Chapter 12
When finally, at last, they had arrived Elizabeth was ordered to her rooms to refresh herself directly. Thinking the haste due to Lady Catherine not wishing to make do with her own company—and Elizabeth anyway wishing time alone with her thoughts—she moved instantaneously to comply and began following the servant to her rooms. Before her foot hit the first stair, however, Lady Catherine said "We shall call on the Bingley's at once."
Elizabeth turned in horror and spoke. "It is well past calling hours ma'am. Is the matter not best left to morning?"
"I shall pay the Bingley's no such compliment Miss Bennet. Of that, you may be assured. Do you think I mean to lend consequence to artful schemers who lack proper understanding to know their place? Are we in France? Shall we allow our lessers to grow arrogant in their success until even our heads part from our shoulders! It is not to borne. To deftly defend one's place then distinction of rank must be preserved. I shall call upon such a family as though the keep shop hours."
Thinking it better to appeal to her ladyship's sense of justice than attempt to change her opinions on class, Elizabeth said. "Mr. Darcy assured me of Mr. Bingley's innocence in the matter. I would be remiss to allow you to believe him complicit. Surely, he deserves no insult for being deceived."
"They shall know my thoughts on the matter directly, of that, you may be assured. Nor shall they receive distinction amongst their neighbors for my call. None shall be deceived into thinking me a connection, that I approve of their social climbing, that I welcome them in such circles as they were not born into!"
Her tone was so decided, her opinion so evidently fixed, that Elizabeth thought it better to retire to her rooms, rather than provoke the matter further. Perhaps her ladyship could be reasoned with when she seemed no longer on the verge of an apoplexy.
Elizabeth arrived in her rooms and began hastily washing away the dust from the road. Anxiousness did not escape her. Her anxiety was all for her sister and Mr. Bingley; she thought nothing of herself. How could further embarrassment be avoided for either of them, let alone both? Oh, poor Mr. Bingley! What have I done? Would that I had chosen my words more carefully or spoken in some manner that Lady Catherine's wrath was not so ill directed. It seemed to Elizabeth, that those the least guilty would suffer the most while those that willfully deceived would suffer nothing of consequence. Charlotte was quite correct to feel concern for Mr. Collins.
As the maid helped her from her traveling gown Elizabeth debated the merits delaying her return to Lady Catherine but decided it likely to only vex the lady further, of which no good could come. No sooner had Elizabeth entered the drawing room than a caller was announced, and at such an hour she scarce knew what to think of it. Did every person connected to this house think themselves above observing decorum?
"Lady Matlock for your Ladyship." said the butler, who seemed to be bracing himself for some sort of abuse. Lady Catherine did nothing to hide her vexation but still indicated the caller ought to be admitted.
A fashionable woman with a glimmer in her eye and spiteful smirk entered without the slightest hint of deference to Lady Catherine. "Really Catherine, to give us no notice of your arrival, one would think you meant to avoid your relations, or perhaps, you are here to prevent some sort of scandal? One does not simply arrive in Town without alerting their connections." She scolded, in a manner so easy that it gave not the slightest hint that she had construed her host's evident agitation. Her Ladyship turned to Elizabeth looking her over so conscientiously that she felt even a stray hair could not have been missed. If there were something amiss with her appearance, there could be no hope it would escape the notice of their guest. Finally, her Ladyship nodded, indicating she wished for an introduction.
Lady Catherine begrudging obliged, relaying every detail of Elizabeth's situation in life. She believed she could not have escaped the embarrassment of such an introduction with five times the portion and much more illustrious connections.
"I suppose your charge is here so you may see her married off?"
"You may not suppose any such thing from my arrival in Town. My dealings are not your concern."
Ignoring Lady Catherine's incivility, her Ladyship continued. "Surely my assistance in such a case is required as you are not often in Town."
Lady Matlock scoffed. "Really Catherine, you haven't yet managed to get your own daughter married. What is she now, seven and twenty or so? How is the dear girl?"
If a Lady Catherine was vexed before, she was now livid. "You know full well Anne is not in good health and furthermore she is engaged. What need of town has she when it can only be a detriment to her health?
"There now Catherine, no one questions your attentiveness to Ann. It is quite to the contrary, I assure you. It is not gone without notice how conscientious you are to every detail of her care. It is a matter of great speculation amongst our circles. We all know lack of attention is not the cause of Ann's suffering." Her tone was of such a condescending sweetness that when Elizabeth glanced a Lady Catherine and noticed her color heightening, she could not but conclude her ladyship's words had been accepted in precisely the manner they had been intended.
"I am the daughter of an earl! I am in no need of a critique of my affairs, madam."
"And I am the wife of an Earl," her ladyship replied unfettered. "As to the business with Miss Bennet, I mean no slight when I say my frequent attendance in Town will provide better avenues for her prospects." She began turning to Elizabeth, but she was interrupted before she could speak.
"I am well equipped to see her married as is appropriate to her station in life. Better even than she should have expected staying at home, she shall not be taught to grasp higher."
"I urge you not to condemn the young lady to misery by settling for what your own connections can afford someone with so little to recommend them. One of them must marry very well with their father's estate so entailed. Really, we must concern ourselves with Miss Bennet's best interests."
Elizabeth was appalled and petrified. She wished to speak but could not find the words to express her dismay. How this rivalry between the between two women had turned to championing her marriage prospects to decide the matter between them, she knew not, but nor did she wish this discussion to continue.
"My connections are more than sufficient to see her well settled. You may mind your own concerns and busy yourself seeing your sons married."
Her ladyship scoffed. "Young men take little interest in the matter until they must. Look at Darcy, it's difficult to get him to dance beyond what he is obliged."
"He is in no need of such introductions. You know very well he is engaged to my daughter."
Her Ladyship took the tone of someone obliged to explain themselves to a small child and replied. "Now Catherine, you know very well if he meant to marry her that he would have shown more interest in her by now. I have long suspected it's just a matter of rustling up the right prize. If fact, now that I know him to be in Town I mean to insist upon his attendance three days hence. I have the great pleasure of hosting a ball. You may attend too, of course, and with your Miss Bennet."
Lady Catherine nodded her ascent. Elizabeth suspected that Lady Catherine's attendance had more to do with wishing to spoil Lady Matlock's machinations in regard to Darcy than her ladyships wish to see to her guest's care. Elizabeth's belief was the primary source of her relief. She could not like their apparent desire to involve themselves in her martial prospects and thought it unlikely her preferences would be considered. That such a turn of events could be achieved and in little more than a quarter of an hour! Elizabeth hoped that when she had time to think in all over she would still find some way to aid Jane.
She turned to Lady Catherine, hoping her present vexation was enough to cause her to consider delaying the visit to the Bingley's for the morrow. Elizabeth was left forming the first word as Lady Catherine abruptly stood up and stormed from the room. She was left unsure if she was meant to follow, or if she was meant to stay. Were they meant to leave to pay their call shortly? Was Elizabeth meant to have supper in her rooms? Or was she expected to dine at Lady Catherine's table? She could not venture a guess and not wishing to be a source of further vexation she quietly remained and awaited Lady Catherine.