Page 69 of Saving Jane
“The door was standing open this morning?”
“You are dismissed from service, Livingston!” Lady Catherine declared. “You were negligent and did not secure Rosings before retiring last night! No doubt you enjoyed a bottle of my wine in my absence!”
“Your Ladyship, I would...”
“Aunt, you must remain calm while I discover what I can regarding Anne’s disappearance.”
“This is your fault, Darcy!” Lady Catherine next declared. “If you had married Anne last year, she would be safe today!”
Darcy caught Elizabeth’s eye for just a moment, and she stepped forward to support him, but he waved her back. “Aunt, shall I send for an apothecary to dose you with laudanum? Or will you remain calm and hear facts?”
Lady Catherine frowned but Darcy held her gaze until she nodded once in agreement.
“Georgiana, what do you know?”
“I spent the night at the parsonage, William,” his sister explained. “Anne suggested that I return with Mrs Gardiner, Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth after supper last evening. We had a very pleasant evening, but nothing appeared to be amiss when we left Rosings.”
“Anne wanted you to stay at the parsonage?”
“Yes,” Georgiana replied.
Darcy hurried above stairs and Elizabeth suggested that everyone retire to the parlour.
“No!” Lady Catherine declared. “I shall not move from this spot until I hear from my daughter!”
“Livingston, send for tea to restore Lady Catherine,” Jane suggested but again Lady Catherine objected.
“I am mistress here! Cease giving my servants orders!” the older woman commanded but then she did accept a cup when the tea was brought.
It was only a few moments before Mr Darcy returned to the entry hall with a sheet of paper in his hand. “I found this note in Anne’s room.”
“Is it a ransom?” Lady Catherine demanded to know.
“It is not a ransom note,” he explained carefully.
“It is from Anne, and she has...” Darcy paused before continuing, “Anne has eloped with Mr Collins.”
Lady Catherine was shocked and silent for a long moment as Mr Darcy finished explaining the information from his cousin’s note, “Anne obtained a common license from the bishop through her solicitor and the couple went to Canterbury to marry.”
Upon hearing the final piece of news, Lady Catherine fainted and once the maid retrieved her mistress’ smelling salts, Darcy used the bottle to revive his aunt. Sputtering loudly, she sat up and declared, “I shall have him defrocked and beheaded! He seduced my daughter!”
Then she turned on Darcy again. “This is your fault!”
“Aunt you will cease this useless noise immediately!” Darcy ordered the woman who was not nearly as hysterical as her behaviour indicated. She fell silent and continued to frown. Finally, she sighed and nodded her head.
“Escort Lady Catherine to her room,” Darcy told the butler and footman. “Summon the apothecary and have him leave doses of laudanum for her ladyship should she become hysterical.”
The company waited until the butler and a footman supported Lady Catherine as she left the room.
Then Darcy turned to Georgiana, Elizabeth and Jane. “Shall we step outside the doors?”
Once they were away from the house and servants, Darcy turned to the ladies and sighed, “This is not the return I had planned.”
He reached out a hand and drew Elizabeth to his side. “Your father was only mildly surprised at my petition for your hand, and he granted his permission for us to marry in late summer. Your mother was very surprised and pleased. I only remained long enough for tea before returning to London, but your mother promised to write you at length in the next few days.”
He pulled out a letter from one pocket that he handed to Elizabeth, “Yourfather sent you a note.”
Then he took her left hand and slipped a ring on her finger, “And I have this ring as an engagement gift to tell the world that you are now mine.”
