Page 71 of A Quiet Affection

“With her affection, her continued friendship, the observation of her good character, her kindness to those about her, and my awareness of her worthiness.”

Lady Catherine glared at him. “All pretty words to hide the sordid deed. Well, did she seduce you while you were full of grief for your Papa or when—”

“Remove yourself from my house. You have insulted the woman I love more than anyone else in the world.”

“But—”

“Cathy,” Lord Matlock said, “you ought to apologize if you have any hope of retaining connection with Darcy.”

“I shall not. It is what everyone must think.”

“Must I call the footman to have you dragged out?” Darcy stared levelly at his aunt. “Do not doubt that I shall do it. Now begone.”

“The blood of my sister! If only my sister could see how you behave, how would she despise you then! Don’t ring the bell. I am going, I am going. But you shall be unhappy, and you shall think of your mother, and you shall mourn what you lost when you scorned my daughter for a blind nothing!” Lady Catherine grabbed her daughter’s arm. “We are going, Anne! I see that Iam not wanted here. Your father was a damned fool, Darcy. A damned fool! But you are a worse one than him. I warned him!”

And so saying, his aunt left the drawing room, and slammed the door with all of her considerable strength behind her.

Darcy sighed.

At least Georgiana had not had to witness this scene. Or Elizabeth, though Darcy suspected that she would find some amusement in it when he described it.

“Well.” Lord Matlock took in a deep breath. “Ihalf expected this.” He quirked his face. “Eh, I’ll bring Cathy around. She’ll apologize in time.”

“I will not have her in my house again, unless she makes a sincere apology. And if this notion that I was drawn into this marriage in such a way spreads about due to her, I may not accept her even in such a case.”

“Yes. Stiff-necked Darcy.” Matlock sighed. “Well. Cathy was right in this: Your father was a fool. But nothing to be done about that.”

“I cannot disagree, but he is dead now.”

Matlock laughed. “That makes it very impossible to do anything about his foolishness. I imagine you’ll be happy, and live together very pleasantly, and all, and there is no chance that you shall listen to me when I tell you that you have made a mistake. We will support you and the girl. But give me a minute to arrange my thoughts. It is my family duty to give you a speech about how you are wasting yourself, and how this is a terrible mistake.”

“I might,” Darcy said, smiling despite himself, “simply pretend that you have made that speech, and you might pretend that I have politely but firmly declined to take your advice inthis matter, but showed every other respect for your honored position as a peer of the realm, and my uncle.”

“And shall we also pretend to have shaken hands upon the matter?” Matlock queried. “No, no. I prefer to do the whole thing right—if you’ll saddle us with a disappointing match, it is only fair that you listen to our disappointment.”

“So long as it is couched in terms that are becoming of a man of your station, and that offer no insult to my honor, or to the honor of the woman I love.”

Matlock laughed. “I’d be shocked if you’ve anticipated anything but a chaste kiss with her, have you?—rather a pity, that.”

Darcy blushed, and he recalled that Matlock was known for keeping two mistresses openly and somehow gaining the approbation of his wife to do so.

“Well, that gives me the basis upon which I shall make my disappointed speech. You know, of course, that it is the duty of every member of a family to do that which will help the glory and fortune of their relations to grow, and that forgetting that duty to your relations by tying them to connections of a lower station is a shameful thing to do.”

“No, I know nothing of that sort. Marriage should be chiefly a matter of affection and companionship. I have given this much thought.”

“Oh, I have no doubt aboutthat. You are the sort who demands consistency in all your acts and thoughts.”

“That is a virtue, is it not?” Darcy asked.

“No. The world is inconsistent, so we ought to be likewise.”

As Darcy had no quick reply to that, he did not make one.

Lord Matlock then said, “I am sure that Miss Elizabeth has acted in a most respectable and honorable manner—and you in an even more respectable and honorable manner—but I rather think you lack a certain, ah, experience, that might have given you the perspective to avoid adopting this notion that one particular woman and her happiness and presence in your life is of greater importance than every material, social, and family consideration.”

“What do you mean?” Darcy asked sharply.

“Have you ever been with a woman? I assume not.”