Chapter 161

As soon as they were out of earshot, Mrs Annesley's attitude changed from dignified to, well, Nick couldn't exactly find a word for it but it mostly resembled a cross between despair and outright panic. In a totally unfamiliar display of feeling, one she would normally consider highly improper even towards a relatively unconnected fellow servant, she grabbed his arm and burst out, 'Oh, Fowler, what have I done? She knew, Mrs Darcy knew, I could see it! It will all come out, and then I'll not only be a widow, but out of a position as well and unable to pay for our house and food for my children! How will I ever find a new situation without references? He said it would be fun, and that I deserved some fun, he can be so persuasive. And he really isn't a bad man, I do love him, you know. You already knew, didn't you? Is there somewhere we can talk before I have to face Mrs Reynolds and the master?'

Was Nick underestimating Mr Darcy's reaction when he found out? Mr Bennet was not his host's relation but his wife's, and men generally had more tolerance for adultery, though somehow Nick didn't think Mr Darcy was a typical man in that respect. He'd actually taken ten years to find the perfect woman to marry. Which could only mean that he had very little experience with women, and yet he inspired plenty of respect in Nick. Apparently no less in Mrs Annesley. What to say to her?

'I saw Mr Bennet in the back of the house in London and it soon became clear what he was doing there. Simon asked me to keep it quiet. Mrs Darcy made the connection just now when she saw you two. I suppose she'll tell Mr Darcy but no-one else needs to know. Why not just do what you came to do and ignore this little thing unless someone brings it up? Just be very, very careful, Bates is still talkative, and one of the Pemberley maids even more so, a buxom, fresh-faced blonde called Pauline. And Lady de Bourgh's personal maid is trying to find out things. She cannot be trusted.'

By now they had reached the back entrance to the house, where the deliveries were made. Nick hoped they'd manage to enter the house unseen but he made sure to look as frank as ever, skulking would only cause trouble. If they encountered someone they'd just have to postpone the private moment Mrs Annesley wanted, just for half an hour or however long it took for her to choose a room for the maids to ready.

Fortunately, they did not run into Mrs Reynolds, who did seem to have an uncanny instinct to stumble upon interesting or embarrassing situations. Not this time, though, and Nick decided to seek out the butler to tell him about Mrs Darcy's instructions regarding the sleeping arrangements of their new guests. Mrs Reynolds would ask too many questions and Nick expected her to have some solid judgements on the subject of adultery.

Five minutes later, Nick took Mrs Annesley to an empty room in the servants' quarters and closed the door. He sat on the bed, leaving the single chair for the lady, for Mrs Annesley was just as much a lady as Mrs Reynolds and Mrs Eliot were. They worked for a living but had not been raised for it, otherwise Mr Bennet would not have been attracted to Mrs Annesley, he could never fall in love with a dumb or coarse woman. Well, not anymore, if rumour was to be believed Mrs Darcy's mother was at least one of those things. Too bad, really, that she hadn't come along, Nick would have loved to get a glimpse of Mrs Bennet just to know what Mrs Darcy's mother was like. But now, Mrs Annesley needed him.

'I didn't have an idea what I was getting myself in to, and I'm sure Mr Bennet wasn't either. When we first met we liked each other, talked a lot, mostly in the library but sometimes during dinner or when Mr Fielding played his first concerts in the Darcy drawing-room. They even invited me to sit with the family because Mr Bennet liked me, someone closer to his age, you see.

Then one day I was having a really bad time of it because my husband had taken a turn for the worse, so I sought diversion in my needlework. I can forget everything when I'm busy, which is why I need to be here, I have to be able to continue my piece, I will need it in the weeks to come to be strong for my husband and children. That time, Mr Bennet noticed I was feeling down and he asked me so kindly I broke down and told him everything. He comforted me with perfect propriety, but I'm afraid that is when a spark flew and lit something inside me, for he was so concerned and sweet, I'd never seen that in a man.'

How could that be? Hadn't it been the talk of the Darcy household staff in London how Mrs Annesley's beloved husband was slipping from life? How could it be that she now said he had never been kind to her?

His expression must have betrayed his doubt, for she explained, and in such a way that no-one in the Darcy household would have recognised the husband she described for the Mr Annesley they'd imagined.

