Lady Catherine nodded. “That is my thinking as well. Georgiana Darcy has lost her reputation, mainly because she was raised by her brother and not by myself, and I cannot allow that to ruin my daughter’s reputation as well.”
Mr. Collins nodded vigorously and began a speech about the Reverend Fordyce’s opinions on reputations lost.
Lady Catherine heard none of it; she sat for a long minute, considering her next steps, and then shook her head to dismiss the subject from her mind. Interrupting the flow of words, she asked, “Mr. Collins, what have you decided on for this Sunday’s sermon?”
***
A reply came from London just a few days later. Lady Catherine broke the Matlock seal open eagerly. She thought that she had quite made up her mind about the betrothal, but Ellen’s opinion mattered to her.
Dear Catherine,
I am quite in agreement with you. Had I a daughter betrothed to a family tainted by scandal, I would annul the betrothal at once. You are correct that the betrothal is known only to our family, so no announcement of any kind need be made. I believe a letter from Anne to Darcy would suffice. He is visiting a friend; his direction is below.
Yours,
Ellen
Very well, then. The thing was best done quickly. She rang her bell and ordered the maid to have Miss de Bourgh brought to her at once.
“You asked to see me, Mother?”
“Yes; given the scandal surrounding the Darcys, I think it best that you break off your betrothal to Darcy.”
Anne opened her mouth to argue that the scandal would inevitably blow over, but realised at once that this was an opportunity not to be missed. She cast her eyes down as if deeply disappointed. “Yes, Mother,” she murmured.
“Would you like me to write it out for you?”
“No, Mother. I will write it myself. I think that is the very least I can do when I am jilting my own cousin.”
“Quite right, Anne, quite right.” Lady Catherine’s voice was approving. If only Georgiana Darcy had been sent to Rosings Park to be raised. She would now be as docile and biddableas her own daughter, and would never have considered an elopement, let alone with the son of a servant!
Anne de Bourgh felt downright giddy as she walked back upstairs to her room. To be released from her mother’s fantasy of the cradle betrothal, and with so little effort from herself! She had long imagined herself standing in front of a parson, refusing to say the words, and having her mother screaming at her from the front pew! Or flinging herself into her little phaeton and driving, driving, driving as far away from Rosings Park as she could! Or a hundred other scenarios she had considered to get herself out of a marriage she had long dreaded.
Not that she disliked Cousin Darcy. On the contrary, he was in every way an estimable gentleman. But oh, heavens, he was dreary! And the mere idea of being the mistress of a large, busy estate like Pemberley was enough to send her to bed with a sick headache. What she would do when she became mistress of Rosings was something she did not let herself consider.
She knew Cousin Darcy would not be upset by her letter, as she was certain that he had no interest whatsoever in marrying his little cousin, Anne de Bourgh.
No wonder she felt happy, happy, happy as she penned her letter, and sealed it up before her mother could read it.
Dear Cousin,
While I am deeply sorry for the circumstances, I know it will come as no unpleasant surprise to learn that my esteemed mother has determined that I am to withdraw from our so-called cradle betrothal at once. This may be regarded as a not insignificant silver lining to the cloud under which you and poor Georgiana find yourselves.
I very much wish that I had words of wisdom to offer you both in what must be very trying times; perhaps the best Ican do is to hope that the situation will reveal more silver linings, however dark the cloud.
Please pass on my love to dear Georgiana; I am certain that she is suffering a good deal just now, as I know her to be a gentle, sensitive soul.
Your affectionate cousin,
Anne
Chapter Twenty-One
London
The Colonel began his campaign to find Wickham by utilising two sources: first, the Bow Street Runners, and second, a number of army men who had retired or been invalided out.
To each of these men, he offered payment for their efforts and a substantial bonus to any man who gave the Colonel information leading to apprehending the man.
