“Oh, thank heavens, you are here.” Anne stopped pacing as Richard entered her sitting room. “I was certain that mother was going to get here before you. Whatever took you so long? Did Darcy not tell you I needed you? Did you not remember that you were to leave Darcy alone with Miss Bennet?”
Richard slowly poured himself a drink and sauntered to the window before replying. “I came as quickly as I was able. I needed to ensure our taciturn cousin and the lovely Miss Bennet had a topic for conversation.”
Anne groaned. “I would ask what the topic is, but I fear I do not have time to calm myself before my mother appears.”
“I do not know why you do not place more faith in my tactics. I am a trained colonel in His Majesty’s army. I have led many campaigns.”
Anne sighed. “And did all your men return ─ unharmed?”
“Of course not!” Richard scoffed as he took a seat. “The goal is to limit casualties, but it is nigh unto impossible to come away completely unscathed.” He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. “My numbers for casualties were always low ─ well within acceptable limits.”
“And what is the acceptable limit for the battle which might be playing out in my garden?”
“Battle? That is not a battle. That is Darcy explaining himself to a lady.”
Anne tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair and raised an eyebrow as she stared at Richard. Finally, his eyes grew wide. “You did not account for the inability of your soldier to use the weapon of well-formulated thoughts, now did you?”
Richard closed his eyes as if in agony. “I forgot Darcy cannot speak to ladies as eloquently as he can to Bingley or me. But surely, with the topic of your engagement already broached, the remaining explanation should not be outside his capabilities.” Richard looked at Anne hopefully.
“I would not wager on that.” Anne shook her head. “It is no wonder we still have wars with men in charge. I do hope you perform more admirably in a few moments. I shall need your support. This battle will not be easily won.” She inclined her head toward the door and placed a finger on her lips.
Richard listened. There was a faint clacking sound that grew louder.
“It is fortunate she insists on such noisy shoes,” Anne whispered.
A moment later the door to Anne’s sitting room opened, and Lady Catherine bustled in.
“Are you well?” She went to Anne and laid a hand on Anne’s forehead.
Anne pushed her mother’s hand away gently. “I am well, Mother.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes narrowed as she studied her daughter. “Then why did you send for me?”
“Can a daughter not send for her mother without being ill?”
“She can, but you do not.”
“Please, Mother, be seated. I have something I wish to discuss with you.” Anne waited while her mother took a seat next to Richard.
“And why are you here, Richard? Should you not be surveying the park or exercising a horse?”
“I was, and I will. But, Anne has asked me to attend her for this meeting as it has to do with her future, and you know Uncle Louis insisted that my father, my brother, or myself be privy to such discussions whether in person or through the post.”
Lady Catherine squared her shoulders and raised her eyebrows. “Her future is with Darcy. I see no need to discuss anything other than the time and place of the nuptials. Your father will see to the settlement papers though I expect Darcy to be most generous and thorough.”
“My future is for me to decide — not you, not Darcy, not even Uncle James,” said Anne.
“Your future has already been decided. There is nothing to discuss.” Lady Catherine began to rise from her chair.
“I will not marry Darcy.” Anne’s voice was firm.
Lady Catherine dropped back into her chair. “What are you saying? You will marry Darcy. It has been arranged.”
“No, Mother, it has not.” Anne rose and walked to her writing desk. She withdrew a packet of papers from the drawer and handed them to Richard. “Richard, what are these papers?”
Richard unfolded them. “They appear to be marriage papers with your name on them.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes grew large, and she placed a hand on her heart. “What have you done?” she demanded.
“Anne has done nothing, Aunt,” said Richard, flipping the corners of the documents. “These were written by her father.”
Lady Catherine snatched the papers from Richard. “It cannot be. They were…” Her voice trailed off. She looked at first one page and then another until she had viewed them all. “It simply cannot be. Who has fabricated this…this…deception?” She stood and waved the papers in front of Richard. “Did you do this? Or your father? He always was a scheming man! Arranging and manipulating!”
