The Essence of Love by Zoe Burton

Author:Zoe Burton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JAFF
Publisher: Zoe Burton
Published: 2016-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

For all that Elizabeth was done with the imperious woman in the elegant carriage, that woman was by no means done with her. Lady Catherine’s anger was at full boil, and when the step was let down in front of Longbourn’s door, she marched up the steps and knocked herself, not waiting for her servant.

“I am Lady Catherine De Bourgh. I demand to see Mr. Bennet immediately.”

Mrs. Hill, Longbourn’s housekeeper, jumped at the visitor’s tone. She curtseyed, opening the door wider. “Please come in. He is in his book room. If you will wait here, I will tell him you wish to speak with him. He has another guest with him right now.”

Lady Catherine, however, was not one to consent to cooling her heels in anyone’s hallway, and followed the servant to a wood-panelled door all the way at the end of the hall. When the door opened, Lady Catherine pushed past Mrs. Hill before the housekeeper could announce her. Her anger only grew to see her nephew in the room with an older gentleman who could only be the one she had come to see.

Rising at her entrance, the gentlemen both bowed to her. Darcy spoke before she could get a word out. “Lady Catherine, it is a surprise to see you here.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why should it be a surprise? Surely you knew when you sent your letter that I would respond?”

“Well, yes, I did, but I expected a reply in kind, not for you to venture forth from Kent to congratulate me in person.”

“Congratulate you? Why would I congratulate you? I see no reason for it, unless you break this farce of an engagement.”

“I have no intentions of ending my engagement, Aunt.” Darcy’s tone was severe, but the words were quietly spoken.

“You must. You are engaged to my daughter, and have been since your infancy. It was the greatest wish of your mother for the two of you to join together. For you to reject her now is cruelty in its highest form, for Anne and for the young woman to whom you have proposed. Both will be ridiculed, my daughter for being jilted and Miss Bennet for reaching above her station. Your friends will reject you, and she will never be admitted to society.”

“Funny how my mother never told me about any understanding she made with you. Nor did my father. Ever. In his effects were no marriage contracts between Anne and me, no settlement articles.” Darcy’s voice became hard as flint. “Any engagement between myself and my cousin was a mere figment of your imagination, Lady Catherine. I should have spoken to you about it years ago, and I apologize to you for that failure. However, my friends and anyone else who actually cares about me will neither ridicule me nor reject me, or my wife, whoever she may be. Those who love me best will desire my happiness and will embrace the one who makes me so.” He stepped closer to her before he continued.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.