Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (80 page)

“But . . .” He looked down at his breeches, then to her empty hands and up to her face. 

“Yes, dear?”  She smiled.

“You cannot leave me like this!”

“Of course I can.”  She laughed and entered her dressing room.  “Fifteen minutes, Mr. Darcy?”

He stood looking after her in disbelief then down at his prominent appendage.  He mustered up his dignity and walked awkwardly to his dressing room.  “If you think that you have difficulty walking now, my love, just wait until you wake tomorrow!”  He growled. 

“Did you say something?”  She called.

“I certainly did.”  He replied.  The last thing he heard as he closed the door was Elizabeth’s laughter. 

“WHO WAS THAT MAN?”  Captain de Bourgh twisted his neck to catch another glimpse of Mr. Collins as the carriage rolled into the gate at Rosings.

“A candidate for the living at the parsonage.  We strongly urge you not to offer it to him.”

“Why is that?”

“You are a navy man, do you appreciate sycophants?”  Lord Matlock asked.  “My son Richard hates them in his own men.  He will not grant special consideration to someone who attempts to win his favour without working for it.”

“Oh, I understand.  Yes, I have experienced a few of those.  While it is nice to have someone at your beck and call, that is really the position of my man, not some boy looking for a promotion.  Still, there are plenty of officers who rose quickly for just such methods, after all most captains are made through connections, not achievement.  I imagine that there is more to it than that though.”  He turned to regard his new mentor.

“Hmm, yes, he took it upon himself to spread the tales conjured by Anne.”

“That I cannot excuse.”  De Bourgh nodded.  “I have a younger brother taking holy orders soon.  I shall give the living to him.”

“That is good of you.”

“Well, we have always got on, and it will be nice to have some family nearby.”  The carriage rolled around the drive and the house came into view.   “My word.”

Lord Matlock glanced at Layton and smiled.  “It is rather impressive.”

“Do you know anything of estate management?”  Layton asked.

He laughed at the thought.  “Hardly.  I was at sea when I was thirteen.  The only estates I know are the ones I could spy with a glass from the ship, or perhaps pass to and from London when we were in port.”  Shaking his head he met Layton’s smile.  “I am as lost as a frigate in the fog.” 

Lord Matlock laughed.  “The steward is a good man, Darcy’s father hired him.  We have managed to keep him in place, despite my sister’s complaints, and rather close-fisted treatment of her tenants. I am certain that he will be relieved to have you in charge.”

“I will do my best.”  He sighed and looked again at the looming building.  “At least we are not far from the sea if I feel a need for some bracing air.”

The three men entered the house and were immediately taken in to Lady Catherine.  “So this is the heir of Rosings?”  She sniffed.

“Catherine, this is your nephew, Captain Peter de Bourgh.  He is the son of Lewis’ brother, Reginald.”

“It is an honour to meet you, Lady Catherine.”  De Bourgh bowed.  “I hope that we will be able to re-establish family ties that I never knew existed.  My father died when I was very young, and I am afraid that family tales died with him.”

“How did you come to identify this man, Henry?”  Lady Catherine looked him over.  “How do we know that he is indeed the heir?  He might be an imposter.”

“Catherine, enough of this, he is the heir.”

“Anne may still marry . . .”

“Who?”  Layton said angrily.  “Who might you try to coerce into that?  Oh, some ghoul waiting for her death?”

“Darcy still might, he did leave her with child.”  She said with her nose in the air.  “It is true, and he will do his duty.”

Lord Matlock groaned.  “If that is true, I will paint my face and join the circus.  It is just another fantasy spouted by Anne and encouraged by you, besides none of that matters now.  If she is with child and miraculously lives to bear it, it would be a bastard, and the father could be any man.  One thing is certain; it is most definitely not Darcy’s.”

“What do you mean?”  Lady Catherine demanded.  “Where is Darcy?  Why has he not come?”

“Darcy has better things to do with his time.”  Layton smiled.  “Do you not agree, Father?”

“I would.  You met Mrs. Darcy, de Bourgh, do you not find her lovely?”  Lord Matlock winked at him.

“I do.  Charming and lovely.”  He smiled at Lady Catherine, he had waited to meet her before forming an opinion but now, he knew just what to do.  “Your new niece is an asset to the family and will bring much happiness to my cousin, I am certain.”

“What is this?”  Lady Catherine looked from one man to the next.  “What are you saying?”

