58. Ch 53:May the LORD judge

Ch 53: May the LORD judge between you and me*

The Bennets removed to Longbourn before a se'night had passed. Mrs. Bennet surprised her family with her sanguine disposition despite her home's unfinished state.

"Oh, Mr. Bennet," she exclaimed, "I have so many ideas for redecorating these rooms. I visited several very fine townhomes while with my sister in London and I believe I can make Longbourn resemble them with only a little effort. Perhaps I might prevail upon Kitty for her help as well. Her taste has become very refined in the last few months. Her acquaintance with Miss Bingley has certainly benefited her."

"I am pleased to know you do not find the task too daunting, my dear." Mr. Bennet placed his hand on the small of her back. "I do not think I have ever heard you consider redecorating before." You were always more concerned with decorating the girls. He guided her to sit with him on the settee in the drawing room. "It is your trip to London that has inspired you so?"

"In part, I suppose." She looked at with an odd expression in her eyes. "But it is also true that Longbourn has never been my own home before."

"Oh Fanny," he whispered drawing her close. "I am sorry. I should have pursued recovering the estate much sooner. It always seemed there was something more pressing to tend to." He pressed his cheek to the top of her head and sighed. "No, I fear that is not true. The elder Mr. Collins was a horrible man and I could not bring myself to deal with him. He was vile and vengeful and I would not risk having him in the house, near you or the girls." I should have had the same caution with his son! "I feared if I tried to pursue legal remedy with him, I would find him on Longbourn's doorstep and I could not risk that."

"You have always been so considerate of me, Thomas." She looked up at him with misty eyes. My girls are fortunate to have found men who are much like you.

"I fear it has cost you many years of anxiety that I would rather have spared you."

"Well it is done now and it is done for the best." she dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. "I can hardly believe that Charlotte Lucas will be marrying Mr. Jacobson so quickly. We were all certain she would never leave Lucas Lodge, the poor dear girl. I know she must have despaired of ever finding a husband. And now-oh how things have changed! To think I mourned the Carvers leaving the neighborhood. It would appear that nothing but good has come from that day, and I thought it was an evil one indeed." She laughed softly to herself. "How little able we are to know what the future holds? Charlotte Lucas to be the mistress of Evermere! She could have been mistress of Longbourn. How strange that seems."

"What of our own girls? Who could possibly have expected four of them engaged at once! I believe I now understand why society does not encourage younger girls to be out before their older sisters are married! It reduces the need for planning several weddings at once!"

Mrs. Bennet fanned herself with her handkerchief. "I cannot believe that I must now plan two wedding breakfasts in just a month's time! Two! If it were not for Hill," she paused, glancing at the door, "you must add something to her pay, Mr. Bennet. Do you know that she has been taking note of what has been served at all the wedding breakfasts in the area? Not just that, but the decorations and the flowers as well. Dear Hill has attended to all of that! She had already thought to have a list of suggestions prepared for me. And what a job she has done of it too!"

"I shall see she is amply rewarded." Mr. Bennet smiled indulgently. "Have not Jane and Lizzy been most considerate? You could have had three such events to plan." He chuckled. I cannot believe I shall lose them all so quickly.

"Two is quite sufficient for now Mr. Bennet. Do not forget, Kitty's wedding is yet to come!" She laughed to herself, a pleased look on her face. "You know our girls will be the talk of the neighborhood. Our Mary marrying Mr. Pierce! She is already greatly envied for her good fortune. Mr. Pierce is a most popular young man. I knew there was some partiality there, but I had no idea!" Her hand flew to her chest, "But Jane! I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing! The son of an earl! How well that sounds."

"The younger son."

"To be sure the elder might have been better, but the connections she will have! That settlement! She will live quite comfortably to be sure!"

"And if ever they have need, they can apply to Mr. Darcy and Lizzy for assistance." His eyes twinkled merrily.

"His is indeed the wealthiest man our girls have ever met! To think that mischievous, impertinent daughter of mine should secure such a fine man! She has frightened off so many suitors with her sharp tongue. I wonder that Mr. Darcy should be able to withstand it! I shall have to speak to her…"

Mr. Bennet laid his hand on her shoulder firmly. "No, Mrs. Bennet, you will do no such thing."

"But she will drive him away…"

"They have working side by side daily to restore our home for quite some time. If she has not done so by now, it will certainly not happen. Perhaps there are men who prefer impertinence and intelligence to a serene countenance and fine features." He looked at her sternly. I know you mean well, but you will not criticize my Lizzy anymore.

"Yes, Mr. Bennet." She looked away. After a long moment, she drew a deep breath and continued, "There is so much yet to be done and so little time. I must take the girls to the modiste!"

"I shall call for the carriage." He helped her to her feet and escorted her from the room.

