Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 32

Bingley Residence

Half Moon Street

Noon

The Next Day

Elizabeth Bennet sat on a stool in the drawing room in the house at Half Moon Street, attempting to focus on the task she had imposed upon herself after her midday meal. She was writing a letter to her dear friend, Charlotte Collins, whom she had not seen since January, to tell her of the time she had spent thus far in London.

For a young woman who was more at ease in the countryside than among brick buildings and cobblestone roads, Elizabeth was finding her Season a delightful experience. She treasured her time spent with Jane and Mr. Bingley, as Elizabeth adored her older sister, and Charles was an excellent man. She enjoyed spending time with the Misses St. John, and Lady Audrey Galpin, and Miss Storey as well; they were exceptional companions – clever, intellectual, interesting, and great readers. Most unexpectedly of all, Elizabeth relished her interactions with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

It was still astonishing that she was being unofficially courted by the master of Pemberley, especially after he had shown only derision toward her the day they met. And yet, it was the truth; Fitzwilliam Darcy wanted to marry her. Elizabeth knew that such a proclamation was one that many young women could only dream of, as the estate of Pemberley had an income of ten thousand pounds per annum.

In spite of her initial amazement and uncertainty, she was very thankful she had given Mr. Darcy a chance. He had taken her on many fine outings, from Hyde Park to the Mint, and danced with her at several balls, and with the benefit of substantial time together, Elizabeth had grown to realize that he was an excellent man. He was a loving brother to his dear sister, Georgiana, and a fine master to his tenants at Pemberley. He was learned and well-read and was content to discourse with her on all manner of subjects as few gentlemen could. Elizabeth could not say she loved him, not yet, but her affection for him grew by the day.

The previous night’s dinner at Darcy House had been, she knew, another step in her delicate courtship with Mr. Darcy. Georgiana Darcy, who was a sweet girl, already liked her, and Anne de Bourgh had been openly friendly as well.

Lord and Lady Matlock, as uncle and aunt to Mr. Darcy, were potentially more formidable foes to a marriage between their nephew and a country gentleman’s daughter. Both earl and countess had been clearly disapproving, yet not outwardly rude, but Elizabeth had not been dismayed. Indeed, she had been charmed by her suitor’s obvious willingness to defend her, though she was quite able to take care of herself in a verbal jousting match.

Elizabeth blew out a breath and bent over the letter again; if she kept drifting away, she would never finish her letter! She was just beginning to describe Hyde Park in detail when heavy footsteps approached the drawing room. Elizabeth looked up, momentarily perplexed. Jane and Mr. Bingley were out at present, and Elizabeth did not expect them back for some time. Shortly after, the door to the drawing room opened, admitting the Bingley’s butler.

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” the man announced and stepped aside to admit the imposing mistress of Rosings.

Elizabeth stood, utterly astonished, as a tall, middle-aged woman dressed ostentatiously in the finest of traveling attire entered the drawing room and cast a pejorative glance about at the furnishings. Elizabeth stood in bewildered silence as her guest observed the room for several moments before turning and addressing her.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I presume,” the lady asked, her tone icy, her expression regal.

“Indeed, your Ladyship. To what do I owe the pleasure of such an unexpected visit?”

“While you may be pleased to make my acquaintance, I am not pleased to make yours,” Lady Catherine declared, selecting a plush chair with a high back, while Elizabeth lowered herself back onto her wooden chair. She was familiar with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, knowing her to be both Darcy’s aunt and Mr. Collins’s patroness. Elizabeth had only just met her daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh, at the dinner at Darcy House the previous night, and she could tell immediately that there was little similarity between Miss de Bourgh and her mother.

“Do not put on any airs of being baffled, Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine continued, “for I am certain that you must be aware of the reason for my visit.”

Elizabeth’s brows lifted. “In that you are mistaken, madam. I had not anticipated your arrival in the least.”

“Is that so?” Lady Catherine snarled, her eyes flashing with poorly concealed rage. “Only yesterday ago, I received a letter from an anonymous correspondent, relaying a warning that you have been receiving considerable attention – romantic attention – from Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, master of Pemberley, my nephew, and my own daughter’s fiancé!”

Elizabeth stared at the intruder in astonishment. “An anonymous letter brought you here to London in haste?”

Lady Catherine’s mouth turned down even more, as impossible as that seemed, and she said stiffly, “Mrs. Collins, who is, I believe, a friend of yours, insisted that the report was in error. I daresay it is mere foolishness; my nephew, as master of Pemberley, would not insult my daughter or his name by fulfilling the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune! Nonetheless, as a devoted mother, I decided it was necessary to journey here and make my sentiments known to you.”

Elizabeth suppressed a sigh and said, “I believe I understand very well, Lady Catherine. You are opposed to any possible marriage between me and your nephew, Mr. Darcy.”

The lady’s eyes flared wide and her s kin turned a gentle and charming shade of puce. “Oppose? Most certainly I oppose! Indeed, I am outraged that you would even dare to aspire to become my nephew’s bride! You are obviously entirely unworthy of such a position!”