'My husband used to be a dashing fellow, Fowler, and when I was still very young and very naïve I fell head-over-heels in love with him. He was a second son and a navy officer on his way up, and yet my parents didn't approve of his blustering ways. They said he was no good for a girl like me, but I decided to marry him anyway, against their advice. I'd been raised to be a Mrs Darcy or a Mrs Manners, or even a Mrs Fielding, my parents would have embraced a talented, sophisticated man even if he had been from a lower class.

But I chose a different fate with my eyes open and followed my beloved husband to Chatham. We didn't live well, and my carefully groomed manners and talents were left unused as he was out at sea, making a living, while I stayed behind taking care of our little house at first, and our children as they came one by one. I still got to sew but just clothing and bedding, no embroidery with costly silk yarn, it was sturdy linen and cheap thread for me, and darning until nothing was left of a garment but rags fit only for cleaning. And cleaning, cooking and washing took so much time, there were but few moments for myself. I did teach our five children, boys and girls, their letters and as much history, geography, French and literature as I could.'

Though Nick wanted to observe that his mother had also worked hard all her life, that most people had to work hard with little time to spare, he did not. He supposed his entire family had always known hard work, whereas Mrs Annesley had been raised a lady and had probably expected an easier life. But she was making a bit much of something he considered completely normal. Still, this was her moment and he kept his peace. He merely offered a slight observation on something that truly surprised him.

'But Mrs Annesley, you say you fell head-over-heels in love, did that love just disappear?'

'My husband was very passionate, and I do think he truly loved me even then, he'd just never learned how to express his love in any way resembling tenderness. He merely lay with me when he could before he had to go back to sea, and I thought that was all there was to it so I bore with it and merely tried to limit the number of children that resulted.'

Despite being a bit shocked at Mrs Annesley's frankness towards someone she hardly knew, Nick wasn't a favourite with the ladies for nothing, he knew exactly what moved a woman, and this was very important to the London housekeeper so he merely nodded encouragingly and let her get it out, so to speak.

'Then he fell ill, and with his physically demanding occupation it soon became impossible for him to pursue his career in the navy. He was granted an administrative function and for a few years he still provided an income and was home every evening and on Sundays, proving himself a dedicated father to our children, and a fine husband as well. We started to get to know each other better, his weak spells left him at my mercy ever more often and that gave him a measure of respect for me. But he still insisted on appearing the strong one towards the rest of the world, he remained dominant to the woman who had adored him once but who had come to look upon him as a captor, shackling her to a life barely worth living. I'd been the darling of my parents and my peers, Fowler, and now I was nothing but a brood mare and a housekeeper on a very small allowance. I knew he was going to deteriorate ever further, and though he ignored that certainty as well as the disturbing signals that another lapse was imminent, I started to prepare myself for the rest of my life, making sure it would be more interesting than it had been for countless years. That may sound selfish to you, but years of mind-numbing drudgery had left me desperate to improve my lot.

With the help of the public library I sharpened my accomplishments, and when the moment came that he could no longer provide and was discharged on a tiny pension, I advertised to find a position as a governess in London. I got the position and we moved to London, but the care for my husband and children proved too much on top of a demanding position. Remember, I was still struggling to regain my former competence in those attainments I had been unable to keep up in a poor home, like playing the piano, drawing, and yes, even needlework. The world hadn't stopped turning when my life had come to a grinding halt in that harbour town, new techniques were constantly discovered and I took care to learn them all.

I was not going to risk getting dragged down to the workhouse with my children, I was going to work my way up in the pecking order of governesses until I had a place in a major family, with a matching salary. So with my first wages I hired a widowed friend to take care of my family, by now my husband could still mind the children but nothing more, she did the work and he oversaw it. He accepted my taking care of the income, it was that or living off charity, which he would not have survived for long with his condition.'

Nick was intrigued, why tell him this? Well, probably because she felt ashamed of cheating on her husband when she'd let everyone believe there was a deep affection between her and him. Which there might be, at a certain level, though obviously not on the subject of physical intimacy, of which Nick still considered himself somewhat of an expert. Mrs Annesley continued.

