“But of course, Lady Catherine. Anything you say will be done, of course. I have not seen Miss de Bourgh since she was three or four years old and I am eager to make her acquaintance again today. Seeing your grace and beauty, your daughter must have turned out very handsome and I am most eager to marry her. We shall leave for Gretna Green as soon as Miss Anne is feeling better, milady.” Wickham fawned.
“I warn you, Wickham,” Lady Catherine scoffed, “except for the wedding night, you will not touch her. Bring your plaything with you if you would like, but you are not to trifle with my daughter, do you hear me? She will remain virtuous until her wedding night and her father will ki...” she paused for a moment to gather herself, suddenly recalling that her husband of nineteen years was gone and she only had her daughter left. Her brother and sister had abandoned her and she was sitting in a squalid boarding house with only her maid and a few dresses in her portmanteau. She cleared her throat, remembering her goal to obtain Rosings Park and sat upright. “Now, Wickham, we will discuss the details of the travel. We must leave for Scotland and as soon as the vows...”
“But, Mama!” Anne de Bourgh suddenly opened the door from the connecting room next to it and shouted, “I do not wish to be married! I cannot! I will not!”
“Anne!” Lady Catherine exclaimed, “What are you doing out of bed? I thought you were still sleeping. It is early yet.”
“I slept for many hours and I finally awoke to find myself here. I remember being in the carriage and now we are at this... where are we, mama? I wish to go home. I want Mrs. Jenkinson to care for me. Your maid does not know anything and I have not had my draughts. Why must I be married? I want to go live with Cousin Robert and Sarah and play with the babies. I do not want a husband.” Anne cried, “I only want to stay with people who love me and I miss papa. I want to see papa!” She sobbed as she sat on the floor in exhaustion.
Lady Catherine sat still while Wickham stood up and wrapped a shawl around the young woman.
“You are not well, Miss Anne,” Wickham sympathetically consoled the woman who was frail and the size of a girl. She appeared pale and sickly and it disgusted him that Lady Catherine was attempting to marry off this ill, innocent child in order to keep the grand estate within her grip. He helped Anne up to sit on his chair and turned to her mother, “Lady Catherine, she is not well. You must call for a doctor. I refuse to follow with your commands, madam. This is wrong. To elope with her to Scotland is criminal and I will not allow you to hurt your daughter...”
Suddenly, there was a loud clash as the door flew open when it was kicked in by a burly man. Wickham gasped when he saw Mr. Darcy, William, and an unknown gentleman enter, along with two gigantic men behind them.
“STEP AWAY FROM HER!” He heard a yell and George Wickham quickly jumped back from Anne de Bourgh who was sitting on the chair.
“Mr. Darcy, I...” Wickham flustered, “I meant no harm. I was wrapping her up because she was shivering. I swear I was not going to do anything!” He saw the two burly men move towards him as everyone entered the room and he recoiled to prepare himself for an assault.
Wickham covered his eyes with his arm in fear but then slowly opened his eyes and looked around when no one touched him. He saw the two men standing next to him while Fitzwilliam Darcy looked after his cousin.
“Father, Anne has a fever and will need to rest. I will take her downstairs to Mrs. Jenkinson now.” William stated. He pulled Anne to standing and helped her walk out of the room.
Mr. Darcy stood glaring at his harridan of a sister and spoke after his son and niece left the room. “Wickham, the only reason you are not beaten to a pulp is because I heard your words before we came in. Return to your rooms and stay there. Martin will join you and I will speak with you when I am done here.” He nodded to the taller of the guards and Wickham obeyed immediately.
“YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ENTER MY ROOMS!” Lady Catherine screeched. “Get out and bring back Anne. We are only stopped here while we are travelling to the north to honour Lewis’ wishes and happened to come across George Wickham. Return her to me immediately and I will forget your insolence.”
Mr. Darcy huffed, “Lewis’ wishes? You left moments after his death and Anne does not wish to be here. She is to return home with her companion, who is her only friend in the world who adores her outside of her family. You should be at Rosings to mourn your husband, Catherine, but here you are for your selfish gains. You disgrace his memory with your lies. I know all about your plans to marry off Anne to Wickham to take back the estate. You foolish woman, did Lewis not tell you that the estate will never go to Anne? Even if she marries, Rosings will not be hers.”
“That is untrue! Anne’s husband would become master and Anne will remain home, with me by her side to provide for my comforts.” Lady Catherine huffed. “Once Anne has an heir, I will reside with my daughter and grandchild and stay where I belong.
