One Thread Pulled: The Dance With Mr. Darcy (51 page)

Lady Catherine had expected Anne to react with her familiar submission. She was sorely disappointed in the outcome. Not only did Anne retain her composure, she insisted that her friendship with Elizabeth Bennet would not be so easily dismissed, that she admired her new friend greatly, and that assisting in her care had been a privilege, and not a hardship at all.

Lady Catherine forbade Anne from returning to Elizabeth's room on grounds of Anne's own health and attempted to extract her promise of obedience. Anne, who had never challenged her mother on any point since the age of two, stood her ground now. She would not make the promise. Lady Catherine attributed Anne's obstinacy to the influence of Miss Bennet.

Lady Catherine, now in high dudgeon, confined Anne to her room and stated that she knew exactly what to do. Anne shuddered at the threatening tone in her mother's declaration and almost gave into the demand, but ultimately, she held fast. It was not until Lady Catherine stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her, that Anne collapsed on the bed, weeping and distraught over the confrontation with her mother.

~*~

Caroline and Louisa were alone, enjoying a satisfying exchange of criticism and gossip in the drawing room when a footman announced the arrival of Mrs. Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet, Miss Catherine Bennet, Miss Lydia Bennet, and Mr. William Collins. Caroline agreed to see them and then grimaced at her sister as soon as the footman's back was turned. “How I suffer here in Hertfordshire, sister,” she groaned. “I hope Charles sets his sights on London soon. I cannot endure another moment with the Bennets.” Louisa nodded sympathetically.

Upon entrance into the room, Mrs. Bennet took charge of the conversation.

“My goodness!” She declared, “We did not expect to find such a small party assembled here, with a house as full as Netherfield Park has been in many a year. You do both appear completely recovered from the ball. Such stamina is a blessing, I assure you. I have been exhausted all day from it. I found a need, however, to venture out, so that I may bring some additional clothing for Jane and Elizabeth. It is so very
gracious
 
of you, Miss Bingley, to provide care for my Elizabeth after her fainting spell last night. Pray, how fares she today?”

To this question, Caroline did not know the answer, so she simply replied, “Mrs. Bennet, you have come all this way; perhaps you would like to visit her and satisfy yourself as to her condition.”

She gestured for the footman to show the way, and following a series of curtsies, the entire company from Longbourn filed out of the room behind him. They said not a word among them as they were led up the stairs. The footman knocked on the door to the sitting room and after a pause with no answer, entered the room, which was empty. The footman knocked on the closed door to the bedchamber, which was opened just a crack by the maid, Sarah. She slipped through the door, pulling it closed behind her.

She spotted the group assembled and curtseyed before she spoke. “The Miss Bennets are sleeping now and are not to be disturbed, by order of Mr. Bingley.”

“Not to be disturbed?” Mrs. Bennet squawked. “I am their mother and will see them if I please. Not to be disturbed, indeed! It is the middle of the day, after all. Inform Miss Bennet that I have come this moment, and do not give me any more impertinent answers, or Mr. Bingley will hear of it!”

Sarah colored, curtseyed and retreated into the bedchamber. Mary, Kitty and Lydia removed themselves to the available seats, but Mrs. Bennet stood impatiently at the door, while Mr. Collins stood beside her, flushed with anticipation.

A few minutes passed before a sleepy Jane opened the door and stepped into the sitting room.

“Mama, what are you doing here?” She rubbed her eyes and waggled her head attempting to shake the grogginess away as she asked the question.

“Why, I have come to see how
Miss Lizzy
is doing.” Mrs. Bennet retorted. “May I not call upon my very own daughter?”

“Mama, Mr. Jones was here but half an hour ago and gave Lizzy another dose of his draught, which makes her very sleepy. He said that to recover, it is best that Lizzy rest as much as possible. Her fever is not so high as it was, but she is still very ill. I beg you not to insist on seeing her today. Tomorrow would be better.” Jane replied.

“She is well enough to see her mother.” Mrs. Bennet insisted. “I will see her now. You may wait with your sisters.” She pushed Jane aside, stepped into the room, and with a gesture for Jane to clear the entryway, pulled the door closed behind her.

Jane went and sat on the settee, alarmed by her inability to dissuade her mother from the unwise course of waking Elizabeth. Kitty, seeing her distress, moved to sit by Jane and gave her a gentle hug of reassurance. Lydia sat on the sofa, holding her hand in a strange position in front of her face, while Mary, also upon the couch, watched with a serious expression as Mr. Collins remained expectantly by the door to the bedchamber.

Several minutes passed, during which time the muffled sounds of Mrs. Bennet waking Elizabeth up could be heard through the door, distressing Jane further. At length, her heavy footsteps could be heard, and the door opened.

“Elizabeth will see you now, Mr. Collins.” Mrs. Bennet said somewhat smugly. She opened the door to admit him and then pulled it closed behind her as she joined her daughters in the sitting room.

~*~

Anne de Bourgh was determined to show her mother that she could not be ordered about as if she were still a child. She left her room as soon as she had composed herself and went downstairs to the drawing room where she found Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst quietly conversing.

“Oh Anne, do come in!” Caroline smiled with an insincere graciousness. “We were just speaking of you.”

As Anne entered the room, Mr. Bingley arrived behind her.

“Louisa,” he said, “I must speak to you and your husband as a matter of urgency. Would you be so kind as to locate him and join me in the study?” His sister nodded and stood, quitting the room behind her brother, leaving Anne and Caroline alone in the drawing room.

