Update ch 42
Lady Catherine walked up to the door as her footman used the knocker. A formidable butler promptly opened the door to allow the footman to announce Lady Catherine and Elizabeth.
The drawing room was as gaudy as Elizabeth had predicted from her view of the outside. Relief poured over her that this was not to be her future home. The color scheme of light blues and yellows was pleasant, though the gold-plated ornamental furniture ruined the effect. Elizabeth sat in the most comfortable chair she could see without moving away from the great lady sitting in front of the tea setting.
Lady Whistleton looked Elizabeth up and down, found her unimportant, and turned to speak with Lady Catherine. Elizabeth smirked and watched the two ladies until Lady Catherine decided to take matters into her own hands. "Miss Bennet has been practicing the pianoforte. She should play with Lady Jane."
With the two younger ladies situated at the pianoforte, and Lady Martha observing them intently, Lady Catherine waited patiently for Lady Whistleton's curiosity to be piqued.
"What brings you to London? You hardly ever leave Rosings. I have heard rumors that I can scarcely believe," Lady Whistleton obediently enquired.
Lady Catherine sat taller as she triumphantly declared she had come to witness her daughter's marriage. She looked over to the pianoforte to ensure Elizabeth's attention was focused on the pianoforte. Elizabeth glanced over a few times, but she was clearly out of hearing range. Lady Catherine grimaced and turned her attention back to her companion.
"Oh!" Lady Whistleton exclaimed. "I heard of her dance with Mr. Darcy at Lady Metcalfe's ball and rumors abound that Mr. Darcy is hinting at matrimony. Have you finally brought him to the altar?"
"Indeed! I should allow none other than such a prominent, upstanding, gentleman for my daughter. My sister and I have spoken of their engagement since they were in their cradles. It is time for them to do their parents' bidding. They have been at Darcy House waiting for the special license since the ball. My Anne is such a lovely dancer, he could not wait any longer. If I had known he had only been waiting to see her dance, I would have hosted a ball ages ago."
Lady Whistleton nodded appreciatively. "That is so sweet. With a special license, they can marry at any time, and without reading the banns, though I cannot imagine that to be necessary as there were no impediments to their marriage in the family."
"They have settled on a morning wedding on the morrow. They have shared a home without a chaperone for nearly a fortnight. There is no other option. If I had known, I would have strenuously discouraged such matters. Once they are wed, they can hide in their home with society's blessings, but you know how the younger generation are. They make a splendid match, joined through their mothers' noble family and from distinguished families on their fathers' side."
"Who is such a splendid match?" Lady Jane asked, innocently arriving from having finished playing through a duet. Elizabeth followed closely behind, observing Lady Catherine suspiciously.
"We should be leaving. I long to see my daughter. You shall see the announcement in the papers soon." Lady Catherine rose before Elizabeth could hear anything to which she would object or counter.
"You must be eager to get to Anne. She must visit before she leaves London. You will remind her of her duty to me, of course." Lady Whistleton took the abrupt departure in step.
"You may depend upon it. Miss Bennet, come. We must continue our journey." Lady Catherine quickly left the room, forcing Elizabeth to simply follow. She eyed Lady Whistleton warily, who looked like a cat who had found a mouse before following Lady Catherine to the carriage.
In the carriage, Elizabeth asked how the visit went but did not receive much of an answer. As they stopped at an even grander house, Elizabeth looked at it warily. "I suppose this is not Darcy House either. Who are we visiting now?"
"We are not visiting anyone. You may take the carriage on to Darcy House. Lady Emily has no need for your company. My driver will see you to Darcy House safely, and Lady Emily will give me the use of her carriage. Even a marriage by special license must be attended by nobility, and since Anne cannot make these visits, I must. Tell Anne that she should have told me her plans so I could make the necessary visits in my own time. I am seriously displeased."
Lady Catherine stepped out and closed the carriage door before there could be any argument. Elizabeth sighed in relief that she would not need to see another home. She also eagerly anticipated seeing Darcy House. She could not stop smiling as she realized that only minutes separated her from her beloved Mr. Darcy. Would he embrace her? Surely not in front of everyone, but just as surely, he would find time for them to be alone.
When the carriage turned a corner sharply, her thoughts turned to whom she had left behind. What was Lady Catherine saying when she was not present? Why did Lady Catherine desire her absence? It could not bode well. Was she trying to engineer a compromise?
"Stop the carriage!" She knocked on the ceiling and braced herself as the carriage moved to the side of the street. A footman opened the door to aid her. "I must return to Lady Catherine."
"Begging your pardon, Miss. We were given specific instructions to see you safely to Darcy House and nowhere else. We cannot risk your safety." The footman shifted uncomfortably.
"I shall be safe with Lady Catherine." Elizabeth stated firmly.
The footman looked doubtful. Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously as he declared they could not turn the carriage around.
