20 March 1812
Screw your courage to the sticking place, cousin. Lady Catherine is coming!
Your not-so-humble servant,
RF
The express from Colonel Fitzwilliam awaited Darcy and Georgiana when they returned to Clessondale. They had departed for Pemberley some four weeks before. Darcy's presence was required at his estate after almost six months absence. His steward had ably handled what he could, but that which he could not had accumulated to the point that the trip was necessary.
"It arrived yesterday evening," Mrs. Lee informed him. "We debated whether or not we should send a messenger to try to meet you but did not want it to pass you on the road. I hope your family is well."
Upon reading the missive, Darcy had merely groaned and handed it to Georgiana for her perusal. "I have no evidence to the contrary but, all the same, this news is not welcome. No doubt my aunt, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, has heard of my courtship with your granddaughter and has decided to make her way here. She can have no other objective in coming other than to thwart it. I must go to Raber Hill at once and talk to Elizabeth. My apologies, Miss Hurst."
"Take a moment to refresh yourselves and then we will all go. I will get Marcus and send a note to David and Louisa." Mrs. Lee took charge of the situation while Darcy and Georgiana retired to their rooms.
~IOAF~
"Who does this Lady Catherine De Bourgh think she is?" After the situation was explained, Mrs. Hurst was indignant.
"You have no idea how many have asked that very same question," Darcy sighed. "My aunt labors under a number of delusions. Though she has had no real presence or role in society in a quarter century, she believes she is a leader of the ton. She is not even a leader within my family. Needless to say, she has a tendency to overestimate her influence among others. However, more troubling are her claims that I am to marry her daughter, Anne. She has gone so far as to say it was the fondest wish of my own mother. I am not, nor have I ever been, engaged to my cousin. I hope you know that I would never deceive you in such a manner." Darcy spoke to Mrs. Hurst, but his focused was on Elizabeth, his eyes pleading for her to believe him. And it was she who answered.
"I know you would not, Mr. Darcy. You need not worry on that account." She had remembered Mr. Collins saying something of an engagement but she would never give credence to anything that gentleman would say.
"None here doubt you, boy." Mr. Lee clasped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "So let us turn our attention to your aunt's imminent arrival. We can presume that Colonel Fitzwilliam sent the messenger when her learned of Lady Catherine's plans but what we cannot know is when those plans were implemented. Was she already on route or was she just then preparing to depart? Was she leaving from London or from this Rosings Park?"
"If Anne is with her, they will travel slowly. A single day's journey could stretch to three." Georgiana had once journeyed from Pemberley to Matlock and the short trip that could be completed in a matter of hours took two days.
"So, she could be here within the next three hours or the next three days. In this case, forewarned may not necessarily mean forearmed. Darcy can stay close to Raber Hill during the day and at night he is a quick ride away but what else is there we can do to prepare?" While David was sympathetic to Darcy's situation, he was done dealing with other people's recalcitrant relatives. He would stand in front of Elizabeth to shield her to the best of his ability, but this fight was Darcy's.
"I should warn you; she will attempt to intrude upon your hospitality and expect you to house her while she is here. It is best to instruct your staff that her trunks should not be removed from the carriage and the carriage and horses should not be removed to the stables. That is the only way to ensure a brief visit," Darcy said apologetically.
Mrs. Hurst was having none of it. "The gall some people possess is unfathomable. Even if I welcomed her visit, Easter is soon upon us. I certainly have no wish to accommodate her when Zibby's family will be here soon. It would be a shame if their reunion is disturbed. And Tessa, Henry, and the children will be here day after tomorrow. Oh, Georgiana, dear, we thought you might like to move to Raber Hill for a bit and enjoy the company of the Bennet girls."
"That will be very nice, thank you." Georgiana had grown fond of the other Bennet sisters during her stay at Netherfield. She looked forward to seeing her friends, but she was more concerned about the damage her aunt's presence could do to her brother's courtship with Elizabeth or the Bennets' stay at Raber Hill.
