Page 46 of The Countess and Her Sister

“You ought to rest, my love, and you certainly ought to start calling me William.” He stroked her hand and then her shoulders.

“I hope never to see you in such a state again. The first occasion was enchanting, but today I have only been greatly aggrieved by the pain behind your words and actions. I think it brave of you to face Mrs. Bennet again after what she did to you and your sister. She treated you like a child – worse – but you are grown strong and fierce, and you are the future mistress of Pemberley, after all.”

“Am I permitted to enjoy vexing her with that news?”

“I had thought to save the announcement for a more auspicious occasion – perhaps a ball at Pemberley – but I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours.”

“A ball at Pemberley? A costumed ball, perhaps?”

His chest rumbled with laughter as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.

“I am sure Pemberley has any number of trunks of old costumes in the attics. Perhaps we shall make a day of searching, and let our friends make mischief amongst the old relics. Richard once lured me up there and scared me senseless – Rebecca had put on a full suit of armor and held very still until I looked her way, and she sprang at me.”

“Oho! Five pounds says that I can get her to do it again.” She extended her hand to shake his, but he drew her into a deeper kiss this time. When he pulled away, Elizabeth grinned up at him. “I rather like your way of sealing bargains, William.”

***

Jane heeded her aunt’s advice of hosting her mother rather than dining with her at Montrose.

She felt more comfortable in her own home, which already had begun to brighten as she made improvements.

Elizabeth suggested giving their mother an earlier arrival time than their friends; a half hour with Mrs. Bennet might reveal what her behavior was to be, and they might possibly spare their friends any unpleasantness.

Mrs. Bennet was cordial, though not her usual effusive self, but she fussed over her three youngest in their new gowns and greeted Jane and Elizabeth with sugary warmth. Elizabeth remained wary, but she promised she would be civil. She invited Mrs. Bennet to sit with her.

“Madam, I am very curious about how Lady Catherine offended you. As I warned you, she contrived many schemes against Jane. What mischief did she propose to cause you to react so contrary to what you told me you intended?”

Rebecca coughed heartily at Elizabeth’s side, earning herself a robust slap on the back as Elizabeth surveyed Mrs. Bennet.

“Oh! I did not believe you, Lizzy, for you were always supposing everyone was making mischief against you!” Mrs. Bennet fluttered her handkerchief nervously. Elizabeth seethed.

“But I never imagined anybody could be so very wicked! She went on and on about the great dynasty of her father’s and family honor and duty and how Jane ought to marry Mr. Darcy!”

“That much I believe,” Rebecca said drily.

“Well, I was quite fed up with it! But you know, I had thought Jane ought to choose the man of wealth and property – of course I shall make Mr. Bingley every amends – I had not known they were so attached! Well, it will all come to nothing, I said. And if Lizzy gets Mr. Darcy in the end, at least that is two of my girls well looked after, and now my other girls shall be put forward! But Lady Catherine would not hear anything against her great plans! She is a spoilt creature, for the general yields to her every whim!”

“I have never thought my uncle a particularly yielding man,” Rebecca said.

Elizabeth sighed. “But what was her plan?”

“She was going to arrange a compromise between… between you and Captain Tilney, Lizzy! Oh, she was as boastful as anything about it!” Mrs. Bennet was far from quiet, and she attracted the notice of her relations. Jane came to join them.

“Lady Catherine thought that if Lizzy was compromised by Captain Tilney, that Darcy would suddenly want me? That is mad! Besides, they are already….” Jane stopped herself, giving Elizabeth a guilty look.

“They are already so attached to one another that he would probably have her anyway, and in greater haste, to spare her reputation. Besides, I… I meant to accept Mr. Bingley whenever he asks me.”

Elizabeth shuddered at the thought of Lady Catherine’s intentions.

But then she felt a strange tug of confusion in her mind.

“But after all I told you of Captain Tilney, what makes you think I would ever be alone with him? I would never have gone near him, and Mr. Darcy might have called him out at once!”

Mrs. Bennet wrung her handkerchief in her hands. “Oh, I do not know!”

Mary sat beside her mother with a brilliant smile. “Mamma, but this is wonderful! After what you did to Jane, you would not do the same to Lizzy. You truly have atoned.”

“I have? Oh, yes, I have!” Mrs. Bennet continued to fuss and fidget. “Oh, what a wicked woman she was! I hope you will think better of me now that she is gone away. But where is Thomas? I hoped you would let me meet my grandson.”

“Perhaps after dinner,” Jane said. “He is already abed, but I could bring you into the nursery, if you like.”

Mrs. Bennet tittered nervously, and their guests from Pemberley and Cameron Court were announced. She greeted them meekly, as if sensible of their wariness. She made her apologies, but seemed a little vexed that she was not met with greater warmth from the two gentlemen courting her daughters.

To Elizabeth’s tremendous relief, Miss Bingley had a headache, and with the Hursts to arrive at Cameron Court on the morrow, she remained at home to recover. The vicious creature would not rile Mrs. Bennet’s silliness, which must be a blessing.

Despite not wishing Mrs. Bennet to carry on in her vulgar way, Elizabeth began to think it curious that she remained so quiet throughout dinner.

Mary supposed that Mrs. Bennet was a little in awe of the company, and perhaps pained that her apologies were not met with anything beyond the barest civility.

“I daresay we ought to be relieved. A reserved Mrs. Bennet is one I should object rather less to dining with,” Rebecca said.

Lady Susan narrowed her eyes in Mrs. Bennet’s direction. “She has a guilty look about her. Do you think it true contrition?”

Elizabeth glanced over at her betrothed. “You are a fine judge of second impressions, William. What do you think?”

Mr. Darcy sipped his wine thoughtfully. “It seems that she does desire to regain your good opinion, and Lady Jane’s as well. But I still believe her capable of anything.”

Elizabeth was gratified by his assessment, which was much the same as her own. Though dinner passed uneventfully, many among them thinking it had gone rather well, Elizabeth could not shake her unease.

After dinner, the gentlemen soon joined the ladies in the drawing room, and Mrs. Bennet again asked after her grandchild. “Bring him here, Jane, I wish to have a good look at him, and see if there is anything of his grandfather in him.”

Jane hesitated. “Well, ‘tis but half past nine, he shall fall asleep again if I tell him a story.”

Mrs. Bennet brightened. “He likes stories like you and Lizzy.”

“Do not all children?” Rebecca rolled her eyes.

Mrs. Bennet sank in her seat a little. “I only wish to know him.”

“I will bring him, but for a quarter hour only,” Jane said.

“I must warn you, he has not met many new people while we were so long in mourning. The present company, yes, but even they were a lot for him all at once, though Mr. Bingley has a way with him.” Jane smiled at her beau, who offered to accompany her to the nursery to retrieve his favorite little lad.

A few minutes later, Jane and Mr. Bingley came running back into the drawing room. Jane stood frozen before them, looked around the room, and then burst into tears. Mr. Bingley wrapped an arm around her and drew her closer as he told them all, “Thomas is missing.”