Chapter 55 Performance
Seeing the church in the village of Boxwell disrupted the artificial calm in which Lady Catherine had clothed herself that morning.
She knew she had to present herself well as she met with her new son-in-law's parents.
Without their goodwill, it would be difficult to regain control over Anne's life and actions.
Seeing that church, however, brought back all her feelings of anger and, worse yet, helplessness at the memory of the disrespect and betrayal from her nephews and the malicious misdirection perpetrated on her by the locals.
Fury bubbled in her veins at the thought of all the careful planning that had been turned to ashes in that church and yard. She knew it must be borne, but oh, how it burned her up inside! With a quick flick of her hand, she pulled the shade to block her view of the village and its cursed church.
She spent the remainder of the ride to the home of the Earl and Countess of Boxwell trying to calm herself so she could proceed with the new plan. It had been so long since she needed to present herself in a friendly manner that she had almost forgotten how it was done.
Lady Catherine found herself wondering how Richard would behave when meeting new relatives by marriage for the first time.
If anyone could bring people to cooperate, it would be he.
She had to admit that Richard could sometimes win her over even when she was annoyed by his ever-present good cheer.
How did he do it? It could not just be managed by a smile and a joke, could it?
Although she retained her usual stern demeanor with the servants at Boxwell, Lady Catherine attempted a gracious smile even as she looked critically around the sitting room where the Countess waited to receive her.
Of course, the expression appeared as more of a grimace than anything else, but that matched with what her hostess expected.
Even before she finished the obligatory curtsy in greeting, Lady Catherine fell into her usual pattern of speech and behavior.
Breaking the normal order of precedence by speaking before her hostess, who was also a woman of higher rank, she said, "This room is very small, and the windows are full south...
" Suddenly remembering her goal, Lady Catherine quickly changed verbal direction and added, "and yet, you have arranged the furniture so artfully it covers all manner of defect. "
More amused than offended, Lady Ferrell., the Countess of Boxwell replied, "I am so glad you approve, Lady Catherine." She gestured hospitably toward a delicate and elegantly gilded chair before taking her own seat nearby.
Lady Catherine took her place gingerly. While not a particularly heavy woman, she was also not some delicate wisp of a girl and preferred more substantial furniture for her own use.
She settled herself uncomfortably, afraid the chair might prove more ornamental than functional.
Despite her worries, the legs held, although Lady Catherine remained perched tensely upon the embroidered seat, unable to relax for fear it might still break and cause her to fall into an ungainly heap on the floor.
The Countess was fully aware of her guest's discomfort, although she hid her amusement well. "What brings you to Boxwell, Lady Catherine?" she asked politely.
In a tone as rigid as her posture, exactly the opposite of the kind and genial comment she intended, Lady Catherine replied, "With the recent marriage between our children, I thought it incumbent on me to pay my respects so we can begin to forge a friendly bond between us.
After all, we both come of noble families, deserving of such a union. "
"I find your current attitude most surprising, Lady Catherine," Lady Ferrell said. "I had heard that you were absolutely set on a marriage between your daughter and Mr. Darcy, your nephew, and that my son was not an acceptable substitute."
Lady Catherine attempted her gracious smile again, with much the same pained-looking results.
"One must change with the times. Of course, the marriage I hoped for would have been a superb alliance," she asserted.
"My nephew is an honorable man as well as a very eligible match.
I know he would have treated Anne with appropriate consideration for her chronic poor health.
I am not saying that your son is anything less, but Anne's marriage to him was a complete surprise to me. "
Unable to stop an involuntary disbelieving shake of her head, Lady Ferrell said, "You may rest assured that my son will treat her with all courtesy and care.
However, I have seen no evidence of any ill health in my new daughter.
On the contrary, Anne is a cheerful and lively girl whose company I greatly enjoy. I am pleased my son has married her."
With honest confusion, Lady Catherine objected, "There must be some mistake.
Anne has always been sickly, and I have protected her from any activities that might cause her to over-exert herself.
In addition, my daughter has been trained from an early age to be quiet and demure as befits a young lady of good character.
Lively is one of the last words I would use to describe her.
With great care, I made sure she was as attractive a match as possible for her cousin. "
Lady Ferrell could not hide her amused smile.
"It seems you know far less about your daughter and your nephew than you apparently thought you did.
Had she been such an attractive match to him, he would not have willingly brought her to the wedding with my son, nor would he have resisted your insistence that he should marry your daughter. "
Grinding her teeth slightly, Lady Catherine waited for her immediate flare of anger to lessen before she replied.
She wanted to slap the amused look off the other woman's face but knew it would be a mistake if she did.
When she had mastered her temper, she said, "I understand my daughter's husband is your second son.
He was fortunate to find a wife with such a substantial dowry. "
As she spoke, she attempted to sound genial, as she thought Richard might do, but Lady Catherine could not keep the slight sneer out of her tone. Her true belief that her new son-in-law was a simple fortune-hunter came through clearly.
The comment prompted a light laugh from Lady Ferrell. She was not the least threatened or worried by what Lady Catherine might think. She trusted in the good intentions of her son and admired her new daughter.
"My son considers himself lucky to have found such a lovely and congenial bride in your daughter. That would be true even if he were my firstborn. His father and I have provided well for him, so the dowry is merely icing on the cake and not the primary reason for his marriage to Anne."
Lady Catherine's snort of disbelief, although soft, was plain enough. Lady Ferrell smiled a little more broadly at the sight. She knew that nothing she said would convince Lady Catherine, but she simply had not been able to resist stirring her guest up a bit.
The silence that followed was broken by the entry of a maid carrying a tea set.
Still frantically considering what Richard might do to win this woman over; Lady Catherine held in her almost-automatic complaints about the skill and comportment of any maid other than her own.
She would never allow the idea that anyone else might have better servants than her own, but with an effort, she remained silent on the point.
Ordinarily, she would also have complained about the quality of the tea or made a snide comment about it at the least, despite the fact that it was really rather good tea.
To complain was almost a matter of principle with her.
In truth, Lady Catherine disliked visiting anyone else.
Being in their territory took away some of her power to control the situation.
Complaints and snide comments that allowed her to make the situation uncomfortable for her hosts gave her some of her feelings of power back.
It took a great effort of will, but in this instance, she knew she had to behave differently to regain her broader power.
Now was not the time for that kind of comfort.
Instead, Lady Catherine surprised herself and her hostess by admitting, "This is very fine tea. So often one is served an inferior blend when visiting the home of another. Of course, I always serve my finest to my honored guests, and it seems you choose to do the same."
"It is to your credit that you recognize a fine quality tea," Lady Ferrell replied.
"There are those who will compliment no matter what they are served, although I know that is not your style.
Again, there are some who complain even when offered a king's ransom, showing the smallness of their minds.
That you can both recognize quality and comment on it shows some greatness of spirit. "
Lady Catherine was taken aback by the comment, knowing she truly fell into the second category, but never having looked at her habit as anything other than an exercise of control and power. The unexpected thought distracted her enough that she failed to hear Lady Ferrell's next comment.
Noticing her guest's silence, lack of response and pensive look, Lady Ferrell cleared her throat loudly. "Lady Catherine? Are you well?" she asked.
The tea sloshed in the delicate china cup Lady Catherine held as she startled slightly. "What was that?" she asked as she was jerked out of her thoughts.
"I asked if you were well. You had not seemed to hear my earlier comment."
"Oh...of course," she said, although she still sounded and looked a bit distracted. "I am always well. Now, what were you saying?"