∞∞∞
“Lady Catherine is in the drawing room with several friends and Mr Collins,” the butler announced, and Elizabeth could not help smiling.
“Lady Catherine, I have the honour to announce my engagement to Miss Bennet,” said Darcy as he entered with Elizabeth upon his arm.
In the complete silence that followed, Lady Catherine gave a most alarming sigh and carried a hand to her heart, whilst everyone else present, in greater or lesser degree, failed to conceal their astonishment, dismay, or even indignation, as in the case of Mr Collins.
Then Colonel Fitzwilliam entered and made the same announcement. However, it was unclear whether Lady Catherine understood anything after the first declaration, whilst Georgiana and Kitty passed entirely unnoticed.
The new arrivals stopped before her armchair whilst Anne de Bourgh, Lord and Lady Metcalfe, the Miss Webbs, and Mrs Jenkinson, Anne’s companion, rose to congratulate the two couples. The only person who did not move towards them was Mr Collins, who remained standing beside Lady Catherine’s chair as though defending her, casting curious and angry glances towards Elizabeth and Mr Darcy.
“An engagement?” said Lady Catherine at last, in such a voice that everyone turned towards her, anticipating a furious scene.
“There can be no engagement. You have a duty. You and Anne were destined to marry from the moment you were born. Lady Anne and I determined it ourselves. I trust Miss Elizabeth understands that.”
Elizabeth, whose only intention had been to amuse herself, suddenly wondered whether she had made a mistake in coming to Kent. But, unexpectedly, Darcy and the colonel laughed so heartily that several of the guests smiled despite themselves.
“Lady Catherine,” said the colonel cheerfully, inviting everyone to sit down, “those are old family stories long since forgotten.”
“Forgotten? What are you talking about? Covenants are not forgotten. They are sacred!”
“Lady Catherine, there was no covenant involved,” continued the colonel in the same detached tone, “one cannot betroth two infants. Besides, Lady Anne desired nothing but Darcy’s happiness, and his happiness is next to Miss Elizabeth.”
“Happiness?” stammered Lady Catherine, so indignant that her face turned almost violet and she did not find her words in her usual fashion.
“Happiness is very important to the younger generation, and I entirely approve,” declared Lady Metcalfe.
Lady Catherine shot her a furious look, though the lady paid no attention to it. Lady Catherine’s ill temper and her habit of speaking rather offensively to everyone were so well known that, paradoxically, they frightened no one any longer, while the story of the supposed agreement with Lady Anne sounded more like a private fantasy than anything of consequence.
“Congratulations,” said Anne at last, seeing that her mother’s tirade had produced no effect whatsoever.
Georgiana looked at her as though seeing her properly for the first time.
“Cousin Anne,” she said, then immediately continued, “would you care to come and show your horses to my friend, Miss Kitty?”
“What are you talking about?” burst out Lady Catherine.
It appeared, however, that Georgiana knew her aunt better than anyone present, for she immediately replied, “What horses, Aunt? Everyone knows you possess the finest horses in Kent.”
They were precisely the right words to distract her, for any reference to herself or her estate invariably occupied first place in Lady Catherine’s thoughts.
“Very well, go,” she said, only to call out almost immediately, “Who is Miss Kitty?”
Kitty turned at once and, with a graceful curtsey, replied, “I am Elizabeth’s sister, Kitty Bennet.”
And it was Mr Collins’s turn to be astonished, for he could scarcely recognise in the elegant young lady before him the girl he remembered from his visit to Longbourn. He recovered himself quickly, however, and said,
“Miss Kitty is to marry my father-in-law’s eldest son.”
“That remains to be seen,” replied Darcy in such a glacial tone that the servile smile disappeared from Mr Collins’s countenance. “Miss Kitty does not lack admirers in London,” Darcy continued.
The utter bewilderment upon Mr Collins’s face made Elizabeth silently thank her fiancé. A letter would undoubtedly fly to Lucas Lodge that very evening, detailing the entire scene and, above all, Miss Kitty’s association with Lady Catherine’s family, which made her an even more suitable choice for James Lucas. Judging by Mr Collins’s expression, he seemed suddenly inclined to think more highly of Miss Kitty than he ever had before, whilst her acquaintance with Lady Catherine had elevated her considerably in his estimation.
“It is you I wish to speak with,” said Lady Catherine, addressing Darcy.
But he rose to his feet. “You must excuse us. The colonel and I wish to show this magnificent estate to our fiancées.”
“And your fiancée?” said Lady Catherine at last, turning her eyes towards the colonel.