Elizabeth, to her surprise, found herself more amused than angry by the lady’s rhetoric. She knew that Darcy loved her and wished to make her his wife. She knew that Miss de Bourgh had no interest in taking her cousin as a husband. Thus, this woman’s whining – for that seemed the best word for her discourse – was not disturbing in the least.

“I appreciate your view of the matter,” she said gravely, rising to her feet. “Now, may I walk you to the door?”

Lady Catherine stood up as well and, after hesitating, took two steps towards the door. Elizabeth was congratulating herself for managing the situation so well when her unwelcome guest turned sharply on her heel and said, “I will not leave until I am assured of fulfilling my purpose. Tell me at once! Has he? Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?”

Elizabeth realized that she was tired of deflecting. “Mr. Darcy has not made me an official offer of marriage, Lady Catherine, though he has declared that he is pursuing me as a possible bride.”

The lady seemed to swell up before Elizabeth’s very eyes, rather like a rooster puffing up its neck feathers. “How dare you? How dare you?! Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter!”

“I am confident that is not true,” Elizabeth stated calmly, though she took a step back. The woman in front of her looked so outraged that it was just possible she might give way to her choler and attempt to strike her, and Lady Catherine was taller and heavier than Elizabeth by far.

“Is something the matter?” a familiar male voice inquired.

Elizabeth turned and smiled in relief at the sight of her sister and brother-in-law, who were standing a few feet within the drawing room, arm in arm.

“I do not know who you are,” Lady Catherine said angrily, “but I must speak to Miss Bennet alone.”

Charles was a good tempered man, but he was also a protective one.

“I am Mr. Bingley, master of this house, and Elizabeth’s brother by marriage,” he said coldly. “This is my wife, Mrs. Bingley. May I inquire as to who you are and why you are in my home?”

“I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” the woman said, straightening her spine even more. “As I said, I will speak with Miss Bennet alone.”

“No, you will not, as I have not given you leave to do so,” Charles replied evenly. “Neither of us will be leaving without some explanation as to what is happening here.”

“Lady Catherine recently received an anonymous letter claiming that Mr. Darcy is pursuing me as a possible bride,” Elizabeth volunteered. “I just confirmed that Mr. Darcy and I are indeed unofficially courting, and our visitor is displeased.”

“An anonymous letter?” Jane replied, and to Elizabeth’s surprise, managed to infuse a note of delicate disdain in her tone. “I am startled to learn that you have traveled so far based on such a thing.”

The woman flushed, removed a piece of paper from her reticule, and waved it at her audience. “An anonymous letter, yes, Mrs. Bingley; whoever wrote this was obviously well informed, given that Miss Bennet has confessed to her attempt to entrap my nephew through her arts and allurements.”

“Lady Catherine,” Charles said angrily, “I have no intention of permitting you to insult Elizabeth in my very house. Darcy has…”

He broke off as Jane swooped forward to yank the letter out of their visitor’s hand, provoking a squawk of protest from Lady Catherine.

Jane glanced at the letter and turned a furious glance on her husband. “I thought I recognized the hand; Caroline wrote this!”

Charles looked astonished, but Elizabeth, after moving closer to her sister and peering at the paper, said, “Yes, I recognize her writing very well. Of course she would write a letter like this.”

Charles strode forward and gently took the letter from his wife, read it through, and then lifted his head to glare at Lady Catherine. “I will deal with my sister, Lady Catherine, who did indeed write this letter. I have no power over you, of course, but neither am I required to allow you to stay in my home. I insist that you leave at once.”

“Mr. Bingley, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am the daughter of an earl and the widow of a baronet, along with being almost the nearest relation Mr. Darcy has in the world; thus, I am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”

“I hardly think that Mr. Darcy believes you have a right to interfere with his life based on your familial relationship,” Bingley replied irritably. “He is, after all, blessed with a sister, along with the Earl of Matlock and his family. In any case, there is no purpose at all in speaking to Elizabeth on this matter. If you must berate someone, speak to Darcy or to Lord and Lady Matlock, all of whom were present at a dinner party at Darcy House only last night and met Elizabeth there.”

Lady Catherine’s color faded, and she actually swayed slightly in place. “You cannot … you cannot be saying that my own brother approved of Miss Bennet as a potential wife for my nephew. It is quite impossible!”

“I have no idea if Lord Matlock approved of Elizabeth or not,” Jane said coolly. “But since he is your brother, I presume he is entirely willing to tell you his thoughts on my sister.”

Lady Catherine stared at the lovely face before her then shifted her attention to Elizabeth and finally to Bingley. The expressions on all three faces were not encouraging, and she huffed and said, “Very well, I will indeed speak to the earl, and my nephew as well. I will put an end to this absurd courtship if it is the last thing I do!”

“I will walk you out,” Bingley said drily and gestured toward the door.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh huffed once again and left with surprising promptness and without Caroline’s letter.