Page 43

After visiting his sister’s modiste on Albemarle Street, Darcy was in a good mood as the carriage made its way through the crowded streets. His audience with the Regent had gone better than anticipated, even though it had taken an unexpected personal turn. He was surprised the private nature of the conversation had not bothered him as much as he would have thought. He had always been loath to discuss his personal business with anyone. And yet, he had found it pleasant to tell him about Elizabeth.

His mood changed dramatically as he stepped out of his carriage and saw his aunt’s ornate travel coach parked in front of his home. He thought briefly about getting back into his and going to Whites, but knew it was best to see what had coaxed her off her estate and deal with it. He doubted it was the news he had sent about Richard. He believed he had finally put her notion of marriage to his cousin out of her mind, but she was stubborn when her mind was set.

“Darcy, it’s about time you arrived. Where have you been? Your man refused to tell me,” Lady Catherine huffed in annoyance as he entered the room.

“Then he acted as instructed,” he replied testily.

“I have received the most alarming news, Darcy,” she trilled.

“Do tell,” he said warily.

“I have it on good authority that some country harlot has entrapped you into an unwanted marriage,” she said, her voice steadily rising as she spoke.

“I can guess from where this information arrived, but I can assuage your alarm and tell you it is untrue. I have not been entrapped, and you will refrain from using inflammatory language about this lady whom you do not know.”

“I know enough to come and save you from making a mistake.” She said as she pulled a letter from her reticule and waved it at him. “My rector, Mr Collins, has given me the entire sordid tale.”

“Has he?” Darcy replied dryly as he decided to sit and make himself comfortable.

“It is apparent that she planned this from the moment she knew who you were.”

“I find that hard to believe,” he said in amusement.

“The trail of accusations do not lie.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“She must have beguiled you with womanly ways for you to ask her to dance when you had only just been introduced.” She said, shaking the letter high in the air.

“We had not been introduced. I introduced myself before asking for the dance.”

“Darcy how could you? But that is proof of her using feminine charm to entice you.”

“Next, you will accuse her of being a witch. I can assure you it was my doing for my own reasons.”

“Then she used that time to entice you into an assignation on the balcony!”

Darcy sat up. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“It is all right here,” she said, flapping the letter again. “All your sins laid bare for all the world to see. If only you had married Anne, you would not be in such dire straights.”

He got up and held out his hand, demanding to see the letter. She obliged without hesitation, confident of the information it contained. Darcy walked to the window, opened the paper, and began reading. He ignored the first paragraph, as it was ripe with flowery sycophantic praise for his aunt and cousin. As he perused the list of allegations, he wondered where the man had received his information. They gave him a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“What have you to say for yourself, Darcy?”

“Utter nonsense. A Banbury story if there ever was one.”

“So you deny it all?”

Darcy crumpled the letter went to the fireplace and tossed it in ignoring his aunt’s protests.

“Are you going to answer me? What have you to say?” She demanded.

“I deny the conclusion, not the circumstances.”

“How could you sink so low as to be found out cavorting with this trollop?”

“One more ill word about Miss Bennet, and I will have you escorted out of this house.”

“Bennet!” She cried. “I rue the day I heard that name. This is what happens when you become friendly with tradesmen, Darcy. Mark my words, nothing good comes of fraternizing with the lower classes.”

“Enough, Aunt Catherine, I will deal with this matter as I see fit.”

“You will not. As head of this family, I will say my piece and be obeyed.”

“Unless the world has been upended, and I am unaware. I am head of this family now,” Darcy said calmly, trying to keep his anger in check.

“The simple solution is to publically declare your marriage to Anne. My rector will make the sacrifice and marry this woman.” She said disdainfully. “Even though I will have to suffer the consequences of her being near Rosings. I am willing to make the sacrifice.”

“I wish him luck in that.”

“So you accept my solution?” She asked, pleased that she had finally gotten through to his senses.

“No, Aunt Catherine. What I mean is that if she turned me down. I imagine she will reject him as well.”

“She refused you? That’s preposterous.” She declared shocked to her core.

“On that, we agree.”

“Now I see her plan as plain as day. She turned you down to foment your passion for her. Ohh, she is a clever one,” she said, wagging her finger.

“I am finished with this conversation. You should get in your carriage and go home.”

“Anne is upstairs resting, waiting.”

“For what?”

“You know for what. Do your duty to your family and propose to her! It is more important now than it has ever been.”

“This conversation is over. I have other business to attend,” he said curtly.

“Listen to reason, Darcy.”

He emphasized each word as he spoke. “There is nothing more to discuss. Good day.”

“Where are Georgiana and Anne? They were not at the other houses. I wish to discuss this with them.”

“I am their guardian. They are not mine. There is nothing to discuss with them about this matter.”

“My brother and your father were remiss to make you guardian of two girls. What do men know about raising young ladies?”

“They must have had their reasons.”

“Bah, they are men what would they know. Now tell me where they are.”

“They are in the country where they will remain for now.”

“Darcy, why do you continue to defy me?”

“You have yet to say a single word about Richard,” Darcy snapped. “I would think that should be a concern of yours to at least say something.”

“I told him he was making a mistake in playing the soldier. Look where it got Sir Lewis, dead in France for a lost cause,” she said bitterly.

“He admired Sir Lewis.”

“And where did it get him? If only he had taken the cloth as I urged. He would have had the living at Hunsford.”

Darcy sighed in frustration. There would be no getting through to her. Once her mind was made up, she did not waver even if facts proved her wrong.

“Wait for Anne here, or go upstairs. Good day, Aunt.” With that, he departed, ignoring her cries to see reason.

He went to his study with orders he was not to be disturbed, not even for his aunt to bid farewell. He felt a little guilty, but he knew she would take the opportunity to try and harangue him once again.

The thought of Elizabeth marrying another disturbed him. Would she? He had barely taken notice of the pastor standing next to her when they had met in the Meryton. All he could recall was pasty white skin in stark contrast to the black of the cloth.

He briefly wondered if he should go to Fitzwilliam House for the night after being informed that his aunt and cousin would remain until Monday. He decided against it, as he would not be driven from his own house while simultaneously causing a commotion in the other by unexpectedly showing up at the front door looking for refuge.