'In my second position, living with a well-to-do family to teach their two daughters the finer aspects of being a true lady, I spent all my spare time regaining my faded accomplishments, and the family's boys' tutor proved eager to teach someone actually willing to learn, so I added quite a few other skills, less ladylike ones, to improve my value as a governess for younger boys as well as girls of all ages. I taught that family's daughters until they went to school, then with their parents' references I took the next step up. I barely saw my husband and children but I sent them all the money I earned, which was enough to provide my children the education they needed to avoid slipping down the social ladder even further than I had. It took me another four years to get to where I am now, and I am so afraid to lose it all because a gentleman proved too kind to resist.'

Well, Nick had tried his best not to judge the woman sitting in front of him, but if there was anything his experience with ladies had taught him it was that no-one committed adultery without wanting to. It was not fair to pin it on a man's drives only, women had those as much if maybe less intensely. But fortunately, Mrs Annesley did realise that.

'I must have been aching for a little love for years, do not mistake me, my husband has become very mild and kind but that's with plain weakness, if he'd still been physically superior he'd still have felt like he could rule me. Mr Bennet was kind to me because that is how he is underneath his layer of sarcasm, his way to protect a good heart from his own mistakes in life. After that first spark there was no stopping it, we talked for hours, he told me all about his own poor choices and his resulting loneliness. We didn't kiss until his second visit, but then it was a small step towards seeking out my former room. I'm still not sorry we did it, only if I'm to be dismissed for it.'

They wouldn't. Would they? Mrs Darcy had not been pleased, but she'd taken Nick's advice to be lenient easily enough. And Mr Darcy? He'd always given his staff a fair chance, if he was really put out he'd give his London housekeeper a warning to break off the affair. And his father-in-law as much so, he wasn't a hypocrite.

'I cannot believe they'd let you go, Mrs Annesley. Mr Darcy may seem like your husband, dominating his much younger wife, but you have witnessed yourself how much influence she has on him.'

'Yes, she had Janine dismissed.'

'Oh come now, Mrs Annesley, you were there and I wasn't, but I've heard enough from Simon that I know that woman got no more than she deserved. You can in no way compare your own situation to hers. You've always shown Mr Darcy and Mrs Darcy the proper respect, and you've never bullied or threatened the other staff. Has either of them ever treated you anything other than fairly?'

'I stand corrected, Fowler, you are right, they have not. Before I was given the position of housekeeper Mr Darcy offered to help me set up my own business selling my art. He convinced me it was art, and ordered those two works to show to his visitors, to help me gain customers. You are right, I need to have more trust in the people around me. Please don't tell them what I said.'

'Even if I were in the position to do so I wouldn't, Mrs Annesley. I suppose I don't think they'll make much of this thing with Mr Bennet, they seem very good at ignoring little intrigues as long as they don't hurt anyone. Please take heart, Mrs Annesley, and try to enjoy a few days of freedom before the real hardship starts. I'm very sorry to hear that your husband is doing so badly.'

'May I be perfectly honest with you, Fowler? I know you can keep your peace, you've done so for years and I suppose you still do.'

Although Nick didn't like to hear that, her connection to Mr Bennet suggested she might know of Anne and Nick and maybe even about Simon and Frederick, he felt almost compelled to give the poor lady a chance to clear her conscience with someone not too close to her. But... as with making love, intimacy did come with a price.

'If you'll call me Nick, Mrs Annesley. Being addressed by my family name reminds me of being trodden upon.'

She nodded, the days in which she didn't rate an honorific were probably long past, but she'd remember the feeling of being a nameless servant, though frankly, Nick didn't have a clue how lowly ranked governesses were treated.

'I understand. Though it seems you are on the rise, Nick, even Mrs Darcy was rather familiar with you just now and she is always scrupulously fair to her staff.'

Nick merely nodded his acknowledgement, there was nothing to gain by explaining.

'I admit it is difficult for me to call anyone by their first name, I wasn't raised that way. But I didn't do too badly, did I?'

'You did perfectly fine, Mrs Annesley. You are a very competent woman, I suppose not everybody appreciated that.'

That was Nick's opening to encourage her to relieve her conscience, it was what she wanted of him and he did think he was the most suitable person to confide in. For her.

