The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (22 page)

same
 woman.
Darcy decided to keep an eye on his old friend, even though he was mostly sure
it was all in his own head.
It was well into the early morning hours before the party broke up. Lady
Matlock had pressed Elizabeth again to come and stay with her for at least part
of the season, and Elizabeth had promised she would speak with her sister and
parents and let her know her plans. 
Darcy had managed to speak two sentences to Elizabeth: one about her journey to
town, and one about her trip to Kent the following day. He was exceedingly
frustrated with the night, especially when Sir Malcolm, not he, handed
Elizabeth into the carriage. No matter, he told himself, she is to Kent
tomorrow, and he would follow in a week’s time. 
There would be no Sir Malcolm at Rosings.

Chapter
19

“Charlotte!” 
“Lizzy!” 
The two women embraced and laughed together outside Hunsford Parsonage, where
Charlotte and Mr. Collins had stepped out to greet them. The two women slipped inside
while the latter was busy welcoming Sir William and Maria Lucas.
Mr. Collins was as effusive as ever. He repeated every offer Charlotte made of
refreshment and insisted on immediately giving them a tour of the parsonage. He
pointed out all the wallpaper specifically chosen by Lady Catherine, and
commented on the superior quality and elegance of design, as if the lady had
painted it herself. He waxed poetic on the shelves she had had installed in the
closets, which left nowhere for the guests to hang their garments, and he spent
fifteen minutes on the benefits of a well-appointed stairwell and the proper
length of a corridor.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel that Mr. Collins hoped to make her see what
she had given up when she refused him. Charlotte seemed to have developed a
system of ignoring her husband when he said something embarrassing, and
redirecting the conversation before it became too mortifying, though her cheeks
were often flushed during his more ebullient speeches. At first Elizabeth felt
sorry for Charlotte, but when the two had a moment alone together she changed
her mind.
“I am quite happy, Lizzy. I so enjoy having my own home.” She looked around the
room proudly and Elizabeth had to admit it was a nice house. There were no
younger sisters or brothers or overbearing mothers to contend with - though
there was Mr. Collins.
“I am glad to hear it, Charlotte. How are you getting on with Lady Catherine?”
“She is very considerate, and often condescends to drop by unannounced and make
helpful suggestions for where I should place the furniture and what cut of meat
we should order. She is a very involved patroness.” She gave Elizabeth a
pointed look.
“Oh, Charlotte, I can imagine! Lady Catherine will have guests soon, so perhaps
she will find herself too busy to assist you.” She smiled slyly.
“So you know her nephews are coming?”
“Yes, they informed me of it in February while I was in London.”
“Her ladyship will not like not being able to make the introduction – it is one
of her favorite things to do. Any relationship that comes of it she then feels
was of her design.” The smile on Charlotte's face took the bite out of her
words, but Elizabeth understood her sentiment. “Miss Darcy is to accompany them
now, though originally it was just the gentlemen, and they were not to arrive
until just before Easter.”
“Yes, I saw Miss Darcy just last night, and she informed me that she and her
brother and cousin will be arriving in a week’s time.”
“Then we shall likely not be invited to Rosings overmuch if Lady Catherine has
other guests to entertain her.” Charlotte looked slightly relieved, though she
was trying to keep her expression neutral.
They continued to talk of their families and familiar friends in Hertfordshire,
carefully avoiding the topic of Charlotte’s marriage to the man Elizabeth had
refused.
The week passed quickly, with Mr. Collins gladly spending most of his time
working in his garden at Charlotte’s encouragement, leaving Elizabeth and
Charlotte to spend many happy hours together talking and taking walks to
explore Rosings Park. 
Despite everything she had heard, and was disinclined to believe, it was a
beautiful park. There were many walks and trails and a particularly lovely
grove that easily became her favorite place to wander. The gardens closer to
the great house were overly manicured and stripped of all natural beauty, and
Elizabeth found herself avoiding them in favor of the more natural wood paths
and surrounding fields. 
