| Colonel Fitzwilliam Lends a Hand Section IV |
| Part VIII Elizabeth stared at Lady Catherine with her mouth hanging open. This woman actually thought she could separate them? After all they had gone through with Wickham, certainly Lady Catherine's empty threats would prove no trouble. "Lady Catherine, you may wave about as many worthless pieces of paper as you wish, but the fact is, Mr. Darcy will never marry your daughter. Even if he were not my fianc�, he does not love Miss DeBourgh. You cannot just come here and try to run people's lives for them! Go back to Kent, Lady Catherine, you are wasting your time here!" Elizabeth held her chin up triumphantly. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a motion she did not expect; Anne was jumping out of the carriage and running towards the house! She seemed to be running away from her mother! Elizabeth looked confused briefly, then decided that given the opportunity, she would also run away from Lady Catherine, so she turned back to her ladyship to divert her attention a little further. Fortunately, the old windbag was too busy fuming and fussing to notice Elizabeth's momentary confusion. "Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I am not accustomed to being spoken to in this impertinent manner! I will not allow the upstart pretentions of a country girl to prevent my Anne from becoming mistress of Pemberley! I shall know how to act!" Turning to the carriage driver, she barked out orders to go to Netherfield. She stepped in the box, not yet realizing that she was alone in it. "I take no leave of you Miss Bennet, you deserve no such consideration. Come Anne, we shall�" she froze mid-sentence as she realized that her daughter was no longer in the carriage. "Anne? Where is Anne?" she called out to the footmen frantically as she jumped out again. "You fools, find Anne this moment!" One of the footmen timidly approached. "Excuse me ma'am, but Miss Anne asked me to give this to you," he whispered fearfully, extending to her a scrap of paper. On it, Anne had scribbled this hasty note: Mother, I do not wish to marry Darcy, and I do not wish to be smothered by you any longer. Do not try to find me. I shall not return. Anne Lady Catherine read the note in shock; Anne had never dared to defy her, so this was a most unexpected development. The note fell from her hands and she stared into midair for several seconds. She choked out several unladylike noises before she could form the word, "Netherfield!" and as soon as she was back in the box, the carriage was on its way again. Elizabeth read the note, and could not help but smile just a bit at Anne's sudden determination to be free from her mother. Remembering that the girl had run towards Longbourn, Elizabeth hurried back to the house to find her. As she neared the door, she heard a voice whisper from the hedges, "Is she gone?" Anne's head popped up from behind a shrub and Elizabeth smiled. "Yes Miss DeBourgh, she has gone to Netherfield, no doubt to procure Mr. Darcy's assistance in finding you." Anne rolled her eyes. "Perhaps this was childish of me, but I have no intention of taking my cousin from you Miss Bennet. I sensed an opportunity to flee and seized it. I am sure she will find me soon enough, but at least I can hope for an hour or two of freedom." She sighed heavily. "But have no fear; nothing she can do would make me marry Darcy. Were we standing at the altar, I would say 'I will NOT!' and run away!" Elizabeth laughed. "Come inside Miss DeBourgh, and have some tea." Arm in arm, the ladies entered the house. As soon as they entered, Mrs. Bennet sensed that someone important had entered her home. Anne's fine clothes instantly betrayed her station, and though sickly, she had a regal bearing that showed her breeding. Mrs. Bennet was quiet as a mouse as Elizabeth made the introductions. "Papa, Mama, this is Miss Anne DeBourgh. Miss DeBourgh, this is my father and mother, and my sisters Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia." Everyone bowed or curtseyed and said their polite how-do-you-dos. "Lady Catherine is visiting Mr. Darcy at Netherfield, and Miss DeBourgh decided to pay us a visit. May we call for tea Mama?" "Oh yes, of course! Please sit down Miss DeBourgh, I will ring for tea. You do us a great honor by coming to call on us!" Mrs. Bennet said in her most respectful voice before bustling off to see to the cakes and cucumber sandwiches. Jane immediately made an effort to be kind to Miss DeBourgh, who seemed quite reserved, and Anne was quite pleased to find such a sweet girl with a quiet voice, so unlike Lady Catherine's shrill voice and harsh temper. Her contentment, of course, could not last long; they had barely finished