Lady Catherine de Bourgh, stood in the church near the front pews with a sense of purpose. Thanks to her plans and a pre-dawn start, she had arrived early enough to enter before the family. A scene was less likely within the hallowed walls of the tiny, country church. Not that she minded making a scene when necessary. All the same, her current plans would work best if the Bennets felt they had no polite way to gainsay her, nor would openly arguing with them now further her cause later.
Other people began to file in, taking their places while looking curiously at the tall, handsome woman in her elegant black gown. "And well they should look," she thought, "for this backwater surely saw such superior visitors on the rarest of occasions."
Before too much time had passed, she noticed Thomas Bennet enter along with her brother, Peter Fitzwilliam, Viscount Rand. The surprise on their faces when they saw her waiting by the Bennet family pew pleased her, but she tamped down the smile threatening to break forth. Lady Catherine knew she would have to be careful not to let her amusement at the situation show in her expression or they might guess she had an ulterior motive.
"Catherine! What are you doing here?" her brother said as he stepped near to her and bowed in greeting. "We had not expected you would come because of your mourning for Lewis."
"Ah, that poor excuse," she thought as she offered a minimal curtsy to the two men in turn. "Well, I can handle that."
It was time to be bold. She pinned her brother with a quelling look as she said, "Nonsense. As the girl's godmother, I had to come, mourning or not. Lewis would not have had it any other way. You know his dedication to his friends."
"Her godmother?" Bennet asked quietly, his confusion plain.
"Naturally," Lady Catherine insisted. "How could you consider anyone else? Lewis was the older girl's godfather. He is no longer here to give your family the benefit of that connection. Of course, he would want me to step in and be godmother to the younger girl and carry on the tradition." She fixed him with her sternest glare. "Surely that is not a problem? After all, I came all this way to be certain his wishes were carried out."
"I…well, you see," Bennet began, clearly at a loss for words. As she had hoped, when put on the spot he could not think of a good way to deny her. After a pause, during which he looked around as if for some kind of rescue but found none in sight, he acquiesced. Lewis had been a very good friend to him and it was not good form to insult his widow, especially not in church. Lady Catherine intensified her glare even as she internally congratulated herself. It was not often one managed to put Thomas Bennet in such a state. The man usually had an answer for everything. Although her outward expression did not change, her internal glee intensified as he continued, "Oh, we had not realized. That is…I thank you for your generous consideration, Lady Catherine. Let me just…I must tell my wife the good news."
He turned and moved slowly back down the aisle, avoiding any jostling from those now coming in to take their places. Apparently, Mrs. Bennet was still in the church porch. "Probably gossiping," Lady Catherine thought with disgust. The woman was an inveterate gossip, not to mention loud of speech and most vulgar in her manners, although she did, at least, have the sense to look up to Lady Catherine with proper awe for her station and breeding.
"Catherine?" her brother said with equal parts question and warning in his tone. "What are you about, showing up like this? You know you were not invited to be Elizabeth's godmother. Why are you here?"
Trust her brother to question her motives. After all these years he should know he could not oppose her and yet he had to try. Still, Bennet had already practically committed to her plan. Peter would not stop her now. She would bluff her way through with pretended obtuseness.
"Whatever do you mean? Of course, I am meant to be her godmother. Did you not just hear Mr. Bennet thank me for my consideration?"
"Oh, come now, Catherine! You never put yourself out for altruistic reasons. Why would you choose to take on the responsibility of being a godmother? Not to mention coming all this way and only showing now, as the service is about to begin?"
"I told you, Peter. It is what Lewis would have wished. What more reason could you expect?"
Her brother looked like he would continue to argue, but the pews were filling up around them now, and Bennet and his wife, who carried a well-wrapped infant, could be seen coming down the aisle accompanied by Mrs. Bennet's sister. The small group was followed by two other men Lady Catherine knew to be Mrs. Bennet's brother and brother-in-law.
"Oh, Lady Catherine!" Mrs. Bennet addressed her more loudly and from farther away than was truly appropriate in a church. "How truly gracious of you! It was so kind of you to come all this way! And so thoughtful to consider us even after your own bereavement! Imagine, you wish to make up for my sweet Jane's loss of her godfather by becoming Elizabeth's godmother. I am all aflutter at the thought! My sister was to be the godmother, but she is already Jane's godmother and has agreed to step aside in your favor because of the great honor you do us."
Buoyed by the sense of satisfaction that she had gotten her way, Lady Catherine responded graciously to the vulgar, noisy woman, offering a regal nod to her and to the sister as she replied, "Of course, it is what my husband would have wished. I am glad you agree."
Her brother still looked at her askance as they entered the pew, but Lady Catherine managed to take a place far enough away from him that all conversation between them was at an end until after the service. At that point, nothing else he had to say would matter.
When she made the promise to teach and guide Elizabeth Rose Bennet in the ways of the Church, Lady Catherine felt a momentary twinge of conscience. She rationalized it away with the consideration that she planned to teach the girl humility of spirit after first lifting her up to a state of great pride. After all, was humility not a part of the teachings of the Church?
