Chapter 10:
Viscount Crawley's trip to Longbourn was short and successful. He arrived in the early afternoon, was seen immediately by Mr. Bennet and politely refused to stay for dinner. He claimed he wanted to make haste and return to Jane, however, Mr. Bennet had a suspicion that someone had warned him about his family's silliness.
He returned swiftly to London and stayed with Laura, his sister, which was his favorite place in town. Mrs. Caresol was beyond happy for her dear brother and felt herself partially responsible for the match—after all, they had met in her humble abode.
"Mary wrote" said Laura, as if those two cryptic words were enough. "How was your visit at Downton?"
"It was...important. I needed to say goodbye to Emma" he said, avoiding looking at his elder sister's eyes. "I spoke with father and mother. What did Mary want?"
"Our younger sister will be staying at Crawley house and is looking forward to meeting her new sister, Jane" said Laura, in a very proper and mocking tone.
"I do not believe Mary has forgiven me for being born first and being born a male—considering she has had twenty and one years to overcome this, her dislike seems slightly unreasonable" he teased, sarcasm being one of his best assets.
"I think she knows you do not want to be Master of Downton and that is what she resents" said Laura calmly. Mary and Laura were not close, however, they understood each other.
"Well I do not" answered Matthew, shrugging his shoulders.
"But you will be and Jane will be a great Mistress of Downton" said Laura.
"That I do believe" he said, smiling wide, "I wish it were not improper to call on her at this hour" he added, a bit restless.
"You must be tired from your trip" noted Laura, calling for tea to be brought in. "I will call for some sandwiches"
"It was a short ride" he answered simply, deep in thought. "Her father approved to have the wedding in Longbourn in a month."
"Where will you honeymoon?" asked Laura, taking a bit of tea.
"I will have to ask Jane" he said, not having given thought to that. He retired for the night soon after they finished speaking, looking forward to seeing his bride the next day.
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Lizzy woke up the next morning with a smile on her face. They had dined at Rosings the night before and to see Fitzwilliam twice in one day was a real treat! He had turned her pages while she played the piano and they had whispered and blushed in between. Lady Catherine had been insistent on being part of their conversation and for a moment Lizzy wondered if she had any suspicion but thinking it was very unlikely for her nephew to show interest in someone clearly beneath him, Lizzy assumed she did not.
It seemed that Elizabeth was in for a surprise. The doorbell rang quite early, as the inhabitants of Rosings were gathering to break their fast.
"You!" shouted a voice from the entrance, entering the small dining room. Elizabeth was sitting next to Charlotte, buttering her toast when a very angry Lady Catherine came storming in. It took her a second to register that Lady Catherine was speaking to her.
The ladies and Mr. Collins stood up in respect, Lady Catherine continued to seethe.
"Miss Bennet, could you accompany me for a walk in the gardens?" asked Lady Catherine, her tone and voice reiterating this was not a suggestion.
"Of course, my lady" answered Elizabeth hesitantly. Charlotte raised an eyebrow in question but Lizzy quietly shook her head.
They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the garden; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable. How could I ever think her like her nephew?
As soon as they entered the garden, Lady Catherine turned to face her in all her fury.
"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my visit. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come."
"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of selecting me to accompany you on a walk" answered Elizabeth cheekily.
"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you."
"You believe it to be impossible, your ladyship" said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain.
"At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted."
"Your coming to seek me out" said Elizabeth coolly, "will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is in existence."
"If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves?"
"I never heard that it was."
"And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?"
"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer."
"This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?"
"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible."
"It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in. Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?"
"If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?"
"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us."
"These are heavy misfortunes," replied Elizabeth. "But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine."
"Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you? Is nothing due to me on that score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment."
"That will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me."
"The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up."
"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal."
"True. You are a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition."
"Whatever my connections may be," said Elizabeth, "if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you."
"Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?"
Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment's deliberation:
"I am not."
Lady Catherine seemed pleased.
"And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?"
"I will make no promise of the kind."
"Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require."
"And I certainly never shall give it. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject."
"Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?"
"Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know my sentiments."
"You are then resolved to have him?"
"I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."
"And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point."
In this manner Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added, "I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your family and insist that you vacate Hunsford at once. A carriage will escort you to London immediately. I hope I shall never see you again—you ungrateful girl!"
Lizzy held her head high until her ladyship was out of view and then she ran into the house, straight into her room. She quickly began to gather her things, shaking from emotion. Lady Catherine had humiliated her and said everything her nephew had said during his proposal.
"Eliza, what is happening?" asked Charlotte, entering her room and surprised at seeing her packing.
"Lady Catherine suspects that Mr. Darcy has formed an attachment and she has asked me to leave"
"This is my home and I will not—"
"Charlotte—I appreciate the sentiment but will not stay here a second longer than necessary. I am glad for your hospitality and if it was not for you, I would not have had this encounter with Mr. Darcy. I do not want to cause any trouble for you. I was planning on leaving on Sunday, two days sooner will not make a difference" said Elizabeth, reaching for her friend. "Thank you"
"Allow me to help you" said Mrs. Collins, clearly upset for her friend. "I cannot say I am surprised by her ladyship's behavior but I will say I most saddened to have a dear friend kicked out of my home"
"You know my philosophy, Charlotte, remember only those things that bring you happiness. I will treasure the beautiful moments from my trip" said Lizzy, smiling. They packed in silence, Mrs. Collins asked one of the maids to pack a parcel of food for Miss Bennet and kept Mr. Collins away when he tried entering the room.
