Chapter 19
Upon Bingley's exit Darcy felt sure he ought to make some amends, but to what purpose? It now seemed the couple would reunite without any further interference. Bingley and Miss Bennet are both owed an apology, though only one of them is likely to be willing to hear it. Perhaps if I call on Miss Bennet before Bingley, I might assist in there reconciliation by confessing my part. In time, if they make amends, he may forgive me. Miss Bennet ought to know that I support the match and will help them in society as best as I am able.
Before he could think too much on the matter, Lady Matlock was announced. Darcy exhaled in extreme vexation, even in the best of times he had not the temperament to acquit himself properly when it came to a society matron's intended endeavors. None the less, he allowed her to be shown in, hoping her stay would be of a short duration.
"Darcy, whatever are you about? Not calling on your relations when you arrive in Town." She censured.
"Pray, forgive me. I had some business to attend." He said blandly, his countenance betraying the insincerity of his expressed remorse.
"You very well know a man of your age ought to be settled, seemingly you mean to avoid the matter once more. It simply must be seen to before your sister comes out. I lack the imagination to think you capable of seeing Georgianna through the social events required. How many calls from suitors do you expect you can tolerate? The at homes? The balls?" she asked, raising her eyebrows higher with each question.
As he began to rub his brow she continued, "It is not as though you lack fortune enough to marry. There are any number of young ladies that might suit." she said, sliding him the invitation in a well-practiced manner. "I would have you at my ball. They may be introduced to you there."
He looked at her incredulously. Would no amount of cold civility ever dissuade her? "I must confess to other commitments, madam. I am sorry to decline." He said, thinking it worth the attempt, though he knew she would likely carry her point if it proved precious enough to her.
She was, indeed, not to be dissuaded. "It is nothing that may not now be declined, I am sure. I can think of not one event of note or consequence taking place. Pray, shall I have your uncle escort you? Or shall you come as a grown man, of your own volition? I will not allow you to go on as you are. You cannot mean to remain a bachelor, and without an heir. Young men tend to think themselves invincible, but when matters are not properly seen to, there is more than sufficient opportunity for tragedy. Think on that young lord who has just died , his estate is with no hope of a successor, it is to return to the crown. There is not a single suitable relation to take his place."
His lifestyle certainly invited an early grave, thought Darcy. Not being free to speak as frankly as he wished, he instead spoke blandly. "I have not the pleasure of understanding how that matter pertains, but I shall see you at your ball." A call from his uncle held no appeal, nor did being escorted to the ball like a naughty schoolboy. He could hardly hope for any reprieve when she was so set on a subject and he was her object.
"See to it that my son is present as well. A guest of your aunt will need to make a good showing with her dance partners. It's not to be borne that I may be out done, and at my own ball. The girl needs a husband and I mean to ensure she marries up."
What the hell does that mean? And who the hell does she have staying with her? Lest she accuse me of willfully misunderstanding her, I best not tell her that I have not the pleasure of understanding her. Worse yet, she may determine I wish to comprehend her and may acquest if I can be brought to understand her way of reasoning. "I hope, madam, you do not endeavor to have me marry her?"
"Certainly not, she is of little consequence, but I would have her marry well, and by my own hand."
Why am I to ensure that every guest at the ball thinks she is a worthwhile partner? Why couldn't her eldest see to it? Even a debauched viscount is a better catch. It hardly signifies, it seems I am meant to lend some poor relation of hers consequence. "Very well, I will lead her out." He said, begrudgingly. Little good it would do me to shirk this request; it is better to save my refusals for her matrimonial scheming.
"Well, I suppose I may leave you to your business then. Send Richard to call when he returns. I would speak with him."
