Update ch 38
The two gentlemen exited the billiard room with more of a swagger than either was accustomed to. Ever the gentlemen, they entered the drawing room and gratefully partook of tea and cake. Mrs. Bennet eyed her husband oddly, but she knew not what to make of Mr. Darcy's presence, so she wisely said nothing at all. This was perhaps for the best, for it allowed Mr. Bennet to announce that Lydia would have a season in London.
"Not too soon, though. She shall learn some deportment, and Mr. Darcy must present his own sister first, but he promises Lydia shall have her choice of dukes and earls when the time comes."
"What can you mean, Mr. Bennet?" His wife openly stared at her husband as though he had grown two heads. "Why should Mr. Darcy know of these things?"
Mr. Bennet raised his teacup. "A toast! To a very long life with the best woman I have had the privilege to call my daughter. May you know endless happiness." He drank the tea as though it were the finest brandy in the kingdom.
Mrs. Bennet's gaze darted from Mr. Darcy to Mr. Bennet and back again, unsure what to make of this announcement.
Finally, Kitty asked, "Is Mr. Darcy to marry Jane? I thought she loved Mr. Bingley."
Mr. Darcy bowed to her knowledge, more pleased that his news was now public than he had a right to be, having lost his first match to his future father-in-law. Slightly bolstered by the giddiness that comes from finalizing the agreement to marry and the aftereffects of delicious brandy, he said triumphantly, "That she does, or at least Mr. Bingley hopes she does. I am to marry Miss Elizabeth." He smiled at the thought, which made him infinitely more handsome to romantic Kitty.
Mrs. Bennet still shifted her gaze between the two gentlemen. She opened her mouth as though to speak, but she closed it before words came out.
Lydia, however, remembered she seemed to be part of the gentlemen's plot. She repeated her mother's question. "Why does Mr. Darcy know I shall have a season in town?"
Mr. Darcy looked to Mr. Bennet, wondering what the man would say if left to his own devices. He wondered briefly if he meant more mischief. Mr. Bennet, however, felt no delay was necessary. "We have agreed that he and his wife shall sponsor you for your first season in London." Mr. Bennet took another long sip of his tea. "To be presentable, you must learn some accomplishments. The debutantes you shall face shall have substantial dowries to improve their impressions, so you must be exceptional in your own way. You have at least 2 years before this is thrust upon you. Perhaps we ought to hire a governess after all." Before Lydia could complain, he turned to his other daughters. "Mary, perhaps you will join your sister, when she marries. Perhaps she could arrange for Miss Darcy's music master to instruct you as well. Mrs. Darcy will have the best of everything. There is no doubt about it."
"Marry Miss Elizabeth!" Mrs. Bennet gasped, finally coming to terms with the conversation.
"A music master!" Mary exclaimed at the same time, with an excitement that might have matched Lydia's, should the prospect have been of a ball filled with officers.
Lydia, however, sulked in a corner. The chances of a room full of officers in London seemed small, and it appeared that everyone found her lacking accomplishments. Who needed accomplishments when you were young, beautiful, and lively? What could stuffy Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet know about the matter? She would have lashed out, but the mention of a governess quelled her response. A governess would ruin everything. Her only hope would be to marry an officer as soon as possible before she was sent to London to find boredom in stuffy ballrooms with people too important to be interesting.
Mr. Darcy watched the emotions play over the people in the room. Mr. Bennet took delight in the slow realization Mrs. Bennet seemed on the precipice of. He briefly wondered if the man took delight in vexing his wife at every turn just for the fun of watching her response. He had done the same in the study with the pistols out. Mr. Darcy hoped he never tired of his wife to the point of vexing her for his own amusement. Then he remembered the fire in Elizabeth's eyes when she had defended Jane's admiration and heartache. That fire could warm the coldest Derbyshire night, and he suddenly wondered if he might indeed become a version of Mr. Bennet, vexing his wife for the pleasure of enjoying her passionate response.
Mrs. Bennet stood up to greet Mr. Darcy, thought better of it and sat down directly. She did this two more times before she took stock of her surroundings and warmly welcomed Mr. Darcy into the family. She began to explain how she had taught Elizabeth everything about running a household and caring for tenants, but her daughters drowned her out before she could decide what fully to say. The phrases "ten thousand a year" and "a house in town" flew through her mind more than once, but she could not form sentences, and so remained quiet as her daughters asked what the season would be like when they were invited.
