Lady Catherine’s eyes turned once again toward Darcy. “She is beneath you.”
“She is a gentleman’s daughter. I am a gentleman’s son. We are equals.”
Lady Catherine huffed. “Equals indeed! Her father’s estate is entailed away. She has relatives in trade. Her portion is small. She seeks your fortune.”
Richard stood behind his cousin and gripped Darcy’s shoulder firmly. Richard knew that any disparaging comment about someone close to Darcy would provoke his wrath, and he had a feeling a reaction to such comments about Miss Bennet would be worse.
“And you, Aunt? Why did you seek Darcy for Anne when you knew of her father’s wishes?” He asked, hoping to turn the conversation away from Miss Bennet.
“We do not speak of my wish to protect and provide for Anne. We speak of the daughter of a gentleman of little standing who wishes to increase her standing by seducing a man of wealth. She is naught but an adventuress ─ not worthy of your name.”
Darcy sprang from his chair. “Not worthy? Not worthy?” The words rattled off the walls and artwork. Lady Catherine shrank back in her chair. Darcy paced the room. His hands clenched and unclenched. He opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. Finally, when he had gained some of his composure, he turned to address his aunt.
“Miss Bennet is no less worthy than Anne. She is, as is my cousin, all that is good and proper.” His voice wavered with his barely controlled emotions. “She did not seek me in an attempt to seduce me. It is I who has sought her to court her affections. It is I who must prove myself worthy of her.” He turned away, took a step toward the door, but turned again toward his aunt.
“I will brook no disparagement of her person, her character, or her family. You will not interfere with my affairs if you wish to remain connected to me in any way. If I am so fortunate as to win Miss Bennet’s hand, you will only be received in our homes if she allows it, so it is to your benefit to seek her good approval. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Madam?”
Lady Catherine gave a small nod of her head.
He looked to Anne. “You shall always be welcome.”
His comment seemed to rouse his aunt from her silent state, and she turned on her daughter with a vehemence Richard had not heard from her before. “You knew of this? You encouraged this? I will not have it! You shall not receive that woman in my home, and you shall not call on her. My own daughter! Turned against me by an upstart such as she.”
Anne felt the sting of her mother’s anger, but it was not unfamiliar to her. She spoke calmly. She knew to match temper for temper may work for her cousin, but he was not Lady Catherine’s daughter, nor was he a lady whose words counted for very little. “You may choose not to accept her into our home, but you will not forbid me from calling on the parsonage. The fact that Miss Bennet is currently in residence will not alter my attentions to Mrs. Collins.”
“You are my daughter and under my authority. You will do as I say while you are in my home.”
Anne had known eventually one day she would have the resolve to go against her mother’s wishes and had planned accordingly. She was now only surprised that it had not come to this on the occasion of her refusal to marry Darcy.
“Then, I shall remove myself from your home.” She stood and curtseyed to her mother. “You may call on me at the dower house when you have come to your senses. I shall move at first light. I will eat in my room this evening. Good day, Lady Catherine.” With her knees shaking and her chin lifted, she managed to make it from the room before she gave way to the emotions such a breach necessarily aroused.
She sank to rest upon the steps of the grand staircase. She knew it was most improper for her to be sitting so with her head in her hands. But she cared not what the servants thought. She knew, as much as she wished to run up those stairs and lock herself away from her mother, her legs would not, simply would not, support her. So here she sat gathering her strength and praying her mother would not find her here.
Thankfully, it was not her mother who found her. Richard sank down on the step beside her and placed his handkerchief on her lap. She peeked up at him and noted Darcy standing near them. She took the handkerchief and dried her eyes.
“You may wish to find another place to rest. She will not remain in that room long,” Richard whispered.
She looked sadly at him and then Darcy. “I do not have the strength at present to conquer the stairs. I fear I am still too shaken. A few moments and I shall be well.”
