Chapter 27
"It is a shame Mr. Bingley could not depart with us and won't join us for two more days," Anne commented to her traveling companions, Elizabeth, Jane and Georgiana the next morning.
"I daresay Mr. Bingley is more concerned over this turn of events than we are. We are deprived of his good cheer while he obliges his sister, but he is deprived of Jane for two more days!" Elizabeth remarked laughing.
"Lizzy," Jane rebuked her sister's tease, blushing.
"Blush all you want sister dear, I shall not be dissuaded from teasing you. Especially after William's recounting of his conversation with Mr. Bingley."
"I think it shows him well that he honors his commitment to escort his sister rather than rengage on an invitation he accepted previously," Jane protested.
"Especially since the point of the evening is to encourage Mr. Thrasher's pursuit of Miss Bingley," Elizabeth added slyly.
"It still reflects well on Mr. Bingley that he puts his sister before his own wishes," Anne stated.
"Thanks to William, " Elizabeth countered. "For according to him, Mr. Bingley was ready to be off at once until William remined him of his commitment to Miss Bingley. And therefore the scenario we discussed at Netherfield was finally enacted. Mr. Bingley was prepared to leave immediately, until a friend suggested otherwise and he altered his course. William was required to admit that he was glad his friend did not obstinatly stick to his intention to leave; it is afterall high time he took his sister in hand."
"So you credit William for Mr. Bingley's actions?"
"That is not to say all of the credit goes to William, but I do think his contribution should be acknowledged, " Elizabeth said stubbornly.
"Both are a fine gentlemen. I am glad you have found good in Mr. Darcy " Jane said smiling.
"He is tolerable I suppose," Elizabeth said pretending to stick her nose in the air, eliciting giggles from her traveling companions.
"It is a shame Mr. Bingley could not travel today, but I am quite pleased my brother moved up our travel plans. I much prefer to share a carriage with friends and it shall allow Mrs. Annssley a longer visit with her son. Thank you for suggesting I travel with you, Anne and Jane, Lizzy " Georgiana said happily.
"William was more than happy to accommodate the request, I imagine," Anne said, her lips tilting up in a smirk.
…
In the other carriage the earl prepared to address the death knell of his eldest sister's long held wish. "Well Catherine," he began. "It is time we discuss Anne's future."
"Anne's future is settled. She simply awaits Darcy's proposal, which he will proffer anon," Lady Catherine said with determination.
"You cannot command our nephew to marry his cousin, "Lady Matlock said frowning.
"You have no say in his martial felicity," added her husband.
"And I suppose you see yourself as having a say?" Lady Catherine demanded with a sniff.
"Seeing as how he wishes to marry my daughter and I hold the power to grant him her hand, I do."
"And seeing how you do not wish to entertain suitors for Elizabeth yet, I see no impediment to his union with Anne, as planned by his mother and-"
"That won't do, Catherine," Lady Matlock interrupted. "I was there when you made the suggestion to our sister Anne. If you recall she merely smiled and said if that if they choose to do so, she would support them. The acknowledgment of supporting her son's choice does not a betrothal make. Not even a peculiar kind enacted in their craddled as you are fond of saying. Remember, after the supposed craddle betrothal you enacted, Anne suggested the possibility of her son marrying my daughter when Elizabeth was born; so overjoyed were your brother and I to finally have a girl after so many sons."
"That was in jest," Lady Catherine protested.
"Yes it was. And I do not cling to it as a possible way of achieving a union between Darcy and my daughter, " Lady Matlock said gently. "It was merely two mothers being whimsical."
"Darcy will make his own choice," Matlock said firmly. "I am putting you on notice to behave yourself when he does. You will have more than enough time to accostume yourself to the idea. I have always known Anne would not be his choice and that you would be displeased and would make that displeasure known to all involved parties. But seeing as how his choice is evidently my daughter, you will not have free reign to make your displeasure known. I will not allow you to berate my daughter. And if you cannot accept that, I shall arrange your transportation to Rosings, while Anne enjoys the festive season with us. My niece deserves the opportunity to be allowed to come to know her cousin."
Lady Catherine opened her mouth to speak but Matlock cut her off with a firm, "Need I remind you I am head of this family? You may be the daughter of an Earl, but I madame am an Earl."
…
"So Bingley hopes this Thrasher fellow may come up to scratch for his sister?" Henry asked Darcy as they rode alongside the carriages.
"I have advised Bingley to take his sister in hand and marry her off. She has refused the intrest of potential matches she considered to low in the past due to her dogged and blind pursuit of Pemberley. Mr. Thatcher expressed an interest to Bingley at our club," Darcy declared.
"And this Thrasher?" David enquired.
"The younger son of a Baronet. His brother is the heir, but he holds a small estate himself. His connections are middling, but none she would likely object to and he does come from generations of landed gentry," Richard informed him.
"A younger son with no fortune and no title of his own? She thinks to highly of herself to accept such a match," David said with a snort.
"She is a tradesman's daughter, it would be a good match for her, especially considering he already has his own small estate. She should not look as high as she does. She is destined for disappointment, unless she is willing to marry an impoverished title," James snorted.
"I'm afraid Miss Bingley thinks to highly of her wardrobe to see her dowry go towards a title that could not afford to dress her in the manner she is accustomed to. I doubt she would consider such given her estimation of herself. I've warned Bingley that marrying her off to an impoverished title will create an albatross around his own neck. He would be forever expected to shore them up, perhaps even at the expense of his own family. Hurst at least has expectations and will someday be master of his own small esate that is not deep into dun territory."
"Elizabeth would not take kindly to Miss Bennet suffering a lack due to funds being constantly siphoned away to support another household," Richard said laughing.
"If Bingley marries Miss Bennet he will be expected to support Mrs. Bennet and any unmarried daughters once Mr. Bennet passes," Darcy pointed out. "He simply cannot feasibly support his own household, the Hursts, an impoverished title and the Bennets. Therefore if he wishes to make Miss Bennet his wife, he cannot buy his sister a title to remove her from his household."
"And if he wishes his wife happy he needs to remove his sister from his household. Or get her in hand and if he isn't quick about it, Elizabeth will do it for him," David said with a chuckle.
