“Absolutely not; you are not to be concerned, Georgiana.”
The Colonel rolled his eyes at both his cousins, and then asked, “Are we going to Longbourn today?”
“We? You plan to join us?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“Of course.”
“Very well; we leave in half an hour.”
***
At Longbourn, Mr. Darcy sat beside his Elizabeth in the drawing room. “My aunt is coming to visit,” he murmured in her ear.
“Aunt? Lady Catherine?” Elizabeth’s voice rose in alarm.
Mr. Darcy winced. “No, thankfully! My other aunt, the Countess of Matlock.”
“She is coming to Netherfield?” Elizabeth was surprised. “But why?”
“To meet you.”
Elizabeth turned to stare at her betrothed. “I think there must be more to it,” she said.
Mr. Darcy said, soothingly, “Elizabeth, there is nothing she could say – “
“I know, but it is best if I understand the situation fully. Is she similar to Lady Catherine? My acquaintance with the Colonel led me to expect his parents to be reasonable people, but perhaps I was wrong.”
“They are reasonable, it is just that they have a good deal of concern for the family name.”
“But Lydia was found, and there is no scandal attached to my family.”
“It is the mere fact that she behaved as she did that is the problem.”
“So my character is suspect because I am her sister. I see.”
Mr. Darcy sighed. “They are very political, Elizabeth, and overly conscious of their own importance.”
“Yet she helped find Lydia! I do not understand.”
“According to Richard, she knew that I had done wrong by not telling everyone in Meryton the truth of Wickham’s character, and she agreed that this wrong had to be righted.”
Elizabeth considered that for a minute before conceding, “That speaks well of her.”
“She is not a bad person, Elizabeth. I hope that you will give her a chance to show you that. But, either way, you and I are going to marry in February.”
“It is probably best that I meet her at Netherfield; Longbourn may not show to advantage, as our parlour has become a bit threadbare.”
“I agree. She will be here in two days. Might you come to tea at Netherfield the day after she arrives? I am certain Mrs. Hurst will not object.”
“Poor Mrs. Hurst! Is she in a flutter about hosting a countess?”
“Not at all; she is as calm as you might wish.”
“I do not know her well, I confess.”
“She is a very different creature, now that she is away from Miss Bingley.”
“I am glad to hear it; it must make your stay at Netherfield far more comfortable.”