“You do not have time,” said Mrs. Jenkinson, who had just exited the room, workbasket in hand. “The dragon is already stirring.” She winked at Richard, who was shocked to hear the seemingly proper companion use the name that he had used for his aunt for years.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, if you would be so kind as to carry my charge to her chambers.” She did not wait for his response but began ascending the stairs. After a few steps, she looked back at the three who remained at the bottom of the stairs. “We do not have all day if we wish to be settled in our new home by the morrow.”
Obediently, Richard hoisted Anne into his arms. She was light; he knew she would be, but it still surprised him as to just how light she was. His surprise deepened as he realized it felt good to have her in his arms. She felt good ─ soft and vulnerable and precious. His heart stirred with a desire to protect her as she laid her head against his shoulder. Without thought, he kissed her forehead. Startled by his response, he looked first to gauge her reaction. He was relieved when she merely smiled at him and nestled her head into his shoulder a bit more, closing her eyes. Next, he glanced over his shoulder, hoping his cousin had not seen his impulsive act. However, from the look of amusement on Darcy’s face, Richard knew the kiss had not gone unnoticed.
Mrs. Jenkinson held open the door to Anne’s sitting room. “The chaise by the window, Colonel. It is a most comfortable piece of furniture for reclining. I shall just send for tea, and then we can discuss Miss de Bourgh’s removal to the dower house.” She slipped out of the room.
Gently, Richard lowered Anne to the chaise. Her eyes remained closed, and she still wore a soft smile on her lips. He placed a pillow behind her head and lifted her feet. Darcy stood to his right, holding out a blanket, his eyes twinkling with delight. Richard took the proffered covering and tucked it gently around Anne, who was now breathing deeply and evenly.
Darcy took a seat while Richard busied himself giving the fire a stir.
“Had I known, I could have stepped aside years ago, Richard.” Darcy’s tone was light and teasing.
“There is nothing to be known,” said Richard, taking a seat next to his cousin.
Darcy threw one leg over the other. “You can keep telling yourself that, but trust me, it is much easier to listen to rather than to argue with your heart.” His tone was soft and serious.
“I shall keep your advice in mind should I ever require it.” Richard shot a sideways look of displeasure at his cousin.
Darcy chuckled. “Yes, nothing to know,” he murmured as Mrs. Jenkinson entered.
“Oh, my, she has done herself in, has she not?” The lady checked to make sure the blanket was securely tucked around Anne. “A long walk and a disagreement with her mother. Even one twice as strong as Miss de Bourgh would find it exhausting.” She moved a book from a small table and motioned for the maid to place the tea tray on it. She moved behind Darcy and tucked the book into place on the shelf. “I do hope the tea will still be warm when she wakes. She usually sleeps for only a few minutes. Too long a rest and it is not restorative but increases the feeling of fatigue.” She had returned to the table and was pouring tea for the gentlemen.
Richard thought how her busy actions and chatter reminded him of a hummingbird flitting about. He had never seen her do more than occupy a corner before. But seeing her now, he understood why Anne enjoyed her company so much.
Having served tea to both the gentlemen, she sat down, balancing her cup and saucer on her lap. “We really do not have time to wait for Miss de Bourgh to wake. Plans must be put into action.” She lifted her cup and took a small sip of tea.
“Plans into action?” questioned Darcy. “Anne has plans made for a situation like this?”
“One does not live with a mother such as Lady Catherine without making plans for an eventual confrontation,” reasoned Mrs. Jenkinson. “Although we had expected it to happen sooner than this.” She gave Darcy a pointed look.
“But, no matter the timing, things must be set in motion. First, I have maids already attending to the packing of Miss de Bourgh’s things. Mrs. Kellet will supervise the detailed cleaning of Miss de Bourgh’s suite of rooms, which will be the reason given to all as to why Miss de Bourgh has left her home. It simply would not be good for her health with her fragile constitution to be exposed to the dust of such a cleaning. Then, there are the plans for a small house party to celebrate her birthday. The dower house will be the perfect spot for such an intimate gathering, especially with the cleaning taking place here.” She sipped her tea again.
“And staffing?” Richard asked. “How do we provide staffing?”
