She would have to do better than the grandest room at Rosings if intimidation was her aim.
Kent was a perfectly agreeable county and Rosings a lovely estate, but the décor was garish, ostentatious, and not at all to his personal tastes.If she had wanted to make him feel her supposed superiority and authority, she would have done better to take him to the formal gardens.For all their over-pruning, they were excellent.But then they might remind him of the day he had walked with Elizabeth there, and that would distract him utterly from what he wished to tell his aunt.
“Darcy!”
“Yes, Aunt?”
“I have been calling you for five minutes.What are you thinking of?Standing in the middle of the room like a statue?”
He was certain it had been nowhere near five minutes, but time was not something Lady Catherine felt she needed to observe accurately.
“Forgive me, Lady Catherine.”He took the seat she indicated across from herself and looked at her squarely.“Aunt, I have news.”
“Oh?”
“I have asked Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s permission to court her, and she has granted it.”
He had originally intended to say more, but after his meeting with Anne, he thought it best to stick to the facts and make as hasty a retreat as possible.
“You did what?”
“I have requested Miss Bennet’s permission to court her.”
“I heard you, I simply did not believe it.You cannot be in earnest!Jokes such as these are in terribly bad taste, Darcy.What if you were to inadvertently start a rumor?Miss Bennet may be an insignificant country girl, but she does not deserve to have her name mired in gossip for your amusement.”
Darcy took a deep breath.“I am not dragging Miss Bennet’s name into any ill-thought-out joke, Aunt.I have honorable intentions.I am courting Miss Elizabeth, with her permission, and intend to speak to her father as soon as I may.”
Lady Catherine’s face began to pale.She stared at Darcy, the color gradually leaching from her skin as she sat stone still and utterly silent.
“I wished to tell you in person out of respect.I am sorry if this upsets you in any way.”She still had not spoken or moved at all, so Darcy said his last as quickly and smoothly as possible.“I will not be marrying Anne, now or ever.I wish you both good health in the future.”
He rose, bowed, and made his way out of the room before she could respond.He admitted to himself he was concerned for her reaction.He had no desire to be hit with another vase, and if she was in shock, he would allow her to come to grips with his decision in private.
He made his way to the library looking for Fitzwilliam and was informed he had gone for a walk.Deciding that his cousin had the right of it, he made his way outside and soon enough his steps led him towards the parsonage.It was only polite to make a farewell call, after all.And if he happened to see Elizabeth there, all the better.
Darcy raised his hand to knock on the parsonage door and was surprised when Elizabeth opened it herself.
“Fitzwilliam, thank God you’re here.”She pulled the door closed behind her and pulled him off to the side of the house.
He placed his hand on her elbow and led her deeper into the garden.“What is the matter?”
She turned to face him and gasped.“Fitzwilliam!What happened to your head?”
He reached up to touch the cut along his hairline.“I’m afraid it met with a vase.”
“Your head met with a vase?”
He gave her a steady look.“I promise I will tell you all soon enough, but I would like to know what is distressing you now.”
She sighed and said, “Very well.Charlotte decided to travel to Town with us tomorrow, and Mr.Collins has only now returned home and been informed of it.”
“And he has not taken the news well?”
She wrung her hands.“They are having a dreadful row!”
Mr.Collins’s voice was heard through one of the open windows, but only the words “disgrace” and “shameful” were clear enough to comprehend.
“Is his anger about her leaving altogether, or that she is going without him?”