The most interesting event of the week was an invitation to Rosings the day
after their arrival. The time had come to meet Lady Catherine. Maria was beside
herself with nerves and could hardly brush her hair, she was so nervous. Sir
William appeared brave and gave the impression that this was an everyday occurrence
for one of his rank, but by the time they were approaching the house, he was
stunned into silence – a singular occurrence, indeed.
Elizabeth did not feel frightened of meeting the great lady or being in her
enormous house. Her courage did not fail her; once inside, she found it to be
dark and overdone, with furnishings covered in the most expensive, though not
the most tasteful, fabrics, and walls burdened by imported papers in decadent
designs. The entire house seemed to be designed to impress one with the wealth
and consequence of its owner, with no real concern for comfort or
livability. 
Lady Catherine herself was a tall, large woman, with strong features that may
have once been considered handsome, but now gave her a rather unfortunate
expression, not distant from a horse’s, but less gentle. Her daughter Anne was
a mousy creature that might have been pretty had she had some color and
thoughts of her own. Elizabeth wondered how such a young woman had come from
such a mother. Miss DeBurgh's companion, a Mrs. Jenkinson, was not much larger
than her charge, but significantly older and bore a slightly haunted
expression. It didn’t take long to find out why.
Lady Catherine sat in a large, throne-like chair in the center of the room, the
other chairs placed strategically around hers so that when seated, all would
face her. Mr. Collins wasted no time introducing his father- and sister-in-law,
saving his destitute cousin for last. Elizabeth curtseyed politely and took a
seat, preparing to be extremely diverted. 
If
only Father were here to see this!
 
After listening to Mr. Collins and Sir William clamoring over each other to
flatter Lady Catherine, practically prostrating themselves in the process, the
grand lady turned her attention to Elizabeth. 
“Miss Bennet, are both your parents living?” she asked in a loud, imperious
voice.
Elizabeth was startled by the abruptness of the question, but responded
civilly, “Yes Lady Catherine, they are.”
“And do you have any siblings?”
“Yes, ma’am, I have four sisters.”
“Four sisters! That is most irresponsible! And how many brothers?”
“I have no brothers, your ladyship.”
“No brothers? No wonder the estate is entailed! That was very silly of your
mother. No brothers, indeed!” She huffed indignantly, as if it was her estate
entailed away. “I daresay it is good for Mr. Collins, but I see no reason for
estates being entailed away from the female line. If my estate had been
entailed, you can be assured I would have produced a son.”
The entire room was quiet, not daring to hold even a whispered conversation
while Lady Catherine was talking, even if it was not to them. So Elizabeth
continued the dialogue, feeling almost like a player on the stage before a
small, but attentive audience.
“Indeed, Lady Catherine.”
“How many elder sisters have you?”
“One elder, three younger.”
“Is your eldest sister married?”
“No, ma’am, she is not.”
“Is she engaged?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, at least that is something!” She looked around as if she was expecting
to see a pig flying by at the mere idea of an elder sister not being married
already.
“And you, Miss Bennet? Are you engaged?” 
Elizabeth fully felt the impertinence of the question, but remained civil. “No,
I am not.”
“Are you being courted?”
“No, your ladyship, I am not.”
“That is quite careless! Two girls out and neither married, nor you even being
courted! Why does your mother not take you to town to meet suitable gentlemen?”
Lady Catherine seemed seriously offended. “She must move quickly so your
younger sisters may come out.” Mr. Collins made a small whimpering sound. “Are
any of your younger sisters out?”
“Yes, ma’am, all.”
“All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The
younger ones out before the older ones are married! Your younger sisters must be
very young?”
“My youngest is not sixteen.” Mr. Collins studied the floor carefully as Lady
Catherine’s eyes grew wide, and her nostrils flared, and her head bobbed
curiously back and forth, as if she didn’t know where to look.
“I think it would be very hard on younger sisters, not to have their share of
society and amusement just because the elder do not have the means or
inclination to marry early. And to be kept back for such a reason! It would
scarcely encourage sisterly affection,” Elizabeth added.
