Chapter Eleven: Letters from Lady Catherine and Caroline Bingley

With every glance and every move Georgiana started to see the change in Elizabeth behaviour. She was tranquil and joyful, glowing with the secret she was keeping. Had she not been told Georgiana may have never noticed the subtle changes in her sister but now that information was with her, it was clearly on her face and the way that she moved. It became a mystery and a wonder to Georgiana, that no one else could be unaware of the great Darcy secret. She wanted to tell everyone what she knew, and tho would be delighted for the Darcy's, but she would not take the liberty of betraying the confidence that Elizabeth had shared with her.

Never the less, life continued on in a happy manner in Derbyshire and all was running smoothly. The Captain's things had begun to arrive in the county, and the house and serving staff had been hired. Gardeners, stable hands, builders and other workers all within the trades began to pop up here and there, and the estate began to come together as if it were reborn by a new master. It was a great business for the community of Lambton. Many of the families that had been suffering from the poverty of their situations had been hired or were in negotiations to take up residence as farmers on the Captain's lands. The idea of a new, functioning estate was highly anticipated not only with the higher class but also with the lower classes as well. Mary, Kitty and Georgiana began to see the importance of the hierarchy in their community and how the generosity of the upper class meant the sustainability of the village and community at large.

Captain Coplin was extremely pleased with everything that was falling into place and soon the summer sun pulled the party from Pemberly to the Moss Hill; the title which the Captain had christened his new property. The illustrious house was situated just above the estate, on the crest of a hill that was nestled quietly within a great grove of ancient oak trees that stood as sentinels to protect the house. It was a fitting name for such an estate that had been neglected for so long, and it was beginning to take shape as a hugely successful new endeavor for the whole community.

"Are you quite pleased Captain," Mary asked as they joined him on a tour of the newly renovated grounds and the on going establishment of the house.

"I am as you can see, Miss Bennett," Captain Coplin answered as they sat on an old terrace and looked out on the workers that pruned and weeded the gardens.

"I am quite convinced that your gardens will marvel those as Pemberly, Captain Coplin," Maria Stewart said, "if, of course, you keep your gardeners on to work as diligently as they do at the present time."

"Alas, I cannot," Captain Coplin laughed, "for they are the gardeners whom Mr. Darcy has so graciously sent to me. I believe they must return to Pemberly shortly as the season of the great roses will be soon starting and Pemberly's roses are never left unattended."

"That is very true." Georgiana laughed, "Are you not in the process of hiring your own gardeners Captain?"

"I am," Coplin answered, "Mr. Darcy has been so kind as to give me the names of some very respectable contractors in London. I am very happy to say that I shall have my own gardeners very shortly and soon the gardens will be a great highlight of the estate."

"That is very good news indeed," Mary said, "and how are your stable preparations?"

"They are well underway. The new roof to my barn is nearly complete, and my horses are quite content in the pastures that they ocupie. I plan to make the additions of server other sport horses in the coming weeks, and I will be very happy to keep a carriage and my own work horses as well."

"Mr. Darcy is quite adamant that horses are one of the best investments a gentleman can have made," Mary said, "I am very pleased to see that you are taking his great advice."

"I agree with Mr. Darcy in nearly all of his advice," Captain Coplin smiled, "I will soon be very well established with all the help that I have received."

"Darcy is not the only one giving advice," Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed, "there are many other great men giving great advice to Captain Coplin in this time of great business and development of Moss Hill."

"Of course there are," Mary said seriously, "but I dare say Mr. Darcy is quite the closes and most accomplished landowner this side of Lambton. It is just right that he should be so involved in the establishment of a family acquaintance."

"That is very true, Miss Bennett," Captain Coplin agreed.

"It will be very beneficial to you I believe to have the Darcy's so closely situated," Kitty said shyly.

"I do agree with you, Miss Catherine," Captain Coplin said with a smile, "I am a very lucky man, indeed."

It became exceedingly clear to Georgiana, on this visit that Kitty had begun to struggle with something pertaining to the Captain. She saw the enormous interest that Mary had taken in the Captain's estate, and she believed that Kitty did as well. Would it be possible that both Bennett sisters were growing attached to the same gentleman and if so who would possibly win his affections? Georgiana became uneasy with the idea and soon concluded that she would have to speak with Elizabeth on the subject, for she had begun to doubt her belief that Kitty felt something for Walter Spencer and was feeling something altogether different for Captain Coplin.

The remainder of the afternoon, for the young people, was spent at Moss Hill in a great tour of the house and renovations. The cook that Captain Coplin had hired proved to be highly proficient in the mastery of her art. She had set out a lovely tea in the European style. The meal was enjoyed by all the young people involved.

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, however, had remained behind at Pemberly as a large delivery of luxuries had arrived from London, in time for the Bingley and Bennett arrivals. Elizabeth remained at home to set the house in order, and Darcy remained to conclude the money transaction and to receive his daily post.

