Page 21 of The Countess and Her Sister

Lady Augusta had only to harangue her nephew a modest amount before Darcy agreed to be the next to host a dinner party.

As his sister was not yet out in society, it would be a more intimate gathering, with only the Bingleys, the Gardiners, and the Fitzwilliams – or so he had planned.

About an hour before his guests were expected, Lady Catherine de Bourgh arrived at Darcy House.

In her usual style of obstreperous presumption, she evaded the footman who would announce her and strode into Darcy’s office with a look that demanded to be acknowledged with deference. Darcy only sighed.

Lady Catherine slammed the door in the face of the footman who was rushing to apologetically perform his duty.

She seated herself and stared across the well-organized desk at him.

“Nephew, have you no warm greeting for your aunt? It has been above a year since I have seen you, and I might have been your mother-in-law.”

Darcy saw little merit in pointing out that he would never have married Anne, if she had lived. He stood, gave a bow, and then went around the desk to give his aunt a reluctant kiss on the cheek. He resumed his seat and asked, “What brings you to London, Aunt?”

“You are intelligent enough to surmise my purpose, I am sure. I know all about Lady Augusta’s plans for you, and I have come to lend them my support.”

Darcy had been poised to reassure her that there was nothing in it; he recoiled in surprise at her words. “Your support? You astonish me. I had presumed the matter of my future marriage would be a subject of some delicacy for you.”

But of course, delicacy scarcely had any place amongst his aunt’s other qualities.

Lady Catherine must have been gratified by the chance to grow indignant a mere two minutes into her visit. “I am your mother’s sister, and almost your nearest living relation! Anne is gone, but there is still a chance – now more than ever – of a great Fitzwilliam legacy!”

“I am a Darcy, madam, and my legacy is of no urgency to me at present.”

“You are the grandson of my father, the fourth Earl of Matlock – who better to be a father to the next earl? He shares your noble blood as if he were your own, even if it has been diluted by his mother’s insignificance.

At least she has the sense and decorum to understand what is expected of her!

She has every proper care for his birth right. ”

Darcy groaned internally. He admired Lady Jane’s willingness to consider what was best for her son and to please all the family, and yet he rather pitied the sense of obligation that bound her, just as it bound him. It seemed now to be more of an impediment to any real happiness.

“Have you nothing to say for yourself, Darcy? Could you be so heartless, leaving the poor young countess to the mercy of every fortune hunter in London, and your own young cousin to be brought up far below what he is destined for?”

“Does Lady Augusta know that you think her so incapable of looking out for the young countess’s best interest? Is Richard aware that you feel this way?”

“They were calling on that awful woman Lady Thurston when I went to Matlock House, but I saw Jane and the upstart embarrassment of a sister she is so partial to.”

Darcy’s hands curled up into fists and then slowly released. “Aunt, I will not allow any disparagement of the countess and her sister.”

Lady Catherine raised her eyes heavenward with exasperation.

“Then perhaps there is some hope, yet. The young Lady Matlock is perfectly willing to entertain you as a suitor, if only you would actually behave like one! I hear that you and she can scarcely manage to speak to one another about anything beyond the weather, and while that is often the best of options after the wedding, you must exert yourself a little more or there shall not even be a wedding!”

“That is very grim,” he muttered and gave a heavy sigh.

“Alas, here is nothing you can say to me, Aunt, that I have not already considered, and so I fear you have wasted a visit. I understand the advantages of the match perfectly, and I am keenly aware of the unremarkable beginning to my courtship.”

She held her chin high and smiled triumphantly. “There is something you do not know, which may perhaps be an inducement for you to court her more vigorously. I have not yet named a new heir.”

“Surely you must think of Richard for Rosings….”

“Pah! What has Richard ever done for me?”

Darcy arched an eyebrow at his aunt. “What he has done for all of England in his service to the Crown.”

“Well, and perhaps I shall, if you will not oblige me! But can I not tempt you, Darcy? Think of the empire you might build, the honor and distinction of the Fitzwilliam dynasty! Pemberley, Matlock, and Rosings – you would be the wealthiest man in England, and as Thomas’s guardian you would practically be the earl yourself. ”

“I have no aspirations of becoming any grander than I am.”

