Page 21

24th December 1812, Tuesday

Lady Catherine was seething with fury as her carriage rattled under her.

After almost a week of continuous travel, first to Hertfordshire, then to Pemberley and now towards Matlock, even the most well sprung coach would start showing signs of exploitation, and though the lady would deny it till her last breath, her coach was not even in a moderately good condition.

It did not help matters that so far north, the terrain was rough and the weather was freezing cold.

Catherine was shivering in her ornate silk travelling dress and an impractically fine pelisse and was being jolted every other minute because her incompetent coachman seemed intent on hitting every bump on the road, and yet those were not the focal reasons for her anger.

No, the recipient of her wrath was her nephew.

Who in the devil did Fitzwilliam Darcy think he was to jilt her daughter?

And for who?

Some green little chit with nothing to her name except her father’s meagre estate which was to eventually be inherited by Catherine’s parson?

It was not to be borne!

The carriage at last stopped after having travelled for five hours straight from their last rest stop in Derby to Winthal Manor.

It was well past evening and snow was falling steadily onto the drive.

A footman opened her door while another placed a box under her feet just in time to catch her as she climbed down.

Nobody was outside to welcome her, not that Catherine had expected any such courtesy.

She had deliberately told no one of her arrival, ready to catch her nephew off his guard and to scold him into doing his duty .

She climbed up the stone steps leading to the manor’s front door, trying her best to ignore the twinge she was feeling on her lower back from having had to sit in one hard place for much too long.

The butler opened the door just in time for Catherine to enter into the entrance hall without having to break her stride.

She paid the man no attention and whilst still walking, undid the buttons of her heavily embroidered green pelisse and let it drop, leaving one of the footmen to scramble to catch it before it landed on the floor.

Catherine smiled at their fear for reprimand.

Then tempered it.

“Where is Fitzwilliam?” She asked no one in particular.

To the servants, she might as well have been asking about any of the male residents of the house, for they were all in some manner, Fitzwilliam.

They were all also, by some luck, gathered in the same place.

“The family is having their supper in the dining room, Madam.” The butler responded, then hurried to follow the lady as she quickly changed direction towards the said room in an attempt to reach the door before her so as to announce her arrival as was proper.

Unfortunately, for a woman well in her late fifties, Lady Catherine was in possession of a swift gait and she threw open the double doors to the dining room dramatically before the butler to curtail the theatricality of her entrance.

Every occupant looked up from their conversation and their food in surprise.

Lord Matlock was the first to stand,

“Catherine! What in the world are you doing here? What in God’s name possessed you to travel north in this weather?”

Lady Catherine very rudely pointed at Darcy, “Your dastardly nephew, who else, my Lord! Ask him! Ask him what he has done! How he has ruined this family! ”

Darcy, who just like everyone else, had been more than a little startled at his aunt’s unexpected visit, rolled his eyes.

Placing his fork back, he stood up and gave his aunt as shallow a bow as could be acceptable,

“Madam.” He greeted.

Catherine hmmped,

“Don’t pretend to be ignorant, Darcy, it does not suit you. You can have no doubt as to why I have come! I have scoured the country looking for you and I demand to be satisfied!”

“Mayhaps if you had made your inquiries before you got into your coach, you would not have had to scour the country looking for me.” Darcy retorted.

“Catherine.” Aunt Elenor addressed her sister-in-law before the lady could answer, “What has made you so dissatisfied with Darcy? Come, sit. We shall have a civil conversation. Simmons, have another plate arranged for Lady Catherine.”

“I have no inclination for your food, sister!” Lady Catherine responded, “Indeed, I refuse to sit here and break bread with this traitor!”

“Catherine, watch your tongue.” Lord Matlock warned his sister, “If all you have come here to do is disparage your nephew, I recommend you go back.”

“And why should I not disparage him?! He deserves no less! He has left my daughter jilted and heartbroken! He has thrown my dear Anne over for a penniless harridan!”

“Lady Catherine!” Darcy protested, his temper showing its first signs of fraying, “You may insult me as you like and find me patient, but I will not have you say a word against my betrothed. ”

“Darcy?” Everyone on the table except Lady Catherine herself and Richard were looking at him with such incredulity, he might as well have told them he was selling Pemberley to his cook.

Darcy huffed.

He had planned on sharing his news with the rest of his family on Christmas day, but he supposed there was nothing for it.

“Nephew, is this true?”

“Very much.” Darcy motioned towards his pleasanter aunt, “Aunt Elenor knew I was pursuing a lady. I informed her of my choice when you and her came to dine at Darcy house with Lady Irene and her daughter. I was able to court her successfully and proposed just before I started my journey to Matlock.”

