Page 36 of Obligation and Redemption
“Of course he objects to them! But you have entrapped him, giving him no choice in the matter. He does what he supposes to be honourable, but in so doing, has left my daughter to the derision of the world. I demand that you promise me that you will release him from this farce of an engagement.”
“I will make no promise of the kind. ”
“Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will recede. I shall not go away until you have given me the assurance I require.”
“And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Would my refusing to accept his hand, make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application, have been as frivolous as the application was ill judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject.”
“Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. I see that you will be unreasonable with respect to duty or honour. You desire monetary compensation. I knew you would not capitulate without financial remuneration. I will offer you ten thousand pounds to break the engagement with my nephew.” She paused to let the young woman consider the amount.
“You must know that this is more than you deserve or could ever hope to gain in any other situation.”
“You offend me, Lady Catherine. Do you think I would accept a bribe to break an engagement, to put my family in an untenable situation that would ruin me – and them with me – thus forfeiting any future happiness that comes from respectability, which might come our way? You are mistaken, madam, if you think I can be worked on in this manner.”
“It is best that you accept my offer and be done with Darcy. If you choose to move forward with this marriage, your life with him will be one of misery and loneliness. He will never respect you, much less have affection for you. He will of course keep a mistress to provide comfort in an indifferent union, while you are left alone to bear him an heir. Be reasonable. Your family would get over it soon enough, as my vicar, Mr. Collins, will marry you instead. He joined me today to make his intentions known. As you are aware, he will one day be master of Longbourn. With ten thousand pounds, your sisters need not be destitute from your scandal.”
“You are suggesting that I ask my sister to give up her own plans to marry Mr. Collins so that he could marry me instead? Are you mad? Why on earth would I agree to a plan so ridiculous? You say that Mr. Darcy’s friends and family would regard me as mercenary; would accepting your proposal not confirm this allegation?
And if I were mercenary, why would I give up Mr. Darcy’s ten thousand a year for a one time payment of such a comparatively small amount and a future with an absurd man? ”
“You are then resolved to have him? You will continue with your plans to ruin the lives of so many with this scandalous endeavour?”
“I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my family’s own happiness and wellbeing, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me. ”
“You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty and honour. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world.”
“Neither duty, nor honour,” replied Elizabeth, “have any possible claim on me in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family or the indignation of the world, I have not one moment of concern, for Mr. Darcy and I are acting in a way that absolves each of us from all censure. If this cannot be seen by those who claim a connection to either of us, I can have no cause to repine.”
“And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act with regards to Darcy. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you and to give you an alternative that would acquit you of your guilt. I hoped to find you reasonable; but depend upon it, I will do my part to ensure the desolation that will naturally come to you if you continue with this course.”
In this manner Lady Catherine talked on till they were at the door of the carriage, when turning hastily round, she added, “Tell Mr. Collins that I will not wait for him. He must come out at once. Now, I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”
Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her ladyship to return into the house or to allow Mr. Collins some time with Mary, walked quietly into it herself.
She informed Mr. Collins of his lady’s imminent departure, apologised to Mary for his hasty removal, then proceeded upstairs.
Her mother impatiently met her at the door of the dressing room to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself while Mr. Collins visited with Mary.
“She did not choose it,” said her daughter, “she would go.”
“Lady Catherine is a very fine-looking woman! And her calling here was prodigiously civil! For she only came, I suppose, to meet the ladies who would be joining her family and her neighbourhood, and of course to allow Mr. Collins time with our dear Mary. She is kindness itself. I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation would only bring her mother pain and a fit of nerves, and Elizabeth further indignation. Her mother would surely need her vinaigrette and Elizabeth, quietude.
Although Elizabeth’s fortitude did not abandon her during Lady Catherine’s attack, when alone in her room, she gave her distress free rein, as she considered her future life with such a family.
Even though Mr. Darcy was conceited and arrogant, she had supposed that after their marriage had taken place, he might soften towards her – that they might one day find some measure of felicity.
Elizabeth could not deny his attractions and with a little teasing might one day find some semblance of pleasure in their union, but what of his family?
How could she withstand their vitriol in light of the tenuous hope of Mr. Darcy’s future regard?
And could her words be true? — Might Mr. Darcy take a mistress, disparaging her and their marriage in such a manner?
LADY CATHERINE HAD BEGUN to pull away from Longbourn when Mr. Collins came running out the front door, waving his arms erratically.
Although she was in no mood to wait for him, she halted the carriage hoping for a positive report from his visit with Mr. Bennet.
She had instructed him to attempt to reason with Elizabeth’s father in case she herself was unsuccessful with the doxy who ensnared Darcy.
If Miss Bennet could not see reason, perhaps her father would.
When Mr. Collins entered the chaise panting, she enquired as to his success.
He then told Lady Catherine what Mr. Bennet had told him.
“’Mr. Collins,’ said he, ‘my Lizzy is to marry Mr. Darcy and you, sir, will soon be united with Mary. If you choose to dishonour our understanding into which you willingly, and legally I might add, entered, I will sue you for breach of contract. And sir, if Mary hears anything about this conversation, I promise that I will live to be a hundred rather than have you inherit Longbourn.’ Yes, I believe that is how he put it.
He cannot legally do that, can he?” She gave him a look of contempt, as the dose that was Mr. Collins had been quite enough for the day.
“But, Lady Catherine,” he continued, “after I left Mr. Bennet’s study, I joined the ladies.
That is when I overheard Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty complaining about not being able to talk to a man by the name of Mr. Wickham again until after the wedding.
They were quite loud in their protestations, so I easily took notice of what they had to say before I entered the room.
I heard the younger one say that it was not fair that they could not talk to Wickham when it was Elizabeth whom Mr. Darcy would not let speak to him.
The two youngest girls are far too forward, and I was glad that Mr. Bennet was making an attempt to rein them in, but I began to wonder what Mr. Darcy had to do with the business.
” He looked at this patroness for guidance as to whether to continue or not.
After she nodded, he resumed. “So, after I entered the room, I sat next to my Mary. I questioned her about the source of the girls’ concern, and she told me that Mr. Darcy had told Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet that if Elizabeth had any communication with that Wickham man before the wedding, that he, Mr. Darcy that is, would call off the wedding and leave her in ruin.
Miss Mary did not know why this was the case, but she speculated that perhaps the man named Wickham admired Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy, in his jealousy, would not share her with him. ”