Previously:
Back at the house an unexpected visitor had arrived; a guest that one would rather not see at the house of the newly wed Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. A woman foul enough to ignite even Jane's temper. A lady we all know as Lady Catherine.
Chapter Four
Darcy and Elizabeth rode to the stables with happy smiles on their faces. Elizabeth looked a little ruffled and Darcy's severe demine had slipped; he had a boyish lopsided grin on his face. Together they dismounted and walked toward the house. As they hit the side door, a harassed looking maid came rushing up to them.
Wringing her hands the maid said, "Oh, mistress! That woman is here! She is here and demanded to see you and the master. I told her you were out, but she just would not listen! She is biting off footmen and maids' ears alike. What and she made poor Betsy cry!"
Darcy's lopsided grin disappeared when he figured out who 'that woman' was. There was only one woman of his acquaintance who would make such a muck of his household. Gritting his teeth he strode down the hallway. Remembering he didn't know where she was, he turned back to the maid.
"What room?" he bit off.
"She is in the yellow morning room, sir."
With a nod of his thanks he strode off down the hall at a fast pace. Elizabeth, stunned, watched him go. She too knew who waited in the morning room. A lady she hoped never to see again after being accused of trying to pollute the shades of Pemberly. Elizabeth's attention returned to the poor maid who was still wringing her hands.
"Don't worry, the master and I shall get rid of her at all costs." Leaning in toward the maid, she added, "Besides, I shall not let the shades of Pemberly be thus polluted. We cannot have an old biddy ruining our fun, now can we? We shall set her out on her ear, or that is what I would do. What do you think of that?" Elizabeth smiled encouragingly.
The little maid giggled, "Aye, ma'am, I'd like to see that."
"It might just happen yet. Now run along and I shall see that the house staff shall receive extra custard with their dinner tonight after such a trying visitor. What do you say to that?"
"I think it is a right fine idea, ma'am. With that, she scurried off down the hall towards the kitchens.
Elizabeth smiled, knowing that she had made the little maid's day. She thought, too, that she would need some extra something after this day was over. Why, she wonder, was it that day started so wonderfully and ended so horridly? She shrugged and walked down the hallway toward the yellow morning room.
XxXxXxXxX
Thump, thump, thump. "How could you do such a thing to me, Fitzwilliam?! My own beloved nephew didn't invite his favorite aunt to his wedding! I should disinherit you for this! You ungrateful boy! You insolent little…"
"I think that is quite enough, madam. I will not have the shades of Pemberly thus polluted." Elizabeth strode into the room with all the ferocity of a hurricane.
"How dare you throw my words back at me, gel!" Thump, thump, thump.
"I find what's sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. This is now mine; as mistress, it is my duty to make sure my husband does not meet with unwanted visitors."
Lady Catherine's jowls quivered in her rage, "You important gel! Have you no respect for your elders? No respect for a woman of higher rank and privilege?"
Elizabeth smiled coolly, "Oh, I have plenty of respect for my elders, just nor for brainless biddies that try to break up me and my happily married husband. I do believe the reason you were not invited was because of me, my Lady. Darcy had nothing to do with it."
Lady Catherine poked her cane in Darcy's direction, "And you did nothing to stop this chit? You didn't send me an invitation anyway?"
A muscle in Darcy's jaw ticked visibly, "No, my lady, I did not. I did not want you there to ruin me and my wife's day. It was her day, not yours to make a fool of yourself. I find that you do that well enough without an event goading it. And she is not a 'chit', as you said. She is, for better or worse, Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, and will always remain so. We are past annulling our marriage legally, and there will be no divorce."
"I will not stand for this treatment. This hussy has turned you into a rude, belligerent boy, Fitzwilliam. Had you married my Anne, you'd not be having these problems with your attitude. But it matters not. I have the Colonel looking at marrying her. Your cousin is, after all, a second son of no considerable wealth. Anne could provide him an heir and he could go off and fight in whatever military frivolity arises."
Elizabeth was aghast at her mention of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Anne. Surely not! It couldn't be! Darcy would stop it surely!
"Are these words from Fitzwilliam himself?" Elizabeth's worry was projected in her voice.
Like the vulture she was, Lady Catherine clamped onto it, "Ah, a chink in you armor I see. See, Darcy? Your wife is sweet on the Colonel and you two have barely been married a month together! She is turning out just as her youngest sister. Running off with military men and such. This, Darcy, is what happens when you marry out of your class."
Elizabeth's stomach dropped, Lady Catherine was playing Darcy and her emotions against one another! That is not fair! That is cruel, low, and unladylike! Elizabeth always knew that she was a sore loser, but she didn't know the extent of her malice until now. Her gaze shot to Darcy, who looked like he had been dealt a blow to the stomach. Elizabeth's heart broke the moment she saw Darcy didn't trust her.