Anne stood inside her mother's private parlour, rather shocked at her own bravado for marching through the door unannounced. She could feel the vexation caused by her unexpected arrival heavy in the air. Her mother's cold blue eyes burned into her. Anne swallowed hard, trying with all her might to meet and hold her mother's stare. Of course, it was she who looked away first. The courage fuelled by her anger towards Richards sly departure appeared no match for her mother's steely glare. Anne looked about the room, she could not recall having ever been allowed entry to her mother's private parlour. The room was not entirely as Anne had imagined. Puzzled, Anne was mostly taken aback by what appeared to be a collection of several mismatching, old leather reading chairs. These over-sized; sagging, almost masculine looking chairs contrasted greatly against the ornate and delicate pink décor of the room. It was in one of these peculiar old chairs Lady Catherine now sat, her mouth twisting unpleasantly in response to the unwanted intrusion of her daughter.
"I did not give you leave to enter," her mother said dryly adjusting the night shawl which lay about her shoulders. "As you can see, I am yet to dress." She looked down her sharp nose at Anne. "You really are a most selfish creature, bursting in here. Whatever possessed you to come uninvited to my chambers? You know very well it is not yet the fashionable hour to receive company; yet here you are." Lady Catherine leaned back against the leather chair gazing coolly at Anne, awaiting an explanation. She was in no mood for company this early in the day. Each morning took longer to dress than the previous. The stiffness in her joints only added to the longwinded process and darkened her mood.
Anne opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. She couldn't help but notice how tired her mother looked this morning. She appeared smaller, engulfed by the oversized armchair. Without the large fine gowns; headdresses and hair pieces, which her mother had always worn since her youth, she simply sat before her unmasked and elderly. The effect left Anne feeling quite uncomfortable, guilty even. It was wrong of her to be here. It was unfair of her to intrude on her mother's inner sanctum. She was just about to apologise and take her leave when her mother spoke.
"Do you not think yourself beyond the years for such a style of dress," she asked in a calculating tone. "Really Anne, I almost pity your lack of fashion. That style of dress may be handsome enough upon other women, but with your... shall we say lack of stature? One would think you would be ashamed to be seen in such an unflattering display. It would appear I truly do need to take supervision of your wardrobe after all. It is all most unappealing."
Anne closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to calm her nerves. Her mother had such a skill for making her feel entirely inadequate. You are not inadequate, called a small voice inside her. Anne raised her head and looked directly at her mother. The pity she had felt towards her mother, only moments ago, was cast aside. She was in no way deserving of such sympathetic attentions. The hurt and upset which had brought Anne marching into her mothers room was once again filling her with uncharacteristic rage.
"Why must you speak to me so?" Anne asked in a voice she barely recognised as her own. "What gives you the authority to speak to me in such a dismissive manner? I am a grown woman with thoughts and opinions of my own. You criticise everyone and everything around you in an attempt to display your enforced superiority; well I am done with being on the receiving end of it mother. I will have it no longer. "
"AUTHORITY!" Her mother cried, not accustomed to anyone challenging her, especially not Anne. "You child are but my daughter. I am all the authority you need ever take heed to. How dare you speak to me in such a ungrateful tone. How dare you speak to me thus while under my own roof."
"But it is not your roof," Anne said loudly. The words were out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying. The expression on her mother's face turned to one of disgust. This only added to Anne's determination, she continued: "This is and for quite some duration has been MY house mother. The estate and all she entails is mine. I am the rightful mistress of Rosings Park, it is a reality you seen quite determined to overlook." Anne clenched her jaw in an attempt to curb her tongue, she knew she had said too much, but what of it? It was all true. Her palms sweating, she held them at her side, awaiting her mothers response.
Lady Catherine for once was a loss for words. The rage beating wildly within her chest was reaching such a crescendo she could not think straight. She glared at Anne, her face like stone. The silence between them was deafening. Anne felt sick. She was expecting a furious, sharp tongued attack from her mother. The longer her mother sat in silence the more uneasy Anne felt.
"How dare you," Lady Catherine spoke softly after what seemed like an eternity. "How dare you say such things to me. How dare you after running off to Scotland. Leaving me in favour of family so unconnected with me! You now dare mention your role as rightful mistress of this house. You are, and will never be mistress of this house. Mark my words girl you would be found wanting. Do you really think you have what it takes to be the sort of lady a home like this demands? To carry yourself in the manner which is expected by such a position?"
"Well you have never appeared deterred in your enthusiasm at my being mistress of Pemberley!" Anne retorted with much passion. "Rosings Park is nothing when compared to that a privileged situation. If I am good enough for you to wish me situated as mistress of Pemberley, then I am damn well able to take charge of my own ancestral home."
