Page 22 of Raised at Rosings (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse #4)
Chapter Twenty-One
Elizabeth clamped both hands over her mouth, fighting back hysterical laughter that threatened to send the food in her mouth flying across the table. A muffled giggle escaped her grasp. Next to her at the table, Mr. Darcy’s fork had stopped midway to his mouth at his aunt’s comment. Aunt Judith peered at them over her coffee cup and declared, “I defy you to come up with a better description for that woman. For the cruelty Catherine has dispensed—the callous disregard for others, the deliberate infliction of suffering—she deserves punishment far exceeding anything we can easily inflict, but I will ensure she faces the consequences of her actions. We need to decide her comeuppance and be done with it so I can get to more enjoyable pastimes.”
Elizabeth had swallowed what was in her mouth by the time Aunt Judith finished, and with the morsels gone, she no longer felt like a greedy squirrel stuffing its face. Across the table, Richard used his coffee cup to toast his mother and said, “Well said, Mother.” Turning to his father, he took a sip before asking, “So do you have a plan, or shall I draw up the battle plans with Darcy?”
Not wanting to voice the ideas that had first appeared in her mind when it came to punishing Lady Catherine, Elizabeth chose to fill her rumbling stomach while listening to the conversation at the table. Putting his fork down and wiping his mouth, Uncle Reggie intertwined his fingers with his wife’s before he looked at the younger people at the table. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he considered his words and then, he spoke in measured tones, “I’ve heard that Darcy threatened my sister with the Bedlam, but I’d much rather find a less extreme solution if we can.”
Putting down her cup, Elizabeth reached out to Mr. Darcy and grasped his hand where it rested on the table. “You threatened her with Bedlam?” she questioned. “I am sorry to have missed it.”
Eyes soft but earnest, with a hint of a smile playing on his lips, Mr. Darcy admitted to Elizabeth, his voice low and tender, “She would not tell us what she had done with you, and I was beside myself. I would have taken her that very moment and left her there if I thought it would help me find you.”
Elizabeth’s mouth fell agape, mesmerized by the stormy intensity she saw in Mr. Darcy’s dark eyes. She had never once in her life had imagined ever being so loved by anyone. To see someone go to such lengths for her, so freely and without regret, filled her with a sense of awe and profound comfort. Elizabeth succumbed to the heady feeling with amazement.
Even as a child, she had shouldered the mantle of protector; it was a role she had never truly relinquished. That did not mean that people did not love her. Elizabeth was certain that Jane loved her, but her sister lacked a certain amount of forcefulness that would be required to confront someone like Lady Catherine over her well-being. Anne loved her as well, but her frail health prevented her from reciprocating any type of protection. The knowledge of Mr. Darcy’s unwavering devotion—his willingness to move heaven and earth for her, his lifelong commitment to her happiness, evident in every tender glance and heartfelt word—kindled a warmth in her heart that deepened her love for him beyond measure.
“Yes, yes, he handled Aunt Catherine with strength and command and went searching for you like some white knight. Put aside the intense gazes. For now, it is time to focus on dealing with the rampaging dragon of Rosings and de Bourgh House.” A light, teasing tone in Richard’s voice interrupted Elizabeth and Darcy’s lingering, meaningful look.
Blushing, Elizabeth looked down at her plate, embarrassed at having been caught behaving so unlike herself. It helped that Mr. Darcy reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze. Looking over at Mr. Darcy, a small smile touched her lips; his own expression was equally abashed. Their mutual love made the situation less awkward.
“Dragon might just be the right image, Richard. Like a figure from folklore, your aunt amasses gold for her hoard and flies into furious rampages. The question is what are we to do with her?” teased Aunt Judith with a smile. Then, looking to her husband, she said, “I assume she has lost all right to any of Lewis’s estates and their dowager houses. Where will we put her?”
Pushing his plate away from himself, Uncle Reggie steepled his fingers deep in thought. “There is a cottage I was going to offer to one of Matlock’s long-time servants that might just be appropriate for my sister. Situated on one of my properties near the northern coast. As a former hunting lodge, the building offers few luxuries. My sister would have to adjust to stone floors, rough furniture, and, if I remember correctly, the only decoration is a dusty, imposing stag’s head. The town’s folk are a sturdy group who knows their own minds, so there is no one there who would bow and scrape to her as she might wish. It would be nearly impossible for her to find her way back to town or anywhere close enough to bother us.”
