Alias Thomas Bennet (36 page)

Bennet understood his friend was indicating that her ladyship could be trusted with their troubles, and he bestowed approval to share that information with a slight nod. Darcy then proceeded to tell Lady Matlock about Wickham’s most recent exploits and that he was hoping to find Mrs. Younge because he suspected she would know Wickham’s whereabouts in London.

“At a price, no doubt,” she said.

Bennet added that, because of the episode in Kent, Darcy had taken measures to ensure Elizabeth’s safety. Lady Matlock confirmed that she had noticed the two new footmen and their great size during shopping trips but had chosen not to make mention of it.

“And knowing your impulsive nature, Shelton, you do not have the patience to sit back in Hertfordshire and hope that others will take care of it.”

Darcy suppressed a smile at the all-too-correct summary of his friend’s personality.

“Yes, Elinor, so my wife has told me,” Bennet responded contritely.

“Darcy, you must ask Richard to help you,” Lady Matlock said.

“I was just about to write him a note when you called.” Darcy furrowed his brow and turned to Bennet. “What if Wickham remains in Meryton? What about Mrs. Bennet and your younger daughters?”

“My informant says that Wickham came to Town nearly five days ago,” Bennet told them. “But in case that is not so, Kitty and Lydia are under the care of my most trusted servants. Mrs. Bennet is on her way to my brother Gardiner’s home, and I will be joining her. It is less likely that Lord Shelton will be known in Gracechurch Street, so I feel much safer there whilst I remain in Town.”

“Are you not worried that others will recognize you?” Lady Matlock asked.

“When Wickham is found, he will be turned over to the authorities on charges of desertion from the militia and placed in gaol. My brother Gardiner will be meeting with the colonel of the regiment, and there is no need for me to be involved in the trial, so I trust my identity will be protected. I believe that Wickham knows nothing of my identity based on the questioning of my informant.”

“Was there never anyone you came across who knew you?” Lady Matlock asked, leaning in towards him.

He shrugged. “Once someone knew Bennet and was suspicious that a burn scar was missing on my ear. And thrice over the last eighteen years, I was nearly exposed as the Earl of Shelton; although my wife was quite concerned, my family and the society in Meryton laughed it off as mistaken identity. The locals, you see, do not think I aspire to the peerage. These fellows who thought I was the earl had not been close acquaintances, so after all was considered, they agreed it was an uncanny resemblance and left it at that.”

Just when the tension in the room relaxed and the participants developed a sort of ease in their conversation, another visitor was announced.

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Chapter 23:
Lady Catherine has her say, while causing a great delay.

27 April 1812
Darcy House, London

When Lady Catherine swept into the room, Thomas Bennet had been discussing the intent to capture George Wickham with Darcy and Lady Matlock. Immediately all three tensed, realizing it was likely that she would guess Bennet’s secret, just as Lady Matlock had, since Lady Catherine had known the Sheltons as a young couple. She stopped in her tracks the moment she saw him. It was obvious she knew what she saw, but not what to make of it. Her mouth opened as if to say something, then closed again, then opened and closed apoplectically before she declared her recognition loudly to the room.

“Lord Shelton, I did not expect you to be here!” she said imperiously.

“Nor did I expect you, Lady Catherine,” Bennet replied with a level voice. To his consternation, Lady Catherine’s greeting sealed the decision, and based on his recent experience with Lady Matlock, he was resigned to abandoning any intention of pretence.

“I suppose you are part of this imprudent conduct; nay, it is most evident that you must be instrumental in this deception. I recognised her as your daughter at once when she was at Rosings, but she was evasive and pretended no knowledge of her connections. Are you aware that your daughter has been masquerading as a person known as Miss Elizabeth Bennet, daughter to a Mr. Thomas Bennet of Hertfordshire?” She was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.

“I am, though I would not refer to it as Lizzy masquerading as much as she was unaware of her fortune and connections by my own design. I can confirm that I have acted as her guardian under the name of Mr. Thomas Bennet these twenty years and that she had no idea of the identity of her original family until a fortnight ago.” Bennet spoke in a much calmer voice than he felt.

“Then you can be at no loss as to the reason for my coming quickly hither; your own heart, nay your conscience, must know it.”

“Indeed you are mistaken, madam; I cannot account for your being here at all.” Bennet regarded the lady with unaffected astonishment.

“Do not trifle with me, Shelton; it is not a compliment to the understanding of either of us. My character has long been acclaimed for its forthright and discerning nature, and in a case like this, I most certainly will not depart from it. There is no reason for you to believe that I would abide the great travesty taking place here.

“A report of an alarming nature reached me at Rosings. Not only is your eldest daughter matched into a situation with a tradesman, of all things, but you must be aware there is a rumour industriously being circulated that your second daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, has the gall to consider herself engaged to my own nephew, Mr. Darcy!”

“She is called Lady Elizabeth.” Bennet was careful in his response. He knew Lady Catherine well enough to not enter into an argument with her willingly.

“That does not signify!” cried Lady Catherine, rapping her cane on the floor. “You must know this claim to a betrothal is a scandalous falsehood, I am sure! As soon as I heard of it, I resolved to make my sentiments known.”

“If it is untrue, I wonder why you would take the trouble to come all this way to tell us. Your appearance at Darcy’s home confirms the truth of the matter.”

“I am here in hope that you will universally quash this rumour and declare it to be impossible.”

“I cannot.”

“You refuse to say it is without foundation? Is it your own design, then, to attach your daughter to my nephew? Is this rumour started by you, to lure us into believing this subterfuge of your creation?”

Lady Catherine’s accusatory retort did not sit well with her audience, and Bennet’s ire was raised at the woman’s refusal to back down.

