Elizabeth put the letter down feeling equal parts amazement and irritation. Her father was finally putting some effort into restraining her younger sisters, which was wonderful and an answer to her prayers. But to read his contemptuous words aboutMr Darcy! It was the idea of a marriage toMr Collinswhich should have caused his deepest distress! Elizabeth could not even imagine what it would have been like to waken from the tonic’s stupor to find herself irrevocably tied to that imbecile; it was her guardian angel, in the form of Fitzwilliam Darcy, who had prevented it.
Papa’s letter should be singing his praises!
Further reflection, however, gave her pause.Am I not somewhat to blame?If I have not done as much to wound Mr Darcy’s reputation as Mr Wickham, neither did I help it in any manner—blind to any of his goodness and sensitive to his every flaw, all in favour of my pride. Beyond ensuring her family knew of his callous remarks at the assembly, she had repeated Mr Wickham’s stories as if they were fact, and searched for fault in his every look or action.
Itwasgood to read of Jane’s new happiness, and whileshe was sorry she had not been available to comfort her sister, it was just as well she had not been at home in the dark hours following Mr Bingley’s departure and the letter from his sister.Knowing my former antagonism, I probably would have blamed Mr Darcy for that, too.
If only he would visit!Once again, she smothered the wish before it could take firmer hold. He was well rid of them all, and she must settle for the life she had once been content with, being forever grateful it was not a worse fate.
CHAPTER 11
Not a week had passed before wonderful news arrived from Longbourn: Jane was engaged to Mr Bingley. Jane’s happiness overflowed in her letter, and Elizabeth was genuinely pleased for her dearest sister.
She was also envious. Mr Darcy had neither called nor left word of any kind. A tiny tentacle of hope that had refused to be crushed was finally withering its slow death. Realising he had not been forced to honourable action, he had reconsidered his options.It is all for the best, she told herself. According to Jane, there was not a whisper of rumour regarding her reasons for removing to town. All was well. There was time, if she met him in the future—perhaps even at Jane’s wedding—to learn to pretend. She was now rehearsing the pretence every day; never mind that she expected to do so for the rest of her life. After all, once having been almost in love with Mr Darcy, who else could compare?
She and Mrs Gardiner were sitting together in the breakfast parlour on a grey winter’s morning the very day after the news of Jane’s engagement, when their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the sound of a carriage—a chaise and four coming up the drive. It was too early for visitors, and besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. Neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, thatsomebodywas coming, she and her aunt went to the formal drawing room to await them.
The housekeeper soon entered. “Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” she said, giving her card to Mrs Gardiner. A large, tall woman followed the presentation of the card.
“We have not been introduced,” the woman announced to the room at large, her tone imperious, her every feature a demanding imprint upon a face which might once have been handsome. “I expect, however, that you know who I am.”
Elizabeth recalled the name—Mr Collins’s patroness, and Mr Darcy’s aunt—possessing a daughter she wished him to marry.
“You are Miss Bennet?” she said, rounding upon Elizabeth.
“I am,” Elizabeth replied. The uncivil air of the woman put her back up; however, she was determined, for Mr Darcy’s sake, to be polite.
“And that lady is your aunt?” she asked ungraciously.
“She is. Mrs Gardiner,” she added, although no introduction had been requested.
Lady Catherine proceeded, in very short order, to issue a critique on the location of the home and its placement off the street, the west-facing windows, the arrangement of the furniture, and the fabrics used in its upholstery, saying all as if she was entitled, by right of birth, to come into a stranger’s home and issue disparagements.
Elizabeth glanced at Mrs Gardiner—and to her surprise, she saw that her aunt was holding back laughter. In that moment, something inside of her eased. She did not have to protect anyone here today. She would benefit from Mrs Gardiner’s example, and live up to the behaviour of atruelady—regardless of birth—while this one made herself ridiculous.
“Since you hold such disapproval of my home,” Mrs Gardiner interrupted when Lady Catherine paused for breath, “you will please forgive my surprise that you have entered it. I am certain I received no prior warning of your arrival.”
Brilliant, Auntie!Elizabeth thought. Lady Catherine had never before called nor left her card—vulgar violations of basic etiquette.
Lady Catherine simply pretended not to have heard. “Miss Bennet, I require a private word with you. Does this home even possess a garden walk? I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company.”
But the lady had not counted on Mrs Margaret Gardiner,who refused to be cowed by her disdain. “Unfortunately, your ladyship, I do not know you, and nothing in our very briefun-acquaintance leads me to believe my niece ought to be left alone in your company. If you have anything to say to her, you may say it in my hearing. Anything which I may not hear is, frankly, better left unsaid.”
Lady Catherine looked down her nose with a hostile stare, and narrowed her eyes; Mrs Gardiner remained implacable and unaffected. Finally, her ladyship gave it up and proceeded, again, to pretend the other woman did not exist.
“Let us sit down. Miss Bennet, you can be at no loss to understand my reason for coming.”
They sat, and Elizabeth did not hesitate in replying. “Indeed, you are mistaken. I have not been able to account for it at all.”
“I have been to visit my nephew, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Do you pretend to be unacquainted with him? I have heard an insupportable claim, and I demand to have it countered.”
“Until I have any idea what the claim is, I can hardly contradict it.”
“It is that you so deceived my nephew as to convince him of some false notion of rescue, so that instead of marrying my vicar and remaining in the sphere you were born to, you might marry him instead. He says that the marriage has not yet taken place, but he refuses to promise that it never will.”
Despite Lady Catherine’s disingenuous description ofthe affair, it was all Elizabeth could do not to smile. “How kind of Mr Darcy. He wishes to protect my reputation.”
The housekeeper entered with a tea tray, and Lady Catherine was forced to hold her tongue until the servant departed.
