Implacable Resentment by Jann Rowland

Author:Jann Rowland [Rowland, Jann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: One Good Sonnet Publishing
Published: 2015-02-27T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter XVIII

It was ironic, Darcy decided, as his coach approached Rosings on that fine autumn morning, that he should be back within six months of his final leave-taking from his aunt. The massive estate house loomed in the distance like a massive web with strands to trap and hold, and he knew that the spider who made her home within would bind him without a moment’s thought should he not be vigilant. He and his cousin had visited his aunt’s domain annually for the past several years, maintaining the estate books, smoothing over any difficulties his aunt’s imperious manner might have caused among her tenants, and overseeing the early stages of planting, which generally occurred some weeks earlier than it did at Pemberley.

But what Darcy had not told Miss Elizabeth was that he had informed his uncle—on whose commission he made the journey there every year—that he would not extend the same courtesy in the future. Lady Catherine had been more than usually insufferable that spring in her insistence that he and Anne formalize their engagement, and as neither had ever wished for the other as a marriage partner, they were of no mind to pay heed to her words. Lady Catherine, perhaps sensing that the two in question were less than eager to bow to her demands, had badgered them mercilessly, and it had finally resulted in an unpleasant encounter in which Darcy had stated openly that he would not marry Anne and had made a precipitous departure from the estate with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy regretted that he had not informed his aunt that he would never marry Anne several years ago, but as they were all in the habit of simply ignoring her directives in order to promote family harmony, it had seemed like the best option available at the time.

What his aunt would make of his early return was a matter which any intelligent being would be able to conjecture. In fact, Darcy fully expected that almost the first words out of her mouth would be something to the effect that he had finally come to his senses. But Darcy did not intend to get into an argument with her again, so avoidance would once again be the order of the day. He needed her good will for the moment so that he could meet with Miss Elizabeth and determine what was to be done.

When Darcy alighted from the carriage and strode into the house, no one was present to greet him, and upon making his inquiries, he was told that the lady of the estate was away on some matter of business and that her daughter had retired to her rooms after breakfast. Darcy instructed that Anne be informed of his arrival, and then he went to his rooms to quickly wash off the dust of the road and change his clothes. It was about thirty minutes later that he made his way down to the sitting room in which Lady Catherine normally held court.

Life had

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