'You are more right than even I knew for a long time. I blamed myself for years, for not loving my husband as I ought to, and when he got sick and turned out rather agreeable I blamed myself even more. But the fact was, Nick, that I was too good for him. Seriously. He could have married any pretty girl with enough sense to run a household and she would have made him happier than I did. Eventually I found out that life should be about more than merely making a living, but by then it was too late, I was shackled to five children and a man who couldn't even provide for his family. And yet in a way he helped me improve my lot, though without being aware of it himself. Because he was at home to keep our children out of trouble, and to direct the help I paid for, I had the opportunity to get my life back, to start improving myself again, to learn and to teach, and to spend time on my art.

He hung on to provide our children with a start in life, and now they have all turned out well he can finally let go. I am thankful for that, and though I am sad to see him fight for each breath I am not heartbroken, Nick. The thought of losing him does not fill me with grief.'

She took one deep breath and then said something she had probably been struggling with for months, if not years.

'It will be a relief to see him go, Nick. I do not love him, have not loved him since our life together turned out such a deception. I suppose I'm thankful we eventually became friends, and I will mourn him as a friend. But not as the love of my life. Am I a really bad person, to look forward to no longer being a nurse to someone who should have been the love of my life?'

As passionately in love with Anne as Nick was, he did remember his life before his fall, and he'd often wondered why people wanted so desperately to become one with their partners in marriage. Why couldn't they just remain themselves and enjoy love as it came, in whatever shape it presented itself? Why did it have to be with one person only, and forever?

'I don't think so, Mrs Annesley, but you know my reputation. Why should men have all the opportunities? I just think it's sad you only got the chance to improve yourself when your husband no longer could, why didn't he let you be who you wanted to be from the first?'

Of course that was not exactly what she meant, but that was even harder to put into words. He did try.

'We're all just fallible people, Mrs Annesley. You have taken excellent care of your husband, you did what you could despite not loving him. We all want to love forever but how many of us really get that chance? I understand your feelings, and I'm pretty sure even Mr Annesley would. Have you ever talked about this? Does he know how unhappy you used to be, and how you held him responsible?'

'I did tell him I was happy to be the provider, and he knows I no longer love him romantically. But I'm afraid he thinks it is due to his lack of prowess because of the consumption, when those drives that he lost were the main thing to come between us. Isn't that ironic? I've never dared explain what I really felt because I was afraid he wouldn't understand. And feel hurt. He did suffer a great deal, you know.'

'Do you think that believing he lost your love because of his illness doesn't hurt? Shouldn't you at least try, give him a chance to understand? Wouldn't that make parting with you much easier on him? At the very least he'll know you're not afraid to go on by yourself.'

The middle-aged lady bowed her head and thought for a bit.

'You are wise beyond your reputation, and your years, Nick. I'm glad I came to you with this, I had a feeling you'd understand because of the way you love. Well, loved. But I hoped you'd give me some kind of absolution of guilt, not a confirmation of my selfishness followed by a way to make up for it whilst my husband is still alive. For I'm afraid I never even thought of what he might think, I just thought of myself, which proves I am indeed a bad person, or at least very selfish. Thinking of it from his perspective I am certain I at least need to try to explain, it will make him feel bad about the past but much better about the future. Our future, the children's and mine. And he will know what he has meant for the children, they have come to know both their parents very well which they wouldn't have if he'd risen to a high rank in the navy. I think maybe he will believe me when I tell him my love got lost in his control of my life, not in his letting go of that. Thank you, Nick, I will talk to him and let him know what he has meant to me and especially to our children. I suppose I'm finally afraid he will die too soon, he must hold on to hear me out.'

Without the slightest twinge of his conscience Nick lied to her. He had no idea how Mr Annesley was holding on, the poor man had to be really bad to have been given up on, but it wouldn't do to have her rush back to London and kill Mr Darcy's horses in the process.

'He will, Mrs Annesley. If he managed to keep death at bay for a decade to raise his children, a few more days to say goodbye to you will be child's play. And imagine how glad he will be to know you won't fall apart after he is gone.'

