Page 21 of A Maid of No Consequence (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
A MOST SHOCKING DECEPTION
B efore he dealt with his aunt and cousin, Darcy needed to speak to his housekeeper. Mrs Reynolds’s office door stood ajar; she rose as he gently knocked on the door.
“I would not interrupt you,” he said, watching as she shuffled papers on her desk, no doubt housekeeping schedules or receipts for future meals.
“Of course not, Mr Darcy. Would you rather I waited on you in your study?”
He waved that off, “No, thank you. I have come to speak of a matter of some importance, and of some sensitivity.”
She nodded and turned to close the door. “We may speak in private, sir. What may I do for you?”
“As you have no doubt already heard, Miss Bennet will oversee the school I mean to establish for the children of our tenants. It was, as you might recall, my mother’s wish and I am delighted to at last bring it to fruition. ”
Mrs Reynolds nodded with a smile.
“But with regard to Miss Bennet…there are some irregularities in her past I would like to make you aware of. I will rely on your discretion.”
For the next few minutes, Darcy summarised the events of the last few weeks into a cohesive account and told her the reasons Elizabeth was at Pemberley.
“I see.” Mrs Reynolds smiled at him in her kindly way, and nodded in understanding. “How may I be of help, sir?”
“I need a place for her. Clearly, as my aunt has demonstrated so intemperately, having Miss Bennet stay here at Pemberley will not do.” No matter how much I wish it.
It took Mrs Reynolds only a moment of thought before she offered a suggestion. “The Murdoch cottage would be suitable, modest but well-kept and clean, and it is quite near the old stone chapel. Forgive me if I speak too boldly, but the chapel may be a possibility for use for the school.”
“Excellent thought. We are of like mind when it comes to the old chapel as well. Nevertheless, it will take some repairs before it is ready for use,” Darcy said.
The cottage was perfect, however—far enough from Pemberley for propriety, and yet not too far.
“If Sarah is not needed here, perhaps she might become something of a maid of all work, besides a companion, for Miss Bennet?”
“I think that an excellent suggestion, sir. Sarah shall be instructed and prepared for her duties. You may depend on me to see to it that the cottage is ready for them and they will have everything they need.” Mrs Reynolds gave him a knowing look. “Tea has been sent to the east morning room.”
He grimaced at the reminder of how Lady Catherine’s presence affected everyone at Pemberley. “Thank you. ”
Although admittedly he felt more content knowing Elizabeth’s accommodations were settled, Darcy walked reluctantly to his meeting with his aunt.
Just a few feet from the morning room doors, he stopped, realising the party within was not complete, if his cousin were true to his word.
Spotting the butler round the corner, he stepped over and said, “Stephenson, would you be so good as to ask Colonel Fitzwilliam to join us?”
As the butler moved off to do as asked, Darcy took a deep breath, let it out slowly, stepped forward and pulled open the door.
Anne, standing at the large window and staring blankly at what lay beyond, appeared startled when the door opened. Darcy was about to speak when his aunt’s voice pierced the silence. “It is about time you show up to care for your family’s needs! We have been waiting, and feeling sorely neglected.”
“Tea will arrive shortly,” he said in a clipped, unapologetic voice. “As your visit was unanticipated and unannounced, I had things which required my attention before I could attend you. I have only just returned to Pemberley, as you well know, and there is still much to settle.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed. “I assume by ‘settle’, you mean with that trollop in the breakfast parlour. I hope she has been removed from my sister’s house.”
“I will not have any one of my friends or family spoken of in such a manner. It is beneath you to say such things.” He stayed her with his hand.
“I beg you to be civil, Aunt, and you as well, Anne. Your earlier outbursts cannot happen again, or you will find yourselves quickly returned to your carriage.”
Again, Lady Catherine tried to speak, but he spoke over her. “I will not broach this subject with you again. I am the master of this estate and who I choose to have as guests, tenants, or servants at Pemberley is not open to discussion.” His voice rose even louder than he had meant.
