“Eliza and Mr Darcy are engaged! And look!” She pointed to the window.
He looked then let out an inarticulate wail that Charlotte thought might denote the shrivelling of his manhood. Moments later, her ladyship burst into the parlour, wheezing with the effort of her march and coming to a halt only when nose-to-nose with her parson.
“YOU!”
“Phnar!” Mr Collins replied, cringing.
“This is your fault! Had you married her at the off, this never could have happened!” She slammed her cane on the floor, igniting sparks on the flagstones.
Mr Collins’ face had lost all colour, and Charlotte wondered whether his grimace were a precursor to imminent tears.
“Instead,” her ladyship continued, “you left her unbound and untamed to wreak havoc uponmy family!” Her voice cracked under the strain of her displeasure, and she coughed.
“Lady Catherine, you are upset,” said Charlotte. “Can I fetch you a glass of wine?”
Her ladyship rounded on Charlotte. “You dare speak to me? I have welcomed you here, shown you endless condescension, made this house comfortable for you, furnished the closets with the very shelves upon which you lay your clothes! Was I shown any gratitude for my forbearance and charity? I was not! Instead, you invited the same ungoverned, ungrateful girl who refused all this to visit! Then you allowed her to inveigle herself into my good favour and enthral my nephew under my very nose. It shall not be borne!”
“Your ladyship, my friend gave no hint of any designs on Mr Darcy whilst sh?—”
Lady Catherine swiped at the air between them with her cane—which was rash, considering how little of it there was. “Your friend is a scheming little upstart, but she will learn I am not to be trifled with.”
“Pray, Eliza is by no means artful?—”
“Indeed, she is! She has beguiled my nephew, to whom I have beenalmost a mother since his own died, into severing all communication with me unless I condone their union! When it is my own daughter who has been jilted!” She span theatrically to leave but turned before quitting the parlour to deliver her coup de grace.“I am not so easily gainsaid. Ifhewill not hear me, mark my words, she will.”
She left, the room stilled, and Mr Collins abruptly fainted. After a few deep breaths to compose herself, Charlotte stepped over her prostrate husband and walked to the door, where she found a petrified maid in the hall. “Some tea, if you would. And perhaps a dash of something stronger. And, Harriett, would you arrange for our trunks to be packed? I believe we shall be visiting my family in Hertfordshire for a while.”
IN LOVE AND WAR
Wednesday 17 June 1812, Hertfordshire
84 Gracechurch Street
15thJune
My dear Lizzy,
You have amazed us all, but we could not be more delighted for you. You have been very sly, very reserved with me though. How little did you reveal of what passed at Hunsford! I confess I suspected something when you were here, but my imagination did not run beyond a slight partiality. I ought to have known you had made him love you!
Your uncle and I should be delighted to attend your wedding. Do let us know the date as soon as may be, for we will likely depart on our northern tour directly from Longbourn. I have written separately to Mary, inviting her to travel with us, and though I know she will bring her own delights to our party, we shall miss your company sorely. Visiting you at Pemberley, however, will be fine compensation for our disappointment.
Pemberley, Lizzy! Would that I could see your face when first you lay eyes upon your new home. Its grandeur notwithstanding, the grounds are simply delightful, and the estate boasts some of the finest woods in the country. You will be perfectly spoilt.
In closing, I must say you and Jane may congratulate yourselves. As a result of your achievements, your mother will now die happy.
Yours very sincerely,
M. Gardiner
The smilethis letter produced had not faded from Elizabeth’s face before her mother burst into the room, wafting another in her direction.
“This is for you, Lizzy. It was in amongst my correspondence. ’Tis from Kent. Look at the seal. My poor eyes cannot make it out properly, but it seems very fancy—too fancy for the Collinses. It must be from Lady Catherine. She has written to congratulate you. Oh, Lizzy, what an honour! Open it up. Let us see what she has to say.”
A quick glance confirmed her mother’s suspicions, driving away Elizabeth’s high spirits. Darcy had confided that his letter to Lady Catherine had forbidden any further communication with him unless it was an apology. Whatever this missive contained, be it grudging contrition or something else, it would certainly not be congratulations, and she had no wish to excite her mother’s nerves with its contents. “I think it is only from Charlotte, Mama,” she lied.
“Oh, that is a shame. Though I daresay her ladyship will write soon.”
Having not forgiven Charlotte for marrying the heir to Longbourn, Mrs Bennet disdained any gossip pertaining to their situation. In any case, Elizabeth preferred to read whatever Lady Catherine had to say alone, and she escaped the house directly, pleased to pass Kitty returning from the garden, for it assured her privacy. Tearing the letter open, she stomped onto the lawn, growing more indignant with every step at being written to against Darcy’s express wishes.