“Mr. Kellet will notify the necessary people. There is no need to fear a lack of staffing. You will find Miss de Bourgh has a wealth of loyal servants.” Mrs. Jenkinson paused and looked seriously at the gentleman seated near her. She lowered her voice. “She does not, however, have a large number of friends to invite to a party. Those she does have are of her mother’s choosing, if you take my meaning. So, we will require your assistance with creating a list of people to invite.” She set her cup aside and rose to retrieve writing supplies.
“You will both attend, of course. And Lady Matlock knows she will be called on to act as chaperone. Miss de Bourgh does not wish for many to attend. Three or four ladies and an equal number of gentlemen, I suppose.” She wrote down the names as she mentioned them. Then she looked expectantly at the gentlemen.
“Georgiana, of course,” said Richard. “And Darcy, do you think you could persuade Bingley to attend without his sisters?”
“Bingley will not say no to a party.” Darcy drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I am wondering if we ought to invite Miss Bennet ─ Miss Jane Bennet that is. She is currently visiting relatives in London. I am sure Miss Elizabeth would be delighted to see her. She has mentioned wishing to see her sister. However, I am not sure if Miss Bennet would appreciate Bingley’s presence.”
Richard smirked at Darcy’s look of unease. “A further discussion for the groves tomorrow morning?”
Darcy’s features relaxed. “Of course, I shall ask her tomorrow. We can remove Bingley’s name from the list, if necessary.”
“Oh, of course,” said Mrs. Jenkinson as she scribbled down two more names below Mr. Bingley’s. “Miss Elizabeth and Miss Maria. They must attend.” She tapped her chin. “We are still short on eligible gentlemen.”
“Darcy, what of Mr. Pruett? He was in town when we left,” suggested Richard.
Darcy nodded. “Not too old, second son, no substantial inheritance. A plausible choice.”
Richard felt the significance of why his cousin listed the man’s qualifications. “I am sure Colonel Alcock would also attend, but the wife of an officer does not seem the right role for Anne.”
“We could invite him just the same,” said Mrs. Jenkinson. “A man need not keep his commission if he marries an heiress, after all.”
Richard heard a small chuckle from his cousin.
“That is a nice group. I believe Miss Maria and Miss Darcy are about the same age and will find companionship. Four gentlemen and three ladies, so nearly equal numbers.” She wore a satisfied smile. “Well, best get to it, then, gentlemen. There are several letters that require writing and must be sent express. Time is of the essence.”
Richard and Darcy rose to go do as they had been bid.
“Your mother will arrive today, Richard,” Anne commented sleepily from the chaise.
Richard’s brow furrowed. “Today?”
“Mmm hmm.” Anne stretched and sat up. “I wrote to her of my plans to refuse Darcy, and she insisted on arriving a week before my birthday. She expected my mother to be difficult.”
“Does Aunt Catherine know of this?”
“No, your mother insisted on arriving unannounced. I think she enjoys tormenting my mother since my mother insists on insulting your father on a regular basis.” Anne smiled. “Presently, I do not mind your mother’s penchant to annoy my mother.”
Richard was pleased that Anne looked refreshed. When she had fallen asleep so quickly in his arms, he had worried she might be unwell. “I will be on hand to greet her and inform her of what is afoot.”
Anne smiled. “Just as I wished. Thank you.”
Richard paused. “You are well?”
“I am well. I just tire easily. You will…both…return to visit me this evening?”
“You know my mother will insist on it,” said Richard.
Darcy also acknowledged his desire to spend the evening in her company rather than that of Lady Catherine. When he was outside the door, he clapped Richard on the shoulder and murmured, “Easier to listen.” Then with a chuckle, he strode down the hall to his room.
Richard stood for a moment in the hall. He could not shrug off the feeling that some great shift had occurred for him this afternoon, but certainly, it was not as his love-struck cousin suggested. Was it? He shook his head. No, certainly it was not. He walked determinedly to his room to write his letter of invitation, though, he hoped Colonel Alcock would not be able to attend.