On the eve of Charlotte's wedding, a regal coach pulled up to Longbourn. Moments later Elizabeth heard a commotion at the door and Hill appeared in the door way of the study.

"Madam," Hill stammered, curtseying unsteadily.

"What is wrong, Hill?" Immediately Elizabeth was on her feet rushing toward the rattled housekeeper.

"Lady…Lady Catherine de Bourgh to see you, Miss." Hill curtsied again and stepped back to reveal the lady.

So that is Lady Catherine! Elizabeth curtsied. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, madam." She is not at all what I expected.

With a harrumph, Lady Catherine stepped into Mr. Bennet's study. Immediately she spied the piles of paper on the desk and several small tables nearby. "You father is quite an untidy man, is he not?"

Elizabeth gritted her teeth angrily and stared at the woman. She was short, reaching just to Elizabeth's shoulder and shrouded in layers of expensive fabric giving the impression of a startled cat with fur puffed and back arched. Her green eyes flashed with fury as she bared her teeth in a sneer.

"This disarray is not my father's, it is mine. I am afraid I have had much work to do and with your visit so…unannounced I have had no time to make the room presentable." Elizabeth cocked her head in a subtle challenge.

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet?" Lady Catherine asked condescendingly. Ill-mannered chit! "Working in your father's study? How singular."

"I am. Is there something I may do for you?" Elizabeth gestured to the couch. "Would you care to sit down?"

Lady Catherine looked at the furniture skeptically, turning up her nose. She crossed the room to stand far too close to Elizabeth. "Indeed there is young woman."

My courage rises with every attempt to intimidate me! Elizabeth brushed past her and sat down. "Please enlighten me."

Lady Catherine turned to face her again. "Two days ago a report of a most alarming nature reached me."

And so it begins. Elizabeth struggled not to roll her eyes. "Is someone in your family unwell? Has some calamity befallen…"

"Impudent girl!" Veins in her neck stood out, a look of disgust on her face.

"I mean no disrespect, madam I could only imagine it would require something truly tragic to alarm a Lady such as yourself." Elizabeth gripped her hands tightly together, feeling her nails dig into her palms.

Lady Catherine's eyes narrowed as she scowled down her nose. She planted her hands on her hips. "I was told that not only are your younger sisters on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Worse still I have been told that your elder sister may very well be married to Colonel Fitzwilliam, another of my nephews! Though I know these must be scandalous falsehoods, though I would not injure them so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you. "

As if I am in any doubts of what your sentiments must be. Elizabeth squared her shoulders. "Someone has written to inform you of this? Your nephews perhaps, or your brother? No, it must have been Lady Matlock or perhaps your niece Georgiana. One must always look to a female correspondent when they wish for news." She blinked innocently.

"No, none of them have had the decency to keep me informed of the shameful activities of my nephews. I am almost the nearest relation Darcy has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns."

"And whereby do you come by this right? Was it given to you by Mr. Darcy? No surely that could not be for I know him to be a man who values his privacy." Elizabeth slowly rose to tower over her guest. "Perhaps then it was his parents who charged you so. But no, he informed me that there was an estrangement between you and his father, so that could not have been. So who then, Lady Catherine, as entitled you? Was it the King? Or perhaps from on high?"

"Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it."

"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer. Particularly when they are based on information that must have come to you by less than honorable means.''

"This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet. Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?''

This time Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "I have heard of this peculiar kind of engagement. From their infancy, I believe I was told, they were, in your imagination intended for one another. If I recall correctly, that was the reason for your eventual estrangement from Mr. Darcy's good father. I find this supposition even more insupportable than your claim to have a right to know all his personal affairs."

"Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?''

``Yes, and I have heard it before from Mr. Darcy himself. But what is that to me? Unless you have been raised to the place of Providence, it is not you who is a position to cast anyone's destiny. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?''

``Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you willfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.''

"These are heavy misfortunes,'' replied Elizabeth. "But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine."

"I have not been used to submit to any person's whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.''

"That will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me.''

"I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence!" Lady Catherine rose to her toes to hiss in Elizabeth's face.

"I have stood by in silence long enough!" Elizabeth snapped back. "You dare threaten to censure and slight me and my family, after what you have done?"

"What have I done to you? I have done you an honor today…"

"Certainly not! You pollute the shades of Longbourn with your despicable presence here. And you have the unmitigated gall to deny knowledge of the grave injury you have committed against my entire family!" Elizabeth shook with rage, her face flushed.

"You are a mad woman. There is no other explanation for your unfounded accusations against my person." She stamped her foot.

"So you deny it?"

"Deny what? You have yet to lay a charge at my feet."

"Mr. Collins was you vicar?"

