Page 41 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
“Well... it seems anticlimactic now, but Mr. Bingley has requested the hand of my daughter Jane, and she has accepted.”
“Oh, I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing,” Mama cried into her handkerchief. “Two daughters to be married. I shall go quite distracted.”
Charlotte left Mr. Collins and moved toward Lizzy and Jane.
“I am so very happy for both of you.”
“And I would say the same for you, Charlotte if I believed you could be happy with such a man.” Lizzy couldn’t help herself. Surely her good friend knew him to be a fool.
“You know I am not the romantic sort. Unlike you.” Charlotte said with calm. “All I seek is the protection of a good man and my own establishment. I worried that I’d become a burden upon my family, but when your mother said in passing that I would not refuse the attentions of a man like Mr. Collins if it meant I could have my own home, my own children, I knew if he offered, I’d accept.”
“Oh, Charlotte!” Lizzy threw her arms around her good friend. “If this is truly your desire, then who am I to say you cannot find happiness?”
“I also give you my congratulations,” Jane added, having joined them alongside Mr. Bingley.
“Charlotte!” The imperious tone of Mr. Collins broke through their conversation. “We must leave for Lucas Lodge immediately. I will not have you in the same room as... as...” He faltered when Mr. Darcy glared and took a step toward him. “We must leave at once.”
Charlotte turned her attention back to her good friends and gave a slight shrug. “I must go, but know this. You have not lost my friendship and I will do my best to settle his ruffled feathers.”
She went to leave and turned back in surprise when Fitzwilliam touched her forearm.
“For what it’s worth, Mr. Collins is a lucky man. You are a lady worth knowing. If, at any time my aunt - or Mr. Collins - make your life at Hunsford unbearable, all you need do is send word. You have powerful friends, Miss Lucas, and are not alone.”
Her eyes filled with tears and it hit Lizzy hard how much Charlotte needed to hear that she was worthy.
“Mr. Darcy.” Charlotte gave them all a small curtsy. “I have confidence in my future, but thank you for the offer. I must now take my leave.”
~~oo0oo~~
The day following their engagements, Lizzy’s attention was drawn to the sound of a carriage and she watched as a chaise and four drove up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, although Fitzwilliam was known to come by soon after breaking his fast, and the equipage did not belong to any of their surrounding neighbors. Lizzy, who stood watching from Mama’s rose garden, wondered who it could be.
A large woman descended from the carriage, waving off the hand of her footman. She clutched in her hand a heavy cane and looked around her. Even from where she stood, Lizzy could see disdain dripping from every pore of her being. At last the woman’s eyes lit upon Lizzy and she bore down on her like an advancing thunderstorm, stopping when she was but a few feet away.
Without any introduction, the older woman glared at her and barked out, “Are you Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
“I am,” she said giving her visitor a polite half curtsy, “although I have not the pleasure of knowing who you are.”
The woman banged her cane on the ground and glared down her nose.
“I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” she stated with an imperious tone, as though everyone should know who she was. With a wave of her arm toward the carriage, where Lizzy caught sight of a small hand on the window sash, she said, “And that is my daughter, Anne.”
Lizzy’s lips quirked in humor and she strove to keep her face calm. Inherently she knew Lady Catherine would not appreciate her twisted sense of humor. And, she was soon to be family. No need to dig trenches she couldn’t climb out of later.
“I am pleased to meet you, Lady Catherine.”
“You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, as to why I am here.”
“Indeed, you are mistaken. I do not.”
“I am not to be trifled with. A report of an alarming nature has reached me and I instantly resolved on setting off for this place to make my sentiments known.”
“And what report did you receive. I am still unaware of what has you so concerned.”
“That you are engaged to my nephew.”
“Which one?”Bad Lizzy. Why must she antagonize her soon to be aunt by marriage?
“Mr. Darcy, of course! Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?