When all was settled, and Elizabeth and Darcy were both extremely content with the state of their affairs they joined one another for a quiet tea together in the shade of one of the many terraces.

"Well my dear, it seems that all is in order for the arrival of the remainder of our guests," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"I am happy to see you so very organized and accomplished in your preparations. Especially, with the time that is still to elapse before the rest of our party arrives," Darcy laughed.

"Well you know very well that anything can happen, and we may very well be thrown into something we had not anticipated," Elizabeth said as she sipped her tea.

"Surely you do not think anything will happen with your condition, my dear," Darcy said a faint tone of worry in his voice.

"No, I am quite well," Elizabeth smiled, "besides, we are very early in this development. I will not be incapacitated for some time yet. Our summer will be a very enjoyable one and the confines of pregnancy will come later."

"I hope you are correct," Darcy said, "as you know this is not something I have dealt with before. I am excited and nervous and worried for you."

"You do not need to be worried," Elizabeth smiled, "although I am also very new at this, as well, I have seen three other sister come into the world and many cousins. I believe I am quite prepared for what is to come."

"I am happy to hear it," Darcy smiled, "but I do have some news for you."

"And what might that be?" Elizabeth asked.

"I have had two letters today that may interest you, and that may throw us into a little inconvenience," he said.

"And whom are these letters from?" Elizabeth asked.

"One was from Caroline Bingley," Darcy smiled as Elizabeth arched her eyebrows.

"And what has Caroline to say?" Elizabeth asked.

"She is very much looking forward to joining us here," Darcy said, "and is happy to have some time away from Mrs. Bennett, if only for a short time."

"Oh poor Caroline," Elizabeth laughed, "I know how much my family has distressed her, and to be so closely situated to my mother must be very trying as Jane is her favorite daughter."

"Yes, so it would seem," Darcy chuckled, "but I am sure we will be able to occupy Caroline and Mrs. Bennett in separate places for the most part. All will be well with the Bingley's arrival. I am concerned about something."

"You seem uneasy, what is bothering you?" Elizabeth asked.

"I have had a letter from Lady Catherine," Darcy said and pulled from his pocket the particularly thick letter.

"Oh no," Elizabeth laughed at the size of the papers he held.

"I would like to read it to you, in its entirety and then I ask for your opinion on how I may respond," he said.

"I am all ears," Elizabeth said her eyes sparking at the notion of what could be within the letter.

"I will warn you, she abuses you quite severely," Darcy said.

"As she did to my face," Elizabeth laughed, "I am quite sure I can handle a little letter."

"Very well," Darcy sighed and cleared his throat.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

You have, by no mean, the good graces or happy wishes that I may have bestowed on you, in fact, I send to you only my disgust and abhorrence at the notion that you would go so decidedly against my wishes and marry that snippet of a woman, that I hardly know what to say to you. You have turned your back, very decidedly, on the good name and fortune of this family and put your mother and my dear sister to absolute shame. That you would instill such a vile creature to the position of mistress of Pemberly, against the wishes and the pleas of your family, it is utterly unbelievable. To take my beloved sisters role in that house as if she deserved such condescension is enough, I dare say, to murder your mothers memory and the goodness of your character forever.

That being said, I hope graciously that I may still change your mine. Men have left their wives before and have continued to be a truly respectable gentleman. Perhaps a sanitarium or nunnery would do well for that vile Miss Bennett. I will do all in my power to procure a domicile and the cover needed to reestablish that girl without cost or discomfort to you. My most dear Anne will make for you a far better wife and is ready and willing to take up her position as lady of Pemberly. She will do so, as soon as that girl is disposed of. It can, and will, be done as soon as I have your word on the subject.

If you have not, as of yet discovered the errors of your ways, I must be exceedingly blunt in telling you that you are a fool and a disgrace to the family that has elevated you to such status as you have been granted. You have polluted your name as well as all those who call you relation. You should be punished for your indecency if you decide that you will continue on in such a vile and unrespectable marriage. No matter how much you spend on her, the gown you put her in or the society you introduce her to, she is not bred for such things as the grandeur or our sphere and so you have lowered yourself. I dare say if you continue on you have disgraced your name so terribly that you would be wise to change your name and leave the country all together, for you will be followed by this shame forever.

My greatest worry is the effect that, that vile snake of a woman will have on my dear Georgiana. She is too young and fragile to have such a cunning and seductive woman within her living space, and I insist that you send her to me before she is so thoroughly corrupted that we cannot save her. She will end up like the younger Bennett with horrendous, foul husbands and will disgrace all the finery her name is worth. It is your fault if anything should happen to her. You would be murdering my dear sister's memory by bringing up her most beloved and fragile daughter with that beast of a woman living under your roof.

