Christmas at Pemberley (7 page)

“Yes,Thomas?” Georgiana fought to catch her breath.

“Pardon, Miss Darcy. Mr. Nathan asked me to fetch you. Your aunt, Lady Catherine, is waiting for you in the small drawing room.”

Georgiana gasped, “Lady Catherine?”

“Yes, Miss. She and Miss De Bourgh.”

Georgiana swayed in place. “Oh, Lord,” she murmured. “What could Her Ladyship mean by her visit?”

“Do you wish me to accompany you, Miss Darcy?” Mrs. Bingley came to stand beside her.

Georgiana shook off the idea. “No, I should see my aunt alone.” She took off at a trot in the house's direction.

Mrs. Bingley turned to her husband. “Charles, you and Mr. Grange should oversee bringing the greenery to the house. Papa, could you intercede with my mother until after Miss Darcy has the
opportunity to address Lady Catherine's needs.”

“I'm on my way, Jane.” Mr. Bennet followed Georgiana toward the side door.

“Kitty,” Jane continued. “I know Miss Darcy needs to tend to Her Ladyship alone, but you might be available to support her—even if she thinks she doesn't need it.”

“Certainly.” Kitty rushed to catch up with her father.

“Caroline's at the house,” Bingley assured his wife.

Jane glanced quickly to where Mary assisted Mr. Grange.Assured of some privacy, she said,“That's what I fear. Lady Catherine knows nothing of Elizabeth's problems in carrying to term. I would prefer that she didn't learn of Lizzy's anguish from either my mother or your sister. Neither would realize the pain that such knowledge in Lady Catherine's hands would give Mrs. Darcy.”

“Then you should speak to Caroline,” Bingley observed.

“It might be better coming from you, Charles. Caroline has no true affection for Elizabeth. She would disregard my pleas on Lizzy's behalf.”

Bingley accepted the task immediately, as his wife gave orders to the waiting footmen. He certainly didn't look forward to speaking to Caroline about such a private matter, but he would for Darcy. Although, as a man, Darcy hadn't displayed his feeling, Bingley knew that his friend had suffered as much as Mrs. Darcy, and that Darcy would feel compelled to protect Elizabeth—to be strong for his wife. Bingley would do whatever was necessary to divert Caroline's spitefulness.

Georgiana tucked in several wisps of loose hair as she rushed to where Lady Catherine waited. A thousand errant thoughts rushed through her head. She couldn't send Lady Catherine away, but what could she do about having both her aunt and Elizabeth's family under the same roof? “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I wish you were here,” she groaned. Opening the room's door, her fears jumped
to the forefront: Mrs. Bennet jabbered away, and Lady Catherine didn't look pleased.

“Why, Lady Catherine. Imagine my surprise when Mrs. Reynolds and I received word of your arrival.” Mrs. Bennet swept into the room. “I immediately made my way to greet you properly. You're aware, I am certain, that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are away, but they are expected by this evening.” She sat without being given leave to do so. “I'm surprised that Miss Darcy didn't mention your arrival, Your Ladyship. What a grand surprise it'll be for Mr. Darcy! Oh! I'm ahead of myself. Certainly, Mr. Darcy must have invited you to Pemberley also.”

Lady Catherine bit her words. “My nephew…Mr. Darcy invited you to Pemberley?”

“Of course.You didn't think me here uninvited?” Mrs. Bennet helped herself to tea. “Even with my Elizabeth as mistress of this great household, I'd wait for an invitation.” Mrs. Bennet thought of how long she had waited to be a part of Elizabeth's life, but she certainly wouldn't disclose that fact to a woman who had maligned her daughter. Plus, she recalled quite well Lady Catherine's Longbourn visit. She had tried to make the best of an awkward situation, but Her Ladyship had been less than pleasant.

In fact, Mrs. Bennet had thought she'd outshone the great woman. Lady Catherine had arrived at an early hour—one too early in the morning for visitors. Her Ladyship had entered the sitting room with an air more than usually ungracious, had made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and had sat down without saying a word. Mrs. Bennet admitted to being flattered by having a guest of such high importance and had received Lady Catherine with the utmost politeness, but Her Ladyship had rudely questioned Elizabeth, had criticized Mrs. Bennet's favorite sitting room, and had marked their lack of a proper garden. All she could do was to valiantly defend her home
by reminding Lady Catherine that she possessed more than did Sir William Lucas, of whom Her Ladyship openly approved.

 

Now, the same formidable aristocrat sat before her, and Mrs. Bennet had an opportunity to rise once again above Lady Catherine's censure. However, before Her Ladyship could respond, Miss Darcy rushed into the room. “Lady Catherine,” she gushed as she dropped a curtsy. “I was unaware you planned to join us at Pemberley. Had I known, I would've been here to receive you.” Georgiana fought the urge to wipe her sweaty palms on her day dress.

“I've seen to Her Ladyship,” Mrs. Bennet announced.

“Thank you, Ma'am.” Georgiana took a few tentative steps forward. “The others are bringing in the greenery,” she improvised. “I heard Mr. Bennet asking for you. I'm afraid we let our mirth carry us away. Your husband needs your assistance to ward off a chill… dry clothes and hot tea.” Georgiana realized how she rambled on, but she couldn't seem to stop.

Just then Kitty stepped into the open doorway. “Oh, there you are, Mama,” she said as if she had looked for her mother elsewhere. “Papa sent me to find you.” Awkwardly, she turned to Georgiana. “Excuse me, Miss Darcy. I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation.”

