Reunited at Rosings (Sweet Standalone Pride and Prejudice Variations #5)

Chapter 10

Elizabeth followed the young man to Lady Catherine’s suite of rooms, wondering what this summons could mean. Lady Catherine had not been ill-disposed to her, once. But the news of Lydia’s elopement had changed all that. For who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly said, will connect themselves with such a family? Elizabeth could still hear her cousin’s words in her mind, as though he had spoken them not a quarter of an hour ago. If Lady Catherine had heard of the connexion between Mr Darcy and herself, she would certainly wish to sever it.

“Right this way, Miss,” Hopkins said. Be opened the door to Lady Catherine’s room and stood aside. The young man refused to go inside and announce her, Elizabeth noticed. Even after the woman’s ordeal, it would seem she was still a formidable force to be reckoned with.

“Thank you, Hopkins. I am sure I can find my way now.” Elizabeth gave him an encouraging smile, and he relaxed his shoulders with relief.

“Thank you, Miss. That is to say, very good, Miss.”

Elizabeth walked into the room. Hopkins closed the door gently behind her. She took a steadying breath and moved toward the bed. In the dimly lit room, it was difficult to see Lady Catherine’s expression. But when Elizabeth neared the foot of the bed, it became difficult to keep the shock off her face. The imposing character Elizabeth remembered was much changed. Her cheeks were slightly sunken in, and her hair was covered by a white cap, sitting just a little askew. Dressed in a white nightgown, Lady Catherine had the coverlet pulled almost up to her throat.

Lady Catherine tried to sit up, but could not manage to raise herself but a few inches. Elizabeth hurried forward and helped her sit up, propping several pillows behind her back.

“Thank you,” Lady Catherine said. Her speech was a bit slurred and slower than it had been before. “You must be — happy to see — me in such — a reduced state.”

Elizabeth raised a brow. “No, indeed.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Why would you believe such a thing, Lady Catherine?”

Lady Catherine waved her off, then motioned to a chair nearby. “Please, be seated.”

Elizabeth brought the chair closer to the bed. “How can I be of service, Lady Catherine?”

“Let us leave — pretence behind us. You can be under no illusions as to why I — called you here, Miss Bennet.” Lady Catherine pinned her with a fierce stare.

Elizabeth straightened. “You are mistaken, Lady Catherine. I cannot begin to account for this honour.”

“Do not be coy with me — young woman. I have brought you here for a specific purpose — to have my questions answered.” She took a deep breath and rested before she went on, closing her eyes as if she were terribly weary. “Are you engaged to my nephew?”

Elizabeth sat back, surprised that Lady Catherine would be so bold. She silently chastised herself for allowing Lady Catherine to catch her out. “Colonel Fitzwilliam? No, my lady.”

“You know very well — I do not speak of Fitzwilliam, but Darcy.” Lady Catherine said, looking angrier than ever. “You are not engaged to him?”

Elizabeth looked at the floor for a moment. Though she wished it was so, she could not lie. “No, I am not engaged to Mr Darcy.”

Lady Catherine’s features softened. “I thought you would be by now, since my original plan was thwarted.”

“I do not know what you speak of, Lady Catherine. If I were engaged to Mr Darcy, why would you object to such a match?”

“My daughter has been — promised to Mr Darcy since their infancy. I would — not see anyone come between them.”

“I did not realise —“

“I was on my way to see you at Longbourn when I was — set upon by this cursed fit of apoplexy. So, I called for Mr Darcy — immediately, to keep him out of your clutches.”

Elizabeth’s brows raised. If she were to hear any more shocking news, she feared they might disappear into her hairline altogether. “You sent for him to keep him from coming to me?” She should have been more upset, she supposed, but now she felt only pity. Did Lady Catherine not see how her constant grasp for control in her family had only brought heartache and resentment? Did she not see how much Miss de Bourgh had changed from being out from under her mother’s thumb?

“Now that you have come, my plan is ruined. I can see how infatuated he is with you. Since I am confined to this cursed bed, you shall have your way.” Lady Catherine’s face scrunched into a frown, making her face appear even more severe against the white sheets.

Elizabeth had not been so insulted in all of her life, but she held her tongue. She was appalled that Lady Catherine would behave in such a way. Remembering the pain that she had endured for the last few months, thinking that Mr Darcy had not come because he did not care for her, made her want to get up and flee the room before she said something ungracious. She clasped her hands in her lap. It had all been by Lady Catherine’s design, not Mr Darcy’s lack of interest in her. It made her furious to think that she and Mr Darcy might have had a chance at a future together, had it not been for Lady Catherine’s scheming.

“I see,” Elizabeth said. Lady Catherine flashed her a sour look. All the pain and confusion of the past months rushed in upon her, and Elizabeth thought she had never seen anything so unsympathetic in all her life as the bitter old woman.

It was then she felt an unexplainable compassion for Lady Catherine. It must have been very difficult for her to be cooped up in this room for the last two months. Her actions had shown her to be deeply misguided and unhappy. And it was no wonder. It was Christmas, and still she was only thinking of her isolation and her failure to control her family. Even in the midst of Elizabeth’s anger and pain, she could not help but find Lady Catherine’s folly terribly sad.

