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William dressed and shaved in record time and now strode purposefully towards the bellowing voice of his Aunt Catherine, and his pale and harassed staff trying to keep her at bay.
"… YOU WILL NOT KEEP ME FROM MY NEPHEW!" she screeched at the footman standing in her way, her voice bouncing from the walls and shaking the windows in their frames.
His footmen would be receiving a bonus this month, as they stood strong in obeying his instruction to not allow Lady Catherine anywhere near the family wing of the house. He had also made sure instruction had been given to his wife's lady's maid to keep her in her rooms until he had dealt with his aunt.
He stood a moment before making his presence know, looking to the heaven's and asking the lord to have mercy and give him the strength to keep his anger in check when dealing with her ladyship!
"You will stand aside this instant! You would do well to know your places. I have never been treated in such a way! Who is in charge here? I AM -"
Clearing his throat and cutting her short, "I am in charge here, Lady Catherine." He spoke softly, looking at his aunt's wild expression. His staff stepped to the parameter of the room, silently awaiting further instruction from their master. Two of his footmen moving to the stairs to act as an extra barrier to protect their mistress, as they had not yet been told to abandon that order.
Tilting her chin arrogantly, clearly thinking she would get her way now her nephew was here, "I do not like your choice of rabble you have employed, now that I am here, I will see to it personally that this riff raff be cut loose and a higher calibre of staff take their place."
"That will not be necessary," he said, "I hope nothing is so terrible to give you cause, to come in all this state to speak with me, and at such an unfashionable hour, Lady Catherine." He added maintaining a calm demeanor.
Lady Catherine breathed an audible sigh of relief but stayed alert as she assessed her nephew. She stood before him as proud as always, dressed in the deep purple and black she had favoured since her husband's passing fifteen years ago. Her Ladyship had never parted completely with her mourning wardrobe, though William knew it was not out for respect for his Lordship, it was because she liked to be intimidating from the offset. Her colours according to Ella and Georgiana were a fitting reflection of the darkness of her soul.
"I can see you are confused by my presence and that puts me somewhat at ease, though I will be plain and inform you I will not be satisfied until you have told me the truth of the matter." she said, coming towards him, her cane clattering upon the marble floor ominously.
"You are correct, I am confused as to what matter, would cause such a drastic reaction in any of my relatives." He said speaking evenly, his face an impenetrable mask.
"I have come to address rumours of a distressing nature!" she paused watching for her nephew's reaction. Upon finding his expression unchanged she continued, "That you, Fitzwilliam Darcy have married a country nobody! The news has reached me as far as Kent, I knew them to be false, and so I set out for Pemberley immediately."
"A simple letter would have sufficed, you Ladyship." he said failing to hide is annoyance.
Lady Catherine's eyes narrowed and her face pinched, she had not missed that he had yet to address her as Aunt Catherine…
"Why are you treating me as though I am a stranger? I am you almost your nearest relation!" she said, the cameo attached to her high lace collar moving as the veins in her neck bulged with her speech.
"Well, I am still at a loss as to why you are here? and why you feel it was appropriate to abuse my staff?" William said simply.
"Am I not welcome? Considering the rumours, I should thing it fairly obvious. I have come to get collect you and take you back to Kent with me. It is paramount that you marry Anne as soon as possible to stop tongues wagging and free the Darcy name of such a scandal!"
Elizabeth stretched languidly, reaching out for William, only to find his side of the bed empty. She frowned sitting up when she noticed the curtains around the bed were drawn closed. She strained trying to listen to see if she could hear anyone moving about the room, but all was quiet and still. Reaching for the counterpane at the foot of the bed, she wrapped it about her shoulders before peeking out from behind the curtains and walking over to her discarded robe pausing at a small note folded upon it.
Dearest wife,
Thank you for a magical morning. A small matter has sadly called me away from your arms. Please, take breakfast in our rooms and I will join you as soon as I can.
Your husband,
William.
Elizabeth's face broke into a broad smile as she held the note reverently to her breast. Pulling on her robe, she walked back to her room and rang for her maid. She had just finished hiding away her 'love note' (as she had now decided to call them) when Emily appeared, performing a small curtsey.
"Is everything all right, Emily?" she asked, noticing her maid's slight nervousness.
"Yes, Mrs Darcy," she said, with a small smile.
