But Carolinewasher friend.
She did not wish Darcy to forgive Caroline. She certainly did not wish for Darcy to become Caroline’s friend in turn.
But she would not abandon her attachment to Caroline ever. Certainly not now that it was clear to Elizabeth that her friend had taken to heart the lesson of her wrong, immoral and improper behavior and had determined to “go forth, and sin no more” — or at least to sin no more in such a manner.
Lady Catherine exclaimed suddenly, “Your sister, did she not marry that man who was once Darcy’s friend? That Mr. Bingley.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth replied. “He was the son of my father’s partner in business.”
“The same Mr. Bingley whose sister engaged in such shocking behavior, and attempted to compromise my nephew’s honor through deceit and methods that were most… well a lady such as myself cannot use the words to describe such a woman, but I am sure she shall never be accepted in polite society.”
Was this how Lady Catherine meant to discourage Darcy from the interest that she had perhaps detected in him towards her?
“It is my view that our judgement of a person’s character ought not be wholly reduced to a single mistake, no matter how serious its nature is.”
“You mean to abolish all punishment, do you?” Lady Catherine peered at her. “You state your opinion most firmly for one so young. But I suppose you are forced to make a pretense of accepting such a crime, as she is now nearly yoursister.”
“Miss Bingley has always been nearly my sister. That has not changed.”
“It was a scheme doomed to fail. Mr. Darcy knows his duty. He knows what his family wishes of him. And one day soon I imagine there will be a happy marriage satisfying all those who have a proper concern and affection for him.”
So saying Lady Catherine looked between Darcy and Anne meaningfully.
Darcy replied, “I assure you that my choice will be honorable, but it will be based purely upon my own judgement and preferences.”
Miss Darcy pulled at Elizabeth’s sleeve, and when Elizabeth inclined her ear to her, she whispered, “You must know that he and Anne would not suit, he has no intentions to ever marry her.” Miss Darcy worried at her lip, and pressed her fingers together.
“I know, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth replied, patting the girl on her hand. She smiled at her.
The girl replied, “Please, call me Georgiana.”
Elizabeth smiled back at her. “You must call me Eliza, or Lizzy if you prefer.”
“What are you two speaking of?” Lady Catherine interrupted. “I must have my part in the conversation.”
Seeing Georgiana look down and refuse to meet the eye of her aunt, Elizabeth replied, “We were discussing the difference between one’s Christian name, and the family name, and when a friendship is such that one ought to use the Christian name, rather than ‘Miss such and such’.”
“Hmmph. And I suppose you now show approval for the actions of the sister of your own sister’s husband by still using her Christian name?”
“I certainly cannot approve of what Miss Bingley did.”
Miss Darcy said suddenly, “It shocked me very much that she acted so, even though I never liked her above half.”
Everyone looked at Georgiana, and she blushed and looked down. “I do not mean that…”
“Hear, hear!” Lady Catherine slapped her hand several times on the side of her chair. “But Darcy, this is what comes from associating yourself with lowborn persons — a fortune from trade! I can never stand to let any good families associate themselves with money from trade.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. “Wasn’t half the land in Rosings bought with the money of that brother of the third baronet who came back from India as a wealthy nabob?”
“You surely cannot compare the brave work of those men who spread Christianity and civilization to the benighted and uncivilized lands of India, men such as Clive and Hastings to the work of a low manufacturer, a tinkerer with machinery? — trade has its place, but it has no place inmarriage.”
Darcy scrunched up his face and rolled his eyes for just a moment in response to his aunt’s speech.
Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned. “It would make my father dance and delight with capering ifImarried a fortune from trade.”
“You ought,” Lady Catherine added, speaking directly to Darcy, “take more care with who you allow young Georgiana to associate with. The daughter of a manufacturer? It is our good fortune that Georgiana’s character and breeding are such that she can shake off, like water from a duck, any contamination from such an immoral and ill-favored connection.”
Miss Darcy flushed and looked down, wringing her hands together, and hanging her head low.
