Page 118 of Bitterness of Spirit & The Painting

“I want to hear nothing from you!” she shouted more loudly. “I came to speak, not to listen, and I want everybody to hear what I have to say!”

“We shall allow you the privacy you need,” the Gardiners suddenly said, leaving the room, followed by Mrs Jenkinson, Mrs Annesley, the Bingleys, and the Hursts. Elizabeth, Anne, Georgiana, Darcy, and the colonel remained.

Mr Wilson remained unmoved, his face suddenly reflecting a strange amusement.

“Aunt Catherine, how may we help you?” Darcy asked.

“Help me?! You ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a case of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. I came to make my sentiments known to you regarding the appalling news of your outrageous betrothal!”

“Yes, I suspected as much, but I hoped for better,” Darcy replied with a sharp irony that disconcerted his aunt.

“This is not to be borne! Darcy, I insist on having this ridiculous wedding cancelled before it is too late!”

“Your ladyship cannot expect me to take such a laughable request seriously,” Darcy replied.

“Darcy, you cannot reply to me in such a manner! I am almost the nearest relation you have in the world!

“Sadly, that is true,” Darcy responded, struggling to keep his composure.

“You must come to your senses, Darcy! Honour, decorum, prudence—nay, interest, forbid this union! You will be censured, slighted, and despised. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your wife’s name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”

Elizabeth stepped forward and took Darcy’s arm.

“These are heavy misfortunes,” answered Elizabeth. “But the wife of Mr Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”

“Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! How dare you speak to me? Is this your gratitude for my attention to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score?

“Aunt Catherine, never dare to shout at Miss Bennet again!” Darcy roared.

Everybody froze, and his aunt watched him with eyes and mouth wide in shock.

“You are welcome here only as long as you behave. Never dare to judge others or speak of disgrace so easily!” Darcy continued fiercely.

Anne approached and attempted to take her mother’s hand. “Mother, do not worry about me. I am fine. I discovered that I have been in love with Richard all this time. We are engaged to be married soon. I am glad you came to be with us—”

“What? In love? Engaged? I forbid it! I shall never agree to your marrying your shallow cousin,” Lady Catherine continued in the same manner.

“Let us sit down,” Richard proposed, but he was rejected again.

“I shall not be interrupted! I am shocked and astonished. I shall not allow this horrible country nobody to take the place that should belong to my daughter. She cannot be the mistress of Pemberley! And I shall not allow Rosings to be ruined by a man who has lived his life amusing himself. You have all lost your minds; you refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and respect! I shall not leave until I have my satisfaction! I cannot allow the shadows of Pemberley to be thus polluted!”

Anne and Georgiana were on the edge of tears when Elizabeth suddenly left Darcy’s arm and stepped forward.

“Lady Catherine, I understand your hatred towards me. But your daughter confessed she would marry for love with her worthy cousin, and you dismissed her just because she opposed your arrangements. Should we understand that your ladyship despises the notion of love, or do you prefer a dastardly plot to have someone killed in the middle of the night in order to have things arranged to your liking? Surely, that cannot be the case!”

Her voice was light and calm as she sought a truce. Darcy was surprised, but he put his arm around her in support. Elizabeth smiled, but Lady Catherine leaned forward and almost fell. She glared at Darcy, then at Wilson, then back at Elizabeth’s mischievous expression.

She then turned and almost ran to her carriage. Anne attempted to follow her, but she stopped and found support in the colonel’s arms.

Wilson was the only one to follow Lady Catherine quickly enough to catch her just as she entered the carriage. He leaned in the window until they were face-to-face.

His scar was now clearly lit by the sunlight, and his blue eyes threw arrows. But he smiled.

Her ladyship was livid. “You stayed in the room to help them! You told that Bennet girl and exposed me to her censure. I hate you more than words can say. This will not stand!”

“Stop making a fool of yourself, Catherine. I remained to amuse myself; they needed no help to face you. As for Elizabeth, she has known everything for some time. She was hidden in the library with Darcy when you came to confront me. You must live the rest of your life knowing that your deepest, darkest secret is in Elizabeth Bennet’s hands, and she can expose you whenever she pleases.”

She stared at him in disbelief.