Brows narrowing, Elizabeth spoke up for the first time. “As much as I like the idea of sending her there, I know she will not be able to fend for herself in such rough accommodations. At the very least, she will need a maid, a cook, and a man of all work to chop wood and the like. We also need to decide what to do with her companion, Mrs. Cuthburt. Will she stay with Lady Catherine, or do we let her look for other work?”
“Elizabeth, do you believe the woman is complicit in Aunt Catherine’s poor behavior? Or has she acted out of fear?” asked Mr. Darcy.
“I hate to say this,” began Elizabeth, looking at Mr. Darcy, “but I have always thought she enjoyed being Lady Catherine’s stooge.”
With a delicate clink, Aunt Judith lifted her cup, and after taking a sip, she announced, “Then I say they deserve each other.”
“So when do we confront her?” asked Darcy. He was beyond ready to confront his aunt and finally be done with her. He had much better things he wanted to do with his time than deal with a recalcitrant family member.
“I say we go today, the moment we’re all done with this delicious meal,” Richard declared, pushing his plate aside. “Arriving early shall take her by surprise and serve our purpose well. That woman has overstepped her bounds and has no business retaining her supposed place in society. Indeed, I no longer consider her to be of my family.”
While Darcy fully agreed with Richard, he was uncertain how the others in the family would feel. Family did mean a lot to the Matlocks. It was easy to see how disturbed his uncle was at the thought of disowning his sister, a frown prominent on his grim face. Leaning over, Aunt Judith caught her husband’s hand in hers and said, “Our son has a point, Reggie. I know she is your sister, but we both know that she has been allowed to have her way far too long. It is time to withdraw our protection. All of our protection. If you must, think of poor Anne—she is the one who needs our support. Focus on removing Catherine so that we can focus on the people who deserve your attention and care.”
Patting his wife’s hand, Uncle Reginald sighed. “You are right, my dear. The moment has arrived to confront my sister, and a half-hearted attempt would be inappropriate. I must address the issue completely. Hence forth she will no longer be recognized by any member of this family.”
Silence filled the room for a time, but then, as if by some unheard signal, Elizabeth and Aunt Judith stood in unison. “If we are to confront my sister-in-law, then I must change into something else. I will expect you gentlemen to be ready when I come downstairs.”
With a slight blush, Elizabeth turned to Darcy and said, “I must change as well, Mr. Darcy, but I will be right back down.”
Catching her hand before she could turn away, Darcy said, “Fitzwilliam, or even William, would sound far more appealing than Mr. Darcy. We are engaged, after all, and I would truly like to be given the permission to call you Elizabeth.”
Blush crept up Elizabeth’s cheeks as she smiled. “Georgianna calls you Fitzwilliam, but William feels more comfortable, if you don’t mind.”
“I would not mind in the least, Elizabeth, my dear.” Bringing her hand to his lips, Darcy kissed the back of her hand. Then, with great difficulty, he let her go, but not before adding, “Go change. I will wait down here for you. We can go confront Mrs. de Bourgh together with Richard. Uncle Reginald and Aunt Judith will probably take their own carriage.”
As Elizabeth turned to leave, a sudden hesitation in her step and a lingering look back at him filled Darcy with an electrifying thrill. In all of his thoughts about how much he loved Elizabeth, he had never once considered she might respond in such a way or that it would feel so spectacular when she did. It was Richard’s chuckle that ended up pulling him out of his dreamy haze.
“You have it bad,” his uncle observed with a knowing grin. “I was much the same with my Judith in the beginning. I foresee a loving marriage on your horizon.”
Slouching, Darcy ran his hand through his hair but did not say anything to Richard about his goofy grin and simply returned his uncle’s smile. “Thank you, Uncle. I have long thought your marriage to Aunt Judith was something to be lauded and imitated.”
Finished with his meal, Darcy stood and went to find a member of the efficient staff to ask for his carriage to be brought around so that he could leave with Elizabeth and Richard as soon as possible. As much as he would rather spend time gazing into Elizabeth’s eyes, he was not about to let his Aunt Catherine, or rather, Mrs. de Bourgh, get away with her foul behavior.
