“He brings the kind of love to protect me, Mother.” Anne grasped Edward's arm for support.
“I withdraw my consent, Child.”
“I am no child. I am of age, Mother; I do not need your consent.” Anne swayed against Edward, and he placed his arm around her shoulders to brace her.
“Catherine,” the Earl now intervened, “although you are my sister, and I normally offer you some latitude in your opinions, Edward, whom you deem unworthy of Anne's regard, is still my son. I will not tolerate your censure of him. You will leave my house tomorrow morning; you are no longer welcome here!”
Lady Catherine began to protest,“I never!”
“That is just it, Catherine. None of us in this room ever stopped your censure, and we allowed you to hold court over everyone else.We will no longer tolerate such behavior. Please leave us immediately.”
Lady Catherine looked about her; no one in attendance gave her encouragement. In fact, Matlock, Darcy, and the colonel all literally turned their backs while the rest of the room dropped their eyes and refused to look at her.As if by consensus, everyone began conversations with those in close attendance, ignoring the old woman who stood mouth agape. “You will pay for this insult!” she barked before exiting the room.
Darcy immediately dropped to his knees in front of Elizabeth. “My Love, come with me,” he whispered in her ear. Elizabeth stood as he led her from the room. “We need fresh air,” he continued as he retrieved their outer garments against the cold. Darcy wrapped a pelisse around her, pulling a shawl from
the shelf to give her extra protection. Elizabeth still covered her face with her hands so Darcy led her gingerly to the gardens.
“Elizabeth,” he began once they were clear of the house. “Elizabeth, please, do not shut me out.”
Elizabeth did not know why she still cried, but the agitation of her mind was painful. So much went awry; all of her family's mistakes hit Elizabeth full force. “Fitzwilliam, I am sorry.” Elizabeth scrambled to his embrace, needing the solace only he gave her.
Darcy lifted her chin to kiss her lips lightly.“Sorry for what, my Love?”
“Everything you gave up for me!”The sobs began again.
He wiped away the tears with his handkerchief. “I received so much more of value in return.”
Elizabeth nearly wailed. “I made you the laughingstock of the
ton
; I cost you your position in society!”
“Elizabeth, I was never part of the
ton
; they tolerated me because of my family's wealth, but I was always on the outside looking in. Do you not remember my actions at Meryton and at Netherfield? I hung on the outskirts of each group, listening and nodding, but not interacting. I hate each time I must be in large groups; I am never at my best. I become invisible, but you, Elizabeth Darcy, looked past my coat of invisibility; you saw me when I was not there.” Darcy locked eyes with her. “I do not need the
ton
. I do not need Lady Catherine. I need youâwithout you, I am nothing again.”
Elizabeth clung to him, desiring the strength of his devotion. Being held by Darcy created an intimacy Elizabeth needed.“I love you, Fitzwilliam.”
He traced her chin line with the back of his hand, and their eyes locked in an intimate moment.“I love you, my Lizzy.”
Elizabeth whispered to him,“You do not play fair, Sir.”
“I prefer to use all my advantages, Mrs. Darcy.” He kissed her gently again.
When she spoke, Elizabeth's voice sounded shaky. “Then you do not regret aligning yourself with someone such as me?”
“Elizabeth, I sought your attention for nearly a year; desperation and depression were regularly my company. Each night I dreamed of your loving me, of having your eyes light up when I entered a room. I dreamed of your desiring me as much as I desired you. Now, all those dreams come true in you. Aligning myself with you is the answer to every dream I ever held; how could you doubt how much I love you?”
“But what of Georgiana? Have I not ruined her reputation as well? We prepare for her coming out, but I darken your sister's chances.”
Darcy laughed lightly.“We both know if Georgiana had her way, her coming out would be postponed indefinitely. She rejoices in your current condition not totally for our sake. I suspect your confinement gives my sister joy for her coming out will need to be delayed another season. Georgiana will be accepted no matter what our situation. People in the
ton
respect money. Georgiana comes from moneyâshe will succeed remarkably. Plus, under your tutelage my sister develops a confidence she never possessed. I am sure she would never question my choice in marrying you.”
