AN: Lady Catherine must be catching on that not everything is going to follow her plan. She was most displeased with me and refused to tell me anything about the discussion at dinner. I have spent several days trying to convince her, only to be met with a glare and a disgusted snort. Finally, today during lunch, Anne called me over and quietly told me what happened. Once I got home from work I was able to get back to the typing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ What can one do when dealing with Lady C? Anyway, here we go…
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Darcy's determination had to carry him through what ended up feeling like a very long day.
With their plan for the following day settled, Anne had sent her maid to prepare the last of the personal luggage so Richard would be able to smuggle it out to Darcy's carriage later that day. Mrs. Jenkinson remained in the conservatory with the others for propriety's sake, but she sat a little back from the other three and enjoyed watching the cousins converse and plan together without additional comments from her.
After Polly left, Anne insisted on hearing the whole of Darcy's interactions with Lizzy. While Darcy weighed what and how much to say, Richard jumped in and retold the full story he had heard from his cousin the day before. He, of course, played up the more amusing aspects of Darcy's recent experience – his misunderstanding regarding her name, the unintentional insult, the search for Lizzy under the wrong name, the many missed opportunities to find her and Richard's own role in identifying the mystery woman. With his storytelling style, it ended up sounding like a Shakespearean comedy and Anne frequently found reason to laugh even as she questioned the truth of some of Richard's statements.
While his cousins talked, Darcy was torn between feelings of humiliation at having his folly exposed yet again and an unexpected sense of companionship. He realized that neither Richard nor Anne was mocking him. They were amused by the events and his errors, to be sure, but under the teasing he could hear both sympathy and affection. It was a new feeling for him and not an entirely comfortable one.
As if realizing he was in danger of pushing Darcy too far, Richard excused himself when he and Anne finished going over the tale. "I am certain Aunt Catherine has someone watching to be sure I do not stay here with you too long," he said. "I also think we need to warn Mr. Bennet of Wickham's presence in Meryton. After I write a note to him, I will go out and have your men inspect the carriage for possible damage from the rough ride this morning. Mention of that downed tree near Stornham can lend veracity to the tale for any listeners. Your men will find a problem and a part they need to replace, which will give me a reason to send one of them off to Maidstone. Once there, your man can hire an express rider to carry my note to Longbourn."
"Good idea, Richard," Darcy agreed. "You and I will want to leave for Meryton directly from the wedding tomorrow. There is too much chance of delay or problems if we come back here first. The only question is how to avoid having Aunt Catherine institute a search for all of us if we disappear without prior warning."
"I had thought it might be best to let her wonder," Anne said, and Mrs. Jenkinson nodded agreement. "If she is busy searching and wondering where we are, she will be distracted. If we give her warning or have someone notify her, she may accelerate her other plans."
Richard nodded. "I agree, but I will leave you three to talk over any concerns with that plan. I need to go write that note." He quickly left the room.
"It seems cruel to simply leave your mother to wonder," Darcy observed after Richard closed the door behind him. "All the same, I think you are probably correct about it providing a necessary distraction."
"It is nowhere near as cruel as Mother can be," Anne said.
"It seems with every passing minute I understand that more and more," Darcy replied. "I am sorry I never made the effort to be closer to you as we were growing up. I have always cared, just not in the way your mother wanted me to. Seeing you with Richard, I envy the ease you have in each other's company."
"Oh, Will," Anne said, smiling, "Richard is a different person, and it was easier for us to be in contact because his father was able to help. I have always known you cared in your own way. You and Georgiana are my cousins, and I would have loved being able to write or spend time with you both over the years. However, with Mother being who she is, that was almost as impossible as making a visit with the Bennets."
"Richard told me that despite the lack of contact, you consider the Bennet sisters your friends. You certainly speak of them in a way that implies close familiarity."
"We are friends – through intermediaries anyway – Lizzy and Mary in particular. Over the years we have exchanged messages through Richard or Uncle Peter and even a few letters. Yes, it is not ideal or everything I might wish, but Mrs. Jenkinson has taught me I have a choice in how I look at my life. I can whinge and cry over all the things I do not have. I can become my mother, trying to control everyone to ensure they are as miserable as I. Or, I can accept that while my life has limits, obstacles and challenges, I can still be happy with what I do have, even as I strive to to overcome them."
"I am curious about your upcoming marriage to Mr. Hanson. Is it a marriage of love or is it a way to overcome the obstacle that is your mother by escaping her control?" He asked in as neutral a tone as he could manage, trying not to sound judgmental.
Anne responded very seriously, "It would be no true escape without love, and I would not marry Martin if I did not also love him deeply."
Darcy sighed slightly with relief at the answer. "I am glad to hear that. If I am going to help, I did not want my role to be one of enabling you to exchange one prison for another."
"I appreciate your caution. If it does not turn out as planned, I will not blame you, cousin. I am actively reaching to grasp my own happiness and I will shape it to be what I need. See that you do the same." She said the last teasingly. Darcy smiled in response.
