One Thread Pulled: The Dance With Mr. Darcy (45 page)

~*~

Lady Catherine did not remain upstairs as she had promised just hours before, but instead, appeared in the dining room at Netherfield as soon as the servants opened the doors. It was not her appetite she sought to gratify—she was in high dudgeon over the deviation of affairs in the household from her explicit instructions.

Caroline Bingley was the first unfortunate resident to enter the room following its occupation by Lady Catherine.

“Miss Bingley!” The older woman said sternly. “The servants have informed me of most alarming news! Am I to understand that Miss Elizabeth Bennet remains under this roof?”

“I am sorry to distress you, madam, but so she does.” Caroline replied civilly.

“This is not to be borne!” Lady Catherine scowled and glared at her. “Who dared to disobey? I made it very clear that the Bennet girl must be removed!”

“The apothecary declared it unsafe to move her.” Caroline replied. “It does seem rather extreme to keep her here, with her own house but three miles away, but my brother would not risk it.”

“Unsafe?” Lady Catherine's eyes narrowed. “If she is in such poor condition, then it is most certainly unwise for us to remain in the house. I shall depart within the hour with Anne and my nephews. It is insufferable to be dangerously exposed in such a way and as guests in the house no less! I am not used to such treatment as this! I must find my daughter immediately. Have you seen Anne? She was not in her room when I awoke.”

“No, Lady Catherine. You are the only person aside from the servants I have seen this morning.” Caroline raised a cup of tea to her lips. “Shall I send a footman to search for her?”

Lady Catherine paused. “And what of my nephew, Mr. Darcy? Where is he?”

“He could be in nearly any room in the house except for his own chamber. When the requirement for a bed for Miss Elizabeth became apparent, there was not one available. Mr. Darcy surrendered his. I know not where he slept last night.” Caroline smiled to herself, fully aware of the impact of her words.

Lady Catherine's eyes bulged in fury. “My nephew was deprived of his bed? Do you know who he is? He is the master of Pemberley! His lineage was seeded with nobility! How dare that country upstart take the bed of one such as he! She could have slept in the servant's quarters! Thoughtless, pretentious girl! She is a disgrace!”

“Aunt Catherine.” Darcy stood in the doorway. “Have you something to say to me?”

“My nephew!” Lady Catherine calmed slightly. “What disappointment you must feel at the unfortunate turn of events last night. It cannot be helped, but no matter, a country ball is not ideal to announce an engagement in any case. We must make plans, dear boy, for I grow impatient. We must begin the wedding arrangements at once.”

“I will not marry Anne,” Darcy said firmly. “This pretense must cease, Aunt Catherine.”

“But your mother! She desired it!” Lady Catherine insisted.

Darcy replied with directness. “My mother never spoke any such thing to me. She loved Anne dearly while she lived; indeed, she treasured that niece who was her namesake, but never once did she say she desired an alliance of our houses. The engagement you are so fixed on has never been anything but a lie. It does not exist, and it does none of us credit to give further voice to it.”

“This is because of that Bennet girl!” Lady Catherine growled. “I saw the way she behaved with you! She may be practiced in the arts and allurements of the coquettish female, but I trusted you to be above such trickery. She has drawn you in! Can you not see that she is beneath you? She is as far beneath you as this daughter of a tradesman is!” Lady Catherine pointed at Miss Bingley with disdain.

“We are not discussing Miss Bennet or Miss Bingley.” Darcy replied with cold civility. “We are discussing your daughter, Anne. I have been patient with you, Aunt. For ten years you have pressed the matter, in spite of my denials and protests against any understanding. There is no engagement between Anne and myself nor will there ever be. I do care for her, as though she was my own sister, but that is all. If you do not cease with your interference in my life, I will be forced to take actions which may be unpleasant to us all.”

“Do not change the subject, Fitzwilliam Darcy. We
 
are
 
discussing Miss Bennet.” Lady Catherine huffed. “In spite of my best efforts at encouragement and persuasion, for ten years you have delayed your marriage to Anne. It has not escaped my notice that it is only since the wiles of Miss Bennet have turned your head that your denials and protests against the marriage became convincing to any degree. Will you turn your back now on what you owe to your family? Your obligations and duties are clear, and a marriage to one such as this penniless country maid would bring shame to us all!”

“Is it your assertion, Aunt, that I must seek your approval before I make an offer of marriage to anyone?” Darcy drew himself to his full height.

“As almost your nearest relation, it is only right that I know the intimate details of your affair, and guide you in any actions which have an effect on our family name and reputation!”

Darcy's jaw was rigid as he spoke formally and coldly to his aunt. “I owe you no such deference. Do not believe that my allegiance to you shall overcome my devotion to the lady I choose as my bride. Make no mistake, the choice is mine, and mine alone to make. You will honor she who bears my name and my children when the time comes that I take a wife, or
 
you will not be welcome at Pemberley.”

“Shall you elevate Miss Bennet to be mistress of Pemberley? Are you engaged to her?” Lady Catherine pressed angrily.

“I am not engaged to anyone at present.” Darcy frowned at his aunt. “And I am not likely to disclose to you any design to become so prior to the event. Do not think that I am unaware of the unpardonable abuse you have imposed on any lady you suspected of finding my favor. Even Miss Bingley, who is the sister of my dearest friend and your hostess in this house, was subjected to it, undeservedly so.”

“Do not be so ungrateful, nephew! Someone must keep their head. Men are never disposed to discover the truth once they believe themselves in love. I have done it in your service.” Catherine arched her brow haughtily at Mr. Darcy.