With nothing to do but wait for Elizabeth, he stared out the window, the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock a stark contrast to the animated discussion between Richard and his uncle concerning Felton’s latest exploits. Darcy rolled his eyes; his cousin, whose taste in clothes was as loud as his lack of sense, proved himself foolish in every way. Though Darcy still hoped he would have some sort of awakening to the foolishness of his actions. Maybe he would understand the seriousness of his father’s expectations when he heard about the predicament his aunt was about to face.
As the rhythmic sound of steps on the stone staircase reached his ears, Darcy whirled around, a happy sigh escaping his lips as his eyes met his future bride’s. In a stunning display of current fashion, Elizabeth wore a richly colored gown with elaborate embroidery, a stark contrast to her usual simple attire, causing him to pause. Though he found her no less beautiful in her usual clothes, the rich fabric and regal cut of her dress lent her an imposing air.
Seeing his expression, Elizabeth rushed to explain, “Jane’s lady’s maid insisted on doing me up in one of the outfits that Jane and Aunt Judith keep here for me.” Her fingers traced the intricate embroidery of the dress, a nervous habit, as she confessed, “I know this is far more elaborate than my usual attire, but these types of gowns are impossible to manage alone, and I do not have a lady’s maid at Rosings and de Bourgh House.”
As Darcy approached Elizabeth, his hand gently brushing hers, he murmured, “Frankly, I do not care what you want to wear as long as you are comfortable. I always find you beautiful.” Offering her his arm, he signaled to Richard. “Shall we?”
A deep breath steadied Elizabeth as she nodded, a grim acceptance in her eyes, and with quiet strength she replied, “Yes, it is, as you said earlier, time to beard the dragon.”
There was something powerful about standing before Lady Catherine on William’s arm. He, the man whose love she cherished and returned, stood shoulder to shoulder with her against the woman whose callous acts had wounded countless souls, Elizabeth among them. Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed as she, William, and Richard stood across from her in her sitting room.
The thrill of their newfound love for each other was so intense that Elizabeth had to fight the urge to snuggle closer to him, but she showed restraint. She settled instead for holding her head high and relishing in the stunned look on the Lady Catherine’s face. Her face flushed crimson, then drained of color as she comprehended Elizabeth’s arrival at de Bourgh House with William. The implications were clear, and they were not good for her. “…But I got rid of you,” she gasped.
William’s voice, a low growl laced with fury, as he said, “So you do not deny your fiendish machinations?”
Hoping to keep him relatively calm, Elizabeth squeezed his arm and, smiling faintly, she crooned, “I am well, William.”
On her other side, Richard stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze cutting through the quiet morning like a sword ready to slay an opponent. Elizabeth felt the weight of his words as he countered, “You may be well, Lizzie, but that does not mean Catherine de Bourgh should escape punishment for her actions.”
Overcoming her pallor and previous concern for Elizabeth’s experience, Lady Catherine swung around to face Richard, shouting, “Excuse me? I am a lady, and I am your aunt. You will show me respect!”
“You may be those things in a nominal sort of way, but I will not grant you any respect or address you as such ever again. Starting today, consider yourself completely estranged from me. There is no bond between us. In fact, the Matlock’s as a whole disown you.”
Sputtering, Lady Catherine declared, “What!?! You useless little fool, I will not stand for such disrespect. Just you wait until your father-”
“His father agrees with his statement, Lady de Bourgh.” As usual, Uncle Reggie, the Earl of Matlock, arrived silently, his footsteps muffled by the thick, plush carpet, allowing him to approach his sister unnoticed. When he sat in the chair facing Lady Catherine, Aunt Judith stood next to her husband, her hand on his shoulder showing a united front ready to do battle.
Lady Catherine’s mouth hung open inelegantly for a time before she snapped it shut with a clack of teeth. Drawing herself up in her chair, she shouted, “Lady de Bourgh? Reginald, your joke is not funny. I insist you put your son in his place.”
“I have not come to put my son in his place. I have come to put you in yours.” Despite the peaceful tone of Uncle Reggie’s voice, an unyielding firmness resonated in his words, a quiet strength that hinted at an immovable stance. Elizabeth found herself wondering if it was something that was taught only to earls or if others could learn it. It was certainly a technique that she would want to learn.
