Chapter 3
The party arrived only to be greeted by Lady Catherine's expressed displeasure at their almost being tardy, which the lady declared was nearly the same crime. The tea was rung for while Mr. Collins praised her unexampled charity and her generous forgiveness at their near belated entrance. Her attentions to their party should not be acknowledged with any less than the sincerest gratitude expressed by virtue of their prompt attendance, he declared over the course of nearly a quarter of an hour. Though little of import was said, his excessive verbiage (due entirely to his obsequiousness), was of such proportions that it greatly extended the length of his speech, though the same could not be said for its content.
At length, her ladyship motioned for them to be seated; her nephews joined them saying all that was proper as the refreshments arrived. Their timing was such that Elizabeth was suspicious that their belated arrival was deliberate, in order to be spared their aunt's manner of greeting her guests. To Colonel Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth credited this as a kindness, surely it was to help them evade the further embarrassment of an audience; to Darcy, she credited it as further evidence of his incivility, thinking the whole party should await his convenience - she wondered then, which cousin determined the timing of their attendance.
Elizabeth caught Darcy's fixated glare out of the corner of her eye, it infuriated her. How dare he, she thought. Wishing him to choke on his contempt, she determined that her courage would rise with this attempt to intimidate her and thus said, "Your Ladyship, I believe that I must apologize for failing to congratulate you and your daughter on her upcoming nuptials. There is nothing so lovely as a spring wedding. I pray it will be soon?" She inquired with a tone that implied such innocence, that even Darcy, at first, failed to ascribe her a motive.
Good Lord! What is she about? She must think I'm trifling with her. Darcy thought, his anger peeking, that she would address a misunderstanding between them in such an ill-bred way, in front of his aunt and her cousin of all people, where there could be no intimacy in discourse between them.
"Indeed, my nephew is engaged to my daughter, felicitations are in order; it now being well past the time it should have come to completion. There are few people in England, I suppose, that are as tolerant as I; but young men these days find themselves about the entire countryside, moving about as gypsies and there was always Anne's health to consider," claimed her Ladyship.
"May I, then, offer my assistance to you? Miss de Bourgh may then attend only to her health." She looked to Miss de Bourgh and then said, "I would, of course, see to your wishes. I only hope to do what I might, to prevent further delay due to the exhaustion that comes with such endeavors."
Miss de Bourgh did not deign to acknowledge Elizabeth's speech. She turned instead and motioned to Mrs. Jenkins to bring her tincture (which contained sufficient Laudanum for anyone's taste), preferring to be insensible to the coming discourse. Little enough did it matter to her what ensued. She viewed her mother and Darcy as two sides of the same coin; both determined to always have their own way, little caring for the wishes of others. Her mother would make demands; Darcy would ignore them. No one would inquire after her own wishes; outliving her mother and enjoying an unremarkable spinsterhood (with no one ordering her about). Being of ill health, she had little hope of outliving Darcy, thus she had no desire to join him in matrimony.
Ladyship immediately turned towards Elizabeth, looking approvingly and replied, "Of course, you would wish to attend. Such occasions are rarely afforded to you, I am sure. You shall be excessively sorry to go! But so then, those who have the privilege of enjoying Rosings grounds always are. I suspect a young woman of your temperament will rally her spirits tolerably well when it is time to depart. Darcy though, always seems to feel it most acutely, more, I think, every year. His attachment to Rosings certainly increases as does his attachment to Anne. I see no reason for them to suffer any further delay."
For Mr. Collins, the triumph of this invitation was now complete; it was in his power to display both the grandeur and distinguished lineage of his patroness to his visitors. He flattered himself that he may also be, in their witness, the benefactor of such evidence of condescension that her Ladyship's civility towards himself would be self-evident. Even on this very occasion, she may well insist that he be the clergyman to unite the couple in matrimony; it was exactly what he had wished for! He opened his mouth to pronounce everything that ordinarily pleased her Ladyship, but she swatted him off, silencing him before he could utter his first exclamation, utterly disappointing his hopes.