She wanted to believe that, and why shouldn't she? Despite having been rather selfish she had cared for her sick husband for at least a decade, and she had ascertained her children growing up well. Mr Bennet would understand her feeling of having been shackled to a joyless life, he was of her class and probably saw it as her right to do whatever she pleased. Nick didn't have to understand to make her feel a little better and besides, he was learning to enjoy that lifestyle himself. If he'd known as a child that some people had all the comforts without having to work for them he would have had a hard time settling in any of his former positions.

'Thank you very much, Nick, I feel much better. I'll be brave and face whatever is coming. Starting with Mrs Reynolds, shall we go and find her?'

When Frederick and Anne entered the drawing-room together, Darcy already knew what they were coming to tell him. The first hour with his aunt, Mr Collins and Lord Chester had been rather pleasant, even Georgie and Fielding had exerted all their mental strength to refrain from playing and joined the conversation. Lord Chester had proven his unblemished upbringing by entertaining his audience with delightful anecdotes and innocuous chitchat about several severe storms he had experienced in his school days. Aunt Catherine enjoyed the opportunity to recall her own glory days and how much colder winters had been then. She had accepted Lord Chester's superior status without trying to find out more about him, but he managed to incorporate various hints of his descent in his stories, in the shape of illustrious personages one might recognise as the Queen Mother, and places like St James', which he didn't mention by name but were so unique their description should ring a bell with everyone. But if aunt Catherine noticed, it didn't show in her behaviour, which was as perfect as Darcy had ever seen it. She could suddenly listen to someone else speaking for as much as a whole ten minutes, and whenever she related an anecdote of her own it was actually to the point and in some cases even rather funny. Darcy had never heard some of them, they were probably below her dignity to tell someone as much younger as he was. It was a side of his aunt he was delighted to discover, and hearing much more about his mother was also a pleasure. Mr Collins was mostly rather quiet, understandable in such august company, but like Georgiana and Fielding he did answer questions whenever Lord Chester asked them, and he managed to do so in such a way that made him seem rather sensible. Lord Chester was really good at drawing people out, which of course Simon had already experienced and warned them against repeatedly, but he also somehow helped people show the best of themselves.

After they'd had tea, Georgie and Fielding could no longer control themselves and they lured Lord Chester and Mr Collins to the Clementi, where they played Lord Chester's favourite duets. And some sonatas, pieces Fielding called suitable only for bragging about one's virtuosity. Well, he certainly managed that, Darcy still couldn't believe how fast his brother-in-law's fingers could move over the keys without working themselves into knots. It had to be the instrument as well, it was obviously a very superior piano that was finally done justice being played by a true master. Although Georgie was doing incredibly well, too, she had her teacher with her constantly, and that made for rapid improvement.

Darcy had seated himself and his aunt near the window to keep an eye out for Elizabeth's return, he really wanted aunt Catherine to see his beloved return from her riding lesson, in her split skirts and hopefully side by side with a mere guard.

But things were to go altogether differently. Whilst his aunt scraped her throat to say, 'I suppose you want your little lady present when I give you your mother's letters?' Darcy could see a carriage approaching from the direction of the road, and he recognised his own London conveyance immediately, probably because of the slow team pulling it. Of course he was obliged to reply his aunt, and he did, missing the moment when the carriage passed by the Pemberley front entrance. His moment of distraction made his answer a tiny bit too frank.

'Yes, please, aunt Catherine. It will not be easy for me, you see, I still hate George Wickham like no-one else in this world. I need Elizabeth to be there.'

Where was she, his beloved? He stole a look to where the road disappeared behind the front of the house towards the stables and indeed thought he could see four people approaching the house. That had to be them, and they would certainly meet whoever was in that carriage. Though Darcy couldn't think of anyone brazen enough to take it besides his father-in-law.

'Darcy, you're miles away! Don't you think it's sinful to set your sights so much on a fallible human being, a very fallible human being I may add? She is rude, unsophisticated and ... is that her, over there? What is she wearing? One moment it's a dress, and then it isn't! You said they were going for a riding lesson... Are you expecting more visitors? I do believe that is a carriage approaching your wife, though a rather small, unsightly one.'

