Darcy on the Edge Page 8

  Mrs. Bennet was just happy to see the men return and she and the others did not press him with questions. Darcy experienced the same questions from Elizabeth and Jane and Mr. Bingley but he was able to dismiss them. After learning no new intelligence on the subject of their visit to town, no more questions were forthcoming.

  The following day Elizabeth and her sisters visited Netherfield and enjoyed the company of Georgiana and the gentlemen that they postponed two days ago. This afforded the Bennets some much needed time together.

  The servants were given the day off and the evening as well. The Bennets used the opportunity to best advantage in discussing all matter of things and in what they could do to improve their marriage. Both had changed since Lydia’s passing and they both spoke of their desires to see their two eldest married. Mrs. Bennet still had not a clue that Mr. Darcy cared for their Lizzy, but Mr. Bennet happily knew otherwise.

  ****

  All the Bennets were at Longbourn in early afternoon on Christmas Eve. Kitty was the first to announce the arrival of the Gardiner coach and the family rejoiced with hugs and kisses. After a few minutes the visitors assembled in separate rooms. Mrs. Bennet and the ladies went into the drawing room whilst Mr. Gardiner went with Mr. Bennet into his library. Just as they had finished their first glass of port, Mr. Darcy’s coach appeared and out stepped Miss Darcy and her brother and Mr. Bingley. Lastly they spotted Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  The new arrivals came into the house and joined the others and soon the other men joined Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner in the library. Mr. Darcy presented both brothers a bottle of his best brandy but all settled for a glass of port as they wanted a clear head for Christmas Eve services that night.

  Soon the men were talking of many subjects and each man had his say. Occasionally Mr. Bennet or Mr. Gardiner would cast a knowing look at the other as if to speak on how suitable the men were to become Mr. Bennet’s sons.

  “I hear I am to congratulate you, Mr. Bingley, for I understand that you are courting my niece.”

  “Thank you, sir. I am ecstatic about it.”

  “That is not all, brother. Mr. Darcy and Lizzy are in a courtship as well. I have yet to announce it to the others but will do so after we return from the Christmas Eve Service. Let me say I am happy to have such a situation. Now it looks as though we must find a wife for Colonel Fitzwilliam. What say you sir?”

  “Mr. Bennet, I have only promised myself to not drink the water anywhere near Longbourn. Do you suppose it contains a love potion?”

  “I wish it did, for I would be very rich and you would be very happy as are your friends.”

  The women went off to talk and Mrs. Bennet told of Jane’s courtship. Georgiana and Mary and Kitty went upstairs to tend to the Gardiner children so missed this discussion but Mrs Gardiner noticed the look that Elizabeth showed and knew there was more to learn.

  That evening the friends shared a light dinner before leaving for church. It had just began to snow when the friends began the short walk to the church to take part in the service. Elizabeth walked with Mr. Darcy and Georgiana and the eldest Gardiner girl along with Kitty and Mary. Mr. Bingley accompanied Jane whilst Colonel Fitzwilliam joined the men as Mrs. Gardiner accompanied Mrs. Bennet. The seating was the same and all noticed the church was not that crowded, possibly because of the snow, for now it was snowing steady.

  Elizabeth saw a flake alight on Darcy’s nose and laughed at him. The sound of her laughter was music to his ears and warmed his heart as he felt her gently squeeze his arm. As her eyes met his she was greeted by a warm smile which invoked another squeeze of his arm along with a giggle. Elizabeth was shocked to see that Darcy and his sister knew all the Christmas songs and did not need a hymnal. She felt the touch of his arm holding the hymnal and rejoiced that he and his friends had joined with her family this night and she was about to burst in happiness. Jane was the same as her sister and it might be said that all were as pleased as ever could be.

  Later the group returned to Longbourn and Mr. Bennet opened Darcy’s gift of brandy and served the men. When the men returned to join the ladies, Mr. Bennet told that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were courting. This set off more celebration and later the friends returned to Netherfield.

