“It may have missed your attention, Catherine,” snarled the man, “but the man you and your sister planned to marry Anne isdead! The new master does not even possess a connection to you. To suggest he forswear his engagement to marry your daughter is silliness I did not think evenyouwould contemplate.
“Now,” snapped the man, silencing Lady Catherine before she could say another word, “it is time for you to depart. Return to Rosings at once and do not raise this subject again.”
“I shall leave,” hissed Lady Catherine, “but do not suppose this is the end of the matter. My daughter was meant to be the mistress of Pemberley, and so she shall be. I shall know how to act!”
With that, the lady stalked from the room, leaving them all in shock. What the lady could mean by her last statement, Elizabeth could not say, but she had gained a healthy respect for Lady Catherine’s ability to cause havoc, and this in only a single day. Lady Catherine would bear careful watching.
Chapter XII
Silence was a state to be treasured when in the company of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Though it did not descend in the wake of the lady’s departure from the room and the sounds of her loud voice echoing throughout the house still vexed them, at least she was no longer using the trumpet she called a voice where she could deafen everyone nearby. Darcy was not so foolish as to suppose that she would make no more trouble, especially given her last words, but at least she would no longer be present to aggravate them all.
“That woman will be the death of me,” rumbled the voice of the newcomer, a man Darcy knew to be among the highest in society.
At once remembering he was in company, the earl turned around and fixed his son with a look Darcy could only call wry. “You told me that Catherine had presumed to impose upon you here, but you said nothing of her raising the cradle arrangement with Darcy.”
“That is because she said nothing until yesterday evening,” said Fitzwilliam. “The woman is fit for Bedlam and no mistake.”
Such talk did not please the earl, but he made no more comment, instead turning his attention to Darcy. “It seems you have had a personal introduction to the more... disagreeable part of our family. While it is my hope we shall have no further trouble with my sister, I know her too well to suppose she will not continue to vex us.”
“Trust me, my lord, I had considered that myself.”
With a nod, the earl turned to other subjects. “Now, if you will oblige me, you have several guests present with whom I am unacquainted.”
“Of course,” replied Darcy.
When the introductions were complete, the earl greeted them all and, insisting they did not need to stand on ceremony, sat in their midst. The first matter he discussed was Darcy’s engagement to Elizabeth.
“To own the truth,” said the earl, his tone light and designed to avoid giving offense, “for most families of Darcy’s level of society, marrying a young woman of your position would not be an option.” The earl winked at Elizabeth and added: “Then again, the Darcy family has never cared for such things and has often taken great delight in thumbing their noses at those who choose to be offended by such things. I am old enough to remember Morgan Darcy’s mother, a lovely woman, whose father was a small county squire in Cheshire.”
“That is interesting, my lord,” said Elizabeth, the twinkling in her eyes presaging a witticism. “If she were naught but the daughter of a small-town squire, how could her husband have become acquainted with her?”
The earl proved his easy temper by grinning back at Elizabeth. “They became acquainted when he visited the neighborhood to stay with a friend. As I recall, the closest Darcy connection to the nobility at the time was the earls of Leicester.”
“Leicester even now has a fine opinion of himself,” jested Fitzwilliam. “His son, whom I count as an acquaintance, much to my chagrin, is the most pretentious man I have ever met.”
“Then you understand what ensued when the earl’s nephew announced his engagement.” Lord Matlock paused for dramatic effect. “To the earl’s displeasure, the groom’s father supported his son’s right to make his own choice, which led to an estrangement between their families.”
“Which persists to this day,” said Darcy with a shake of his head. “Jameson had little to do with them, and the earl’s family would not even acknowledge me.”
“Such is the history of the Darcy family.”
Lord Matlock turned his attention back to Elizabeth. “This is just a small measure of what you must contend with when you enter society, Miss Bennet.”
“I have some experience,” said Elizabeth, though appearing uncertain of the wisdom of saying as much as she did. “Even in William’s circles, there are those who did not appear to appreciate our engagement.”
“That is nothing less than human nature.” The earl shook his head. “We gain such a high opinion of ourselves that we cannot imagine welcoming anyone who does not meet our supposed high standards. I will own that I am not free of such sentiments myself, though I try to restrain myself. In truth, I suspect the nobility is strengthened by the infusion of fresh blood.”
“Perhaps William and I shall spark a renewal of potent Darcy blood,” said Elizabeth, her eyes on Darcy, reminding him why he loved her so desperately.
“Yes, mayhap you will at that,” mused the earl, “though I will note that previous generations of Darcy’s have not been lacking at all. There have so often been new bloodlines introduced that I suspect the Darcys are much better positioned to stave off dwindling capabilities than certain members of higher society who are near inbred.”
With a shrug, the earl again concentrated his attention on Elizabeth. “If you will forgive me, Miss Bennet, I suggest it may be best for my wife to take you under her wing.”
Darcy thought to interject, but the earl cut him off and settled any consideration of offense. “I do not question your abilities, for though we have just met, I already sense that you are a capable sort of woman who will do well. Catherine, though sheis trying, is not mistaken about the problems you may face in higher society. While it is clear you know how to behave, members of our set have certain expectations, and my wife can help you learn what they are and avoid censure. It will only do you good if we support you.”
“The earl’s suggestion is sensible, Elizabeth,” said Darcy’s mother. “There is nothing but benefit in such a relationship with such highly placed people.”
“Of course,” said Elizabeth, nodding to her future mother-in-law, “I am happy to accept your generous offer and look forward to excellent relations with you both.”