'It's my London carriage, aunt Catherine. It's meant to be small to be able to navigate even the narrowest bridges and take the sheerest turns. And yes, I know it is very sinful to adore a fellow human being like I do Elizabeth. Still, I've never been so happy in my entire life. And I do not hesitate to say that she has made me a better man, despite her frankness and lack of formal education. Maybe even because of them, maybe I needed someone with the courage to tell me when I was being overbearing and judgemental.'

'Darcy! How can you say such a thing of yourself, you have always been my measure of manliness. Calm, dignified, handsome, you were always the perfect gentleman, only a low woman would prefer a chattering nincompoop over a man of your regal bearing.'

'I was also arrogant and disdainful to those I considered beneath me. To those I didn't know well. Among whom my dearest Elizabeth. It may shock you to hear I'm not her only admirer, aunt Catherine, but I can assure you she has captured the imagination of several gentlemen besides myself. Ask Lord Chester, or Mr Fielding. Or better, yet, ask your own brother.'

'Oh, I know what my dear brother thinks of your little wife. And the papers cannot seem to stop singing her praise, if only one of those reporters had troubled to follow you here, that would show her, wearing such dreadfully inappropriate skirts for the world to see. Though they'd most likely make something up to excuse her for being dressed like a farmer's wife, I seem to be the only one able to see through her. Well, I suppose I shall have to keep my objections to myself and spend my energy in a more useful way. Darcy, I beseech you to keep the dignity of the Darcy name firmly in mind when I hand you my brother-in-law's letters this afternoon. You may not value your name now, but who is to say you won't regret any rash actions?'

That didn't promise much good, if his aunt's attitude meant anything there would be bad news from the letters. Would he acknowledge Wickham as his brother? A man he despised? Give him part of their father's inheritance? Fitzwilliam hadn't gotten more from uncle Spencer than Wickham had gotten from Darcy so far, much less, in fact, considering that Darcy's father had already paid his education, and Darcy had bought off the living and paid off his debts several times, besides buying him a commission and a promotion. And a special licence to shackle him to Lydia Bennet as quickly as a willing priest could be found.

'Darcy, you have always been my favourite nephew and I care about you. Please do not feel obliged to pay for your father's mistakes, however despicable he behaved he did hide his adultery well, no-one need ever discover the blemish he brought on his house. Please leave well enough alone.'

Outside, apparently the party of four had split up, Manners and Anne moving on towards the house, Elizabeth and Fowler just turning back around the corner where the carriage had disappeared. That almost proved Elizabeth's father was in that carriage, it had to be him, but where then were Mrs Bennet and Mary? There was nothing to do but wait for the riders to return to the drawing-room, which might take a while for Anne would not want to come into her mother's presence in a riding skirt. And if her father had just arrived, Elizabeth would be even later, she would want to see him settled before she changed.

But what if something had happened to Mr Bennet's carriage, and Mary and especially Mrs Bennet were travelling with him? Mrs Bennet and aunt Catherine in the same drawing-room, that was a recipe for disaster! With Prince George as the laughing third, not to mention Mr Bennet himself. Those two would have a field day, but his beloved would be mortified with everything her mother said and did. How to solve this? Prince George would leave tomorrow, but if aunt Catherine found out they were having a family gathering she'd want to stay to meet her brother.

'Thank you for your kindness, aunt Catherine. I will not sacrifice my family's name to oblige Lieutenant Wickham, you may rest assured of that.'

The door opened and Manners entered, with Anne, the latter still in riding skirts and with a bit of a colour. They were coming straight towards him, Anne not even shying from her mother's obvious presence, this had to be bad indeed. Manners' expression seemed to indicate the same thing, and he gestured to Darcy they wanted to join him and his aunt. Well, in Darcy's opinion he and his aunt had exhausted the subject of George Wickham by now, and his cousin and his friend were welcome to interrupt, so he nodded.

Manners was as polite as ever and bowed slightly to his mother-in-law, then immediately spoke up. Like Lord Chester, he had enough self-confidence for two, he was not going to talk pleasantries with aunt Catherine whilst there was an important announcement to make. He didn't even adapt his language.

'Darcy, Mr Bennet just arrived and your beloved is seeing him in. She took Nick to see to his travelling companion, who has some burning questions about a certain work of art destined to grace your dining room.'