The butler, Evans, interrupted at that moment. "Mr. Hurst, a Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam wishes to speak with Mr. Darcy. Shall I show him in, or shall I take him to your study?"
"You may bring him here, Evans."
When he entered, Richard quickly scanned the room then greeted everyone. "Given your relative state of calm and the fact that I did not hear any dogs howling when I approached, I gather that my aunt has not graced you with her presence yet."
"Good show, Fitzwilliam." David gave Richard's hand a hearty shake. "You arrived at a good time. We were just speaking of your aunt, but she has not yet arrived."
"Excellent, you received my express. I sent one to Clessondale and one to Pemberley as I did not know the exact dates of Darcy's travels," he said, relief washing over him.
"What is the situation?" Darcy asked.
"Father left last week for Matlock, so he asked me to see to some business for him. When I returned to the house, I learned that Lady Catherine and Anne had been there, and they left only the day before. Lady Catherine showed up unannounced and was quite dismayed to learn we were all away from home. I believe she stopped at Darcy House first." Darcy grimaced in response to his cousin's statement. "Apparently, they spent the night and left the next morning. Her driver mentioned to some of the staff that they were going to Matlock by way of Warwickshire, and it was damn-, pardon, very inconvenient.
"It was too late for me to leave, and I still needed to conclude some of Father's business so I could not give chase. I sent the express and hoped for the best. I was a full two days behind when I was able to follow. Still, I thought I passed her carriage at an inn in Luton, I cannot be sure. However, if it was, we most likely have a day or two, perhaps more, before they appear."
"If you passed her at Luton after a such a delay they are traveling very slowly, indeed." Darcy could at least relax a bit with that knowledge.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, you look a bit weary, would you like to rest or refresh yourself," Mrs. Hurst asked.
"My good lady, I would dearly love both. We struck a punishing pace, hoping to make it here before Lady Catherine."
"David, why do you not take the Colonel to your old rooms?" Mrs. Hurst asked her son before turning her attention back to Richard. "I will have water sent up and something to tide you over and you can rest until dinner."
"Mrs. Hurst, my esteem for you continues to grow," he bowed to her. "Darcy, would you join me? We have much to discuss."
"Of course. You will excuse me," he said to the party remaining in the room. As Darcy followed the other men out, Elizabeth quickly squeezed his hand as he passed by her. He was grateful for the touch. They had barely had the time to speak to each other and this was not the reunion he imagined after almost a month apart.
"I saw that," Richard said once the door had shut behind them.
"So, did I," David snickered.
Darcy was quiet until they reached the rooms to which David led them, "I know you both find much amusement in my admiration for Miss Hurst, but it is time you desist. I recognize it is inspired by my own temperament and behavior but has not the novelty of 'aloof Darcy actually fancies a lady' worn thin? Is it really that humorous that I should love someone and may be loved in return?" Darcy chastised his companions. He picked up a pillow from an overstuffed chair and punched it.
"And now Lady Catherine is going to try to destroy that which has become so dear to me. She will not succeed but the very thought, the attempt, is so offensive. Why must it always be my happiness that is so easily sacrificed to the will and whims of others. I may have been arrogant, but I was never selfish. Yet, if I try to free myself from the burden of others' expectations, I am laughed at or forced to wait or threatened with ruin or disownment. I was so excited to be back and see Elizabeth and I have not even had a chance to talk to her because of this," Darcy held up the express. He tossed it onto a table and sank into the chair. "You will understand if I do not appreciate your unending jests at this time, good-natured though they may be."
Nobody spoke for a few minutes. "I am going to propose. I brought my mother's ring back with me. I thought it would be a perfect time with the Bennets here to celebrate with Elizabeth. With Lady Catherine coming…" he sighed heavily but said no more.
"I am sorry, cousin. It is what you and I have always done, I did not know it bothered you so."
