Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Elizabeth found Darcy waiting much closer to the cottage the following day. He met her with worry and relief in his eyes.
“I knew that you were unhurt, but I cannot deny that I have still been filled with anxiety for you since yesterday.” His blue eyes were filled with concern.
“I am sorry if you were distressed when you came looking for me. I met the event with clear thinking, but when it was over, I was quite overcome,” Elizabeth explained. “I am much better now. Thank you for the flowers and confections. You and Georgiana are far too kind.”
“It was only a small gesture. Nothing compared to what I would like to do for you.” Darcy offered her his arm, and they began to walk. “The day was quite eventful, in any case.”
“What happened after my father left you?” Elizabeth asked.
“My father’s fury was terrible. I feared he would expire the moment he heard what happened,” Darcy informed her.
“My aunt was completely without remorse. She took no responsibility for the actions of Mr Collins, and refused to admit that she had set them in motion. Of course, after her speech when you called with Lady Barry, it is obvious that she was the architect of the scheme.”
“Oh, dear. Poor Mr Darcy.” Elizabeth worried. “Georgiana must have been so upset. She does not like your father to tax himself.”
“No, nor do I,” Darcy agreed. “Georgie was the first to say she did not wish for Lady Catherine to remain at Darcy Cottage with us. She declared that she is the mistress, and she did not issue an invitation, though Anne was welcome to remain. Georgiana does not like the thought that her friends might be endangered by her own house guests. I admired her courage.”
“Heavens!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “How did Lady Catherine take such a speech?”
“There was very little time to find out, for Lady Barry soon arrived, and without further discussion, demanded that Lady Catherine’s trunks be packed.
” Darcy grinned. “She did not even consult my father. She gave the instruction to the butler when she entered the drawing room, and it was instantly obeyed. You will never guess what she did when Lady Catherine told her off.”
“Tell!” Elizabeth begged.
“She took Lady Catherine’s ear and twisted it!
It looked as if it hurt, too.” Darcy rubbed his own ear, wincing.
“She had her footmen in the hall, and she called for them to drag Lady Catherine out to Lady Barry’s carriage, and announced that she would accompany Lady Catherine back to Rosings, and install her in the dower house.
You recall how Anne confided her troubles to her on our confectionery outing. ”
“She did not!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“She did,” Darcy confirmed. “And I was surprised to learn that Anne asked for my father’s help the very night she arrived.
Unbeknownst to me, he sent an express that night, asking for the help of Priscilla’s brothers.
They have been at Rosing’s Park since Saturday, instructing the servants to move my aunt’s possessions to the dower house, which my father and I have kept ready for years. ”
“So, Lady Catherine and Lady Barry are both gone, then? I am glad I did not make the walk to Nethercourt House for nothing today.” Elizabeth was shocked. “Will Miss de Bourgh run Rosings Park herself?”
“She has no such inclination to do so on her own. The house will be closed, and most of the staff will be pensioned off. They are all too loyal to my aunt, though I cannot tell you why. She treats them terribly.”
“Fear is just as useful as loyalty when it comes to servants,” Elizabeth mused. “Lady Barry told me that once when I wondered how a neighbour of ours kept their staff when they treated them so poorly.”
“Anne will stay with us, or with Priscilla’s mother, perhaps in turns, until she selects a husband,” Darcy told her. “She wishes to chuse her own wardrobe, to debut in London, despite her age, and experience a season.”
“Good for her. I hope she finds much happiness,” Elizabeth said.
“She has the freedom and the means to wait until she finds true love. It is a blessing not many women experience. Though women with a bit of income often find themselves pushed into marriage even sooner. Lady Barry insists it is all to the benefit of men. I hope that Miss de Bourgh chuses well, and that when she reopens Rosings Park, she finds much joy there.”
“It is a blessing to be able to decide carefully what is best for oneself,” Darcy smiled tenderly down at her. “When a man has met the lady of his choice, he must be patient, for he is fortunate to have the opportunity to be considered at all. To know one’s own heart is no simple triumph.”
He steered her around a stone in their path as they walked.