their tea when the sound of wheels and horses were heard outside. Anne sighed. "Miss Elizabeth, could you perhaps hide me a bit longer?" she begged. Before anything could be done, Hill announced the arrival of Mr. Darcy. Thankfully, he was alone. He bowed in greeting, then walked straight to Anne. "Anne, I thought I might find you here. Your mother is in a fit of hysterics! I am sent here to fetch you," he said gently, perfectly understanding Anne's wish to run away. "Darcy, can you please make her understand that I do not wish to marry you? She does not listen to a word I say, but perhaps you can persuade her." "I am sure she will just say that I have bewitched him into saying that, Miss DeBourgh," Elizabeth replied. "She doesn't seem to think it possible that anyone wishes to go against her." "Is there anything I can do?" Anne asked worriedly. Darcy thought, then smiled suddenly. "How old are you now Anne?" "Six and twenty." "Are you not of age to claim your inheritance?" Anne looked confused. "I am not sure I understand you Darcy." "Anne, I am nearly certain your father's will states that you may claim your inheritance, and therefore your independence, at the age of five and twenty. I will have to make some inquiries with my solicitor, but I recall reading something of that nature when I went through the family papers at the time of my father's death. I shall send an express to London directly." "But what exactly does that mean?" she asked. "It means that your mother cannot force you to leave here." Anne felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "You mean, by law, I am allowed to stay wherever I wish?" Darcy bowed. "I will have to verify this�but until then I will convince Lady Catherine that you cannot leave here. Perhaps you are too ill to move?" Anne nodded excitedly. "Yes, of course, she is always so concerned with my health�I am certain that she will not make me move if it will do me harm. Yes, tell her that I have fallen ill from the excursion of running from the carriage and must rest here." "Very well, I shall inform her. Mr. Bennet, may I use your study for a few minutes?" Mr. Bennet, happy for any excuse to go to the library, took his future son-in-law there to write a letter to the solicitor. Lady Catherine was quite put out when she learned of Anne's illness, but it was nothing compared to the blow she received upon reading the letter from the solicitor. Most Honorable Lady Catherine DeBourgh, It is my duty to notify you that your daughter has made her claims on her inheritance, to which she has had the rights since her twenty-fifth birthday. She has also asked me to inform you that this claim entitles her to complete independence as outlined in the last will and testament of Sir Lewis DeBourgh, and as such she is free to do as she wishes without regard to you as her parent and guardian. Per the terms of your late husband's will, she is no longer required to live at Rosings Park, and is in full control of her fortune of �40,000. Miss DeBourgh will contact you herself with her plans. Your humble servant, James Bainbridge, Solicitor Once the initial shock had passed, Darcy calmly tried to explain to his aunt what had occurred; Lady Catherine, for once, was stunned into silence. She did not speak for two days together, and barely left her room. The wedding she had so schemed to bring about did not, of course, take place. At last, on the third day, she went to her nephew in the library. "Darcy!" she cried out, voice as shrill and pretentious as ever, "You must tell me what I can do to get Anne to return to Rosings. This is all extremely vexing! You are to go to Longbourn and make her return to her mother!" Darcy sighed. "I have explained this to you, aunt. You have no recourse. Anne is of age and independent. She will not return with you to Rosings if she does not wish to do so." "And why would she not wish to do so? Who would not be sad to be deprived of Rosings Park?" Catherine answered in a tone of utter disbelief. "It is the grandest house in the county! The DeBourgh family has owned that land since the time of Henry VIII! How can that selfish, unfeeling girl do this to her family?" "I am sorry Lady Catherine, but she does not wish to return to Kent. She will remain here until after the wedding, then go to London with Georgiana. She wishes to spend Christmas at Pemberley with us� you are of course invited as well," he replied. Her eyes grew wide and blazed with proud fury. "Pemberley? I would not give your wife such a compliment! If the shades of Pemberley are to be thus polluted, I shall never set foot on the grounds again!" This was too much for him to bear, and he vented his full rage on her. "Lady Catherine, you will not