"I have asked that you call me, Elizabeth, when we are in my chambers." She teased.
"Of course, Mrs Darcy – Elizabeth," she said, "sorry, old habits!"
She washed and dressed, choosing a plain lavender morning gown and sat at the vanity table, to allow Emily to do her hair.
"I should order some breakfast I suppose, but I do not wish to eat without, William… Do you know how long it will be, before William's business is concluded?" she asked innocently, causing her maid to drop the hairbrush she was about to run through eliz hair, to the floor.
Turning on her stool too look at her maid, "You are awfully on edge today." Elizabeth said watching her closely.
"Forgive me, I am all thumbs and fingers this morning," she mumbled.
Something was amiss and Elizabeth felt her curiosity peak… "Do you know if my husband's business took him from the house this morning?"
"I, uh…" Emily said shakily, applying the final pin to her mistresses simple hairstyle, leaving a delicate curl to fall across her collar.
"Yes?"
Emily flushed scarlet, "Please, I have been told I mustn't tell you…"
"Tell me what? You are my maid, and above everyone here your loyalty lies with me Emily, you will not get into trouble." She said gently.
With a small nod, Emily relented, "I do not know why, but I have been told to keep you in your apartments until the master returns."
Stay here, I think not! thought Elizabeth. "Thank you for telling me, Emily. That will be all. Please do not fret that you told me. We shall simply say I snuck out while you are fetching something for me." she said warmly, effectively dismissing her maid and putting her at ease.
Standing, she reflexively smoothed her skirts, and left in search of William. It did not take long before she could hear the sound of angry voices floating up from the first floor. Elizabeth picked up her pace and made it to the balustrade of the third floor in time to catch Lady Catherine's words… "It is paramount that you marry Anne as soon as possible to stop tongues wagging and free the Darcy name of such a scandal!"
Inching forward and placing herself strategically behind a large potted plant, Elizabeth saw her husband, standing tall before an older and imposing lady, dripping in jewels and laces. If she had seen her in passing, she might have been deceived in perceiving the woman as frail, but as she was now, she was positively ferocious!
"You have misunderstood the situation entirely, Elizabeth is not a 'nobody', she is my wife. So, you see, there is no scandal, but I thank you for your concern." She heard William say.
"Surely you jest, nephew! Am I speaking to Hugo or Fitzwilliam?" the Lady replied her eyes bulging.
"Do not try my patience, your Ladyship." Warned her husband a hard edge to his tone.
"BUT YOU ARE ENGAGED TO MY DAUGHTER!" she screeched. To William's credit he did not flinch away from her when she prodded her cane threateningly towards his person. Elizabeth's heart clenched at the revelation and she had to clamp her hand over her mouth to disguise her gasp of shock.
"You will be calm, or you will be asked to leave." he said, now sounding bored with her theatrics.
"I am not leaving until I am finished. You will have this marriage annulled this instance and you will marry Anne. It was the deepest wish of my sister; your mother and also a wish of your father, and I will not see it undermined by some country chit!" she spat.
"You keep speaking of this engagement to your daughter, I am afraid neither my father nor my mother expressed such a wish, nor left mention of it in their will's. As for the annulment…" he arched a brow, "I will not even entertain such a silly question with an answer."
"Obstinate boy! You know it was a spoken understanding between our families. The joining of two great houses is expected and would please many. It is your duty as a Darcy." She said, almost frothing at the mouth now. "You will annul this marriage, keep this country miss as your mistress, as your footstool I do not care… you will then marry Anne!"
"You forget yourself, and in whose home you currently stand," his said his voice alarming low, his expression dark and menacing, "You are standing in the home of Mrs Elizabeth Darcy, Mistress of Pemberley and I will not have her insulted in such a manner, madam. You are no longer welcome here." William said, turning away from her, but she clutched at his sleeve, as a few footmen moved forward. Elizabeth's heart now beat faster and swelled at her husbands defense of her!
"You will turn away your own aunt, for that woman. A country nobody with no status or family connections? You will betray, Anne and compromise your family name for a lightsk-" she abruptly stopped, looking up at Elizabeth, who had unconsciously moved in her shock at the way she was being discussed and at the cruel slurs against her name. "YOU," Lady Catherine, boomed pointing up at her.