“It is well, Miss Kitty,” Georgiana said with a thankful smile.

“Men are so helpless, are they not,Your Ladyship?” Mrs. Bennet stood to make her exit.

Lady Catherine glowered from the familiarity. “I'm certain I would have no notion of such a weakness,” she hissed.

“Come along, Mama.” Kitty said firmly from the doorway. She offered a respectful curtsy. “Lady Catherine. Miss De Bourgh.” Then she led her mother from the room.

Lady Catherine waited to hear the receding footsteps before saying, “Mrs. Jenkinson, would you see to our rooms and our luggage?”

“Certainly,Your Ladyship.”

“And close the door on your way out.”

Lady Catherine paused until Anne's companion departed, and then she turned her anger on her niece. “Your brother—my nephew—saw fit to invite that woman and her daughters to Pemberley!” she accused. “In my sister's house that witless excuse for a mother presumes to serve as hostess! Lady Anne Darcy must have turned over in her grave. It's bad enough that Darcy places that obstinate, headstrong girl in my dear sister's stead, but to welcome a houseful of people of inferior birth is inconceivable—people of no importance in the world and wholly unallied to the family.”

Georgiana flinched, but the litany fell from her shoulders. Her fists clenched, and her cheeks flushed, but she held her composure. She had not learned how to control her aunt's venom, but she had learned how to allow the woman her censure without taking it personally. Elizabeth had taught her. Her sister, in a moment of pure abandon, had once described Lady Catherine's attack—the one leading to Fitzwilliam's renewing his proposal to Elizabeth. Georgiana had experienced one of her numerous diffident moments, which had ended in tears and in Elizabeth's embrace. To highlight her explanation, Georgiana's sister had acted out the scene between her and Darcy's aunt. It brought giggles of disbelief, but it also demonstrated to Georgiana that she should not allow Lady Catherine—or anyone else, for that matter—to define her. Therefore, despite her aunt's reproach, she didn't believe that Fitzwilliam's display of affections would upset their mother. Georgiana had few direct memories of her parents' reported love affair, but every story spoke of their devotion.

“Lady Catherine,” she began tentatively, “as Pemberley's master, Fitzwilliam may invite whomever he chooses to his home. My brother wished to share his festive days with his wife's family. It's not for me to criticize.” Georgiana left the implication for her aunt to interpret.

Frost dusted Her Ladyship's countenance, and as if she'd not heard her niece, Lady Catherine continued, “To complicate the
matter, Darcy has opened his door to that family of Cits.”

Georgiana blinked away her confusion. “Do you speak of Mr. Bingley's family, Aunt?”

“Who else, Child?”

Georgiana shot a pleading glance at her cousin, but Anne remained seated with downcast eyes. The rebellious part of Georgiana's mind screamed that she was no longer a child, but one look at her aunt's outraged countenance quashed that urge. “Mr. Bingley and my brother have been acquaintances for several years. The Bingleys have often shared Fitzwilliam's hospitality. I don't understand your sudden objection, Lady Catherine.”

“My objection,” Her Ladyship snapped, “is that I'm to be subjected to an array of commonness from those who seek positions above their reach by using their dirty hands to throw about their wealth to those who possess airs beyond their low connections!”

Georgiana could no longer accept her aunt's dictatorial attitude without an argument. It was all of a piece with Lady Catherine. “Let me see, Your Ladyship, if I understand. As a
child
, I may lack the capacity to comprehend.You've invited yourself to my brother's home and now object to those with whom Fitzwilliam has chosen to spend the festive days. As it's such a wholly dishonorable situation, I'll ask Mr. Nathan to arrange for your safe passage to Lambton or wherever you choose to seek lodging.” Georgiana turned on her heels to leave.

“Have you gone batty, Georgiana?” Lady Catherine charged.

Her aunt's words stung. Hers was a false bravado covering a very fragile self-confidence, and for a fleeting moment, Georgiana wondered if she played dangerously with her brother's good will.Yet, a small voice—Elizabeth's voice—said Fitzwilliam would celebrate his sister's liberation. Her spine stiffened. “Have I omitted some fact,Your Ladyship?”

Lady Catherine chortled. “The abominable roads, Georgiana,” she reminded her niece. “If the conditions were acceptable, and I wasn't to meet Mr. and Mrs. Collins, Anne and I could have
returned to Kent or London or even have chosen to spend our days with Matlock and Lindale. They await Lindale's heir to the Earldom. Under these horrendous conditions, you cannot mean to send me out on the icy roads.”

“I wouldn't have you injured in any way, Your Ladyship.” A twinge of guilt ricocheted through Georgiana's resolve. “But neither would I have you subjected to unacceptable company.”

“Your Ladyship, maybe we should return to Lambton,” Anne ventured. “Surely, Mr. Swank can maneuver the coach safely the five miles to the village.”

Lady Catherine glared at her only child. “First, to find appropriate rooms with the current road conditions would prove impossible. Second, there's the issue of Mr. and Mrs. Collins. I sent word to the man yesterday that we would wait for him at Pemberley.”

Georgiana felt another surge of seething anger. She presented a calm exterior, but every nerve ending stood on alert. Despite her best efforts, a mulish set locked Georgiana's jaw. “If I understand your current disapprobation, Your Ladyship, you disdain my brother's chosen house guests. Yet, you cannot leave Pemberley because of the road conditions and because
yesterday
you invited Mr. and Mrs. Collins to join you here. Without Fitzwilliam's knowledge!” Georgiana could no longer conceal her frustrations. Her aunt's actions defied comprehension.