Page 35 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

A few moments later, Mr Bingley could be heard again from the other end of the table. “Are you certain I cannot assist you in cutting your meat, Miss Bennet?”

“I assure you, Mr Bingley. I am in possession of at least most of my faculties.”

“How admirable your constitution is, Miss Bennet, to recover from your injury so rapidly.”

“I had no intention of creating an occupation from my injury, I assure you.” Jane’s tone, while serene to the ear of a stranger, was laced with impatience to those who knew her well.

Ten minutes later. “Pray do not jar your wrist, Miss Bennet.”

Jane replied testily. “Mr Bingley, if I were incapable of feeding myself without assistance, I assure you in the most animated language possible, I would have remained at home.”

There were nervous laughs around the table as the third course was brought in. The third course was as eventful as the first, though not until the end. The guests were just finishing their ices as a woman’s voice was heard shouting from the hall.

“Do not attempt to stop me, I am the daughter of an earl!”

“Oh goody. I have not seen Cathy in ages!” Lady Barry exclaimed enthusiastically. “Darcy, you never said you were providing such amusement! I demand that you entertain like this every week.”

Darcy and his father looked ill, Georgiana glanced about in a panic as if she were about to hide under the table, and Priscilla rolled her eyes as the door to the dining room opened and the butler announced, “Lady Catherine de Bourgh, sir.”

“Darcy!” The lady demanded. “What is all this? I hear you are in Kent for your health from the tales of others, and when I arrive, you are entertaining as if you had not a care in the world. You cannot be very ill. And what is this I hear about my daughter’s betrothed courting some unimportant country chit from nowhere?”

“Hello, Cathy.” Lady Barry greeted. “You once whispered to your sister that you hoped to be just like me when you grew up, but I hear you have managed it very ill. Join us, and allow me to see how you have turned out for myself.”

Chapter Sixteen

Saturday 18 July 1812

Darcy Cottage

Ramsgate, Kent

Lizzy,

I fear we shall miss our outing today. I should be ashamed to criticise my elders, but my aunt is quite demanding, and she has turned the house upside-down with her complaints on how I am not competent enough to manage, and using her seniority over me to alter all of my arrangements.

Papa quite agrees that had we known of her coming due to our proximity, we should not have entered Kent for a gold clock. Fitz is more displeased by her arrival than anyone.

Georgiana

When Lady Catherine de Bourgh arrived in the middle of the party the night before, with her daughter and the rector of her church in tow, Darcy and his father wasted no time in apologising to their guests. They immediately took the unexpected visitor out of the room and insisted that the newcomers accompany the housekeeper upstairs to settle in, rather than disturb the dinner guests any further.

Lady Catherine’s rector, a silly little man, lectured Darcy and his father in their own hall on the sin of showing his patroness less deference than her birth accorded her. As the dinner guests followed Georgiana back to the drawing room, they were treated to the sight of Darcy lifting the man by the back of his collar and depositing him outside the front door. He instructed the butler to have him delivered to an inn, and that he was not to be admitted to the house again under any circumstances.

Elizabeth was plagued by anxiety. Miss Bingley knew not whether to gloat that Elizabeth’s hopes might be dashed, or to expire on the spot at the news that Darcy might be already betrothed.

Priscilla ended Elizabeth’s concern as quickly as she could. “Do not allow my aunt’s claim to upset you, Lizzy. There is no engagement between my two cousins. It is only an idle wish on her part, and she thinks she can force the matter by declaring it openly, but neither Darcy nor my uncle will humour her. We will allow Miss Bingley to worry about it though, shall we not? It is no less than she deserves after her behaviour at my uncle’s table.”

Now, Elizabeth wondered how she ought to spend her day. She was just thinking about whether to walk to Nethercourt House to visit Lady Barry when the maid entered the drawing room.

“Beggin’ yer pardon, madam. Lady Barry’s carriage just arrived. She wishes for Miss Elizabeth’s compn’y to pay a call today.”

“I shall fetch my bonnet if you have no objection, Charlotte.” Elizabeth rose.

Charlotte looked up, unconcerned. “Of course not, Eliza. But be sure to return in time to dress for the theatre tonight.”

Lady Barry was in her carriage and dressed to pay calls when Elizabeth went outside and stepped up into the equipage.

“Where are we going?” Elizabeth asked. “You never pay calls.”