Thanks so much for your comments, as always I appreciate them, but it also made me realize I should add some of Mrs. Bennet's thoughts on putting Kitty and Lydia back in the schoolroom.

End of Chapter 46

Mrs. Bennet, after briefly meditating on putting Kitty and Lydia back in the schoolroom, readily dismissed it. Had Jane been unattached she may have very well agreed. Though not understanding why her ladyship would offer such advice, she would have bowed to her superior knowledge, hoping that her ladyship would condescend to offer her acquaintances as matches, but with Elizabeth spurning every suitor, and Mary so dull and plain, there seemed to be little point. Her two youngest were now her two most likely to marry next.

Chapter 47

True to her word, Lady Catherine quit Longbourn without so much as taking her leave. She blew out of the house as though she were the wind itself, gathering and departing before a great storm. Her destination was Netherfield Park, where the tradesmen's daughter would be dealt with as well. She would not have such rumors floating about on the eve of his wedding to Anne. He would be made to marry her now. There was nothing to be done for it, seeing what he was about when left to his own devices. She had previously been of a mind to let him come to reason on his own, surely he would see London society could offer nothing better than her own daughter. That mistake would now be rectified, he would be set to rights with the rest of them.

"Bring Miss Bingley to me at once!" Lady Catherine declared as the butler opened the door to find the assault upon it had been due to the walking stick of an old woman. "It will not be said that I deigned to enter a tradesman's home." The good man, as well trained as he was, could not but stare. Never, in all his employment, had he been called upon to summon his employer to the door because a guest refused to enter.

"Whom may I say is calling Madam," he inquired, drawing on all of his training, hoping not to incite the woman further.

"You may tell her that Lady Catherine DeBurgh is here to see her." She said with a huff. That family duty would call upon her to visit such a place, it was not to be borne! Yet it was clear to her that her nephew could not be left to handle such matters on his own accord.

The butler approached Miss Bingley, internally wincing at what he knew was to come. Her temperament was not inclined to be generous with her staff, he knew that he would bear the brunt of the old woman's insult.

"Lady Catherine De Burgh is at the door to see you, ma'am."

"Why was she not brought to the drawing-room and announced?" A horrified Miss Bingley accused, more than questioned, fuming at his lapse in judgment. Did no one, not even the servants have proper decorum outside of London?

"She insisted that you be brought to her at the front door, ma'am."

Did the country manners of her staff so offend Darcy's aunt that she refused even to enter? Thinking the woman must be looking for Darcy, Miss Bingley made for the door. This was her chance to impress Darcy's more esteemed connections and use them to turn him away from that country nobody. If she could get such a distinguished person on her side, Darcy would be made to see reason.

"Your Ladyship," Miss Bingley said as she curtseyed, arriving at the front door.

Not waiting for civilities, Lady Catherine made her point apparent. "I will not trifle with you, Miss Bingley. A report of a most alarming nature has reached my ears. That a tradesman daughter, with no connections, of no importance in this world, and only money derived from trade to recommend her, has had the presumption, without any encouragement on my distinguished nephew's part, to declare herself practically engaged, intending to force his hand. Foolish, presumptuous girl, that you could even dream it, let alone believe it. My nephew, nor his family, would never allow it. The shades of Pemberley will not be thus polluted. I will declare you a liar, a pretentious upstart, before all of London, attempting to trap a man so far above you through convincing arts of the worst sort, false rumors. Do you think that anyone of importance would be moved that a tradeswoman was ruined? A person of your birth is not fit to be such a man's mistress, now what have you to say?"

Miss Bingley stood there, pale and ashen, never before having been spoken to so plainly about her position in life. The other girls may have mocked her in school, she may have heard some snickers in society, but her money had always bought her some respectability. With a member of the peerage openly disdaining her, declaring her a liar, she would be openly shunned. Not only would Mr. Darcy be out of her reach, but everyone worth knowing would refuse to see her, no respectable door would be open to her. Her aspirations would be permanently out of reach. Miss Eliza deserved this censure, no her. Her ladyship's ire must be redirected before all respectability was out of reach.

"It is obvious your Ladyship is unaware of those deserving of her indignation. I see that you have not been informed that it is Miss Elizabeth Bennet whom your nephew has proposed to."

"Do not presume to inform me, Miss Bingley, my sources are quite accurate. I have deemed you too lowly for my clergyman, how dare you presume to aspire to my nephew!"

"Your ladyship, I can assure you that I harbor no such presumptions, clearly it would not be advantageous for me. Furthermore, it was wrong of me to assume that you were unaware that Miss Eliza has pursued your nephew to town."

Miss Bingley's words had not missed their mark, Lady Catherine's eyebrows shot up. Seeing her success, Caroline continued, "Those Bennets are rather artful, had you been in company with them, you would understand. The eldest has managed to elicit a proposal from my brother."

Her nephew, brother to a tradesman? It would not be, she could not be upon London to deal with her nephew fast enough. "Do I have your word then, Miss Bingley, that your gossip will cease and that you will end all presumptions towards my nephew?"

Miss Bingley, knowing she already lost him, not wishing to lose the rest of good society with him nodded, "Your Ladyship can be sure, I harbor no delusions of matrimony in regards to your family." That crazy old bat was not worth fighting with, not now anyway when he had so recently proposed to another. It was better to bide her time and keep her good name. She hoped, rather than believed, that Lady Catherine's ire would be turned upon the true threat, forgetting about herself when faced with that young woman's impertinence.

Seeing all due deference from the presumptuous tradeswoman, her ladyship was satisfied. True to form, she quit the company before her without even the barest of civilities. She owed this conniving tradeswoman nothing of the sort, let it not be said that she was seen paying anyone of such little dignity any courtesy at all.