“There has been another development that will make Ramsgate more comfortable for all of us. I spoke to Bingley last night. He wished to meet at a pub to drown his sorrows after being rebuffed by your sister. He has accepted that Miss Bingley will not permit him to be happy unless he makes a match that makes her happy, and she does not like any lady for him unless she is as rich as the daughter of a duke. Your father informing him that Miss Bennet would prefer to saw off her own hand than be related to his sister affected him greatly. She is being sent away this very morning. Her trunks are probably being loaded onto his carriage even now.”
“What a terrible shame, for I am certain that my father did not intend to break up a family or for anyone to be sent away. Jane would surely not wish for such a result,” Elizabeth worried.
“It is not so very bad. He has not broken with her. He has only sent her to her aunt in Bath. She has refused to visit that lady in the past because she prefers to stay with Bingley and attempt to see me when he does. She also wishes to push him at my sister, though she has learned to stop attempting to pair him with Priscilla. Hopefully, her aunt will find her a suitable match for her in Bath.”
“Well, I cannot deny that Ramsgate will be more comfortable for my family without her endless attention and insults,” Elizabeth admitted, then changed the subject. “Does Georgiana still wish to visit the confectioner’s today?”
“We thought perhaps that with Lady Barry out of town, you would be at leisure and we might have a picnic by the cliffs and invite our friends. Georgiana wishes to sketch with Kitty, and the outing might do my father good. I have not seen him as well as he is in Ramsgate this summer for two years. Do you think Mr and Mrs Bennet would like to join us, and your sisters?”
“I am certain they would, especially if your father is going,” Elizabeth answered thoughtfully.
“I believe my father would find it a capital idea.” Darcy beamed down at her. “I shall arrange it all the moment I return to the cottage. If Mr and Mrs Bennet agree, I will speak to our cook directly and see what can be prepared.”
Mr Darcy accompanied Elizabeth to the Bennet’s breakfast room the moment they returned from their walk, and the invitation was accepted with alacrity. Plans were made to meet at the cliff road in their carriages at one o’clock.
The Darcy servants had been sent ahead to prepare a location a few miles down the cliffs, far beyond the locations currently in use by the army.
Elizabeth had never cared for the way many households would often send tables and chairs ahead to be used for formal dining outdoors.
Obviously, Mr Darcy felt the same, for there were but three tables laid with refreshments, a number of rugs and blankets laid out upon the ground, and a wagon full of comfortable, large cushions and pillows, some under canopies for shade, others out in the sunshine.
The Darcys’ cook had worked a miracle, and somehow produced a sumptuous cold collation in mere hours.
Several shops, bakeries, butchers, and of course the confectioner’s shop had sent all that was needed.
Many items had even been obtained from the kitchens at the Albion Hotel, which always had many delicacies on hand for the impromptu picnics that were popular in Ramsgate.
There were plates of cold ham, chicken, roast beef, tongue, and even turkey.
Other large platters were laid with salamagundi, hard boiled eggs, as well as lettuce and cucumber salad.
There was cold pigeon and game pies, soft bread and rolls, lobster, pickled salmon, and even cold oysters.
One entire table was laid with cakes, biscuits, jam puffs, trifle, marzipan, candied peel and ginger, toffee, and fruits from the local farms. The footmen served beverages from bottles of sherry, lemonade, orgeat, ale, and tea.
The Bennets were not the only guests. Darcy had paid attention to who his family and the Bennets spent their time.
Two other families, the Hattons and the Osbornes were invited.
These families both had wives who called upon Charlotte often, husbands whose company was tolerable to Darcy Senior and Mr Bennet, as well as daughters and sons who got on well with Georgiana, Priscilla, and the Bennet sisters.
Mrs Younge was instructed to keep an eye on the young people in general, but not to impede Georgiana’s enjoyment of the day.
Mr Wickham was thankfully on duty with his regiment.
Darcy also invited a gentleman who he knew was calling upon Mary, and three other young men who were lodging in the area for the summer that he knew from town.
Mr Bingley also joined them. He gave Jane nothing but a friendly smile and a wave before wandering about to take in the arrangements and the view, grateful to have been included by his friend.
Small stools were arranged at different locations so the young ladies might sketch the landscape and the coast. Two ladies brought their harp lutes.
Upon assisting his wife and daughters from the carriage, Mr Bennet turned to Darcy Senior. “I thought that a picnic meant something simple.”