She would never act in such a way. She loved her family and sometimes wished there was more she could do to rein in their exuberance — especially Lydia. But she had made her choice, and still, Elizabeth loved her. Love was something that could not blossom under a controlling atmosphere.

“Do you have nothing — more to say to me?” Lady Catherine asked, struggling to catch her breath.

Elizabeth thought hard for a moment. There must be a way to lighten the weight of sadness resting over Lady Catherine. Here she was, so close to her family and yet so far away, confined to her bed. There must be a way to allow her to partake in the joy of the season, embraced by her family and friends.

“I think you have been cooped up in this room long enough, Lady Catherine.”

It was Lady Catherine’s turn to look surprised. “Whatever are you spouting now? Of course, I am confined to this room. I cannot walk!”

“Why should that stop you from joining in the festivities? If a Bath chair were procured, you could easily be wheeled into the drawing room, or even to church for the Christmas service.”

“A Bath chair?” Lady Catherine said. “I do not know why no one has thought of it before.” She seemed genuinely pleased by the suggestion. As though she had been caught out, she quickly wiped the gratitude from her face and grudgingly went on. “I suppose it is not a bad idea. I shall have to — release some of my pride in allowing someone to push me about like a wheelbarrow full of potatoes.”

“No one will think less of you for everything you have endured, Lady Catherine. I am certain that the villagers would be overjoyed to see you at the Christmas service, if it can be arranged in time.”

Lady Catherine looked guilty. “I must confess, I am astounded — that you would want — to help me.”

“Why is that, Lady Catherine?”

“After what I tried to do, I cannot — understand why you would want to be in — the same room with me, let alone help me.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “It is the right thing to do, my lady.”

Lady Catherine gave a grudging nod. “I should rest.”

Elizabeth knew when she had been dismissed. She rose and curtsied to Lady Catherine. “I will pray for a quick recovery for you, Lady Catherine.”

She turned, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Mr Darcy standing near the open door. Her heart fluttered as she headed toward the door. How much of the conversation had he heard? Elizabeth had not even heard the door open.

Mr Darcy stood aside so she could pass. Elizabeth found herself keenly aware of his nearness. Every part of her being seemed to stand at attention. “Thank you,” she whispered as she passed through the door and into the corridor. He closed the door before he spoke.

“That was commendable of you, Miss Bennet,” he said.

“What do you mean, Mr Darcy?”

He motioned for her to walk with him back the way she had come when she had followed Hopkins upstairs. It was much nicer to be walking with him, the dreaded interview with Lady Catherine over.

“You were very kind to suggest a Bath chair, so Lady Catherine might be out of her room and among the family for Christmas. A brilliant suggestion — indeed, I find myself abashed we did not think of it before. It is only that I would not have expected something so kind when my aunt has been —” he halted, looking down at her before they started down the stairs. “Let us say, less than congenial toward you.”

Elizabeth laughed softly. “I am no saint, Mr Darcy. I will admit that I was angry during our talk.” She lowered her gaze, wondering again how much he had heard. Did he know that Lady Catherine had planned on coming to Longbourn to warn her off of marrying her nephew? What if he had said something of his intentions? Elizabeth’s heart lifted at the thought, then quickly plummeted. If he had had any designs on asking for her hand, they were likely long gone now. Perhaps the many months he had been left to think had cooled his ardour. She doubted he would speak of the proposal he had made her last April, or of the feelings that had prompted the offer.

“And now?” Mr Darcy asked. “You are still angry? I would be the last to judge you, if so.”

She splayed her hands and continued walking down the grand staircase. “Not as much as I was. I feel more sadness and pity for Lady Catherine than anger. She has been through an ordeal, cut off from her family and society, and she may never recover the use of her legs. But that does not mean she need be a prisoner in her own body. If a Bath chair can be procured for her, do you not think it would ease some of her suffering?” Elizabeth gave a wry smile. “And, perhaps, lift some of the peevishness from her mood?”

Mr Darcy chuckled, and Elizabeth was struck by what a warm, wonderful sound it was. She smiled, thinking she would rather hear his voice than any other sound in the world. They halted again when they came to the bottom of the stairs. “I think you may be right, Miss Bennet. No matter the reason, I am grateful for you showing such kindness to my aunt. I know that things have not been easy between the two of you, and the blame for that belongs solely to Lady Catherine. You did not have to answer her summons, much less suggest a means for her rejoining the land of the living, so to speak.”

“It was the right thing to do,” Elizabeth said simply. “No matter what she has done, she is a fellow human being. If I were in her position, I would go stark-raving mad. I do love to walk.”

He studied her for a moment. “Yes, I know.”

Heat rushed into her cheeks. And not only that, but through her middle and all throughout the rest of her body. Having him so near was doing nothing for her resolve to forget Mr Darcy. She looked away, down the hall, and toward the drawing room where they had left Miss Darcy and Maria. “We should rejoin the others, should we not?”

Before she could move away, he stepped closer and offered her his hand. She placed her hand inside his, noticing with a little surprise that she was trembling. She had not meant to do anything to betray her sensibility. “Your generosity to my aunt will not go unnoticed, Miss Bennet.” His gaze was so fierce and yet so gentle that she could hardly catch her breath. His words seemed to refer to something far beyond simple gratitude.