The Darcys of Pemberley (19 page)

“Well, what do say to that, Darcy? Your aunt
is coming to call on us after all – quite a triumph for you.”

“I am glad she comes, but the honor and
credit belong to you, my dear; the reconciliation was your idea. I
only established the conditions under which it would be possible.
It appears Lady Catherine has decided to comply with those
terms.”

“You have managed the whole thing, and I make
no doubt it is only on your account that she is willing to
acquiesce. She certainly would never lower herself only to get back
into my good graces.”

The other letter contained no such singular
news, but it was no less welcome either. In it, Jane related an
entertaining account of Lydia’s antics along with the information
that Mrs. Bennet and Kitty had departed for Longbourn. The largest
share of the letter, however, was devoted to narrating the growth
and progress of the twins. According to Jane, they were changing so
rapidly that hardly a day went by without some new development. She
reported that little Charles displayed a mild, easy temperament,
whereas his sister, Frances, was inclined to demand her own way and
complain loudly when she did not get it. The nurse frequently
allowed the infant to exercise her lungs in this manner,
considering it exceedingly beneficial for her health. Jane credited
Frances, therefore, with finally driving Mrs. Bennet away.

“Jane writes so descriptively,” said
Elizabeth, “that I almost feel as if I were there. It will be good
to see for ourselves how our niece and nephew have grown when we
return.”

As Georgiana entered, Mr. Darcy addressed
her. “You have treated us to a very fine concert this morning, just
as pleasing as the one we heard last night, which I gather has
renewed your enthusiasm to play.”

“You are correct, as usual, brother. I am
rededicating myself to practice more diligently. I have been far
too lax since we came into town.”

“I can hardly agree with you there,” said
Elizabeth. “But, by all means, play as much as you like. You will
hear no complaint from me or from your brother either, I
think.”

“Indeed,” agreed Darcy, “since we are the
beneficiaries. Whilst you were playing, Georgiana, the morning post
came and we read our two letters. They will both be of interest to
you as well, I am sure. There is one from Jane and another from
Fitzwilliam, in which he says some very pretty things about you, my
dear.” He handed the letters to Georgiana.

She took them and crossed toward the window,
curling up in an oversized chair to read with her back toward the
other two, who continued their conversation. Elizabeth could not
help glancing in Georgiana’s direction from time to time, anxious
over her response to the colonel’s missive. The first part must
excite feelings of pleasure, but the talk of the wedding might well
bring pain if Georgiana still felt a fervent attachment to
Fitzwilliam.

Any strong sentiments the letter inspired
left no trace on Georgiana’s visage by the time she quit her window
seat and rejoined them. “So we are to be visited by Lady Catherine
on Friday,” she said. “It must be nearly two years since I last had
that
pleasure. Shall you be nervous when she comes,
Elizabeth?”

“I hardly know.”

“She needn’t be intimidated,” said Darcy.
“Elizabeth was more than a match for our aunt last time they met, I
understand.”

On that occasion, Lady Catherine, incensed by
the rumor of an engagement between Elizabeth and her nephew,
journeyed to Longbourn to make her sentiments on the subject known.
But Elizabeth stood her ground and defied her ladyship’s demands,
flatly refusing to promise that she would never marry Mr. Darcy. In
reporting Elizabeth’s obstinacy to her nephew, and thereby giving
him reason to hope, Lady Catherine quite unintentionally played a
role toward uniting the couple.

“And this encounter should be much less
contentious,” Darcy continued.

“Let us hope so. For my part, I plan to be
perfectly well behaved,” said Elizabeth. Then, with an impish grin,
she added, “And, should conversation lag, I can always flatter her.
I might start by praising her usefulness at bringing us together.
Shall I, Darcy? Oh, how distressed she would be to know that we owe
our happiness, at least in part, to her!”

Although this thought amused her, Elizabeth
had no intention of deliberately vexing Lady Catherine. She was
fully prepared to forgive all past offences, and prayed she would
have the forbearance to likewise overlook any new provocation given
either by accident or design.

