Only Mr. Darcy Will Do

any success she previously had vanished, for her heart quickly returned to its fervent pulsing.

While the house itself was not as large as some of the others in the neighbourhood, its grounds covered a greater expanse. Several large trees were interspersed about the lawn with small flower gardens surrounding their bases and bordering the house. When the carriage door opened, Elizabeth stepped out, smoothing out her dress with one hand and nervously fingering her necklace with the other.

She walked to the house slowly, her eyes taking in everything about her. When she knocked on the massive wooden door, it was opened directly. She introduced herself to the gentleman who stood before her and informed him that she had come to see Miss Darcy.

“Come in, Miss Bennet. We are expecting you. I am Mr. Harrington. Unfortunately, Miss Darcy has been delayed, but she should return directly.” He looked down the main hall, a trace of agitation on his face, as a woman hurried toward him. “This is Miss Bennet,” he told her as she approached. Turning back to Elizabeth, he said, “This is my wife, Mrs. Harrington, who is the housekeeper.”

Elizabeth readily noticed the same harried look on her face, but dismissed it when she saw the striking resemblance to Anna, the young servant girl who had ridden with her to London. Of course! She said her mother was the housekeeper and her father the butler!

“I am so pleased to make both your acquaintances. I met Anna, who I understand is your daughter, on my journey from Pemberley. I truly enjoyed her company.”

They both expressed their appreciation for her kind words, and then Mrs. Harrington gently took Elizabeth’s arm, guiding her down the hall.

“I know Anna will be delighted to see you. Unfortunately, we have had an unexpected guest arrive who has thrown everyone into fits. I shall inform Anna you are here. Come, you can wait for Miss Darcy in the parlour.”

Elizabeth put out her hand to bring her to a halt. “Mrs. Harrington, if this is an inconvenient time, I can certainly make arrangements to visit another day.”

The housekeeper shook her head. “I would not think of sending you away without hearing first from Miss Darcy. It is only a minor difficulty.”

The look on her face told Elizabeth otherwise, but she dutifully followed her through the house to the back parlour. She heard a commotion coming down one of the halls and saw two maids rushing toward her, their faces pinched with exasperation. This was not like anything she witnessed at Pemberley, and she wondered who caused such turmoil.

As Mrs. Harrington walked out, Elizabeth leaned back in the chair and cast her eyes about the parlour. In addition to the few pieces of furniture that dotted the room, several large paintings were hung on the wall, and a cabinet with wood and glass doors housed a myriad of crystal, china, marble, and wooden accessories. Curiosity prompted Elizabeth to walk over and take a closer look at them.

As she eyed figurines and vases, hand-painted plates, and framed miniature portraits, she again heard the sound of hushed but troubled voices and hurried footsteps. When she looked toward the door, she saw Anna carrying a tray with her tea.

“Oh, Anna! It is good to see you again!”

“Miss Bennet, I am pleased you were able to come.” She walked toward Elizabeth and set the tray down on a table. She poured the tea and handed the teacup to her. A worried glance cast unwittingly toward the door alerted Elizabeth to her distress.

“Anna, tell me, has something happened? I feel as though this is the most inopportune time for me to be here.”

Anna took in a sharp breath but shook her head fervently. “I know Miss Darcy would not want you to leave before seeing her. Unfortunately, she is not here, and neither is Mr. Darcy. That is why everyone is in an uproar.” Her eyes turned to the door. “She will just not see reason.”

Elizabeth looked confused. “Miss Darcy?”

“Oh, no! Not Miss Darcy!” Her nervous laugh was accompanied by a creased brow.

The sound of strident footsteps approaching grew louder, and Anna’s eyes widened. A singular pounding of one foot signalled that someone had stopped. Elizabeth turned to see who had prompted such a look of fear on Anna’s face.

Elizabeth’s jaw dropped as she beheld the woman before her. A look of anger mixed with great suspicion swept across her features as she noticed Elizabeth. In a loud voice directed at no one in particular, she exclaimed, “What, may I ask, is she doing here?”

Elizabeth politely curtseyed, and when she lifted her head, she pursed her lips and swallowed to moisten her suddenly dry mouth. “Good afternoon, Lady Catherine. It is an honour to see you again.”

Lady Catherine threw her shoulders back and stood erect, her eyes narrowed, and her lips puckered tightly together before saying, “You are Miss Elizabeth Bennet!”

“Yes, madam, you are correct.”

Lady Catherine’s grey eyes almost appeared closed save for the glint that peered through. She took several steps forward, bringing her into the room. Looking at Anna, she told her, “You may go. We have no need for you here.”

Anna looked at Elizabeth as if waiting to be excused. Elizabeth gave her a resigned nod.

Lady Catherine turned back to Elizabeth with a stern look etched on her face. “I come expecting to find my nephew or my niece, and instead I find you!”

“I have also come to see Miss Darcy.” Elizabeth tried to smile, but knew it was a futile attempt. “I understand she has not yet returned from an unexpected errand.”

“What business have you with my niece?”

With a start, Elizabeth readily recollected the insolence this woman exhibited when she met her at Rosings. “This is a social call. She invited me for tea.”

Lady Catherine let out a disgusted huff. “This is insupportable!” The cane Lady Catherine held tightly in her fist pounded to the floor. “My niece has no reason to take notice of a mere governess! Yes, I know that is what you are. Why would she invite you to tea?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened, appalled at her words. “I beg your pardon, Lady Catherine, but my current vocation as a governess was only prompted by my good father’s death, and…”

“That does not signify!” Her words were unleashed in fury, a frown settling across her features. “I am well aware who you are… and who you are not! The Darcy family is esteemed well above your insignificant family. The associations of my niece and nephew must be kept to those of distinction of rank or fortune! Your family has not even the slightest connections worthy of anyone’s notice.”

“Perhaps Miss Darcy should be allowed to make her own choice of associations.”

Lady Catherine shook her head for emphasis. “Headstrong girl! I cannot believe that my niece, for no other purpose than a social call, invited someone so far beneath her to her home for tea!”

“I am aware of no other purpose that Miss Darcy may have had in inviting me,” Elizabeth replied.

Lady Catherine studied Elizabeth with an unwavering gaze for a brief moment, and then began wagging her finger at her. “Do not think that I do not know what you are about, Miss Bennet! I am not unaware of your recent stay at Pemberley.” In a severe tone, she voiced her dreaded suspicion, “Was it your design to use your arts to draw my nephew in whilst you were there?”

Elizabeth coloured as she listened with increasing astonishment. “I had no part in the decision to go to Pemberley. The family for whom I worked was invited. I knew nothing of it until it was a settled matter!”

“You expect me to believe that you journeyed to Pemberley without any thought of how you might secure my nephew’s notice?”

Elizabeth let out a breath, almost a chuckle, and shook her head. “When I departed for Pemberley, I had no reason to believe, no designs or even hopes, that he would harbour even the slightest regard for me. I went dutifully and solely as Miss Emily Willstone’s governess.”

“Then you must know that any aspirations you may have to secure his regard, any arts you employ, would be futile.”

“You assume that I intended to use feminine wiles to secure Mr. Darcy’s regard. You cannot be further from the truth.”

“Do not trifle with me, Miss Bennet! You know you can never marry him!”

While the sound of muffled footsteps and hushed voices outside the door suggested to Elizabeth that some of