Chapter 24: Anne's visit
Two weeks had passed since the visit of Anne had been discussed, and it had only been a week since the invitation had gone out. Elizabeth had been against the idea from the start, even went as far as telling her older brother that she had no intention of setting eyes on her hated sister again. Her father had put his foot down, and firmly announced that he would invite Anne, whether she liked it or not for Christmas, it was the least they could do for the girl.
Elizabeth enjoyed her time with the Bennet's, though wassecretly very pleased at having William and Georgiana close, alongside her parents at Netherfield. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst had showed themselves to be kind people, and good hosts when Mr. Bingley visited Jane at Longbourn as their courtship progressed.
The middle of November had showered Hertfordshire in rain, which left Elizabeth irritated and impatient since she could not walk out as she used to. William and Georgiana visited of course every day, but the whole house was filled by guests or the Bennet family, it left nowhere to go for peace and a quiet conversation.
William and Elizabeth had even discussed their wedding, even if they were quite aware that they had a year and a half to wait before they could be wed. William talked of Pemberley, and that she had to visit during the Christmas season, since it would look beautiful and it provided the situation for a ride on a sleigh over the grounds. Elizabeth was looking forward to returning to her home in Matlock, there was only one chip in her happiness and that was the pending visit of Anne.
Mister John Bennet had taken a liking to Lady Elizabeth; she was witty and clever and could easily beat him in a debate. He looked on her like another sister, he taught her things when she inquired, teased her a little of her affections for her fiancé and praised her for her interactions with his sistersand creative works.
One afternoon, the rain had finally ceased and William and Elizabeth weretaking a short walk alongside Mr. Bingley and Jane when Elizabeth expressed, "I am looking forward to return to Matlock, though I dread this visit."
"I am also looking forward to our return to Derbyshire. I am especially looking forward to your visit at Pemberley, so I can finally present you as my fiancé." He said with a smile, which made her weak in the knees, and forgot the whole subject of her sister's visit.
"I am looking forward to seeing Pemberley again; it has been a long time. This time I might even explore it a little."
William chuckled, and said, "I would be pleased to explore with you. I am sure you will love the gardens, especially."
She smiled as she tried to remember what little of the gardens, she had seen, with what she imagined them to be. William knew that she dreaded the visit of her sister, though he was not worried yet, Elizabeth was to visit Pemberley and he would show her everything which would be their home.
"What are you thinking, Beth?"
"I am thinking… of how happy I am to be honest, Will." She replied with a smile.
The first week of December saw the removal of the Fitzwilliam's from Hertfordshire, Jane was of course staying to celebrate Christmas with her family before joining Elizabeth in Matlock for New Year's Eve and the Twelfth Night Ball.
Three days later; Matlock Lake House
The carriages arrived to Matlock Lake House, late during the afternoon the third day, after they had left Hertfordshire.
"We are here." Elizabeth said as they stopped in front of her home. She had shared the carriage with William and Georgiana while her parents and Richard were in the other one.
William smiled and said, "Yes, we are indeed. I definitely need to stretch my legs after this last part of the drive."
Georgiana smiled and said, "I am so happy that we are to celebrate Christmas with Uncle and Aunt and you, Elizabeth."
"I too amlooking forward to celebrate with you, Georgie and your brother, of course." She side-glanced at William, and saw him smile charmingly at her and his sister.
They stepped out of carriage, and were ushered into the foyer and from there to the parlor and finally their rooms.
The family met up for dinner, and the next morning William and Georgiana continued on to Pemberley, alongside Richard.
Anne was to arrive the following week, meanwhile Elizabeth and her parents alongside Max and Marina enjoyed each other's company. Elizabeth was to visit Pemberley alongside her parents for a few days, before Anne's arrival.
That evening when Marina and their parents had retired, Max and Elizabeth were alone in the family parlor.
"Now, Sis, I am guessing that you wanted a word with me in private?" Max asked.