Lady Catherine turned to Anne. “These are worthless forgeries.” She tossed the papers into the fireplace and watched them catch. “You will marry Darcy. I shall see to it!”
Richard, who had slipped from his chair as soon as Lady Catherine had turned toward Anne, stood at the door blocking her exit. “No, you will not. My uncle’s wishes will be fulfilled, and you will not stand in the way.”
“Who shall stop me? You have no proof of his wishes. They are but sparks on the wind.” She sneered at him. “My Anne shall not be passed about the drawing rooms of London.”
“Then I shall marry from Hunsford.” Anne stepped between her mother and cousin.
“You shall marry Darcy!”
“I shall not! It was not Father’s wish!”
“And just what was your father’s wish? I see no father here to state his desires for you. I see no papers containing them. What is a daughter to a father that he should care for her future unless it increases his wealth?”
Anne took a step forward causing her mother to retreat a step. “My father loved me and has provided for me. He wished for me to find love, not to marry simply for wealth and position as he did.” She stepped forward again, and her mother once again retreated. “And you, you who should love me dearly, have tried to keep his gift from me.” She poked at her mother’s chest. “You would see me unhappy.”
“Unhappy? How could you be unhappy? Darcy is all that is good and respectable. He would never use you ill. You would be well provided for ─ you would want for nothing.”
“Nothing but love.” Anne’s fists were balled tightly at her side. “Darcy cares for me as a cousin ought but not as a husband should. Of this, you are fully aware. You know he is respectable, and you circulate a fabrication of an engagement, knowing he will not discredit you and bring shame to our family. You take from him any chance of happiness. How could you?” Anne turned away from her mother in disgust.
“Richard, please inform my mother of how my future will be decided. I find I do not wish to speak to her further.” Anne returned to her chair and glowered at her mother but remained silent.
Richard cleared his throat and motioned for his aunt to take a seat. Slowly, he removed a packet of papers from his pocket. “We expected you to destroy the copies of your husband’s wishes. You will find that this is also a copy. The originals, which have been read by myself, my father, my brother, and Darcy, are safely stored.”
Richard unfolded the new documents. “Anne has been left a tidy sum of money that shall be given to her when she turns five and twenty. Rosings will remain in your custody until such a time as Anne secures a husband who is in want of an estate ─ as stipulated by her father ─ then it shall be given to Anne’s husband. As I am sure you are aware, you shall not have any say in whom your daughter marries. The honour of granting permission to marry ─ necessary not because of Anne’s age but because of the inheritance of Rosings that will be passed on ─ has been bestowed upon myself and Darcy.”
He flipped through the papers. “There are a few other stipulations, but they are of little concern to you.” His finger slid over the paragraphs. “Except for this one. It is advised, though the final decision is left to Anne alone, that she looks for a husband outside of London ─ in deference to her mother ─ whatever that might mean.” He raised an eyebrow and peered over the papers at his aunt. To his surprise, she looked down at her hands, and he was certain a blush crept across her cheeks. He had never seen her show any emotion other than irritation, worry or anger.
Finally, she spoke in a resigned voice. “So that is it? I am to have no say in my daughter’s marriage?”
“That appears to be the case,” confirmed Richard. “However, if Anne were to request your advice and guidance, you might have, at least, a token say.”
Lady Catherine looked hopefully to her daughter.
“No.” Anne shook her head slowly. “You have lost my trust. You should have looked out for my happiness, but you did not.”
“Anne,…” began her mother.
Anne rose and opened the door. “I believe our meeting is at an end. Perhaps I shall be willing to listen to you in the future, but I find I cannot just yet.”
Lady Catherine rose slowly. She lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back. She paused at the door. “I always had your wellbeing in mind.”
Anne closed the door softly behind her mother and rested her head against it.
“Are you well?” Richard placed a hand on her shoulder.
Anne turned and gave him a weak smile. “Growth is never free of pain, is it?”
Richard nodded a greeting to Mrs. Jenkinson, who slipped back into the room and took up the stitching she had abandoned when Lady Catherine had arrived for her meeting. She looked nervously at her charge.
