The Resolute Suitor: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 17

  A smile such as Mr. Bennet had never seen on Darcy appeared on his face. “Mr. Bennet, your acceptance of our engagement has made me a very happy man and you could not have made a condition we will be more pleased to meet. I had a hard time sleeping last night, wondering what I might have to do to convince you how much I cared for Elizabeth and how good we would be for each other. I believe you will find Elizabeth feels the same way.”

  Mr. Bennet got up and shook Darcy’s hand. “Welcome to the family, Mr. Darcy. I could not have let my Lizzie go to a lesser man. I am sure you are aware the family into which you are marrying may not be as acceptable to your friends as Lizzie is. You are marrying the most wonderful young lady in all of England, but you must take her family with her. I hope you know what you are getting into. Now, let us go tell the others the good news.

  When they entered the room, everyone looked at them expectantly and from their easy manner and Darcy’s smile, it was clear all had transpired as Elizabeth had hoped. She hurried over to her father and gave him a hug. “I can tell from Will’s face he is happy, and if he is happy, then I am happy. Thank you for accepting the inevitable, for we are meant to be together.”

  “So your young man tells me. How could I refuse a man of such consequence and obvious love for my daughter? When would you like to be married?”

  “We have waited for your response before we discussed it, but I believe it will be a matter of weeks rather than months. Much depends on where we are to be married, by whom, and who will be invited to the wedding. I think we can guarantee you, it will not be in London.”

  Mr. Bennet laughed. “That is the one condition I placed on your wedding plans and Darcy has already informed me you were of the same opinion. I know your mother would prefer it to be here in Longbourn, but it is not a condition I would impose.”

  “As a matter of fact, Mr. Bennet, it has been a tradition for several generations that the eldest son of the Darcy family that owns Pemberley be married at Pemberley.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Elizabeth, I would request the tradition be allowed to continue. There is plenty of room at Pemberley for all of our most immediate family to stay there, while my neighbor, Sir Thomas Throckmorton, and the Inn at Lambton can accommodate any who cannot be housed at Pemberley. My great uncle, who is a bishop of the Church of England, would probably perform the ceremony—at least he has expressed a desire to do so in the past. Transportation to Pemberley would be provided for all who need it. The wedding ceremony and breakfast will be held outside if the weather permits, the wedding ball would be held in the Pemberley ballroom, and the wedding supper would be held in the grand dining hall. If inclement weather is expected, then the wedding would be in the ballroom and the wedding breakfast in the grand dining hall. An advantage to holding the wedding at Pemberley is all of those in London whom my Aunt and Uncle Matlock might want to invite to attend would not think of making the long trip to Derbyshire for a wedding, while many might be willing to come the short distance to Hertfordshire. Of course, it would mean many of your friends here in Hertfordshire may not be willing to make the trip.”

  Elizabeth looked at her mother and Jane to see their reaction to Darcy’s request. She had expected her mother to protest immediately, but she could see her mother thinking about all of the things Darcy had said about a wedding at Pemberley. Finally she said, “I would like to see Pemberley before I agree to that plan, but it certainly see no reason why such a tradition should not be continued. Would you be very disappointed Mama, if we did not have the wedding here?”

  Clearly Mrs. Bennet was somewhat surprised that Elizabeth asked her. “Lizzie, you know I would very much like to give you a fine wedding breakfast, but Mr. Darcy makes a wedding at Pemberley sound very elegant and to have you married by a bishop would be something. Furthermore, I am sure all of us would love to visit his fine estate, so I believe my desire to visit Pemberley and have you married by a bishop mollifies any disappointment I may feel. Besides,” and she looked at Bingley and Jane, “I believe I shall have ample opportunity in the future to give wedding breakfasts for my daughters.”

  Putting her arm through Darcy’s, Elizabeth said, “Then I expect we will be married at Pemberley sometime in August or September. Does that meet your approval, Will?”

