Frederick raised his hands in mock surrender. “Peace, peace.”
Elizabeth, however, was only warming to the topic. “And more to the point—she has lived nearly twenty years as her own mistress. She has managed her large estate, run her household, and cared for her ill daughter without reliance upon any man. She is not going to surrender that independence to someone she has long believed dead, and whose constancy she has no means of judging.”
Frederick’s expression sobered. “No,” he said quietly. “I suppose she would not.”
He ran a hand over his face, looking suddenly far less certain of himself. “What am I to do, then?”
Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged a brief glance—one of shared exasperation, though not without sympathy.
“Give her time,” Elizabeth said at last. “Show her—do not tell her—that you are worthy of her trust. Offer her your apology, and mean it. Remain here for now, attend to what must be done at Longbourn, and to your son. Write to her. Call upon her when it may be done properly. In short—” she gave a small, pointed look “—conduct yourself as any other gentleman seeking a lady’s regard would be expected to do.”
Frederick gave a faint huff of breath that might have been a laugh. “I am to court her, then.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said firmly. “And do it properly this time.”
Before he could reply, the door opened.
“Sir William Lucas and Mr. Philips,” the servant announced.
Darcy rose at once, and the tone of the room shifted as practical matters resumed their place. Elizabeth, however, felt her part in the conversation had reached its natural conclusion.
“If you will excuse me,” she said, rising. “I believe Lady Catherine may have greater need of me at present.”
No one objected, and she almost thought she heard a sigh of relief as the door closed behind her.
Men!she thought in annoyance as she strode down the corridor, following the sounds of what she presumed to be Georgiana at the piano.Insufferable, the lot of them! Except for my dear Darcy, of course, though I imagine that is because we have not yet been married long enough for me to wish to strangle him.
She found Lady Catherine in the music room, sitting near the pianoforte. Her posture was rigid, her expression one of considerable indignation. Lady Anne occupied a seat beside her, speaking in low, soothing tones, while Jane hovered nearby in evident concern.
Georgiana’s playing stumbled and slurred as she tried to hear the diatribe without being scolded for eavesdropping.
“…men are the most obstinate of creatures,” Lady Catherine was declaring as Elizabeth entered. “To suppose that one may simply return after two decades and resume—resume—” She broke off with a sharp motion of her hand.
Elizabeth approached, unable to suppress a small smile.
“I have just delivered him a thorough reprimand on your behalf,” she said.
Lady Catherine glanced at her. “I have no doubt you did.”
Elizabeth sat beside her.
“He does not know how to proceed,” she added more gently.
Lady Catherine’s expression shifted—only slightly, but enough to reveal something beneath the irritation.
“I dare say he does not,” she said. After a moment, more quietly, “I do not know how to proceed either.”
Elizabeth studied her.
“I still love him,” Lady Catherine said abruptly, her gaze fixed ahead. “Or rather—” she amended, “—I love the man I remember. Whether that man still exists…” She did not finish the thought.
Elizabeth reached out and touched her hand.
“Then treat him as you would any other gentleman,” she said softly. “Allow him to prove himself. Do not give him more than he earns—but do not refuse him the opportunity to try.”
Lady Catherine was silent for a moment, then she gave a short nod. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, that is sensible. Which stands to reason, given who your mother is.”
“Then nothing need be altered,” Elizabeth said with a laugh. “You shall return to Rosings as planned. We shall go to Derbyshire. And he—” she lifted a brow slightly “—may begin his courtship in earnest.”