“My brother's right, Elizabeth.” They both spun around to find Georgiana standing tall and majestic in her confidence. “My aunt's bitterness should never make you question your worth to Fitzwilliam or to me.You touch our lives in so many ways; you cannot suspect we have any regrets.You brought life to Pemberley.”
Elizabeth continued to sob throughout this exchange, but now the tears were those of joy rather than despair. She rushed to Georgiana's arms.“Thank you, Georgiana.”
Offering them comfort, Darcy now moved to encompass both women in his embrace. “A man of lesser fortune would be wealthy to have the two of you in his life.”
After several minutes, Darcy encouraged them to return to the house. “Would you object to my foregoing the rest of the evening with your family and returning to our rooms instead?” Elizabeth pleaded for privacy.
“I will go with you,” Georgiana offered. Elizabeth nodded, and Darcy agreed.
Elizabeth caressed his cheek as they parted. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”
“I shall not be long, my Love. See to her, Georgiana,” he whispered to his sister before they ascended the staircase leading to the guest rooms.
“Fitzwilliam, how is Mrs. Darcy?” asked Lady Matlock when he reentered the room alone.
“Georgiana is with her. My wife begs your forgiveness for leaving the gathering early.” Darcy's breeding took over his reactions. He moved to Edward's side. “How are you dealing with this?”
“The prospects of returning to Rosings any time soon does not play well on my disposition at the moment.”
“Then you and Anne will extend your stay at Matlock?”
“Indefinitely,” Edward added while viewing Lady Pennington's civilities to Anne. “Anne will need to recoup her resolve before facing our aunt again.”
“Do not stay away from Rosings too long, Edward. Her Ladyship will plot to keep the property upon your marriage; you must be there to prevent her deceit.Would Anne consider an earlier date for your marriage? It would resolve some of your issues.”
Edward shook his head in disbelief. “You are probably right, Darcy. The depth of Lady Catherine's evil amazes me. How can she be the sister of your dear mother and my father? How can she abuse her daughter in the name of love?”
Darcy leaned in to share his private beliefs. “Do not allow Lady Catherine to stay on the estate. Place her in London or
better yet in Vienna or Paris. Keep her away from Anne. Our aunt will never stop until she has her way in this family.”
“I fear you are correct, and that grieves me so. I will speak to my father; his support will lend viability to the solution. Now, if you will excuse me, Anne needs me as Elizabeth needed you.”
“Of course.” Darcy bowed to his cousin.
Edward and Lady Pennington helped Anne to her feet and led her toward her quarters. Captain Rutherford, thankfully, made a quiet exit when the ruckus started.The Matlocks and Lord Pennington conferred privately in the corner.
Darcy scanned the room, finding Kitty huddled in a chair in the corner. Her eyes were down, but he could see sobs shook her retracted shoulders. Until of late, Darcy had very little interaction with his wife's sister, his earlier opinions of Kitty Bennet tied closely to those he knew of Lydia. Darcy watched Kitty and Lydia as they chased after the members of the -shire stationed at Meryton, and he thought them to be quite silly and lacking in common proprieties.
Now, he saw his wife's sister as a young woman hurt by his aunt's words. What Lady Catherine said to him and to Elizabeth affected Kitty as well, so Darcy moved to sit beside her. He slid his arm around the girl's shoulders, and Kitty surprised him by collapsing against him and allowing her tears to flow freely now. For a moment, Kitty reminded him of Elizabeth. “Miss BennetâKitty.” Darcy brushed her hair from her face as he spoke to her softly, encouraging her to trust him.
Finally, Darcy made out some of her words between the sobs. “Mr. Darcyâthank you for loving LizzyâI was wrongâI do not want to be like Lydiaâwe brought you such mortificationsâcan you forgive us?”
“Kitty.” Darcy pulled the girl closer. “It is I who should apologize to you; it is my family who crossed the line of civilities tonight. I am sorry to see you suffer.”
Kitty pulled herself upright and looked Darcy in the eyes. He saw the shift of her shoulders, obviously, a Bennet trait. “Mr. Darcy, I am ashamed I once believed you to be prideful and haughty.”
