Matlock looked longingly at the door but concluded his chances of escaping without notice were regrettably slim.
“You must have other suitors in line,” said Mrs Sinclair. “What makes it imperative that she marry her cousin over and above some other poor rich soul?”
“Anne is of a delicate constitution! She will not suffer being auctioned off to the rest of society.”
“For God’s sake, perhaps it is best that she not marry at all!” Matlock growled. “Her health has ever been fragile. If it continues so, she may not even survive the childbed.”
“I think it likely she would not survive the begetting,” mumbled Mrs Sinclair.
“I beg your pardon?” Catherine squawked.
“Well, let us be truthful—you could squash Miss de Bourgh in a money clip. I shudder to think what a man like Mr Darcy would do to the girl.”
“Yes, thank you!” cried Matlock, anticipating his sister’s paroxysms. “My niece and nephew’s carnal compatibility notwithstanding, Darcy would never have wed her in any case. Sister, you must be aware what the detriment to Pemberley would be if the estate were forced to subsidise Rosings’ losses.”
“I did not come here to discuss Rosings. I came to compel you to make Darcy marry my daughter.”
Matlock snorted. “I could no more make Darcy laugh than I could make him do anything he is decided against. I should only end up looking a fool.”
“He must listen to you! He cannot be so far beyond family honour that?—”
“I do not suggest his family honour is wanting.”
“Is that so? Then how do you account for his decision to forsake us all in favour of the impudent and penniless niece of a tradesman?”
“There is no accounting for taste,” said Mrs Sinclair. “I should not attempt it.”
“I do not have the pleasure of understanding you, Catherine,” Matlock said.
“I have received a report that he is expected to make his addresses to a ghastly little upstart from Hertfordshire.”
“And what does Darcy have to say of this report?”
“That it was without foundation.”
“Then why the devil are we even discussing it?”
“Because his violent defence of her was more than adequate proof of his attachment. Never before have I heard such language from him.”
“You do seem to struggle with other people’s dialogue, do you not?” said Mrs Sinclair.
“Darcy defendsallhis acquaintances loyally,” Matlock said. “If you were fool enough to storm in there as you stormed in here, hurling insults about one of his circle, you cannot be surprised that you received short shrift!”
“She is not one of his circle! She is a nobody with no connections save being cousin to my parson, no consequence save that with which she credits herself, no respect for her betters and a wickedly impertinent tongue in her head.”
“She sounds wonderful!” opined Mrs Sinclair.
“I am sorry, Sister, I have no interest in spurious rumours and even less in interfering in Darcy’s affairs. He is a sensible man. He will act as he sees fit.”
“He is utterly lost to reason! He will bring derision and contempt upon us all.”
“People may think him a fool, aye, but few would be fool enough to admit they think it. And it would not be the first time I have been labelled as possessing foolish relatives.”
“This is your real opinion? Very well!Somebodymust prevent him from making a mistake he will regret all his life, and since you will not, it must fall to me to act!”
“You will not make him choose Anne.”
Catherine coughed, as though he had literally knocked the wind from her sails but strode from the room without further word—herdemonstration of pique somewhat diluted by her return moments later, to request that a room be made available to her for the evening.
