~~PoP~~
Temper tantrums
Lady Catherine de Bourgh was in high dudgeon when a footman assisted her out of her conveyance, which had stopped in front of an elegant mansion. While it was not as grand as Rosings Park, the manor was large and well maintained. She briefly thought that perhaps not everyone in this community lacked taste and sophistication.
She had mixed feelings about why Elizabeth Bennet was to be found in such an immaculate residence. Was she perhaps not quite the insignificant country nobody or were her reasons to be in such a place less salubrious. Considering that Miss Bennet had subverted Darcy from his family duty, she was inclined to believe the latter reason.
Lady Catherine again marched up to the front door where the footman on duty had been warned to expect an uninvited guest. When Lady Catherine demanded to see Miss Bennet without bothering to give her name, she was immediately escorted to the small parlour which had been reserved for the family to relax in for the evening.
On entering, Lady Catherine saw that the room was occupied by an old woman in quite a plain appearing dark red dress with a shawl wrapped tightly about her. The second occupant was a lovely young woman in a soft blue silk gown with darker blue embroidery. Her outfit was complemented by jewellery set with sapphires and diamonds.
Her worst fears were confirmed. No decent young woman would wear such a dress unless she was going to a most elegant ball. Considering the rustic backwater which she had observed on her way from Longbourn to wherever she was now, such entertainments were simply unthinkable.
'Are you Miss Bennet?' she enquired.
'I am indeed. And may I ask who you are?' Elizabeth asked politely.
'I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I would speak to you alone,' the lady declared, looking pointedly at Lady Ashcroft.
'I am pleased to meet you, madam. I would like to introduce my grandmother, Lady–'
Before Elizabeth could mention her grandmother's name, she was interrupted by their visitor who was under the mistaken impression that Elizabeth was going to say Lady Catherine. 'I have no interest in meeting any relation of yours,' Lady Catherine said to Elizabeth. She glanced at Lady Ashcroft and with a flick of her fingers added, 'You may leave us.'
The countess suppressed a smirk as she politely inclined her head. 'As you wish,' she said and exited the room via a door to the adjoining drawing room. It was surely an oversight on her behalf that she did not close the door properly and therefore denied the occupants the wished for privacy.
As soon as they appeared to be alone, Lady Catherine burst into speech. 'You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. 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 seeing you here.'
'I am here because I have received a report of the most scandalous nature. I am reliably informed to you aspire to marry my very own nephew, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.'
'Lady Catherine, I have been taught that matrimony is a most holy institution. How can it be scandalous to aspire to such a state?'
'While matrimony is indeed a most honourable estate, my nephew is not for the likes of you. 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?'
'Surely, if Mr Darcy was indeed engaged to your daughter, he would not offer for anyone else.'
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied, 'The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of hers. While in their cradles we planned the union; and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished, is their marriage to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family?'
'Yes, I had heard of your claim before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it if Mr Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination bound to his cousin.'
'Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! If you persist in this foolish endeavour, 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.' Lady Catherine paused to take a breath.
'Have you canvassed all your family and friends to make such a claim or is your assertion only supported by your own wishes?'
'I will not be interrupted! Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended on the maternal side from the same noble line; and, on the father's, from respectable, honourable, and ancient, though untitled, families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? —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.'
'What makes you think that I am such an inferior match for your nephew?'
'I am fully cognisant of all the notable families in the country. Yet the only connection of your family with whom I am acquainted is a lowly country parson.'
'Perhaps that says more about your connections than mine.'
'Insolent girl. But I should not be surprised by your attitude. All the way here I wondered how my nephew could have so forgotten himself and the duty he owes his family. But now that I see you, I comprehend the arts and allurements you have used to entice him.' Lady Catherine examined Elizabeth from the exquisite hairpins down to her slippers in the most insulting fashion. 'Who, other than someone of low moral values would wear such a gown in the middle of the day.'
'I suppose that it has escaped your notice, but the sun has set, and this attire is entirely proper for a punctual lady who had just finished dressing for a ball.'
'That may be so, but I cannot help but wonder how someone in your situation can afford such gowns and jewels,' the lady spat.
Elizabeth took a deep breath to keep calm and raised a sardonic brow. 'Although I do not owe you an explanation, I am pleased to inform you that the gown was a birthday present from my grandmother. The jewels were presented to me by my father, who had kept them in trust from my late mother, until I reached my majority. An event which has occurred today.'
'A likely story,' Lady Catherine said with a sniff.
'You may believe what you will. Your opinions are a matter of complete indifference to me. But for the sake of your peace of mind I am prepared to inform you of my antecedents. My mother–'
'Is not of the slightest interest to me,' Lady Catherine interrupted Elizabeth yet again. '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. Not even you will dare to defy me. I can easily ruin you, as I am a member of the peerage.'
~PoP~
In the adjoining room, Darcy listened with growing horror at his aunt's slights and insults to his beloved.