  “It does. We will be going there next week to show Elizabeth her new home and introduce her to the staff and some of the neighbors. Assuming she falls in love with Pemberley as much as I think she will, we will make the final plans and let you know within two weeks when the wedding will be.”

  Chapter 20: Lady Catherine Objects

  Late in the morning, two days before Elizabeth was to go to Pemberley with Darcy, she was sitting in her father’s library with him, discussing a new book on philosophy he had just received, when she saw, through the library window, a large, ornate carriage pull into the drive. She recognized it immediately as belonging to Lady Catherine.

  “I believe we are about to have an unhappy visitor, Papa. Lady Catherine DeBourgh’s carriage has just entered our drive and I doubt she is here to give me her blessing. I must go tell Mrs. Hill to send Thaddeus to Netherfield to tell Will his aunt is here and then I will hold her off until he gets here. I am sure you will enjoy the scene about to occur.”

  Shortly after she left, Mr. Bennet heard a knock at the front door and when Hill answered the knock and asked how he could help, he heard the very loud, demanding voice of Lady Catherine say, “I am Lady Catherine DeBourgh and I am here to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Would you be so good as to inform her I am here?"

  “Very well, my lady, will you and the young woman please come in? I will show you to the parlor and then go search for Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Young woman? What…?” She turned around to see Anne, who had disembarked from the carriage after her and followed her to the door. “Anne, I told you to stay in the carriage.”

  “I know you did mother, but I decided I did not want to stay. I thought it would be good to see Miss Elizabeth again.”

  “Anne, I insist that you return to the carriage.”

  “No, mother, I will not.” She then turned to Hill. “Sir, will you please show us into the parlor.”

  “Yes, miss. My Lady, will you please follow me?” Clearly fuming, but not saying anything, Lady Catherine followed her daughter and Hill into the parlor.

  A few minutes later Elizabeth, with her mother and Jane, entered the parlor. “Lady Catherine and Miss DeBourgh; how good it is to see you. May I present my mother, Mrs. Bennet, and my elder sister, Miss Jane Bennet?”

  After acknowledging them, Lady Catherine asked, “Miss Elizabeth, may I have a private word with you; perhaps in that seemingly pretty little park I saw to at the side of your house?”

  “Is it necessary we be alone, my lady? I assume you are here to congratulate me on my engagement to Mr. Darcy, and I certainly have no secrets with respect to that. I am sure my sister and mother would be happy to hear what you have to say.”

  Lady Catherine’s face became noticeably red with anger. “No, I am certainly not here to congratulate you. I was trying to spare your family from hearing my disappointment of your actions, but if you insist, I will air my displeasure for all to hear. In short, I am here to demand you end this engagement to my nephew. He is promised to my daughter and will be going against the wishes of his mother and family if he marries you.”

  “I am sorry, Lady Catherine, but I cannot grant that request.” She held up her left hand. “As you can see, I am wearing his grandmother’s ring as an engagement ring, the engagement has been announced in the papers, and the settlement papers have been signed. It would be impossible for him withdraw from the marriage now and I certainly do not wish it.”

  “Impertinent girl. His mother and I planned at Anne’s birth they would be married and they have been promised to each other for 24 years.”

  Unexpectedly, Anne spoke up quietly, but firmly. “No, mother, we have not. I know for a fact that neither Aunt Anne nor Uncle George agreed t
o our marriage. William and I have tried to tell you, but you have ignored it. I came here with you because I wanted it settled once and for all. At this time and in front of these witnesses, you can no longer deny he and I will never marry.”

  Lady Catherine looked at her daughter with amazement. “What are you saying? You know this marriage has been planned for years. You cannot deny me.”

  “Lady Catherine, I hate to say this in front of Miss DeBourgh, but I think you need to hear it. Not only did William’s father say he had never sanctioned a marriage between William and Anne, he in fact essentially forbade it. He made an addendum to his will stating he did not think Anne would ever be strong enough to bear an heir and he did not want his son to marry anyone who could not possibly ensure the family line continued.”