“What weak-willed drivel is this? You are a Fitzwilliam, you were born worthy of more, and it is easily in your grasp! You need not be unmanned by base affection as your father was for my sister, you need not ever come to love the chit – though duty and honor demand you treat her with generosity and respect, and keep your other liaisons discreet.”

“I do not consider it base – indeed I should say it is quite the reverse – to desire a marriage that would please me so well that I should never dream of any other liaisons , Madam.”

“Heaven and Earth, Darcy! What would my brother, my father, any of our noble forbears say to such nonsense?” Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes. “Who is she? There must be someone – some bit of muslin to render you insensible of your obligation to the family!”

Darcy swallowed down the lump in his throat.

He had avoided facing the truth of what he felt, the truth of why he could not manage to get any further than dull pleasantries with the countess.

He had not wished to confront his feelings for Miss Bennet, least of all under the scrutiny of his unbearable aunt.

“Make her your mistress,” Lady Catherine said with a wave of her hand. “Quietly.”

“No.”

“ No? What grasping arts and allurements have been worked upon you, Darcy? If she were a respectable prospect, you would have said so directly – she must be eminently unsuitable!”

“You are mistaken, Aunt, if you believe me to have fallen prey to any fortune hunter – or worse. But you would be equally mistaken in supposing that fortune and property alone could induce me to share my life with any woman whom I cannot love, cannot have a stimulating conversation with – whom I feel such a want of passion for that there may be no children borne of the union.”

Lady Catherine scoffed. “Is that why you have taken leave of your senses? It is true that she is not as comely as she was at nineteen, when she wed your cousin, but she is not entirely without beauty. Abstain from your mistresses for long enough, and you shall find her sufficiently inspiring – that was always Sir Lewis’s philosophy.

And when you have an heir and a spare, you may do as you please elsewhere!

Or forswear her bed entirely, and consolidate everything, creating the grandest earldom in the kingdom! ”

“Let me make my wishes and sentiments perfectly clear to you,” Darcy said, at the end of his patience.

“I have promised Lady Augusta to become acquainted with Jane Fitzwilliam, to determine if we will suit as marriage partners. I will continue to do so until such time as I reach a decision in the matter – unless another worthy suitor comes to the point first. No consideration could tempt me to alter my course; as it stands, I am far from convinced, at present, that either of us could make the other happy.”

“Stuff and nonsense! This is the prattle of your father – though even he married beyond his station. And for what? Connubial felicity that shattered when my poor sister died of her fourth stillborn? He was lucky you are healthy and strong, else affection might have left him with nothing at all! Lady Jane has already sired a very stout little son, and so you are guaranteed some legacy, even if she only gives you daughters, as her harridan of a mother did her father! And if she were to share your mother’s fate, you need not repeat your father’s deteriorating despair. Must I explain every advantage to you?”

Darcy stared coldly at his aunt. “I do not recall asking you to explain, Lady Catherine, how I ought to force myself into the countess’s bed, and then rejoice that her death, inadvertently at my own hand, has not made me more forlorn.”

“You willfully misconstrue my words, obstinate child!”

“Then perhaps it is time we bring this unpleasant interview to a close, Madam.”

Lady Catherine stood briskly. “You are expecting our relations for dinner; I will remain. I shall hear Georgiana play her instrument until your guests arrive.” She paused in the doorway, before entering the corridor, and looked back over her shoulder at him.

“But you will honor your promise to Lady Augusta, and consider the matter?”

Never had Darcy regretted a promise more. He curtly nodded his head, every eager anticipation of an enjoyable evening swiftly souring in his mind.

***

Elizabeth discreetly held Jane’s hand as they entered Darcy House.

Since the visit from Robert’s horrid aunt that afternoon, Jane had been sullen and withdrawn.

Elizabeth would not have remained in the termagant’s presence but for Jane’s insistence that Elizabeth stay with her – she could not deny her sister any comfort amidst such a scene.