He marvelled at Elizabeth's composure in the face of Lady Catherine's rudeness and complete want of propriety.
The members of Elizabeth's family were angry at the insinuations and slurs which Lady Catherine threw about with such abandon. Yet they were proud of Elizabeth's aplomb in dealing with her.
Most of the other occupants of the room did not have the same emotional investment and were therefore more inclined to be amused by the happenings, as none of them liked Lady Catherine. They were silently cheering on the young lady who was remaining polite and unflappable despite the onslaught by the termagant.
Whenever Lady Catherine made a particularly ridiculous statement, there were a few slight and quickly suppressed titters, which did not reach the lady's ears. Even the quiet gasps at her threat to ruin Elizabeth went unheard by her. Unfortunately for Lady Catherine, her claim to be a member of the peerage, caused the senior gentlemen in the room to guffaw… loudly.
~PoP~
Elizabeth's unfailing politeness and calm demeanour infuriated Lady Catherine.
She was used to intimidating everyone in her sphere of influence and could not tolerate being opposed by this slip of a girl. She had worked herself up into pother of epic proportions and did not consider her words in her effort to carry the day.
Her already frayed temper snapped completely when she heard the laughter coming from the next room. Looking into the direction from which the sounds were coming, she noticed the open door for the first time.
She stormed towards the door, crying, 'How dare you listen to the private conversation of your betters, you insignificant country nobod…' the words died on her lips as she threw open the doors and saw the assembled company.
Lady Catherine recognised her brother, his wife and younger son as well as Darcy. She was shocked to see the Duke and Duchess of Denton sitting comfortably on a sofa. There were various other people who looked vaguely familiar and several whom she did not know.
It was infuriating to her that her brother and the older men were the ones who were laughing. Before she could utter another word, Lord Matlock said, 'My dear Catty, you suffer from delusions of grandeur. How often do you have to be reminded that according to the law you are a commoner, and the title of Lady is purely a courtesy.'
'And what makes you think you have the right to insult a lady who is your peer?' asked one of the oldest men in the room, who seemed familiar to Lady Catherine.
'Who are you?' she spluttered; her composure shaken by the unexpected presence of real peers. Despite her claims to the rank, she was fully aware that she was not one of their number, as much as she would have liked to be.
Lord Matlock rose to his feet. 'I believe I had better make some introductions and this time you will pay attention and remain quiet until I have finished,' he advised his sister with a glower.
'My Lords, Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whom I reluctantly must acknowledge as my sister.' The lady shot him an angry look, but remained silent as he raised his hand to prevent an outburst.
Lord Matlock said. 'Forgive me if I make the introduction in reverse order of precedence.' Receiving nods of agreement, he continued as he pointed out the people to whom he referred. 'Starting with Miss Bennet's immediate family, the young lady sitting next to Richard is Miss Mary Bennet, sister to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The gentleman is Mr Bennet of Longbourn, Miss Bennet's father. The lady is Mrs Bennet, also of Longbourn, grandmother to the Misses Bennet.'
'Miss Bennet claimed the other… ah… lady is her grandmother,' huffed Lady Catherine, unable to restrain herself.
Matlock snapped, 'Even you should know that it is customary for people to have two sets of grandparents. But since you appear curious, the gentleman whom you did not recognise is Lord James Ashmore, the Earl of Ashcroft, and the lady whose introduction you refused is his wife, Lady Mary Ashmore, the Countess of Ashcroft… grandparents to Miss Bennet.'
'The young woman whom you insulted and threatened is indeed my beloved granddaughter,' the countess said with a furious expression.
Lady Catherine paled as she suddenly realised that Miss Bennet, whom she had denigrated and whose honour she had besmirched was not a country nobody whom she could abuse with impunity.
'The final member of Miss Bennet's immediate family is Lord James Bennet, Viscount Markwell.' James acknowledged the introduction with a wide grin and an inclination of his head. 'In due course, Miss Bennet will be sister to an Earl.'
Lady Catherine had held onto the thought that at least she was the daughter of an Earl while Miss Bennet was only the granddaughter. But as her brother pointed out, the young lady was well connected as she was herself. How could it have happened that she had been so mistaken?
'Why did that dratted parson not mention those connections,' she fumed.
'Because you would not allow him to speak of the Bennets,' Matlock reminded her before completing the introductions. 'I believe you also recognised the Duke and Duchess of Denton.' Lady Catherine nodded but did not speak. 'And finally, I remember that you have encountered the Duke of Barrington although you may not recognise him, having not seen him in decades.'
The Duke gave Lady Catherine a wolfish grin. 'As it has been such a long time, you may have forgotten that Lady Ashcroft is my cousin. And I do not take kindly to anyone insulting my family.'
Lady Catherine opened her lips to refute the accusation, but no words would come. It was all too much.
For the first time in her life, she fainted.
~PoP~
~~PoP~~
A Plethora of Peers (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023
