Page 81 of Roses from Pemberley
“Enough of that, for you must now refer to me as ‘Aunt Catherine’ whilst I shall call you ‘Elizabeth.’ We are soon to be family, after all. But you are correct, I was only able to keep Mr. Collins from coming by telling him that he must act in my stead.”
“And what have you requested that he do?” asked Mr. Gardiner.
“Nothing much, really. Simply keep a watchful eye on the tenants and parishioners thereabouts. I must say, he was very happy to do so. He takes his duties quite seriously, you know.”
“Indeed. Mr. Collins is very loyal,” murmured Elizabeth.
“As well he should be,” said Lady Catherine.
Elizabeth then looked across the table at Lord Matlock who had invited her mother to sit on his right, while Darcy sat on her other side. Between the two of them, they seemed to keep her mother well occupied and she could not help but smile at their kindness. She admitted to herself that, despite the passing of her father, she had not enjoyed a dinner this much in a while.
CHAPTER 35 Drawing Room Confrontation
Unfortunately, about an hour into their meal, the dining room doors flew open to reveal Caroline Bingley standing in front of the butler.
“I told you I did not need an introduction!” she said angrily, turning back towards him. “I am, after all, the mistress of this house.
“Caroline, what are you doing here?” asked Bingley, rising from his seat. “I did not even inform you that I would be coming to Netherfield.”
She stared at the assembly of people for a few silent seconds before answering, “A mutual acquaintance informed me…” She frowned, then took a breath. “I heard that you were here…with guests…and thought that you might need a hostess.”
“But I do not need a hostess because Lady Catherine was kind enough to act as one.”
“Lady Catherine…” repeated Caroline, glancing towards the head of the table.
“Yes,” said Bingley, looking towards that lady with a slightly panicked expression. For he knew that he could not introduce a person of lower rank to a person of higher one unless the latter first requested an introduction.
Thankfully, Lady Catherine did make the request - on behalf of the entire company - and Bingley quickly performed the introductions.
“So will you join us or not, Miss Bingley?” asked Lady Catherine.
“Should I not change first? It shall not take long…”
“We will be done by then, Miss Bingley,” said Lady Catherine with asperity, “so you had better take a seat.”
After a place was set for her, Miss Bingley sat awkwardly between Anne and Diana, the latter beginning to engage her in conversation. However, as the evening wore on, Miss Bingley’s confidence grew, and with it, her impudence. This became even more pronounced when they moved into the drawing room three quarters of an hour later.
“I am surprised that you are so easy among company such as the Bennets,” she said to Diana, “for I have never known them to attend a Season, and you can have nothing in common.”
“What do you mean, Miss Bingley?” Elizabeth heard Diana say. “Anne and I have become great friends with Elizabeth and Jane and find them to be truly gracious ladies.”
“Really…” said Miss Bingley, eying Elizabeth disdainfully as she approached the group. “And where can you have met them?”
“We all met at Rosings, Miss Bingley,” said Anne as if speaking to a child, “my mother’s estate in Kent.”
“And what were they doing at Rosings?”
“We were actually visiting my friend Charlotte,” said Elizabeth, speaking for the first time, “who was lately married to Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine’s parson.” She decided not tomention her recent illness as it would probably add more fuel to the fire.
“Ah, yes, I understand now,” said Miss Bingley. “Your cousin, theparson, must have introduced you.”
“Not at all, Miss Bingley,” said Anne, “it was Darcy who introduced us.”
“Mr. Darcy! Was he there too?”
“Yes, did I not mention it before?” She smiled pleasantly at Miss Bingley. “We often called at the parsonage while Darcy was there and had pleasant times in one another’s company. Did we not, Elizabeth?”
“Yes, very pleasant.”