"I will do my best. Perhaps you can put in a good word for me with Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said, more joking than hopeful.
"I will write to her and let her know how much help you are being," Anne replied. "If all goes well, I will be free to do so after tomorrow. You cannot rest on your laurels or my recommendation, however. Others, including Lizzy, need to be protected and freed from my mother's plots."
"I will do all I can," Darcy assured her. "I just wish we had a clearer idea of how those plots are intended to unfold so we can counter them."
"You begin to understand why Richard, Uncle Peter, Mr. Bennet and the rest have had to wait and see how she manipulated events before taking action. We cannot stop her plotting, we can only stop the plots she sets in motion and that, only after she has revealed them. Jane's impending wedding has forced her to accelerate her plans. If Jane is able to marry without incident, it lessens the impact of any non-physical means mother can take to ruin the family's standing or the chances of the others to marry."
"Miss Mary is being courted by my friend Bingley," Darcy informed her. "Not officially, yet, but he seems smitten enough that I have no doubt it will be within the next few weeks."
Anne clapped her hands with delight and, off to the side, Mrs. Jenkinson smiled broadly. "Truly?" Anne asked. "Is he a good man? Will he treat her well?"
"Yes, yes and yes," Darcy confirmed. "He is genial and kind. He will treasure her while doing all he can to make her happy. We have known each other for several years, ever since Richard recommended him to me as a friend. Bingley stood by me and kept me company when Father died and he can always be relied on to look for the good in any event."
"I am so glad to hear that. Of course, we must not let Mother catch wind of it, not before a match between them is certain, anyway. She has always been dismissive of Mary, but that would change with the prospect of an advantageous match."
"No, I do not wish to make either my friend or Miss Mary to end up as targets of Aunt Catherine's plans. I will not say anything about the match in her hearing, and I am certain Richard will not either."
"Good. Then, while we have the privacy, you must tell me how they met," she said, looking as excited to hear him speak as she had when Richard told his story earlier. Darcy accepted the challenge and began with a description of the Parkhurst ball.
Although he knew neither the subject nor his delivery were as amusing as Richard's tale of his own misadventures, Darcy thought he conveyed a good impression of Bingley, and Anne seemed to enjoy hearing it. He drew on what Bingley had told him of the initial meetings with Mary before describing his own observations from dinner with the Gardiners. Anne was equally interested in hearing about them and the rest of those present at the dinner.
"I should like to meet Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner some time," she said. "They seem like such wonderful people. They are the ones who helped Richard keep in contact with his father, with Mr. Bennet and with me, all without my mother suspecting a thing."
Shaking his head in wonderment, Darcy said, "Do you know, if it were not people I care about who are the targets of her displeasure, I would almost begin to feel sorry for your mother. What hope does she have to prevail with so many intelligent and determined defenders ranged against her?"
"Do not discount her plans, connections and general sneakiness," Anne warned. "We must continue to be both determined and careful. I am hoping at some point she will slip up in a way that will allow us to stop her for good, but right now the only way I can see that happening is for her to actually cause significant harm to someone and be caught at it."
Darcy nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose Richard and his father have already put much thought into ways to neutralize the threat she poses," he mused.
"Years of thought," Anne confirmed. "So, let us find more productive things to talk about. I would love to hear about Georgiana and her studies along with any other news you have of Pemberley."
Smiling, Darcy launched into an update on all the latest news of his sister and their home. The conversation kept them occupied for quite some time. The day was well-advanced when Richard finally rejoined them.
"The message has gone off safely and should be in Mr. Bennet's hands this afternoon," he said. "They also actually did find a little damage that could have resulted in a broken axle later on if they had not dealt with it. They were able to strengthen the area with metal sheathing until you have the time to have the damaged parts fully replaced."
"I am glad you had them check. I would hate to be delayed on our way to Meryton."
With a nod of agreement, Richard continued, "I also took a ride and did some quiet checking in the village. Not only did your mother have them clean old Mr. Gerard's effects from the parsonage, there are rumors that Mr. Collins will be moving in with a wife. One of the housemaids was dismissed in anticipation of Mrs. Collins doing any extra work needed."
"None of our information says that he is married," Anne told them. "Sir Phillip has been keeping a close eye on him at Uncle Peter's request. Between his information and what our uncle's investigator found out, we would have known if he was married."
Richard nodded. "Father would not have missed something like that. Knowing what we do of Collins' character, he would not marry without Aunt Catherine's consent. That means she has decided who is to be his wife and the marriage is planned for some time very soon. I do not see how his marriage could affect any of the people we are trying to protect, yet at the same time, I have a very bad feeling about this."
"Will we be seeing Sir Phillip at the wedding tomorrow?" Darcy asked Anne.
