“I am no harlot!” Elizabeth retorted hotly, but Darcy was protesting with equal vehemence and in nearly the same breath.
“Lady Catherine! I will not tolerate a word against this lady. If her presence displeases you, you may feel free to leave the house.”
“I have heard enough!” roared a new voice. All eyes turned to the earl, who strode now to his sister’s side.
“Darcy, this foolishness shall cease at once. Were you or were you not in the company of this… woman all day?”
His eyes were lingering on her—she could feel them, and he could not seem to tear them away. By the time he found the words of truth, they were unnecessary. “I was.”
“And who is she? How is she known to you? I presume she is your mistress?”
Elizabeth’s face flushed, and she realised he had still been looking only upon her, until he rounded on the older man.
“Uncle!” he objected. “Miss Bennet is a lady! How dare you make such an accusation?”
“I am still waiting for you to explain to me how a lady, such as you describe, would have been your entertainment for the day. Anne, my dear, if you do not wish to remain for the answer, you may go.”
Elizabeth surged forward with a heedless urge to defend herself from this brutish aristocrat’s accusations, but three voices raised at that moment against her own. Collins was waving his hands in excitement, the fair-haired “Anne” was whining to her mother and spinning as if she would faint, and Darcy himself stalked toward his uncle. Elizabeth tried to make herself heard above the din, but one voice—Darcy’s—checked her. He held up a staying hand as he passed her and closed upon his aunt and uncle, demanding the floor.
“You seek a scandal? Very well, I shall tell you all, but prepare yourself for something dreadful, for what I have to say will not portray our own family in a favourable light. When I discovered myself to have been drugged, and my own staff unreliable,” he levelled a searing glance at both his aunt and cousin, “I left the house at once for Richard’s apartment. I overestimated my abilities, and Miss Bennet and her family discovered me and verykindly brought me to safety. They had no notion of my identity, only that I was in some distress, and their own goodness exhorted them to act. It was in their house that I passed the night. After I left it, I found it necessary to return to find out if Mr Gardiner would offer his support of my testimony. Miss Elizabeth has been nothing but a helpful friend, and I will hear no abuse of her character.”
“And where is this Mr Gardiner? What of his testimony? If you have it, I would see it in writing or hear it from himself. I still think this tale of yours utter lunacy, Darcy.”
“Unfortunately, we were unable to procure it. Miss Elizabeth had offered an introduction at his place of business, but—”
“This woman has pulled the wool over your eyes, Darcy!” Lady Catherine sneered at her, then summoned Mr Collins with a crook of her finger. “You know not whom you have chosen to champion, but I am familiar with this woman’s family. They are a brood of vixens all, and though Mr Collins had most generously offered redemption for the one who appeared the most worthy, she has today proved that she is little better than the worst. Nay, more wretched even than that, for the others only entangled themselves with passing tradesmen. This wicked Jezebel would ensnare what belongs to another, against all claims of nature and decency! Collins, you will have nothing further to do with this woman, and let her family’s disgrace be complete. You will have the satisfaction of seeing her fall, as is her nature, but it shall not be my own nephew she lures to his demise!”
Elizabeth felt ill. Collins and that homely blonde woman were smirking in triumph at her shame, the proud uncle curling his lip in disgust as he looked down upon her, but William… she cast one imploring glance his way. Surely, he could not believe or condone the lies spoken, the slander used as a cane over her back! Yet he would not look at her. His face was heated, but he stared at the floor, his fist clenched behind him.
“Aunt Catherine,” he growled, “whatever Miss Bennet is or is not, it can be no concern of yours. And Mr Collins,” he shiftedhis menacing glare, “I am certain your bishop would be interested to hear how willingly you almost desecrated the sacrament of marriage by validating a falsified marriage license. The document Lady Catherine claims to have was not applied for by myself, and therefore cannot be authentic. Shall I send a letter regarding the oversight of your responsibilities as a clergyman?”
Collins paled, but before he could speak, there was a commotion outside the door. Several voices could be heard at once—one of them Elizabeth thought she recognised as Darcy’s cousin from earlier in the day. Another… she nearly sagged with relief as she identified her uncle’s tones.
A moment later, Colonel Fitzwilliam crowded through the door without ceremony, and behind him thronged more men she did not recognise… but Edward Gardiner was among them. He found her almost at once, and the look of anger and fear melted into something harder, more determined.
“See here, what is this?” demanded the earl. “Richard, what the devil?”
“It is not I who have the right to speak first,” the colonel bowed in Elizabeth’s direction. “Father, I was just introduced outside to Mr Edward Gardiner, and he has some rather choice words for the assembled party.”
Elizabeth felt her uncle’s heavy stare once more and flinched. It was not her reasonable, good-natured uncle who had come to collect her, but the exhausted, irritated, affronted businessman who had only now been assured of her safety. The conversation he would demand of her later was certain to be unpleasant.
“By your present attire, I presume you must be Mr Darcy,” Mr Gardiner bowed shortly. “I understand we have some manner of business.”
“Indeed, sir.” Elizabeth studied Darcy—he looked relieved, humiliated, doubtful, but he glanced once to her and seemed to collect himself. “I regret the inconvenience—”
“Sir, if you please, I am weary, and I am not certain how well disposed I am toward you at present. I should like nothing better than to secure my niece, satisfy your request, since she seemed to think your mission one of import, and retire. Colonel Fitzwilliam here tells me that you were seeking an alibi from me and that you are the man my wife and nieces scraped from the paving stones at half past eleven last evening, dressed as a servant and looking full of drink. Elizabeth, is this he?”
She nodded, too embarrassed to look anyone in the eye.
“Very well. I shall swear to it in the presence of any witness you desire.”
“And are we to believe this?” interjected Lady Catherine. “Upon the avowals of a known seductress, with a besmirched reputation, we are to relinquish our own claims at the pleasure of a tradesman? Collins! Tell of this harlot’s family!”
“Ah, your ladyship is wise,” he bowed, raising an index finger. “I—”
“Mr Collins,” Uncle Gardiner pronounced, “I have heard something of your own conduct. Is it or is it not true that you were free to invent some facts of your own, as you were in a position to offer aid to my youngest niece and declined to do it? And did you stand on my own street and discredit Elizabeth’s name in public? I will tolerate no further attempts to slight my family’s honour to satisfy your own ends.”
“I was only seeking the safety of my betrothed—”
