“To connect yourself with a woman who is neither of good family or fortune?! You are a fool, Darcy! Our family will not support you in this! Her name will never even be mentioned among us.”
“In fact, Lady Catherine,” Fitz interjected with a tone of good humor, “not only does he have my support, he has the support of my brother as well as that of my parents.”
She shifted her glare to Fitz. “Impossible!”
“It is time for you to leave, Lady Catherine," Darcy demanded. "I will allow no one to disparage Elizabeth in my home, and that includes you. You are no longer welcome here or at Pemberley!”
Lady Catherine looked at Darcy and then again at Fitz. After that, she stormed out the door.
Darcy turned to Elizabeth and took her hands. “Elizabeth, I am so very sorry for the way you have been treated.”
“Thank you, Fitzwilliam, but you cannot control your aunt,” she replied.
He sighed. “That is true, but I should have taken measures to ensure this would not happen. I knew she would descend on Darcy House as soon as she learned of our courtship. It just never occurred to me that you might be here when she did. She will not gain entry to this house again.”
“You do not need to bar her on my account,” Elizabeth replied.
He nodded. “I do, for your sake as well as my own.”
Elizabeth's brows pinched together slightly. “How is she related to you?”
“Lady Catherine and the earl are siblings. My mother was their younger sister,” Darcy explained.
Elizabeth nodded.
Fitz shook his head. “Well, you ladies have now met Aunt Catherine. I assure you she spreads such good cheer wherever she goes.”
Later that afternoon, they saw Elizabeth and her sisters off. Darcy and Georgiana then accompanied Fitz back to Matlock House.
“You just missed Catherine,” Aunt Sophia said as they entered the drawing room.
“She returned to Kent?” Darcy asked.
“After I made it clear I would not stand against you, she was too angry to stay the night,” Uncle Byron replied with a grin. “It appears your Miss Elizabeth was not intimidated by her in the least and gave her an earful for her trouble.”
“Darcy and I were standing just outside the drawing room and witnessed the entire thing,” Fitz said. “Miss Elizabeth held back as best she could, but Lady Catherine kept attacking and insulting her. Eventually, Miss Elizabeth had enough and defended herself admirably.”
“I do not doubt it,” Uncle Byron said. He looked at Darcy. “Her insistence that you marry Anne is just as ridiculous now as it was when she first said it, and I told her so for the twentieth time!”
“And I told her that we met Miss Elizabeth and liked her very well,” Aunt Sophia said. “Needless to say, she was not very happy with us.”
“I appreciate your support,” Darcy said.
“Not at all, Darcy,” Uncle Byron replied.
“Fitz, I believe you need a little support yourself, do you not?” Stafford asked, inserting himself into the conversation as he walked into the room.
Fitz shot his brother a look of annoyance.
Stafford merely grinned in response.
Raising a brow, Uncle Byron looked from Stafford to Fitz. “What is this?”
Looking back at his father, Fitz said, “There is a young woman whom I wish to court.”
“There is? Who is she?” his mother asked, appearing pleased.
“Wait,” Uncle Byron said, holding up a hand, “let me sit down first.”
