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She looked completely shocked by being dictated to, but Elizabeth could see the lady was being forced to choose between being graceful or making even more of an embarrassing spectacle.

She had no idea which way it would go. She was reminded of Mrs Bennet in one of her more recalcitrant moods, which was not auspicious.

Darcy spoke more gently than she expected. “As I said earlier, Aunt, I am tired of this charade. Do you truly wish to cause a break in the family? I can assure you I will choose my bride over anyone else, including you. If I must break the connexion, I will.”

Elizabeth started to say something but decided he knew his aunt better after twenty-eight years than she did after ten minutes and left him to his task.

He leaned over somewhat menacingly. “By the way if I break, it will be with you alone. Do not be certain Anne or your brother will side with you. She will be welcome at Pemberley any time until her next birthday, at which time you might wish to concern yourself with whether you will be welcome at Rosings! ”

The lady gasped and turned pale.

Darcy relented as Elizabeth knew he would.

“Let us not be at odds, madam. If you will but allow Anne to choose her own fate—as you would absolutely insist if you were in her place—all will be well. I can introduce you to my bride’s family.

While I cannot abide your methods, I do believe you have Anne’s best interests at heart.

Let us move forward to the next chapter together. ”

Pure silence reigned in the chapel as everyone awaited the lady’s answer.

She finally sniffed, turned, and walked to the door looking resolute but defeated. She turned around twice, starting to speak each time with a blustering face, but decided not to bother. Elizabeth had no idea if she had given up or decided to keep her powder dry.

When Lady Catherine arrived at the back door a couple village men opened it for her.

She looked outside and turned to have one last parting shot.

Elizabeth braced for whatever unpleasantness was likely to come and looked at Darcy to see him doing the same.

Lady Catherine looked at Elizabeth with something akin to resigned malice but spoke in confusion.

“Where is my coach?”

The entire congregation broke out into laughter and left it to Elizabeth to reply.

“My sisters took Miss de Bourgh to a nice blazing fire at Longbourn. May I have the privilege of escorting you to her? You are welcome to join us for luncheon.”

She was trying to hopefully prevent any sort of break in the family, and to be honest, it was easy to be magnanimous in victory.

Elizabeth walked over to the lady, curtsied politely, and took hold of her arm to drag her out the door toward Darcy’s coach, which was waiting to the side of the courtyard, thanks to Simon’s quick thinking.

By the time Darcy’s footman stepped up to smartly drop the step and bow to Lady Catherine, Darcy caught up while Colonel Fitzwilliam was guffawing with Sir William over some jest Elizabeth truly did not want to know about.

The lady’s face still looked as if she would just as soon berate everyone in sight as look at them—but Elizabeth allowed her beau to hand her up, boldly sat down opposite Lady Catherine to claim her place (even though it was not quite proper), and for the next quarter-hour, tried her best to melt some of the ice around Lady Catherine’s heart.

It seemed likely to be a long and arduous process.

~~~~~

An hour later, Mrs Bennet happily gave the seat of honour at the dinner table to Lady Catherine, while Mr Collins vacillated between blatantly showing his veneration for his patroness and trying his best to avoid Mr Darcy’s brown books.

Elizabeth thought the whole thing hilarious, especially since said gentleman was so happy to have what was the last obstacle to their marriage well in hand.

Miss de Bourgh appeared even shyer than Georgiana, so Elizabeth gave her the same treatment.

After dinner, she spent some time with Jane trying to reduce the poor lady’s nervousness, then eventually metaphorically locked her in the music room with Mary, Georgiana, and the two youngest while she went for a long walk with her beau, chaperoned by Jane.

The weather was amenable, so they walked all the way to Oakham Mount, the three of them chatting happily about anything and everything. Elizabeth occasionally observed pensive looks on Jane’s face but decided her sister would enlighten her when she was ready.

On their return to Longbourn, they found Lady Catherine in somewhat awkward conversation with Mrs Bennet, but the two seemed to be thawing slightly.

Elizabeth hoped they might eventually get along, and the progress seemed better than she expected.

Mrs Bennet was quite in awe of Lady Catherine’s status, and Lady Catherine seemed happy to meet anyone who venerated said status.

Elizabeth thought it might even last the next few weeks until the wedding.

She ruefully reflected she would learn soon enough.

With their aunt in attendance, they could not quite break propriety long enough for a toe-curling kiss like they had experienced at the Netherfield ball, so they politely said good night somewhat early so Darcy could settle Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh in Netherfield.

Elizabeth stared at the coach until it rolled out of sight, barely able to contain her feelings until its return.