“Upon my word, you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person!
Pray, what is your age?”
“With three younger sisters grown up,” she smiled, “your ladyship can hardly
expect me to own it.”
Lady Catherine looked quite shocked and Charlotte employed her newly learned
skill of changing the subject when things became unbearable. The conversation
moved on, Elizabeth saying as little as possible and not being addressed again
by the great lady, until finally the visit was at an end.

~

“Did you see her, Louisa? Shamelessly flirting with Sir Malcolm! Who does she
think she is?” Caroline was alternately pacing and sitting with her sister in
her private sitting room at the Bingley townhouse.
“Caroline, weren’t you just saying you were relieved Sir Malcolm seems to be
distracting her from Mr. Darcy?” Louisa asked.
“Yes, I am. I really wish she wasn’t here at all! What do they see in her? I
don’t understand it!”
“Men are not meant to be understood, Caroline, do not trouble yourself. Use Sir
Malcolm to keep her away from Mr. Darcy. When all this is through, you can
easily exclude her. Sir Malcolm will probably never offer for her anyway; he is
likely just flirting.”
“Do you really think so? He seemed to genuinely like her.” Uncertainty filled
her voice. The only thing worse than Elizabeth stealing Darcy’s attention away
from her was Elizabeth marrying before her. 
That
 would
be unconscionable. And to a man with a title, too! “Ridiculous as the notion
is.” 
“Perhaps he did like her. What he liked her for is debatable.” She sneered and
smiled unkindly.
“Louisa, you are wicked!” Caroline said with wide eyes, followed by a malicious
laugh.
“I wish Mr. Hurst would get on with finding a mistress. I am utterly
exhausted!” She leaned back against the sofa cushions.
“You must produce your heir, Louisa! You know your duty.” Caroline gave her
sister a teasing look and dodged the pillow Louisa threw at her.
“One day it will be your turn to fulfill your duty, Miss Caroline, and we shall
see who is laughing then!”
“Somehow I think performing my duty for Mr. Darcy might be a trifle less
unpleasant than doing the same for Mr. Hurst.” She pursed her lips and smirked
bawdily at her sister.
Louisa sighed, suddenly serious, and leaned back on the settee, a bitter look
on her face. “Caroline, you speak of what you know not of. Mr. Darcy is a fine
specimen, I grant you. But you never know how a man will behave behind closed
doors. You should hear the stories amongst the married women.”
“You have told me many stories. I heard nothing unexpected or too terrible.”
“I kept the more horrible things from you. I did not wish you to be too
frightened to marry!”
Caroline had a doubtful look in her eye, wondering what her sister had kept
from her and if it was possible she was making this up.
“How bad could Mr. Darcy be, Louisa? He is such a gentleman!” she cried
disbelievingly.
“He is a man accustomed to having his own way and being in control of everyone
and everything around him. He is also powerful, in 
every way
. You could not fight him.” She
raised her brows at Caroline. Throughout the illuminating conversation,
Louisa’s demeanor was superior and knowledgeable, and more than a little bitter
and angry.
“Surely you do not mean… Mr. Darcy is a gentleman! He would never… he would never,
never demand of a lady what she did not wish to give!” she said haughtily, her
pert nose up in the air. She was slightly shaken but trying to hide her naiveté
from her elder sister.
Louisa leaned forward and looked tauntingly at her. “As I said Caroline, you
never know. We hardly know Mr. Darcy. How well can you know a man from a few
games of whist and dinner conversation?” her voice betrayed her own
disillusionment. “He is close with Charles, which I must admit is in his favor,
for we know Charles would never hurt a fly. But, I must remind you that he is a
man accustomed to having his way and might not take lightly to someone opposing
him, especially when it comes to his marital and legal rights.” She pointed her
finger for effect.
Caroline was beginning to look frightened and Louisa, struck with a comforting
instinct, took her sister’s hand. “I do not wish to frighten you; I simply want
you to realize that there is more to marriage than choosing the husband. Once
you have been courted and proposed to and said your vows, you are at his mercy.