"As my father's only remaining male relative, he was planning to be at the wedding and give me away, while his mother stood witness. I know we spoke earlier about one of you giving me away, and I expect he would step aside since you are both more closely related. Given that I have been unable to communicate with him since Mother confined me to the house, we should probably stop at the dower house on our way to the church, so he knows the wedding is still on."
"Sir Phillip has been here and helping you. He deserves to take precedence. If he is to give you away, Richard and I should be witnesses. That way there is no question that your family approved of the match even if your Mother tries to make trouble later," Darcy said.
"I wish I had thought to call on Sir Phillip while I was out riding," Richard added. "I could have confirmed with him and he could have passed the word on to Martin so there is no chance of confusion. I held off, knowing it would probably be reported back to Aunt Catherine and might make her suspicious, but I should have taken the chance."
"I told Martin that I would be there no matter what my mother did to stop me," Anne said, "even if I had to sneak out of here in the middle of the night and walk all the way to Boxwell alone."
"Have no fear, Anne. We will get you there," Darcy promised.
~o~
"What do mean, driving? I see no reason for you to do anything of the sort," Lady Catherine insisted when the subject of Darcy taking a morning drive with Anne was broached at dinner.
On Anne's advice, Darcy had waited to mention the drive until after the first remove. They all hoped Lady Catherine would have talked herself into a more relaxed mood by then. She had spent the entirety of the first course regaling them with the minute details of her recent "improvements" to the estate. Unfortunately, that did not produce anything resembling a more tolerant or reasonable mood when the new subject came up.
"I see no reason for Anne to leave the house," she continued. "Her health will not permit unnecessary comings and goings. A drive around the neighborhood is simply out of the question."
Anne, true to her usual practice, remained silent, her expression bland and her eyes fixed on her plate. Instead, Richard jumped into the conversation, asking almost coyly, "Oh, is Anne so very ill then? I thought her health must have improved if you considered her well enough to marry."
Darcy spotted the annoyed look Anne gave Richard, although with her head still down, it was hidden from her mother. Richard pretended not to notice, although Darcy was certain he had also seen the look.
"Of course, she is well enough to marry," Lady Catherine snapped, gripping her fork more tightly as she stabbed at a small chunk of beef on her plate. "I simply see no reason for her to endanger her well-being gallivanting around the countryside for no reason."
"Ah, but I do have a reason for us to take a drive together," Darcy said. "I have a particular topic to discuss with her and I want the setting to be more special and private than one can find inside the house. A spring drive in an open carriage is considered most romantic."
"Hmph. Romance!" Lady Catherine grumbled. "Useless drivel. I would have thought you had already said anything of that sort that was necessary. After all, you spent practically the entire day with her."
"That was more of a cousinly discussion," Darcy said placatingly. "I told her of recent events and things she might want to know for the future. It was not at all the sort of conversation to bring a man to declare himself to his future wife."
"Recent events, hmm," Lady Catherine said, her eyes glinting sharply. "Did you tell her about your search for Miss Rose?"
Darcy bowed his head in mock humility. "I did mention the mistakes I made in that regard and assured her that I have learned many lessons from the experience."
"What other sorts of things did you tell her about? What kind of things did you think she needed to know about the future?"
"We spoke of Georgiana and, of course, Anne would need to hear about my tenants and events on the estate. As you know, my mother was very involved in all the charitable efforts at Pemberley and in the neighboring villages of Lambton and Kympton. The rector at Kympton just recently brought to my attention the case of one of his parishoners who died leaving two young children and no instructions as to their support." Darcy hoped he could draw his aunt to a topic she would find more satisfying. As expected, she took the bait.
"If he died without making provision for his children then they deserve no special consideration. My sister was far too lenient and generous in such cases. You should have placed them out with one of your tenants to be raised up as servants..." she continued on, giving copious and sometimes contradictory advice until the second remove was complete. The dish of game hen placed before her must have reminded her of the original topic of the drive in the country.
"Must you go driving to gain this romantic setting you insist upon?" she asked, looking at Darcy sharply.
"I so rarely have the opportunity to go for a relaxing drive in an open carriage," he replied. "It would make the day special for me, and I assure you, the drive will change Anne's life completely."
"Hmph," she snorted, looking back and forth between them. Anne kept her eyes downcast. Darcy did his best to gaze steadily back at his suspicious aunt.
"Oh, very well," she relented at last. "But there will be no more such claptrap from you in the future. You may drive out unless the weather is damp. No mood or setting is worth the chance that Anne suffers a cold."
"Thank you, Aunt Catherine," Darcy said, being careful to avoid anything that would constitute actual agreement with condition. He also had to studiously avoid looking closely at either Richard or Anne for fear one of them might betray their relief at the agreement. Putting on his best expressionless mask, he dedicated his attention to the food and his aunt's continued instructions for the best ways to handle charitable cases at Pemberley. Inside, though, he was praying for a clear morning without any hint of moisture. He expected Anne and Richard were doing the same.