“So,” Caroline began in sugared tones, “your mother tells me that you are engaged to your cousin, Mr. Darcy.”

“She tells everyone that.” Anne replied. “It gives her much pleasure to do so.”

“Have you an engagement ring? I would dearly love to see the sort of ring that Mr. Darcy presents to his intended bride. It must be very beautiful.” Caroline said.

“I have no ring.” Anne stated serenely.

“Oh? That must be very
 
disappointing
. It is the latest fashion, after all, for a man to present his intended with a ring.” Caroline probed, “Pray, when are the nuptials to take place?”

“No date for our marriage has been set.” Anne said with a smile.

“No date?” Caroline echoed.

“As you are so curious about it, I will tell you that I believe Mr. Darcy will announce a wedding date very soon.”

“You poor dear.” Caroline cooed. “No ring and no date. You must be beside yourself.”

“Not at all.” Anne blinked innocently.

“When did he propose?” Caroline asked, her eyes squinting slightly.

“Did my mother not tell you? She usually tells people that part as well.” Anne said with a laugh.

“No.” Caroline frowned. “Perhaps you would tell me.”

“Well, my mother would tell you that the engagement is of a
 
peculiar kind
, that our union was
 
planned from the cradle
.” Anne replied, as if she were confiding a great secret. “The idea is to unite the de Bourgh and Darcy legacies into a grand and powerful estate that will signify nearly the largest in all of England.”

“So it is a marriage of convenience?” Caroline smiled in spite of herself.

“Some would say it is.” Anne confirmed, “But not I. My cousin would never marry for convenience alone. He hides it well, but I assure you, he is a passionate man.”

Caroline's eyes widened, and she sought Anne's confidence. “Do you
 
love
 
him?”

“I have known him all my life, Miss Bingley. What is there not to love?” Anne replied with a composed smile.

“Does he love you as well?” Caroline's composure was now somewhat threatened.

“He loves me as much and in the same way as I love him Miss Bingley. You must not worry about that. He will not be in a loveless marriage if I have anything to say about it.” Anne reached out and patted Caroline's hand.

“I do hate to change the subject, but I faithfully promised my dear cousin that I would continue with the lemon balm tea.” Anne said. “He does not wish to see me fall ill as Miss Elizabeth did.”

“Of course.” Caroline smiled. “I will order some for myself as well.

~*~

Colonel Fitzwilliam had remained in his quarters after Darcy left. He had two purposes in doing so. The first was to drink a glass of Port wine to relax himself and the second was to determine what his strategy would be. A good military man never begins a campaign without a strategy, preferably a good one. He paced and pondered for an hour before a smile lit his face and he thumped his fist on his table with excitement.

“How did I not think of this before?” He cried aloud. “It is too easy!”

He set out at once to find his aunt. He started his search in the drawing room, where he found Caroline and Anne quietly sipping tea.

“Cousin Anne, do you know where I may find your mother?” Colonel Fitzwilliam said with a bow.

“No, I am sorry I do not.” Anne shook her head.

“I believe she had planned to stay near her chambers today.” Caroline grinned. “This morning, Mr. Darcy threatened to have the servants pack her belongings, and she seemed quite determined that it would not happen.”

“Thank you.” He bowed again and quit the room, bound for the stairs. In the hallway, however, he heard raised voices echoing from the direction of the study, and fearing that his aunt was causing trouble, he quickly arrived at the study door. He heard the usually quiet Mrs. Hurst, nearly in hysterics, as she insisted that she could not, under any circumstances share a room with her husband.

Convinced that his aunt was not a party in that conversation, he returned to the stairs and soon found himself outside his aunt's chambers. He closed his eyes and knocked loudly at the door.

“Who dares disturb me?” Lady Catherine said loudly. “Go away.”

“It is I, your nephew, Richard.” He injected urgency into his voice, knowing that this would pique his aunt's curiosity.

“Come.” She answered irritably.

With a deep breath, the colonel turned the knob and entered the small sitting room, where his aunt stood in the center.

“Aunt Catherine, I have not seen you all day. Are you well?”

“No.” She said sternly. “I am not well at all. It has been a most distressing day.” She imperiously set herself in the middle of a long settee by the fireplace and repeated, “A most distressing day!”

“Oh.” Richard said, and seated himself in an attitude of sympathy near to her. “Is there anything I can do to ease your distress? Would you like me to order some tea or a glass of wine?”

“Wine at this hour? That would not do!”

“Some tea then? We have been drinking lemon balm on the advice of the apothecary.” Richard offered.

“Lemon balm?” Lady Catherine's eyebrows rose as though the suggestion were scandalous. “These apothecaries are not to be trusted. Lemon balm is too mild. One must drink hyssop tea to prevent infection! Someone should have asked me. Why was I not consulted?”

“I will call for some hyssop tea for you.” Richard replied. “And advise the household of your recommendation.”

He left the room for a few minutes and returned. “It should be here shortly. Now, tell me what vexes you Aunt Catherine, and I will do what I can to help.”

“Oh nephew, your attachment to me is such a comfort. I am distressed by so many things. My nephew Mr. Darcy has not yet announced his engagement to Anne, and due to this dreadful business with that Bennet girl's sick room, I am undone. It is not to be borne, and yet Anne has defied me and exposed herself to the illness in nursing her. If Anne sickens and dies from another fever, what will I do? She is all I have in this world, except, of course, Rosings and my dear nephews.”