“Darcy married Miss Elizabeth Bennet yesterday.”  Lord Matlock smiled.  “It is done, Catherine.  Irrevocably.”  He watched her face fall.  “And no, Richard will not marry Anne either.  Now, I would like to visit my niece.  I understand that she is much calmer now that the fever is gone, but that she is very weak.  De Bourgh will be resigning his commission and coming to live here.  Since Anne is well, you will take your place in the dower’s house, as she has demanded, and he will assume the duties of master, and care for her.”

“No!”

“Yes.”  Lord Matlock said sternly.  “You have no say in this.  She is the mistress of the estate, not you.  She has ordered you out, and out you will go.” 

“You have no control of Rosings!  You are not the master!”  She screeched.

“Catherine, I said that he would assume the duties, I did not say that he
was
master.  As you have proven without a doubt that you are incapable of caring for your daughter, and she clearly wishes you to be gone, it only makes sense that de Bourgh come to stay here, as an invited family member, and help to care for Anne through her final days.”

“Invited by Anne?”

“No, by me.”  Lord Matlock said quietly.  “If Anne were to be found incompetent, you know that the court would appoint me as her guardian, not you.”

“Because I am a woman.”  She said bitterly.  “How dare Darcy defy me!  He was taken in by that fortune hunter. I hope that he regrets his choice and they live for a very long time.”

“I almost felt sympathy for you Catherine, but that last statement dashed it away.”  He turned to de Bourgh.  “Well, you now see what you will contend with.  Would you prefer to return to the sea?”

He looked between the two siblings then bowed to Lady Catherine.  “I should move in within the month, madam.”  He examined the room.  “I will bring my mother and sisters with me, and they will look after Miss de Bourgh.  Perhaps they will have some suggestions on the decoration.”

Layton contained his smile and looked at his father who did not bother to hide his.  “Shall we visit Anne, Cousin?”

“Thank you.”  The two young men left Lord Matlock with his sister. 

“You know, it did not have to be this way.  You encouraged Anne’s delusions for years.  I have no doubt that your whispering about Darcy is what fixated her mind on him.  She may have always been weak and likely come to this end, but it is your fault that she is so ill in her mind.  Ending in the dower’s house is your justice.  George Darcy told you to leave his son alone.  I am proud of Darcy for making his choice to marry Elizabeth, and not allowing your false claims of duty to sway him.  Yes, there are rumours flying through Town, but they will die one by one.  And you sister, will end alone.”

“Why must I leave Rosings?”  She demanded.  “My place is with my daughter.”

“You gave up your rights as a mother when you began using her to forward your desires.  If I had known the extent of her illness and your manipulation of it, I would have become her guardian years ago.  I will regret failing Anne to the end of my days.”  Lord Matlock said quietly.  “Within the month, Sister.”  He bowed and went upstairs to join the others.  Lady Catherine was left alone in her throne-like chair, with nothing but the ticking clock to break the oppressive silence.

“You look well, Anne.”  Layton took her frail hand and smiled.  “I am glad to see you feeling better.”

“Thank you, Cousin.”  She whispered, and blinked up at de Bourgh.  “Do I know you?”

“No, but I am happy to know you at last.   I am your cousin Peter de Bourgh.”

“I do not remember hearing of you.” 

“I am the son of your father’s brother Reginald.”  De Bourgh smiled.  “I will be coming to stay here in a few weeks.  My mother and sisters will come to keep you company as well.”

“Oh . . . I have not hosted guests before. Mother always did.”

“That is fine, Cousin Anne.  We will be no trouble.  You just feel better.” 

Anne nodded and saw her uncle enter the room.  “Uncle Henry.”  He smiled and kissed her hollow cheek.  “Where is my husband?”

“Now you know that you are not married, Anne.”  He said sternly.

“I am not?”  Her brow furrowed.  “I was sure that I was.”  Lord Matlock glanced at the men around him then caught Mrs. Jenkinson’s eye.  She was smiling. “It was just a dream that you had.  Darcy married a very nice young woman yesterday.  He is very happy.”

“He is?”  She asked bemusedly.  “But Mama told me that . . .”

“No dear, your mother was incorrect.”  He kissed her again and patted her hand.  “You look tired, take some rest.”  She nodded and settled back in the pillows.  The men left and Mrs. Jenkinson followed them out.  “She is much different.  The change in treatment is clearly effective.”

“That and removing her mother’s influence.  She never comes to see her anymore.”

