She knew their opinions did not matter. If she married Mr. Darcy, she would leave Meryton and her neighbors’ gossip behind. If she did not… that did not bear considering.
Elizabeth trailed behind Mr. and Mrs. Collins, hoping if she walked slow enough that she could delay the inevitable. Rosings Park loomed ahead and there also Mr. Darcy.
Far too soon the great doors opened, and they were admitted. They followed Brisby to the sitting room and entered as he announced them. The double doors closed slowly, and Elizabeth’s gaze flew around the room.
Not everyone was there. Lady de Bourgh sat next to Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson, her walking stick in her hands. Sir Andrew stood off to the side, hands clasped behind his back and a smug smile on his lips. Mr. Darcy and the colonel had not yet arrived, however, and she wondered at their delay.
Lastly, her gaze landed on Lady Catherine. The lady had her head tilted to the side and Martha stood next to her, whispering furiously in her ear. The look of fury on Lady Catherine’s face was a sight to behold.
Oh no.Elizabeth kept her expression neutral and held her breath, waiting for the incoming explosion.
“Stand by the wall,” Lady Catherine told Martha. “Do not leave until I dismiss you.” She turned her gaze to Elizabeth. “What have you to say for yourself?”
Elizabeth’s courage returned in an instant. “What do you mean, madam?” she asked politely.
“I am not to be trifled with! A report of an alarming nature has just reached my ears, brought to my attention by averyreliable source. I have heard just now thatyou,Miss Elizabeth Bennet, are engaged tomynephew. I knew in a moment that such a thingwas impossible, and I demand to hear it refuted immediately. Is it so?”
“To whom do you refer? Your ladyship has three nephews to whom I have been introduced.” She fought to keep the smirk off her face.
“Do not be coy! I have been told you accepted an offer from Fitzwilliam Darcy. I repeat,is that so?”
“Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible.” She would not be spoken to in this horrid manner, nor would she satisfy the lady who spoke so rudely to her.
“If I may, Lady Catherine—” Mr. Collins began.
“No, you may not!” She interrupted him before he could continue. “I am speaking to Miss Elizabeth Bennet,not to you.” She turned back to Elizabeth. “You must see how this alliance cannot be. You, a lowborn woman with no dowry, no connections, marry Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. It is not to be borne! Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”
Elizabeth bristled. She did not consider herself beneath Mr. Darcy and said so. “He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far, we are equal!”
“You may pretend so, if you like, but who is your mother? Who are your aunts and uncles?” The lady stood up and came forward. Her superior height did little to intimidate Elizabeth. She stood her ground.
“If Mr. Darcy does not object, then what does it matter to you? He has asked me to marry him—”
“He is engaged tomydaughter! Now, what have you to say?” she raged.
“Only this, that if it were so, you would have no fear of him making an offer to me!” She kept her tone ladylike, though a bit of her pique could be heard in her voice.
“I am not engaged to Darcy, Mother.” Anne de Bourgh stood up shakily. Sir Andrew came around the settee and took oneof her arms to support her. Mrs. Jenkinson stood and took the other.
The smirk on Sir Andrew’s face irritated Elizabeth. She thought him quite rude to allow this abuse with no intervention. But perhaps he had his reasons.
Anne drew her shawl around her shoulders. “I am of age, mother, and I will not be forced into marrying my cousin. I have no need. Rosings Park is mine now, and I can do with it what I will until I die.” She coughed wetly. “I do not believe that time is too far in my future.”
“Do not be morbid, Anne. You are well.” Lady Catherine waved her hand dismissively.
“I am not well, Mother, nor have I been for some time. You refuse to see it, so intent are you to have your own way. I will not marry my cousin so that you can continue to live at Rosings, running it into the ground with your stubborn refusal to allow my steward to do his work!”
“Enough, Anne! We shall speak on this later.” Lady Catherine said sharply. She turned to Martha and barked, “You! Go find Brisby and tell him to fetch Darcy here at once. We must sort this matter out immediately.”
Martha scurried off, even as Anne protested. “We willnotspeak of this later, Mother! Today is my birthday; have you forgotten? I am five-and-twenty. Your tenure as mistress of Rosings Park is at an end.”
Martha must have been quick, for the doors to the room opened again and the gentlemen entered.
“What is the meaning of this, Aunt?” Darcy asked. He sounded angry. He must have understood the reason for his aunt’s pique. Charlotte said he knew Martha was being paid to report to Lady Catherine.
“Are you engaged to that seductress, Darcy?” she demanded.
Elizabeth glanced around the room as Mr. Darcy faced his aunt’s wrath. Mr. Collins cowered next to Jane. Her sister’s hand was placed comfortingly on her husband’s arm. Charlotte watched the spectacle with an amused look on her face. She shared a look with Sir Andrew who seemed equally amused. Lady de Bourgh watched it all from her seat, walking stick still in her hands. The lady’s eyes twinkled.
