Exhausted, Elizabeth began to climb the stairs, the front door opened instantly for her – Lady Catherine's servants were not remiss. Nearly too tired to seek her chambers, Elizabeth heard Lady Catherine summon her from the drawing room. She entered, curtsied, and immediately made to tell her Ladyship she would be delighted to have her company in the morning.
"I suppose my early departure did not prevent your enjoyment, Miss Bennet." Her Ladyship accused coldly.
Knowing she could hardly tell her Ladyship that it had, in fact, improved her enjoyment, Elizabeth merely said, "Pray, do not trouble your self on that score. I would not prevent you from seeing to your health merely on my account. Nor would I have you believe I experienced any less pleasure for your absence. I hope you have not been kept up on my account. I mean to retire immediately."
"Not so hasty if you please. Had you followed my instructions and rested this afternoon you would not be so anxious to retire. You could have had nothing to say to your sister that could not have waited to be said in the carriage."
It may have waited but I could hardly have been said in your company, Elizabeth nearly retorted feeling indignation again at Her Ladyship's earlier treatment of Jane. Elizabeth had intended to escape Lady Catherine as soon as maybe, but now felt Jane may be in need of some time away from her, and it stung. Elizabeth chose her words carefully, to honor her sister's expressed wishes. "Having been so close to your own sister, your Ladyship must realize how anxious I was to see her."
"Yes, yes, but what of Darcy? With whom did he dance? Who were his partners? I must know. I am his nearest relation; I am entitled to know. Don't think I have failed to notice he looks at you a great deal."
Making no effort to hide her indignation, Elizabeth said, "If that is so, then you must also know I have no desire for his attention. I have never sought his good opinion, and as to his dance partners, I cannot say, as I took no notice of them."
"It is well then that you know you place. You would have no business attempting to secure such an offer. Pretend if you wish to be a singular sort of young lady who has no desire for such an offer."
"Indeed, I am exactly that sort of woman. He is the last man in the world I could be prevailed upon to marry!"
Her Ladyship scoffed, "You are as much a fool then as those think they might draw him in. Darcy always does his duty. This business with your sister has blinded you to his worth. Do you presume me ignorant of your intent when you sent me such a letter? Make no mistake, I at once recognized your arts, and instantly resolved to make myself of use to you but for the sake of my own interest. Yes, my interest Miss Bennet, but do not believe me blind to me to yours. Such a letter was not penned for the preservation of my family, but for the sake of yours."
"As our feelings and wishes are aligned, I can find no fault with the joining our efforts. Indeed, there could be no happier outcome for either of us." Said Elizabeth, knowing Lady Catherine to care little for Jane's plight, and knowing even better that little could have been accomplished without Lady Catherine's efforts. At this moment she could feel no gratitude, nor could she be prevailed upon to demure in the face of such accusations, as she knew she ought.
"That brings me to my purpose, this business between Bingley and your sister must be resolved at once. He must be brought to the point. You will go to her and implore her to see to your family's future, if she puts so much stock in sentiment, then impress upon her your earnest desire to live without fear for your future. When you next speak with her …"
Elizabeth interrupted, "I beg your pardon, madam, but I will not be brought to manipulate my sister. Jane and Bingley will sort matters between them in their own time. There is no need for haste now that they are reunited."
"Miss Bennet, I am not to be trifled with. Your sister's affections and feelings are of no concern. It is in the interest of everyone that your families should at once be united. I mean to speak to the archbishop on Bingley's behalf that they shall not be made to wait upon the calling of the banns."
"But nothing has yet been decided! There is no agreement between them, my father has not given his consent. If they were come to such an understanding, matters must be settled properly, without a marriage contact my sister could suffer the same fears as my mother."
"I will make them come to the point and I will see to the papers myself. I will speak with them both if I must and cause them to come to their senses. This nonsense has gone on long enough and for the cause of them both thinking too much upon the other's feelings. What rubbish. Such claptrap should not have been allowed to form in their heads."