Elizabeth sighed in resignation. "Very well. I understand your predicament, but I am not a prisoner. I shall tell Lady Catherine that you did your best. You may continue to Darcy House. I shall walk." Without waiting for the footman to react, she climbed out. The footman pointed her to the correct street before nervously climbing to the top of the carriage. They were beginning to depart when Elizabeth called them back and bid them to tell Mr. Darcy where they were. She then mustered her courage and walked to the house she remembered viewing with Lady Catherine.
Meanwhile, Lady Catherine was meeting with Lady Metcalfe's sister, Lady Cartwright, who had been in attendance at Lady Metcalfe's ball.
Upon her entrance, Lady Catherine claimed the seat beside Lady Cartwright and made herself at home with a cup of tea. They spoke of trivial matters for about a minute before Lady Cartwright opened the conversation by asking if Anne had yet married.
"She will wed tomorrow." Lady Catherine declared joyfully.
"Ah. You must be so proud. Who will be her husband?" She asked politely, knowing full well only one gentleman could inspire such glee in her friend.
Lady Catherine glowed as she said Mr. Darcy's name. "They have purchased a special license and shall marry in the morning."
"They were just at Rosings. Why not simply read the banns and marry from Rosings. Three weeks is not too long to wait. You wish for the match and he has no guardians to interfere. Anne's health will not improve in the London air. Two Sundays have already passed since the ball."
"A special license is more fashionable. It announces to the ton the importance of the marriage."
"Or are they avoiding the banns? Perhaps her health is not so sickly as you have implied all these years and there is a need for a hasty marriage." Lady Cartwright chuckled as she watched Lady Catherine squirm with unease.
"They would be fashionable. After the ball, they secreted away to London to obtain the license."
Lady Cartwright looked at her friend oddly. "They could have married in Kent with a common license much sooner. Two Sundays have already passed since the ball. Waiting to read the banns would have only required one more week. Surely there cannot be a reason for such haste. I cannot believe Mr. Darcy would agree to the secrecy of a special license."
Lady Catherine squirmed a bit in her seat again and moved to take a slice of cake from the tray to hide her disquiet.
"I believe you are wrong, Lady Catherine." Her friend began. "Mr. Darcy's character has always been steadfast, and he has always refused the idea of marrying Anne every time you tried to spread the gossip in London. I know he has no intentions of marrying Anne, even if she were to be compromised and abandoned."
"Who has spread such falsehoods? I should have them horsewhipped!" Lady Catherine bellowed.
"I heard his declaration at my sister's ball. Choose your words wisely, Lady Catherine. My nephew is to marry Anne, though my brother disliked the idea at first. He has resigned himself to it and promised not to disown Thomas Warden for choosing his own bride. You, on the other hand, were unlikely to ever give in to their scheme, which is why they are in London now. Mr. Darcy is betrothed to Miss Bennet of Hertfordshire, and he is rather besotted with her from the sound of it. His only reason to come to London was to follow Anne and Thomas to ensure they marry."
Lady Catherine stared at someone she had thought would be on her side. They had always gossiped together, and they had never disagreed. An idea came to her. "You were the one listening on the other end of the tube!"
Lady Cartwright nodded, concealing her triumph for a later time. She knew the conversation was not over, and she needed her wits about her. "I grew up in the house and knew of them from my father's time. I shall not allow my family to be taken in. Thomas will not be cast aside so that you can have your way."
"Mr. Warden will not be cast aside. He is rich and will marry well. Besides, he is unable to be found. However, my Anne has been living at Darcy House for a fortnight without a proper chaperone. Mr. Darcy must marry Anne with the special license instantly to stop the gossip."
"No. He will not." Came a determined voice from the doorway.
They turned to see Elizabeth standing behind the butler who had been about to announce her. She looked livid. "Anne was careful not to let Darcy know she was at his home. The servants kept them separate. There will be no gossip that they have been alone together, except that which you are spreading yourself, to your own daughter's detriment. If only she had confided in Mr. Darcy, he could have given her the special license sooner, preventing your meddling ways."
Lady Cartwright smirked at Lady Catherine's blustering huffs. "Indeed. Who are you?" she asked as she rose to greet Elizabeth.
"She is no one!" Lady Catherine bellowed.
"Sit down, Catherine!" Lady Cartwright scolded her longtime friend, wondering if she could ever have really been a friend. When Lady Catherine took her seat with a firm scowl, she turned back to Elizabeth.
"I am Mr. Darcy's betrothed, Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. I shall carry my point. Anne intends to marry Thomas Warden on the morrow. We were on our way to Darcy house to be present for the marriage when Lady Catherine insisted on making these stops."
"These stops!" She exclaimed. "How many stops have you made?"
"That is unimportant. Anne will Marry Mr. Darcy. He has lived with her unchaperoned for more than a sennight." Lady Catherine's voice was weaker, but she still hoped to carry her point.
