Page 29 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
Her brother took a deep breath and closed his eyes, seeking calm.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and took a step closer to his sister, “Catherine, Darcy will marry Miss Bennet. Anne will not marry Darcy. Anne will accompany me to London, where she will see my personal doctor. If her health is well enough, she will enjoy a London season. You will go back to Rosings and leave Anne and Darcy alone!”
Catherine’s mouth gaped open as she shook her head, “Matlock, do not be absurd. Anne must come home with me, where she will be safe!”
“With her own lips, she tells me that she wishes to visit us in London.”
“Nonsense. Bring me to her and we will discuss it.”
“She does not want to see you, Catherine.”
The woman’s throat constricted slightly, “You would keep my own daughter from me, Edward?”
Matlock stared at her with a mixture of exasperation and pity, “I have spoken to Anne at some length. You have been bullying and dominating her since she was a child. She needs time away from Rosings, and from you, to determine her own path in life. She is not a simpleton, that much is clear, though you have treated her as one.”
“I only want what is best for her, and that is for her to marry Darcy, to unite the estates of Pemberley and Rosings as our sister and I always intended!”
Her brother was incredulous, “Is this why you want Darcy to marry Anne? You are focused on uniting the estates?”
Lady Catherine’s eyes shifted away from her brother’s disapproving gaze.
“Is that not what we should all want for our family, to increase wealth and prestige through the generations?” she replied angrily.
“I want Anne to marry Darcy, who is a sensible, honorable man with a vast estate. Furthermore, Anne is heiress to a great fortune. I will not have her pursued by every fortune hunter in London! Can you not see how Anne is not prepared to be in society? She has been sheltered her entire life!”
“You sheltered her!”
Lady Catherine waved a disdainful hand at her brother, “At this point, what does it matter who is responsible for Anne’s current situation?
The reality is that she is an unhealthy, na?ve woman who will inherit an enormous fortune.
Surely you can see that she cannot go to London.
She must be with me at Rosings. If ... if this absurd marriage of Darcy’s takes place, then I will consider seeking another mate for Anne.
Perhaps Richard would be acceptable, though he is poor.
It is regrettable your elder son Benjamin is so unreliable or he might do. ”
Matlock lifted his eyes to the ceiling and prayed for patience.
“Catherine, go back to Rosings,” he ordered after a moment. “I am taking Anne to London. Richard and I and yes, Benjamin, will watch over Anne and keep her protected from fortune hunters.”
“No!”
“Catherine, I rarely use my authority as head of the family but I am using it now. Return to your home and trust me with Anne. I promise you that I will keep her safe!”
/
“She is gone?” Anne inquired timidly, her eyes on the music room door as if she feared her mother would storm into the room and drag her into a waiting carriage.
“Yes, she is gone,” the Earl of Matlock assured his niece. “I saw her off with my own eyes. She was not happy, but I made it clear that she was neither welcome at Netherfield nor would be allowed to see you.”
“Thank you,” Anne whispered.
“Mrs. Bingley is somewhat disturbed,” Bingley commented. “She is concerned that we did not show Lady Catherine the courtesy she deserves.”
“She deserves no such courtesy,” Darcy stated disapprovingly.
“I just received a message from Mr. Bennet at Longbourn. Lady Catherine visited there before coming here, and she described my betrothed in the most reprehensible language. Mrs. Bingley should not feel culpable for failing to observe social niceties with a woman who lambasted her own sister.”
“Indeed,” Bingley replied, his usually cheerful face dark with disapproval. “Miss Bennet is a wonderful woman.”
“Lady Catherine is gone,” Matlock repeated.
“If Anne and Richard are willing to depart tomorrow morning, I will travel with them back to London. I did assure my sister that I would look after you carefully, Anne. It is true that you will inherit great wealth and thus many fortune hunters will have their eyes on you.”
“Uncle Matlock?” Georgiana piped up from the piano bench, where she had been sitting quietly.
“Yes, my dear?”
“Do you know the details of Uncle de Bourgh’s will?”
Matlock looked puzzled, “I do not, dear Georgiana. Why?”
“My brother tells me that when I am five and twenty, my dowry will be released to me, regardless of whether or not I am yet married. I wondered if Anne’s situation altered when she attained her majority months ago.”
Her uncle stroked his chin thoughtfully, “I confess I did not consider that possibility. If Lewis de Bourgh made similar arrangements for Anne, and it is entirely likely that he did, then ...”
“Then Anne is the legal owner of Rosings,” Darcy finished, “not her mother.”