Mr. Bingley hesitated. “I believe the Hursts will be able to do so, but I am uncertain as to my younger sister’s social obligations.”
Mr. Darcy almost snorted. More like Mr. Bingley did not know if he could trust Miss Bingley in company!
Mrs. Bennet nodded. “Of course; do send me word. Everyone is welcome.”
Mr. Darcy glanced at the clock on the mantel and immediately rose to his feet. “I apologise, Mrs. Bennet; we have stayed far longer than the usual quarter of an hour.”
Mrs. Bennet waved this away. “We are in the country, Mr. Darcy, and the rules are different.”
Elizabeth added, “Truly, a day spent without the company of friends is not a day worth living. Do you not find it so, Mr. Darcy?”
Mr. Darcy looked at Mr. Bingley, the friend who had extended his hand when all of society had shunned him, and replied, “I could not agree more, Miss Elizabeth.”
Chapter Twenty
Late October 1811
Rosings Park
Lady Catherine could not get the newspaper article out of her mind. She had received nothing from Darcy in response to her message, and was ready to write him another letter, even more scathing. But something else had occurred to her.
Given that the Darcys were now mired in scandal, would she still be willing to allow Anne to marry Darcy? She had always thought it would be a great feat indeed to unite two such important estates as Rosings Park and Pemberley. But would Anne, and indeed Catherine herself, not be tainted by association with the Darcys?
She did not bother to speak to Anne about this situation; the girl would do as she was told when the time came.
Lady Catherine decided that the best thing would be to write to Ellen Fitzwilliam and get her opinion. The Countess of Matlock had her finger on the pulse of Society; she would know what to do.
Ellen,
I am not ignorant of the dreadful scandal that has tainted the Darcys. I have long insisted that Darcy was not capable of raising a girl and I am sorry to say that this proves my point. I do not enjoy being proven right in this instance.
That is not, however, the reason for my letter to you. As you know, Anne and Darcy have long been betrothed. Given the scandal surrounding the Darcys, though, I wonder if it would not be best for Anne to withdraw from the betrothal? I believe the betrothal to not be well known, so her withdrawal would be little remarked upon, and even were it to be talked of, it could hardly be wondered at, under the circumstances.
What is your opinion of this?
Catherine
As she allowed the wax to drip onto the folded paper, her butler announced the arrival of a visitor – Mr. Collins.
She glanced at the clock on the mantel; yes, this was the time he normally arrived to discuss the upcoming Sunday sermon. She remained silent as she pressed her seal onto the wax and then waited for it to harden. She then handed it to a waiting maid to be placed with the outgoing mail.
Only then did she reply to her butler. “He may enter.”
Mr. Collins walked into the drawing room, paused at the entrance, and bowed low. Lady Catherine generally liked his servile ways, but today she was in no mood for it. “Sit down, Mr. Collins,” she snapped.
His brows went up. He was an awkward man, uncomfortable in his skin and certain, at every moment, that he was beingchastised for something. His discomfort made Lady Catherine uncomfortable as well, and she often found herself snapping at him for no reason other than her feeling of discomfort. Which, of course, made him more uncomfortable.
Lady Catherine sighed.
“Is something wrong, your ladyship?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“I would be honoured if you would confide in me, as I will do everything in my power to alleviate your distress.”
And then, for reasons that she would never understand, Lady Catherine told Mr. Collins about the newspaper article and her indecision as to whether or not the betrothal between Anne and Mr. Darcy should be terminated as soon as may be.
He listened in silence, then nodded, and said, “You are, as always, wise, Lady Catherine. Nothing is more important to a young lady than her reputation. It is as fragile as it is precious, and once lost cannot be easily restored.”