  Lady Catherine abruptly stood up. “That addendum is meaningless and despite what has been said, William’s mother and I did plan they wed. But that aside, who are you to aspire to marry someone so far above you? You have no social status; you have no wealth. Somehow you trapped him and I will get to the bottom of it. I will speak to my brother, the Earl of Matlock, about this and then we shall see if this marriage goes forward.”

  “I fear you will be disappointed, my lady. I believe when you talk with Lord and Lady Matlock, you will discover both of them have given our marriage their blessing. I have interacted with them many times and I believe they have already accepted me as family. As for status, I have met and been accepted into the ton by several members of the peerage. Therefore I believe your objections in those aspects of my qualifications to be William’s bride have no basis. I fear you will have to find allies elsewhere if you wish to continue your objections to our marriage.”

  “But who are your aunts and uncles. What is your lineage? You may have found some supporters in the ton, but most of higher society will shun you and you will ruin Georgiana’s hopes for a good marriage.”

  “I am a gentlewoman of a family which goes back over a hundred years in Hertfordshire, so I am proud of my lineage, which seems to be entirely acceptable to your nephew, who also seems to find my aunts and uncles acceptable. He and Georgianna and even Lord and Lady Matlock seem happy to socialize with them. As for being shunned by many of the ton, I assure you, both your nephew and I will be quite content with those with whom we now associate. We are also confident our marriage will have no deleterious effect on Georgianna’s prospects. I encourage you to make your proposed visit to Lord and Lady Matlock and get their views on this marriage.”

  Lady Catherine sputtered, and looked as if she wanted to make more objections, but finally said, “I have heard enough. I will not bid you farewell, because I am most displeased. I assure you, this is not over. Come, Anne, we must be on our way.”

  Everyone, particularly Lady Catherine, was astonished when Anne replied, “No, mother. I plan to stay and visit for a while. I am sure William will be happy to see I am put up at Netherfield Park for the night.”

  “What are you saying? That is not acceptable. You will come with me.”

  “No mother, I will not. I can do what I wish. I am 24, almost 25, and you know what that means. I will stay.”

  Lady Catherine looked aghast at Anne, “You know?”

  “Of course I know. I have known for years. And do not worry about my things. I had Forbes remove them from the carriage and put them in the foyer. I hope you do not mind, Mrs. Bennet.”

  It took Mrs. Bennet a moment to realize she had been addressed. She had been so entranced and astounded by the conversations that had taken place. “Oh, no, not at all. We will be happy to continue to visit with you and invite you to dinner.”

  “Thank you. That is most kind.”

  “This is outrageous. I have never been so ill-treated in all of my life.” So saying, Lady Catherine turned on her heel and stormed out of the house, going by Mr. Bennet in the foyer without even acknowledging his presence and not waiting for someone to open the door for her. Just as she was about to enter her carriage, Darcy galloped into the drive and stopped by her carriage. He leaped off his horse and said, “Aunt Catherine, may I ask what you are doing here?”

  “I came to talk some sense into that uncultured chit of a girl you are supposed to marry and was treated in a most unpleasant manner. Fitzwilliam, I demand you break this engagement and marry Anne. You have been promised to each other for years and it would be a disgrace for you not to do your duty.”

  In a very constrained, but clearly angry voice, Darcy replied, “Aunt, if you ever disparage Elizabeth like that again, I will break off all contact with you. Furthermore, Anne and I have told you many times we will not marry and I will tell you even my father forbade it, so give…it…up. Furthermore, if you have abused Elizabeth and my new family, you will never be welcome in our house nor will we ever visit yours unless you give them a written apology. Think on that as you return to town.”

  “You are as ungrateful as my daughter. You have not heard the last of this.”

  “Yes, Aunt, I have. And so has my soon to be wife. You will either accept her or accept you will never be a part of my or Georgiana’s life again. Now, goodbye. I have to see what damage you have done inside.”

  He handed the reins of his horse to the groomsman who had approached him and entered the house to find Elizabeth in the foyer waiting for him. He rushed to her and took her in his arms. “Was she terrible, Elizabeth? Did she insult you beyond redemption?”