He becomes your master and you cannot choose another. You should think very
carefully about your choice, Caroline. If Mr. Darcy does not look your way,
perhaps it is for the best. You may wish to begin looking elsewhere.”
Caroline nodded her head and was silent a moment, thinking about what her
sister had told her. She knew Louisa was not happy in her marriage to Mr.
Hurst. How could she be? The man did nothing but drink and sleep and, according
to Louisa, demand his marital rights. When he was courting her, he had seemed
quite dashing. He had walked out with her and complimented her and played the
attentive suitor well. How things had changed! 
Caroline could not believe Mr. Darcy would be a cruel husband. Everyone knew
him to be an honorable man, at least that was what Charles said, but among the
women he was known less by his character and more by his possessions, all of
which Caroline was acutely aware. 
She had to admit that Charles was easily led, and that she did not know Mr.
Darcy very well 
personally
,
so it was possible she was mistaken in her opinion of him. They had hardly had
more than two dozen true conversations in private. Usually she would speak, and
he would add a comment here or there. 
She had thought being together at Netherfield would do the trick, since they
would be in company for long periods of time and as hostess, she could
orchestrate more events that put them together, and he wouldn’t be as busy with
business as he had been when she had visited Pemberley in the past. When they
had agreed on the insufferable neighbors and the unsuitability of the Bennet
family, she had thought she was finally getting somewhere. 
And then came Eliza Bennet and her dirty petticoats.
Thinking of Elizabeth filled Caroline with anger and she leapt up and began
pacing quickly behind the sofa, Louisa looking over the back at her suddenly
energetic sister.
“The nerve of that girl! Everything was going so well! Mr. Darcy was finally
turning to me – to me! She had to come in with her 
fine eyes
 and 
mind
broadened by 
reading
,” she said in a mocking tone, her
hands gesticulating wildly.
Louisa did not understand the sudden change in her sister, but she was
accustomed to it. Caroline had always been moody and easily angered, and the
situation with the Bennets had only served to push her character into further
extremes. 
“What does she have that I do not? She is impertinent and argumentative! Her
gowns are old and reworked, and she cannot play half as well as me. She doesn’t
even have a lady’s maid! She shares one with her sisters. And no dowry! What on
earth do they see in her?”
“Is this about Mr. Darcy, or about Miss Elizabeth getting more attention than
you?” Louisa asked. She usually agreed with Caroline about the Bennets, but
Caroline’s rantings were getting old. Louisa had her own problems.
“What?” Caroline rounded on her sister. “I might remind you, Louisa, that you
have always agreed with me about the Bennets and were just as ready to get
Charles away from them as I was! And I saw how you conveniently sat quietly by
while he was berating me for not telling him Jane Bennet was in town.”
Louisa sighed exasperatedly. “I know, Caroline. I do not like the Bennets any
more than you do. But Jane is now engaged to Charles, and I don’t see how there
is any way to change that. I am simply trying to make the best of a difficult
situation, something I seem to be doing a lot of lately.” She muttered the last
bit quietly. “I honestly do not know what the men see in Eliza Bennet. I myself
do not like her and would be happy to never set eyes on her again, but that is
not likely since she is Jane’s sister and Jane is to marry our brother. You are
correct that she has no style and her beauty is wanting. However, I believe our
attention would be better spent trying to find you a husband. If you are set on
Mr. Darcy, then we should pursue your idea of encouraging Sir Malcolm in her
direction so she cannot further distract him. If not, we need to widen the
search.”
Caroline released her anger in a deep, aggravated breath and sat next to her
sister. “I still want Mr. Darcy,” she mumbled grumpily.
Louisa gave her a resigned nod.
They discussed ways to push Elizabeth toward Sir Malcolm and agreed to say
nothing but good things about her when the baronet was near. Caroline was
walking a fine line – disparaging Elizabeth to Darcy and building her up to Sir
Malcolm. This would require finesse, and Caroline was determined to do it well.