Page 45 of Losing Lizzy
“Mother, how could you have done all this?” Anne pleaded. “Darcy, you must know none of this was my idea.”
“You are as much a victim of your mother’s acid-like whims as am I. As is Elizabeth,” he assured. He straightened then, but remained close, where he could crowd his aunt’s chair, preventing her from rising. “Now,” he said, as if someone had prompted him to continue, “for the second thing I require of you, Aunt.” She opened her mouth to object, but he ignored her, speaking over Lady Catherine’s continued objections. “You must provide me your choice of whether you wish to retire to the Continentnever—and I repeat,never, to return to England again. Naturally, you will be permitted your dowager’s allowance, and, if you practice frugality, you may live out your days comfortably—”
“I shall not leave Rosings,”she insisted.
Darcy continued his speech without acknowledging her protest.“Or,” he emphasized, “you may take your chances with a very public trial.”
“You would not act against your mother’s only sister,” her ladyship argued.
“Certainly, I would. You acted against my best interests. Fair exchange.”
“Matlock will not tolerate your mistreatment of me and Anne.”
Darcy corrected, “You will notice, Cousin,” he said as he momentarily turned his attention to Anne, “as always, your mother places her interests before yours in her protest; yet, it is of no consequence, know that you will never receive mistreatment at my hands. Rather, I plan to free you from the ties that have held you in place for years. For all intents and purposes, I mean to see you to the inheritance that should have been yours by now. From no fault of your own, you are well past the five and twenty years required for you to inherit Rosings Park with Sir Lewis’s will. Your father loved Lady Catherine, but he was wise enough to know her nature. You are able to inherit through the original establishment of the de Bourgh baronetcy, which can pass through the female line. Such is the reason your mother thought, first, to have us marry, so she could remain at Rosings, while you would be with me at Pemberley. In my absence, she meant to tie you to Lindale, who also did not have a need for the estate, for he is to inherit Matlock’s earldom and all it entails. Most recently, she would have matched you with Fitzwilliam, until the colonel took matters into his own hands and chose to wed Georgiana instead.”
“I would not know what to do if I were placed in charge of Rosings, Darcy. I do not have the head for such matters,” Anne said softly.
“Do not worry. I propose that Fitzwilliam and my sister move in with you at Rosings. He can oversee the estate and assist you in meeting eligible men, but I insist our cousin remain in control of Rosings for a minimum of five years. Such will provideyou time to discover a man who wants you for you and not for your inheritance—a man willing to wait five years to claim his control of your fortune and this estate is more likely to speak honestly of his affection for you. If you choose not to marry, Fitzwilliam will see to the estate or will employ a person to operate it for you. Such will provide the colonel time to sharpen his skills as an estate manager and place him in a better position to know success at Yadkin Hall when he assumes control of that estate, which is to be his inheritance. Naturally, I will lend a hand so all three of you will know success.”
“Fitzwilliam knows nothing of estate management,” Lady Catherine protested.
“Yet, you were willing to have him marry Anne,” Darcy countered. “I suppose you reasoned if the colonel was presented as Anne’s husband, then you could remain at Rosings Park’s helm. You simply wished to exercise your preferences over a man of little experience beyond the battlefield. You never once considered, what would have become of the two of them if you up and died suddenly. You cared not for what chaos might have ensued. In order to keep Rosings Park under your control, you would have sacrificed the future of your daughter and your nephew. Yet, I assure you, Fitzwilliam learns quickly. More importantly, he is quite amiable. He has a way with people, which will prove a nice change for Rosings’ tenants.” He shook his head in disgust. “Your world is very small, Aunt. It consists of only yourself, and I feel very sad for you.”
“Matlock,” Elizabeth said softly from her place behind him.
“Your reminder is much appreciated, Mrs. Darcy.” He enjoyed saying her name. He had waited for what felt an eternity to do so. “As to Matlock, I have not yet decided upon his ‘punishment,’ but as I have proof from a variety of bankers that his lordship has had his hand in my accounts on multiple occasions during the years of my absence, I doubt his influence will be of much use to you.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, “as Iassume you near the conclusion of your dealings with her ladyship, I shall make certain Lizzy and Albert are well. It is a chilly day outside.”
“I shan’t be long,” he said.
“If you hold no objections, I believe I would like to introduce my daughter to Mrs. Collins. This will likely be the only time when such an opportunity will show itself, and I would despise her not knowing our daughter. When we were younger, she and I often spoke of marriage and children. Would you mind retrieving us from Hunsford Cottage?”
“If such is your wish, I will be along shortly.”
“Your ladyship. Miss de Bourgh. Mrs. Jenkinson.” Elizabeth turned to leave after her curtsey, but Anne rushed forward to join her. “Might I walk with you, Mrs. Darcy? I would enjoy meeting your daughter, as well.”
“Anne!” Lady Catherine called. “Come back this instant!”
“A walk will do me well, Mother,” his cousin called. She did not turn around to look at any of the occupants in the room. He imagined it was Anne’s first act of defiance. Instead, his cousin caught Elizabeth’s elbow, and they exited the room arm-in-arm.
“Go with her!” Lady Catherine ordered Mrs. Jenkinson, before she turned her attention back to him. “Now, what is all this nonsense of turning Rosings Park over to Anne?”
“Not nonsense, my lady,” he said as he retrieved his coat to slide his arms through the sleeves. He stepped behind the screen to return his shirt to his breeches. “You have yet to tell me which is your preferred choice: The Continent and a sensible allowance paid quarterly or the English legal system? I will expect your decision by the time I step from behind this screen.” Between the slats of the panels, he watched his aunt stand and tiptoe toward the servants’ door. “Return to your seat, my lady, or I will summon the magistrate and place the choice of a public trial in action.”
“You have lost your reason, Darcy,” she declared as she sat once again.
“I lost all rational thought when you set yourself against Mrs. Darcy and my child.” He leveled his gaze upon her as hestepped from behind the screen to face her once again. “My shirt is returned to my breeches. What is your choice, Lady de Bourgh?” His choice of words was meant as a reminder that she was a commoner—whether she was a baronet’s wife or the daughter of an earl. Only members of the peerage were considered anything beyond the gentry or the working class.
She lifted her chin regally. Even in defeat, she meant to prove him wrong. “I suppose I must choose Europe, despite the devastation left behind by the war.”
“Remember, if you return to England by any means other than in a box bearing your body, I will see you arrested and prosecuted for your crimes.” He crossed to ring the bell cord. “Also understand that your allowance must last through each quarter for which it is allotted. There will be no advances and no pleas for more.” He turned to her. “This must seem a severe punishment, but keep the image of the scars on my back with you. There are worse punishments than going without a few luxuries.” He said without emotion, “I have the agreement drawn up and the witnesses waiting below. Let us begin.”
Chapter Fifteen
He had assured Annethat he would send a carriage for her tomorrow to bring her to London, but his cousin had decided she and Mrs. Jenkinson would arrive at Darcy House some time this evening. “After her ladyship finishes wishing you upon a short ladder to purgatory,” Anne giggled. It was the first time Darcy could recall hearing that particular sound escaping his cousin’s lips.
“You are welcome at any time. Just know I have installed three men of business and a new land steward at Rosings until the Fitzwilliams can arrive. Nothing will happen to your inheritance.”
