Page 19

“Only one?” Elizabeth replied.

Her eyes narrowing impossibly further, Lady Catherine stomped past her. When Elizabeth did not immediately follow, Lady Catherine turned back with a scowl on her face.

“Are you not going to follow me?”

“As this is my home, not yours, it would be more appropriate if you were to follow me,” Elizabeth responded. “Besides, it is clear you are unfamiliar with the estate. The front door is in the other direction.”

“I have no need to know the location of your door,” Lady Catherine screeched. “I have come to have a word with you. I see no reason to involve anyone that might be inside.”

“Very well,” Elizabeth said, though she made it a point to walk quickly past Lady Catherine, and in a slightly different direction. If Lady Catherine wanted to continue their conversation, she would have to follow her.

“You can be at no loss as to why I have come.”

“It is thoughtful of you to come all this way to offer condolences on the death of my father, but with the brief nature of our acquaintance I would not have expected anything more than a note,” Elizabeth responded.

“I have not come to express condolences; I have come to demand that you release my nephew from your engagement!” Lady Catherine demanded.

“I do not believe he desires to be released,” Elizabeth asserted. As her courage rose, she almost wished Lady Catherine would have attempted to intimidate her sooner. Defending herself was proving to be restorative.

“It is imperative that you do so. I could hardly believe my eyes when I received a letter from Mr. Collins expressing his delight at the possibility of a closer connection through your marriage to my nephew. I came at once to have the rumor squashed. Not only is it entirely inappropriate for you to enter into an engagement so soon after the death of your father, Mr. Darcy is already engaged to my daughter. I cannot allow you to stand in their way. Now what have you to say?”

“Do you truly expect me to believe that Mr. Darcy is so lost to decency that he would engage himself to one lady while already engaged to another?”

“The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as hers. While in their cradles, we planned the union.”

“If Mr. Darcy had intended to grant you your favorite wish, certainly he would have done so several years ago,” Elizabeth replied. “He is a grown man, well past his majority. What excuse have you assigned to him for not fulfilling your wish before now? Even if I were to release him from this engagement, there is very little chance he will change his mind concerning marriage to your daughter.”

“Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions on your recent visit? I shall not go away till you have promised to break your engagement with Mr. Darcy.”

“As I will not be breaking the engagement, should I ask my mother to have a bed chamber prepared?” Elizabeth asked. “Or would you prefer to spend your time in our hedgerows?”

“I would not deign to pay you such a compliment as staying under your roof! Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.”

“That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me. I do not believe we have anything further to discuss. I wish you a safe and speedy journey back to your home.” With this, Elizabeth turned on her heel and walked away, Lady Catherine following behind her, yelling vindictive questions on her way.

As Lady Catherine was preparing to climb into her carriage, another carriage drove into the lane. Both ladies immediately recognized it as belonging to Darcy.

As the Darcy carriage pulled up in front of Longbourn, Darcy was astonished to see both Elizabeth and his aunt. He was gratified that Elizabeth chose to greet him, but was perplexed as to why his aunt had come to call. As far as he knew, she was still in Kent. Exiting his carriage, he immediately went to Elizabeth’s side, drawing her hand through his arm.

“Lady Catherine, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” Darcy inquired.

“It would appear you failed to give your aunt a very important piece of information before leaving Kent,” Elizabeth remarked.

“You must have known I would come to ensure you were not trapped into marriage by this ungrateful girl,” Lady Catherine spat out. “Otherwise you would have told me this was the nature of the pressing business that called you away from Rosings Park a day earlier than planned. I have come to insist that you leave here at once and announce your engagement to Anne.”

“You cannot be serious?” Darcy asked.

“I am most serious. I attempted to reason with Miss Bennet, but she would not hear me. I now beseech you. Stop this madness. Announce your engagement to Anne.”

“I will do no such thing. Before leaving Rosings, I told you I would not be marrying Anne. I have pledged myself to Miss Elizabeth. We will be wed. Although I would hope my family would choose to support my choice of wife, your disapprobation will not cause me to change my mind.”

Lady Catherine continued to make demands; Darcy refused to give way. Several minutes later, Lady Catherine was finally handed into her carriage, with the threat that she would never acknowledge either of them ever again.

Chapter 12

It was not until after watching Lady Catherine’s carriage depart Longbourn that Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet realized they had gained an audience. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Morris had been joined by Mr. Bingley and most of the Miss Bennets. They all stood, rather awkwardly, until Darcy realized this would be the perfect time to ask Mr. Bingley about his intentions towards purchasing Netherfield Park. Asking him to join them, Darcy quickly indicated that the gentlemen should remove to the study. He turned to Elizabeth, intending to excuse himself, but upon seeing the fire back in her eyes he could not find it in his power to let her go. He invited her to join them, instead.

After the four gentlemen and one lady were ensconced within the Longbourn study, Darcy asked Mr. Bingley if he would be willing to waive his right to purchase Netherfield Park at the end of his lease.