Darcy nodded and she took her leave. Heaven and Earth. Am I to have trouble from everyone in my sphere within a fortnight? No sooner had Darcy finished that thought, then the butler entered to announce another caller. It could hardly surprise him; he heard some muffled sounds of female voices, but he could think of no one else that could properly deign to call. He went through a great deal of trouble to ensure few in society felt they would be welcomed. The hope that his aunt would scare them off at the door now seemed in vain. I can only hope it is not some family of a young lady that my aunt has encourage. He looked at his butler askingly, and with hesitation the man finally managed to form the words, "Lady Catharine de Bourgh, for you sir. Her ladyship is rather insistent that you be made available to her at once. She nearly followed me when I came to inquire if you were at home."
There is hardly another caller in all the kingdom I would wish to be less obliged to see. The manner in which I took my leave certainly warranted a letter that expressed her sentiments, but surely, she did not deign to race after me from Kent on that matter. "Show her in then. It is better to have it over with, I suppose."
She entered the room with an air of vexation that was more than her usual manner. He rose to greet her and bow; he received in return for his effort not but an ungracious nod of her head, followed promptly by her ladyship taking his seat, and as though it were her own. She levied a cold unforgiving stare, but he would not be brought to speak first. If she meant to impose upon him in this untoward manner, he should hardly also be obliged to facilitate the imposition.
Her ladyship caved first; patience having never been her virtue. "Do not pretend to wait upon me to tell you why I am here. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come."
"I made my opinion on that matter known to you in Kent. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject. I can only apologize for the manner in which I departed; it could not be helped."
She ladyship harrumphed. "However insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this I shall certainly not depart from it. That you would even think upon connecting yourself to such a vulgar, scheming young lady whose situation in life is so decidedly beneath your own, against the express wishes of your family and even the opinion of all good society. I'm ashamed of you. Your own mother would be ashamed of you!"
His shock betrayed him; his expression was not schooled quickly enough to avoid Lady Catherine's notice. Her face reddened, her temper rapidly getting the better of her.
How in the hell does she know of my previous hopes for Elizabeth? And I hardly need add now that my feelings and wishes no longer signify, and due entirely to Elizabeth's objections to me. Denial seemed the only course, for the first time in his life, he began to stammer, "I have not the pleasure of …"
She did not wait for him to finish speaking; she would not hear him, no excuse could acquit him off such an affront. "Is this your gratitude for my lifelong attention to you! Is concerning myself with your every decision to be without merit? Has anything been beneath my notice, or too little for me to trouble myself over? Is nothing due to me on that score? And you think to make such a girl my niece? Is that to be my reward? And for that purpose, you presume to eschew calling me your mother! Heaven and Earth Darcy, do you mean to snub every proper principle your parents instilled in you? I shall not have it. It is not to be borne. I expressly forbid your ever keeping company with that family. If you see them in public, you are to cut them."
The Bennet's were objectionable to be sure, but he felt them to be undeserving of that sort of censure. Thinking there was little point in arguing a lost cause, considering how matters were left with Elizabeth, he said. "I know not by what pretext you were imposed upon, but I am not engaged, and have, at present, no expectation of becoming so encumbered. I have done nothing deserving of censure, and nor would I have decisions dictated to me as though I am in the schoolroom."
"And will you promise then to honor your engagement to Ann? And quit your consideration of that woman."
"I will make no promise of the kind. I am long out of leading strings; my choices are my own." Though he knew it to be improbable that he should improve Elizabeth's opinion of him, he could not bring himself to swear her off. The idea of absolutely rejecting her a his wife to his relations felt too final.
"And this is your real opinion! That you ought to be allowed to marry a tradeswoman! That your sister ought to be thrown away in marriage to her brother! What are the Bingley's that they should achieve such an elevation? Who are they that they should so much as be invited to dine? This is your final resolve! To give such people consequence although their birth ought to prohibit such distinction. Very well. I shall now know how to act."