The Rosings carriage arrived soon after. The footmen lifted her trunk and Elizabeth was saying farewell to Charlotte, Mr. Collins, and Maria when they heard a voice from afar getting nearer.
"Elizabeth!" called out a voice from behind, it was Mr. Darcy riding fast on his horse. He dismounted quickly, surprising everyone who was watching, and reached for her hand. "I heard my aunt paid you a visit. We shall discuss the rest later. I am mortified. I am packing my things and will meet you in London later. Safe trip, my darling" he whispered in her ear. He offered his hand and helped onto the carriage, holding on to his hand a moment longer than necessary.
"Mr. Darcy!" said Mr. Collins, attempting to interrupt, as if he had seen something improper.
"Mr. Collins" said Mr. Darcy, in a voice that was not to be trifled with. "Thank you for your hospitality to my intended. We look forward to having you join us for the wedding. Thank you, Mrs. Collins" he added, looking directly at Charlotte with gratitude. She smiled and gave him a small curtsy.
"Go" he said to the footmen and they drove off. "I will be gone within the hour. Good day!", he got back on his horse and drove off.
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Darcy could not believe his aunt had the audacity to insult his bride. Elizabeth, his Elizabeth. Yes, she was technically not his bride but after this fiasco, they would have to get engaged. He would not allow this to disparage her name or tint it in any way. If she would want a long engagement, he would allow it, though he hope she did not. For he wanted to marry her as quickly as possible. Sigh. His horse continued on—his carriage following behind.
He had let his aunt know where he stood on this and made it clear that she would not be welcome in Darcy House or in Pemberley if she did not apologize to his betrothed. He truly hoped Elizabeth would not be angry at calling her his intended—but he did it out of concern for her reputation.
Once in London, he rushed to Darcy House where he bathed and changed and planned to call on Elizabeth in Cheapside. On his way there he knew he had to make a painful stop, he must pay a visit to Bingley and he hoped he would see him.
He gave his card to Bingley's footman and waited to be allowed in.
"Please come in, Mr. Darcy" said the tall footman, opening the door for him. Mr. Darcy walked in to the familiar residence and walked straight to Bingley's office, hoping to avoid Miss Bingley.
"Mr. Darcy! How good of you to pay me a visit!" said Caroline Bingley, forcing him to turn around and acknowledge her.
"I am in a hurry, Miss Bingley, I must speak with your brother" he said, his jaw tight in annoyance.
"Of course" she said, in a very proper accent, as if she was the embodiment of all things elegant. "I shall take you" she offered, going in front of him and walking in what she considered a way that showed off her figure.
"Charles, Mr. Darcy is here" she said, following him inside the study.
"Leave us Caroline" Mr. Bingley said curtly. "Shut the door" he said to the footman. "Whiskey?" he asked Mr. Darcy, pouring himself one.
"I have come to apologize" said Mr. Darcy, still standing.
"For what?" said Mr. Bingley mockingly.
"I misjudged the situation, though you must know that I had the best intentions" said Mr. Darcy.
"Did my sister have good intentions?" asked Mr. Bingley, taking another shot of whiskey, loving the burning feeling down his throat.
"That, I do not know" answered Mr. Darcy, walking towards the desk where Mr. Bingley was not sitting, though he only stood by the chair and did not sit down.
"Do you know she is getting married?" asked Mr. Bingley, looking up at Darcy.
"Her sister told me" he said slowly.
"My angel is getting married and you know what else, Darcy? It is my fault. I want to be angry with you, I want to be angry at Caroline and god knows I am! But I also have to be a man and I chose to believe you and I chose to let her go!" he said, his voice shaking. He chugged the whiskey down and poured another. "I went to visit her and she dismissed me. You know the truth? She was right! Everything she said was right. I left her and what did I expect, for her to welcome me with open arms?!" he screamed.
"Bingley" said Mr. Darcy in a calm voice, reaching for the drink. "Sit"
Charles sat down, his shoulders slouched and heavy.
"I am sorry and I am afraid I come here bearing other news which I hope will be received with joy but understand they may further strain our relationship" he said hesitantly, "I am engaged to be married to Miss Elizabeth Bennet"
If Charles had been drinking he would have chocked on the drink.
"The same Bennet family you dissuaded me from?" asked Charles incredulously.
"My main concern was her seeming disregard but I will not deny that I also spoke badly of the family. Yes, the very same family that I will be joined with" he answered solemnly.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You are my dear friend and I wanted you to hear it from me"
"Well you have" spat Charles, "I am happy for you Darcy and you have been a good friend but I must wallow in my misery, at least until it not longer feels so raw"
"I understand" said Darcy, he walked towards the door and before leaving said, "For all its worth, I am sorry for intruding and I do hope you find happiness"
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