"Unknowingly lived with her, as can be attested by the servants, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Miss Darcy, her companion, and even Anne de Bourgh." Elizabeth stood tall so as to not be intimidated.
"Servants can lie, especially for money, and the rest will do their duty to me. Besides, Miss Darcy is not a proper chaperone." Lady Catherine huffed. She was clearly grasping for any bit that could prove her point.
"Mrs. Annesley is a proper chaperone, however. I also have letters that can be brought forth to prove Mr. Darcy's ignorance."
"You could have forged them!" Lady Catherine nearly screeched, knowing this was a weak argument.
"I have not." Elizabeth stated calmly. She would have felt bad for Lady Catherine, but this had gone on for too long.
"I told you to continue on to Darcy House. How can you be fit to be mistress of Pemberley?"
"That is for Mr. Darcy to decide. He chose me and is confident in my abilities. It seems that I am needed here." She took a deep breath as Lady Catherine began to speak again. She would not let her have any more to say. "You would ruin your family's reputation so hopelessly! Darcy declared he would not marry Anne. I heard it, as did Lady Cartwright, apparently. You are a disgrace to the Fitzwilliam family by continuing in this manner."
"I quite agree." A masculine voice sounded from the door way.
All three turned to see Mr. Darcy staring. His expression was no longer stoic, and Elizabeth quickly understood why so many looked up to him with reverence.
"Mr. Darcy!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she hurried to his side. "I have missed you." She smiled brightly.
He took her hand and kissed it gingerly, not taking his eyes off her. "And I you, my dear. Lady Catherine's driver found me and explained where you were. I wished to come to support your cause, but it would seem that I am unnecessary. You have defended the truth splendidly."
"Nephew! Come away from her. We must go to Darcy House at once. Anne is waiting."
Mr. Darcy turned to his aunt. His expression was stony. Even Lady Cartwright shivered as her blood cooled. "Anne is not waiting. We knew you were coming, thanks to an express from my brilliant betrothed, and hurried the wedding. The cost was exorbitant, but Anne is now Mrs. Thomas Warden. Nor are you continuing to Darcy House. After your insistence on spreading malicious gossip, you are not welcome. Return to Rosings and begin packing. Anne is the mistress of Rosings and will return in a fortnight. She has already decided you will move to the dower house. If you cannot be civil, even that house will be denied to you."
"You would never cast me out."
"This was Anne's choice, when she heard you were coming and spreading gossip along the way. You cannot be trusted, and she will not tolerate your intrusions anymore. If you do not accept her husband, be certain you will be relegated to a small cottage in Ireland for the rest of your days. She has put up with you for far too long, in my opinion."
Lady Cartwright stood up quickly. "It was so good to see you, Lady Catherine, but I believe you must be on your way. You would not wish to be caught driving after nightfall." She turned to Mr. Darcy once again, relieved his expression had neutralized. "Thank you for bringing tidings of my nephew's marriage. May I visit them while they are in London?"
Mr. Darcy looked to Elizabeth to ask her opinion and she nodded, adding, "She defended Mr. Warden's desire to marry Anne. I believe she is a trusted ally."
Turning back to Lady Cartwright, Mr. Darcy acquiesced. "Then you must join us for dinner this evening. We shall be a merry party." He turned back to Elizabeth and offered her his arm, "Shall we be off, my dear? Miss Darcy is eager to meet you."
Elizabeth accepted his arm, wrapping both her arms around his and leaning closer than propriety would normally allow. She then turned her head over her shoulder to apologize for coming in so abruptly and leaving so quickly.
"Never mind that." Lady Cartwright laughed, "Providence deemed it necessary. I shall see you at seven, and I hope to learn more about the woman who put such a smile on the stoic Mr. Darcy who seemed doomed to bachelorhood."
Lady Catherine huffed and stalked out of the room without speaking to anyone. Elizabeth hid her chuckle of triumph, knowing it would be cruel. Elizabeth pictured her like a dog with her tail between her legs as she moved toward her carriage.
Elizabeth was following Lady Catherine, but Mr. Darcy stopped her. "We have our own carriage. Miss Darcy shall be our chaperone, and the top is down, so all of London will see that we behave."
Elizabeth smiled and let him lead her to the carriage behind Lady Catherine's where a young girl with a dainty yellow dress awaited them.
AN: I was going to put this chapter in half, but since my reviews have been so pleasant to read, I decided you deserved the whole bit. I have the next chapter in my head, so it should be out soon. I am sorry for the delay in getting this chapter. We changed my anxiety meds, and then my MIL was in the hospital. We are recovering well. My son returns from camp tonight, and my daughter goes next week to her camp. And now school starts in 3 weeks. Argh! I thought I would have more time this summer. I really want this done before school starts up again. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you to those who leave a review, positive or otherwise. You make my day and encourage me to keep going.