“It is a delight to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam the moment the occasion presented itself. “I also offer my apologies for pulling your fiancé away from you only days before your wedding.”
“Do not consider it for a moment, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” replied Elizabeth, “for the situation could not be avoided. Please accept my condolences for the loss of your cousin.”
Elizabeth turned to Miss Darcy and offered the same sentiments, which the girl received with appreciation. Kitty, Elizabeth noted, had seated herself by Miss Darcy’s side, and if few words had passed between them, she thought they were both enthusiastic about gaining a friend.
“Tell me, Miss Bennet,” said Lady Catherine, interrupting the conversation, “I understand you are from Hertfordshire. In what part of Hertfordshire is your father’s estate?”
A glance at Lady Catherine informed Elizabeth that the lady did not appreciate Kitty’s position beside Georgiana. If Elizabeth was to guess, she focused on her rather than Kitty because she was the greater concern, though why that would be, Elizabeth could not understand. The best way to retract the lady’s clawswas to be open and forthright, and Elizabeth did not hesitate to answer her.
“Longbourn is near Meryton, your ladyship.” When the lady glared at her, Elizabeth amended her explanation. “Meryton is a small town to the south and between Stevenage and Luton.”
Lady Catherine nodded. “Then a town of little importance.”
“I suppose it is, other than to those who live nearby,” said Elizabeth. In a bit of daring, she added: “There must be hundreds of such towns all over England, Lady Catherine. Some are smaller and less prestigious, but they all serve the same purpose.”
“It seems you have no trouble speaking decidedly for such a young woman,” said Lady Catherine, the oppressive air of displeasure hovering about her. “Do you not suppose you should be silent in the company of your betters?”
It was a test and nothing less—Elizabeth at once determined to show the lady that she would not be intimidated. “As I recall, you asked me a question, and I answered it. If I offer additional insights, that is the very essence of polite discourse, is it not?”
What the lady might have said in response was to remain a mystery, for Colonel Fitzwilliam interjected, and the discussion took another tack. That did not deter Lady Catherine, for she seemed determined to learn what she could of Elizabeth and was not at all subtle in her interrogation. Only Georgiana and Kitty escaped, for they whispered together, their initial awkwardness lost in favor of their delight for their new acquaintance. For some time after, the conversation proceeded, Lady Catherine interrupted with intrusive questions, Elizabeth answered, then one of the party would direct it back to the topic they were discussing before or introduce another.
Lady Catherine proved indefatigable, her questions probing, though what she wished to learn remained a mystery. While she concentrated on Elizabeth’s family, upbringing, the size of herfather’s estate, and other such matters, she often interjected a question either more intrusive or unlike anything she had asked before. In time, Elizabeth grew fatigued with her, even as she answered, knowing she had nothing to hide. On a few occasions, Lady Catherine learned some piece of information she found most interesting, though Elizabeth could not understand what she inferred from Elizabeth’s answers.
“You say your father’s estate is entailed?” asked Lady Catherine after one of these exchanges. “As I recall, you mentioned you have no brother.”
“That is correct, Lady Catherine,” replied Elizabeth, injecting a cheerful note in her voice, which she found annoyed the lady. “I have always wondered what it would be like to have a brother. My sisters shall soon experience it, but as I am to be his wife, William willnotbe my brother. I must wait until one of my sisters marries to know what it is like.”
While Georgiana and Kitty giggled together, Lady Catherine did nothing more than shoot them a quelling glare. That the girls did not notice or were engaged in ignoring her did not appear to pierce her understanding.
“Then, when your father passes on, you must all rely on Mr. Darcy for your support.”
“My father has not left us unprotected,” said Elizabeth, a little of her jolly demeanor giving way before the lady’s impertinent questions. “And I expect my sisters will marry in time. Unless I miss my guess,” Elizabeth turned her laughing gaze on William, “I expect my eldest sister will not long bear her maiden name after I resign it.”
“Bingleyisrather impulsive,” said William, humor in his tone.
“Do you have other relations?” demanded Lady Catherine.
This was dangerous ground, for Elizabeth suspected there was no more efficacious way of drawing her ladyship’scondemnation than to own to her uncles’ professions. If pressed, she would not hide it, but it was best to avoid it if possible.
“I have two uncles.”
It appeared Lady Catherine was too interested in the entail and assumed her uncles were also gentlemen, a relief and no mistake. “That is unfortunate. Though I have only one daughter, there is no entail on the estate, so Anne is my late husband’s heir.”
“That is, indeed, fortunate for her,” murmured Elizabeth.
“Tell me, Miss Elizabeth,” said Lady Catherine, “is your father’s heir known to you?”
“He is not,” replied Elizabeth. “My father and his father disagreed many years ago and severed all connection between them.”
“And his name?”
Though Elizabeth could not imagine why she was asking, she said: “His name is Collins.”
It was altogether strange, for Lady Catherine left her questioning and remained silent for some time thereafter. Though Colonel Fitzwilliam and William both regarded her, wondering what she was about, the conversation flowed more smoothly thereafter until the call for dinner came from the housekeeper. As there were only two gentlemen present, William insisted on escorting Elizabeth and his mother, while Colonel Fitzwilliam took on the duty of ushering his aunt to the dining-room; Georgiana and Kitty walked together, carrying on a conversation behind them that appeared to consist of whispers and an excess of mirth.
“Well?” asked William when they were seated and the servants brought in the soup. “Has Lady Catherine disappointed you?”
The setting was not so isolated as to suppose that Lady Catherine could not hear them if she attempted it, but at themoment Colonel Fitzwilliam was speaking to her in low tones. As such, Elizabeth thought she could venture a response without drawing her ladyship’s condemnation.