“It seems your sister's earliest opinions of me permeated the whole family,” he laughed lightly.“But I was just thinking something similar; I used to believe you to be very much like your youngest sister. Now, I see traces of my Elizabeth in you.” Darcy cupped Kitty's chin when she started to drop her eyes again.
“Lydia brought much shame on our family. Our Uncle Gardiner paid dearly to save her foolish name, as well as ours. In Meryton, some people no longer speak to Mary and me. I hoped in coming to Pemberley, I could leave that behind.”
“Reputations are not something we can buy, Kitty; you must earn them with exemplary actions, and even then, some of lesser consequence, but more wealth, will set themselves in judgment.You must know in your heart your actions speak of your purity.”
His words did not bring Kitty the comfort Darcy hoped. Her tears flowed again, and after several awkward moments, she finally confessed,“But I once allowed Mr. Denney to kiss me!” She blurted out her confession without much forethought.
Darcy gently brushed the tears away with his already damp handkerchief. “What you allowed was not the end of the world, although I would never encourage such actions. Yet, what liberties Lydia allowed Mr.Wickham showed her lack of regard for you and all your sisters. I know if Mr. Denney demanded more of you, you would never participate, especially if you knew it could hurt your whole family.”
“Of course not, Mr. Darcy,” Kitty exclaimed a bit too loudly. She dropped her voice after looking around to see if anyone noticed.“I was just curious what it would feel like.”
“And how did it feel, Kitty?” Darcy wondered about the workings of the young female mind.
“Mr. Denney's beard scratched my face, and his breath smelled of port and cigar smoke. It was not what I expected; my novels describe a more pleasant experience.” Kitty felt foolish for having believed such romantic notions.
Darcy chuckled again at Kitty's naïveté. “Do you know Elizabeth kissed me several times before we were married?” A short gasp told him Kitty never expected Elizabeth allowed him such privileges. “Of course, we already set a date for our marriage when this occurred. However, I know from my friend, Mrs. Bingley did not allow him more than the holding of hands.”
“Jane would never cross the line of propriety.” Kitty did not appear surprised by this news.
“As I see you to be more like Elizabethâmore passionateâmore feelings in your interactions, I share this with you so you see there is no true standard. Do you see Elizabeth as any less proper than your sister Jane?”
“Most certainly not! Elizabeth is all what a lady should be!”
“Both Mrs. Bingley and my Elizabeth did what was best for themâthey neither hurt their family and both have a clear conscious. That is what you see when you look into their facesâthe purity of their actions and the purity of their hearts. Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?”
“Lydia hides her actions with too much face paint and too many ribbons on her bonnet,” she said with some conviction.
“Qualityânot quantityâis the standard.”
Kitty looked about sheepishly. “Mr. Darcy, may I ask you something else?”
“Of course, Miss Bennet.”
“Mr. Ashford, before we left Pemberley, asked if he might call on me when I returned.Would you speak to him on my behalf?”
“Do you wish for Mr. Ashford to make such calls?” Darcy seemed amused.
“I reflected on it for the past several days. I would like to get to know Mr.Ashford better.” Kitty hoped she did not seem too forward for Darcy's standards.
“I will speak to Elizabeth tomorrow, and we will determine what is best for your future. I must say Mr.Ashford seems like a sensible young man.” Darcy's approval brought Kitty joy.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”
“Are you ready to retire for the evening? If so, it would be my honor to escort you to your room.” Darcy offered Elizabeth's sister his arm.
Kitty stood and took his arm, happy to be accepted as part of his family.At the top of the stairs, she turned to him one last time.“May I be allowed one last question?”
Darcy's smile showed no annoyance with Kitty's entreaties. “Certainly.”
“When you first kissed Elizabeth, what was it like?”
The laughter came easily this time, and Darcy half teased her when he said,“Of course, your sister had no beard, and she did not smell of cigars or port, so my experience was more pleasurable than the one you described.”
A pout took Kitty's lips. “Do not tease me, Mr. Darcy. I really want to know.”