William whipped around to see a pale Elizabeth, gripping the balustrade in a white-knuckle grip. Then in a move none had expected she squared her shoulders and plastered a serene expression upon her face, before descending the stairs with the grace befitting of a queen. Mr Darcy, chest bloomed with pride at the strength displayed by his young wife, he reached out his hand to assist her down the final step giving her a small encouraging nod, out of Lady Catherine's view.
Elizabeth curtsied to the Lady seething before her, "Well, she is hardly a diamond of the first water, I see that you are late to rise making it clear to me that you have used arts and allurement's to secure the affections of my nephew and-"
"ENOUGH! I am deeply embarrassment and ashamed at your behaviour as one of my relatives. I cut all ties with you. You will leave Pemberley this instant and think about your actions today. I hope you will see you grave error soon and offer my wife the sincerest of apologies. Until that day you will not do anything to affect Mrs Darcy's happiness or approach my brother or sisters. Good day, Lady Catherine." William said, for the first time raising his voice. Turning away from her he gave a discreet nod to his staff, who began to move forward to escort his aunt out.
However, Lady Catherine would not be so easily dismissed, and now turned her forked tongue towards Elizabeth once more.
"Well, are you happy now you have come between my nephew and his family. Will you be happy when society shuns your for breaking the rules and taking more than you are entitled in your station?" she questioned.
"I am sorry that you have come all this way not to congratulate your nephew in finding happiness, but to offend him beyond repair. You must remember he is a grown man and he is more than capable of knowing his own mind and making his own decisions. You claim to be William's closest relative and yet you were the only relative not invited to our wedding… I fear you have become disillusioned by your title, let us hope that upon leaving our home you see your appallingly common behavior and we can mend bridges." replied Elizabeth, not wanting the lady to see her pain and rise above her coarse insults.
A red faced Lady Catherine, stomped her cane so hard onto the floor, Elizabeth feared she might have cracked the marble, "His parent's would roll in their graves to see Pemberley thus polluted by such an unfeeling girl!" she scathed.
William, turned then, ready to bodily remove the woman from his estate when…
"Catherine, I have never in my entire life been so disappointed in a member of my family!" all heads turned to see the Earl of Matlock stood in the entryway. Shortly after Lady Matlock entered and came towards Elizabeth clasping one of her hands in hers supportively.
Lady Catherine, seemed with wither slightly under Lord Matlocks glare as his chest heaved with his anger. "Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam I am so sorry for my sisters intrusion of your privacy." He apologized on Lady Catherine's behalf.
"But brother, our nephew - " she began, gesturing wildly with her cane at Elizabeth, before she was cut short.
"No more, Catherine. No more!" he said, his voice holding a steely edge. "I am sure that right now if you had been a man, our nephew would have called you out and I cannot blame him. When I received you foul letter, I knew I would need to stop you. My only regret is not arriving before you did and my foolish assumption that you would handle this as an adult!"
Lady Catherine spluttered lost for words, looking to Lady Violet for support…
"Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth and I are going to go and have some tea and breakfast, come and find us when you are done." She said turning away from her sister in law. "Come now Elizabeth, let us leave them to see her out."
Looking up at her husband, she had never seen him so cross. He looked down at her and gave her hand a squeeze before looking to his aunt and nodding so that she would lead Elizabeth away.
"Come now my dear, let us not think of her anymore. Lady Catherine really is not worth it! She will be made to see reason now that my husband is here." she assured her as they entered the breakfast room.
Once seated, and the footman dismissed they sat in silence for a short while.
"Forgive me, but I cannot wait to ask William and I must ask if he was truly engaged to Anne?" said Elizabeth, trying to ignore the pain in her chest at the thought.
"No! The only person that wants that alliance is Catherine. Even Anne does not want that union, I do not think Anne want's any union only to be left in peace after being under her mothers control for so long." Lady Matlock paused, stirring the lemon in her tea thoughtfully, she opened her mouth to say something further when the door opened and in entered Lord Matlock and Mr Darcy.
Elizabeth was disappointed to find that he was only cast a brief glance in her direction, before moving to take his seat at the head of the table between his aunt and Elizabeth.
"Well, welcome to the family Elizabeth!" said Lord Matlock, shaking his head and sitting beside his wife.
"Well, What happened? Where is Catherine?" asked Lady Violet looking at both men.
"Uh, we decided to lock her in the attic whilst we have our breakfast to allow her to calm down, before we deal with her." said Lord Horatio, making his wife scowl however, a small smile still pulled at her lips.
