The lady watched him as if trying to understand how resolved he was—she may not have bothered. Mr. Bennet was often lackadaisical in performing his duties and allowed his daughters to go their way more often than he should, but he would tolerate no attacks on his family.
“Very well,” said Lady Catherine. “I see that I cannot reason with you.”
Lady Catherine jabbed a skeletal finger at Jane. “Do not suppose you will entrap my nephew, for I shall know how to act.”
When Jane did not respond—wisely in Elizabeth’s opinion—the lady turned and stalked from the room. Silence fell in the wake of her going.
“What a virago!” exclaimed Lydia, the first to recover. “I feel sorry for Colonel Fitzwilliam for having such a shrew as an aunt.”
“Yes, Lydia, itisa deplorable connection,” said Mr. Bennet. He turned a grin on Jane. “Given this display, I cannot but imagine you are now reconsidering the colonel’s interest in you.”
“Not at all, Papa,” replied Jane, unaffected by his jest. “Should I marry Colonel Fitzwilliam, I would marryhim, not his family.”
“Good girl,” said Mr. Bennet with a wink. “Now that we have the measure of Mr. Collins’s patroness, I cannot but suppose it was fortunate that Lizzy refused his proposal.”
Even Mrs. Bennet allowed that observation to have merit, though her agreement was more muted than everyone else.
“Now that the excitement is over,” said Mr. Bennet, “I was enjoying a good book—I shall return to my study and take it up again.”
Mr. Bennet turned to his wife. “As I suspect Lady Catherine will accost Fitzwilliam and Darcy at Netherfield and will not stint in informing them of her adventure at Longbourn, the gentlemen will arrive within an hour. I suggest you inform Cook of our additions for dinner, Mrs. Bennet.”
“I shall see to it at once,” said Mrs. Bennet, never one to reject the notion of having gentlemen at her table—especially gentlemen interested in her daughters.
A moment later, the ladies were all seated again with their various pursuits, though every thought was on the scene just concluded. Elizabeth turned to Jane.
“You were far more forceful with Lady Catherine than I might have expected, Jane.”
Jane replied with a bright smile. “Colonel Fitzwilliam did not suppose Lady Catherine would journey here to confront us, but he told me how to handle her should she confound their understanding.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Then his advice did not work, for it incensed her more.”
“Perhaps it did, but she has departed, and none of us are the worse for it. That is the best we could hope for.”
ANTHONY FITZWILLIAMwas not in the habit of tolerating foolishness. Stupidity, however, was unavoidable when confronted by Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
“Fitzwilliam!” cried the woman the moment she entered the room. “There is a matter I must discuss with you.”
“Good day to you too, Lady Catherine,” said Fitzwilliam, reflecting on the novelty of being the focus of Lady Catherine’s attention—Darcy was the target because of her ridiculous insistence on the cradle betrothal.
“Do not ‘good day’ me, Fitzwilliam!” snapped she. “I have heard about what has been happening in Hertfordshire these past weeks, and I have come to put a stop to it.”
“Oh?” asked Fitzwilliam, already fatigued with the lady’s presence. “That is curious, Lady Catherine—I cannot help but wonder how you mean to impose your will upon me.”
“Be silent, Fitzwilliam! If you have forgotten it, I shall remind you. Your duty is to wed a woman of the proper lineage, a woman who provides connections that will benefit the family. Though I know you understand this, it appears you have allowed a pretty face to turn your head. Well, I shall not allow it. I shall not allow you to ruin the family by taking such an unsuitable wife.”
Lady Catherine ranted, screeched, cajoled, and threatened, but Fitzwilliam remained silent, allowing her to tire herself. It was fortunate that Lady Catherine did not require a response, for Fitzwilliam did not think he could summon the tolerance necessary to show respect for an elder relation, though he supposed she did not deserve it. By his side, it appeared Darcy was equally unaffected by their aunt’s displeasure, for he watched her, betraying nothing of his feelings. Fitzwilliam, who was better acquainted with him than any other, could see something in the set to his jaw that spoke of determination as if Lady Catherine’s harangue was directed at him.
“Well, Fitzwilliam?” demanded Lady Catherine after she had repeated herself for more than five minutes. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Nothing that I wish to say to you, Lady Catherine. What I do is my concern—it has nothing to do with you.”
“Of course, it concerns me!” raged the lady. “Am I not a close relation? Will any imprudent match with a family such as the Bennets not affectme?”
“I cannot imagine how it would,” replied Fitzwilliam. “Evenifsociety at large took exception to my choice, you never leave Rosings Park. Thus, if I end in infamy, it cannot affect you.”
“Insolent boy! Is this how you treat me?”
“It is when you are being unreasonable.”
