Thanks everyone for all your comments. I will be back at work tomorrow, so will go to 1 chapter per posting as I will have less time, but the story will still continue, so hang in there.
For the folks who would have preferred more Darcy / Lizzy romance, apologies, the story was going to be shorter and with more of ODC in proportion, but the other characters did not let me ignore them, and it ended up as more of a family saga. Some of them have more mischief in them as well.
Chapter 11 – Difficult Ladies
The Fitzwilliams had been at Pemberley for about a week and had already agreed to support Elizabeth in society. Lady Susan was delighted to find her future niece not only pretty and well-mannered, but also well-learned, a must for Darcy who was the cleverest of her boys, quick-witted and good-humoured, which would ensure their life would be lively and fun. Pemberley had not seen joy for many years, and Mrs Elizabeth Darcy, once she took on that name and role, would bring pure unadulterated noisy joy back in the ancient manor house.
Lord Matlock was slower to accept a young lady without fortune or noble connections, and Lady Susan had to work hard to persuade Reginald to look at the girl rather than her pedigree; once he had reconciled himself with the fact that the future Mrs Darcy's only notable connection was a young lady with a decent estate in Cheshire, Elizabeth made rapid progress with her future uncle, and he would soon like her quite as much as his wife did, that was certain.
The first Saturday of March dawned bright and cool, as the whole household was enjoying breakfast when a footman entered to announce a carriage had entered the park, bearing the De Bourgh crest. Far too soon afterwards Lady Catherine barged into the house, not waiting to be announced.
She ignored her brother and his family, spared but a glare towards the Bennet ladies, for she was not sure which of them was Miss Elizabeth, and barred down on Darcy with a scowl.
"Nephew, what is the meaning of this," her voice as loud and authoritative as ever, "I have received your letter delaying your visit to Rosings, and a letter from Sutton containing hints of a most unacceptable courtship; I set out at once to bring you back with me so that you do your duty. Mr Collins will issue a licence as soon as we arrive in Kent, and you can marry Anne a week later from Hunsford."
Darcy tried to remain calm. "Good morning, Aunt Catherine, it has been a long time since you have visited Pemberley. As I have repeatedly told you over the years, I will not marry Anne as neither of us wish it. I would be happy to introduce my betrothed and her cousin to you today. The wedding is being planned for May, and of course my dear cousin Anne and you are invited to celebrate with us." Announcing that the wedding was being planned may have been an exaggeration, as Elizabeth and him had only decided on a date two days previously, but it served its purpose with Lady Catherine.
"I will not give any notice to the hussy trying to entrap you," she shouted, "you will marry Anne as your mother and I planned all these years ago, and I will brook no disappointment."
The earl stood up: "Catherine, I will perform the introductions and you will behave in a more ladylike manner. You have been told by everyone in the family, including your daughter, that the marriage you aspire to will not happen. Darcy has found himself a charming young lady and will wed as planned in May." he did not raise his voice, knowing full well that his deep, calm, peer of the house of Lords voice was usually enough to intimidate his opponents. Without giving her time to reply, he proceeded with introducing Elizabeth and Isabella to his sister.
Lady Catherine ignored her brother and turned to Elizabeth.
"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."
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.
"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam."
The other occupants of the room were left speechless at Lady Catherine's audacity in ignoring their audience and addressing Miss Elizabeth so rudely.
"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with."
Darcy signalled for Mrs Annesley to take Georgiana out of the room, knowing that it would take some time to control the situation.
Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain, said "I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?"
Darcy looked at Elizabeth in awe, she was not cowered by his aunt, in fact she was magnificent.
"This is not to be borne, Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?"
Elizabeth smiled at Darcy. "Did you not hear your nephew announce our wedding plans earlier, your ladyship? I believe you already know the answer to this question."
Lady Catherine still stared at Elizabeth to the exclusion of everyone else in the room.
"Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the resumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?"
"Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me."
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "the engagement between them is of a particular 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 in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement to Miss De Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?"
"Yes, and I had heard it 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 by knowing that his mother and his aunt wished him to marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr Darcy is neither by honour not inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may I not accept him?"
"Because honour, decorum, prudence, may, 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 to him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never 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!"
Darcy could stay silent no longer, "Enough, Aunt, the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. I do not approve of your interference in my affairs, and you have no right to concern yourself in Elizabeth's."
(Pride and Prejudice, chapter 56)
He stepped closer and took his aunt's arm to guide her toward the door.
