Page 27 of A Maid of No Consequence (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
PROFOUND APOLOGIES AND PROCLAMATIONS
T he week following Mr Darcy’s abrupt departure from Pemberley was quite busy for Elizabeth, which she appreciated, as it caused her to think of something other than the gentleman’s absence.
The responsibilities she had been given weighed heavily on her, as if the future and success of the tenants’ children was in her hands.
When it felt overmuch, she would remember the handsome man who had eased her fretting by saying he had no doubt that she would make a difference to these children.
After a particularly long day, she found herself seated near a warm fire, a book in hand, when a knock sounded on the cottage’s door. With Sarah occupied in the kitchen, Elizabeth rose and went to the door to find a messenger from Pemberley.
“Miss Bennet, a letter.”
“Oh, it must be from Jane!” She happily anticipated news from her sister, and reached out for the missive. When the unfamiliar handwriting stopped her short, the servant quickly added, “It has come from Rosings Park, Miss Bennet.”
“Oh. Thank you, Thomas.”
She slowly closed the door and returned to the sitting room, unsure whether she wished to read the writings of anyone from Rosings Park. Curiosity prevailed however, and she opened it as soon as she was seated. It was from Miss Anne de Bourgh.
Dear Miss Bennet,
You may wonder why I write to you, when in our brief meeting at Pemberley, I was not very kind. I am much humbled and I ask for your forgiveness, as my spitefulness towards you started very nearly since the first time I met you, at Rosings, some five years past.
I shudder to consider what you must think of me, and how I must have appeared, a lonely and mean young woman, under the shadow of a cruel, domineering mother.
In truth, Lady Catherine is my stepmother, and yet she has wielded such authority over me, making my life increasingly small and difficult, that I can hardly remember the spirit of the curious young girl I was before my father’s death.
But Colonel Fitzwilliam has reminded me of who I was, and what I have always wanted.
He is the man I will marry, a man I have long admired and even loved, much to my stepmother’s consternation.
But in my new happiness, I digress. All this is to say that I did you a great disservice when I took the letter you had written to Darcy from the boy whom you had entrusted to deliver it.
In truth, it was an act of desperation. I had seen the way Darcy stared at you; I had never seen him look at me in such a manner.
He was entirely besotted with you, and I was jealous and angry.
Not because I loved him, but because I was made to believe he was for me, and I for him, and the thought of that surety being taken away from me was maddening.
Darcy was meant to take me away from Rosings and I saw his forthcoming proposal to me as my only means of escape from a stifling, unhappy life.
I understand now, that it was my father’s wish for me to marry, not out of duty, but from my heart.
I apologise to you, as I have to Darcy, for making a muddle of everything because of my anger.
I did not read your letter but rather burnt it in the fire in my room.
I do not know what you wrote to my cousin, but I can imagine, that if you feel anything for him, as he feels for you, you could have great happiness together.
I am happy now, abundantly so. My wish is that my dear cousin is content as well.
Darcy has only ever loved you. Events these past years might seem to have created an insurmountable obstacle between you, but Fitzwilliam and I wish you all our best. We will support you and Darcy, and wish for your mutual felicity.
In sincerity,
Anne de Bourgh
Three days had passed since Darcy had arrived at Haringwood.
He sent a letter informing his steward and Mrs Reynolds that Georgiana was resting, and explaining that he and the colonel would remain at Haringwood Manor for a time.
He had asked them to relay his news to the household—a household that now included Elizabeth, he thought happily to himself.
Much as he wished to be with her at Pemberley, he had decided he could not leave his sister until his niece or nephew was born and all deemed healthy.
The worry and fear he had felt racing the miles to Haringwood, wondering what tragedy might await him, could not again be borne.
He was pleased to see the happiness Georgiana had found with Bingley.
If only he could have its like with Elizabeth!
By this point, she must know of his regard for her, even if she thought that her fall in station was an obstacle impossible to overcome.
Perhaps it would be. Maybe society would shun them.
He cared less and less about that as the days wore on.
“Those eggs must be very interesting, Brother,” Georgiana said teasingly over the breakfast table. She had insisted on removing from her chambers, declaring herself to have energy enough to ride for miles—had she been allowed to do so. “You have been gazing at them for two minutes complete.”
