Mr. Bennet specifically wished for her tonotbe informed upon these points. Even after she’d told him that she knew about her mother’s sins he still had not told her more. Perhaps a desire to avoid having her questioned was a part of why he had never brought her to London on his rare visits to town, and why he had been hesitant to permit her to visit Mary.
“Speak. Who was your mother. I am not in the habit of being disappointed.”
Mr. Collins looked at Elizabeth with an open mouth, as though he were shocked that Elizabeth would refuse her Ladyship anything that she might wish for. Mary frowned withconfusion, as though she had suddenly realized that nothing about Elizabeth’s family was ever said by Mr. Bennet.
Miss de Bourgh appeared wholly uninterested in the subject.
The look that Mr. Darcy gave her showed both concern and kindness.
“I have always been introduced as a Bennet,” Elizabeth said slowly, with her face red from embarrassment, “I know nothing else.”
The whole of this confusion was because of her illegitimacy.
Probably her mother’s namewasBennet. It was herfather’sabout which she had no knowledge.
The low Elizabeth. That is who she felt she ought to become again. The one that Mrs. Bennet wanted her to be. She only deserved to be the grateful small creature hiding her light under a bushel because she did not deserve to shine.
The true story was horridly shameful, and that was why neither she nor Mary had been told it.
“Your name is given as Bennet,” Lady Catherine said. “So, your father would be the Bennet. Who were your mother’s people. This is a simple question. I find it odd, I find it suspicious, that you cannot answer.”
Something in her rebelled. Even if she was illegitimate, even if Lady Catherine was about to deduce this and proclaim it to everyone in this room,she would not be that tiny mousy version of herself.
With a confident smile Elizabeth replied, “There may be a simple solution. Is it not possible that both my mother and father were Bennets? It is not such a rare nameandthat would explain why Mr. Bennet never needed to specify the mother’s name to me.”
“Do not be impertinent, girl. This is an important matter.” Lady Catherine leaned back with a huff. She frowned at her and shook her head. “Mr. Bennet told you nothing about your mother? Is that true?”
Elizabeth did not reply, but she thought that her failure to reply told everyone that Lady Catherine had guessed right enough.
Elizabeth still sat taller than before.
She would behave the way...the way that she imagined Darcy would under such an inquisition. No...not how Darcy would, but hopefully in a way that Darcy might approve of.
Elizabeth half expected Lady Catherine to intuit simply from this that she was illegitimate, and then to screamingly throw her from the house and order Mr. Collins to have her sent home the next morning.
A touch placed on the locket that lay on her chest, and Elizabeth felt confidence fill her. If that happened, at least everyone would at last know.
Lady Catherine studied her. She said three times, “How odd. How odd. How odd—and that style of arranging your hair. It reminds me of when I was younger. How came you to the notion of using such a style?”
This change of topic made Elizabeth blink. “I, ah...” She did not wish to tell this woman that she was imitating the miniature of her mother that sat inside the locket on her chest. “It felt appropriate.”
“I see.” A piercing look. “What arrangements has Mr. Bennet made for your support. Your conversation and manners show that you were raised to be a gentlewoman. Has he set any money aside for you.”
“Not so far as I know.”
“Nothing! And does he mean for you to become a governess?” Lady Catherine had a tone much like Elizabethimagined a prosecutor in a criminal case might have as he sought to catch the man accused of a crime in a lie so that the jury would know his guilt.
Elizabeth did not answer. She wondered herself what Mr. Bennet meant for her to do. Lady Catherine added, “I have settled many young persons as a governess. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. If Mr. Bennet means to make you a governess, I might be of aid.”
“I thank you for that kindness, madam, but I do not think he has any such notion.”
“I begin to imagine that he has no notion at all.”
This roused something of Elizabeth’s anger at her Ladyship’s own impertinence. “I assure you that Mr. Bennet has been a diligent and kind guardian. He has a plan for my future; he has told me so much. He said that I will find a situation that matches my birth.”
“That matches your birth? Those were his words? Exactly?”
Elizabeth did not reply.