At once the matter they had actually been discussing became clear— Caroline Bingley's wishes had made it to his aunt's ears—and he had just refused to denounce her. It was now made plain to him that his choice of coconspirator was as poor as it was convenient, she had boosted far too much to the Bennet sisters, even more so than he had supposed. The cause of both Bingley's and his aunt's call was also now apparent. Elizabeth Bennet's revenge is now seemed complete; she being the only possible source. While his mind was still at work upon the details, Lady Catherine threw the door open and there stood Georgianna and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had come to discover the reason for her ladyships discontent.
The pitiable look of Georgiana could hardly be exaggerated; her countenance spoke plainly that the revelation held no appeal to her. Horror struck, she said, "I am to marry Mr. Bingley then?" She looked to her brother and then desperately toward Colonel Fitzwilliam upon remembering his words, which she now felt to be her only real hope. She took a deep breath and continued, "I would of course do whatever you ask. It's only that…of course it is my own fault..." She looked to her aunt and stopped abruptly. She would never allow herself to be so overcome that as to open herself up to censure from that quarter.
Upon seeing the look on his sister's face Darcy may as well have been struck in the heart, but it was his aunt that spoke first. "Upon my word it shall not be! My niece is not destine for a tradesmen. You have family, fortune, everything required to make an appropriate match. Do not imagine that your brother's ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try him. I hoped to find him reasonable; but depend upon it, I will carry my point. That young man's marrying you would look to be nothing but a patched-up business. I would sooner sail you to the nabobs then answer that vulgar woman's machinations. I will summon the will of your father and call upon your uncle. Is such a man to be my nephew without doing everything I might to prevent it from going off? Is his sister, the daughter of a tradesman, to determine my family's fate?" She swung her eyes back to Darcy, and said "Heaven and earth - of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted? That you should be so taken in that you would allow not only your own life to become worthless but that of your sister as well."
"I would by no means have my sister marry against her wishes." First looking at his aunt coldly, and then turning with a look of reassurance toward his sister.
"Her wishes will be what you instruct her they ought to be. In spite of your infamous example, she has yet to turn her back upon her obligation to her family. I insist you send her with me at once. You have no business seeing to a respectable young lady's care. Your depraved notions will surely infect her if she remains. I shall see to her wellbeing; she shall be taught to think properly on matters rank."' "You have said quite enough Madam. I must now ask you to leave." Said Darcy, angrier still at seeing his sister so disturbed.
"Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. All of good society will cut you, of that you may be assured. You will be censured, slighted, and despised at the prompting of my own hand. Your sister will never marry respectability if she is to remain in your care. All connection to you must be cut if you are to remain on this course."
Georgianna gasped. Darcy was incensed. "Madam, I have told you once and will tell you again, I am not engaged to Carolina Bingley and have no intention of becoming so. She has nothing to do my refusal to answer your wishes. I will not have matters dictated to me as though I am unfit to see to my own affairs. My sister is not your concern."
"You begin to see sense then. Very well, for now my niece may remain. The business with Ann must be settled forthwith before you lose your head again. I shall brooke no further…"
"Madam, you have done all that you could to see that matter to completion. There is nothing more you can do; I shall be impressed upon no further. I am bound by neither by honor nor inclination to my cousin. I would thank you to leave, you can have nothing more to say on that subject."
She begrudgingly took her leave, not fully satisfied, but at least believing herself to have carried her point where it most mattered. She congratulated herself on the separation of Caroline Bingley from her nephew, of that she could never repent. That such upstarts could nearly have caused Darcy to forget himself entirely. It was apparent to her that he lacked proper supervision, for far too long, having been so long without both his parents. Her ladyship vowed to never make that mistake again; his every endeavor would now be subject to her review.
Darcy, not trusting her to leave of her own volition began to escort her out just as her carriage was arriving. Where it had been, he knew not, nor could he make himself care. He abruptly turned as soon as he saw his aunt passed the threshold, ordering the door barred and the household not at home to callers. Georgianna must now be contented, but she had already quite the room. How he was to explain this matter to her he knew not.