Anne smiled reassuringly at the woman who had been with her since childhood. “It went as expected. Mother is not pleased, but she seems subdued.” She turned to the window. “However, I wish to think on more pleasant topics.” Her eyes searched the garden, trying to catch even a glimpse of her cousin and Miss Bennet, but she could not.
Richard came to stand next to her. “Would you like to take a turn about the garden, Anne?”
Indeed, Anne did wish for a walk in the garden, both to clear her mind and to check on the progress of Darcy and Miss Bennet. It took her very little time to don her wrap and bonnet and join Richard in the garden.
They walked along in companionable silence for a while. Anne drew in several refreshing breaths of crisp spring air. The fragrance of freshly turned earth and early spring flowers was soothing to her.
“Insufferable man!” Elizabeth muttered as she stepped onto the path near where Anne and Richard walked. She was so immersed in her own thoughts she did not notice them until she nearly ran into Richard.
She blushed and stammered an apology, keeping her eyes on the ground, but a small sniffle gave away the fact that she was quite distraught. Mrs. Jenkinson, who had dutifully accompanied Anne to the garden, placed an arm around Elizabeth and led her to a nearby stone bench.
“I believe I must find our ineloquent cousin,” whispered Richard.
Anne lifted an accusatory eyebrow at him.
“I know. I am sorry.”
Anne took a seat near Elizabeth. For several minutes, it was silent save for a few sniffles and the chirping of the birds.
“Did you truly ask him not to attend you when you spoke to your mother?” Elizabeth spoke barely above a whisper.
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth twisted her handkerchief.
“You did not believe him?” asked Anne.
Elizabeth shook her head, and a small hiccup of a sob escaped her.
“It made him angry.” Anne sighed. “He prides himself on being above disguise.”
Elizabeth nodded. “A modicum of disguise may have served him better than abject honesty.”
“Oh, dear,” said Anne as she placed an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulder. “He can be unbearable when his pride is wounded. What did he say?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I knew that I was beneath his notice, that he found me merely tolerable, but to abuse me so. It is insupportable!” She stood and began pacing. “I have no illusions that my family is above reproach. I am fully aware of their shortcomings. I do not need them laid before me!” She stamped her foot and wrapped her arms around herself. “Arrogant, arrogant man!”
“He spoke ill of your family?” Anne asked in astonishment.
“Indeed he did. My mother, my sisters, even my father!” Elizabeth’s voice wavered. “And what he has done to Jane…” She covered her face with her hands. “It is unforgivable.”
After a few moments to attempt to compose herself, she uncovered her face and dried her eyes before turning to Anne. “I am sorry. I must go. It is not right for me to be so open with my feelings.” She gasped. “Perhaps he is right. I am all that is improper.” Elizabeth sat heavily on the bench.
“Improper?” Shock suffused Anne’s face. “He did not say you were improper? He could not, for you are no such thing!”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, he did not say I was improper, but he did say Lydia was, and here I sit acting as she would.” She let out a long slow breath. “I must go. Charlotte will be expecting me soon.”
Anne placed a hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “You must not return to the parsonage in such a state. Think of your cousin.” Anne stood. She knew that if Mr. Collins were to see his cousin, there would be questions and lectures. It was not something that anyone should be subjected to, let alone a young woman who was so terribly distraught. “No, I insist you remain here until evening. We are all to dine together. I shall simply send a note informing Charlotte that you will not be returning this afternoon and to send whatever you may need to prepare for dinner.”
“But Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth’s voice was filled with panic. “I cannot see him. I simply cannot.”
“You can, and you will,” Anne commanded. “He must be made to deal with the pain he has inflicted, but fear not, I shall not leave you all evening. You are to be my constant companion. Together we will weather the storms caused by your Mr. Darcy and my mother.”
“He is not now nor shall he ever be my Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth replied emphatically.
Anne lifted her eyebrows, a small smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. “If you say so, my dear. Now, we should return to the house before my cousins find us.”