Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Darcy Cottage
Ramsgate, Kent
Lizzy,
I fear we shall miss our outing today. I should be ashamed to criticise my elders, but my aunt is quite demanding, and she has turned the house upside-down with her complaints on how I am not competent enough to manage, and using her seniority over me to alter all of my arrangements.
Papa quite agrees that had we known of her coming due to our proximity, we should not have entered Kent for a gold clock. Fitz is more displeased by her arrival than anyone.
Georgiana
When Lady Catherine de Bourgh arrived in the middle of the party the night before, with her daughter and the rector of her church in tow, Darcy and his father wasted no time in apologising to their guests.
They immediately took the unexpected visitor out of the room and insisted that the newcomers accompany the housekeeper upstairs to settle in, rather than disturb the dinner guests any further.
Lady Catherine’s rector, a silly little man, lectured Darcy and his father in their own hall on the sin of showing his patroness less deference than her birth accorded her.
As the dinner guests followed Georgiana back to the drawing room, they were treated to the sight of Darcy lifting the man by the back of his collar and depositing him outside the front door.
He instructed the butler to have him delivered to an inn, and that he was not to be admitted to the house again under any circumstances.
Elizabeth was plagued by anxiety. Miss Bingley knew not whether to gloat that Elizabeth’s hopes might be dashed, or to expire on the spot at the news that Darcy might be already betrothed.
Priscilla ended Elizabeth’s concern as quickly as she could.
“Do not allow my aunt’s claim to upset you, Lizzy.
There is no engagement between my two cousins.
It is only an idle wish on her part, and she thinks she can force the matter by declaring it openly, but neither Darcy nor my uncle will humour her.
We will allow Miss Bingley to worry about it though, shall we not?
It is no less than she deserves after her behaviour at my uncle’s table. ”
Now, Elizabeth wondered how she ought to spend her day. She was just thinking about whether to walk to Nethercourt House to visit Lady Barry when the maid entered the drawing room.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, madam. Lady Barry’s carriage just arrived. She wishes for Miss Elizabeth’s compn’y to pay a call today.”
“I shall fetch my bonnet if you have no objection, Charlotte.” Elizabeth rose.
Charlotte looked up, unconcerned. “Of course not, Eliza. But be sure to return in time to dress for the theatre tonight.”
Lady Barry was in her carriage and dressed to pay calls when Elizabeth went outside and stepped up into the equipage.
“Where are we going?” Elizabeth asked. “You never pay calls.”
“I will pay them when Cathy de Bourgh is in Ramsgate,” Lady Barry answered with glee.
“Indeed, I sent my acceptance to join the Darcys in their box at the theatre this very morning and even allowed my box to be opened along with theirs. Cathy will not be able to take two steps in Ramsgate without tripping over me.”
“Why do you dislike her?” Elizabeth asked curiously. “From what I saw and heard last night, there is little to like, I believe, but why do you dislike her more than anyone else, may I ask?”
“Tut, tut! Silly child, I do not dislike anyone. However, I will admit that I do not particularly like anyone either.” Lady Barry grinned. “Cathy’s nose is easier to tweak than most. She dominated her younger sister terribly when they were girls, though my Isobel took none of her abuse.”
She looked out the window of the carriage, remembering her daughter fondly before returning to the subject.
“Cathy heard me giving Sir Charles the business once when he displeased me, which he did frequently. I heard her whisper to her sister, Lady Anne, that she prayed that she would be just like me when she was a grown woman. Then, when she realised she was overheard, she was embarrassed and took to behaving even worse. I have heard the words ‘I am the daughter of an earl’ from her lips so many times that I could use them to write a parody for the stage. I cannot wait. I have not annoyed the woman properly in years.”
The butler at Darcy Cottage opened the door with the air of a man who had heretofore borne too much. He seemed to deflate at the sight of Lady Barry, knowing this could not bode well, but he led them to the drawing room nonetheless.
Georgiana looked both happy to see them and panicked by what her aunt might do or say. Priscilla was quite obviously delighted by their appearance, knowing that Lady Barry could not be insulted, and that Elizabeth’s skin was too thick to be pierced.
The drawing room was conspicuously rearranged, and a magnificent chair Elizabeth had not seen before at Darcy Cottage was set in a location of importance. In the chair sat the lady who had rudely entered the dining room at dinner the night before.
Georgiana sat very straight, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
Darcy was stationed by a window, staring outside with a grim expression.
