Chapter 6
"Mr. Collins you are to hasty!" Elizabeth cried out with feeling. "I have given you no answer. Allow me to do so at once. Grateful though I am for the compliment of your proposal and sensible to the honor, I must decline."
"Ah, you intend to first decline the suitor you intend to accept, as a means of increasing my love by suspense. I assure you my dear, that no such measures are necessary and that I shall hope to lead you to the alter soon," Collins gallantly stated, dismissing her refusal with a wave of his hand.
"Sir, I am not one of those such young ladies. I am quite serious in my refusal. If Lady Catherine knew of your proposal, I can assure you, she would not approve of me as your bride."
"If it were certain that Lady Catherine would think so, but I cannot conceive of her disapproving of you dear cousin. When I see her next I shall speak to her of you in such high terms of your amiable qualities."
"Please sir, allow me to be the judge in this matter and afford me the compliment of believing what I say. I wish you to find your own happiness and by my refusing the offer of your hand, you are now free to do so. You may consider your duty to my family discharged."
"You are everything charming, dear cousin. When we next speak on this subject I shall eagerly await your yes," Mr. Collins said with a bow.
Looking at her cousin in disbelief, Elizabeth decided now was the time to escape. If the fool attempted to propose again she would simply refuse again. It was high time she sent a letter directly to Lady Catherine demanding that she come and retrieve her parson and personally inform him that Elizabeth Bennet would never be his bride.
As if summoned by her ire as Elizabeth furiously stepped outside, Mr. Collins trailing her, Lady Catherine De Bough's carriage turned into Longbourn's drive.
"Thank God," Elizabeth exclaimed recognizing the convayence at once. She was not the only one to recognize it though. Mr. Collins recognized it as well and began to exclaim happily how his intended fiancee would now met his patroness.
Standing next to the excited clergyman, a smirk on her face, Elizabeth awaited the passangers.
"Lizzy!" Anne exclaimed exiting the carriage at once and hurrying towards her with more energy then she usually exhibited. "I have been so worried for you!" she exclaimed embracing her. "I am so sorry!"
"Miss De Bough," Collins started to exclaim but was interrupted by the great Lady herself.
"We are not to late are we Lizzy?" Lady Catherine ask imperiously.
"Define late," Elizabeth quipped back.
"My Lady," Collins gasped. "I have just proposed marriage to my esteemed cousin Elizabeth. I beg of you to offer me your congratulations."
"Did she accept you Mr. Collins?" Lady Catherine demanded, while Elizabeth shook her head.
"Well not as yet. She quiet rightly refused me to increase my love, but I know she intends to your Ladyship," Collins admitted.
"Mark my words, she has no intention of accepting you. I will not allow it. I forbid you from marrying her. Find yourself a different bride," Lady Catherine admonished him in a voice full of authority.
"But your ladyship," Collins protested.
"Elizabeth Bennet is not for the likes of you Mr. Collins," Lady Catherine said and then dismissing him she turned to Elizabeth. "I fully intend to see Jane wed to her Mr. Bigley by taking up residence at Netherfield. I trust you can direct me there Lizzy."
"Mr. Bingley was to go to London on buisness today," Elizabeth said wryly making sure to stress the correct name. "His sisters, brother in law Mr. Hurst, and friend Mr. Darcy are likely still in residence, but it is not at all the done thing for you to invite yourself to his home Lady Catherine."
"Darcy? Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberly?" Lady Catherine demanded.
"Yes," Elizabeth answered. "He has been unfortunately staying with his friend since Mr. Bingley took the estate."
"Did he attend the assembly the other month?" Anne ask Elizabeth with trepidation.
"Yes, the whole party from Netherfield did," Elizabeth answered frowning.
"Oh lord. Richard is going to kill him," Anne breathed out.
"Why would Richard," Lady Catherine started to say before realizing what her daughter had realized and instead said, "Oh dear."
Elizabeth looked at her friend in confusion and then towards Lady Catherine who was muttering to herself. "What exactly is going on?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mr. Darcy is my cousin, " Anne explained with a sigh. "And at this moment he most certainly is not a favorite one. I assume he is the proud gentleman mentioned in your last letters?"
