“Admittedly, it has been many years since I was at Cambridge,” Bennet replied sardonically while making a show of considering his words. He was still blocking the doorway with Hill. “Unless they have changed the rules, and I do not believe they have, you are no more a peer than am I. You have a courtesy title due to your father’s rank. Neither that nor being the wife of a knight make you a peer. You myLadyare a commoner, same as me.”
“Never have I been thusly insulted in all of my days,” Lady Catherine screeched.
“Quite frankly, I find that hard to believe,” Bennet averred. “You have still not told me why you are here disturbing our peaceful morning.”
“A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. In his latest report he posted to me, my parson wrote your eldest daughter is on the point of being most advantageously married. In addition to him also marrying one of your brood, your daughter Miss Elizabeth Bennet, is being courted by my nephew, myownnephew, Mr. Darcy. I am sure my parson was mistaken—hence, it must be a scandalous falsehood. I would not injure my nephew so much as to suppose the truth of it being possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place that I might make my sentiments known to your chit of a daughter.”
Bennet was seething at the insults to Lizzy, but decided to make sport of the ridiculous woman until her nephews arrived. “If you believed it impossible to be true, I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could yourLadyshippropose by it?”
“At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted by Mr. Collins informing me he was in error,” Lady Catherine demanded.
“Your coming to Longbourn, to see my family,” Bennet stated coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it. Surely our neighbors will assume you are here to congratulate Lizzy on being courted by Mr. Darcy.”
“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which your daughter has the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No never! Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?”
“Are you telling me your nephew Darcy is so dishonourable he would request a courtship from my daughter while engaged to yours?”
A somewhat flummoxed Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment and then spoke again. “The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish ofhismother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union, and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh? Are you and your daughter lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? From his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin!”
“I have heard all about this phantom engagement before. But what is that to me? Especially as your nephew has roundly refuted your claims. We know it all. This supposed engagement was your desire alone. It is known how you suddenly started to speak of this after both Darcy parents had passed on. Even had your late sister agreed—and we both know she never did, its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why may he not make another choice? And if my second daughter is that choice, why may she not accept him?” Bennet paused. “Are you saying Darcy and your daughter were born at the same time? I believe he told us he is three years her senior.”
Lady Catherine ignored that question as well as what she did not want to hear. “Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Mr. Bennet, interest; for do not expect for your daughter to be noticed by his family or friends if you wilfully allow her to act against the inclinations of all. She will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Her alliance will be a disgrace; her name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”
“These are heavy misfortunes,” replied Bennet, “but the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”
“Obstinate, headstrong man! I am ashamed of you! You are to understand, Mr. Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment…”
“It will make your situation at present more pitiable, Lady Catherine; but it will have no effect on me or my family.”
“I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other…”
“NO WE WERE NOT!” was yelled from behind Lady Catherine.
Bennet had not noticed the slight, sickly-looking woman standing behind the virago. There also were the sounds of multiple horses’ hooves approaching. Bennet looked up and riding down the drive at speed were both Darcys and both Fitzwilliams.
Lady Catherine had not paid attention to the arrival yet as she turned on her daughter and ordered, “Anne, return to the coach, I will sort this out in my…your favour.”
“NO YOU WILL NOT!” Darcy yelled.
“Hello Anne,” Tiffany said as she came to stand next to her older cousin. Giana stood on the other side and also greeted her cousin.
“Tiffany, Georgiana, it has been very long since I have seen you. Richard and William it is good to see you,” Anne de Bourgh greeted her cousins.
“Now that some sensible persons have arrived, should we enter the house and stop the display of ill breeding for all to see?” Bennet suggested.
For the moment Lady Catherine was stymied. She had banked on being able to intimidate the Bennets with threats and if that did not work, she was prepared to bribe them. Not only was Anne speaking out against her, but now she had to contend with her nephews and nieces as well. Shewouldcarry her point.
Bennet sent his two youngest daughters upstairs in the company of Mrs. Buxton before the virago entered the room. He had requested his wife to remain calm and quiet for now.
As soon as she entered the drawing room, which was far too small and had no elegant furniture like she had placed at Rosings Park, Lady Catherine saw her path forward. Her snivelling parson!
“Unless I hear a promise that Miss Elizabeth will break from my nephew this instant, I will withdraw my permission for Mr. Collins…” Lady Catherine stared open mouthed as the toad dared to interrupt her.
“My name is Mr. William Bennet, not Collins,” he reminded his patroness.
“That is not the material point. In addition I will sack Mr…whatever your name is.” She glared at the clergyman, who had surprisingly not flinched or given her one of his low scraping bows she preferred. “If you are sensible you will inform your cousin I am never gainsaid.”
“Is my aunt father to either you or your fiancée?” Richard enquired. He was trying, but failing to hide the amusement in his voice.