It took him just an instant to deduce who this companion was and why Manners took the trouble to hide her identity and even gender. Mrs Annesley with Mr Bennet? On a four-day trip? The implications were obvious, but did his heart really jump for joy as first reaction, hearing his father-in-law exposed as an adulterer?

'Mrs Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet?'

That was all he managed to say in his superhuman effort to keep from laughing hysterically with relief over his mother-in-law's likely absence as well as rage with anger at Mr Bennet's brazenness.

Anne drew all their attention to herself by observing, 'They weren't there, just the artist looking for guidance. Better prepare to take a moment this afternoon for a meeting, there was a certain urgency to the question.'

The relief won, even if Mrs Bennet arrived next week as planned Mrs Gardiner would be there to keep her out of the worst trouble and Prince George wouldn't get to see her at all. And aunt Catherine didn't seem at all suspicious who this artist was, in fact she seemed totally unaware of everything that had been said so far. Instead she was staring at her daughter as if the latter had sprouted horns and a tail, and Anne had noticed and was facing her with defiance. She'd come in without changing on purpose, to annoy her mother by wearing a riding skirt to the drawing-room!

'Thank you for telling me straight away, Manners, Anne. I would have worried if you had taken the time to change.'

But aunt Catherine wasn't thankful at all, she was working herself up to an outright frenzy of righteousness, undoubtedly over her daughter wearing the same split skirts as Darcy's country-bred wife. Surprisingly, Anne seemed to remain perfectly calm, though obviously planning to confront her mother fearlessly. As she'd done before in Hunsford.

'Anne, you go change this instant, what will Lord Chester say when he sees you wearing those...' Aunt Catherine could not find the right words to describe the loathed garment.

'We call them riding skirts, mother, they're very practical. Lord Chester has seen me wear them countless times already, whenever we ride out in fact.'

Anne's calm was admirable, ignoring her mother's authoritative tone completely, angering her mother even more. But Anne wasn't done at all, instead she poured a little oil on the flames of her mother's anger.

'I often wear them at home as well, a different pair of course, it wouldn't do to smell of horse. You read about the wedding, didn't you? I got married in a silk pair, they were just beautiful. You know what, I'll wear them this afternoon, they're not too fine for the occasion since Lord Chester is here.'

Aunt Catherine couldn't keep up with the succession of abominations and was still working out the first one.

'If you need to ride so badly instead of using a little phaeton like you used to have why can't you just ride in a dress like a proper lady? What does Mr Manners think of that? I'm sure he'd be thrilled to get you a nice little carriage of your own, and he certainly can afford it.'

'My dearest Anne can have anything she likes, Lady de Bourgh, and since she wanted to learn how to ride I bought her a beautiful horse. And though Peppermint bore that lady's saddle beautifully the one time we all wanted to try it, I suppose I didn't buy her as a lady's horse.'

Still she didn't get it, but Anne soon remedied that.

'I cannot ride a horse in a dress, mother, it would hardly be safe. And of what use would being driven around the country be? I ride for exercise, sitting on a carriage bench wouldn't do at all!'

'You mean to say you sit your horse like a man? Astride? Where Lord Chester can see you? Have you all gone insane? This is all the fault of your country-bumpkin wife, Darcy! First she turned your head until you lost all sense of propriety and dignity and let her do all those ludicrous things. And now she has ruined my daughter as well! You used to be such a sweet, tractable girl, my dear Anne, and look at you now, you're more like a gypsy! How can you allow your wife to make such a spectacle of herself, Mr Manners, I thought you had some good sense but it seems I was wrong altogether! I insist that you make her behave properly!'

And still Anne didn't lose her temper, at which Darcy determined not to be outdone by his cousin and ignore his aunt's slights towards Elizabeth. She was just jealous of the attention Elizabeth received from those aunt Catherine considered above a country-raised girl, she had no clue what fashionable people actually liked.

Manners merely laughed heartily, he was enjoying this hugely, he had never cared what people thought of his actions. Of course he wanted people to like him, but strangely, aunt Catherine did like him, even though he treated her much like Lord Chester did, with a kind of mild superiority that would enrage Darcy, had in fact put him out when Prince George had treated him that way, except it had been some time since the prince had done that. Somehow, aunt Catherine didn't even seem to notice, or more likely she was like Collins, bowing to those they considered superior and without the slightest real pride, the wish, nay need, to be treated respectfully by everyone. But then, Darcy also respected everyone else's wish to be treated with respect, even if they were significantly below him. Of course it had taken a harsh lesson to teach him that, or maybe not? Mrs Reynolds, Simon, and most of the other staff had always liked him and respected him.