"Yes, I did, Max. First, it is wonderful to see you. Second, I am very anxious about the pending visit of Anne's. I have tried to persuade father to not invite her, as I really do not want to see her again." Elizabeth explained.
"I imagined as much, Lizzie. Unfortunately there is nothing to do about it now, she is coming and you better prepare yourself for it." Max replied calmly as he looked at his younger sister. He hated that she had to face her past yet again in form of the sister who had tormented her.
"I do know that, Max. Though it still makes me angry to know that I have to share my home with her again, even for a short period – what makes it worse, is that we are to host William and Georgiana for Christmas and you know precisely what Anne's thoughts are about William. In that I wish that I was already married to William," she blushed at the statement. "So we could return to Pemberley and peace away from all the drama of Anne's visit."
Max looked at his sister, he could easily understand her sentiments about Anne, William and her reservations about it, and she did it with opinions which were very decided for one so young.
"I understand your sentiments, Lizzie. I do know that you worry about William, and your affections between William and yourself. Trust him, he loves you, Elizabeth. He will not let Anne bully him or you in any way, shape or form. You are bindingly betrothed to William, and he does take his responsibility very seriously."
She listened and knew what her brother told her was the truth as she herself knew that William loved her and had clearly showed his affections for her while they had been in Hertfordshire.
"I know, Max. But I am … I am so scared of losing him!" It took quite a lot of restraint for her not to let her anxiousness show in tears.
Max embraced her, and said,
"I know dear sister but you are not going to lose him. He loves you, and you love him, correct?" He felt her nod, and continued,
"Well then you will not lose him, because if you love each other, you can overcome this visit and come out of it stronger, Lizzie. We will all be here for you, and for William. He is not only my cousin, but he is also going to become my brother and family stick together through thick and thin."
Elizabeth felt better after her talk with her brother, "Thank you, Max." "Your welcome, Lizzie." He replied as they together made their way up to their chambers for the night.
A week later
The Fitzwilliam family was ready to receive Anne at Matlock Lake House, as her carriage drove up to the doors. Maxwell put a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder to give her support. Anne stepped out of her carriage, and her eyes met Elizabeth's indifferent brown eyes. She greeted her uncle and aunt and cousin and then her sister, "Elizabeth."
"Anne." Brown met grey eyes and they stared each other down. Elizabeth did not flinch and retreat; this was her home and her family. Elizabeth only kept her indifference façade up because she thought of her lovely visit at Pemberley, and how happy she had felt there with William and Georgie.
Elizabeth slowly went with her mother and Marina into the parlor and sat quietly with her embroidery hoop though she was seething inside; she managed to keep her temper well controlled.
"How long is Miss Anne to stay?" Marina asked. She knew her husband was worried for Elizabeth and her reaction.
Elizabeth murmured, "Too long."
Lady Matlock said, "She is to stay until a week after the Twelfth Night Ball." She looked firmly at Elizabeth, which was more than enough of a rebuke for her daughter.
Shortly after they were joined by Anne, who sat with her sewing while Marina and Lady Matlock also sewed. Elizabeth rose and said tersely,
"Excuse me." She left the room, and when the door was closed behind her, she pulled up her skirts and sprinted to her room. Once there, she buried her head in her pillow and screamed into it in frustration, and threw it with all her might at the door, it hit with a satisfying 'thud'. It was going to be a long December.
In the course of the first week, Elizabeth tried to keep away from Anne's presence whenever possible until her mother cornered her and said,
"Elizabeth, it is truly bad behavior to avoid a guest!"
"She is not my guest, and I never wanted her here."
"I expect you to behave as a proper lady should and entertain us all this evening on the pianoforte."
"As you wish, mother." Elizabeth replied tersely.
When alone, she wrote letters to Jane, Madeline and William, though most of her thoughts ended up in a leather-bound book she used as her diary.
Matlock Lake House
Derbyshire
December, 1811
Dearest Jane,
It has been a week since Anne arrived, and I can tell you, I hate it! Hate her presence, her demanding voice and even her very person. I know you will tell me to find something positive about her, but there is nothing to put a positive note on our relationship.