Above everyone, Darcy was sorry he hadn’t been able to tell his sister the news himself.

Georgie was looking at him with such shock and disbelief, and her countenance was so pale, he was afraid she would swoon.

He did not know what was affecting her more- his unexpected betrothal, or his aunt’s volatile anger.

But then his sister blinked, and comprehension dawned on her sweet face, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”

Everyone’s attention turned to her, and Darcy regarded her with more than a little surprise, “How did you know?”

“You wrote to me of her on multiple occasions while you were at Netherfield. She’s the only lady who you have ever written to me about in a complimentary light. I had supposed very early that you admired her, though I was not aware that you were in love with her.”

Darcy’s eyes warmed a little, and a small, heartfelt smile graced his lips.

The connotation of Elizabeth Bennet and love coming together in a conversation usually had that sort of an effect on him ,

“I do. I do love her. I hope you will too.” He said to Georgiana.

His sister gave him an unexpectedly bright smile,

“From what I have heard of her, she sounds wonderful.”

“What nonsense do you speak!” Lady Catherine’s shrill voice cut through the rather sweet moment between the two Darcy siblings, and Georgiana jumped, before blushing and staring down at her food in cowered embarrassment, “Admiration? Love? Pah! Such sentiments are not for people of our standing! What is love to honour and prestige and lineage? Indeed, what is love to nobility and family pride?”

Lord Matlock very neatly ignored his sister’s tirade and addressed Darcy, “And was I to hear about this engagement from the papers, nephew? Or perhaps you planned to simply marry this young lady and then introduce her to us as your wife.” His uncle sounded more shocked than angry and Darcy counted it as a blessing.

Not that Lord Matlock’s anger would have changed anything, but his acceptance and approval could only be good for both him and Elizabeth.

“No, indeed, I had every intention to announce my engagement to my family on the twenty-fifth. I hope to have you all attend the wedding, of course, though your absence will not hinder my nuptials.”

Lord Matlock pressed his lips tightly together.

He was a proud man, rightfully so, and did not like reminders of how little say he had in matters concerning his nephew and niece.

He was the head of the Fitzwilliam family, and so by its members, was consulted in every decision, and in most cases, his word was law.

Darcy, however, was his own master, and the head of his own household.

Both his fortune and his place in society rested independently from the Matlocks’ and so there was very little the earl could do to influence Darcy’s decisions even should he wish it.

It was very good that in most cases, their interests and responses aligned whether the matter was political or social.

It showed a united front to the rest of the members of the first circles, and gave the earl an illusion of authority, in the eyes of the people, over the Darcys that he could not rightfully claim.

This matter, however, was harder to agree upon.

The earl turned to his wife, “You knew about this woman?”

“I did. Darcy found it imperative to let me know that he had chosen his bride and would marry no other. He speaks of her as if she is a paragon of women everywhere- born with Aphrodite’s beauty, Athena’s wisdom and Artemis’ affinity for all that is natural and wild.” Aunt Elenor raised a half amused brow at her husband, “Quite a fearsome creature, if he is to be believed.”

Darcy rolled his eyes, “I would thank you to not assign me words that I have not said. You make me sound like a ridiculously besotted mooncalf.”

Elenor turned to him, “Then do you deny any of the charges I have laid at her feet?”

Darcy pursed his lips, not able to deny anything.

Elizabeth was beautiful and intelligent and carried within her a deep love for nature and the outdoors.

Indeed, he had found himself a veritable gem in that small county of Hertfordshire, and if praising her virtues made him sound like an infatuated idiot, then it would just have to be so.

Nobody with half a sense in their head who would meet her and spend time with her would be able to gainsay his claims.

“ I deny them!” Lady Cartherine suddenly interrupted their parley with a shriek, as if reading his mind, “For I have spoken with that- that- artful little girl myself! Beauty? Intelligence? I declare I saw nothing of the sort. Instead, there was such impertinence in her tone! Such arrogance! Such deplorable mannerisms and conceited independence in her actions! What is a pretty face when marred with such ghastly characteristics! Nay, I assure you, that girl is nothing compared with my daughter! Nothing at all!”

Richard snorted, “Madam, I hardly think you are any less biased as Darcy himself in this matter. Indeed, my cousin could have engaged himself to Princess Charlotte herself and you still would have found reasons to disparage the future Mrs Darcy for not being Anne.”

“Because he is betrothed to her! Anne and Darcy have been bound for each other since they were in their cradles! It was the dearest wish of both his mother and I! That he would forsake her now ? It is not to be borne!”