"Do not cast your opinion on matters you know nothing about," Lady Catherine replied. "Do not be so foolish to believe I have ever thought you capable of running anything. When you become mistress of Pemberley it will be in title alone. The joining of two great ancestral families of great land power and wealth. Be happy in the knowledge that you can do one thing to bring honour to your family."
"I will never be mistress of Pemberley!" Anne shouted. "I will never marry Fitzwilliam."
"Anne," her mother spoke in tone not to be argued with. "I recommend you hold your tongue and return to your room where you shall remain until you can behave in a more ladylike manner. I am ashamed to call you my daughter."
"Your daughter," Anne laughed, her voice full of bitterness. "When did you ever treat me thus? I have been your companion, someone to criticise and oversee; a pawn for your future plans and ambitions. You have never shown any daughterly affection towards me. I have been shown more love and affection from an aunt I have barely known than I have ever received from you. My aunt Matilda has shown me more care and attention than you have ever shown me in my entire life."
"Your aunt would do well to remember her place and stay away from matters which do not concern her. Believe me when I say this Anne," Lady Catherine almost spat, "her attentions towards you were no more than an attempt to hurt me. Self-righteous, uncouth woman; I can clearly see where this distasteful behaviour of yours has stemmed from."
"The Dowager of Elgin is a fine and well respected lady," Anne replied, appalled at her mothers criticism of her dear aunts character. "She is a kind and genteel woman who is greatly respected by all. She never once looked down upon me, or criticised my person or interests. She showed me nothing but kindness, encouragement and love."
"Love," her mother laughed at such a foolish use of the word. "How disappointingly simple you are Anne, to be taken in by such a thing. Love never did anyone any good. It makes one weak and open to all sorts of disappointment. Mark my words, you would not be half the woman you are today if I had smothered you in affection and praise. But who, when presented with such a child could not find fault! Now I have no idea what your intentions were when you came barging most unwelcome into my rooms, but this conversation ends here. You shall take your leave and go to your rooms and think about the gross display I have had to witness from you today. It is a good job Darcy is nowhere near at present. Can you imagine the disgust he would feel towards you at speaking to his much favoured aunt so? You are lucky indeed for who would want such a spectacle for a wife!
"Mother that thought does not concern me in the least as I have already said I have no intention of marrying Darcy." Her cheeks felt hot and although still angry, her mothers words hurt her to her very soul. "I have already declined Fitzwilliam. He does not love me nor I him. It would never be a happy match, for either of us."
"You did what," her mother spat standing up from her chair and taking several unsteady steps towards Anne. "You mean to tell me Darcy has asked for your hand and you have refused him?"
"Yes," Anne replied, a hint of hesitation in her voice, "I..." She stammered, "I have refused him twice, we are both determined that this is the best outcome." Heat suddenly exploded across the left side of Anne's face as Lady Catherine slapped her cheek at full force. Anne stumbled backward not only from the immense pain, but from the surprise of her mother's action.
"You are no daughter of mine," Lady Catherine growled, gripping the edge of a table to support herself. "You mean to tell me you refused him. You threw aside all I have ever wanted for you; the most you could ever wish to achieve, the one thing that would make your mother happy? This is the thanks I get for raising you? Obstinate head strong girl I am ashamed of you. Get out of my sight, do not speak to me, do not look at me. I shall speak to Darcy directly and settle this matter once and for all. If I were you, I would be ashamed to have been born."
Her mother turned and walked slowly towards a door to the left of the parlour.
"What did you say to Richard with regards to myself? Anne asked with determination at her mothers departing back. "That summer we visited the Matlocks in Yorkshire. Richard and I began a correspondence thereafter but the letters suddenly stopped. Was it you, what did you say to him?"
Lady Catherine stopped and stood stalk still. She slowly turned to look at Anne but remained silent. Anne tried hard not to loose her nerve, willing herself not to break her mothers eye contact. This is what she had come to ask, this was the question to which she must know the truth. "Richard told me he came to you. I wish to know what you said."
Of all the things Anne could ask her, Lady Catherine was not expecting Anne to ever question her with regards to the private meeting she had held with Richard. She looked at Anne, she almost felt pity towards her. Surely after so long her heart was not still touched? She was certain she had convinced Richard that what he felt for Anne was no more than a fleeting fancy, a mere boyish infatuation. She had made it very clear to him Anne would never except him as a serious consideration. Anne was destined to become mistress of Pemberley, not the wife of a solider. She had told him he would make a wonderful husband one day, but Anne would never welcome such attentions. Lady Catherine was certain her words had taken effect, Richard had immediately stopped his correspondence with Anne. Following this Lady Catherine had simply arranged that any letter written by Anne came directly to her before reaching the post. Anything destined for Richard was simply thrown in the fire. It had only taken a few months for Anne to finally give up. As far as Lady Catherine was concerned the business was all so easy to manipulate, there could not have been much true attachment on either side.