When Friday arrived, Elizabeth awaited her
caller with as much equanimity as she could command. It had been
decided that the others would keep out of sight initially, in order
that Lady Catherine might pay her respects to Mrs. Darcy without
distraction or witnesses. Accordingly, when the grand lady in her
very grand carriage appeared in front of the house, Darcy and
Georgiana retreated to the next room, leaving Elizabeth alone to
receive her.

Lady Catherine was announced, and she swept
into the room with her customary, self-important air – no sign of
newfound humility yet apparent.

Elizabeth rose to greet her. “Lady Catherine.
Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon …
Mrs. Darcy
.” Judging
from her sour-looking countenance, that title, long coveted for her
daughter, left a bitter taste in Lady Catherine’s mouth as she was
obliged to use it in addressing an undeserving usurper.

“Please, do sit down,” Mrs. Darcy invited,
and they both did so. “How good of you to come all this way to call
on me.”

“It was no trouble; I was in town already,”
her ladyship responded dismissively.

“I see,” said Elizabeth, feeling the slight.
“I am so glad that you were not put to any inconvenience on my
account, madam.”

“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Darcy,” said her
ladyship, seeming to remember herself. She continued in a more
conciliatory tone. “I would have come to pay my respects
regardless, and I do hope you will be good enough to forgive the
tardiness of my visit.”

“Of course. I trust your ladyship is
well.”

“I am, thank you. And allow me to compliment
you on your … obvious good health,” she said with a glance at
Elizabeth’s expanding midsection. “Darcy informed me of your
expectations. You must be very happy.”

“Yes, very.”

Lady Catherine

On the whole, Lady Catherine de Bourgh
behaved quite handsomely when she called on Mrs. Darcy. For most
people of good breeding, this is hardly an accomplishment worthy of
special note. Yet it requires considerable exertion for one who so
infrequently exercises the capacity. Her ladyship certainly
recognized the difference between good and bad manners in others,
and she never scrupled to point out the deficiencies of those who
failed to measure up. However, she seldom saw the need to hold
herself to the same high standards.

On this exceptional day, however, Lady
Catherine judged it worthwhile to go beyond the minimum level of
civility to something approaching deference, in order to be sure of
satisfying Mr. Darcy’s terms. She did her best to appear suitably
penitent and pay his wife the homage required. After ten minutes of
courteous conversation with Elizabeth, her efforts were rewarded by
the entrance of the two persons whose society she truly valued
maintaining – her niece and nephew.

Other than a fleeting glance at Mr. Collins’s
funeral, Lady Catherine had not seen Mr. Darcy throughout their
entire estrangement. She quickly noted that his appearance had not
altered substantially during that interval. Georgiana was a
different matter. The passage of nearly two years had transformed
her niece from a gangly girl into a young woman who bore a striking
resemblance to her deceased mother, Lady Anne Darcy, at the same
age. Lady Catherine could not take her eyes off the living image of
her dead sister that now stood before her.

“Georgiana, come here,” she commanded,
continuing her inspection at closer range. “My heavens. Yes, you
have the true look of her now, your mother that is. Of course, you
were too young when she died to remember much about her, but you
will have seen her portrait in the gallery at Pemberley. That
likeness was taken when she was just your age, the year she married
your father. The resemblance is quite distinct. Have you not
remarked it yourself?”

“Oh, but my mother was so beautiful! I cannot
see that I look a thing like her, Lady Catherine.”

“You are too humble, child; you underestimate
yourself. Nevertheless, I am very happy to see you again, my dear.”
At last, turning to Darcy, she said, “I am pleased to see you also,
nephew. Are you well?”

“I am, and let me say how gratified we all
are by the extraordinary improvement in Anne’s health. I hardly
knew her when she came to Pemberley in January.”

“Yes. Dr. Essex is a clever physician, and he
has done wonders for Anne. I have very high hopes for her now that
her health no longer holds her back. She has such natural talent
and taste; they have only wanted proper opportunity to
develop.”

