“Thatis a rare occurrence to be sure,” muttered Darcy.
Perhaps it was fortunate that Lady Catherine did not hear him. It was even more fortunate for Fitzwilliam’s ability to hear that he did not mean to endure Lady Catherine any longer.
“Lady Catherine, I require you to desist. I am my own man and can make my own choices without reference to you or anyone else.”
“What of your father? Do you supposehewill stand aside while you ruin the family?”
“I have already written my mother about Miss Bennet, and she is eager to make her acquaintance.” Fitzwilliam felt a sense of perverseenjoyment when the lady’s eyes widened in shock. “As for my father, he is reasonable and will wait to take her measure before rendering judgment. I have every confidence in Miss Bennet’s abilities—my parents will welcome her with open arms when they make her acquaintance.”
“This is ridiculous!” spat Lady Catherine, pacing about the room, her hand gestures agitated. “You cannot possibly be considering a young woman of no consequence in the world as the future daughter of an earl.”
“If I am, it is of no concern to you.”
“Is this your final word?” demanded she.
“If you believe otherwise, I am shocked by your lack of discernment. I shall not follow your edicts, Lady Catherine; take your bitterness somewhere else.”
“Very well, I shall know how to act.”
“Before you depart,” said Darcy, speaking for the first time, “since we are discussing your nephews following their own path, I should make something clear, Lady Catherine—something I ought to have addressed long ago. Though I know it has been a cherished dream to unite Rosings and Pemberley, I will inform you now that it will never happen. I am also my own man and will plot my course in life—that course does not involve marriage to Anne.”
In other circumstances, Lady Catherine’s utter stupefaction would have been amusing. As it was, Fitzwilliam could not but wonder why Darcy had seen fit to raise the subject now.
What ensued was no credit to anyone, least of all to Lady Catherine. The lady recovered her wits and discovered her piercing voice long before Fitzwilliam might have wished, using it to good effect. The argument was long and draining, and Fitzwilliam could have predicted it all in advance. When the lady departed, offended and determined to approach the earl and ensure he “talk sense to them,” Fitzwilliam turned to his cousin before the sound of his aunt’s cane on the tiles faded from the house.
“I am curious, Darcy. Why did you bring up the cradle arrangement with Anne, of all things, at a time like this?”
Darcy sank into the sofa and massaged his temples. “Because it seemed best to extend one argument rather than provoke another.”
Fitzwilliam snorted. “The argument will persist for some time yet. If Lady Catherine does not alter the course of the heavens in her rage, it will be nothing less than a miracle.”
“To own the truth,” said Darcy, “I had never considered whatwould ensue when I told Lady Catherine I would not marry Anne. I knew she would be angry, but her opposition to your attentions to Miss Bennet opened my eyes in several respects. If she wasthatincensed when confronted with your interest, I knew it would be a pale shadow compared to whatminewould mean.”
“That makes sense,” agreed Fitzwilliam after a moment’s thought. Fitzwilliam eyed him for several moments. “Then you confess your interest in Miss Elizabeth.”
“I do,” said Darcy, deciding that evasion was pointless.
“Then it made sense to raise the subject when she was already enraged.”
“That is what I thought.”
“I suppose we should be away to Longbourn,” said Fitzwilliam.
Darcy nodded. “Even if she did not speak of Miss Bennet as if she had made her acquaintance, we both know her well enough to understand how she acted.”
“It is fortunate that I told Miss Bennet how to handle her. She is capable, but Aunt Catherine is a force of nature.”
Darcy nodded and summoned the butler to call for the coach. Within fifteen minutes, they had entered the carriage for the brief journey back to Longbourn.
Chapter XI
The atmosphere at Longbourn was far too festive for the events that had occurred that day. After Lady Catherine stalked into the cold winter day in rage and resolve, the family learned to view her ridiculous interference with the appropriate measure of disdain. For anyone to suppose that she might direct another by nothing more than her commands was hubris of which Elizabeth had not thought anyone capable.
True to Mr. Bennet’s prediction, the gentlemen arrived at Longbourn about ninety minutes later. The master of the house emerged from his study to welcome them, and he was not inclined to restrain his wit.
“Well, gentlemen, I will own that you have surprised me. I had judged that you would again darken my door no more than an hour after Lady Catherine departed.”
“That is because you do not know what happened at Netherfield,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam with a grin.