“She sleeps only two doors away!”  Layton cried.

“Anne has served her purpose Son, and it was a failure.  Your aunt has no further use for her.”  Lord Matlock said quietly.  He turned to de Bourgh.  “Now you might understand why I feel no remorse towards her and have encouraged you to take your place.  As you can see, the end is inevitable.”

“I do.  How long does my cousin have, do you think?  She seems on death’s doorstep now.”  They looked to Mrs. Jenkinson and she shrugged. 

“It could come at anytime.  She could linger this way or simply drift away.  She has rallied before, we simply do not know.  I am just happy to see that she is not suffering anymore.  I know that you told her she is not married to Mr. Darcy, but truly sir, does it do her harm to believe it now?”

“I suppose not.  I will be glad to know that her final days will be ones of peace.”  Lord Matlock said sadly.  “I will be glad to reassure Darcy that he did the right thing in marrying Elizabeth, and I hope that Richard is happy with his decision as well.”  He looked around the halls of the old manor.  “He was correct; of course, this place belongs to the de Bourghs.  The Fitzwilliam who came to live here did it no favours.” 

“I disagree sir; you brought it back to my family.  I never would have known were it not for your efforts.”  De Bourgh smiled and drew a deep breath.  “Well, I have returned from the sea to live on the land.”

“Let us see what you can make of it.” 

“MR. BENNET, HOW CAN YOU LEAVE here in Mr. Darcy’s carriage and return by ours?”  Mrs. Bennet demanded.  “What have you done?”

“Done, Mrs. Bennet?”  He stepped down from the carriage and frowned.  “Why should Mr. Darcy bear the cost of transporting us home as well?  It was generous of your brother to send us halfway and simple for our man to meet us at the inn.”  He looked at Mary who nodded and scurried inside.  “Come Wife, we have need of conversation.”

She followed him into the bookroom.  “I suppose that you have found some terrible school for Mary.  I disagree with this most vehemently, Mr. Bennet!   If Lizzy can catch a man without this schooling, so can the other girls! And what of the funds you will waste?  It will leave far less for our girls, and you know that they will all soon be out and will need new wardrobes.”

Mr. Bennet closed the door and took his seat.  “Mrs. Bennet please sit down.”

She sighed and took a seat.  “What is this about?  I have much too much to accomplish!  Lizzy is to be married in a few weeks!”

“No, she is not.”

“WHAT!  What did she do?  I knew that she would ruin it somehow!  Could she not at least have married him first before driving him away?  You should have brought me with you!”  She began fluttering her handkerchief and moaning.  “What will become of us?”

“Calm yourself!”  He demanded.  “Mrs. Bennet, Lizzy married Mr. Darcy three days ago.”

Mrs. Bennet’s movements stopped.  “What did you say?”

“She is married.  Mary and I witnessed it.  Mr. Darcy needs to return to his estate quickly and they decided to marry as soon as he returned.”

“But . . . But she did not come here to get her things, I . . . I did not get to show her off to the neighbours!  And Mr. Darcy, nobody has seen him!”

“And they likely will not see him.”  Mr. Bennet said quietly.  “They will stop here on their way to Pemberley next week.  Briefly.  Mr. Darcy is allowing it purely as a concession to Elizabeth’s wishes to say goodbye to her sisters.”

“But . . .”

“No Mrs. Bennet.  Our daughter is a married woman now, and she will follow her husband’s will.  He is very unhappy with us.  He is angry with our behaviour in his home, and our neglect of our daughters.  Most of all he is angry with your berating of Elizabeth and my amusement with it.  I was permitted to walk Elizabeth to him in church, but I was treated as a guest at her wedding breakfast.  It was a terribly humbling experience, and one that I will never forget.  Again, it was Lizzy’s desire that I be present that allowed me the honour of giving her away.”

“You knew they were to marry before you left?”  She cried angrily.

“I did, and I knew that you were not welcome.”

“Why?  I am her mother!”

“When have you ever done anything but tell her she was unfit?”  Mr. Bennet shook his head.  “No, it is my fault for allowing it to continue, and allowing you to educate them.  You had no education yourself, so you could not prepare our girls for the world they might enter.  The Gardiners deserve the credit for that.  Mary will begin school in October.  Jane will remain in London for as long as she wishes.  I have given Gardiner funds for her keep.  Our other daughters will not be permitted to come out until they are seventeen.”