Page 99 of Master of Himself

“You can’t barge into this house and make demands, madam.”

She set her jaw and glared at him. “In private.”

“You may use the sitting parlour, my lady, if you please,” Mrs Bennet said in a meek voice.

Mortified by his aunt’s reprehensible conduct, he led her to the small room and waited for her to voice her complaints.

“I’ve had a report of a most alarming nature, and I came at once to make my sentiments known. Are you, or are you not, courting a daughter of this house?”

“We are now betrothed, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Darcy could well imagine that her sycophantic parson must have informed her of the courtship. The Lucases had undoubtedly spread the word via post.

She huffed with indignation. “I can scarcely believe that you would dishonour your family and your own sainted mother in this scandalous manner. You have been intended for Anne since the moment of her birth. What have you to say for yourself?”

Darcy was well acquainted with this farcical notion, which she had promoted since his university days. “Only that you have travelled a great distance for no purpose. I intend to marry Miss Elizabeth Bennet, so you may as well accustom yourself to the idea.”

Her eyes flared with anger. “Then I will speak to her directly and demand that she release you from this ill-begotten engagement.”

Although not surprised by his aunt’s venom, he wouldn’t allow her to browbeat Elizabeth. “If you suppose that this disgraceful spectacle will result in my eventual betrothal to Anne, you are sorely mistaken. I shall marry the woman of my choice, not yours. You have wasted your time.”

Now in the doorway, Lady Catherine’s voice echoed through the house. “I demand to speak with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

Elizabeth came forward and made her curtsy. “I am Elizabeth.”

“This engagement must not proceed,” her ladyship said in a stern tone. “No woman of inferior birth may dare to hold any claim on my nephew. I shall not leave until I am assured that you have released him.” She punctuated her demand by rapping her walking stick on the floor.

“Then I shall have a bed chamber prepared for you, and a place set at the supper table, my lady, for I shall never renounce him.”

Darcy had never been prouder of his enchanting, but fearless fiancée. “Aunt Catherine, surely you must now give up this scheme.”

Undeterred, his aunt glared at Elizabeth. “Do you suppose that I am unaware of your sister’s scandalous elopement with George Wickham, the son of a steward? Any connection to this family will disgrace my nephew in the eyes of the world.”

Elizabeth offered an indulgent smile. “If you’re familiar with that event, then you must also know that it was your nephew who retrieved my dear sister from Wickham. Don’t you wonder why Mr Darcy would go to so much trouble, my lady?”

Now speechless, Lady Catherine regarded him with astonishment.

Darcy reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “I did it for Elizabeth, Aunt Catherine, because I couldn’t bear for her to be harmed by my father’s disgraceful godson.”

Aunt Catherine waved her hand in dismissal. “Darcy, my dear boy, you cannot be thinking clearly. This is merely an infatuation. Surely, if you go through with this marriage, you will be universally denounced. The family will never receive you, or even mention your name.”

“Then I’ll bid you a fond farewell, Aunt Catherine,” he said, stepping towards her. “Come take my arm and allow me to escort you to your carriage. You have overstayed your welcome and must be on your way home.”

She refused his arm and swept past him. “You’ll regret disobliging me, Darcy, and so I warn you. I shall carry my point to my brother, and then you’ll be very sorry, indeed.” She stormed out of the house in a flurry of outrage and spite.

Darcy followed her outside, and when she reached her waiting conveyance, she begrudgingly accepted his assistance to board with a fierce scowl. Once she was seated, he signalled to the postillion to ride on, and watched the carriage pass through the gates.

Elizabeth awaited him on the front steps. “Our relations can be a bit unpredictable, can’t they?” she said with a teasing smirk.

“To put it mildly,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “I’ll make my apologies to your parents, and then we’ll all laugh about it, and go on as we were.”

“My father delights in the absurd, and he’ll certainly agree that her ladyship was vastly entertaining,” she said. “What’s more, he now understands who holds the greatest influence over his tiresome heir.”

***

Dear Mr Darcy,

Having received your very affecting letter citing one parable, I must remind you of another. When the prodigal son returned home after a long absence, his father forgave him and welcomed him home with a grand feast. However, my cousin chose to cast his only heir out of his house and forbid me from ever returning during his lifetime. Where is this forgiveness you speak of? Should we not all benefit from the compassion and mercy the Good Shepherd has taught us?

Furthermore, you must allow me to caution you against entering into an alliance with a daughter of that scandalous house. Her ladyship would never sanction such a disgraceful match. When one shameless daughter has lost all sense of decency, her sisters’ reputations are forever tarnished in the eyes of the world.