“Forgive me, I was lost?—”
“In deep thought. We see that.” She exchanged a glance with her husband.
Just then a high-pitched voice came through the silence, just beyond the breakfast room door. “Charles, why is your sister still here? She must go!” Georgiana said, her humour gone.
Ignoring every hint and suggestion to the contrary, Lady Pollard had remained at Haringwood.
It appeared that short of Tate tossing her out into the lane, she was fixed, her husband and stepchildren forgotten for now.
Darcy had endured it by avoiding her, often taking trays in his room and spending long hours riding out or locked in Bingley’s book-room.
All Bingley could do was shrug his shoulders before his sister entered the room. “You are all such early risers,” Lady Pollard said scoldingly. “Why, I should never see any of you were I not to rise with the sun!”
“It is nearly ten, hardly daybreak,” Bingley said with a sigh. “Come, eat.”
Lady Pollard took the chair opposite Darcy. “And how is my dear sister today?”
“Feeling quite well, thank you. And you?” Georgiana smiled sweetly.
“Very well, thank you. I received a letter yesterday from my dear friend, Lady Mary Holbrook. You must remember her, Charles, Lord Dunforth’s eldest daughter. She held a tendre for you for many years.”
“And what news from Lady Mary?” Georgiana said, playing the hostess yet clearly wishing for nothing more than peace to eat her meal.
“She tells me that there has been a retraction in the London papers regarding Mr Darcy’s engagement,” she said, settling her gaze on Darcy.
“The announcement was apparently incorrect.” Lady Pollard cocked her head to wait for a reply and when none was given, she continued.
“Well, I daresay all the young ladies of the ton , and their mamas, are very pleased their most eligible bachelor has not been ensnared.”
“Caroline, must we plague Darcy with nonsense so early in the morning?” Bingley said with a censuring look at his sister. “Have you heard from Lord Pollard?”
She ignored him and turned to Darcy. “I have heard another rumour, Mr Darcy. Something about maids from good London homes being absconded and whisked halfway across the country. Would you know anything about that?”
“ Good London homes? No, I have heard nothing of that sort. Maids with good positions in good homes generally do not wish to escape. Those who are abused and tormented by philandering husbands however…”
He had said too much; Bingley froze in place, his fork suspended in mid-air and Lady Pollard’s false amiability dropped to reveal a gimlet-eyed, mean countenance that more accurately reflected her character.
In a cool voice, she said, “I thought it a particular coincidence that the very same week two of my maids left my employ, I heard a rumour of you escorting a maid or two to Pemberley. What say you to that, Mr Darcy?”
“What I say,” said Darcy in a voice cold with disgust, “is that Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a gentleman’s daughter by birth and by blood. One might give a woman money and a title, but the true manners of a gentlewoman still prove elusive to some.”
The sound of heavy silver cutlery clattering to the floor could be heard—Georgiana had dropped her fork. All eyes turned to her, as she quietly said, “Pardon me.”
As Lady Pollard appeared prepared to go further, Darcy interjected.
He calmly wiped his mouth on his napkin and faced Bingley’s sister with his severest frown.
“You will stop there, Lady Pollard. If you continue, it will provoke me to begin speaking openly of your cruel and unjust treatment of your servants, as well as your husband’s dishonourable behaviour with the females. ”
Georgiana and Bingley gasped as Darcy rose from the table. He turned to his sister. “I do not apologise for what I say, only for upsetting your meal this morning. If you will excuse me.”
Lady Pollard rose as well, looking indignant. “You cannot fling malicious accusations at my esteemed family, Mr Darcy, and walk away as if nothing has occurred!”
He turned sharply to face her, “Cease in your act, madam. You and I know too much of the truth and it may behove us both to keep silent on the matter. You took a gently bred young woman into your home and subjected her and her companion to physical and emotional cruelty. Should such information get out among the ton ?—”
“We have always treated our servants with the utmost respect?—”
“I have seen the injuries inflicted on two women under your care, some of them by your own hand! You should be ashamed of yourself, as should your husband!”
“Do you think anyone would believe her lies?” Lady Pollard shot back defiantly. “She has never been anyone of consequence, nor is she connected to anyone of consequence!”
“In fact, she has the full support of my cousins, including the viscount and his wife,” Darcy spat. “And she will have significant consequence once she bears the name Mrs Darcy.”