Chapter 51
Arriving near Cheapside, her ladyship had every expectation of nearly repeating the conversation with Miss Bingley, to a similar result - she would be revered and deferred to, with gratitude for her condescension, and without complaint. Her advice was invaluable, her dictates were adhered to uniformly, instructions were to be carried out absent any deviation from her designs.
The thought had not crossed her mind that anyone of sense, or so little experience in the world, would attempt to gainsay her, as little in life had prepared her ladyship for the treatment that she would receive at Elizabeth Bennet's hands. If any in England were prepared to see self-respect and a lack of obsequious deference as an affront, it was Lady Catherine De Bourg. Thus she alighted from her carriage, little thinking that she would fail to carry her point.
Lady Catherine, as the door opened to her, proceeded to make her previous demand, "Bring Elizabeth Bennet to me at once."
"Ma'am?" questioned the footman, feeling justified by the oddity of the request. Surely the master would not countenance his niece being brought to the door to meet a guest. He became instantly concerned that the order was issued because the woman was told to stay away from his master's home.
"How dare you defy me. Have Elizabeth Bennet brought to me at once, you will tell her Lady Catherine de Bourgh is here to see her."
The footman bowed, praying silently that he would not lose his position over the matter. The Gardners were not unfair, but upsetting nobility was no small matter, nor would it go unnoticed if he failed to protect their niece. For the first time since his employment in their household, he felt concerned for his future.
"Lady Catherine de Bourgh is here to see you ma'am." the footman stated, after finding Elizabeth alone in the front parlor.
"Indeed, I have heard, as her ladyship's voice carries quite well. Very well, show her in," replied Elizabeth raising her eyebrows ready to meet the challenge. She may not have expected Lady Catherine, but she had garnered enough from Mr. Collins effusions to know better than to believe the woman was attending her for any reason other than her own desire to see the world bend to her will. She suspected, as such, that it was Mr. Collins doing that she had presently such an illustrious visitor -no doubt to defend the supposed engagement to her daughter.
"Her ladyship has requested that you come to the door ma'am."
"As I have heard, but I won't be fetched to the door like a servant waiting for orders. Her Ladyship will meet me in the drawing room, or not at all."
He bowed, returned to the front door, and after taking a deep breath before opening it, he said "This way ma'am, I shall show you to Miss Bennet."
"Are you daft? You shall bring her to me. I shall show her no such courtesy. She shall not contrive to have it appear as though I have condescended to call upon her in a tradesman's home. The nerve of that girl, I am not to be trifled with, of that, you may assure her."
"Miss Bennet is aware ma'am, she has asked me to invite you in. Should you prefer to leave a card ma'am?" questioned the footman, ready to wish her a good day, hoping this could all be dealt with after his master returned. Though he was able to act with good sense, in this he felt at a loss, thus he much preferred to act further only upon specific instruction from his employers.
Her ladyship huffed, pushing past him, showing herself into the parlor. This was not to be born - was the entire family without sense, decency, or decorum? Her nephew, thinking to marry into such a family, was the only thing that compelled her forward - a month of absolutions would not be enough to cleanse her of the necessity of calling upon such a young woman, in the home of a tradesman - and in Cheapside of all places.
"I suppose you are Miss Bennet," stated her ladyship, not truly asking.
"I am, at least in the absence of my eldest sister," curtseyed Elizabeth determined that she would not allow her ladyship to make her feel demeaned. She further considered that it would be better that the staff overhear as little as possible, as hers and Darcy's prospects were already, much to their chagrin, very likely much gossiped about and speculated upon.
Elizabeth invited her ladyship to the garden, aware that it would appear conciliatory. Her ladyship consented, and they made their way towards the back of the house. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlor and drawing-room, pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, and walked on while insisting she did not approve of tradesmen rising above their station, condescending to instruct that distinction of rank be preserved above all, even displaying one's wealth. Though her ladyship noted out loud that she saw no vulgarity of taste, the elegance of the decor was proper, though her tone implied that she stated it begrudgingly.
Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman. She found her worse in temperament than she had imagined during Mr. Collins' frequent speeches on her ladyship's person. As they exited the house her ladyship spoke,``You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason for my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.''
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment, that her ladyship should bring up such a delicate topic without preamble.
``Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honor of seeing you here, as my only knowledge of you is through a distant relation.''
"That relation is who you are to marry Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine stated in a matter-of-fact manner, as though all had been decided, with no room for opinions against such union, regardless of the feelings of those involved.
"Your ladyship is ill-informed, I am not engaged, and least of all to my cousin."
``Miss Bennet,'' replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, ``you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who refused my parson would, in all likelihood, be soon afterward united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, surly he has already come to his senses in spite of your manipulations. I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.''
``If you believed it impossible to be true,'' said Elizabeth, coloring with astonishment and disdain, ``I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?''