speak of my future wife this way! I retract my invitation, and must ask you to leave my presence at once! Either you accept Elizabeth or forget the entire Darcy family forever!" he growled. Lady Catherine, however, was not to be intimidated. "If that is what you wish, very well! Your union will be a disgrace! Your names will never be mentioned by any of us!" "These are heavy misfortunes indeed," he spat sarcastically. "However, I am more than willing to bear the censure of all the world to be with the woman I love!" "She has bewitched you! She wants your fortune and place in society, and yet you fall over her like a lost puppy! I warn you Fitzwilliam Darcy, marry her and you will be ruined!" "You are wrong Lady Catherine� I will be ruined if I do NOT marry her. I have had enough of this. You will leave here at once; I shall have your things packed and your carriage ready in half an hour. Good day." He bowed crisply and stormed out of the room, leaving a completely speechless Lady Catherine gaping behind. By the next chiming of the hour, she was on the road to Kent. * * * * * * * * Anne could not remember a happier time than the short weeks she had been at Longbourn. The Bennet sisters were all very attentive, but not smothering, and she had never felt so alive and free. Now her mother was gone, and after the wedding of her cousin, she would stay in London with Georgiana before they went to Pemberley for Christmas. Her health had improved from the short walks she took with Elizabeth, and she finally had a chance to show what few accomplishments she had managed to learn while feigning illness in her room all those years. As the wedding approached and Georgiana arrived, it was decided that she should stay at Netherfield with her cousins. In her opinion things were going along swimmingly. All of this changed one morning about a month before the wedding was to take place; Anne, Darcy, Fitzwilliam, Bingley, Elizabeth and Jane were enjoying a quiet afternoon at Netherfield listening to Georgiana's latest musical accomplishment when an express arrived addressed to Anne from Mrs. Collins. She opened the letter with some concern, and her face blanched completely as she read it. Darcy and Fitzwilliam rushed to her aid, offering her a glass of wine for her distress. "No, thank you, I am quite well," she breathed out shakily. "I am just upset by some dreadful news I have just received from Mrs. Collins," and burst into tears. Darcy took the letter as Fitzwilliam consoled Anne. "What is it Darce? Is something amiss in Kent?" asked Fitzwilliam. Darcy turned slowly to him. "Lady Catherine is very ill; the doctors say she will not see another month." A stunned silence fell over the party, broken only by Anne's occasional sobs. Fitzwilliam spoke at last. "We must go to her at once! Darcy, prepare the carriage and have your valet pack a few things for yourself. Georgiana, have the maids prepare bags for you and Anne. I will ride ahead immediately. Come on, don't just stand there, let us begin!" They all did as they were told, leaving Jane and Elizabeth to comfort Anne, who was still weeping inconsolably. "This is my fault! I have distressed her so that she became ill, and now she will die because of me! How could I have been so selfish and cruel?" Anne berated herself. Knowing that nothing they said would help, the ladies simply listened and soothed as best they could. A few minutes after Fitzwilliam had galloped off, Darcy came in to say they were ready to leave. Anne thanked her friends through her tears and was helped to the carriage by Georgiana. "Elizabeth, may I speak with you privately for a moment?" Darcy requested before going outside himself. She nodded and followed him to the library. As soon as the door was closed, he embraced her tightly and covered her face with kisses. "I hate to leave you my dearest, especially now� I am not sure how long I will be gone. We� we may have to postpone the wedding." "Don't think on that now Fitzwilliam. Go tend to your aunt and cousin, return to me when you are able, and write to me everyday that you are gone." He looked down at her with absolute adoration in his eyes. "This has been quite an eventful summer," he said sadly as he brushed a stray curl off her cheek. She took his hand and kissed it. "And you have handled it beautifully my love. Your strength amazes me." "I wouldn't be strong if I did not have you Elizabeth." He held on to her with a sudden urgency. "Promise that you will never leave me! I could not bear it� I could not live without you!" "The feeling is mutual sir� I will promise you if you promise me." His reply was a passionate kiss. Several minutes later, the carriage was on its way to Rosings. Next section... |