Page 25

Caroline’s Bedchamber

Hurst House

The Next Morning

Caroline Bingley took a long, luxurious sip of hot chocolate and set it on a side table as she considered the two invitations in her hand. Both events would occur the next evening, and thus she would have to choose which to attend.

It was a pleasant and welcome conundrum. She had worried that she would receive no invitations given that it was nearly the end of the year and many of her acquaintances were settled at their country estates. Moreover, she had only recently returned to Town and had only visited a few friends to inform them of her return to the Metropolis.

It warmed her heart that her friends were obviously pleased by her reappearance, and she rejoiced once again that Charles had agreed to leave Netherfield Hall and the dull countryside for the excitement of London.

Of course, their departure from Hertfordshire had coincided with Charles’s engagement to Jane Bennet, which was a disappointment, but one she preferred not to think about. Presumably, at some point Charles would insist that she attend the wedding, but until then, she had no intention of concerning herself with her brother’s affairs, not when she had the opportunity of attending dinner parties and the like.

As for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, well, whenever she was reminded of that catastrophe, without exception she felt quite ill, so she avoided such remembrances assiduously, though she had every intention of praying each night that something would get in the way of an actual marriage ceremony. Elizabeth Bennet was not worthy of becoming the mistress of Pemberley.

***

Drawing Room

Bennets’ Rented House

Curzon Street

Londo n

It was well that the rooms in the rented house were comfortably sized. The drawing room seemed rather full already, though it was only the Bennets present yet. Still, the light from the fireplace and the windows filled the room with cheer, and the chatter of feminine voices did the rest. Elizabeth bent over her list with a contented heart, the paper divided into columns. Jane’s name headed the top of one side, and her own the other. Down the paper, in firm sloped writing, she had begun noting down what they would need as far as bridal clothing, her own ideas and Jane’s interspersed with their mother’s contributions.

Near the fire, Mr. Bennet was ignoring it all, a book open in his hands and fully holding his focus. In one corner, Kitty and Lydia had their heads together giggling, surrounded by ribbons and rosettes. Mary sat at a table with wax candles lighting several new sheets of music, which she was studying with care.

Into this peaceful tableau, the door opened, with the butler stepping inside. Elizabeth looked up as Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and several ladies were announced.

Elizabeth rose to her feet along with the rest of her family, while Darcy bowed to his prospective mother-in-law and sisters-in-law and said, “Anne, Georgiana, may I please introduce you to Mrs. Bennet, Miss Mary, Miss Kitty, and Miss Lydia. Ladies, my cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh, my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, Mrs. Jenkinson, and Mrs. Annesley.”

The ladies curtsied, and Mrs. Bennet said with great civility, “Pray do sit down, please, and I will call for tea. It is a genuine honor to meet you.”

Georgiana, who looked nervous, murmured her assent and sat down next to her brother, while Elizabeth took a chair across from the pair. Anne de Bourgh settled into the chair where Elizabeth had previously been seated, and, after glancing at the list of clothing, said, “I realize this is a forward question, but may I ask where you ladies purchase your attire? I am eager to be fitted for some gowns and hats to replace my current wardrobe, which I am confident does not do justice to my coloring.”

Elizabeth, considering Miss de Bourgh with interest, could not help but agree. The lady’s gown and spencer were ivory and pink, respectively, which made Anne look pale and wan.

“You ought to wear warm greens and blues and primrose, Miss de Bourgh, with only a little lace,” Kitty said authoritatively, and then winced when everyone in the room turned their attention on her.

To Elizabeth’s relief, Mrs. Bennet promptly said, “Indeed, Miss de Bourgh, you cannot do better than to discuss this with Kitty, who has a remarkable eye for color. ”

“May I confer with you at length, then?” Anne inquired cheerfully. “My mother, Lady Catherine, has always been determined that I dress in the most expensive of garments, but I fear she is not adept at determining what fabrics would be the most helpful given my coloring.”

“Of course,” Kitty said shyly, which resulted in Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson moving to the corner with Kitty and Lydia. Jane and Bingley were, by now, sitting side by side on a loveseat, and Georgiana said in a hushed tone, “Elizabeth, I hope you were not too disturbed by Lady Catherine’s sudden arrival last night.”

“I was not,” Elizabeth said promptly. “With all due respect to your aunt, she is not the ruler of England, and I am not in any way under her power. Moreover, Fitzwilliam made it very clear by his behavior that he will always prioritize me over his aunt, and I am grateful for it.”

“I promise that I will never allow my aunt to confront you again in such a way,” Darcy stated.

“If she does, I do not particularly care,” Elizabeth said with a shrug.

“You are very brave,” Georgiana murmured. “My aunt terrifies me.”

“It is not in my character to intimidate easily,” Elizabeth said and sighed. “I am sorry that our engagement has brought Lady Catherine to London, though, as it will doubtless be difficult for you.”

“I spoke with my sister and cousin this morning,” Darcy said, “and we intend to set up an establishment for both ladies, along with their companions, here in London. We will keep the location secret, and thus it will be a place safe from my aunt’s arrogant stupidity.”

“That is wise,” Elizabeth remarked, “and given that you gentlemen recently looked for a rented house for us, it should not take too much time to find an appropriate abode.”

“There is a very fine rental on Queen Street, which is less than two miles from here,” Darcy said.

“I do hope that one is still available,” Georgiana said, pink with enthusiasm. “It would be marvelous to be so close to Curzon Street.”

