Page 52 of Saving Jane
“Indeed, you are wrong Aunt. Any member of our circle who wants to increase their wealth is involved with trade.”
“My father the Earl of Matlock never soiled his hands with trade!”
“And today Matlock is mortgaged much like Rosings,” Darcy argued hotly. “My uncle and cousins are scrambling to save their lands. They have sold lands and treasures to hold onto the primary estate.”
There was a cold silence in the room for a long moment before Elizabeth directed the conversation in another direction. “Lady Catherine, this is a magnificent room - the walls are an extraordinary wood.”
“I believe that Sir William’s grandfather had oak trees cut on the estate and the carving done here in the house under his immediate supervision. I have the housekeeper clean the panelling herself every week and the maids polish it every month.”
“It is magnificent,” Elizabeth agreed.
Darcy frowned for a moment until he caught Elizabeth’s eye, and she smiled as Mr Collins and Lady Catherine began to exchange remarks on the beauty of Rosings and the magnificence of the different rooms.
He inclined his head slightly in her direction, acknowledging the wisdom of her redirection of the conversation and the tone of the evening. He stepped closer to Elizabeth and began a conversation.
“How are you this spring, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked.
She smiled. “I am much better now that I have seen you and Miss Darcy again.”
“And how does your sister like Hunsford?”
She paused for a moment before she replied. “The parsonage has been a challenge. My sister was most wise to request this month’s visit to set her future home to rights.”
Darcy smiled, “I attempt to set Rosings to rights each Easter, but my aunt manages to undo my work each year.”
“Darcy!” called Lady Catherine. “Attend me!”
Bowing to Elizabeth, Darcy stepped away to his aunt’s side.
“It is time for dinner. Give me your arm and take me in,” Lady Catherine ordered. “Mr Collins, give Anne your arm. Georgiana you will go in with Mrs Jenkins.”
The lady sniffed glancing at the remaining visitors and muttered, “Settle yourselvesas you see fit.”
Mr Bingley turned his smile upon the remaining ladies for the first time and Jane Bennet smiled in return. Mrs Gardiner motioned her eldest niece forward to take the gentleman’s arm as she and Elizabeth followed behind.
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Relegated to the bottom of the table, Mr Bingley and the ladies from the parsonage found themselves with excellent dinner partners. Georgiana, seated between Mrs Jenkins and Mr Collins was miserable. Across the table, her brother was trapped between a silent Anne de Bourgh and boisterous Lady Catherine who continually mentioned the desired engagement between her daughter and her nephew.
In a low voice, Darcy turned to his cousin, “Have you thought on what I wrote to you? You are now five-and-twenty and can take control of Rosings.”
“I am not certain I wish to face down Mamma,” Anne replied. “If I force her to the dower house, I will be alone in this great house.”
“If you do not stop her spending, you will be alone in a cottage when the creditors take the estate and sell it on the auction block,” Darcy told her.
“Of what are you speaking, Darcy?” inquired Lady Catherine who had been directing Georgiana on how best to cut her beef.
“We were speaking of money, aunt,” Darcy replied sharply. “I was telling Anne how poor I find the estate this spring.”
From the foot of the table, Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner noticed the argument between Mr Darcy and his aunt.
“I have not seen this dour side of Mr Darcy before,” Aunt Gardiner said quietly. “Is he like this with his other family?”
“Not that I have seen before,” Elizabeth admitted. “From the conversation that I have heard it seems Lady Catherine has overspent her income.”
Mr Bingley caught her eye from across the table and shook his head–Elizabeth understood this to mean they should cease the conversation. She noticed that Mrs Jenkins was listening to her and her aunt, so Elizabeth engaged the woman in stilted conversation, attempting to draw out Georgiana who picked at her food and sighed.
When the dinner was finally over, the three gentlemen separated from the ladies for a brandy in the library while the ladies went to the evening parlour to await the gentlemen.
