Dear Readers, I thought I'd give you some insight into my influence for D & E's brooding. The comments varied immensely, but I think they're all correct in their own way, even when they contradict each other. Let me tie it all together: I'm an older sister. I have five baby brothers that range in age from 18months younger to 18 years younger (yeah, seriously). I adore them, even when I am frustrated. No matter what they did though, I was supposed to be watching them (according to my parents). Yeah, that totally undermined my authority, because I got blamed, not them. But here's the other thing; there is nothing worse than something happening to someone you love (even when it's their own doing), except something bad happening that you might have prevented. Especially when you may have set a bad example, even if you didn't go as far as they did. We all test boundaries at that age. It doesn't matter if it was technically not your fault or your responsibility, you love them so you do what you can for them, even if it's not ultimately your responsibility. I would imagine each one of you wants to help someone in their life that "doesn't deserve it." But when we love someone; we know that they're more than their mistakes, we see their potential, who they could be. My grandfather was really good at that, seeing past the young person's mistakes and to who they would be with time. I adored that about him, it made me better because I didn't want to disappoint him. (I know Lydia doesn't have that trait, but who does she really not want to disappoint, the sisters who try to fix her because they're embarrassed? Don't get me wrong, I hated her the first dozen times I read the book.) anyway, It's hard to let down someone who has nothing to gain from believing in you, might even end up with some egg on their face and but believes in you anyway. He was just really good at hate the sin; love the sinner. Most others I know have to ignore/deny the worst in someone to keep loving them or excuse the behavior and rationalize as not being "that bad," or just start hating them. It always fascinated me that he could take a firm stand against a person's actions/behavior, without making them feel like they were any less. I wish I could master it. I don't think it's a contradiction that Lydia's behavior is awful (selfish and petty), but those who love her still want to help her for reasons other than their own reputations. I also think, although sometimes we take too much on ourselves and feel guilt for what wasn't our responsibility, we do end up better for it, because we can always find examples of doing the easier thing, less than we should. I.e. Darcy funding Wickhams depravity instead of letting him go to debtors prison (and learn), Elizabeth being annoyed and censured instead of mentoring and explaining (we all know people respond better when they know what's in it for them). Anyway, feel free to comment on my thoughts, even if you don't agree.
Chapter 60
Lady Catherine was up with the dawn, still determined to carry her point. The events of yesterday further convicted her of the need to intercede on her nephew's behalf. Marrying for love and abandoning duty! It would not be. She had endured a decade of marriage to Sir Lewis De Bourgh before enjoying her state of widowhood, and for what, if family honor and duty went by the wayside? No, the sacrifices of herself and those before her would not be in vain. It could and it must be endured, marriage was for the benefit of building one's family and ensuring one's lineage maintained its superiority. There would be no polluting the family tree, no losing respectability when so many generations had sacrificed their own wishes on the altar of family honor. This generation would not be the one to throw it away if she had her share in the debate. If they wished for happiness, they may do as she had done; outlive their spouse, it was the only proper way to achieve one's own happiness.
As she readied for the day, she plotted her course. The Earl of Matlock would be called upon to intervene. This nonsense would be seen to; Darcy would be ordered to marry Anne. After hours of labor, she lifted her head and reviewed her appearance. She had called for her mother's jewels; as heavy and outdated as they were, she refused to show her struggle to bear the weight of them, even in her old age. Every inch of her appearance would inspire recollections that she was the daughter of an earl, and would not be gainsaid, not even by the son of an earl.
She made her way downstairs, refusing breakfast and calling for her carriage; intending to arrive just before calling hours, this was not public business and would not be made known. Upon arriving at her brother's foyer she acted with all the dignity of her position in life; waiting patiently to be announced in the breakfast room.
Upon her entrance her brother looked up, remarking, "Good God, Catherine, what are you doing in town and to come at such an hour? I've not seen you in London in a decade."
"Of course I am here, where else would I be when our very respectability is on the verge of collapse? I'm to put a stop to this travesty before our very names will be spoken with only scorn and ridicule and the ancient and respectable lines of the Fitzwilliam family are forever polluted."
Earl of Matlock was vain, though his vanity was tempered by his inclinations towards practicality, unlike his sister, and did not nearly rise to the level of thinking himself a god, as though he was able to and ought to control anything and everything in his sphere. "What are you on about? You can't mean this business with Darcy, the girl seems perfectly respectable, if not of the circles he could have married into. You know well he would not be brought to marry any of the debutante's whose relations attempted a match with him; It's time he's married, Pemberley needs an heir above all other considerations. If he wishes to toss prudent considerations aside, I'll not stop him; he needs neither connections nor a dowry, he needs a damn heir, Catherine. It's unfathomable not a man in this family is willing to do their damn duty and breed. If he is willing to rear sons with her, he can wed her and retreat to the country with her for all I could be brought to care; she is of his station."
"Perfectly respectable! Upon my word, she is nothing of the sort, the girl jilted my parson, her father's heir, to ensnare Darcy's fortune! She has taken him in," she cried, forgetting decorum in her incredulity, pounding her walking stick upon the floor as though she had returned to a tradesmen's home. "She is not fit to be his mistress; obstinate, headstrong, girl that she is - she doesn't know her place. She abused me to my face, despite my attentions to her; refusing to marry my parson; insisting she would have my nephew. Her mother's line has ascended from trade!,' she spat. "Yet they aspire to rise higher still. I've been to her uncle's home; living with all the refinement of the gentry, as though we'll forget from whence they came. Her younger sisters giggle like hoydens; utterly without proper education, wholly dismissive of my authority. I've sent them a governess who will submit to my designs on their education. She shall correct them. Is such a woman to replace my sister? Is that what our family lines will come too? Are we all to be reduced for one imprudent match?"
Suspecting his sister of suffering under the weight of a distorted perception of events, the Earl was unmoved but promised to speak with Darcy. Haughty as his sister was, he wouldn't have his nephew's marriage become a scandal. Though he could not envision his nephew marrying the jilted daughter of a country squire, with relations in trade nonetheless, he was determined to discover what his note had not disclosed.
She pressed her perceived advantage, "Very well, he will marry Anne in a fortnight. I will see to it myself. He can be left to run amuck no longer; having been without proper guidance since his father's death -he must now be reigned in. He must be brought to see reason."
"Darcy has no inclination for Anne," said the Earl, "He will not be brought to marry her, he needs an heir Catherine, you can not continue to pretend they will wed."
"They've been engaged since the cradle, I will not be gainsaid, they were designed for one another - it was a favorite wish of his mother and I. His father..."
The Earl interrupted, of no mind to listen to such a blatantly false tirade, "Catherine, you'll not bring me to believe that rubbish - it's entirely nonsense you've made up in your own mind. George Darcy thought it detestable when first cousins rutted; I begin to see his reasons. England's first families hardly need to be more inbred, enough lines have drooling simpletons destined to inherit what they don't have the reason to maintain well enough to pass on to the next in line. Darcy needs an heir; Anne will not be his bride." He tossed his napkin on the table, dismissing her like a servant, and departed for Darcy House paying no mind to her rantings in regard to being the daughter of an Earl.
What do you guys think of Lady Catherine's thoughts on the "proper path to happiness", that is, outliving one's spouse? I remember the first time I read her character I thought the only way someone could end up happy after being under her thumb was to outlive their afflictions! If only she could use her powers for good. I know a few of you would have written her out by now, but I daresay if you enjoy the epilogue as much as I think you will, you'll see why I needed this chapter.