Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman (8 page)

Lady Catherine entered the room with an air that was more ungracious than usual and made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the head. She then sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance, though no request of introduction had been made.

“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother.”

Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.

“And that, I suppose, is one of your sisters.”

“Yes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine. “She is my youngest girl but one. My eldest, Jane, whose name you have probably heard mentioned, is unfortunately on an errand for me. I know she would want to meet you.”

Lady Catherine stiffened at the mention of Jane's name, but Mrs. Bennet, oblivious to her reaction, continued stoutly on. “May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins in good health?”

“Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last.”

Elizabeth now hoped that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the most probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared.

Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment, but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating anything; and said, “You can be at no loss, Mrs. Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. I wanted to speak to Miss Jane Bennet, but in her absence, you will do. You must know why I have come.”

With a broad smile, Mrs. Bennet replied, “Well, I am a little surprised by the timing, but I understand your eagerness to meet my daughter. It reflects well on you that you are so interested in your nephew's concerns. Your visit is quite a compliment to her.”

“Mrs. Bennet,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “a report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that, in all likelihood, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy, was soon to be united with your daughter, Miss Jane Bennet. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you. I insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”

Before Elizabeth could reassure Lady Catherine that no union was anticipated or desired by Jane, she heard her mother respond in a cold voice, “Lady Catherine, I am unsure how you came to hear such a thing, but it is certainly not my place to contradict such a report, nor would I want to.”

“Then you do not pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?”

Elizabeth sat in stunned silence. Her mother must be responsible for the rumor. In the last few days, she had visited nearly every family in the countryside and talked of nothing else. She knew from John Lucas that her mother had discussed Mr. Darcy's intention with his mother five days prior. Lady Catherine had said she had visited the Collinses the previous evening, and the news must have spread to Lady Catherine from there. Unflappable, Mrs. Bennet smiled again and serenely stated, “Well, I never heard that it was, but certainly your nephew's actions must be its cause.”

“This is not to be borne. Mrs. Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns. Has he, has my nephew, made your daughter an offer of marriage?”

With a smug smile, Mrs. Bennet sweetly replied, “I cannot say that it is a completely settled event. But if you are so close with your nephew, why don't you ask him if it is his intention?”

“Mrs. Bennet, do you know who I am? Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which your daughter has the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?”

“Lady Catherine, are you telling me that Mr. Darcy has been showing my daughter attentions while he is already engaged to someone else?”

Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied, “The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union, and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family!”

Dismissively, Mrs. Bennet interrupted her, “Oh, yes, I see now. It is something you hope will happen. Well, as a mother I can well sympathize. It is, after all, our duty to see our daughters well married. But if I may be so bold as to give you some advice: Since Mr. Darcy has obviously known your daughter since her birth, there must have been many opportunities for him to propose. Yet, he has reached his present age and has failed to do so. Perhaps your daughter should consider her other options.”

“I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line, and, on the father's, from respectable, honourable, and ancient—though untitled—families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses, and what is to divide them? The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. Tell me once and for all, is your daughter engaged to him?”

As her mother paused to think how she could respond without losing ground, Elizabeth saw her chance to introduce a semblance of reason into this otherwise fantastic exchange. “No, Lady Catherine, my sister is not engaged to your nephew. I know that for a fact.”

Lady Catherine seemed pleased but immediately asked, “And will she promise me never to enter into such an engagement?”

Her mother spoke before she could, stating in a defiant tone, “She will make no promise of the kind.”

“But, Mama,” Elizabeth pleaded, “should we not consult Jane? I think she would set the matter straight. I think she would unequivocally state…”

Ignoring Elizabeth, Lady Catherine continued to address her mother. “Does she have no regard for the wishes of his friends? Is your daughter lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?”

With a calmness and reserve that Elizabeth was shocked to discover her mother possessed, she responded, “Yes, Lady Catherine, I think we all heard you.”

“Your daughter should heed my words. She should know that if she willfully acts against the inclinations of all, she will not be noticed by his family or friends. Your daughter will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Her alliance will be a disgrace; her name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”

“Rest assured that I will convey your sentiments to Jane,” replied Mrs. Bennet. “But I would also assume that, as the wife of Mr. Darcy, she will have other sources of happiness to make the deprivation more than bearable.”

“Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Mrs. Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you and your daughter. I hoped to find you reasonable, but depend upon it, I will carry my point.”

Lady Catherine rose to leave as Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth followed her. Mrs. Bennet looked in the carriage at the young woman seated under a blanket and asked, “Lady Catherine, is this your daughter?”

Seething with anger, Lady Catherine simply replied, “Yes, it is.”

“Oh,” replied Mrs. Bennet with disdain, adding, “Does she need anything before your journey? She does not seem well.”