But on a happier note, how is your courtship with Mr. Bingley progressing? Has he proposed yet? Are you visiting Netherfield or is Mr. Bingley running from Longbourn to Netherfield or the other way around?
I am very sad to not celebrate Christmas with you, though I am happy that we can both attend the Twelfth Night Ball together, as I am sure I will be ready to commit murder on Anne, as she is being a pain of a guest. Father is being uncommonly kind as to allowing me to take breakfast in my room, and I even avoided tea the other day, which Mother saw as bad behavior, and it was but I am only trying to avoid the conflict which is between Anne and myself. Talking of the Twelfth Night Ball, have you figured out what your costume will be? Since William accidentally told me that his costume would be that of the Tsar of Russia, I am having a dress made to match as the Tsarina of Russia; Mama has already promised me that I will be allowed to wear some of her jewelry.
How are John, Mary, Kitty and Lydia? And what of Mr and Mrs. Bennet? I do miss you all so very much and look forward to another visit maybe in the spring. Maybe this time I can host your family here in Derbyshire? I will have to ask Mother and Father about it.
For now, Happy Christmas
Elizabeth
It was not long before Christmas when the unavoidable fight happened between Anne and Elizabeth. Elizabeth had just entered the library, where Anne apparently was lounging on a chaise long. Anne said,
"You do know that you stole my rightful future from me?"
"I did not steal your future, it was never yours to begin with, Anne. I was promised to William from my cradle, and besides I did not steal a thing, William is a person, and a wonderful man at that. He is kind, powerful and elegant. If you had been smart you should have gone after another man!"
They were now standing face to face, inches from each other.
"You were never meant to be anything but second fiddle to me. You are the baby, I was supposed to marry William and move to Pemberley, you were to stay at Rosings! You should just have been obedient and done as you were told!"
"How. Dare. You!" Elizabeth hissed, "How dare you come to my home, and say those kinds of things to me? Lady Catherine beat me to an inch of my life! If I had stayed or if nobody had figured out about the beatings, I would have been dead! Even if that had happened, William would never have married you! He loves me; he dislikes you for being so horrid to me!"
Their shouting had drawn attention, and soon Maxwell, Lady Matlock and Lord Matlock entered the library, and at last had to drag the two fighting girls to their chambers.
"Retract those claws, sister!" Max said, as he carried her up the stairs,
"She is a horrid human-being! I hate her!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
When she was in her chambers, her mother came in and said, "That was a deplorable show down in the library, Elizabeth! I had expected better of you! And I had also expected more of Anne! You are both grownup women now! You are hereby confined to your rooms until tomorrow!"
"Yes, Mother." She just replied. Max stayed for a few minutes,
"You should have managed your anger better, sister."
"I did not start that argument, she did! At least I did not hit her as I dearly wished! She truly is horrid!" Max only nodded, and left the room.
He left for his and Marina's chambers, where he sat down and began a note to his cousin; it was time to let William know what was going on, before Christmas. Elizabeth and Anne in the same house was truly a bad idea, he could see that now. Anne was too much like her mother, and Elizabeth had the gentleness though still the fire from his late uncle.
Marina stood behind him, and said, "Writing to William, dearest?"
"Yes, he needs to know the situation before Christmas. What did Father think about when he invited Anne? Especially after everything which happened with Elizabeth and her past at Rosings?!"
"I do not know the whole situation as you well know, my love, but I think your father was hoping for reconciliation between the girls. Though since the fight between them today, I doubt that is even a possibility." Marina concluded.
"I have to talk with Father and Mother about shortening Anne's visit; this is not going to last until after Twelfth Night. It is too much to hope for that those two can keep peace between them, even if we confine them to their chambers."
Marina nodded, she was on a mission to persuade her mother-in-law to shorten Miss Anne's visit. "All right, my love. You will talk with your father; leave your mother to me." He met her decided eyes and nodded.