Darcy clenched his teeth; Colonel Fitzwilliam gaped at him, concerned that the family's squabbles could not now avoid being aired quite publicly. Darcy looked as though he was about to lose his head; it appeared as though his legendary reserve and level-headedness were about to fail him. When he had earlier aided Darcy's cause, by illustrating his affection as a friend, he had not considered that she may very well take it to understand that his cousin condoned trifling with a woman and thus conclude that was what he was about with her. The combination of that story, and quite possibly the assertions of her cousin the clergyman (as surely their aunt spouted that nonsense to him), could have well caused her to take the wrong meaning from their morning discourse. He had intended only to remove himself as a suitor and aid Darcy in his endeavors; his cousin had confessed nothing yet, but he had discerned the reason for the delay in their departure.
Elizabeth caught Darcy's reaction and it only served to make her more determined upon witnessing his displeasure. Indeed, it seemed therefore unjust not to proceed, not only for Jane's sake, but she now realized it ought to also benefit Anne de Bourgh. She knew not whether he had no intention of marrying his cousin, or if he merely meant to put it off for as long as his aunt would allow. Either way, the sickly young woman, little though Elizabeth liked her, had been waiting a considerable length of time for any woman, let alone an unhealthy one. Elizabeth was indignant on her behalf now too. Selfish, insufferable man, she thought.
Elizabeth resentfully pressed her advantage, saying, "Then indeed, they happy couple should be made to wait no longer."
"Indeed, I shall suffer no further delay. Miss Bennet, if your mother may spare you, you will remain, as I can make use of you. It will be in my power to return you at least as far as London, in a month and a fortnight."
"As your Ladyship wishes," she replied, demurely; secretly rejoicing in her success at forcing his hand. It may not vindicate Jane, but perhaps it would teach Darcy the cruelty of officious interference and liberate Anne by gaining her clarity on her future.
Her Ladyship turned to her nephew and demanded, "You shall have your private audience with Anne on the marrow, then remove to town to see to the special license. I am especially attentive to such things, you know, I would not have you marry as commoners. The contract for her settlements has been seen to, it resides in my secretaire." She thus turned back to Elizabeth, expecting no argument, readying herself to speak further on the arrangements.
Darcy's patience with this charade was now at an end. "Upon this matter, nothing of the sort has been decided!" he declared and stood up, now showing anger. It was insupportable, such a reaction, over a silly notion that she had gotten in her head. He had every intention of addressing his limit to her impertinence on the marrow. Had she any notion of what she was nearly throwing away, she would surely not behave as such.
"Upon my word," exclaimed lady Catherine, "you state your opinion rather decidedly for someone who was in their cradle when these matters were thus decided. It has been a favorite wish of both your mother and I, since before you were breeched. I have no need of your opinion on the matter."
"That may prove inconvenient to your machinations madam, for as long as my consent to your scheme is withheld, it shall see no success." He bowed, ready to take his leave, having no intention of further participation.
Her ladyship stood and looked him squarely in the eye. "I will carry my point, you may depend upon it. You were formed for one another. Your mother who is now no longer..."
She was cut off, her nephew merely nodded his head and said, "I wish you a good evening aunt." He then immediately turned and walked away.
Her ladyship turned to Elizabeth, knowing full well Darcy was still within hearing, and said, "You may wait upon me immediately after I break my fast. The wedding breakfast is to be in less than a fortnight. There is much to accomplish." She turned to Mr. and Mrs. Collins, and said, "Your friend shall be at my disposal, you can do without her I suppose."
Before Mr. Collins could interject and further incite the situation, Charlotte shot her husband a look and said "Of course your ladyship, I believe it is time we take our leave. We have trespassed on your hospitality longer than we had intended."
They took their leave politely and Elizabeth expressed her joy at attending her ladyship on the marrow. Mrs. Collins expertly extracted her husband from the situation, without further exclamations, with but a pointed look.