Mouth flapping open, Lady Catherine hesitated only once before complaining, “I am the daughter of an earl and your older sister. You cannot treat me so cruelly. I demand respect!”
Leaning forward, Uncle Reggie’s voice turned oddly compassionate. “You are the daughter of a charming but deceitful cad whose honeyed words and romantic gestures left a trail of heartbroken young girls in his wake. Father never did find out who he was for certain. Regardless, you deserve nothing, no courtesy title and no respect from the great and good. Despite our kind treatment, far exceeding what you warranted, your ungracious response and cruel actions made it clear you weren’t deserving of such benevolence. There is nothing about you that will help you escape the consequences of your actions.”
“Lies!” Lady Catherine shrieked, her voice cracking like brittle glass before she slumped back, gasping, “You speak lies!” Her face contorted with fury.
“Oh, do the math, Catty,” Uncle Reggie demanded, shaking his head. “You were born seven months after our parents’ wedding. And do not suggest they anticipated their vows. You know they only met the day they were to marry. Everyone liked father well enough, and they accepted the standard born early excuse. You should be happy you were a girl. If you would have been born a boy, Mother would have been forced to see you given away. As forgiving as Father was, he was not about to claim another man’s son as heir.”
Elizabeth’s glance flicked over to William and then Richard. Their shocked expressions said it all. This was not a widely known family secret. Elizabeth was only able to think of the previous countess whom she had never met. The poor girl, heartbroken and betrayed by someone who had exploited her innocence, was forced into a marriage with a stranger. For all that it started poorly, Richard spoke happily about the rumored love between the two, suggesting it was a good match.
The information seemed to have frozen Lady Catherine in place. Her eyes were wide, her face had gone ashen, and she no longer seemed to have the will to argue. His voice still, low and steady, Uncle Reggie said, “Because Father loved you as his own, despite everything. He let you be known as Lady Catherine, but that is not who you truly are. You are only Lady de Bourgh, the widow of a baronet. Though you possess no inherent courtesy title, as the widow of a baronet, the style of Lady de Bourgh is rightfully yours, should you choose to use it. If you do not wish to be called Lady de Bourgh, you can use Mrs. de Burgh instead, I suppose. You will never again be recognized as Lady Catherine,” Uncle Reggie declared. “You must reconcile yourself to your new circumstances. Richard, per Anne’s request, is taking over Rosings, and all attached properties immediately. Had you been remotely kind, Richard might have allowed you to stay at the dowager house at Rosings, or even at the Scotland property, but that has not been the case. Instead, your care will now fall to me.”
Learning that she had lost Rosings seemed to stir up some of her previous vigor, and Mrs. de Bourgh said, “I have been Lady Catherine all my life. I am the mistress of Rosings Park and Stonehaven Glen in Scotland. You cannot simply take that away from me on a whim.”
“This is not a whim, Catty. You were raised in luxury, with every comfort at your fingertips, yet you chose to become a cruel and manipulative person rather than the refined lady you could have been. You have harmed someone that I consider family, and I will not allow that. By exchanging compassion for cruelty, you have created your own difficult situation. It is your actions that have caused this.”
Leaning forward, face white and voice hoarse, she pleaded, “Even if I am not a lady, surely as your sister, you will see me well cared for.”
Elizabeth wondered if the woman’s down-turned gaze and trembling hands were genuine signs of heartbreak, or a calculated performance designed to elicit sympathy. Watching Uncle Reggie carefully, she saw nothing about him that would imply that his sister swayed him. In the same calm but firm voice, he said, “I am sending you to father’s hunting cabin near the northern shore. You will have Cuthburt, a maid of all work, and a man of all work. You leave immediately and starting now, you will be guarded at all times until you reach the cabin. Your belongings that are yours and not connected to your husband’s estate will arrive there shortly before you do. As of this moment, we are done with you.”
In a move that proved her earlier actions were just an act, the former Lady Catherine surged from her seat and screamed, “This is all your fault! You have turned all of my family against me.” With her hands twisted into gnarled claws, she attempted to fling herself at Elizabeth, only to be stopped by Richard. William had pulled Elizabeth to his side, his arms wrapped protectively around her. Through his arms, she caught only a glimpse of the struggle between the once pompous lady, now with her arms bound behind her, and the large, burly guards who were hauling her out.