``At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted, your are to marry my parson Miss Bennet, now what have you to say?.''
"Only that your ladyship is quite mistaken, I shall not, under any circumstances, consent to marry such a man, whom I have so little respect or affection for."
"You state your opinion rather decidedly for someone so young, Miss Bennet. It is not to be borne, he is heir to your father's estate, thus he is eminently suitable to your situation and owes it to your family to ensure your sister's welfare. I sent him to you myself, as I do not approve of property being entailed away from the female line. Is nothing owed to me on that score? ``
"I cannot claim to disagree with you ma'am on entailments, but I cannot thank your ladyship for that interference, I found him rather insensible to subtlety, and indeed, on occasion wholly unwilling to accept ideas that did not suit his own agenda."
"Miss Bennet, selfish, headstrong girl, do you think nothing of what you owe your family, or mother, your sisters, as vulgar as they were. When you are married to him, you may well improve him. "
"In marriage, I have resolved to see only to my own happiness, I must insist that you take my word upon the matter, he shall not become my husband."
"And what of my nephew, you must have taken him in? I understand that you mean to accept him, after abject refusals designed to increase his ardor."
"I think you may be the first, madam, to give credence to Mr. Collins romantic notions. I certainly found his speculations to arrive far from the truth," replied Elizabeth.
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer, and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.
``You are declaring then that you never will enter into such an engagement?''
"On the contrary, I'm merely declaring that Mr. Collins romantic notions have no place in a sensible discussion. I have every intention of accepting, should your nephew offer again, though my reasons are my own, and bear no resemblance to Mr. Collins musings," replied Elizabeth, feeling secure in his affection, thus feeling no need to prevaricate. Had she wondered in regards to his own feelings, she could have never been so bold, but his having declared himself in love with her, and indeed, even forever hers, even after so public a refusal, she saw no reason to be circumspect about her intentions. Her courage was rising at every attempt to intimidate her, most especially at any attempt to separate her and Darcy, her reflections upon his words were adding further courage fueling her frankness and impertinence.
"Your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family, but it will not happen a second time, of that you can be assured," declared Lady Catherine, nearly losing hold her temper, badgering the stone with her walking stick with such determination, Elizabeth feared it would crack. "The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.''
``In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal.''
``And what of your mother? I have been to your father's estate, I have witnessed her vulgarity and that of your younger sisters with my own eyes! I resolved to set up London at once and see that a proper governess is sent to them, delaying even my coming to you here, as I have seen to it that she is already on her way. That the daughters of a gentleman could conduct themselves in such a way! It will and it must be rectified at once. I'm excessively attentive to such matters."
"For that, at least I must thank your ladyship," said Elizabeth, not knowing could not rightly defend her mother or her younger sisters, and keep her integrity intact.
"Miss Bennet, let me be rightly understood, this is not to be borne. Is the daughter of such a woman to be mistress of Pemberley, to take my dear sister's place in the world? Honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us,'' said Lady Catherine, voice escalating as she spoke, deciding that the same point that carried best with Miss Bingley would be her best weapon with Miss Bennet as well. Young ladies these days seem to care more for being envied and noticed, than doing right by their families. Heaven and Earth! What would become of society when the elder generation was no longer there to dictate to them.
``These are heavy misfortunes,'' replied Elizabeth. ``But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.''
``I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. Your arts may have worked on him the first time, but they will not work a second time, I shall see to it. You are to marry my parson, and my nephew shall marry my daughter. Their marriage will not be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family!"
`Your Ladyship seems hesitant to take my word for it, but I can assure you, yet again, I will never marry your parson, he is nothing of consequence to me, whatever you and he have imagined,'' replied Elizabeth, ` And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern - and the world, in general, would have too much sense to join in the scorn.''
``And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point.''
In this manner, Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the garden gate, when, turning hastily round, she added, ``I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I shall have no reason to take any further notice of you. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased. My nephew shall be made to see reason, you shall be exposed to the derision of the world for foolish, disappointed hopes. Every word you speak of it, shall only prove to humiliate you further, you shall see him abandon you with no further notice, nor shall my parson redeem you honor, he is forbidden to speak with yourself and all your family.''
Elizabeth's intemperance due to her ladyship's insults furnished the courage needed to keep her head held high, with defiance in her eyes, but as Darcy's aunt turned her back and the gate slammed shut, Elizabeth wondered if she had been too sure of Darcy's affection. Would her ill-treatment of his aunt lessen his affection, however deserving she was of a set down? During the argument, his words had given her the confidence to declare her affection, but what good would it do if Darcy did not have knowledge of it himself. Would the combination of his ignorance of her affection and family objections be enough to turn him away? Elizabeth raced to her room to retrieve the letter, hoping to find solace in his words, concerned that her impertinence and defiance were applied where they could be most detrimental to her cause.