A cunning plan to discover the truth.
The gentlemen returned to Mr. Darcy's home. They settled into Mr. Darcy's study to await the doctor and the Bennets. Mr. Darcy soon began to pace.
"I hate having no direction." he remarked. "We can not do anything but sit."
"Perhaps we can do something." Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
His cousin stopped abruptly and turned to him.
"If you have any plan of action please share it."
"We know that Anne knows what happened to Miss Elizabeth. The easiest way to get the information is to speak with her."
"I thought we agreed returning to Rosings would cause too many questions."
"I am not proposing we return to Rosings. I am proposing we bring Anne to London."
"Bring Anne to London. How could we do that?"
"We use Lady Catherine's greatest wish against her."
"I am not proposing to Anne."
"I would not want you to and neither would Anne."
"Please explain then, Fitzwilliam."
"You know Father is on Lady Catherine's side about you marrying Anne." the colonel began. Mr. Darcy nodded. "If I have a conversation with him about your reasons for not wanting the match..."
"I do not want to marry her because I do not love her as anything more than a cousin."
"Yes, Darcy, I know. You love Elizabeth. I am sure once she is better you will be able to convince her to marry you. You know such arguments do not work on Father or Lady Catherine anyway. They do not care about affection."
"So why speak about my reasons?"
"Other reasons."
"I have no other reasons."
"They do not know that. Any time Rosings, Lady Catherine, or Anne is mentioned he will start on about how he does not understand why you will not marry Anne."
"What are you suggesting he be told?" Mr. Bingley asked.
"As much as I love my cousin, being sheltered in Kent has not exactly made her the type of woman a man of Darcy's stature would seek as a wife."
"She has fortune and connections that is all your father cares about." Mr. Darcy remarked.
"Those are important to him but so is image." Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked.
"I am not following."
The colonel sighed. He turned to Mr. Bingley.
"Bingley, if you married today, do you believe your Miss Bennet would be able to run your home and know how to entertain your guests? Would she be able to plan a dinner party or a ball? Can you list her accomplishments?"
"I believe she could run a home very well. She has mentioned that her mother often allows her and her sisters to help with planning parties. She assists her aunts as well. She may not be considered very accomplished by others but she can sew, ride a horse, and speaks French."
"And your sister, if Darcy were to marry her..."
"I would never..." Mr. Darcy began but his cousin cut him off.
"Could Miss Bingley do all those things?"
"Yes." Mr. Bingley replied. "Caroline is considered accomplished. She managed my home at Netherfield and organized the ball there."
"Darcy, you believe Miss Elizabeth could complete the tasks with little trouble as well."
"Of course she could." he replied. "Though I do not know much of her accomplishments. She plays and sings well. She is well read and enjoys the outdoors."
"What about Anne?"
They were all silent for a few moments.
"I admit I could not say if Anne knows how to run a home. I do not believe Lady Catherine has allowed her to look over household accounts or plan dinner parties." Mr. Darcy said finally.
"I have never heard anyone speak of her accomplishments." Mr. Bingley added.
"Anne cannot play, sing, or draw. I have never seen her sew and only rarely read a book. She can drive her phaeton but has never ridden a horse." Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked. "Lady Catherine has kept her from London, supposedly due to her health, so she is not known to the Ton by anything other than remarks by my parents and the few of Lady Catherine's friends who still correspond with her. She has never been to a ball nor danced with a gentleman unrelated to her. Had Darcy and I not visited Rosings when she was learning to dance she may not have ever danced with a man."
"I thought she visited London at the end of the season every year."
"Lady Catherine does but Anne stays at Rosings. Her mother says traveling is not good for Anne's health."
"How would she travel to Pemberley if she were to marry Darcy?"
"You are beginning to see my point, Bingley."
"As am I." Mr. Darcy remarked. "You wish to tell your father that my hesitance in marrying Anne is due to disbelief that she could fulfill the role. That she would not be able to host parties and balls or manage my staff and homes."
"Exactly."
"How would that bring Anne to London?"
"I will convince him that he cannot simply tell you Anne can do these things. We have been visiting Rosings for years, even before your parents passed. We have not seen her do any of these things. He will have to prove it. He is always saying you need to marry and entertain as your parents did. How would you be able to do so if your wife was at Rosings while you are in London or at Pemberley?
"Lady Catherine will likely insist on coming as well as Anne's companion. We would have a difficult time speaking to Anne alone."
"I will point out that since Lady Catherine has not prepared Anne to be a gentleman's wife nor has her companion assisted in such education, it would be best if Anne came alone. Lady Catherine is not often in London society so it would be better if my mother introduced Anne to those in Town and instructed her. Mother dislikes Lady Catherine anyway so she would not want her to visit any sooner than normal. She also knows you do not want to marry Anne so it would be beneficial for Anne to meet other men."
"It is a good plan if it can be accomplished quickly."
"I could visit Matlock House for dinner this evening." Colonel Fitzwilliam said with a grin. "With luck he will be on his way to Rosings to retrieve Anne as early as tomorrow."
"Would he not just send a letter requesting Anne to visit?" Mr. Bingley asked.
"Father knows how stubborn Lady Catherine can be. He might send an express to let them know to expect him but he would wait until he can speak to Lady Catherine in person to discuss Anne coming to London. That way Lady Catherine has less time to come up with an argument against it."
"Would Lady Catherine allow her to leave Rosings?"
"If she wants to catch Darcy she would have to."
"Alright." Mr. Darcy said taking a seat. "Once Anne is in London, have your mother bring her to call on Georgiana. She would not say anything if we had a quiet conversation with her."
"Would Lady Matlock assist in Miss Elizabeth's situation?" Mr. Bingley asked.
"Mother is a caring and intelligent woman but unless faced with the truth of the matter she would not go against my father."
"Once Miss de Bourgh is able to share what happened though could she be convinced to assist?"
"Perhaps. She may ask to see Miss Elizabeth to be sure she is truly injured."
"If she is willing to help us, I would make the introduction." Mr. Darcy said. "Something must be done about Lady Catherine. I am sure she had something to do with this."
"With Anne in London, we may be able to. Anne is the one who should be running Rosings. It was left to her not Lady Catherine. Once Anne came of age, Rosings was hers."
"Hopefully Lord Matlock can be convincing enough to get Anne to London quickly."
"Father is a master of negotiations. I am sure if anyone can convince Lady Catherine it will be him."
Up next - A visit from the Bennets.