“I see no reason to interfere with the young people’s plans, madam. They should be allowed to act in a manner which would constitute their own happiness without regard to people so wholly unconnected to them.”

While the war of words was escalating, Bennet could not help but see that Darcy was not in a forbearing mood. Darcy wiped his hand across his face in frustration at his relative’s inability to be tactful, but he was unable to insert a word into the verbal sparring taking place.

“In a moment of infatuation, perhaps, Darcy forgot his family and was drawn in by your daughter’s arts and allurements. But your daughter has no right to aspire to such a match, and you must ensure it does not happen. Darcy is engaged to my daughter, Anne!”

Darcy finally interjected, “Lady Catherine, you know from my letter that I am engaged to Lady Elizabeth. I hoped that you would wish me joy, as did Anne. Anne and I have told you numerous times that we have no intention of marrying each other and have no feelings for one another other than the familial affection expected of cousins.”

“Nonsense. You were formed for each other from your very cradles. It was the dearest wish of your mother and me to unite two great estates. Anne has the advantage of good breeding and an impeccable reputation to bring to your marriage. You were both descended from the same noble lines on your maternal side, and on the paternal side from respectable, honourable, and ancient, if untitled, families. You were destined to wed your cousin.”

Lady Matlock attempted to reason with her sister-in-law. “Catherine, there was no such intention by Lady Anne, and she argued against your designs for Fitzwilliam. It has been your wish alone.”

“If anyone, Lady Anne expressed a wish for a match between young Fitzwilliam and my Jenny!” Bennet offered, with a hint of a smirk. “Of course, we all knew it to be silly talk between her and Olivia, the kind of thing young mothers who are the best of friends would indulge in. There was no seriousness to the idea.

“Now that Lizzy is grown, I see the remarkable likeness of intelligence, high principles, and loyalty that Darcy shares with her, and the differences in their temperaments will only serve to complement each other. Her liveliness will bring him out of his reserve, and his maturity and experience will enlighten her to the conduct of high society and the goings-on around the world.”

“You cannot believe this is true!” Lady Catherine persisted. “Honour, interest, prudence, and decorum forbid such a match.”

Darcy retorted, “I saw those qualities in Elizabeth when I proposed, and they do not preclude our alliance; I hope Elizabeth had those attributes in mind when she accepted me.”

“But she will be friendless after this affair is exposed! Shelton, you have come out of exile to champion your daughter as suitable for my nephew, yet your hypocrisy and her capricious independence ensure that none of us will ever speak to her. She will be slighted, censured, and despised for your irremediable infamy. The alliance will be disgraced.”

“As the wife of Mr. Darcy, she will have no cause to repine,” Bennet countered.

“Obstinate, headstrong man! I am ashamed of you; I expected you to be more reasonable. Is this your gratitude for the attentions I paid your daughter?”

“I do appreciate the time she was able to spend at Rosings, and I thank you for your notice,” Bennet said graciously.

“I have come here determined to put an end to any notions you have. You must not try to dissuade me from my purpose. Your whims and fancies of using an alias all these years make you a shameful model for my nephew. You are a person of consequence, and you must cease this façade as an obscure country gentleman with no importance in society and return to your rightful position. I will brook no disappointment on this score.”

In his need to make his point clear to Lady Catherine, Bennet addressed her in a firm tone. “I will
not
be exposing my identity to anyone. Everybody thinks Shelton is dead, and I want to keep it that way.”

“Without your title, your daughters have no connections.”

“As my heiresses, they are titled.”

“They have their godparents, the Fitzwilliams and the Darcys, as connections, Catherine,” Lady Matlock added.

“But what of this Mrs. Bennet? Her brothers: one in trade and one a country attorney? I am not ignorant of their position.”

“If Darcy has no objections, I cannot see how it applies to you,” Bennet said with clipped words. While he had tried to exercise self-control throughout the discussion, his nerves were wearing thin. He was dangerously close to shouting at Lady Catherine, especially given this last disparaging remark regarding his wife.

Realizing she was losing the argument with Bennet, Lady Catherine redirected her attention to her nephew. “Darcy, you must promise me that you will break this engagement and do your duty to Anne.”

“If you suffer from your own unanswered desires, it will be your ladyship’s choice, but it will have no effect on my promise to Elizabeth,” Darcy said.

“You refuse me this happiness?”

“Lady Catherine, the happiness of
Anne
should be most important to you,” Darcy said gently. “Do you not wish her to find a husband who loves and admires her most ardently, as I do Elizabeth? Surely, you do not want to impose a loveless marriage, one of convenience, on both of us?”

“I wish to see her married advantageously as was your mother’s and my wish.”

“I am sure there is a gentleman of the highest circles who would be a good match for Anne. Perhaps a duke or an earl would add to the fine de Bourgh heritage. All the while, by my marriage to Lady Elizabeth, your Fitzwilliam name will be connected to that of Shelton, which is an honourable name despite your opinion.”

“Lady Elizabeth is already well accepted among the
ton
,” Lady Matlock added. “Her past has only served to make her more interesting to those who wish to court her favour. It would be to Anne’s advantage to maintain her connection to Lady Elizabeth; it would help her make a good match.”

“Catherine, we were friends for a long time,” Bennet said, “and you were a friend to Olivia. Can we not become family on good terms? My family would like your blessing on this marriage. Elizabeth would like it, and I am sure your daughter would, too.”

“Anne deserves to be married in the first circles,” Lady Catherine said.

Darcy agreed. “A duke with considerable land holdings would do well for Anne.”

But Lady Catherine was not finished. “But what of your fanciful masquerade, Shelton? What think the
ton
of that?” she challenged.