They had gone over this last night during their card game. Darcy had told his aunt – yet again – that Anne would not be moving to Pemberley, not ever, because the marriage would never take place. When his aunt ignored him and continued to make plans for him and Anne, Darcy had put down his cards and excused himself.
Now, she had returned to the same theme. He ignored her. There was no point in arguing. He calmly proceeded to butter his toast, then placed his poached eggs on top.
His mind drifted. He imagined what it would be like if Miss Bennet were here. He might have joked with her that his aunt had turned into a parrot. In fact, with her thin face and sharp nose, she looked like one. Though parrots, admittedly, looked much more agreeable than his aunt.
If Miss Bennet were here, she would challenge his aunt on every occasion, and the monologues would turn into dialogues.
“Darcy,” she said. “You are not paying attention.”
Darcy sighed and wiped his mouth with his napkin, summoning up all his patience. “There is no need for me to pay any attention, Aunt. You always say the same thing.”
Anne’s eyes widened slightly, and she cast a frightened glance at her mother, but otherwise did not react. His aunt came over and towered over him, glaring at him in her most arrogant, offended manner.
“You are far more tedious in your refusal to accept the facts, Fitzwilliam Darcy. You object every time, yet I am certain you will eventually come around. There is merit in repetition, you know. If you repeat something often enough, it becomes true.”
“We may debate truth as a philosophical principle all day. However, the reality could not be clearer. As Anne knows, I have no intention of marrying her, and since she has no intention of marrying me, either, I think we can safely assume that therealityis that I will not be marrying my cousin, no matter how many times you express your wishes to me.”
But his aunt had turned away before he had even finished talking and called for one of the footmen to bring more wood for the fireplace. It was warm outside. The sun was shining. There was no need for a fire.
“It occurs to me now that I should set a condition if you want me to retain that useless soldier of yours,” said Lady Catherine.
Darcy looked up from his food. He knew that expression. His aunt was about to suggest something outrageous.
“This is my condition,” she said. “If you do not marry Anne, I will get rid of your Mr. Preston.”
Darcy’s nostrils flared. This was beyond the pale! He threw down his fork and sprang to his feet.
“That is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard! How could you even consider coercing me into marrying Anne by threatening to destroy a man’s livelihood?”
He was breathless with anger. He forced himself to take a deep breath and wrestle back control. “I will tell you this, once and for all. I am tired of you ignoring my explicit refusal and trying to find ways to pressure me into submitting to your aspirations. I willnevermarry Anne.Never. I do not wish it, and neither does Anne.”
“How dare you—!” sputtered Lady Catherine.
He interrupted, abandoning civility completely. “And if I hear that you have mistreated Mr. Preston or any of your other tenants in an act of revenge, I will bring all my Fitzwilliam cousins with me to take Anne somewhere where she will be out of your reach, free from your smothering presence.”
He went to the window and pulled open the curtains. “Let the sun in, Anne. It will warm the room. Better than a fire.”
“You dare to dictate to me in my own house?” Lady Catherine glared at him.
“I was not talking to you. I was talking to Anne,” he replied, coldly. “It isherhouse.”
He walked out of the breakfast room and strode straight up to his room. He would not stay a moment longer. He rang for his valet and ordered him to extinguish the fire, pack and prepare for departure.
Meanwhile, as he waited, he sat ruminating by the remains of the fire, watching the red glow die down. He did not regret his outburst, but he was not happy with himself for losing control of his temper. He had schooled himself to be reserved, to stay calm no matter what the provocation. It was how he had dealt with years of mischief, outright lies, and underhanded behavior by George Wickham. He had forced himself not to be baited into anger. He prided himself on his restraint.
Now he had lost it. He was disappointed in himself, but he did not regret it. Not for a moment. His aunt had been chiseling at his self-control for years. It was bound to crumble, sooner or later.
As he grew calmer, he dismissed all thoughts of Lady Catherine and began to think ahead. He would be in Town in a matter of hours. He could call on his sister before he went home. Then he wondered if she would even be home. He wondered what kind of plans she and Miss Bennet – and Mrs. Annesley, of course – had come up with for the day.
He hoped they would be home. He needed somewhere where he could set his troubles aside. It was strange, but somehow the house on Cavendish Square felt like a haven.
Chapter 18
Darcy was feeling wretched about his quarrel with Lady Catherine.
Since he was a child, his parents had etched into his consciousness the idea that his family circle was more important than anything – or anyone – else. He had been taught that, no matter how difficult his relations may be, he was tied to them with the ancient ties of blood. This was especially the case with his mother. Even though she often complained about her sister, Mama had insisted that Lady Catherine was an earl’s daughter, married to a baron, and family. Consequently, his aunt deserved his utmost respect.
As a result, he had grown up forcing himself to be civil to Lady Catherine, showing her consideration, and overlookingher bad manners. He had spent years perfecting the art of ignoring her when necessary, just as he was obliged to ignore his playmate, George Wickham. Papa had refused to hear anything negative about his godson. Instead, he had instructed Darcy to make allowances for a boy who had less advantages than him. Making allowances, he had learned, meant clamping down on any feelings of injustice and anger towards George, whose charm seemed to bring adults under his spell.