"I must insist that you do no such thing! Jane would not continence it if she believed Bingley to have been forced, and your Ladyship might suffer quite the opposite outcome that you intend."
"Does she mean to console herself then with her consideration for his feelings when the women in your family are put out of Longbourn? What consolation shall that be when her mother and younger sisters are suffering the indignity of poverty because she thought so carefully on his feelings? Does she think nothing off your mother's nerves or your sisters' futures?"
Good lord! Is everything and everyone to conspire against them. Elizabeth thought Lady Catherine may prove more accomplished than her mother at facilitating the opposite of her intent. "I assure you my mother's nerves have escaped no one's notice, but not one of us would require Jane to act against her own inclinations. Madam I beg you to leave the matter be, she only needs reassurance he shall not regret his choice. Your speech this evening brought them no closer to the point."
"I can only think your family deserving of the poverty they court if that proves to be the case. Are you under the assumption my clergyman shall be prevailed upon to pay for the eldest Miss Bennet's sensibilities? It ought not be considered. In such a case as this, her sense ought to outweigh her sensibilities. If she means to shirk such opportunities for her advancement, to refuse to provide for her mother and younger sisters when she has the chance, she ought to live with the consequences of that choice. Why should the Collins's income be diminished for the sake of young ladies that refused to see to their own futures? No Miss Bennet, not while I am upon this earth. It is not to be borne. Not when the young ladies in question choose a life of dependance."
"You can have nothing more to say to me on that score. They love one another. Time and less officious interference is all that is required for the matter to conclude to the benefit of everyone. Need I remind you that your nephew is the only cause for which it was not yet accomplished? Further interference can only cause further delay. I must beg of you to leave the matter be. I shall return to my family and your Ladyship may be satisfied that in due course all shall be well."
"And what of my attentions towards you? Is nothing due to me on that score? You shall return to your family when I have no further use of you, as we agreed. I suggest you retire; we have morning calls to make. I shall not suffer the indignity of your leaving London with no more prospects than when you arrived."
"I thank you madam, for your aid to my sister. I must tell you though, I would by no means accept an offer that did not answer my own wishes. There can be no purpose for wasting your efforts on someone not inclined towards matrimony, and who would consent for no other purpose than answering the wishes of their own heart. Surely you do not plan to remain in London long enough for any true affection to form."
"I most certainly shall not remain long enough to accomplish anything other than an offer. I have half a mind to speak with your aunt and uncle on the matter and see if they can be brought to reason. Do they know you plan to spurn suitors and hang on their sleeve? Do they not have their own children to see to? Your parents cannot be the least bit sensible, having brought two such daughters into the world. What has been done could as easily be undone if I believe my efforts to be in vain. I could just as easily find a disgraced noblewoman for Bingley. Do you think he should so easily turn down an opportunity to elevate his family?"
"I believe he would, ma'am, but surely you know I cannot speak for him. Only Mr. Bingley may answer you that." Elizabeth said sarcastically.
"Very well Miss Bennet, I have tired you and hoped to find you reasonable. I will afford them one week to come to the point. After that, I am resolved to act."
"I wish you a good night then madam," said Elizabeth thinking she could say nothing else that could give Jane and Mr. Bingley some reprieve. The more she attempted to reason with Lady Catherine, the more determined she was to interfere. She is just like her nephew; she'll cause a situation and insist it proves her point. Its as though they think the consequences, they are afforded proves the rightness of their actions.
"Very well then, do not doubt I shall not be made to wait tomorrow."
Saying nothing, Elizabeth curtsied and left. She knew Lady Catherine could not force her to stay, if she truly wished it Elizabeth could match her force of will. However, she thought someone ought to keep an eye on Lady Catherine's machinations, both Jane and Bingley had suffered enough. Who knew what Lady Catherine would do if left unchecked? She puts no proper limit on wielding her consequence. Whatever she desires, so it ought to be.
She trudged upstairs, noticed a stack of letters on the salver, dismissed them until morning, put her head down on the pillow and found little rest.