~o~
After the church service concluded, Lady Catherine avoided socializing with the family or conversing with her brother by claiming the need to return to her own daughter as quickly as possible. She used that and her mourning as an excuse for traveling on the Sabbath. In actual fact, three-year old Anne was still too young to require more than a weekly inspection to ensure the nursemaid was providing her with proper nurishment and oversight. Few men would get in the way of a concerned mother's instincts, however, so not even her brother objected to the excuse.
The return journey to Rosings Park was spent congratulating herself on the success of her first steps towards a long, drawn-out revenge while planning her next moves. She had felt as if she had lost all purpose when Lewis died. Now, she had a project with which to occupy herself in those empty moments between managing the estate and seeing to the education of her daughter.
The Bennet estate was entailed, she remembered Lewis mentioning. If Mr. and Mrs. Bennet did not have a son, it would go to a distant cousin. What was the man's name? Corwin? Carson? No, Collins! That was it. According to Lewis he was an unpleasant man who had insulted Mrs. Bennet at the Bennet's wedding, causing a breach between the families. The insult indicated some good sense on his part.
While there was still a good chance Mrs. Bennet might bear a son, there were no guarantees. Even if she did, there was no guarantee the child would live, as Lady Catherine well knew. Her own son had died of some trifling ailment a mere two months after he was born. Just in case, it would not hurt to track down this Collins fellow and see how he could be used to further her plans. The more cards she held, the better likelihood of having a winning hand.
~o~
Lady Catherine was already well on her her way home by the time her brother and Bennet had a chance to speak privately. They met in Bennet's study after the guests Mrs. Bennet invited to join them for a celebration after the service had gone home.
"I must admit Catherine surprised me today. When you told me you had not invited her out of respect for her mourning, I knew there would be trouble. Of course, she would also have been insulted if you had invited her. I expected she would fire off a scathing letter and break all contact with you either way," Viscount Rand said as he took one of the seats by the fireplace.
"That was what I was expecting as well, Rand," Bennet admitted as he took the other seat and began to set up the chess board, "although it was not my intention to make a break with her. I respected de Bourgh far too much for that."
"I know, Bennet. He was a good friend to both of us. I am still not sure what he ever saw in my sister to make him willing to marry her, but he always told me it was a happy alliance for him. I just wonder what she is up to now."
"Hmm, no chance she told us the real reason she wanted to be Elizabeth's godmother?" Bennet asked, setting a bishop on the the board.
"None, whatever," Rand answered. He picked up the black queen and examined it idly as he spoke. "She is playing some kind of game. A game like this. She says she does not care for chess, but I think she would have been a true proficient had she ever chosen to learn. I also know from experience that she likes to play over the long term. She can hold onto grudges for years, building the tiny stones of unintended slights into great walls of resentment. I am afraid we must play along but keep a wary eye out for her ultimate goal." He set the queen down on the board in its proper place.
Bennet nodded. "Speaking of learning the game, how is that scamp, Richard, coming along?"
"Oh, he is a natural strategist, although he hates sitting still long enough to play. He is only seven, after all. He will get a little practice with his cousin, though, as well as dragging young Will outside for a few boyish adventures during their visit together."
"Yes, and into some trouble, too, I expect," Bennet chuckled. "I was sorry you did not bring Richard here with you. I always enjoy seeing my godson, but he would have been bored to tears with all the clucking hens gathered around my daughters and he needs some time with his cousin."
"Yes, those two are good friends and much closer than Richard is to his own older brother, partly because of being closer in age and partly due to temperament. When Anne asked to have Richard come for a visit, I could not turn her down. She worries that Will spends too much time on his own."
"I can see how the five years between your boys makes a big difference while they are at this age. It will matter much less when they become adults. The personality differences though..." Bennet trailed off.
"Yes, unless there is some great change as they grow older, I doubt Richard and James will ever be good friends. They are like oil and water when they are together. I am as glad as my younger sister that Richard and Will are so very close."
"How does Darcy feel about it?"
"Much the same. He knows his boy is somewhat isolated and lonely, aside from just being of a quiet and studious nature. Richard's liveliness gives Will a focus outside himself. Being of a similar nature, Darcy knows how necessary it is to have a few good companions. He will make reasons for Will and Richard to spend time together. I still have hopes you will be able to meet Darcy in person some time. Even aside from your shared love of chess and books, I think you would have much upon which to build a friendship."
"If the opportunity arises, I will be glad of it. Our ongoing series of games by post has been very satisfying to me. Still, with each of us stuck on our home estate by health issues that make travel difficult, I do not see it happening soon."
"It is strange that a shoulder injury should make even riding in a carriage so painful. I can understand not being able to manage a horse, but you simply sit in a carriage."
"If the roads were smooth as glass and carriage springs a little more effective, perhaps I could try a long trip. As it is, every bump and bounce is agony, even on so short a journey as from here to the village. At least I can walk where I need to go locally without much pain, so long as I am careful and wear the brace I have developed. Now, I believe I won the last game, so it is my move." Bennet picked up his first piece and opened the play.
Time would tell what moves they would need to make to counter Lady Catherine's plan. For now, they could enjoy the more simple game before them and hone their skills for the real life version.