"I have nothing further to say to you. You know our sentiments, and you can plainly see that the rest of the family supports a union between Elizabeth and me. No principles of duty, honour or gratitude will be violated by our marriage, and society in general will have too much sense to join in your scorn. No, aunt, from now on and until you tender a genuine and heartfelt apology to my wife-to-be, you are no longer welcome in any of my properties."
"Not so hasty, if you please, nephew," hissed Lady Catherine, "do you believe me ignorant of Miss Bennet's origins? She is but the daughter of my parson's cousin and his estate is entailed and will go to Mr Collins. If she was sensible of her own good, she would not wish to quit the sphere in which she was brought up, but instead she rejected Collins' offer to attempt to entrap you."
"Elizabeth is a gentleman's daughter; I am a gentleman; so far we are equal, and she will not quit the sphere she was born to by marrying me. You can have nothing further to say after insulting both of us. I will no longer hear a word from you and will not return to Rosings Park to help with your accounts any longer."
With that final word, Darcy handed Lady Catherine to the footmen awaiting in the hallway, instructed them that his aunt was departing and would henceforth be banned from Pemberley and Darcy House.
Once returned to the sitting room, Darcy walked straight to Elizabeth and took her hand in both of his. "Dearest, how are you? I am so ashamed of my aunt, even though you handled her admirably, better in fact than anyone I have ever seen."
"Indeed," the earl chuckled, "none of my own children have ever been a match against my sister. My dear Miss Elizabeth, you are a marvel, and are very welcome in our mad family. I will see how to keep an eye on Cathy without being in her company too much, and I will have words with my eldest son for unleashing her on Pemberley, albeit unconsciously."
"Reginald, please!" his wife was less amused, Catherine's anger was not something she enjoyed watching, especially not that early in the morning. She turned to Elizabeth, "My dear girl, I believe you will navigate the town more easily than any of us anticipated if today's confrontation is anything to go by. I look forward to taking the both of you to selected events after your wedding. For now, though, with your cousin's help, we should start properly planning your nuptials."
To the relief of all present the conversation turned towards flower arrangements and wedding breakfast menus for the rest of the morning.
Charles Bingley had spent many hours reflecting on his life choices. His sister had complained incessantly for weeks about missing the London season and being bored in the countryside. Try as he may, he could not persuade her to help their aunt with the mistress duties.
Mrs Agatha Bingley was a perfect hostess, and a very lively cheerful person, very much like Charles in her friendly demeanour. After less than a week in Hertfordshire, she had become fast friend with Sir William, who shared her sunny outlook on life, and his daughter Charlotte; Miss Lucas' offer to show her how she took care of Lucas Lodge on behalf of her mother was eagerly accepted. By February, Mrs Bingley was working with the housekeeper closely and had taken over the care of the tenants, as well as some of the work Miss Mary Bennet used to perform with the parish, to the rector's relief. Caroline simply sneered at her aunt in disgust each time the later raised the topic of tenant or poor visits.
Before taking on the responsibilities of estate master, Bingley had mostly been attracted to tall beautiful blond ladies, such as miss Bennet, and he now saw that he had ever only looked at their outside beauty and manners; most had been vapid and superficial. Seeing the relationship between Aunt Agatha and Miss Lucas evolve, his outlook on life seemed to change as well; he was party to many of their conversations, with the ladies often discussing matters of substance and import, and he thoroughly enjoyed the challenges raised by both. Bingley was not as clever or studious as his friend Darcy, but he was educated and quick-thinking, and had enjoyed the lively discussions with likeminded gentlemen at Cambridge and later at his club in London, even if he did not like heated debates or serious disagreements. He had never before thought he could enjoy similar intellectual challenges in the company of ladies, his sisters not being able to discuss anything beyond fashion and gossip as far as he knew. That was what he wanted in life, a lady with whom he could discuss estate matters or local issues openly, not a vapid beauty who would sulk when not in London. He had fallen in love with Netherfield Park, and when the lease came to an end, he would offer to purchase the estate; Bingley finally understood what Darcy had felt when away from Pemberley: London's many attractions were superficial and could not compare to the feeling of belonging to his estate and its people, the feeling of being at home, a key part of a well-oiled machine, needed by his home and land as much as he himself needed the place.
Bingley finally called Caroline in his study for a confrontation that was long overdue.
"Sister, I believe it is time for you to return to London and participate in the season. You must find a husband this year as you will soon be five and twenty years old."
"At last, Charles, I have had enough of this disgusting place, and the country mushrooms Aunt Agatha has us socialise with. I will pack straight away. When do we leave?"
"We," replied her brother, "do not, you are leaving, and I am staying. I am determined to purchase Netherfield, and this is my first planting season here, I will not remove to town before after the harvest, so I do not miss anything important."