His poor father appeared ten years older than he had the night before, which Elizabeth found worrisome.
Only Priscilla appeared at ease, and another young lady, blonde, sickly pale, yet possessed of an angelic beauty not dissimilar to Jane’s.
Miss Anne de Bourgh said nothing when they were introduced.
“Why, Cathy, you are still here. How fortunate! It has been years since we had a friendly chat.” Lady Barry took a seat on a sofa with Elizabeth and accepted a cup of tea from the butler, who, after serving everyone, left the room and closed the door.
“Lady Barry, it did not surprise me to see you here the moment I arrived.” Lady Catherine gave a curt nod.
“You know I live in Ramsgate, Cathy.” Lady Barry smiled like a predator prepared to play with its meal. “My presence is hardly coincidental.”
“There is never anything whatsoever coincidental about your movements.” Lady Catherine scowled.
Elizabeth caught Priscilla’s eye and suppressed a grin.
Lady Catherine seemed to think the best way to deal with Lady Barry was to ignore her. “As I was about to say, Darcy, Georgiana cannot possibly be expected to manage a household properly.”
Her young niece blinked in surprise.
“Can she not?” Priscilla asked. “She has managed exceedingly well until you arrived. The dinner last night went particularly well until the end, when someone uninvited ruined the evening for everyone.”
“Silence, young miss!” Lady Catherine barked.
“I beg your pardon?” Priscilla sat up straight and gave her aunt a mock glare. “I am the daughter of an earl!”
Lady Catherine allowed this to pass. “Young women do not possess sufficient judgement to manage such affairs as household management.”
Lady Barry examined Georgiana thoughtfully. “Can you distinguish venison from curtains, girl?”
“Yes, Lady Barry,” Georgiana squeaked in terror.
“Well…that places you above many hostesses old enough to be your mother. Miss Darcy, if your family does not appreciate your merits, you may visit me and manage my house as often as you chuse. And I simply must place you in charge of my menus! I cannot recall when I ate so well as I did last night.”
“Thank you, Lady Barry.” Georgiana’s cheeks were pink.
Lady Catherine cleared her throat. “I have informed the staff that I will oversee all arrangements at Darcy Cottage myself until such time as proper standards are restored.”
Everyone simply stared at the lady.
Lady Barry looked about the room, then asked in incredulity. “You have taken the house on your first day in residence?”
“I have improved it,” Lady Catherine acknowledged.
“You said that a great deal as a girl when you managed your sister, and often even your own mother’s arrangements,” Lady Barry said with a snort. “I never saw any improvement, none at all.”
“Catherine, I will not permit you to set my daughter aside,” Mr Darcy began.
“Oh, Father, my aunt is only concerned for my comfort!” Georgiana objected. “Pray do not distress yourself, I could not bear it if you were to make yourself unwell on my account!”
“There will be no need for our father to make himself ill in order to defend you, dear sister.” Darcy went to his sister and placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder.
“That is why I am here. The staff was assembled a half hour ago and informed that if any of them allow our aunt to countermand an instruction of yours, they will be dismissed immediately. Georgiana is the acting mistress of Darcy Cottage and all of our homes.”
“Hear, hear.” Lady Barry thumped her cane. “Your improvement shows itself to advantage today, young man.”
“I sincerely hope so, Lady Barry. My greatest object is to please you.” Darcy grinned.
“I hope not.” Lady Barry winked at him in mischief. “Your greatest object ought to be pleasing my young friend here.”
“That will be my next order of business.” Lady Catherine conveniently ignored her failure to seize the house. Her eyes narrowed on Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet.”
There was enough disapproval in the last three syllables she spoke to lay a frost upon the entire room, even in July. Lady Barry watched with interest and an air of protective possessiveness.
“I understand that you have lately formed expectations where none have any right to exist,” Lady Catherine continued.
Darcy’s face clouded with grim displeasure. “Aunt, I must insist–”
Lady Catherine pressed on. “You will immediately dismiss your unsuitable aspirations.”
“Do not humour her, Lizzy-girl, else I shall be seriously displeased,” Lady Barry instructed. “Unsuitable aspirations are my favourite kind.”
Elizabeth collected her mettle and replied. “I am not aware that I had confessed any aspirations, Lady Catherine.”
“That is inconsequential.” Lady Catherine sniffed.
“Of course,” Lady Barry snorted in amusement. “Consequence and merit never meant anything to you, did it, Cathy?”