“My dear Miss de Bourgh!” Mrs. Bennet suddenly exclaimed aloud, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, “we would be very pleased to visit Madame Fanchon this very afternoon in that would be acceptable!”

“I would like that,” Anne replied immediately, and turned an amused look on Darcy. “Cousin, I am certain that Georgiana and I would prefer to spend the day with the Bennets rather than risk encountering Lady Catherine at Darcy House! ”

Darcy agreed promptly just as a pair of maids entered the room with tea and crumpets. The ensuing discussion became general, and it was not until the gentlemen were rising to take their leave that Elizabeth had the chance to speak briefly with her fiancée.

“I hope that Lady Catherine will not bother you any more,” she said softly, and Darcy grimaced and said, “I expect she will, but I am not afraid of her. Thank you for taking my sister and cousin to the dressmaker with you.”

“We will enjoy it very much,” she replied with twinkling eyes. “I only hope that Anne and Georgiana are not overwhelmed by the noise and busyness of my mother and sisters.”

“I am confident they will enjoy it thoroughly,” Darcy said. “Now, I am aware that in the midst of hiring houses, and visits from unexpected relations, we have not had much time to spend together and talk. Would you care to visit the British Museum with me in the next few days? I am confident you will enjoy the exhibits, and it should provide us an opportunity to speak about … well, the future.”

Elizabeth found herself smiling reassuringly at the sight of the Darcy’s anxious expression and she said, “I would like that very much. Thank you.”

** *

Darcy House

An Hour Later

Darcy and Bingley entered the house from a side door, only to encounter one of the former’s footmen, who said, “Sir, Mr. Knoakes wished me to inform you that Lord Matlock, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived half an hour ago and are waiting for you in the drawing room.”

This, while no great surprise, was not the sort of thing that made him want to leap for joy. At least Anne and Georgiana and their companions were safely elsewhere.

“Would you like for me to accompany you to meet your relatives?” Bingley asked with real nobility, but Darcy shook his head and said, “I would not do such a thing to you, my friend. Feel free to visit your club, or…”

“Or go to my room and work on a letter to the steward of Netherfield Park. Thank you, Darcy.”

Darcy nodded, squared his shoulders, and marched down a hall, turned left, and then turned left again to enter the drawing room, where his three guests were waiting. His Uncle Matlock and Colonel Fitzwilliam were standing by the fire, speaking in soft tones, and Lady Catherine was seated on a couch, very upright, her lips protruding out in a truculent expression.

“Good morning,” Darcy said, striding into the room and deliberately fixing his attention on his cousin. “Richard, it is wonderful to see you. I hope you are well?”

“I am very well,” Richard said with a smile. “How are you?”

“I am entirely well,” Darcy responded.

Not surprisingly, this banal exchange provoked Lady Catherine to surge to her feet, her expression full of outrage.

“You are not well at all,” she declared, her cheeks florid in her fury. “Indeed, you must be mad to have cast aside Anne in favor of that Bennet girl!”

“That Bennet girl,” Darcy said coldly, “is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of a gentleman, and my fiancée.”

Lord Matlock’s cool demeanor gave way to a genuine grimace, and he said, “Darcy, I did not truly believe that you would be so foolish as to bind yourself to a country girl with poor connections and no fortune. What are you thinking?”

Darcy tamped down his anger with some difficulty and said, “Lord Matlock, while I respect you as my uncle, and Lady Catherine as my aunt, neither of you has any right to direct my life. I have made an offer to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she has accepted, and I look forward to her becoming my wife. There is nothing more to say.”

“You are engaged to my daughter!” Lady Catherine cried out. “Darcy, you simply cannot treat Anne in such a dreadful way. I will not leave London until you have broken this supposed engagement to that dreadful girl!”

“In that case, you will be living in Town for the rest of your life,” Darcy said irritably.

“Darcy,” Lady Catherine said, her eyes bulging with fury, “you clearly cannot do this! Poor Anne has been waiting and longing to be your bride for these many years, and the news that you have cast her aside in favor of a solicitor’s granddaughter will break her heart. Indeed, it may kill her! You would not do that to your own cousin, would you?”

Darcy was tempted to explain that Anne had no desire to marry the master of Pemberley, but he swallowed those words and said, “I regret if I cause my cousin any pain, but I will not be swayed from my purpose.”

This provoked a piercing scream from Lady Catherine, and the men cringed as one.

“Catherine, do be quiet!” Lord Matlock ordered, looking harassed, and Richard said, “Father, Aunt, perhaps I could speak to Darcy in private? It is obvious that he and Lady Catherine are struggling to communicate in a constructive way. I will speak to my cousin and determine the actual situation.”

To Darcy’s relief, Lord Matlock nodded and said, “That sounds reasonable enough, Son. I will take Lady Catherine back to Matlock House, and you can join me later.”

“Yes, sir,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said smartly, and the two younger men watched as the earl guided his furious sister out of the drawing room.

Darcy waited until he heard the front door shut before walking over to pour brandy into two glasses, one of which he handed to his cousin.

Richard took his glass, raised it, grinned, and said, “To Miss Elizabeth Bennet!”

Darcy felt his chest ease at these words, and he lifted his own glass. “To Elizabeth! ”

The two men drank heartily, and Darcy took the bottle and its remaining brandy with him to a chair near the fire. “Sit down, Richard, and let me tell you whatever you wish to know.”

Richard obeyed.