Page 63 of Resilience

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” announced the butler. He ushered in a woman slightly past middle age, who shuffled and was careful with her walking stick.

Everyone in the family was present in the drawing room at Matlock except for Viscount Brisbane, who was in London. Lord Matlock and his family were in the north briefly for the spring planting. Georgiana and Priscilla sat quietly in a corner to observe the family discussion, both feeling that the scene in the study the night before had been difficult enough, and not wishing to complicate matters between Darcy and Lady Catherine unless their opinions were sought.

“Sister.” Lord Matlock stepped forward to greet his sister warmly. “It is a blessing to see you so far north, you have not been home in years.”

“We shall have to keep you for a lovely long visit. Allow me to introduce you to Mrs Collins and her sister.” Lady Matlock bussed her sister-in-law’s cheeks, then made the introductions.

“My dear aunt, there is something I think I ought to speak with you about in private, if you would grant me an audience when you have refreshed yourself and rested,” Darcy said.

“Indeed, Darcy, you may have all of the time that you like, but not until I take this rascal to task!” Lady Catherine made her way to Richard, who looked terrified. “And just where have you been all this time, Sir? You leave for three years with hardly a word to even your own mother, keeping us in terror all the while waiting for news, and then you turn up without even paying your respects to your aunt. When I do finally receive a word in your hand, it is a scandalous falsehood about my son-in-law!”

“It is not a falsehood that–” Richard was very quickly cut off.

“Do not feed me your bile! It is false, I say! Anne’s husband would never, never…” The lady trailed off, gasping in outrage and exhaustion.

“Calm yourself, sister.” Lord Matlock led his sister to a chair. “Darcy and Richard have explained my son’s mistake to me. Richard has been re-educated about the suitability of Miss Bennet.”

“What do you have to say for yourself, Fitzwilliam? What did you mean by it?” Lady Catherine demanded.

“Aunt, I truly believe that Darcy owes more to Anne’s memory. Should not the woman who mothers the heir of Pemberley and Rosings Park be a woman of refinement and noble blood?” Fitzwilliam attempted to persuade his aunt, but it was obvious that three years had changed some of his relations greatly. “There should be consideration for Anne’s position, and respect.”

“If you wanted a choice in who mothers their heir to Rosings, you should have accepted my daughter when she asked you. I would have been angry when it happened, but if you made her half as happy as Darcy, I would have blessed you for it in the end. There is nothing left that Darcy owes to anyone other than to please himself, and not to make a bad choice. I know enough of the Bennets and Mrs Collins’s sister from correspondence with Mr Collins to know that the girl is a gentleman’s daughter. What else matters? What do you mean by this degradation?” Lady Catherine demanded that Richard explain himself.

“He is richer than four gentlemen combined because of Anne. Will you truly allow him to marry anyone from anywhere? I believe it matters who follows our cousin.”

“You wretched boy, you have been gone for so long that you know nothing of what you speak!” Lady Catherine was not having any of Richard’s nonsense. “Darcy’s first marriage satisfied every single expectation laid down by society and his family. Fortune, property, connections, position. Any consideration of any merit that anyone could possibly demand of him has been met. He fulfilled a great hope of mine and his mother’s. He united two great houses and fortunes. He saved Anne, and he treated her with kindness and friendship. He gave her back her dignity in her final years, then he mourned her with great respect. However I may have behaved before they married, I am grateful to him. Darcy did not run away to the continent to play soldier. Darcy sacrificed himself for Anne’s happiness. This is all to say nothing of the sacrifice Darcy was prepared to make for Priscilla, of which we will not speak further. My nephew has thrown himself upon his sword time and again for his family. He deserves to marry the bride of his choice, within reason, and I am certain he would never embarrass us. She looks like a decent enough girl.”

“Thank you, Aunt.” Darcy’s cheeks burned faintly at her praise. Elizabeth sat beside him, wondering how she would ever befriend Richard after all of this.

“I am particularly inconsolable about having no grandchildren, but that cannot be Miss Bennet’s fault. I only have one request, and I know it is an enormous favour to ask of you both.” Lady Catherine said. “Miss Bennet, would you object to naming your first daughter Anne, and making that child the heiress of Rosings and the de Bourgh fortune?”

The other occupants of the room gasped.

Elizabeth took a breath and answered carefully. “By tradition, first daughters are often named after their paternal grandmother, which is also the name Anne, and I have no objection.”

“You would not object if that name also honoured the late wife of your husband?” Lady Catherine persisted.

“I feel no jealousy or resentment. I assure you that I have no objection. The late Mrs Darcy was beloved not only by her cousin, but by her whole family, or so I understand. How could I be a loving wife and make such a protest?” Elizabeth asked.

She looked about the room. “As you must be aware, I cannot make decisions about inheritances, nor would I even recommend that Mr Darcy do so against his own counsel, but I have no qualms in making it known that I do not object. I hope that when we begin a family that we will have your support, Lady Catherine.”

“Support?” Lady Catherine echoed in curiosity.

“Yes, Lady Catherine, we will need your support. Not as someone to tell us what we should do, but because poor Darcy has lost his mother and father, and in their own way, mine are mostly lost to me. Our children will have no doting grandmama to ply them with sweets and cakes, and to approve of them thoroughly no matter what they do.” Elizabeth paused. “Will you not stand in as grandmama to your nephew’s children to honour your sister? How will they know what Lady Anne was like in her youth without you and Lord Matlock to tell them stories of her? Will you not support them, and love them, that is, if we are blessed with children?”

“But you must not compel Darcy to make commitments regarding inheritances yet.” Lord Matlock looked worried. “Any number of impediments could occur, and Darcy must finalise his marriage settlement first.”

“What would be the point in uniting the two fortunes only to separate them again in the next generation?” Fitzwilliam asked. “This is not at all like you, Aunt.”

“Oh, go back to the continent, you horrid boy.” Lady Catherine turned her face from her nephew.

“Lady Catherine, it is providential that you traveled north, for we were meant to journey to Kent to introduce you to my wife and sister, but now you may be here for the wedding.” Mr Collins nervously attempted to change the subject.

“Were you?” Lady Catherine asked.

“We were.” Darcy confirmed. “Mr Collins was disturbed that he had been married so long and had not paid you the respect of a visit with his wife. Elizabeth and I wished to ask you for your blessing and invite you to our wedding.”

“Now, that sounds like Darcy.” Lady Catherine was satisfied. “Of course you would make the journey. That is what is proper and respectful. I am happy that I saved you the trip, for my brother and his wife are correct, it is too long since I have been home, and I am overdue for a long visit.”