Anne listened in growing astonishment. “Your sister would marry someone she does not love, rather than ask Mr. Bingley for three thousand pounds? But that is absurd!”
“I understand why she feels as she does,” Elizabeth said. “But I wish instead that she would confess all to him and let him make his own decision.”
“She certainly should! Three thousand pounds is not a good deal of money, after all,” Anne declared.
“What! Why, Anne, it is a fortune!”
Anne shrugged. Then she lit up. “I have it! I will give your father three thousand pounds, and then your sister may marry whomever she pleases!!”
“You have three thousand pounds?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.
“Well, not in my pocket just now, no. But there is a good deal more than that sitting in my mother’s safe, and it really ismymoney, not hers.”
“I cannot possibly take money from you,” Elizabeth declared. “It would be entirely wrong!”
“Then you are every bit as bad as your sister, then, Lizzy. You had rather stand on principle than have two people who love one another be wed.” Anne spoke very firmly, eyes blazing in outrage, hands on her hips.
Mary and Elizabeth stared at one another. It was Mary who nodded, and then turned to their guest and said, “You are right, Miss de Bourgh. My family would be everything grateful for your assistance.”
Chapter Seventy-Four
Reginald had just arrived at Matlock Estate when a message came from Charlotte. Concerned, he put all else aside to read it.
Dearest Reggie,
I very much want my dear friend, Elizabeth Bennet, to stand up with me at our wedding, but she is not certain how to get here. You may recall (or possibly not, as it was all very hectic and last minute!) that she went to Kent with her sister Mary, who is married to Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s rector. It occurred to Elizabeth that if Lady Catherine was to come to see us married, then Elizabeth could accompany her ladyship in her carriage. Was Lady Catherine to be invited? I rather assumed so.
In addition – and I apologise, as this is all very strange – it is a matter of some urgency that Mr. Bingley makes his proposal to Miss Jane Bennet as soon as may be. She is to depart for London quite soon, so he must do so at once!
I cannot, of course, write to Mr. Bingley myself, but doubtless you were planning to write him a note of thanks for his hospitality, and perhaps you could find some language with which to persuade him of this urgency?
I promise most solemnly to explain it all to you someday soon!
Counting the days until I see you again,
Your loving Charlotte
Reginald Fitzwilliam congratulated himself yet again on having managed to find the perfect bride. It would never have occurred to him to write a letter of thanks to Mr. Bingley, but it was clear now that he must do so.
As for Aunt Catherine, certainly his mother had invited her, had she not?
Having traveled for several days, he was really quite eager to have a bath and a good dinner, but he knew himself well enough to know that if he did not attend to these tasks at once, they would soon be overlooked in favour of hisHistory of England.
Chapter Seventy-Five
How very odd!” the Countess exclaimed.
“I should rather think we are growing accustomed to odd, m’dear. What is it this time?”
“Reggie wants to know if we are inviting Catherine!”
“I thought we did not wish to expose Miss Lucas to Catherine’s inevitable and unpleasant objections,” the Earl said, brow wrinkled.
“That is correct; but apparently Miss Lucas’ dearest friend is visiting with her sister, who is married to Catherine’s rector! It is of great importance to our future daughter that her friend stands up with her, and the only way that friend can get to Hertfordshire is if Catherine is attending.”
“Oh, Lord,” the Earl groaned. “Can we not just send a carriage for the young lady?”
“That would be easiest, yes. But if this girl’s sister is Catherine’s rector’s wife – oh, why is it always so complicated! – then Catherine is sure to find out eventually that Reggie was married and she was not included. I suppose we will have to invite Catherine, but I will tell her most firmly that if she so much as opens her mouth to say something nasty, we will have her removed from the church at once.”
