Darcy cut her off at the insult. "Madam, you will speak respectfully of Mrs. Darcy, or you will be thrown from this house. Mrs. Darcy is my wife and will be the only Mrs. Darcy in my lifetime. You have been told time and again that I would not marry your daughter. Your presence here is unwanted and I think it best you leave now."
Lady Catherine took a step back, surprised at the vehemence from her nephew. Yes, both he and Anne had said often enough that they would not marry, but she had always brushed such objections aside.
“I will not leave,” she insisted.
“You will not remain unless you consent to an introduction to my wife, apologise for your unfeeling words, and speak civilly to both of us,” Darcy informed the angry lady, his own temper strained.
“You cannot force me to leave my sister’s house,” the lady demanded.
“I can, and I will,” Darcy retorted, stepping to the door and calling for the butler and several footmen. “Hobbes, escort my aunt to her carriage. She is not to be permitted entry again until I say otherwise.”
“I will go to my brother. He will …” She stopped abruptly as another commanding voice interrupted her from the doorway.
"Do absolutely nothing to assist you in your unreasonabledemands. Darcy is married and out of your reach. It is time for you to accept your fate and cease telling untruths about an engagement between Anne and Darcy. You are the only one who wanted them to marry–they certainly did not wish to do so, and you know very well that George Darcy denied his consent for such a union in writing several times and that our sister never made any agreement with you about the children marrying each other. Now, I will permit you to stay at Matlock House exactly one night, and then I will send you back to Kent. Once you return, you will say nothing to anyone about Darcy’s choice of wife or an engagement between Darcy and Anne. Am I understood? Now desist with this foolishness. Come with me, Catherine, or I will allow Darcy's footmen to carry you out of this house."
With a huff, she did as ordered and left the house on her brother’s arm. Lord Matlock glanced briefly at his nephew. “My wife desires that the two of you come for tea tomorrow. We expect you to call at two ‘o’clock to discuss this.” He paused and chuckled slightly before continuing. “My wife intends to discuss her plans for your social schedule. Be prepared to have your every moment dictated for the next month.”
Darcy groaned while Elizabeth laughed at her husband, knowing his distaste for society and its events. He had endured them during the season but had not hesitated to remind her frequently that he attended only so he could be seen with her on his arm. Grinning at him, she teased: “It will be little different from when we were courting, will it not? You will attend, if only so you might be seen accompanying me.”
Suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape, Darcy instead pulled his wife into his embrace and returned her teasing grin. “I suppose knowing that you will be my reward at the end of an evening spent in tedious company might actually improve my enjoyment of the event.” He paused for a moment, and when he continued, his voice was husky. “Or make me more desirous of ending it early.”
Elizabeth giggled when her husband pulled her into him more tightly and the two soon retreated to their chambers where they spent the rest of the evening.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The day Mr. Collins was expected to arrive at Longbourn came and went without that momentous event taking place. Mrs. Bennet fretted and wondered if he had somehow learned of the breach of contract and was already seeking the advice of a solicitor to sue the family.
Following his usual practice, Mr. Bennet ignored his wife’s fretfulness. That his cousin had yet to arrive was of little concern to him. More and more, he regretted sending his daughter away all those years ago and giving in to his wife’s insistence that she take responsibility for their daughters’ education. She had not liked how much time her husband spent with her eldest two girls when they were small and believed that it had been Elizabeth’s influence that led Jane to agree to learn such unladylike subjects.
Before Elizabeth's banishment, his two oldest girls spent countless hours in his study, delving into subjects beyond the typical accomplishments for young ladies. Mr. Bennet immersed them in a variety of books, fostering discussions and debates, and imparting knowledge of scientific matters and mathematics well beyond societal expectations for women. Mrs. Bennet had not liked how much time her husband spent with them and constantly complained that he was making them unmarriageable by teaching them unladylike things.
The incident with Jane in the stables had served as a catalyst for Mrs. Bennet to persuade Jane to distance herself from her sister by convincing her that Elizabeth was to blame for theentire ordeal. In her vulnerable state, Jane believed her and had acquiesced in staying away from Elizabeth. It had not taken Jane long to recover from her injury, but by that time, it was too late. Elizabeth had already gone to London.
As her mother fretted about the absent heir, Jane pondered what had been said to her by Charlotte Lucas and her aunt. The most mortifying was recalling her behaviour with her sister’s husband. However, anger and frustration lingered in her mind for her mother had always told her she was the most beautiful daughter. Jane was a classic beauty, willowy and blonde, nothing like Elizabeth’s more buxom figure. Surely, she would shine in London, she thought, but it became apparent that Elizabeth wanted little do with her family.
She was angry at what Mr. Darcy had said to her about being beautiful on the inside as well as outwardly. Jane knew she was beautiful in appearance, but after receiving so many chastisements, she was uncertain if any man would find her beautiful on the inside as well.
All these revelations coming at once unsettled Jane, leaving her feeling increasingly disillusioned and not a little abandoned. She no longer knew what to think about anyone or anything and she followed the example that had been set for her throughout her childhood—she took to her bed.
While Jane contemplated these matters, Mary spent more time with the Allens. She began to accompany Mrs. Allen on her visits to parishioners, paying particular attention to what needed to be done for the tenants of Longbourn who lived in poor circumstances indeed.
As Mary walked alongside Mrs. Allen during the second week of these visits, thoughts swirled in her mind about what she coulddo to improve the lives of the tenants and what the master owed them.
“Mrs. Allen, do you think there is anything I can do to improve the living conditions for the tenants at Longbourn?” Mary asked, her voice laced with concern.
Mrs. Allen smiled warmly at Mary, impressed by her growing empathy for those less fortunate. Although it had been many years since the present Mr. Bennet's mother died, while she lived, the tenants had all they needed. She had already begun training Jane and Elizabeth to take over her role, but they were not old enough to care for the tenants when their grandmother died, and the present Mrs. Bennet had no interest in aiding the tenants. "I believe there is always something we can do to help, Mary. Let us make a list of their needs and discuss how we might address them."
After this discussion, they began visiting the homes of the tenants, listening to their grievances and noting their most pressing needs.
“It is heartbreaking to see the hardships they endure,” Mary remarked, her heart heavy with the realisation that her family ought to be doing more.
Mrs. Allen nodded in agreement. “Indeed it is, Mary. But with your determination and compassion, I have no doubt we can make a difference in their lives. Someday, you will do well as the mistress of an estate or the wife of a cleric.”
As they continued these visits, Mary felt a sense of purpose blossoming within her. She could not wait to write to Elizabeth about it.
Just a few days earlier, Mr. Phillips had delivered a reply from Elizabeth to Mary, indicating her tentative acceptance of Mary’s desire to begin a correspondence. She discussed the matter with Mrs. Allen who advised her to maintain a friendly tone in her letters without requesting favours. Following this advice, she replied in a manner that was both light and friendly yet maintained some distance.
Mrs. Bennet emergedfrom her bedroom a sennight after taking to her bed. Since they had received no word from Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet proceeded as she always had and began making her usual visits in the neighbourhood. As long as they heard nothing from Mr. Collins, they had no reason to fret, and perhaps she could find a way to get another of her daughters married before that event happened. Moreover, she had heard very little gossip since that ungrateful daughter of hers had caused her to take to her bed, and she needed to learn all she could about her new son.