“Aunt Catherine, I believe that you expressed a desire to depart Netherfield. In this, I bow to your greater wisdom. I shall, of course, remain here, as shall Colonel Fitzwilliam. I will see to it that your carriage is made ready immediately. I believe you said you would go within the hour. Shall you require assistance in packing your belongings?”

“I have changed my mind.” Lady Catherine glared at Darcy. “I am not going anywhere!”

~*~

Darcy had found that the library at Netherfield was a place he could retire for solitude, and it is there he went to cool his temper after his conversation with his aunt.

Shortly after he went to that room, Mr. Jones arrived at Netherfield, and was shown to where Jane, Mr. Bingley and Anne de Bourgh were convened in the sitting room of Mr. Darcy's suite. Mr. Jones shared his distressing news, gave Mr. Bingley the same advice as he had given Mr. Bennet, and after examining her, dispensed some additional medicines for Elizabeth's care to Jane, cautioning her that Elizabeth's condition may worsen before it improves. Mr. Jones did not linger and, so, left before Mr. Darcy was even aware of his arrival.

It was in the library that the housekeeper found Mr. Darcy when the letter arrived for him from Meryton. The letter bore a seal with a distinctive “W” design and was addressed to Mr. Darcy in the familiar, extravagant hand of George Wickham.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Mr. Wickham's Revenge

T
he household at Longbourn was unusually quiet. Mrs. Bennet had retired to her room complaining of her nerves, attended by Mrs. Hill. Mr. Bennet was firmly ensconced in his study, the door closed, which was a certain sign he did not wish to be disturbed. With Jane and Elizabeth at Netherfield, only Lydia, Kitty, Mary and Mr. Collins remained downstairs. The three sisters soon went to the drawing room, with Lydia in great hopes that it would not be long before the Lucases called at Longbourn to take some tea and discuss the ball. She speculated that there was a good chance that some of the officers they had danced with would not be able to stay away and would call as well. Mr. Denny, in particular, she happily claimed, was half in love with her already and would surely call today.

Mr. Collins looked up from his book when they entered, his features contorted into what a generous person might call concern as he stood to acknowledge the entrance of his youthful cousins.

“Good morning.” He spoke formally with a sideways nod of his large head. “I understand that your esteemed apothecary, Mr. Jones, called upon Mr. Bennet not half an hour ago, followed by sounds of the apparent distress of your mother shortly afterward. While I am never prone to pry into the private affairs of anyone, I must humbly say that, in this case, I feel that it is right to make an exception. With my position and standing in the community as a clergyman, I feel uniquely qualified to bless my fair cousins with my insight and understanding. Pray tell me, did Mr. Jones bear news of Miss Elizabeth? Is she to return to Longbourn today? I must speak to her without delay on a matter of great import.”

Lydia turned her back to Mr. Collins, rolled her eyes at Kitty and quietly snorted before whispering. “How droll our cousin is! He is so serious—do you suppose he is to make Lizzy an offer? La! Would not that be a fine joke?”

Kitty's eyes widened at the thought and Mary, who had heard Lydia, smiled with deliberate sweetness at Mr. Collins, walking over to where he stood. She nodded at him before she seated herself determinedly in the chair next to where he had been sitting and opened a volume of the New Testament, which she had brought with her. Seeming not to know what else to do, Mr. Collins returned to his chair and his book.

Mary read quietly for several minutes, and then, not looking up from her book, she spoke. “Mr. Collins, Mr. Jones did indeed bear news today,
 
sad news of a tenant in one of the cottages.”

Mr. Collins swallowed audibly, a pained expression on his face. “Tenant?”

“Yes,” Mary replied. “Elizabeth had visited the cottage a few days ago. Their baby died in the night of a fever.”

“What was Cousin Elizabeth doing at the cottage?” Mr. Collins seemed perplexed.

“Mr. Collins, as the future master of Longbourn, you cannot be ignorant of the duties this will demand of you and your wife. Your tenants are what make the estate profitable. It is through their toil that food is on the table and clothes are on our backs. Elizabeth was attending to their needs, fulfilling my mother's duties in her stead, as she has often done. The tenants are very fond of our Lizzy.”

“Much as a parson's wife visits the parishioners, I imagine.” Mr. Collins nodded knowingly. “Her compassion does her credit.”

Mary shook her head and returned to reading the Bible. Mr. Collins returned to his reading as well, although the escalating sounds of Lydia and Kitty's conversation on the other side of the room prevented him from paying heed to the book.

“I do not!” Lydia was arguing. “You're just saying that because I danced more than you at the ball.”

Kitty pulled a face. “You do so! That button is almost as big as your nose.”

“I would have seen it in the mirror when I dressed.” Lydia said triumphantly. “You are a liar. Liar, liar, liar!”

“Go look in the mirror now if you do not believe me.” Kitty pouted. “There is a grog blossom, sure enough! I believe it is growing larger every minute.”

“Mind your tongue Kitty—I will do just that!” Lydia stormed out of the room, Kitty watching her anxiously. A moment later, a loud shriek was heard, and Lydia came running back into the drawing room.

“What am I to do, Kitty, oh what am I to do? The officers will come, and I cannot let them see me with this hideous pimple on my nose! It is a monstrosity! What am I to do?” Lydia turned, suddenly remembering that Mr. Collins was in the room. She started to giggle, and taking Kitty's hand, she pulled her sister out of the room; this was followed soon after by the sound of feet on the stairs.

Mary smiled serenely after her sisters left the room, although Mr. Collins was discomfited by the scene he had just witnessed. At length, Mary spoke.