"Indeed he was. I do not see…"

"Oh course you do not." Elizabeth tossed her head and stalked to stare out the window. "Do you deny that you counseled him to refuse my father's offer to break the entail on our estate."

"Of course I did. For him to write off his entry into gentle society for mere money would be unconscionable!" Lady Catherine closed the distance to Elizabeth.

"And you threatened him if he were to allow my father to take him to court?" Elizabeth's voice became very soft.

"I could not allow him to bring my name into such disgrace." Lady Catherine crossed her arms over her chest.

Elizabeth slowly turned to face her. "And you told him to secure Longbourn by whatever means possible." Lady Catherine made no response. "He acted on your advice. You may ask your nephews to support my story. You see, your 'wisdom' nearly cost the lives of my family and your nephews."

"What are you talking about?" She looked away from Elizabeth's intense gaze.

"Your nephews were dining with us. A severe storm began and they were forced to spend the night here. They stayed in the rooms my sister Jane and I share. On your advice, Mr. Collins snuck through the servants' passages into our rooms in the hopes of forcing one of us to marry him. Instead he found your nephews. In his fright, he dropped the candle he carried and started the first that damaged our home and could have taken the lives of many more than just Mr. Collins, himself."

"He is responsible for his own actions."

"As are we all. But your attentions were at work on a weak mind and so resulted in his misdeed."

"He was a fool and a simpleton." Lady Catherine snorted.

"It will be interesting to see if the Ton agrees with you, madam. I imagine that they will make their own judgments upon hearing how you instructed your vicar to compromise your nephews' betrothed."

Lady Catherine whirled on Elizabeth, "If you were sensible of your own good, you would hold your tongue and not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up."

"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal.''

"You are a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.''

"Their condition is decidedly better than your own, madam. They do not have a man's the death on their conscience! How can it be that you sleep at night? Do you not fear how it will be for you when your dark deeds come into the light? "

"Your threat makes it clear that you are unfit for better society."

"No, Aunt," a deep voice spoke from the doorway. Both women turned to see Darcy and Richard, shoulder to shoulder, matching grim looks on their faces.

"You can now have nothing farther to say.'' Elizabeth set her jaw. "You have insulted me in every possible method. You are no longer welcome in my home. I would thank you to take your leave."

"I am not finished yet! You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephews! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace them in the eyes of everybody?'' Lady Catherine looked up at her nephews, "Can you not see the disgrace you bring to the family?"

"The only disgrace to the family I see here is you, Aunt Catherine," Darcy said softly, a dangerous note in his voice.

"We know of your role in the injury done to the Bennets and you are fortunate you are not a man. For if you were my uncle and not my aunt…" Richard snarled, letting his voice trail off.

"So you refuse to severe these ridiculous connections?"

"The only connection I am going to sever is with you. Anne is welcome at any of my homes. You however are not." Darcy glowered as he crossed to stand beside Elizabeth.

"Do not look at me, Aunt Catherine. I will not allow you to treat my angel in such a despicable fashion." Richard shook his head slowly. "You shall receive no invitations from me either."

"You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin this family in the opinion of all our friends, and make us the contempt of the world.''

``Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude,'' replied Darcy through his teeth, "have any possible claim on us, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by our marriages. And the world in general, I believe, has too much sense and too many other concerns to join in the scorn.''

"And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point.''

"What point do you think you have to carry, Aunt?" Richard asked, grasping her arm firmly. "Do you not know that if you begin any talk of this in the Ton it is you who will be much more affected than us? My mother has welcomed these matches. Do you wish to oppose your sister so openly and thus divide the family in the eyes of society? You speak of honour. Such an action would surely darken the honour of this family." Before she could reply, he guided her from the room, to her waiting carriage, speaking to her all the way there.

Darcy and Elizabeth stood in silence for several long breaths. He placed a warm hand on her shoulder. Finally she turned to face him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright. "I am so sorry dearest. I know not how she could have thought to impose herself upon you so." He cradled her cheek in his hand.

"I fear I have proven her quite correct." She closed her eyes and felt him pull her into his shoulder. "My mother has always warned me that my tongue would be my undoing sooner or later."

"What did you say that was not she did not deserve? She treated your family abominably and did not much appreciate being made to see that." Darcy stroked her back comfortingly.

"You heard that?" She looked up in horror. "Oh, what must you think of me!"

"I think you are brave in defense of those you love." He kissed her forehead. "I think you are brilliant in you assessment of character." He kissed her left cheek. "I think you are delightfully outspoken and frank." He laughed softly, kissing her right cheek. "And I think you are exactly the right woman to bring life and joy into the halls of Pemberley once more." He kissed her lips.

Several moments later, Richard returned, stopping short in the doorway. He smiled approvingly. No amount of good society can be more desirable than that.

*Gen 16:5