only you would accept him as my choice.”