Page 24 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
“I believe your mother has good intentions, Anne,” she said.
“But the reality is that … sometimes people with excellent intentions make mistakes. I fear that your mother’s passion over Darcy’s engagement to Miss Bennet will mean an uncomfortable time for all in her orbit and perhaps especially for you. ”
“Because I failed to win him,” Anne said wearily, placing a hand on her forehead. “It is true enough. I am not worthy to be the mistress of Pemberley.”
“Anne, that is not true,” Richard argued. “It is not a question of worthiness. Darcy fell in love with Miss Bennet. It is as simple as that. Do not denigrate yourself.”
“My mother will.”
“So come with us,” Georgiana urged.
“Where would I go? I do not wish to be a burden.”
“You won’t be,” her younger cousin encouraged her. “We would all be delighted to know you better.”
“Anne,” Richard chimed in, “I promise that if you come with us, Darcy and I will take care of you and Georgiana to the best of our considerable ability. I agree with Georgie – it would be a blessed gift to spend more time with you, especially, frankly, without your mother hovering over us.”
Anne de Bourgh put her thin fingers to her lips and bowed her head, “Please let me think for a moment.”
Her two cousins lapsed into obedient silence, only to be interrupted by a maid who stepped quietly into the room and handed Fitzwilliam a note. The Colonel read it quickly, frowned, and handed it over to Georgiana, who scanned it.
“Mr. Collins is throwing Miss Bennet out of the parsonage?” she gasped in horror.
“At our aunt’s instigation. It is an outrage but regrettably not a surprising one.”
“I do wish to leave,” Anne said suddenly. “You are correct that my mother’s behavior has grown only more overbearing with time. I feel smothered. I want, I need, time away from her. But how can we manage it?”
“Darcy will be leaving today with Elizabeth,” Georgiana murmured, looking down at the note from her brother. “Mr. Collins insists that she leave immediately, and of course my brother will not allow her to ride the stage back to her family home.”
“We will leave with them,” the Colonel stated.
“How?” Anne demanded. “My mother …”
“Leave that to me.”
/
Elizabeth exchanged a lingering hug with Charlotte. The latter had tears in her eyes and her face was flushed with embarrassment or anger or possibly a combination of the two.
“It is all right, Charlotte,” she whispered.
“It is not all right,” her friend averred. “You have done nothing wrong.”
“Mr. Darcy will take good care of me, dear friend. Do not worry about me.”
“Very well. I am only sorry that our visit had to end on such a regrettable note.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Collins said nervously, walking cautiously into the parlor where Darcy, Elizabeth, and Charlotte were standing. “I urge you, sir, to …”
“I have no interest in hearing your opinion on this matter again, Mr. Collins,” Darcy interrupted coldly. “My aunt made a regrettable order, you chose foolishly to obey it, and I am responding in the only way possible to keep my betrothed safe and well.”
“She is not worthy of you, Mr. Darcy. Miss de Bourgh is the finest flower ever to blossom here in Kent. You are throwing away a truly glorious opportunity, and bringing sorrow and disappointment to your aunt and cousin.”
Darcy gritted his teeth but did not respond. Mr. Collins would not be silent and further discussion was pointless.
“Mrs. Collins, thank you for your hospitality today,” he said to the matron. “It has been my pleasure,” she replied, her eyes still wet with tears.
“Mr. Collins, I will return shortly with my carriage and you will send Miss Bennet’s trunks out at that time. Is that clear?”
Mr. Collins bit his lip, looked nervously at Elizabeth, then turned back, “Yes, Mr. Darcy. Is there nothing I can say to make you alter your course, sir?”
“No. Come, Miss Bennet.”
The two exited the parsonage arm in arm and began walking rapidly toward Rosings.
“Thank you for all you have done for my sake,” Elizabeth murmured softly. “I am afraid I have put you to significant trouble.”
“My aunt put both us and your friend to significant trouble, Miss Bennet,” Darcy replied warmly. “I am honored to serve you; indeed, there is nothing I would not do for you.”
Elizabeth relaxed and increased her speed slightly, relishing that her chosen partner in life easily kept pace. Most people of her acquaintance had difficulty keeping up with her vigorous strides, but Mr. Darcy was a notable exception. A moment later, she chuckled softly to herself.
“What amuses you?” Darcy asked.
“I was thinking that Lady Catherine’s actions are bringing about results completely counter to her desires. I daresay it is an unusual experience for her ladyship.”
“I only hope she will learn from the experience.”
/
“What is going on here, Richard?” Lady Catherine demanded, storming out the side door of the west wing of Rosings.
“I am taking Georgiana and Anne for a ride,” the Colonel replied calmly. “It is a lovely day and it would be pleasant for the ladies to enjoy the spring air.”
