“Only in that I knew I wished to marry my fiancé when she was but seventeen,” said Darcy with a shrug. “It is beneficial to know so early the path one’s life will take, for it prevents uncertainty. If my cousin had not suffered his misfortune, I would, even now, be enjoying married life with my beloved.”
“Yes, I suppose you must be correct. Yet, it appears you didnotknow the path your life would take.”
There was little choice but to concede the point. “One can know nothing about the future. Unless some calamity befell me, however, I have known who I would marry; as that is one of the most important decisions a man will face, I am grateful I could make it without all the hassle of making myself agreeable to ladies in society.”
“That much is true, my friend. I hope your lady will not resent me for calling you away on the eve of your wedding.”
“Not at all,” replied Darcy. “Elizabeth will be eager to make your acquaintance,andGeorgiana’s too.”
“Then I will confess to the same interest.”
Fitzwilliam raised his glass and rose, while Darcy set his empty glass on the table between them.
“Perhaps it would be best to retire. One cannot withstand Lady Catherine with dull wits, so we should sleep well tonight.”
Darcy did not disagree, and he departed the study with his companion, making for his chambers. The looming visit with Elizabeth might be a little uncomfortable with Lady Catherine in attendance, but Darcy longed to see her so much that he did not consider it for a moment. Perhaps, if they were fortunate, they could satisfy the lady enough to induce her to depart. Darcy suspected it was wishful thinking, but until she proved him incorrect, he would indulge in such thoughts as would make him happy.
Chapter IX
Contrary to Darcy’s hope, the lady did not leave Pemberley, nor could he see any intention on her part to depart from the estate at anything other than a time of her choosing. For that matter, Darcy could not even see why she had come at all.
The lady was nothing less than an inveterate busybody, for nothing was beneath her notice, nothing beyond her ability to criticize. The moment she entered the house, she began to meddle, sticking her nose into the housekeeper’s business, Darcy’s management of the estate, and Georgiana’s activities, all with the assurance that she knew what was best in any situation. Darcy had not known her for six hours before he knew she was the last person he would wish to endure, let alone host at the estate he was still learning to manage. There appeared to be no choice, however, because Lady Catherine did not appear willing to depart.
“Georgiana!” said the lady not long after arriving, in what Darcy now suspected was her usual speaking voice, though he considered it little less than a bellow. “How are your studies?”
The girl, who was terrified of her aunt, could muster nothing more than an inaudible mutter. This, of course, would never be enough to satisfy Lady Catherine.
“What was that? Speak up, girl, for I cannot hear you.”
Though Darcy had not thought the girl had it in her, she plucked up her courage. “Well enough, Aunt.”
“Is that all you have to say? Speak to me, girl. A mere slip of a girl shall not gainsay me.”
For a moment, Darcy thought Fitzwilliam would intervene. Georgiana, however, plucked up her courage again and responded to her aunt with what appeared to be a more acceptable response. For some time thereafter, Lady Catherine inquired into minute detail about Georgiana’s current studies, her efforts on the pianoforte, and anything else that came to her mind. The lady was so thorough that Darcy thought she could teach the Spanish Inquisition something about the proper techniques of interrogation. Fitzwilliam interjected when Georgiana became flustered, and Mrs. Younge took a little of the pressure off her charge’s shoulders, but Lady Catherine was as indefatigable as a starving fox intent upon catching a fat chicken. What surprised Darcy even more was when Lady Catherine advised about subjects of which she confessed she knew little.
“I assume you have already performed in front of your brother’s friends.”
Georgiana appeared frightened to confess to it, but she said: “Oh, no, Lady Catherine. I am not yet out, and Jamie said that I did not need to perform before others when I am not yet comfortable with it.”
“That is nothing less than nonsense, girl,” snapped Lady Catherine. “You are now sixteen years of age, and that means you must soon debut in society. Others will expect you to perform when asked, so you must become accustomed to it before your debut. This business of your brother allowing you to escape this duty is nothing less than silliness. If I had charge of your upbringing, I should not have put up with it.”
“There is no sense in berating Georgiana, Aunt,” interjected Fitzwilliam. “It was Darcy’s opinion—and I agreed with him—that there is no point in making Georgiana uncomfortable when she is yet two years away from coming out.”
“Do not be obtuse,” said Lady Catherine. “Coddling the girl will do nothing to prepare her for her future entrance into society. She must become accustomed to what she will face, for if you leave it until she makes her entrance, her failure will reflect upon us all.”
“Those of society are not so judgmental as you believe.”
Lady Catherine waved his comments away as if they were an offensive odor. “I know about all these things, Fitzwilliam. You have never been a young lady coming out in society, so you cannot know what she will face.”
“Thenyoucan claim to have experience performing before the masses?” Darcy could see the skepticism in Fitzwilliam’s face and the irony in his voice. “You will forgive me, Aunt, but I was not aware of your abilities on the pianoforte. Having never heard you play, I thought you had never learned.”
Lady Catherine’s jaw flexed in her anger. “That is not the point, Fitzwilliam!”
“No, I dare say it is not.” Fitzwilliam’s manner did not give an inch. “Yet your insistence matters little, for I am Georgiana’s guardian and thus I have no compunction at all about allowing her to avoid displaying her talents until she is comfortable doing so.”
Though Lady Catherine subsided on that subject, she had not lost the war, for her eyes narrowed and she regarded Fitzwilliam with some asperity.
“Yes, that is quite unfortunate. I have always said that two bachelors could know nothing about raising a young girl; what I see now proves I was correct. We may rectify that, however, for I believe it is in Georgiana’s best interests to come to Rosings to live with me. As you know, I have experience raising a young woman to be a creditable lady in society.”