  They had left just minutes earlier when Elizabeth noticed a package behind one of the sofas. It was addressed to the Bennets and the card with it told that the package should be opened on Christmas Eve. Inside were three books that Darcy had noticed Mr. Bennet was admiring at Darcy House. There were music sheets for Kitty and Mary and a shawl for Elizabeth and Jane and Mrs. Bennet.

  Elizabeth did not know how to react, for she dared not speak less she lose her composure, but she saw her parents were pleased. The Darcys and Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam were kind people and already she missed them. The Bennet and Gardiner families all left for bed as the snow continued to fall. Elizabeth’s only regret was that she and Darcy were not able to sit near the fire.

  ****

  The following day the Netherfield party joined the Bennets and the Gardiners for a Christmas feast. Nearly seven inches of snow fell and it had turned sharply colder. The friends gathered around the fire to warm themselves while Bingley went off with Jane. For Georgiana and her brother and her cousin, being around the Bennets and Gardiners was like a breath of fresh air. For all Darcy’s wealth and social standing, he now believed the Bennet and Gardiner families were happier than most people he had ever known. The men were intelligent and wise to the world and Mrs. Gardiner and her sister were kind and understanding and made all of them feel at home. Georgiana particularly enjoyed the Gardiner children and the Bennet sisters.

  There was a feeling of love about Longbourn that season and three days after the Gardiners returned to town, Mr. Bingley proposed to Jane and Mr. Bennet approved of their engagement.

  One morning, about a week after Bingley’s engagement with Jane had been formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the dining room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window, by the sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbors. The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery. They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

  They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.

  She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word. Mrs. Hill had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship’s entrance, though no request of introduction had been made. Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth, “I hope you are well, Miss Bennett That lady, I suppose, is your mother.”

  Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.

  “And that I suppose is one of your sisters.”

  “Yes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine. “She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all was lately married, but sadly for us all, she was aboard the ship that sank on its way to Ireland. Both she and her husband, a distinguished officer in the militia and every other soul died. My eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family.”

  “You have a very small p
ark here,” returned Lady Catherine after a short silence.

  “It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I assure you it is much larger than that of Sir William Lucas.”

  “This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer; the windows are full west.”

  Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner, and then added, “May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well.”

  “Yes, very well, for I saw them the night before last.”

  Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled.

  Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating any thing; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favor me with your company.”

  “Go, my dear," cried her mother, “and show her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.”

  Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her things, attended her noble guest down stairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlor and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on.

  Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.

  As she looked onto the lady’s face she could see how very different she was from her nephew. As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began her talk.

  “Miss Bennet, you can be at no loss to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.”

  Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment. “Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honor of seeing you here.”

  “Miss Bennet,’' replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “You ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But 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. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.”

  “If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, coloring with astonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?’'

  “At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”

  “Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,” said Elizabeth coolly, “will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is in existence.”

  “If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?”

  “I never heard that it was.”

  “And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?”

  “I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”

  “This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?”

  “Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”

  “It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.”

  “If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.”

  “Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”

  “But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behavior as this, ever induce me to be explicit.”

  “Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never, for Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?”

  “Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.”

  Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied.

  “The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as of her's. While in their cradles, we planned the union, and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss De Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?”

  “Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss De Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honor nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?”

  “Because honor, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you willfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by every one connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”

  “These are heavy misfortunes,” replied Elizabeth. “But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.”

  “Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.”

  “That will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me.”

  “I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line; and, on the father’s, from respectable, honorable, and ancient -- though untitled -- families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? It certainly cannot be from the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.”

  “In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are equal.”

  “True. Yo
u are a gentleman’s daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”

  “Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you.”

  “Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?”

  Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment's deliberation, “I am not.”

  Lady Catherine seemed pleased. “And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?”

  “I will make no promise of the kind.”

  “Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require.”

  “And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject.”

  “Not so hasty, if you please. I am by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your younger sister’s infamous elopement. I know it all. At first I thought it was you that had died for the paper had named Lizzy and Mr. Wickham. I even felt pity for you, having met you this Easter. I am sorry you have lost a sister but it would have better if you had been on the ship instead of her. As it were, that the young man’s marrying her is suspect and so is his leaving the militia. Why, he has deserted in time of war. And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister? Was her husband, the son of his late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth! -- of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”