“Do not take such an insolent tone with me, boy!” spat his aunt. “If you had done your duty and married Anne as your mother and I designed this could not have happened. I will not allow some man of suspect breeding to takeyourplace as Rosings’ master—wewillfind Anne and we will retrieve her. After we find her, I insist you proceed at once.”
There was little enough reason to push back against his aunt’s dictates, though even now Darcy was inclined to dismiss them out of hand. He did not respond to her charge, instead suggesting she refresh herself in a bedchamber.
“No, Darcy!” exclaimed she. “I insist we depart at once!”
“And I shall not budge until Fitzwilliam arrives,” replied Darcy. “It will be for the best.”
Lady Catherine huffed, but she soon agreed and departed with the housekeeper guiding her, all the while complaining that she knew where to go. Darcy shook his head when she was gone, noting Bingley’s barely restrained amusement at what he had just witnessed.
“I shall own, my friend,” said Bingley, “I am quite shocked by your aunt. You told many tales of her since we became acquainted. I shall not scruple to suggest I did not think you exaggerated; now I can only wonder at your restraint.”
“You have no notion, my friend,” said Darcy with a shaken head.
Bingley nodded and then turned serious. “Another matter you mentioned is this suggestion of an engagement between you and your cousin.”
“My aunt claims it was an agreement between herself and my mother,” replied Darcy, shaking his head in disgust. “I have no notion if it has any basis, for my mother never spoke on the subject.”
Bingley’s eyes widened, though more in mirth than surprise. “Do you suggest that so august a personage as your aunt is spreading such falsehoods?”
“It may not be false,” said Darcy. “Perhaps they spoke on the subject. As my mother did not even mention it to my father—and he always deplored the very notion—I suspect it was idle speculation on her part. Regardless, I never intended to marry my cousin.”
Darcy grimaced as another thought came to him. “With this event, I may no longer be able to avoid it, for Anne’s reputation might suffer.”
Bingley looked at him with some pity. “Surely not. Should you catch up with her, the matter can be hushed up with your uncle’s support.”
“Do you suppose Lady Catherine will allow this opportunity to slip her grasp?”
“Does your uncle support her in this?”
“No, he does not.” Darcy mused on the subject. “My uncle was my father’s firmest friend, and he knew my father’s wishes; this did not include a marriage to my cousin unless it was my wish as well.”
“Then you should ask for his support,” replied Bingley.
Darcy offered a slow nod. “Perhaps that is the best course. My aunt is nigh uncontrollable, but if there is anyone who may exertsome influence, it is her brother.”
“What do you suppose has provoked this?” asked Bingley.
“I cannot say,” replied Darcy. “Anne has given no evidence she was even interested in a man, let alone possessed the reserves to run away with him.” Darcy paused and colored in some embarrassment. “Because of the difficulty of speaking to her without my aunt proclaiming an imminent engagement, I tend to keep my distance from her. Though she is my cousin, I must confess I do not know her well at all.”
Bingley concurred. “Yes, given the scene that just played out in this very room, I can well understand your caution. Then I suppose we arenotfor Netherfield as soon as I had wished.”
“I beg your pardon, Bingley,” said Darcy. “The subject of our conversation had quite escaped my mind.”
“Understandable, my friend,” said Bingley.
“Perhaps it is. There is no need for you to involve yourself; if you prefer to go to Netherfield at once, please do not hesitate. I will join you at the first opportunity.”
“No, Darcy. I offered my help, and I shall not foreswear myself now. Just think of what your aunt would say.”
The friends shared an amused chuckle and then Bingley added: “We shall return to Netherfield when we conclude this business.”
“Thank you, my friend,” said Darcy, gripping Bingley’s hand. “Now, I believe I must inform Georgiana of this morning’s events, though I cannot imagine she is ignorant of my aunt’s presence in the house. If you will excuse me, I shall speak to her and return directly.”
“Go to it, old chap. If she is amenable, I would be pleased to invite Georgiana to join us at Netherfield. I rather expect she might like to make the acquaintance of certain ladies who call the neighborhood home.”
The notion appealed to Darcy. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was of such a bright temperament that he could imagine her charming his reticent sister from her reserve. Miss Bennet, for that matter, was not dissimilar to Georgiana in essentials, such that she might benefit from an acquaintance with her. How Darcy had changed from wishing to avoid the Bennets altogether to contemplating an acquaintance between the eldest daughters and his beloved sister he could not say; but it seemed right. Darcy excused himself, intending to offer the invitation to his sister.
Chapter VII