Halfway through a very awkward conversation, Mr. Darcy was relieved when Mrs. Bennet quickly rose and declared she needed to visit her neighbor, Lady Lucas. Her daughters followed her out. Mr. Bennet suggested that he and Darcy remain behind to let the first waves of rapture settle over the village while offering him the use of his study to find something to read. The house was silent until the ladies returned home with an invitation to dinner at the Lucases the following day.
Mr. Darcy made a mental note of how he would describe this to Elizabeth that evening. He had taken to writing daily letters, though he would only post them every other day so as not to be a nuisance to the staff. By the time he went to bed, he felt confident that Elizabeth's family had accepted him. Sitting in bed, he longed for his bed in London where he did not hear incessant giggling, muffled by the thin walls around him.
Lady Catherine picked up the letters and shuffled through them. Half were immediately discarded, for she knew the ladies could have nothing worth reading. They were unlikely to have news of Anne. She paused shuffling when she discovered a letter written by her nephew. Tossing the rest of the pile, she let out a huff. "When his letters come, they should be placed at the top of the pile. I should be searching for a new butler soon, for none of my directives come to pass."
The butler stood silently, knowing she was not in charge of staffing at Rosings. He would have a talk with the footman who had placed the mail on his salver with a declaration that it would likely all be relegated to the fire unopened.
With a shriek, Lady Catherine pushed the pages away from her. When the butler asked if there was anything amiss, she harumphed and told him to go. Once she was alone, she picked up the first page of her nephew's letter again.
"Lady Catherine,
"Consider this your first and last warning. Stop reading Elizabeth's correspondence immediately. She may be too polite to confront you, however, I have no such scruples. Place the enclosed letter on the salver unopened or our connection will end.
"When I have news, I shall communicate with you. You have no need to sink to such despicable acts as opening letters not addressed to you. Anne has not been found, for she appears to be evading our attempts. Two hotels have seen her with a man who matches Mr. Warden's description, however, she has always checked out before we arrive. We are still searching. You had better pray Warden has married her. Without news, it seems less likely.
"Heed my warning, FD."
Lady Catherine threw down the letter once more and stared at the unopened letter from Mr. Darcy for his betrothed. How had Elizabeth noticed, and why would she not take it up with herself rather than allow Mr. Darcy to think the worst of his own aunt? It was preposterous. In a huff, she lifted herself out of her chair and moved to the breakfast parlor, where she found Elizabeth happily buttering a roll as though she had not a care in the world.
With another huff, Lady Catherine nearly bellowed, "The Duke of Sussex…"
She was cut off by Elizabeth who was still eyeing her roll, "…Is to be shown deference but kept at a distance, for he has left many fair maidens in his wake. My mother has read the society pages to us every morning for some time now, Lady Catherine. I am not afraid of who will be in attendance at Lady Matlock's ball. The season is over. Few people are still in town. I shall greet them all cordially after they have been introduced to me." Shutting her eyes, she devoured the roll, humming in delight.
"Your elocution needs practice." Lady Catherine huffed as the butler entered quietly and placed the salver of mail on the breakfast table. Mr. Darcy's letter sat alone.
"I probably should practice elocution." She claimed another roll, pleased to see steam rising from the center of the basket. "Miss Bingley did state that was the mark of an accomplished woman."
Lady Catherine looked like she might faint from apoplexy. However, she managed to say, "No woman from trade can acquit themselves properly. The stench of trade cannot be washed away. Despite your mother's background, your family is descended on a solid line. It is unfortunate that you have no brothers."
Elizabeth chuckled as she watched the butter slowly melt over her second roll. "I have heard this misfortune many times. Mr. Darcy shall see us through if the worst should happen. My sisters will have a handsome brother-in-law who will be devoted to their care." Quickly finishing the roll, she leapt from her chair, declared a walk was in order, and snatched Mr. Darcy's letter before another word could be spoken.
AN: Your reviews made me so happy, I had to get the next chapter written quickly. Thank you for being such wonderful readers and encouraging me for this story. Life is hectic with basically 3 weeks left of school. I still have all summer free to write, edit, and publish, which I am looking forward to. I really hope I don't get roped into teaching summer school.