If this has not convinced you of the error of your ways and the vileness of your mistress, I insist that I must speak to you in person to alleviate my own absolute abhorrence. I vow that I will be with you at Pemberly to try and save your reputation. If that woman is still under your roof, I will have no choice but to throw her out myself and instill Anne in her place. You will not convince me otherwise, and I can only hope that the damage that you have done is, as of yet, reparable.

I will be with you in a fortnight and will be staying until I am totally satisfied with the state of our family and the alienation of the entire Bennett family. They should never set foot on the beautiful estate of Pemberly, and I come to see that not one of them should ever be within your society or mine.

Until then I send you no warm wishes and only this warning, I will succeed.

Lady Catherine Du Bourgh.

Elizabeth could not hold back her laughter any longer. It was utterly absurd and ridiculous. She had not though so poorly about Lady Catherine and her behaviour until the letter was thoroughly read. The notion that such a woman would believe that to abandon ones spouse would solve the family problems. It is the most deviant and irresponsible thing anyone could possible decide was right and just. The funniest thing of all remained to be the absolute decision to come to Pemberly at this time and instill her self in the presence of so many Bennetts.

"Well," Darcy said all the seriousness in the world written on his face, "what am I to do?"

"I do not believe there is anything you can do. She seems determined to ruin me, and we will not keep her away from Pemberly if she had completely decided that I am foul and must be removed," Elizabeth said giggling still.

"Elizabeth, please be serious," Darcy said, "this letter had broken my heart."

"For what reason should it have broken your heart?" Elizabeth asked, "Do you honestly believe that Lady Catherine is going to scare me away; remove me from my husband, my family and my home simply because she does not think I am worthy of you or because she is jealous that you chose me over Anne. It is your life, my dear, and now mine. I vow to you that Lady Catherine will never get her hands on my Mr. Darcy. Do you doubt my abilities?"

"No," Darcy said, "I cannot let it happen, I cannot live without you. I am the master of this house. It is our life, and we are not just talking about us anymore. We have a child to think of. What I am concerned with is the idea that I must tell Lady Catherine that as of this point we will no longer be related. That she and her foulness should never be welcome in my society again. That she had abused my wife so completely. That she had murdered any semblance of relation that she may believe exists between us."

"In other words, you must become a stranger to your mother's sister forever." Elizabeth said, "Unfortunately you are not the kind of man to wish such a thing upon anyone and would rather reconcile the situation. That you have learned to forgive, and wish only that Lady Catherine could learn the same things."

"That is exactly what I think," Darcy said taking his wife's hand, "do you think her to be truly so conceded and rude to say such things with everyone here. Is she going to ruin the happiness we have found at Pemberly?"

"Is Lady Catherine going to pollute the shades of Pemberly forever?" Elizabeth asked with a sly smile, "No, she will be so completely distraught by the happiness we will portray here that she will never come back. I will warn my relations, my sisters and yours that she is coming and that nothing that she says merits anything. We are happy we are going to have a baby, we are in love, and we are at home here together. I do not see how she can change it."

"If anyone could have made me easy on the subject it is you," Darcy said, "I have some very foolish relations, do I not, how did you ever come to marry me."

"I too have very foolish relations," Elizabeth said, "we seem to be made for reach other, no matter what our relations dictate."

"I love you and I will not let her do anything to distinguish my love and high esteem for you," Darcy said taking his wife into his arms.

"And I you, and nothing will change my feelings, not after everything that we have been through, and all that we have planned for our life together." Elizabeth said, "Besides, Lady Catherine is old, and she needs something to complain about."

"How do you always see the bright side of everything," Fitzwilliam laughed.

"Why should I not," Elizabeth asked, "My life has become the bright side. I had found so much love and happiness that there are days when I wake and worry that it was all a dream. That I will find myself ruined by Lydia and your mind completely set against me and then there you are beside me and I know that my dreams have and will all come true."

"You have made life bright, and my joy is complete every morning that I wake next to you." Darcy said, "You will never have anything to worry about so long as I am with you."

"Our hearts beat like one heart," Elizabeth said a tear in her eye; "nothing can separate, or quell our love."

"Nothing, never," Darcy said and kissed his wife.

"I best start preparing for Lady Catherine's arrival," Elizabeth said after a long moment spent in her husband's arms, "she will be quite put out by all the glory of Pemberly and how terribly I have set everything in order."

"I will make sure that the staff knows not to take any orders by that vile Lady who is to come," Darcy said, "you are their mistress and only you will be giving orders. If you wish it, you can order them to have her thrown out."

"Oh and I will," Elizabeth said, "I will only be able to take her criticism for so long but at the same time my mother will be arriving and Lady Catherine does not know the extent of Mrs. Bennett's love and praise of wealth and my husband."

"That is very true," Darcy laughed, "Lady Catherine will be leaving of her on accord."

"Indeed she will," Elizabeth laughed and pulled her husband back into the privacy of their glorious home.