“No, thank you! I take no leave of you, Mrs. Bennet. I send no compliments to your daughter. She deserves no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”

Mrs. Bennet simply curtseyed, saying loudly enough for the inhabitants of the carriage to hear, “Elizabeth dear, come in the house immediately. I do not want you to catch a draft; the effect on a woman's complexion can be so unappealing.” In shock, Elizabeth followed her mother into the house.

***

Darcy was sitting at his desk when he heard a visitor being escorted into the library. He was relieved to see it was Bingley, who immediately began to explain his delay. “Darcy, I got your note. I am sorry if I kept you waiting. I had intended to leave two days ago, but when I arrived at my sister's home, I found that she had invited some guests there without my knowledge. I did not want to stay, but my family apparently promised that I would make the particular acquaintance of one of the guests. As such, I could not avoid it, but I left as soon as I could.”

Nodding his understanding, Darcy indicated that he should sit. “Charles, it must have been a long journey. May I get you anything?”

Bingley was surprised by Darcy's concerned tone. He hoped that it did not indicate that he was planning on making him suffer through another heart-to-heart conversation like the one he had just endured from his sisters about his sullen behavior. “Thank you, Darcy, no.”

There was an awkward pause as Darcy paced in front of Bingley. Knowing Darcy as he did, he knew this was a sign that something important was afoot. Bingley spoke first. “You said in your note there was something you needed to talk to me about. Did you lease Netherfield?”

“No, Charles, I did not. But I do want to talk to you about my visit there.”

Darcy continued to pace. Bingley grew apprehensive as Darcy struggled to start. Finally, Darcy sat across from him and dragged his chair closer. “While I was in Hertfordshire, I saw Miss Bennet.”

Bingley colored, looked at his hands, and said, “Oh… is she well?”

“Actually, Bingley, I was able to spend quite some time with her during my visit and got to know her much better. Yes, she is in perfect health… When I spoke with her…”

Bingley looked up at Darcy expectantly.

“Charles, there is no easy way to say this, so I will just plow ahead.” But instead of doing so, Darcy hesitated as he tried to determine what he should say. He had rehearsed his speech to Bingley several times while awaiting his return. But now that he was sitting across from him, his overwhelming sense of guilt made him tongue-tied.

Bingley finally broke the tension. “Darcy, what are you trying to say? Is she all right?”

“Yes, yes, forgive me… Charles, I recently learned that I was wrong about her; last fall when we were in Hertfordshire, she did, in fact, return your affections. I was wrong in my judgment of her, and I was wrong to interfere.”

Agitated, Bingley rapidly asked, “Are you sure? How do you know this? What happened when you visited? Did she actually say something to you about me?”

“A few weeks ago, I learned of it from someone else. I went to Hertfordshire, among other reasons, to confirm it. And I did determine it was true. Charles, I hope I do not presume too much, but it seems to me that you still harbor feelings for her. If that is the case, you should return to Netherfield to see her. I do not know how she will receive you after all this time, but she was not engaged or otherwise promised when I visited. Will you go?”

“Darcy, I don't know what to say. Who told you this? My sisters were very friendly with her, and they were quite sure that she held me in no special regard.”

“Charles, I will tell you all that I know in a moment, and some of it does involve your sisters. But when I am finished, I am afraid that you will not want to speak to me further, so I want to say something beforehand. If you feel strongly toward Miss Bennet, then you should go see her. It does not matter what your sisters think or, for that matter, what I think. You are your own master, and you should do whatever you believe will make you happy. Your own judgment is sufficient. Remember that you were right about Miss Bennet, while I was wrong.”

“Darcy, I am quite aware that I am my own master. I don't want words of encouragement; I want to know what you know about Miss Bennet.”

“Very well. As I said, I recently learned that she was receptive to your attentions last fall and was disappointed by your abrupt departure. I confirmed as much on my recent visit. I misjudged her because she did not display her emotions openly, but she clearly did have feelings for you last fall.”

“You are sure about this?”

“Yes.”

Bingley was silent for some time. Then his entire attitude seemed to brighten as he said, “Darcy, I must thank you—this is wonderful news.”

“Charles, do not thank me yet. There is more. When we were in London in the winter, Miss Bennet called on Miss Bingley. I saw her, and I knew that your sister failed to mention it to you, but I did nothing to correct the miscommunication.”

Stunned, Bingley stammered, “She was in London. She called on Caroline. Are you certain?”

“Yes. Your sister even returned the visit.”

“Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't you tell me?”

“I knew you were having a difficult time getting over her. I did not think there was any point in your learning of her visit if it would only cause you more pain. I know there is no excuse for my behavior. It was presumptuous of me to make the decision for you, and I apologize for it.”

“You admit, though, that you were wrong?”

“Completely.”

Bingley began to pace excitedly and said, “Then I cannot hold a grudge. You were wrong not to tell me, but you are correcting your mistake now. My sisters are another matter. I suspect that their motives may have been different. I cannot think of that now, though I will deal with them later… Darcy, what must Miss Bennet think of me?”

“I think the only way to determine that is to go to her.”