"I'm so sorry Anne. Had I of known he was a relation to you I never would have," here Elizabeth paused, "actually had I known he was your relation I still would have abused him so abominaly in my letters to you. But I would like to believe I would have been civil about it atleast."
"You were civil about him in your letters, Lizzy dear. His behavior has apparently been truly dreadful. Mother will not be pleased with him."
As if her attention had been summoned Lady Catherine announced, "I need to go to Netherfield and deal with my nephew. You can be satisfied Lizzy, that I am no longer intending to impose myself on strangers. I will be imposing on Mr. Bingley and William. And William, he is family."
"If Lizzy doesn't need me here mother, I am going with you. I too have buisness to attend to with William," Anne said firmly.
"I do believe the situation here has been resolved to my satisfaction, " Elizabeth said with a grin. "Mr. Collins and I shall happily go on as the dearest of cousins and nothing more."
…
Inside the carriage as it left Loungbourn, Anne raised her eyebrow at her mother, something she had learned from Elizabeth, and said, "Well mother, what now? William appears to have insulted and offended Lizzy."
"And I am most seriously displeased. I find him the perfect wife and after waiting years to introduce them, he meets her a few months early and ruins all my plans!" Lady Catherine huffed. "I have spent years spouting that ridiculous twaddle about a craddle betrothal to ensure he was single until Lizzy was ready to marry and he goes and mucks it all up. I am most seriously displeased."
"But Lizzy is still perfect for him."
"She is. And when he isn't being an imbecile, he is perfect for her. I've known since the day we met her. Remember I told you that day, that that young girl would marry William?"
"I do remember. I was shocked you would think to marry a child not even ten off and then found out she was four years older then I had believed her to be," Anne said with a fond smile.
…
"Aunt Cathrine," Darcy said, standing up in shock as his Aunt was shown into the breakfast parlor. "Anne," he greeted his cousin with equal shock. "What brings you to Hertfordshire?"
"My foolish parson," Lady Catherine answered crisply.
"William," Anne repiled coolly.
"I would like a private word with you nephew," Lady Catherine announced. Then looking at the other three people seated at the breakfast table and mindful of Lizzy's letters, she said deliberately, "Miss Bigley, have rooms prepared for my daughter and I. We are staying."
Once in a small parlor where they would not be disturbed, Darcy said, "Well Aunt?"
"I am most seriously displeased with you William. I find the perfect woman for you to marry and you go and insult her before even being properly introduced," Lady Catherine said camly.
Before Darcy could react to this statement Anne chimed in with, "I am half a mind to write Richard and allow him to take it out of your hide."
"You did not act like the gentleman you were raised to be," Lady Catherine interrupted with.
"Insulting Richard's Lizzy was foolish cousin."
"Richard's Lizzy?" Darcy asked in confusion.
"Richard's Lizzy," Anne said slowly. "The girl that is like a favored little sister to him. I believe you know her rather as Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"Your bride," Lady Catherine added dryly as Darcy blanched.
"My what? I would never insult Elizabeth," Darcy sputtered, unsure what to address, his suppossed insult or the fact that his Aunt possibly approved of his Elizabeth as a wife for him.
"Miss Elizabeth to you nephew," Lady Catherine corrected him. "I intended for you to make her aquittance at Easter and court her then."
"What about Anne?" Darcy asked dumbfounded.
"What about Anne?" Lady Catherine asked with a sly smile.
"Well," Darcy said shifting uncomfortably.
"Our cradle engagement cousin? " Anne ask with a smile. "utter nonsense created by mother to keep you single until Lizzy was ready to marry. It gave you a shield to hide behind. Don't pretend that you ever intended to go through with it."
"Richard's Lizzy," Darcy repeated and then paled further. "He is going to soundly thrash me. He mentioned his little sister would be ready to marry soon and he was most disapproving of any potential suitors." Frowning Darcy added, "Miss Elizabeth has been out in society for years. Why would he suggest that she was just now eligible to marry? And why would you also claim she is eligible only now?"
"When she was 15, Lizzy swore that a woman should not consider marriage until she had reached 20," Anne responded grinning. "By the way, I believe the words were, tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me."