“I would suggest you desist speaking such nonsense, aunt.” Darcy glared, “I have never considered myself bound to your daughter either by inclination or honour, and neither is this the first time I have contradicted this particular fancy of yours. If your daughter feels jilted, the fault lies with you alone for having spoken so widely of a match that never existed. I have done her no injury. If you have come here for explanations, explain me this, how is it that this cradle betrothal that you speak of came to be public knowledge only after my dear late father’s passing?”

Lady Catherine gasped in incense, “Oh what are you accusing me of, nephew?”

“Simply of lying, madam. To me, to your daughter, to half of London and I presume, also to your parson.”

Silence reigned for a moment as Lady Catherine looked at him with incredulous eyes.

Nobody in her life had ever before so openly contradicted her!

To accuse her!

Catherine De Bourgh of falsehood was insupportable !

“And these are the words of a gentleman?” Lady Catherine turned to her brother, “Do you see how he acts? How he speaks to his own flesh and blood! It is that hoyden, I tell you, my lord! That Elizabeth Bennet has bewitched him!”

“What nonsense you speak, Catherine. You can hardly call into question Darcy’s honour and then get offended when he questions yours.” When his sister found herself unable to speak at his sharp rebuke, the earl turned to his nephew, “This lady, she is a gentlewoman?”

“Her father owns a modest estate. It is the second largest property in their area.”

“It is also to be inherited by my parson on her father’s death!” Catherine added.

The earl raised a brow, “Is this true?”

“The estate is entailed to the male line and the Bennets only have five daughters.” Darcy said in lieu of agreeing.

Lord Matlock grimaced, “What of her connections?”

“An uncle in trade and another a solicitor!” Again, Catherine interrupted crassly.

Matlock shot her a glare.

Darcy shrugged, “I can hardly blush for Elizabeth’s relations when mine include her.” he said, indicating Lady Catherine and her deplorable manners that were particularly on show tonight.

“Darcy.” Lady Matlock chastised her nephew, though she could say nothing in defence of her sister-in-law.

Catherine grew red at the insult, but Darcy was unrepentant.

Really, this confrontation had been much due.

The family had let Lady Catherine and her daughter’s behaviour go unchecked simply because none of them could be bothered to restrain her.

It had been easier to keep her sequestered away at Rosings.

Out of sight, out of mind.

“Darcy, she is still your aunt.” His uncle reminded him.

“She will not be for much longer if she continues to disparage my wife in this manner. I will not tolerate insults towards my family.”

Matlock sighed, then returned back to the topic at hand, “What about Miss Bennet’s manners? Is she offensive?”

“Elizabeth is charming and artless. She is not easily intimidated and will not let anyone abuse her without parrying, but her rebukes, though sharp, are usually tempered by such sweetness of manner and expression, that nobody could take offence.” She will do well in society.

Darcy had known for some time now, People might show their disgruntlement at first, but once overcome by her charm and liveliness, nobody will be able to say with any credence that he had made an imprudent choice.

Elenor directed an affectionate smile at her nephew, for it was really quite a treat to watch him extol so eloquently over anyone, let alone a young woman, “See what I mean, husband?” She teased, “Miss Bennet truly is all that is excellence and perfection.”

The earl shook his head, not nearly as amused as his wife but equally resigned to his nephew's matrimonial aspects, “I confess, I am sceptical of both your and Catherine’s accounts. Miss Bennet is a goddess unparalleled or lillith herself, either way, I understand that your mind is quite made up.”

“Quite.”

“I also understand that your honour is engaged. ”

“Very much so.”

The earl turned to his sister with a shrug, “Then there is nothing to be done, Catherine. Darcy is his own man, and I, I think, more than anyone in this room, am aware of the stubborn streak that runs through that family, considering who I married.”

An inappropriately affectionate look passed between Lord and Lady Matlock at this comment, and Darcy shook his head. Lady Catherine was fuming, steam coming out her ears, and she loudly struck her travelling cane onto the marble floor, “Unacceptable! This is the response I am to receive? Have the lot of you lost your minds?!”

Lady Matlock pursed her lips, “Really Catherine, that is enough. There is nothing to be done. If you will not dine with us, I suggest you refresh yourself from your travels and retire early. I am sure your usual room has been made ready for your use.”

“Hmph!” Lady Catherine sniffed in arrogance, her nose high in the air, “I have no wish to spend another minute in this wretched household! How swiftly have you all abandoned me and my daughter! My poor, dear Anne! Oh, how must my dear sister roll in her grave!”

The earl huffed, “Catherine, either go to your room, or get out of the house. I have had enough of your theatrics tonight.”

“I will leave! I find no enjoyment in the company of traitors and cowards!” And thus, getting in the last word, Lady Catherine turned around, and departed Winthal Hall with the same swiftness with which she had come .