Page 37 of Master of Netherfield
At the conclusion of the interviews, William shook his head and said, “You were both proper in your actions. Miss Bennet, who taught you to ‘disarm’ a man in such a manner?”
“Our father told us sir,” Jane explained. “We are not defenceless.”
“I must remember to tell my sister someday,” he told them but to his surprise, the two girls grinned.
“We shall tell Georgie when she is a few years older,” Elizabeth volunteered. Then she teased, “Papa was very red when he explained the movement, much like you are now sir.”
Darcy nodded in thanks. Satisfied he had the basic events; he drained a cup of tea and asked his footmen for the location of his aunt’s footmen.
“They are both locked up in the cellar sir. The empty cheese room–they can’t get their hands on anything of value.”
**++**
William climbed the staircase with Mrs Hobbs at his side. At the door to the bed chamber were his aunt was confined, he nodded for the footman to move to the side. He did not knock but merely unlocked the door and stepped inside followed by his two servants.
Lady Catherine sat silently in a chair before the cold fireplace.
“Your hospitality is lacking nephew,” the woman said.
“Mrs Hobbes would you be so kind as to throw open the draperies. This room is entirely too dark for my liking.”
The housekeeper drew open the curtains on both large windows and William was able to clearly see his aunt –without her wig she appeared to be much older than he had previously thought.
“I have come for my horses,” she said calmly.
“If I call the magistrate, you shall certainly be confined for a period of time. You laid hands on the daughters of a well-respected gentleman. They hang men for doing such.”
“I am the daughter of an earl!”
“No one remembers my grandfather who has been dead for twenty years. And your brother is hardly welcomed in respectable homes in town. His gambling debts are ruining Matlock.”
When Lady Catherine made no comment, William continued. “What do you mean by entering my home and attacking a child?”
“It was your servants who attacked me!”
“Above stairs? In the classroom?”
Lady Catherine frowned, “The girl assaulted me and brought blood!”
“Aunt, you did not even know your own niece. You laid hands on a guest and her sisters defended her. You frightened a defenceless child.”
“Fitzwilliam, look what the girl did to me!” Lady Catherine insisted holding up her arm where there were red marks where Kitty had bitten down.
“It is no more than you deserved,” William said.
Mrs Hobbs cleared her throat and brought the wig forward and laid it on the table beside Lady Catherine. William stifled a chuckle before he said, “I do recommend that you should find a better wig maker or purchase one that does not resemble some creature from the wilds of the Americas.”
Now his face grew still, and he said, “This is the second time you have forced your way into my home aunt. I have no intention of there being a third time. The magistrate will be summoned, and you will return to London only after you have paid damages.”
“The magistrate will deal fairly with me!” Lady Catherine sneered. “He will take my side.”
Darcy rose and gave Mrs Hobbes instructions. “My aunt is to receive no service from a maid until after the magistrate speaks to her. You may send up a supper tray this evening but until then she gets nothing from my household.”
“Fitzwilliam! The earl will speak to your father about this treatment!”
William smiled. “My father will enjoy this tale once he is assured that Georgiana, and my servants are well. And my uncle is most anxious to remain in my father’s good graces –Matlock is hopeful of arranging a match with Lord Humphries this spring for their eldest daughter. Can you imagine the earl’s displeasure if your invasion of my home and assault of the magistrate’s daughters were to be reported in the London papers?”
“The magistrate’s daughters?” exclaimed Lady Catherine.