"He is going to murder me," Darcy said shakily as he recalled the first time he saw Elizabeth. The idea of any man saying such a thing about her made him desire to call the offender out. Richard would quite rightly be furious. Darcy could not even imagine what he would do if a stranger said such a thing about Georgiana. "And I deserve it. Miss Elizabeth is the most enchanting, lovely, kind, caring, intelligent person I have had the pleasure of meeting."
Delighted Anne exclaimed, "William are you in love with Lizzy?'
"Most assuredly. I had assumed she was to far beneath me to marry, but this changes everything. Her nearest relations are still a vulgar degredation. Her mother a fortune hunter that lacks any subtlety, bragging about her matchmaking. And I shudder to think of her younger sisters, but once we are married we won't have to see them often," Darcy declared eagerly standing up to exit the room and go propose to Elizabeth..
"Hold on there William," Lady Catherine said with authority. "You are in no position to propose to Lizzy. Before you go condoning her relations, you might want to take a good hard look at your own. I have spent years proclaimming loudly and falsely that you and Anne were engaged. I sent my parson on a matchmaking mission to marry one of his cousins. The fool settled on Lizzy. To make up for that unfortunate situation, I decided to invite myself to an unkown mans estate, something Lizzy assures me is improper, so that I could secure him for Lizzy's sister. Getting Jane engaged in a love match seemed like appropriate compensation to Lizzy for accidently sicking Collins on her. I believe, what is it Lizzy says about me Anne?"
"Someone ought to take you in hand," Anne said affectionately. "You are a meddling menance, even if you are a well meaning one."
"Yes," Lady Catherine said satisfied. "Is not my audacity astounding? The distinction of rank allows me such leeway, and I am quick to capitalize on it. Don't forget that I also intended to instruct Jane's suitor to purchase an estate, Anne. What say you to that, William? Your own dear Aunt intends to order around your dear friend for his own benefit."
"I'd say Elizabeth is right, someone ought to take you in hand."
"At least I never allowed the upstart daughter of a tradesman to look down on and belittle the daughter of a landed gentleman, " Lady Catherine said her tone turning harsh. Darcy eyed his aunt warily. She continued saying, "I read Lizzy's letters with Anne. She is an accomplished storyteller. I found particular enjoyment in her retelling of the requirements in an accomplished lady. I also saw what she did not come out and say. No one defended her from Miss Bingley's sly insults. By the sounds of things, my own nephew stood aside and allowed, nay encouraged, such behavior in a social climbing upstart."
Bowing his head Darcy said softly, "I wish I could say I never encouraged such behavior, but that would not be true. Early on in my aquintance with Miss Elizabeth I did."
"Why William?" Anne asked sadly. "Why would you insult her before being introduced and then continue to disparge her?"
"Because I thought she was pretty," Darcy quietly admitted.
"And being an overly proud individual you fought against this I imagine," Lady Catherine said with a sigh. "It was not well done of you William."
"No it was not. I am pained when I think of my behavior. And if you are disappointed in me, I can imagine that Miss Elizabeth is not very thrilled with me either."
"No nephew, she isn't. Winning Lizzy's hand in marriage will take more then just a proposal. It will start with an apology. Are you prepared to set aside your pride and make one?"
"I am," Darcy acknowledged. "I am in love with her, Aunt. I do not think I could be happy with anyone else. I almost proposed last night."
"Thank God you didn't. She would have turned you down so fast your head would have spun," Lady Catherine said.
"Lizzy would have had the suprise of her life. She thinks you hold her in disdain," Anne said softly. "I am very grieved to hear how you treated my dearest friend William."
"Luckily for you, Anne and I are here to assist you now," Lady Catherine declared.
Darcy glanced towards his cousin Anne, who nodded and said, "We are."
"Now about this Bingley fellow," Lady Catherine began.
Anne though eagerly interrupted her asking, "Are Jane and him really as in love as Lizzy claims? He is the one that falls in and out of love easily isn't he? I hope for your sake that is not the case now, if your dear friend breaks the heart of Lizzy's favorite sister, she will be distressed and less amenable to your own courtship. She cares deeply for her sister."
"In love?" Darcy asked in disbelief. "Miss Bennet is not in love with Bingley," Darcy informed his aunt and cousin smugly.
Narrowing her eyes, Lady Catherine said, "Just what exactly have you done Fitzwilliam Darcy?"
"Or are planning to do?" Anne added.