Page 20 of The Shades of Pemberley
C ontrary to Darcy’s hope, the lady did not leave Pemberley, nor could he see any intention on her part to depart from the estate at anything other than a time of her choosing. For that matter, Darcy could not even see why she had come at all.
The lady was nothing less than an inveterate busybody, for nothing was beneath her notice, nothing beyond her ability to criticize.
The moment she entered the house, she began to meddle, sticking her nose into the housekeeper’s business, Darcy’s management of the estate, and Georgiana’s activities, all with the assurance that she knew what was best in any situation.
Darcy had not known her for six hours before he knew she was the last person he would wish to endure, let alone host at the estate he was still learning to manage.
There appeared to be no choice, however, because Lady Catherine did not appear willing to depart.
“Georgiana!” said the lady not long after arriving, in what Darcy now suspected was her usual speaking voice, though he considered it little less than a bellow. “How are your studies?”
The girl, who was terrified of her aunt, could muster nothing more than an inaudible mutter. This, of course, would never be enough to satisfy Lady Catherine.
“What was that? Speak up, girl, for I cannot hear you.”
Though Darcy had not thought the girl had it in her, she plucked up her courage. “Well enough, Aunt.”
“Is that all you have to say? Speak to me, girl. A mere slip of a girl shall not gainsay me.”
For a moment, Darcy thought Fitzwilliam would intervene.
Georgiana, however, plucked up her courage again and responded to her aunt with what appeared to be a more acceptable response.
For some time thereafter, Lady Catherine inquired into minute detail about Georgiana’s current studies, her efforts on the pianoforte, and anything else that came to her mind.
The lady was so thorough that Darcy thought she could teach the Spanish Inquisition something about the proper techniques of interrogation.
Fitzwilliam interjected when Georgiana became flustered, and Mrs. Younge took a little of the pressure off her charge’s shoulders, but Lady Catherine was as indefatigable as a starving fox intent upon catching a fat chicken.
What surprised Darcy even more was when Lady Catherine advised about subjects of which she confessed she knew little.
“I assume you have already performed in front of your brother’s friends.”
Georgiana appeared frightened to confess to it, but she said: “Oh, no, Lady Catherine. I am not yet out, and Jamie said that I did not need to perform before others when I am not yet comfortable with it.”
“That is nothing less than nonsense, girl,” snapped Lady Catherine.
“You are now sixteen years of age, and that means you must soon debut in society. Others will expect you to perform when asked, so you must become accustomed to it before your debut. This business of your brother allowing you to escape this duty is nothing less than silliness. If I had charge of your upbringing, I should not have put up with it.”
“There is no sense in berating Georgiana, Aunt,” interjected Fitzwilliam. “It was Darcy’s opinion—and I agreed with him—that there is no point in making Georgiana uncomfortable when she is yet two years away from coming out.”
“Do not be obtuse,” said Lady Catherine. “Coddling the girl will do nothing to prepare her for her future entrance into society. She must become accustomed to what she will face, for if you leave it until she makes her entrance, her failure will reflect upon us all.”
“Those of society are not so judgmental as you believe.”
Lady Catherine waved his comments away as if they were an offensive odor. “I know about all these things, Fitzwilliam. You have never been a young lady coming out in society, so you cannot know what she will face.”
“Then you can claim to have experience performing before the masses?” Darcy could see the skepticism in Fitzwilliam’s face and the irony in his voice. “You will forgive me, Aunt, but I was not aware of your abilities on the pianoforte. Having never heard you play, I thought you had never learned.”
Lady Catherine’s jaw flexed in her anger. “That is not the point, Fitzwilliam!”
“No, I dare say it is not.” Fitzwilliam’s manner did not give an inch. “Yet your insistence matters little, for I am Georgiana’s guardian and thus I have no compunction at all about allowing her to avoid displaying her talents until she is comfortable doing so.”
Though Lady Catherine subsided on that subject, she had not lost the war, for her eyes narrowed and she regarded Fitzwilliam with some asperity.
“Yes, that is quite unfortunate. I have always said that two bachelors could know nothing about raising a young girl; what I see now proves I was correct. We may rectify that, however, for I believe it is in Georgiana’s best interests to come to Rosings to live with me.