“Have I missed the greeting party?” Fitzwilliam walked into the room with a fixed smile on his face.
Darcy looked toward him and sent a near imperceivable nod.
He had no idea how Fitzwilliam would respond to his summons after what he had revealed about his feelings for Anne.
But he was appreciative to have him here, at this moment, for support.
“Fitzwilliam! What are you doing here?”
“I may ask the same of you, Lady Catherine.”
As Fitzwilliam turned to greet Anne, Darcy observed that Anne’s face turned a rosy hue in response.
“I thought you were out of the country! Fighting someone, somewhere.” Lady Catherine waved her hand in a shooing motion, as if wars or skirmishes were as inconvenient as dust motes flying in the air.
“I am not, as you see.” He gave a nod and another little bow then moved into the room to stand beside Darcy.
“Thank you for joining us, Fitzwilliam,” Darcy said. “Our aunt and cousin were just about to tell us why they have arrived without any prior notice.”
“You must know there are rumours all about London,” Lady Catherine announced.
“You speak of the false rumours about an engagement between myself and Anne?”
Lady Catherine seemed not to hear Darcy’s emphasis on ‘false’. In a pleased tone, she said, “We were thrilled that you had posted that news.”
“No, I did not, and I would not, for Anne and I are not and never have been engaged,” Darcy replied firmly.
“I would never risk damaging my fair cousin’s reputation by publishing falsehoods about her.
I mean to find out who did and have sent an express to my man of business in London so that he might learn the truth in my stead. ”
“We have an understanding,” Anne protested.
Seeing his cousin’s distress, Darcy gentled his voice. “No, Anne, we do not. When last I saw you. I made it very clear that I was not proposing to you nor were we engaged. We were meant, only, to spend some time together.”
“And then you made off to Pemberley with your mistress,” Lady Catherine interjected. “Absolutely abhorrent behaviour. I am ashamed of you.”
“Do not say anything of that sort again.” Darcy ran a shaking hand down his face, rage nearly consuming him.
He turned to Anne. “I withdraw any interest in getting to know you as anything other than a cousin.
It was a mistake to do so, as I cannot trust you or your stepmother to see reason and accept my word as final.
Turning to his aunt, he added, “And Lady Catherine, you will send a retraction to the newspapers.”
“I will do no such thing. Anne would be ruined!”
Darcy would have none of it. “Perhaps you ought to have considered that before you did it.” He sank heavily into the nearest chair.
Fitzwilliam crossed his arms and supportive cousin that he was, offered advice to Lady Catherine.
“You need only to put out a rumour that someone else did it in an effort to discredit you, or something to that effect. You have plenty of influential friends and can take care of the matter, of that I am certain.”
But their aunt’s face had grown very unbecomingly red. “It is that woman, that low-born, ill-mannered?— ”
“She is not low-born,” Darcy informed her. “As you well know, she was the daughter of a gentleman.”
“She is trying to entrap you, and you cannot see it,” cried Anne.
Darcy had never heard his cousin’s voice rise to such a pitch. “I saw it! I saw it with my own eyes, when she was at Rosings, how you swooned at every word she said, always staring intently at her! It was repulsive. I saw how she tried to ensnare you, even writing a letter to?—”
Anne stopped herself, too suddenly, and looked away, breathing heavily.
Understanding dawned, and Darcy stood, awash with cold fury. “You took it. The letter she wrote to me.”
“Of course I did.” Anne lifted her chin defiantly. “It was improper.”
Darcy felt as if he had been hit in the stomach. “Why would you do that?”
Anne remained silent, glaring at Darcy, a fierce look of disgust in her expression.
Lady Catherine was looking between the two of them, as if trying to figure out a puzzle. “What letter?” she demanded. “Anne, you will answer me immediately!”
Anne turned and ran out the door.
Darcy was furious, his thoughts in tumult with what Anne had revealed. He took two steps towards the door before Fitzwilliam crossed his path, a pained frown on his face. “Allow me, Cousin.”