Chapter 35
WHERE DARCY IS TIRED AND NOT AT ALL PLEASED UPON RETURNING TO brOOK STREET.
The carriage ride to Brook Street from Park Street was blessedly uneventful, and for that Darcy was thankful.
His ardent farewell with Elizabeth was fresh in his mind, as fresh as the flavour of her skin on his lips.
Darcy rested his head against the back of the carriage seat and closed his eyes as he relived every kiss, every caress, every sigh, and quickened breath.
Before he knew it, he was home, and his footman had opened the door to his carriage.
As Darcy alighted and made his way to the front door, his thoughts remained fixed upon Elizabeth.
She had believed he was teasing her when he suggested she come home with him, but there was a part of him that had been entirely serious.
His words about tucking her away in his coat pocket may have been in jest, but his desire for her society was sincere and heartfelt.
How much warmer his home would be if she had responded with a ‘yes’ instead of laughter—how much warmer his bed!
Two more days until we leave London, Darcy thought happily as he entered the house.
Six more days until I may call Elizabeth my wife!
In the foyer, he shrugged off his greatcoat and handed it to his butler. “Goodnight, Sowersby.”
“Goodnight, sir. If you please, your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, is in the drawing room with Lady Carlisle.”
Darcy stared at him. Surely, he had misheard. “What was that you said?”
“Lady Catherine, sir. She has been here since six o’clock this evening.
I had every intention of sending a note to Park Street with one of the footmen, but Lady Carlisle insisted it was not necessary and that she would entertain her ladyship until your return.
I am sorry to report neither she nor Lady Catherine appear well pleased with one another’s society. ”
Good God, those two women! All he wanted was to go directly to his bedchamber, climb between his sheets, and fall into oblivion as he dreamed of Elizabeth. Now he had Lady Catherine to deal with instead.
And Lady Carlisle.
Damnation.
Darcy ran his hand over his mouth in agitation as he weighed his options.
He could simply slip away, but no, that would never do.
Lady Carlisle would never forgive him, and Lady Catherine was far too stubborn to leave him alone until the morning.
He doubted she would even leave his house.
He swore under his breath as he imagined her pounding on his bedchamber door, or worse, barging into the room itself and verbally accosting him while he slept in his bed.
No, there was nothing for it except to allow her to say her piece and hopefully usher her from the house as expediently as possible. “I will see to her, Sowersby. There is no need for you to wait up.”
“Very good, sir.”
Hardly, Darcy thought resentfully as he headed towards the drawing room with a grim countenance.
He could hear Lady Catherine’s cacophonous voice within and paused to collect himself before nodding to the footman stationed in the hall.
The footman opened the door and stepped aside so his master could enter.
“Darcy,” Lady Catherine cried at once, her face pinched with anger. “Where have you been! I have been waiting all night for your return. It is most ungenerous of you to keep me waiting at all, but nearly eight hours together is unforgiveable. I am not accustomed to such infamous treatment!”
“Of course, you are not, Catherine,” Lady Carlisle said as though she were placating a fractious child.
She reached for her teacup, raised it to her lips, and looked pointedly at Darcy, the corners of her mouth lifting in a sardonic smile.
“I cannot imagine what happened to prevent our nephew from rushing home to attend you. I spoke with his butler hours ago.”
Darcy rolled his eyes at her. “Lady Catherine,” he said dryly, “to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of your company?”
“There is no pleasure in such a visit,” said his aunt, “at least none so far as I can see! A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago and I have come to insist upon having it universally contradicted.”
“If you refer to my engagement to Miss Bennet, I am afraid you have travelled a great distance only to suffer disappointment. I cannot contradict such a report, nor do I have any wish to deny its existence. Miss Bennet and I are to be married within a matter of days.”
“And what of my daughter!” Lady Catherine cried in outrage. “What of Anne! Is she to suffer such a humiliation, such a degradation and disappointment? It is not to be borne!”
Any hope Darcy entertained of getting rid of his aunt in a timely fashion dissipated with each shrill syllable she uttered.
Bloody hell. As if her presence was not bad enough, he felt a headache coming on.
