"I refer not to Constance, but to my mother's sister. Lady Catherine de Bourgh."
"Oh, God," I said unthinkingly. It is unkind of me to be disposed to dislike the lady before even meeting her, but Mr. Collins greatly admires her. That should be condemnation enough.
"Indeed," Darcy agreed with feeling.
We found her in the foyer dressing down the butler who had been tasked with keeping her at bay. Saunders was babbling about his instructions as apologetically and deferentially as anyone could, but Lady Catherine was having none of it. She railed at him harshly. Saunders appear to be on the brink of sobbing.
Fortunately for the butler, our arrival distracted his assailant.
"Is this her?" Lady Catherine asked, her gaze sweeping critically over me. She was clearly just as indisposed to like me as I was her. Her lips turned up in a snarl of disgust and she averted her eyes after her short inspection. That was hardly enough time to really appreciate all my faults and advantages. She didn't even ask to see my teeth!
"I see that it is," she continued before anyone could answer, "The evidence of her low-breeding is obvious."
Really? Is it? But I haven't even said anything yet! Is it my chin? I have been told I have my mother's chin.
"Lady Catherine," Darcy said. That was all he said, just her name, but he said it in such a way everyone in the room flinched.
His aunt was only momentarily chastised however, "How could you do this to your family, Darcy? And forher? She looks like an imbecile. What is wrong with her?"
Imbecile indeed! To be fair, my mouth had been hanging open, undoubtedly making me look vacant. But only because I was astounded by her rudeness.
"I am not simple," I said, "I am neither deaf nor mute either though I can be quite impertinent as you will soon find if you continue to speak about me as though I am not in the room."
"Who are you to address me thusly?" she demanded.
I think it was a rhetorical question, but Darcy, sensing an opening to save the encounter, said, "Lady Catherine, would you allow me to present my wife—"
"I will not allow it. I will not stand for this—"
"Then you will leave. Presently." Darcy strode past a trapped Saunders who was trying diligently to melt into the wall. He took his aunt's arm and gently but firmly began to steer her towards the entrance.
She wrenched herself from his grasp,"I will not be spoken like this!"
"No, Aunt,Elizabethwill not be spoken to like this," Darcy replied vehemently. "As I informed you in my letter, I am willingly to address any criticism you wish to cast at me, but do not aim your vitriol at anyone else. To air your grievances before my servants, to abuse Saunders for carrying out my orders was abominable enough. To insult my wife in her home is intolerable and is beneath the dignity of someone of your breeding."
His words hit their mark expertly. Lady Catherine stammered unintelligibly.
"If you apologize to Elizabeth and promise to speak civilly for the remainder of your visit, you may discuss with me any misunderstanding you might have had concerning my intentions towards your daughter. If you cannot, I must ask you to leave before you embarrass yourself further."
I would be surprised if anyone had ever given her such a set down in her life. She gaped at her nephew wordlessly for so long I was tempted to ask her if she was an imbecile.
Finally she spoke. "I apologize," she said, choking out the words as if someone were strangling her.
"Address Elizabeth, not me," Darcy commanded.
Reluctantly Lady Catherine turned her gaze to me. "I apologize," she repeated. This time her words were little more than a whimper.
I quickly nodded my acknowledgment. I almost pitied her. Almost.
"Good, we may continue this discussion in my study," Darcy said, leading his aunt away.
Ten
11thDecember 1811
Afternoon
"So we are thinking forty people?" asked Rebecca, her hand hovering over the little notebook propped precariously on her bump, pen inked and at the ready.
