“Mr Darcy, I apologise for interrupting, but Lady Catherine, will you be staying the night? If so, I must prepare a room for you,” interrupted Caroline.
“Thank you for your consideration,” said Lady Catherine proudly. “I will remain until I have satisfied myself that my nephew is not throwing himself away on some unworthy chit. Darcy, I want a word with you in private. Niece, you will accompany us. I will question you as well regarding the situation here.”
Darcy introduced his aunt to Bingley and his family; there was no escaping it if his aunt was to stay the night. “My aunt will be returning to Rosings Park in the morning, Miss Bingley, but I thank you for your care. Bingley, may I beg the use of your library?”
Taking his aunt’s arm, Darcy escorted her, followed by his sister, to the room that The Gables considered a library, though Bingley possessed little in the way of books. Darcy promised that once Bingley settled at a permanent location, he would solicit Hatchard’s in London to assist Bingley with finding a private collection for sale, which was the best way to start a library from nothing. Scholars andbook collectors died all the time, leaving behind collections that must be sold for various reasons. Bingley had not much interest in a library for himself, but he was determined that once he purchased an estate, that his guests would find their desired entertainment in his home.
A tea tray arrived behind them, since Miss Bingley decided to act quickly to defer the family’s tea trolley to the library, and ordered another for the drawing room. His aunt sat watching intently as Georgiana poured and served expertly.
“That was nicely done, Niece,” the older woman said. “I was concerned when my brother Darcy left you in the care of two bachelors, but I can see that you carry yourself well.”
“Thank you, Aunt Catherine,” said Georgiana, excessively relieved that she was not to be the target of her aunt’s criticism today.
“Be at ease, Georgiana, I am not going to eat you this time. No, today, I am here to question your brother. Darcy, what is this I hear in my correspondence about you courting ladies here in Highbury? Whatever are you thinking, throwing over Anne?” demanded Lady Catherine
“Courting ladies?” Darcy laughed. “Aunt Catherine, I assure you, I never court ladies. That does not mean I will not do so when I consider it appropriate, but I assure you, in all of my eight-and-twenty-years, I have never been guilty of courting a lady. I hardly even dance; it raises expectations, and I never raise expectations.”
“I have a letter here from the daughter of an old friend, Mrs Suckling, from Marple Grove. She claims that her sister, formerly Miss Augusta Hawkins, now Mrs Elton of Highbury Parsonage, writes to her that my nephew Mr Darcy has been in Highbury for some time, and has been courting not only a Miss Woodhouse, but also a Miss Fairfax,” said their aunt, pulling out the offending letter.
Georgiana let out a tiny squeak of hilarity in her efforts not to giggle. Her aunt looked sharply at her, “What was that, young miss?”
“Do not be cross with her, Aunt. It is all I can do not to laugh out loud heartily at that bit of nonsense myself,” said Darcy with a smile. “Would you like to be the one to tell her?” he asked his sister.
Georgiana nodded, nearly bouncing in her seat. “Thank you,Brother! Aunt Catherine, Miss Woodhouse is a lady who my brother has snubbed quite thoroughly since our arrival here.”
“No!” gasped Lady Catherine. “Darcy would never!”
“He would!” insisted Georgiana. “My brother finds Miss Woodhouse’s society so distasteful he has all but given her the cut direct. We have been in her company many times, but we have avoided all introductions.”
“You are not even properly introduced?” asked their aunt disbelievingly.
Georgiana shook her head. “I assure you, I find the prospect of Miss Woodhouse’s company quite as distasteful as Fitzwilliam does.”
“Miss Woodhouse snubbed our hosts quite scandalously when they arrived, then was all too eager to make mine and Georgiana’s acquaintance,” Darcy explained. “I rarely behave thus, but Georgiana and I can hardly reward such behaviour.”
“Well, I have never approved of your friendship with this tradesman, but I suppose you could not accept his hospitality and this young woman’s friendship,” said their aunt in a rare moment of reason. “What about the other one? The Fairfax chit?”
“I suppose that there might be the smallest substance behind that,” admitted Darcy. “Not because I am courting the lady, but I have paid her some small attention while in Highbury.Again,not because I am courting her, but for two other reasons. One, my friend is paying her his attentions, and I occasionally pay his ladies some small notice to ensure they are not fortune hunters. Most of them are, sadly. Miss Fairfax has no interest in myself or Bingley, she seems more interested in another man, a Mr Frank Churchill, though Bingley has yet to give up the chase. I am certain it is just boredom driving his interest. Even for me, this area is very quiet.”
“And what was the other reason?” demanded Lady Catherine.
“Ha!” laughed Darcy. “Miss Woodhousecannot standMiss Fairfax, it is evident in all of their interactions. Miss Fairfax is also being pursued by the man Miss Woodhouse is very interested in.”
“Ah, so you are only adding insult to injury,” chuckled his aunt. “It sounds like this Miss Woodhouse deserves it. I shall have to chastiseMrs Suckling for passing along her sister’s unreliable gossip. But it is more than time that you finalise matters with Anne, Darcy. She is only three years your junior. You are wasting her childbearing years.”
“Aunt, forcing Anne to bear children will kill her. I have told you this each time you bring the matter up. She was not even well enough to accompany you here. I will not marry her,” insisted Darcy. “I do not need her fortune, nor I do not have the time to manage Rosings Park completely, and I do not agree with marrying cousins. Families who engage in that practice often are always unhealthy. I refuse to be the means to my cousin’s end. Why do you keep insisting on this, Aunt?”
“Who will look after her when I am gone, Darcy?” Lady Catherine asked.
“Any of us, I am sure,” he replied. “She is not without family, and the de Bourghs are just as capable as our side of the family, though you do not like them. You will kill her if you force her to wed.”
“I do not know what to do, Darcy. I am certain that if I die and leave her behind, she will be forced into marriage,” said Lady Catherine.
“That is not an unreasonable fear,” assured her nephew. “However, her uncle is powerful. Why do you not throw yourself upon your brother for assistance? I am certain my uncle will know what to do. Chasing me across the country is not going to make Anne any safer, for I shall never comply with your wishes. One day, I am going to find a wife, Aunt, and it will not be Anne. I would rather have your blessing than your disapprobation when that day arrives.”
Lady Catherine sighed. “As long as you do not saddle us with someone embarrassing like a tradesman’s daughter, Nephew. I will not tolerate that woman out there in the drawing room for example. I would destroy you both if you tried it. Perhaps I will ask my brother to visit Anne and I at Rosings Park. I should return tomorrow, like you said. I do not like to leave her with Mrs Jenkinson for very long.” She looked at Georgiana speculatively. “Where is your companion, Niece?”
“She was unsuitable,” Georgiana said. “But I have made a new friend, and have decided to ask Miss Bates to accompany me for alengthy visit to town, and perhaps Pemberley while my brother and I decide on another.”