“Lady Catherine, having already discussed the matter with Anne, I can say with absolute certainty my cousin shows as much disinclination to marry me as I feel to marry her. The disappointment and humiliation, madam, appears to be all on your side. You may go on about arranged marriages, familial duty, and Anne and I being formed for one another all you like, but all your arguments can have no merit. All your wishes amount to nothing if neither Anne nor I desire such a union. Since we do not, I suggest you desist. Anne has given her heart to Mr Sutherland, and Miss Bennet has long been in possession of mine. It is too late. Nothing can be done.”
Lady Catherine leapt from her chair, waving her cane in the air as she advanced upon Darcy.
“You and Anne and your accursed hearts! You have been drawn in, the two of you! Of course, something can be done! There is always something that can be done, some way a person of low morals, who cares only for what they can get, can be worked on! Where is Miss Bennet? I know she is in London. That woman who claimed to be her mother told me as much. I will speak to her at once and I will make her see reason, even if you will not!”
“You will do nothing of the sort,” Darcy replied in furious indignation.
“Low morals indeed, madam! I will not have you forcing your insulting vitriol or your misguided notions upon Miss Bennet’s sensibilities and compassionate heart!
She deserves no such treatment, nor does she owe you any such courtesy. ”
“She owes me every courtesy for my attentions to her last April! If it were not for my generosity, she would never have been thrown into company with you at Rosings for countless weeks! She would never have been noticed by you at all!”
“Oh, do not be ridiculous, Catherine,” Lady Carlisle interjected, rolling her eyes heavenward.
“That is the most unfounded drivel I have ever heard! Darcy met Miss Bennet months earlier in Hertfordshire and was already well on his way to being in love with her. You and your precious Rosings had nothing to do with any of it, unless you count the excellent opportunity you provided Darcy for comparison between you—for Miss Bennet’s manners are inarguably superior to yours, and her conversation far more amusing. ”
“Who asked for your opinion?” Lady Catherine demanded, turning on her sister-in-law with barely contained contempt.
“No one, as usual! You ought to have learnt to hold your tongue by now, Virginia! You ought to know without doubt where your loyalties lie! You are the wife of an earl! You are a member of the noble Fitzwilliam family!”
The countess laid her teacup upon the table with a clatter, rose from her chair, and marched over to Lady Catherine. “With any luck, I will not be much longer!”
“That is enough!” said Darcy sternly, fixing both ladies with a look of utmost dissatisfaction as he stepped between them.
“I have no intention of listening to your bickering. Lady Carlisle, if you wish to remain under my roof, I suggest you retire to your rooms at once. Lady Catherine, I do not appreciate being lorded over and badgered in my own home! While I care for Anne, I have never wanted to marry her, never intended to marry her, nor shall I ever oblige you by marrying her.”
Lady Catherine made to speak, but Darcy held up his hand.
“No more, madam! It is late, I have had an eventful day, and I wish to retire else I lose my temper entirely.
You may stay the night in your usual room, but if you do not cease your pettiness and arguing and leave me be, I will have you thrown from my house, regardless of the hour.
“Lady Carlisle,” he said stonily. “I will see you in my study at ten o’clock in the morning. It is high time we have a little talk.” Having said his piece, Darcy fixed both of his aunts with an icy glare, turned on his heel, and left them to their own devices.
“She is driving me out of my mind,” Darcy muttered the following morning as he sat behind his desk in his study.
He reached for his teacup and raised it to his lips, but paused when he detected a mild, slightly fruity aroma instead of the familiar, toastier notes he preferred.
Deuced singlo! Scowling, he returned his cup to its saucer with a clatter and shoved it aside.
Across from him, Colonel Fitzwilliam scratched his brow. “I am afraid I require some clarification if I am to commiserate with you in the appropriate manner. Both Lady Catherine and my mother are a handful on the best of days. To which do you refer?”
Darcy gave him a withering look. “I refer to your mother. She has taken it upon herself to interfere with the running of my household. Singlo tea at every turn, mutton for dinner, instructing my servants not to notify me when disgruntled relations suddenly show up on my doorstep! While I can live quite happily without any knowledge of Lady Catherine’s comings and goings, I cannot abide having mutton at my table. ”