“I make an effort to have no secrets from her,” Mr. Darcy said. “And she understands that I will marry her regardless of your mother’s opinion.”
“You made Georgiana cry!” the Colonel said, accusingly.
“Not at all; the situation made her cry. And Miss Mary is quite right; our family has no business judging other families. If your mother does not understand that, I will be happy to explain it to her.”
***
Mr. Darcy felt comfortable at the idea of the Countess meeting Elizabeth in Netherfield’s fashionable drawing room. But, as he later reflected, Robert Burns had it right when he wrote that the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley, for the Countess insisted on setting off for Longbourn shortly after her arrival.
“But they are not expecting us, Aunt,” he argued.
“Send a message,” she told him. “Tell them we will be there in an hour; that is sufficient time to prepare a cup of tea, for heaven’s sake!”
“Is this not terrible manners, Mother?” the Colonel asked. “I am truly surprised at you!”
“Not terrible manners at all,” she replied, equably. “Is Darcy here not her fiancé? And what could be more natural than for her fiancé’s aunt to wish to see her at once?”
Nothing he or the Colonel could say would dissuade her, and she threatened to get back into her carriage and make her way to Longbourn on her own.
Mr. Darcy finally gave up.
Dearest Elizabeth,
My aunt wishes to meet you immediately; she is quite intransigent on the subject. Expect us in one hour. I apologise for this, but perhaps it is best to get this done at once.
Your loving,
Fitzwilliam
***
The message threw Longbourn into a frenzy. Jane rushed to find Mrs. Hill to explain the situation and instruct that the best china be washed off at once and a tea tray prepared.
“Whatever can she be thinking?” Elizabeth demanded, angrily.
“She is a peeress; doubtless she is thinking that she can do whatever she likes,” Mary replied, her own irritation showing through. “But, Lizzy, perhaps this really is better.”
“Why?”
“Because here at Longbourn, we will all be here to protect and support you! She can hardly order us out of our own parlour, can she?”
“I suppose not,” Elizabeth said, somewhat mollified. “You will all be there with me?”
“I will make certain of it,” Jane said, coming back into the room. “Kitty? Lydia?”
The sisters agreed that they would all stand together – or sit together! – when the Countess arrived. Even Mr. Bennet promised to be with them.
Jane, Kitty, Mary and Lydia rushed up to their rooms to put on their best mourning dresses and pin up their hair. Elizabeth, however, refused to do any such thing. “She must take me as I am,” she announced. “Or leave me alone.”
The Countess arrived in exactly one hour, accompanied by Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The entire Bennet family rose when the guests were announced by a nervous Mrs. Hill.
The Colonel performed the introductions, presenting the Bennets to the Countess. When Elizabeth was presented to her, she felt the lady’s eyes rake over her, top to bottom, but she said nothing as she made her curtsey.
The Countess, seeing everyone in black, recalled that Mrs. Bennet had died quite recently. She quite properly and sincerely expressed her condolences for the family’s loss.
Jane, serving as hostess, offered her ladyship the chair closest to the fire and rang the bell for the tea tray.
“I hope your journey here was pleasant?” Mr. Bennet said.
