“To be honest, as I always am, I would not have invited you in this weather if my nephews had not insisted. You know how much I detest leaving the house or receiving guests when it is raining. Such weather is the perfect time for all sorts of illnesses, which I cannot allow in my house.”
“Dear aunt, I am sure we are all in excellent health here,” the colonel said in his usual amused tone.
Elizabeth felt Mr Darcy’s glance upon her, and her eyes met his briefly.
“Well, I understand Miss Bennet possesses a very unladylike habit of walking out of doors in any weather. I could not disapprove of it more.”
“It is said that walking and any other sorts of exercise in the fresh air ensures better health,” Mr Darcy suddenly interjected.
“I strongly disagree. I have never liked exercise out of doors and still have always been healthy. Unlike my poor sister Anne — God rest her soul — who liked to walk and ride yet died so young.”
The blunt statement astonished Elizabeth, and she looked at Mr Darcy again, seeing his frowning countenance.
“Besides, even if it is healthy, I declare the habit of walling alone to be most improper for a young woman. But when one has spent their entire life in the country, one cannot be aware of the demands of propriety.”
Elizabeth knew the rebuke was directed at her. Amused, she pondered how she should reply, but Mr Collins spoke first.
“I completely agree, Lady Catherine. I have told my cousin Elizabeth many times. Even a few days ago, when the colonel called and she was not at home, I expressed my opposition to her strolling in the park alone.”
“Why were you calling on the Parsonage, Richard?” Lady Catherine asked harshly.
“Because I desired company,” the colonel replied with a large smile.
“I cannot imagine why would you prefer the company at the Parsonage to that of your relatives.”
“It is no competition, Aunt,” the colonel said, keeping the same smile. “You and Anne were resting, Darcy was out on his usual ride, and I went to the village and stopped at the Parsonage on the way.”
“I disapprove of Darcy’s habit of riding around the fields very much too,” Lady Catherine declared. “I have been told you are seen quite often in a certain part of the park,” she said, and again, Elizabeth saw Mr Darcy’s expression changing.
“I ride all around the park, Aunt, just as I do at Pemberley. Managing an estate means to supervise it with your own eyes as often as possible.”
“You cannot argue with that, Aunt,” the colonel interjected again. “I know nobody more dedicated or more successful in accomplishing his duties than Darcy. And you must admit that, in the five years since he took on the management of Rosings, your income has significantly improved.”
“Richard, we do not speak about business at dinner and certainly not in front of strangers!” Lady Catherine scolded her nephew. Elizabeth hid her smile behind her napkin. The entire scene was equally embarrassing and amusing, and the only ones not seeing the ridiculousness of it seemed to be Lady Catherine and her loyal admirer Mr Collins.
“Miss Bennet, I hope you returned to the Parsonage safely the other day,” Mr Darcy suddenly said, and Elizabeth held her breath. He turned to his aunt, who was already looking at him curiously, and explained, “I was riding to Rosings when the rain began, and I saw Miss Bennet in the lane. I hoped she was not caught in the rain.”
“I entered the house just in time,” Elizabeth said. “Thank you for your concern, sir.”
She understood the meaning behind his words and realised he must have been just as preoccupied by their argument as he had been since he had brought it up in front of his aunt.
“What were you doing out of doors?” Lady Catherine asked.
“I was just walking, thinking about some personal matters that have troubled me lately. The walk helped me realise how wrong I was in my judgments, and now I am searching for ways to make amends, or at least to apologise for my mistakes.”
Elizabeth knew her statement was bold and could begin another quarrel with Lady Catherine, but she accepted the risk and cast a look at Mr Darcy. He certainly understood her and even slightly bowed his head in an imperceptible gesture of acknowledgement.
“Nonsense!” Lady Catherine declared. “This is precisely what I meant earlier. You should stay with Mrs Collins and learn from her how to run a household. She is a good mistress, just to my liking. Though you might not need it — I doubt you will receive a marriage proposal considering your situation in life and lack of dowry.”
“Lady Catherine!” the colonel shouted. “Surely you cannot say that!”
“Why not? We all know it is true! Why let her entertain hopes that will never be fulfilled? It will only harm her more.”
“I appreciate your ladyship’s thoughtfulness,” Elizabeth replied. “I do agree that Charlotte is an excellent mistress, and I congratulate her on her felicity. As for me, I have no such expectations.” She was now smiling broadly, and she looked at the colonel, then at Darcy — both of them were frowning.
“If we are not allowed to discuss business at dinner, we should certainly not talk about the futures or marital lives of others,” Mr Darcy interjected in a cold voice. “Furthermore, I would not measure a lady’s chances of felicity by her connections or dowry but by her worthiness. As proof, I have not seen many happy — truly happy — marriages between people of great consequence and great fortune. My parents were one of the very few exceptions.”
Lady Catherine looked displeased, and she was about to respond when Darcy addressed her directly. “Do you have other examples of such cases, Aunt? If you do and you wish to debate over them, I would be happy to indulge you.”