As you know, I have experience raising a young woman to be a creditable lady in society. ”
Lady Catherine gave a decisive nod, as if the matter was already decided. “That will be for the best. When I return to Rosings Park, I shall take Georgiana with me. There she may learn to be a proper young lady.”
It took no great measure of discernment to see Georgiana’s pleading look at her cousin.
While Darcy could say nothing of Miss de Bourgh, of whom he had heard but little, Lady Catherine’s manners did not promote the notion that she could raise a young woman to be anything other than fearful of her own shadow.
Fitzwilliam appeared to agree with Darcy’s assessment, for his scowl in response was both annoyed and unyielding.
“No, Lady Catherine, I shall not allow it. My uncle left Georgiana’s care to Darcy and me, and I shall not allow Georgiana to leave my care.”
“You must,” said Lady Catherine, her manner suggesting she heard nothing of Fitzwilliam’s response, though she responded to it.
“As a bachelor—and more because you are a colonel in the army—you can no more look after Georgiana’s interests than we can bring her brother back into the world of the living. ”
For the first time, Darcy saw true displeasure in Fitzwilliam’s response.
“That is enough, Lady Catherine.” Fitzwilliam’s growl of displeasure spoke to his growing anger and finally induced his aunt to listen.
“I will not have you speak of my cousin’s passing in such flippant terms. Darcy’s father entrusted this duty to me, and I shall not falter.
While we have not decided on Georgiana’s disposition, for the moment, she is well enough at Pemberley.
Please cease speaking of this subject, for you will not move me from my purpose. ”
Lady Catherine had little experience in being contradicted, as her scowl showed. Then again, Darcy supposed she was contradicted far more often than she wished; for one so convinced of their abilities as she, any statement that disputed her opinion she must view as anathema.
“Fitzwilliam—”
“I shall speak no more on the subject, Lady Catherine!” said Fitzwilliam. “Do not importune me again.”
For a wonder, Lady Catherine swallowed her bile, though it surprised Darcy to see.
That did not end her diatribes, of course, for she shrugged and moved to another subject.
There was some suggestion of her taking control of the house as the most experienced woman present, but Fitzwilliam counseled against it.
“If you allow her an inch, you will never be rid of her. Let Mrs. Reynolds deal with her, for she has experience with Lady Catherine’s ways.”
As that was a faithful representation of Darcy’s opinion, he did not hesitate to instruct his housekeeper on the subject.
The faithful woman proved her worth and her competence, for while Lady Catherine instructed, Mrs. Reynolds did nothing different from her usual practices.
Whether Lady Catherine noted this, Darcy could not say, but for so forthright a lady to allow such insubordination was unthinkable, so Darcy suspected she did not.
It was more of the lady’s inability to believe that anyone would gainsay her; when she issued an order, she expected it to be done and did not investigate to discover if it was.
That was fortunate, for it allowed at least a little peace to reign in the house.
The subject of Georgiana’s disposition came up between Darcy and Fitzwilliam that evening, and the content of their discussion was a surprise to Darcy. That did not mean he was unwilling.
“Lady Catherine is correct, little though I am inclined to allow her opinion to be correct about anything .”
Fitzwilliam sipped on his drink, lounging in his chair with his feet resting against the table that sat between the chairs they occupied near the fire in the master’s study.
After enduring Lady Catherine all day, both men felt the need to unwind with a glass of brandy and a conversation consisting of commiserations about Lady Catherine’s excesses.
How Georgiana coped with her ladyship’s ways was unknown to Darcy, but he noticed how she fled to her rooms at the first available opportunity and used her studies as a reason to absent herself from her aunt’s company.
“Though I suspect the world will come to a stop at such a heretical notion,” said Darcy, “I wonder about your meaning.”
With a grin, Fitzwilliam turned to stare into the flames. “Georgiana’s situation. As my cousin is now departed, I am Georgiana’s sole guardian. It was for this purpose, among others, that my uncle gave me the responsibility.”
Darcy considered the situation. “When you return to your duties, someone must take control of Georgiana’s future, and given your disagreement with Lady Catherine, I cannot suppose you will allow her any control over your ward.”