'Lady Catherine de Bourgh!' sounded an imperative voice from somewhere in the neighbourhood of the piano. The music had stopped a few moments ago, when aunt Catherine had first raised her voice. It was obviously Prince George speaking, but this wasn't the affable prince they knew. This was George Augustus Frederick of Hanover, the Prince of Wales, facing down an unruly subject. He had probably been following the entire conversation and was now acting to shut up aunt Catherine to spare her daughter the agony of having to confront her mother, again.

The silence was deafening, still Manners was not impressed but merely amused, and Darcy found himself agreeing.

'Manners will not make your daughter behave properly, because she doesn't want to. Mrs Anne Manners wants to enjoy life, she wants to ride her horse astride, and she wants to jump fences and hunt foxes and fowl. She wants to ramble for hours, catch trout and play billiards. And when she is tired of her exertions she will sit in that chair over there and embroider flowers on a baby's dress, chatting with Mrs Darcy or listening to beautiful music. Until this fall. For then she will move to London with Mr Manners and she will brighten up my parties with her beauty and her intelligent conversation. She will be the centre of attention at Carlton House, and all the women will envy her the admiration of the men, and the men will envy Mr Manners for having won such a ravishing beauty. I will envy him, too, but I know she is happier with him because he offers her the life she wants, without reporters dogging her steps and especially without people telling her what to do or don't. And the person whose interference she would enjoy doing without most is you, Lady de Bourgh, so I'd appreciate it if you were to sit down right now and hold your peace or by God, I'll ignore my advisor's plea to keep a low profile and teach you a royal lesson you'll never forget.'

That was quite an eye-opener for the rest of them, the affable prince showing a totally different side of himself. In Anne's defence, but still...

Aunt Catherine was stunned by his sudden interference, but it did not seem as if she had gotten the most important point of his message.

'A baby's dress? Didn't I see you working on one when I first came in? Does that mean you are already with child, Anne? Am I going to be a grandmother so soon?'

'No mother, I've been married for less than a month. It's for Spencer's boy. Did you hear at all what Lord Chester said just now? He is not someone to trifle with, you know.'

'Oh I understood quite well, Anne, apparently the whole world has gone mad. Ladies riding astride and chasing foxes. I suppose this Carlton House in London is some venue where young people gad about in defiance of our Lord's commandments. But do not mistake me, Anne, you're no longer young by anyone's standards, and neither is Mr Manners. And Lord Chester looks like he should be long settled, not making eyes at another man's wife as if he's the...oh.'

Now aunt Catherine took a good look at Lord Chester, and she sank down into the closest chair.

'Carlton House, I recognise the name now. And you do look familiar, though decidedly less hefty than some of the less proper drawings in the papers want to make one believe. More dignified than I'd expected, to be honest. And yet you say my daughter and Mrs Darcy should be allowed to do as they please. Well, I disagree, but I know when I have lost and will bow before my betters.'

And indeed she did keep from talking at all the rest of that morning, and surprisingly without giving the appearance of sulking. Instead she listened to the music and watched how Anne worked on her little dress whilst talking quietly with Manners. Those two really did look like a happy newly-wed couple, at least aunt Catherine would leave Pemberley in the solid conviction that her daughter had not made a rash decision there, even though she'd failed to ask her mother's invaluable advice before committing herself.

Prince George totally ignored aunt Catherine, which she did not seem to resent at all, proving to Darcy that their expectations had been correct, she was like Mr Collins and would not be her usual abrasive self before the heir to the throne but rather bow before him quite naturally. It made him even more proud of Elizabeth, she was herself under any circumstance, had been herself even when dining with Prince George and Mrs Fitzherbert at Carlton House. Hopefully she would have at least a chance to enjoy herself despite her cousin and her father being here as well as aunt Catherine. Maybe he should bring out the cards for a few games, that would keep the conversation from taking a wrong turn.