  Elizabeth put her head on his should, reveling in the security she felt when she was in his arms. “No, Will, it was not as bad as I thought it might be, partly because of Anne.” She stepped away and took his hand and led him into the parlor, where Mr. Bennet had joined the rest.

  As soon as he entered, Darcy saw Anne. “Anne, why are you still here? Your mother just left.”

  “Because I wanted to visit with Miss Elizabeth and her family and I did not want to ride home with mother ever again when I would have to listen to her diatribe about us getting married and the unsuitability of the Bennet family. As I just told Georgiana, I am very happy about your engagement and do not believe you could have found a better partner than Miss Elizabeth. I was very impressed with her at Rosings, even though I saw very little of her. Now I want to get to know her and her family better and hope she and I can be friends.”

  Darcy went over to Anne, leaned over, and hugged her. “I wish I could have been here to spare you and Elizabeth from your mother’s wrath.”

  “Actually, William, I think Elizabeth handled my mother very well. She came here intending to intimidate her and was very soundly repulsed. And for the first time in my life I stood up to her and reminded her that I would soon be twenty-five. She actually seemed to believe I was not aware of the implications of me becoming twenty-five.”

  “May I ask what those implications are?” asked Elizabeth.

  “According to her father’s will, Anne becomes the owner and mistress of Rosings Park upon achieving her twenty-fifth birthday. Aunt Catherine was apparently hoping Anne did not know, although how she could believe Uncle Robert or Aunt Helen or I would not have told Anne is beyond me.”

  “Might I say,” interjected Mr. Bennet, “I could not help but hear the raised voices in here and came to the door, thinking I might have to intervene. But listening at the door, I was quite impressed at how Lizzie and Miss DeBourgh handled your aunt. I suspect, as she rides back to London and thinks about what has occurred, she will realize her reign at Rosings is about over.”

  “I hope you are right, Mr. Bennet,” said Anne. “I am not looking forward to living with her from this point on, and I will not until I have reached twenty-five. Lord and Lady Matlock have promised I may stay with them until my birthday and then to help establish me as mistress at Rosings. Some of the staff know I am to become mistress when I reach twenty-five and Mrs. Jenkins, my companion who is a wonderful lady, assures me that they are looking forward to me becoming their mistress.”

  “I assume you are counting on me taking you
back to London,” asked Darcy.

  “Yes, or we can send an express to Uncle Robert and Aunt Helen and I am sure they will send a carriage for me.”

  “Are you planning on attending our wedding in mid-August?”

  “I had planned to come with Aunt Helen and Uncle Robert. I believe my mother will not come. At least, for your sakes, I hope not.”

  “Would you like to travel to Pemberley with us,” asked Darcy “rather than return to London? We would enjoy having you, would we not Elizabeth?”

  “Oh, yes. I would enjoy getting to know you better, Miss DeBourgh. We could certainly arrange to get more of your things picked up and sent to Pemberley.”

  “Thank you, but I must decline. I would like to go, but there are several things that need to be taken care of before my birthday, for which Uncle Robert wants me in town. We have been secretly corresponding for months now and we were wondering what excuse I could use to get away from mother. This trip here was very serendipitous and gave me the opportunity I needed.”

  “I understand and am happy my engagement to Will has helped you. Will and I think our engagement was destined to be and perhaps helping you when you needed it was part of that destiny. God does work in mysterious ways.”

  “As you can see Anne, I left Netherfield rather rapidly, and am not quite properly dressed for calling. If you will excuse me, I will return to Netherfield and get the coach so we can get you situated there.”

  “Mr. Darcy, may I present another idea?” asked Mrs. Bennet. “Why do you not return to Netherfield and gather up Mr. Bingley, his aunt, Miss Darcy and Kitty and join us for our noon meal?”

  “That is very kind, Mrs. Bennet, but I would not want to put you to all that trouble on such short notice,” said Anne.