A knock from the attached dressing room announced the footmen bringing ewers of hot water as well as a tea tray. Richard cleaned up quickly and changed into fresh clothes as their conversation continued, careful with what they said until the footmen departed.
"It truly does not, except for this topic. My confidence wars constantly with my insecurity and they are well-matched combatants. Either one might emerge the victor at any given moment. So, when you joke about it, it makes me wonder if there are others who do not take my interests seriously and, more importantly, if I have given Elizabeth reason to question my devotion, that I am just playing at something."
"You should know I will help you with whatever you need. That includes gaining your lady's hand. And since I never make a promise I cannot keep, I can only promise I will try to be more mindful of jokes when it comes to your relationship with Miss Hurst." Richard offered his hand in apology, which Darcy accepted. "Of course, that means I will be positively relentless in my application to other areas of your life."
"Fair enough," Darcy said.
"I am sorry for my part in the teasing, Darcy. Like Richard, I will try to contain my mirth and treat your courtship more seriously. So, allow me to be a very serious older brother and remind you that you do not yet have leave to call her Elizabeth." David gave Darcy a stern look.
"But what you said, about your confidence warring with your insecurity, I feel it most acutely." He paused and the look in his eyes rapidly changed to one of panic. "I think I am going to be a father." At that unexpected statement, both Darcy and Richard stared at David and then reacted.
"That is wonderful, Hurst."
Congratulations." Richard clapped him on the back.
"I should not have told you for I do not know for certain, yet. Louisa has not said. But I know enough to be suspicious, I was eleven when Mother was expecting Lizzy and Tessa stayed here before Sam was born and I remember the signs. Louisa is frequently ill, she suddenly dislikes some of her favorite foods but she eats honey on everything, she finds the smell of ink unbearable. What else can it be?"
"When my mother was expecting Georgiana, my father had to use a different soap and Mother wanted string beans every day at dinner. I have not eaten them since."
"I do not know if I am ready. I feel as though I am barely a newlywed. Moving to the dower house was a fresh start for Louisa and I, and we have enjoyed having this time to ourselves. Fitzwilliam, if you say 'apparently' I shall tell Caroline you have designs on her."
Richard's mouth snapped shut dramatically. "No joking about impending marriage or fatherhood, duly noted. But for the record, I was going to say 'obviously.'"
"Perhaps we should allow things to unfold as they will, but you have my congratulations and I wish Mrs. Hurst good health during this time. I trust you will let us know when we have permission to congratulate you publicly."
"Thank you. I will say the same to you, Darcy," David replied.
"I have news too." Richard said, not to be left out.
Darcy sat up straight and looked at his cousin, intently. "You are not being sent to France, are you?"
"No, but I thank you for your concern." Richard yawned widely. "We are close to a resolution with our corrupt investigators. That was the business I was taking care of for Father. I will need to consult with Mr. and Mrs. Hurst to determine the final outcome. Currently both men are residing in Newgate, their offenses – fraud, deception, and grand larceny would undoubtedly see them escorted to the gallows but a Bow Street runner in the hangman's noose is rather sensational. It will draw even more attention to Miss Hurst. Father and I did not feel it was our decision to make even with the permission we were granted to serve as agents of your family, David."
"Well, today certainly has had its ups and downs, has it not?" David replied dryly. "I am feeling a bit off-balance."
"And Richard is feeling a bit tired." Darcy pointed to his cousin who was asleep in his chair. "Do not take it personally. He once told me it is a trait most soldiers cultivate, the ability to fall asleep quickly and under any circumstances. Let us leave him to his rest."
They exited the room, as they walked down the stairs to the others, they discussed whether or not to mention Richard's information. "Let us wait until after dinner. The decision does not have to be made immediately and without Richard we cannot provide answers to any questions that may be asked."
"Very well, I leave it to you, David." Darcy was happy to delay the conversation. He might finally get a chance to talk to Elizabeth.