Anne watched as her mother stood, clearly deep in thought.
"I wish to know what you said to Richard," Anne repeated. "Mother, please tell me I must know."
The feeling in Anne's voice almost unnerved her mother, but only almost. "Anne, there is nothing to tell you. Richard is the second son of an Earl, he only wishes to marry for money. He told me as much and I simply said I could not allow him to use your sweet nature and regard for him for his own gain. You were not yet of age, Anne, I had your best interests at heart. He held no true regard for you"
"But you are happy to see me in a loveless marriage with Darcy?" Anne asked her voice quivering. Surely this could not be true? Richard had spoken of love. He had condemned her as the one who wished to marry for social standing, surely this could not be right?
"You would learn to care for Darcy in time," her mother replied. "He is a good man and would look after you. Love in marriage is a rare and fleeting thing, Anne. I had your best interests at heart." She dropped her voice low, "please do not use the protective love a mother feels towards her child against her." Lady Catherine glanced at Anne, waiting for the effect of her words to sink in. She smiled to herself, Anne was always so easy to manipulate. "Come, dear," her mother said waving her hand towards Anne, "let us not quarrel, I have no idea where these questions have come from but it is all out in the air now. May I suggest you go and change from that gown? I shall dress and then we shall have breakfast; just you and I on the eastern terrace. Wouldn't you like that?"
Anne looked at her mother, she had no idea what she would like, her thoughts were such a muddle. Anne nodded slowly.
"Good, purred Lady Catherine, pleased to have put an end to this ridiculous conversation. "Perhaps afterwards we shall find Darcy and you can both take a walk in the grounds? I am sure you have much you wish to say to him and to apologise for."
Anne shot her mother an angry look. "Mother nothing you have said will change my resolve to never marry Fitzwilliam. I have no intention of ever being his wife. You are also likely too late; he informed me earlier this morning that he intends to return to London post haste.
"You lie," Lady Catherine remarked, all softness from her voice evaporating. "You shall apologise and make him stay. It is time both of you upheld your responsibility to family duty. Darcy would not leave without taking leave of me, and I simply forbid it."
"You may try and control me mother, but you have no hold over Darcy."
"As long as you are under my roof you shall do as you are told."
"But as we have already established, mother. This house belongs to me." Suddenly an idea began to take shape within the cloudy fuzz of Anne's mind. "Everything belongs to me."
"If you disobey me Anne, I shall never speak to you again, your name will never be mentioned," her mother cried in an attempt to take control of the discourse once more.
"You do not control me mother," Anne said softly as she turned and walked towards the door. "I am sorry this conversation has taken such a turn, but perhaps it is for the best. I think we are done here." Anne opened the heavy door and left the room heading directly towards the guest wing.
Moments later Anne knocked hard against her second door of the morning. The door opened a jar, revealing the face of a rather confused young man. Behind him the room was a flurry of activity with open trunks scattered about the room.
"Anne!" cried a voice from within the room. The door opened wide to reveal Fitzwilliam, a perplexed look upon his face at Anne's untoward appearance at his bed chamber.
"Is everything alright, what on earth is the matter?" he asked puzzled by her calling at his room thus.
"Fitz, would you be so kind as to allow me to travel with you to London? I can be ready within the hour. All I need do is send word ahead for the servants to ready the house in Grosvenor Square."
Darcy looked down at Anne with much surprise. "Of course you are more than welcome to travel with me Anne, however you cannot expect to stay at the de Bourgh town house surely? Why the place has not been used in years. It will take the servants several days, I am sure, to ready to the place entirely. Do you even know the number of servants you keep in residence?"
Anne's face fell, no she had no idea. The house had been empty for so long she believed there was barely any staff held in attendance. Her sudden bright idea of a quick escape was suddenly beginning to dim.
"Of course you are always more than welcome to stay with me," continued Darcy, "I am sure Georgiana will be delighted for you to visit. If it would be acceptable to you, you could visit with us which would allow ample time for the house at Grosvenor Square to me opened up. I can even assist you in the hiring of additional staff if you wish it so."
Anne smiled widely at Darcy. "Yes, I do believe that idea to be quite perfect."