Fitzwilliam Darcy by Cressida Lane

Author:Cressida Lane [Lane, Cressida]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cressida Lane

Chapter 16

“I beg your pardon?”

“I will pay the ransom for which you are being held,” said Lady Catherine. “If you agree to end your engagement to Matlock this very moment.”

“We have never met before this moment,” said Elizabeth, anger overtaking her incredulity with every breath. “Yet you would leave me in the hands of these men rather than see Darcy married to me?”

“That is one way to view it,” Lady Catherine answered promptly. “It is not in his character to behave so rashly. I suppose his mind was clouded by grief. Fitzwilliam was always rather too sentimental.”

“He said that you wished him to marry,” said Elizabeth. “You wrote him explicit instructions with regard to that fact.”

“He told you that, did he? He misconstrued my words. My instructions were to visit me at once that we might arrange plans for an appropriate match. I informed him of his duty to uphold his family name, yes. Never did I imagine he would go to such lengths to thwart me.”

“Perhaps he did not intend to thwart you,” said Elizabeth. “Perhaps he had his own plans to attend.”

“Oh, now,” said Lady Catherine, her eyes glittering with anger. “That I believe too well. You think to have trapped him; you think to see yourself Countess and mistress of all that he’s to have.”

“You know nothing of my character, nor of my intentions toward him,” said Elizabeth, anger heating her cheeks.

“I know all I need to know,” said Lady Catherine. Her eyes narrowed venomously. “My offer stands. End your involvement with Matlock and I will pay the ransom at once. You will be free to go wherever you wish.”

Elizabeth raised her chin, breathing deeply so that she might reign in her fury and frustration. The woman was intolerable, yet she offered a way out.

Elizabeth had already been on the cusp of ending the arrangement when Darcy persuaded her to visit his sister in London. Even should she wish to bait Lady Catherine and her flagrant disapproval, there was still the matter of the threatening letters to contend with. The rest of England certainly contained more than a few unmarried ladies who would not weep should Elizabeth let him go free.

“I would have your answer, Miss Bennet,” said Lady Catherine. Elizabeth heard the distinct note of inevitable triumph in the tone of the woman’s voice. “I have no desire to linger in this godforsaken place.”

Elizabeth swallowed her pride and turned.

“Yes,” she said, her stomach clenching.

Lady Catherine wasted not a moment; she called for the servant, who entered almost immediately with writing supplies.

“You will write to him directly,” said Lady Catherine. “I shall have Simmons summon a hack. When you have finished writing, I shall escort my niece away from here. Simmons will accompany to the destination of your choosing, after which I expect we shall never again encounter one another.” She strode to the door. “Goodbye, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth did not speak as Lady Catherine was handed into her carriage. She sat instead upon the bed and taking the implements the man called Simmons had brought, she began to write.

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