William and Mr. Bennet exchanged a look, and in tandem, they each grasped one of Lady Catherine’s arms and marched her from the room, the woman’s insults spewing behind her as she left. That she did not kick out and fight like a lioness was a surprise to Elizabeth, for she had not supposed they would remove her without provoking something more.
“What an odious woman,” said Mrs. Bennet when she was gone, though they could still hear her beyond the door.
“With that, I cannot but agree with you,” said Mrs. Darcy.
“Lady Catherine has ever been thus,” said Georgiana, her voice steady though a little weak. “No one controls her, for she is a force unto herself.”
“Do you suppose she will go to London to her brother?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
Georgiana shrugged. “Perhaps. Uncle will not listen to her, but she is delusional enough to suppose she can prevail.”
“It would be curious ifanyonelistened to her,” said Mrs. Bennet.
“Well, this is a surprise and no mistake!” said Elizabeth. “It is a rather laconic conversation after what just happened, is it not?”
“Perhaps it is,” said Mrs. Bennet. “If you will excuse me, I prefer not to give the lady more of my attention than necessary. We should return to our discussion of the ball.”
That was how the gentlemen found them when they forced Lady Catherine to depart. It was for the best, Elizabeth supposed, for Lady Catherine was a most disagreeable subject.
Chapter XIX
Lady Catherine might not have expected it, but the earl was no more receptive to her stupidity than Darcy had been. Given certain threats the lady had made when Darcy had escorted her from Longbourn, he knew her first destination after leaving the estate would be London and the earl’s house. When Lord Matlock’s letter arrived via express the morning after, Darcy had his proof of Lady Catherine’s intentions.
“Your uncle chased Lady Catherine back to Kent,” said Darcy to Georgiana when he finished reading the letter. “To the best of his knowledge, Lady Catherine went as instructed with his reprimand ringing in her ears.”
“As I told you,” said Georgiana with a curt nod, her manner informing Darcy of her recovery from the previous day’s fright and her anger with her aunt. “My uncle does not care for his sister and avoids her whenever possible, but he will not hesitate to put her in her place when necessary.”
Darcy nodded and turned back to the letter. “The earl also warns against complacency. Lady Catherine returned to Kent as he commanded, but he does not suppose that she has abandoned her designs.”
“One might wonder how a woman, even one high in society can hope to carry her point in such a matter as your future life.” Mrs. Darcy shook her head in equal parts disbelief and exasperation. “It is most irrational.”
“My aunt has long thought she ordered the world to her liking,” said Georgiana.
“The question is, what will she do next?”
It was a question that beset them all, for no one thought Lady Catherine would desist, given how far she had already taken the matter.
“Do you suppose she will try to interrupt your wedding?” ventured Georgiana. “Does she know the date?”
“Though it is unfortunate,” said Mrs. Darcy, “Mr. Collins knew, so Lady Catherine will also know.”
“There is little enough she can do,” said Darcy, though he did not feel as complacent about the matter as he attempted to portray. “Even if she appears at the wedding and objects to it, I cannot imagine that Longbourn’s parson would refuse to complete the ceremony.”
“No, Lady Catherine would not intimidate Mr. Smith at all,” agreed Mrs. Darcy. “I cannot suppose that Elizabeth wishes to remember her wedding day stained with Lady Catherine’s interference.”
“Nor do I,” said Darcy. “Perhaps we could change the date to put Lady Catherine off the scent.”
“If you do,” said his mother, “you must marry earlier, otherwise she will just return when she learns of the new date.”
Darcy nodded but did not venture a response. Moving it forward was a palatable notion, for Darcy was most impatient to have Elizabeth for a wife. Her mother would protest, which was understandable given the upheaval they had already endured. Darcy made a note to consider the matter at greater length and bring it up with Elizabeth when the occasion permitted.
As an addendum to the earl’s letter, he informed Darcy that he had started an investigation into Mr. Collins’s behavior with the man’s bishop, a matter of immense satisfaction to Darcy. He also mentioned his interest in attending Darcy’s wedding to show his support. Though Darcy wondered if Mrs. Bennet would expire from the honor of having an earl and a countessat her daughter’s wedding, one did not put an earl off in such a manner. When told of it, Elizabeth, having met the man, showed her courage, though she did not hesitate to laugh about how her mother might react at the news that an earl might attend their wedding.
“You may be correct, William,” said she, “for Mama will find such people most intimidating. She may even fear the countess more than the earl.”
It was a most apropos observation, one Darcy had not considered himself. The day following the receipt of the earl’s letter, Darcy had found Elizabeth on the paths of her father’s estate as was his custom, and after an affectionate greeting, the sort in which they could not indulge with anyone else looking, they turned to walk the path in each other’s company, and Darcy related the latest news.
“Mama will rise to the occasion, of course,” continued Elizabeth, “but it will drive her into an even further frenzy to ensure everything is prepared to perfection.”