Elizabeth, moved to place her hand over Williams to check that he was all right, but he swiftly pulled his hand out of her reach and offered her a bland smile before returning his attention to his aunt and uncle.
"Please, Horatio, do not keep us in suspense any longer!" pleaded Violet.
He opened his mouth to answer her when the door flung open and slammed into the wall to reveal an out of breath Hugo, Ella and Georgiana.
"LADY CATHERINE IS ON HER WAY!" they all yelled in unison.
"Yes, we are aware of that fact, thank you," said William sarcastically to his siblings.
"You know?" asked Georgiana.
"Yes," said their Uncle.
"Aunt Violet, Uncle Horatio! We didn't know you were here?" said Ella, smiling at them.
"We came when we realised Lady Catherine was going to come to Pemberley. But alas she beat us all and has already made her presence known." said Horatio.
"Yes, and now she is locked in the attics." added in Violet.
"Aunt Catherine is in the attics?" said Hugo frowning.
"Well, clearly she is not in the attics, you great lout!" said Ella swatting him and rolling her eyes.
"Do you know, I have had this horribly irritating sound whistling in my ear the whole journey… can you hear it too?" said Hugo, addressing the room.
"Haha, very funny!"
"There it is again!" he gasped, pausing for effect before moving away to help himself to some coffee chuckling, as Georgiana ran over to William and hugged him.
Elizabeth felt, very much the outsider, in that moment. She did not know what she had done to have William exclude her, but that is what it felt like and she wished she had Jane. Breakfast was then delivered and arranged with enough to food to feed an army.
"That is rather a lot of food!" said Violet, to no one in particular.
"Yes, I happened upon Mrs Reynolds when we arrived, she knows how breakfast is the most important meal of the day," said Hugo patting his stomach happily and settling into the seat next to his aunt and his bacon and poaching a slice of toast from Ella's plate. Elizabeth couldn't fight her laughter at the look Ella gave her, whilst pushing her plate towards Hugo.
Georgiana had chosen to sit next to Elizabeth, with a plate of food for each of them surprising Elizabeth at her thoughtfulness.
"What happened to our dear Aunt Catherine, then?" asked Hugo, looking to his older brother and making a start on some eggs and sausages.
William sighed, but before he could speak the door flew open once more and Colonel Fitzwilliam barged in breathing heavily and froze at the sight of them all seated amicably eating breakfast.
"Ah, well I guess the cat is out of the bag! And since I am here now, Fitz, you really do have the best breakfast spread in Derbyshire!" he said, moving to help himself to a hearty plate too.
"Mrs Darcy, I have to say you are looking very well. I hope married life is treating you well?" Asked the Colonel once he was seated and everyone froze looking guilty that they hadn't really acknowledged Elizabeth properly.
Suddenly the room erupted into cheers and choruses of Mr and Mrs Darcy, along with apologies for interrupting their honeymoon, which caused Elizabeth to blush profusely thinking of her forwardness in the bedroom but a few hours ago!
"Well, I shall speak now before anyone else decides to pay an impromptu visit." spoke Horatio, once everyone had grown quiet, "Lady Catherine, has gone too far this time, but unfortunately her carriage and horses have been over used and exhausted in order for her to get here as quickly as she did. She is now staying at the Inn at Lambton which I can assure you did not go down well, but I understand why she is no longer welcome here." he said looking apologetically at Elizabeth. "That being said, she is my sister and a member of this family. In her haste she travelled here alone, Fitzwilliam and I have agreed, that we cannot in all good conscience allow her to travel back to Rosing's in the same capacity." He said finishing his speech.
"Elizabeth, I am afraid it will mean I must cut our honeymoon short in order to see Lady Catherine safely home, but I trust I can count on my family to keep you entertained until us gentleman travel to Kent and back?" he said looking to the ladies around the table.
They all nodded and agreed their happiness with the plan. It was decided that the gentleman would leave at first light the next morning and the ladies would stay behind and get preparations underway for when the Bingley's and Jane would arrive for Elizabeth's first party, where she would be acting as host.
The rest of the breakfast was strained between Elizabeth and William, but she was sure that no one else had noticed. She would not allow him to leave for Kent, without resolving his sudden change towards her and made a plan to speak to him as soon as an opportunity presented itself.