“When you were a baby, my sister and I decided you
would go into the army”, or “When you were a child, I
decided you would go into politics”.’
‘I do assure you, she means it.’
‘And Anne?’ I asked.
‘Yes, she too expects it. It is why she has never married.’
‘I had thought it was because she was so young…’
‘She is eight and twenty, as you are. Have you forgotten that you were in your cradles together, and that all
three of us played together when we were children?’
I had forgotten. She used to trail after my cousin and
me. No, not trail after us. She could run almost as fast as
I could. My cousin, being five years older, could outstrip
us both.
‘Do you remember how she beat us to the top of the
oak tree?’ he asked. ‘She was not meant to climb it. She
tore her frock, and was confined to the nursery on bread
and milk for a week.’
‘I remember. I also remember how you took her a
cold beef sandwich and slice of pie, wrapped up in a
handkerchief. I thought you would surely fall as you
climbed across the roof to her window. Did you ever get
caught for stealing from the kitchen?’
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‘No. Mrs Heaney blamed it on the dog.’
‘Poor Caesar! I had forgotten about Anne’s exploits.
She was much more lively as a child, when her health
was good,’ I remarked.
‘And when she had Sir Lewis to defend her. He found
out about Lady Catherine’s orders that she be confined
to the nursery, and he went there himself to give her half
a sovereign.’
‘Did he indeed?’ I said with a smile.
I could imagine it. Sir Lewis had always been very
fond of Anne, and she in turn had been very fond of her
father. It had been a sad blow to her when he had died.
‘I have often wondered…’ began my cousin.
‘Yes?’
‘Have you noticed that her cough is always worse
when her mother is by?’
‘No.’
‘And not only her cough, but her shyness. She is much
more spirited when she is with me.’
‘She is never spirited with me,’ I said in surprise.
‘But then, she is in awe of you.’
‘Of me?’
‘You are quite a figure, Darcy, particularly when you
are out of sorts. Let the weather be bad, and your boredom turns you into an ogre.’
I was about to tell him he was talking nonsense when
I recalled Bingley saying something similar.
‘I am sorry for it. But Anne need suffer no further. I
will visit Rosings and tell her that a marriage between us
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is out of the question.’
‘There is no need. Lady Catherine is in London, and
Anne is with her. I saw them both this evening, before I
came here. Lady Catherine means to call on you before
she returns to Rosings.’
We finished our meal, and after sitting with me for an
hour Colonel Fitzwilliam left. He is remaining in London for the next two weeks, and has promised to call on
Georgiana every day to make sure she is well and happy.
Saturday 4th October
Lady Catherine called this morning, bringing Anne with
her. I was about to enquire after their health, when my
aunt began without preamble.
‘You must put an end to this nonsense at once, Darcy,’
she said, as soon as she had seated herself.
I did not know what she was talking about, but before
I could say anything, she went on:
‘I heard from Mr Collins that you were about to propose to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Sit down, Anne.’
Anne promptly sat down.
‘Knowing such a report to be a grotesque falsehood,
I visited Longbourn in order to have Miss Elizabeth
Bennet deny it. The audacity of the girl! The perverseness! Though what else can one expect with such a
mother and an uncle in Cheapside? She refused to give
the lie to the report, though I knew it must be false. I
have never met such an impudent girl in my life. She trifled with me in the most vulgar way. When I told her
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that she must contradict the report, she replied only that
I had declared it to be impossible, so it needed no contradiction. Of course, it is impossible.You are too proud
a man to be drawn in, whatever arts she employed.To ally
yourself with such a family! And through them, to ally
yourself with George Wickham, the son of your father’s
steward. He, to call you brother! It is not to be thought
of. To put an end to her schemes, I told her you were
engaged to Anne, and do you know what she said to
me?’
‘No,’ I said, not knowing what to make of Elizabeth’s
speech, but hoping – for the first time having reason to
hope – that she was not firmly set against me.
‘That if it was so, you could not possibly make an offer
to her! She is lost to every feeling of propriety. Honour,
decorum and modesty all forbid such a match! And yet
she would not tell me the rumour was false. She thought
nothing of the disgrace she would bring to a proud
name, or the pollution she would inflict on the shades of
Pemberley. Pemberley! When I think of such an ignorant
girl at Pemberley! But of course it is impossible.You and
Anne are formed for each other.You are descended from
the same noble line.Your fortunes are splendid. And yet
this upstart, without family, connections or fortune,
would not give me an assurance that she would never
marry you.’
My hopes soared. She had not decided against me! If
she had, she would have told my aunt. Then there was
still a chance for me.
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‘Well?’ Lady Catherine demanded.
‘Mama – ’ began Anne timidly.
‘Be silent, Anne,’ commanded my aunt. ‘Well, Darcy?’
she demanded.
‘Well?’ I asked.
‘Will you assure me that you will never ask this
woman to be your wife?’
‘No, Aunt, I will not.’
She glared at me.
‘Then you