“Is Anne enjoying all the wedding
preparations?” Georgiana asked, to Elizabeth’s amazement. Although
on this occasion the topic of the wedding was sure to come up at
some point, she hardly expected it to be Georgiana who voluntarily
opened it.

“To a degree,” said her aunt. “Although,
since Anne is modest by nature, it is an adjustment for her to be
the focus of so much activity and attention. She has not the
strength of spirit to carry it off, you see, so I have had to step
in and manage the arrangements myself.”

This disclosure came as a shock to no one.
Lady Catherine had demonstrated time and again that being in
control was the position she presumed to be her birthright and
prerogative. The wonder was that she would relinquish that right,
even temporarily, as she did on this occasion in order to comply
with Mr. Darcy’s stipulations.

Although her presence was achieved at the
behest of another, Lady Catherine still managed to maintain command
of the conversation. “I have assigned Anne and Fitzwilliam an
errand on Bond Street today,” she continued. “They are to return
here when finished. I do hope they are not too long about it. I
always insist upon being back to Rosings before dark. It is so
perilous to travel at night, and I am excessively attentive to all
details of safety. I was telling Lady Metcalfe only the other day
that she would do well to follow my example in these matters. I was
appalled to learn from one of my servants that she did not return
from her excursion to Hastings until long after sundown. There
was
a tolerable moon that night, but still it was most
imprudent.” After a brief pause for breath, she turned to
Elizabeth. “Mrs. Darcy, I hope you will do us the honor of calling
at Rosings Park before you return to Pemberley. Perhaps the three
of you could drive down one day soon. There is still time before
the wedding.”

“Possibly it could be arranged,” Elizabeth
said, not wanting to commit without her husband’s approbation.
“Will we meet the clever Dr. Essex if we are able to come?”

“He has been here in town these three weeks,
so I should imagine not. Still, there are other inducements. The
woods and groves of Rosings are incomparably beautiful in late
spring, and I remember how fond you were of rambling about them
when you visited two years ago. Darcy, you will want to see
Fitzwilliam. And Georgiana, I must hear you play again; we have no
time for that today, and
my
instrument is undoubtedly
superior in any case.”

Mr. Darcy took the opening to interject,
“Georgiana and Elizabeth collaborate for some first-rate duets,
Lady Catherine; Georgiana plays while Mrs. Darcy sings. I do not
believe you have ever heard my wife’s fine singing voice, Aunt,
which is a great pity considering your taste and appreciation for
music.”

Lady Catherine looked dubious but she said,
“Of course, I should be glad to hear you sing, Mrs. Darcy … some
time or other.”

At this point, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss
de Bourgh arrived and were announced to those already gathered in
the drawing room. After a full round of greetings, Lady Catherine
required a detailed report of their mission on Bond Street. Anne
looked fatigued and quite unequal to the task, so Fitzwilliam, who
remained attentively by her side, answered her mother’s questions
for them both.

Over light refreshments, the conversation
continued to be dominated by her ladyship, which the others took as
a matter of course. As usual, she had opinions about everything
from the quality of cucumbers available in the marketplace to the
price of coal, and she hesitated not to share them. On this
occasion, though, she managed to avoid anything that savored of
criticism against Mrs. Darcy, her relations, and her housekeeping.
Afterward, she thanked her hostess for receiving her and declared
that, “regrettably,” she and her party must now take their
leave.

Elizabeth accepted with philosophy the
disappointment of Lady Catherine’s early departure. The visit had
been necessary, and in some respects gratifying, but she had no
desire to prolong the experience. If it smoothed the way for more
congenial family relations in future, the exercise had served its
purpose.

Whilst Darcy escorted their guests to the
waiting carriage, Elizabeth had a few private words with Georgiana.
“I was afraid this visit might disturb you, my dear – seeing Anne
and Fitzwilliam together. I am relieved to find that you bear it
with so much serenity.”

“I wish I could say that perfect peace is
what I feel, but it is all a guise, Elizabeth. I have told myself I
must get accustomed to seeing them together and thinking of them as
a married couple, which they very shortly will be. The sooner I
accept that fact, the sooner I can seriously consider other
possibilities for myself.”