Catherine de Bourgh frowned and looked critically at Anne, who was already seated on the bench of the phaeton bundled up in a warm pelisse, “Are you certain you will be warm enough, Anne?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Is your head hurting anymore?”
“No, Mother.”
“You should eat more meat, Anne. You would be stronger and have fewer headaches. I myself am of a robust digestion and never have headaches.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Lady Catherine nodded majestically towards her nephew now, “Very well. Richard, you may take them out, but do not keep them out too long.”
“I won’t, Aunt Catherine.”
There was a crunch of gravel towards the front of Rosings along with the sound of male voices. Lady Catherine stiffened, turned, and began striding quickly away.
“Shall we go, Anne?” Richard asked softly
Anne stared at her mother’s retreating back, “Yes, Cousin. Let us depart.”
/
“Where are you going, Darcy?” Lady Catherine demanded, her face flushed with confusion and anger.
Darcy handed Elizabeth into the carriage which had pulled up in front of Rosings, and turned to face his aunt, “I am escorting Miss Bennet to her family home of Longbourn, Aunt.”
The woman gaped unbecomingly for a moment and took an angry step forward, “You cannot do that!”
“Indeed I can, and I will. Your fool of a parson ordered Miss Bennet out of the parsonage immediately. You gave me no option, Lady Catherine. Miss Bennet is no longer welcome here, and someone must take her home. I am her betrothed, so it is clearly my role. Indeed, it will mean I can ask Mr. Bennet for his permission that much sooner, which adds to my anticipation for the journey’s end. ”
The lady’s face had grown more and more red through this stately speech and now she burst forth in rage, “Miss Bennet can go by the common stage, Darcy. You will not leave Rosings so abruptly. What will people say if word gets out that you fled Rosings like a thief in the night? You will bring disgrace upon us!”
Darcy frowned, his expression forbidding, “You dare accuse me of such a thing, Lady Catherine? You are the one who is acting like a petulant child, refusing to accept my engagement and pressuring your cretin of a clergyman to cast a gentlewoman from her current abode. Any disgrace will fall upon you, not me, and it is well deserved.”
The older woman gasped, “How dare you speak to me this way?”
“Lady Catherine, I respect you as my aunt but you do not control my life. The sooner you understand that, the better it will be for everyone. We are departing now. My valet will follow me tomorrow with my luggage.”
“You cannot! You must come back, Darcy! What about Anne?”
“Farewell, Lady Catherine.”
/
“Are you sure they will meet us here?” Anne fretted.
“Do not concern yourself, Anne,” Georgiana said with a smile. “Richard has led troops against the rampaging French hordes. He is quite able to manage a sedate escape from your mother.”
“Indeed, I am,” Richard replied in amusement. “And there they are.”
The threesome waited patiently as Darcy’s carriage approached the designated meeting place two miles outside Rosings. Darcy and the coachmen were both up on the box, the former smiling widely at the sight of his sister and cousins.
“I see you eluded Lady Catherine,” Darcy exclaimed as he swung easily to the ground and opened the carriage door. A moment later, he handed Elizabeth out of the carriage. The woman smiled and embraced Georgiana, then held out a hand to Anne.
“Miss de Bourgh, I am delighted, and impressed, that you have joined our mad little party,” she cried cheerfully, her brown eyes flashing with amusement.
“I do hope I will not be a bother to Mrs. Bingley,” Anne replied nervously. “It seems uncivil to appear without advanced warning.”
Elizabeth shook her head decidedly, “Please do not concern yourself in that matter, Miss de Bourgh. My sister Jane is the kindest of women and she delights in visitors. Her husband, too, is the most generous of men. You and Georgiana will be very comfortable at Netherfield.”
“Indeed, you need not worry,” Darcy agreed. “Mr. and Mrs. Bingley are the most affable couple of my acquaintance.”
“You should begin your journey,” Richard stated. “I would not care for Lady Catherine to chase you down.”
With a murmur of agreement, the ladies turned and were handed into the carriage. Darcy waited until the ladies were within before turning to face his cousin.
“Thank you, Richard.”
“My pleasure, Darcy, and I use that word deliberately. It is long past time for Lady Catherine to realize that the entire world will not bow to her imperious will.”
Darcy pulled a note out of his pocket and glanced at it, “I agree.”
The Colonel chuckled, “I see you received my plan of attack.”
“Yes,” Darcy said with a nod, “we kept the servants busy running notes back and forth between the parsonage and Rosings in the last hours. I wish to be clear. You will return the phaeton and the horses to Rosings, have a word with my valet, who will follow us with our trunks tomorrow, and then ride for Netherfield.”
“Indeed.”
“Godspeed, Richard.”