Caroline was shocked, her eyes wide and, with a sneer on her features, she exclaimed: "You cannot mean this, who will accompany me at functions and events? This place is nothing, you must give up the lease and come back to town with me, for we have a lot of shopping to do to get me ready for the season, and you must be there so that I can visit Mr Darcy and dear Georgiana often, so we can repair the silly misunderstanding of December and he can offer for me."
"You are delusional. Darcy will not change his mind and you will never marry him – I will not hear one more word from you about my friend, and you will not speak of him to anyone else either!" Bingley realised he no longer cared about her displeasure; Netherfield had certainly been good for him.
"Aunt Agatha has agreed to accompany you to town for a few weeks, she will take you to the shops you require, and will inform them all that you have no credit line from me. From now on you will receive your allowance every quarter, and that will be all, I will cover your board and food but nothing else."
"No, you cannot do that, my allowance is dreadfully insufficient. And..."
"Enough, Caroline, you may not have listened to what I said in December, but you will listen now. Our aunt will not remain in London with you for more than three or four weeks, and seeing how your behaviour has failed to improve, I will not ask Hurst to host you. You will find a companion in that time and will set up your own establishment. I will get my business manager to find a small house for you and will pay the rent, as well as minimum staffing for you, for two years. Find a husband in that time, or you will then have to move to a place you can afford on the interests of your dowry."
With a flick of his wrist as dismissal, he turned his back on his sister and walked to his desk to compose a letter for the Hursts. Luckily, he knew full well that they were safely in Bath; the last letter from Gerald had included his suspicions; Louisa may be increasing, and he did not want her subjected to the dirty air of London. Caroline would find no support there.
A few miles away in Longbourn, Jane Bennet had also spent more time reviewing her past decisions. She still thought Mr Bingley was everything a young man ought to be, and she had been thrilled to raise his interest, but it was now clear he was no longer seeing her as a desirable partner. Her heart had not been touched, only her vanity; she had soon accepted his recent defection, after all he was not a gentleman, but a man still in trade, he was not worthy of her. She started to look at all her options for the future and formulated a few schemes before setting on her favourite one and planning her next move.
Jane knew that she was still as beautiful at three and twenty as she had been at eighteen, and she was not yet close to being on the shelf. Her options in Hertfordshire were limited; with Mary permanently living with the Gardiners, she did not expect an invitation to their home for some time; Isabella was probably hosting Lizzy, and anyway Jane would not humble herself enough to apologise to her cousin for her past neglect, not would she ask Lizzy for forgiveness as it was all her fault for refusing their cousin's offer.
Having decided her course of action, Jane started discussions with her mother:
"Mama, with only two much younger sisters at home, and with our neighbours still angry about sending Lizzy away, I feel unhappy with my prospects here. Do you feel you could persuade Papa to take us to the seaside for the summer?"
"Oh, Jane! Your father is vexing me, he is not listening to anything I say to him, and he does nothing to stop us being shunned. Did you know that Mrs Bingley hosted three diner parties over the past two months, and we were not invited because of that awful Lizzy."
Jane interrupted her mother before she started on her usual complaints, knowing that Mr Bennet would probably refuse anything his wife suggested just to spite her. She only needed her mother to not oppose her plans; she needed no support persuading her father. "Perhaps I could plan a trip for us, without you or my sisters saying a word to Papa. If I give him a clear plan that would not cost him too much and would allow him to remain quietly at Longbourn for a few weeks, he might approve. Please do not mention it to anyone yet, as I do not know whether it will be possible."
She did not fully trust her mother's assurances that she would remain quiet, but as Mr Bennet never listened to his wife and Mrs Phillips was still their only visitor, she was not worried; she needed to have a word with her aunt anyway, as Mrs Phillips was needed for her plan.
Within a few weeks, and with a lot of help from both Phillipses as she did not know how to enquire about house rentals and staff, Jane prepared a proposal for her father. The four Bennet ladies remaining in Longbourn, together with Mrs Phillips would rent a small house in Margate for the summer, ten weeks in total, leaving Bennet in peace in his library. The budget, with Phillips paying for his wife's share, was reasonable, and according to her uncle barely above the cost of a summer with five daughters at home. Jane pleaded her case quite strongly, and once her sisters' whining became unbearable for their father, Bennet agreed to the arrangements.
The five women would go to Margate at the end of June, only a few weeks after the Militia's departure from Meryton.
Jane was happy; her scheming had worked exactly as she wanted; the younger girls would do whatever they wanted; Aunt Phillips would distract their mother; she would be free to act as she wished to find and secure a suitable gentleman.